Closet and Cabinet Cleat

Abstract

A closet and cabinet cleat system as described in which a cleat is connected between at least two studs and provides a surface which receives a foot from a cutout of a panel. The panel may be connected to other panels in the form of a cabinet such as a bookshelf structure or other cabinet structure. Furthermore, the cleat is also useful to support a shelf extending away from the panel internal to cabinets. Other cleats may be useful to assist in supporting shelving and supporting brackets for hanging closet rods thereon. With the applicant's system, a closet can be installed in an extremely little time while still providing an excellent quality product to the marketplace.

1 . A storage configuration comprising:
 an elongated cleat having an upper shoulder spaced at least partially by a gap from a wall once installed, said cleat spanning a length of at least two frame studs along the wall and having indications on a surface correlating to anticipated stud locations;   a first planar vertical panel having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said first panel having a downwardly extending foot extending into the cutout received by the cleat in the gap when installed, with the rear surface of the first panel contacting the wall when installed and the cleat extending past at least one of the left and right faces of the wall; and   a first shelf at least partially supported by the vertical wall panel at a first end and at least partially supported at an opposite second end by at least one of a second planar vertical panel supported by the cleat and a bracket.   
   
   
       2 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the upper shoulder provides an acute angle with the wall once installed with the foot contacting the angle which assists in providing a force to pull the first panel towards the wall. 
   
   
       3 . The storage configuration of  claim 2  wherein an upper portion of the cutout further comprises a notch providing a void above at least a portion of the shoulder of the cleat when installed, said notch assisting in at least one of locating the first panel on the cleat and removing the first panel from the cleat. 
   
   
       4 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the cleat has a flat upper surface at an upper portion of the shoulder perpendicularly oriented relative to the wall when installed, and said flat upper surface supports a rear portion of the shelf when installed. 
   
   
       5 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the indications are bores on a front surface, and the cleat is a powder coated wood product. 
   
   
       6 . The storage configuration of  claim 5  wherein the bores extend through the cleat from the front to the back surface. 
   
   
       7 . The storage configuration of  claim 5  wherein the bores are aligned in a row. 
   
   
       8 . The storage configuration of  claim 7  wherein the bores are at intervals of about two inches or less. 
   
   
       9 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the first panel is connected by a top and a bottom to a third planar vertical panel, said third panel having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said first panel having a downwardly extending foot extending into the cutout received by the cleat in the gap when installed, with the rear surface of the first panel contacting the wall when installed and the cleat extending past at least one of the left and right faces of the wall thereby providing a first cabinet portion; and the shelf extends in a direction from the first panel opposite to the second panel with a rear of the shelf at least partially supported by the cleat. 
   
   
       10 . The storage configuration of  claim 9  further comprising a second cabinet portion supported by the cleat, said second cabinet portion characterized by first and second planar vertical panels having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said first panel having a downwardly extending foot extending into the cutout received by the cleat in the gap when installed, and the first and second panels connected with a top and a bottom, and the cleat, along with the first and second cabinet portions are comprised substantially of powder coated wood products. 
   
   
       11 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is connected at an end of the cleat with the bracket having a bore aligned with an indication for positioning in front of a stud in the wall. 
   
   
       12 . The storage configuration of  claim 11  wherein the bracket further comprises a hook at a cantilevered end of the bracket supporting a portion of a closet rod. 
   
   
       13 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the cleat is further comprised of cleat portions disposed with an end of a first cleat portion oriented at an end of a second cleat portion while providing a horizontal plane across an uppermost portion of the shoulder. 
   
   
       14 . The storage configuration of  claim 13  wherein the first and second cleat portions meet at a right angle at a corner with the second cleat portion connected to a second wall. 
   
   
       15 . The storage configuration of  claim 14  further comprising a corner cabinet having a third planar vertical panel and a top and bottom connecting the third panel to the first panel, said third panel having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said third panel having a downwardly extending foot extending into the cutout received by the cleat in the gap when installed, with the rear surface of the third panel contacting the second wall when installed and the cleat extending past at least one of the left and right faces of the second wall. 
   
   
       16 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  wherein the cleat is symmetrically disposed relative to its height whereby a top and a bottom can provide the upper shoulder. 
   
   
       17 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver connected to the first panel receiving an end of a closet rod which extends away from the first panel. 
   
   
       18 . The storage configuration of  claim 1  further comprising at least one parallel cleat below the cleat, said parallel cleat at least assisting in supporting a closet rod. 
   
   
       19 . A storage configuration comprising:
 an elongated cleat having an upper shoulder spaced from a wall once installed, said cleat spanning at least two frame studs along the wall and having indications in the form of bores on a front surface at spaced intervals;   a first planar vertical wall panