Modular cabinet, components therefor, kit and method

Abstract

A cabinet is mounted on a vertical wall and comprises four panels connected by four connectors to form corners. Each connector has a finger element inserted into a slot near a corner in horizontal panels and a connector member inserted into a slot near a corner in an adjacent vertical panel. There is a pair of spaced slots in each horizontal panel, one slot near each opposed end of the horizontal panel.

1 . A corner connector for attaching together a pair of panels to form a corner, said corner connector comprising
 a pair of substantially planar, rigid, elongated support members, each said support member having an inner end and an outer end, said inner ends being connected lengthwise to form a substantially right angle junction,   a substantially planar, rigid, elongated finger element extending lengthwise along an outer end of one of said support members, said finger element forming an angle with respect to said one support member and projecting outwardly from an outer side of said one support member that is opposite the right angle junction, said finger element being adapted to fit within an elongated slot in one panel, and   a connector member at the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction, said connector member including a gripping structure adapted to fit within and grip an elongated slot in the other panel.   
   
   
       2 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the finger element forms with respect to said one support member an acute angle substantially from 5 to 85 degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the support members, finger element, and the connector member are substantially equal in length and connector member is elongated, rigid, and extends lengthwise along said junction. 
   
   
       4 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the connector member is at an angle with respect to the other support member. 
   
   
       5 . The corner connector of  claim 1  being a unitary, extruded piece. 
   
   
       6 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the support members and the finger element each have substantially flat opposed surfaces. 
   
   
       7 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the gripping structure comprises a plurality of teeth. 
   
   
       8 . The corner connector of  claim 1  where the gripping structure includes enlarged interior portion. 
   
   
       9 . The corner connector of  claim 8  where the enlarged interior portion has a dove tail configuration. 
   
   
       10 . A connector for attaching a pair of panels together substantially at a right angle with one panel oriented substantially horizontally and the other panel oriented substantially vertically, said connector comprising
 first and second elongated support members connected to form a right angle junction enabling the first support member to be positioned beneath the horizontally oriented panel with one side of said first support member abutting the horizontally oriented panel and the second support member to be positioned next to the vertically oriented panel with one side of said second support member abutting and extending downward along the vertically oriented panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member and projecting outwardly from said one side of said first support member to enable the finger element to be inserted into a slot in the horizontally oriented panel, and   a connector member at the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction towards the vertically oriented panel to enable the connector member to be inserted into and grip a slot in the vertically oriented panel.   
   
   
       11 . The corner connector of  claim 10  where the elongated support members are substantially planar and rigid. 
   
   
       12 . The corner connector of  claim 10  being a unitary, extruded piece. 
   
   
       13 . The corner connector of  claim 10  where the support members and the connector member all have substantially the same length and the connector member includes a plurality of teeth that grip said slot in the vertically oriented panel. 
   
   
       14 . A corner connector comprising
 a first substantially planar, rigid, elongated support member having an inner end and an outer end,   a second substantially planar, rigid, elongated support member having an inner end and an outer free end,   said inner ends of the support member being connected lengthwise to form a substantially right angle junction,   a substantially planar, rigid, elongated finger element (a) projecting outwardly from an outer side of said first support member that is opposite the right angle junction and (b) extending lengthwise along the outer end of said first support member and forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member to point inward and upward away from said right angle junction, said finger element terminating in an outer free end, and   a substantially planar, rigid, elongated connector member at or near the right angle junction and extending along said junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction, said connector member including a gripping structure and terminating in an outer free end,   said support members, finger element, and connector member being substantially equal in length, and said connector member and said second support member being at an angle substantially from 5 to 85 degrees with respect to each other,   said outer free ends of the second support member, finger element, and connector member being substantially parallel,   said corner connector being symmetrical about a latitudinal centerline.   
   
   
       15 . A combination of a corner connector and a pair of panels comprising
 said corner connector attaching said pair of panels together substantially at a right angle to form a corner with one panel oriented substantially horizontally and the other panel oriented substantially vertically, with each panel having substantially the same predetermined width and positioned to be connected so that outer longitudinal edges thereof are aligned with each other,   said horizontally oriented panel having a pair of slots therein in an underside of the horizontally oriented panel, one slot being near one opposed end of the horizontally oriented panel and pointing towards said one opposed end and the other slot being near the other opposed end of the horizontally oriented panel and pointing towards said other opposed end, each slot having a terminal open end at a longitudinal edge of the horizontally oriented panel and being (a) substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the horizontally oriented panel, (b) extending substantially across the entire width of the horizontally oriented panel and (c) at the same acute angle with respect to the underside,   said substantially vertically oriented panel having a slot in an inner side that is substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the vertically oriented panel and being at a predetermined angle with respect to the inner side,   said corner connector being an integral, unitary, extruded metal piece that is symmetrical about a latitudinal centerline and comprising   first and second substantially planar and rigid elongated support members connected to form a right angle junction enabling the first support member to be positioned beneath the horizontally oriented panel with an outer side of said first support member abutting the underside of the horizontally oriented panel and enabling the second support member to be positioned next to the vertically oriented panel with an outer side of said second support member abutting and extending downward along the vertically oriented panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member and projecting outwardly from the outer side of said first support member to enable the finger element to be inserted into a slot in the horizontally oriented panel, and   a connector member along the second support member at or near the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction towards the vertically oriented panel to enable the connector member to be inserted into and grip a slot in the vertically oriented panel,   support members, finger element, and the connector member all have substantially the same length with said connector member including a plurality of teeth for gripping said slot in the vertically oriented panel,   said symmetrical about the latitudinal centerline enabling the corner connector to be rotated 180 degrees so said finger element may be inserted into either one of the slots in the horizontally oriented panel by sliding it endwise into the terminal open end of either one of the slots in the longitudinal edge of the horizontally oriented panel.   
   
   
       16 . A corner structure comprising
 a substantially horizontally oriented panel having a slot in an underside that is substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the horizontally oriented panel and with respect to the underside is at acute angle substantially from 5 to 85 degrees, said slot in the underside having a terminal open end at an edge of the horizontally oriented panel,   a substantially vertically oriented panel having a slot in an inner side that is substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the vertically oriented panel and with respect to the inner side is at angle substantially from 60 to 130 degrees,   said horizontally oriented panel having an end that abuts the vertically oriented panel to form a corner, said panels being connected together by a unitary, extruded metal corner connector that fits into said corner,   said corner connector comprising   a pair of support members forming a substantially right angle junction,   one of said support members terminating in finger element that forms with respect to said one support member an acute angle substantially equal to the acute angle of the slot in the horizontally oriented panel, said finger element projecting outwardly from one side of said one support member that is opposite the right angle junction, said finger element inserted into the slot in the horizontally oriented panel by sliding it endwise into the terminal open end of said slot in the horizontally oriented panel to fit snug therein, and   a connector member at said junction that projects outwardly away from said junction at an angle substantially equal to the angle that the slot in the vertically oriented panel forms with said inner side of said vertically oriented panel, said connector member including a gripping structure inserted into the slot in the vertically oriented panel to fit snug within and grip said slot in the vertically oriented panel.   
   
   
       17 . The corner structure of  claim 16  where the panels are each of substantially the same width with edges of the panels being substantially aligned and the support members, finger element, and connector member each have a width substantially equal to the width of the panels. 
   
   
       18 . The corner structure of  claim 17  where the slot in the inner side of the vertically oriented panel has a terminal open end at an edge of the vertically oriented panel. 
   
   
       19 . The corner connector of  claim 18  where the gripping structure comprises a plurality of teeth. 
   
   
       20 . A corner structure of a modular cabinet mounted to a wall including
 a substantially vertically oriented panel substantially at a right angle to the wall, said vertically oriented panel having a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, an inner side, and an angular slot in the inner side extending along at least a portion of the vertically oriented panel's width at substantially a right angle to the vertically oriented panel's longitudinal centerline,   a substantially horizontally oriented panel substantially at a right angle to the wall, said horizontally oriented panel having a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, and an underside having an angular slot therein across at least a portion of the horizontally oriented panel's width at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal centerline of the horizontally oriented panel,   a connector for attaching the panels together to form a corner, said connector comprising   first and second elongated support members connected to form a right angle junction enabling the first support member to be positioned beneath the horizontally oriented panel with a side of said first support member abutting the underside of the horizontally oriented panel and the second support member positioned next to the vertically oriented panel with a side of said second support member abutting and extending downward along said vertically oriented panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element projecting outwardly from the one side of said first support member and inserted into the slot in the horizontally oriented panel, and   a connector member including a gripping structure at the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction towards the vertically oriented panel and inserted into the slot in the vertically oriented panel.   
   
   
       21 . The corner structure of  claim 20  where the angular slot in the horizontally oriented panel has a terminal open end at an edge of the horizontally oriented panel and the elongated finger element is inserted therein by sliding it endwise into said terminal open end in the horizontally oriented panel upon attaching the panels together. 
   
   
       22 . The corner structure of  claim 21  where the angular slot in the horizontally oriented panel is at an acute angle with respect to the underside and faces the vertically oriented panel and the finger element forms an acute angle with respect to said first support member that is substantially the same as the acute angle of the slot in the horizontally oriented panel. 
   
   
       23 . A modular cabinet mounted onto a wall comprising
 a wall hanger attached to the wall in a horizontal orientation, said wall hanger having a predetermined, substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along a predetermined length of the wall hanger,   a pair of side panels each having a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, a rear edge portion having therein a cut-a-way section with a configuration substantially identical to the cross-sectional configuration of the wall hanger, an inner side, an angular slot in the inner side extending along at least a portion of the width of the side panel at substantially a right angle to the side panel's longitudinal centerline, said side panels mounted to the wall hanger in a spaced apart substantially vertical orientation with the wall hanger received in the cut-a-way sections of the side panels,   a horizontally oriented panel positioned between the side panels, said horizontally oriented panel having opposed ends, an edge, a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, an underside with a pair of angular slots, each slot being near one of the ends of the horizontally oriented panel and being spaced the same predetermined distance from said ends, each said slot being substantially a right angle to the longitudinal centerline of the third panel, said angular slots being at an acute angle with respect to the underside and pointing away from each other,   a pair of corner connectors, one at each end of and connected beneath the horizontally oriented panel, one corner connector adjacent and attached to one side panel and the other corner connector adjacent and attached to the other side panel, each corner connector comprising   first and second elongated support members forming a right angle junction, said first support member having one side that abuts the underside of the horizontally oriented panel and the second support member positioned next to an adjacent vertically oriented side panel, said second support member having one side adapted to abut and extend downward along said adjacent vertically oriented side panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member and projecting outwardly from the outer side of said first support member into one slot in the underside of the horizontally oriented panel, said acute angle of the finger element being substantially equal to the acute angle of said one slot, said finger element being at a predetermined distance from the second support member that is substantially equal to the predetermined distance said one slot is from one end of the horizontally oriented panel, and   a connector member at the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction at a predetermined angle to fit snug into the slot in an adjacent side panel.   
   
   
       24 . The modular cabinet of  claim 23  where the slots in the horizontally oriented panel each extends substantially across the entire panel's width. 
   
   
       25 . The modular cabinet of  claim 24  where the slots in the underside of the horizontally oriented panel each terminate in an opening in said edge and the finger element of each corner connector is inserted into one slot by sliding said finger element endwise into the opening of said one slot. 
   
   
       26 . A kit for a modular cabinet comprising
 a pair of side panels each adapted to be vertically oriented and each having a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, a rear edge portion having therein a cut-a-way section, an inner side, an angular slot in the inner side extending along at least a portion of the width of the side panel at substantially a right angle to the side panel's longitudinal centerline, said cut-a-way sections of each side panel having substantially the same predetermined shape,   a wall hanger adapted to be attached onto a wall in a horizontal orientation, said wall hanger having a predetermined cross-sectional configuration substantially identical to the cut-a-way sections of the side panels to enable the side panels to be attached thereto in a spaced apart vertical orientation with the wall hanger received in the cut-a-way sections of the side panels,   a third panel adapted to be horizontally oriented and positioned between the side panels, said third panel having opposed ends, an edge, a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, an underside with a pair of angular slots, each slot being near one of the ends of the third panel and being spaced the same predetermined distance from said ends, each said slot being at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal centerline of the third panel, said angular slots each being at an acute angle with respect to the underside and pointing away from each other,   a pair of substantially identical corner connectors for attaching the third panel between the side panels, each corner connector comprising   first and second elongated support members connected to form a right angle junction enabling the first support member to be positioned beneath the third panel when horizontally oriented, said first support member having one side adapted to abut the underside of the horizontally oriented third panel and the second support member adapted to be positioned next to an adjacent vertically oriented side panel, said second support member having a side adapted to abut and extend downward along said adjacent vertically oriented side panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member and projecting outwardly from the one side of said first support member, said acute angle of the finger element being substantially equal to the acute angle of the angular slots in the underside of the third panel, and the finger element being at a predetermined distance from the second support member that is substantially equal to the predetermined distance each slot in the underside of the third panel is from one end of the third panel, and   a connector member at the right angle junction and projecting outwardly away from said junction at a predetermined angle that enables the connector member to be inserted into the slot in an adjacent side panel upon assembly.   
   
   
       27 . The kit of  claim 26  with the slots in the third panel terminate in an opening in said edge and extend from said edge substantially across the entire third panel's width. 
   
   
       28 . A method of constructing a cabinet structure directly onto a wall, said method comprising the steps of
 (a) attaching a wall hanger to the wall in a substantially horizontal orientation, said wall hanger having a predetermined, substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along a predetermined length of the wall hanger,   (b) mounting a pair of side panels on the wall hanger, each side panel having a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, a rear edge portion having therein a cut-a-way section with a configuration substantially identical to the cross-sectional configuration of the wall hanger, an inner side, an angular slot in the inner side extending along at least a portion of the width of the side panel at substantially a right angle to the side panel's longitudinal centerline, said side panels being mounted to the wall hanger in a spaced apart substantially vertical orientation with the wall hanger received in the cut-a-way sections of the side panels,   (c) positioning adjacent the side panels a horizontally oriented panel, said horizontally oriented panel having opposed ends, an edge, a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, an underside with a pair of angular slots, each slot being near one of the ends of the horizontally oriented panel and being spaced the same predetermined distance from said ends, said angular slots being at an acute angle with respect to the underside and pointing away from each other, and   (d) connecting a pair of corner connectors to the horizontally oriented panel, one corner connector at each end of and connected beneath the horizontally oriented panel, one corner connector adjacent and attached to one side panel and the other corner connector adjacent and attached to the other side panel, each corner connector comprising   first and second elongated support members forming a right angle junction, said first support member having an outer side that abuts the underside of the horizontally oriented panel and the second support member positioned next to an adjacent vertically oriented side panel, said second support member having an outer side that abuts and extends downward along said adjacent vertically oriented side panel,   said first support member having an outer end terminating in a elongated finger element extending lengthwise along said outer end of said first support member, said finger element forming an acute angle with respect to said first support member and projecting outwardly from the outer side of said first support member to fit into one slot in the underside of the horizontally oriented panel, said acute angle of the finger element being substantially equal to the acute angle of said one slot, and the finger element being at a predetermined distance from the second support member that is substantially equal to the predetermined distance said one slot is from one end of the horizontally oriented panel, and   a connector member at the right angle junction that projects outwardly away from said junction to fit snug into the slot in an adjacent side panel.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  where each said slot in the horizontally oriented panel terminates in an opening in said panel's edge and said finger element is inserted into the one slot in the horizontally oriented panel by sliding said finger element endwise into said opening. 
   
   
       30 . A method of constructing a cabinet structure directly onto a wall, said method comprising the steps of
 (a) attaching a wall hanger to the wall in a substantially horizontal orientation,   (b) mounting a pair of side panels on the wall hanger in a spaced apart substantially vertical orientation, each side panel having an inner side including a slot extending along at least a portion of the inner side,   (c) positioning adjacent the side panels a horizontally oriented panel to form corners where the side panels meet the horizontally oriented panel, said horizontally oriented panel having an underside with a pair of slots, each slot being near a corner and said slots being at an acute angle with respect to the underside, and   (d) connecting a corner connector to adjacent panels at each corner and beneath the horizontally oriented panel, each corner connector including portions that are received in the slots in the adjacent panels.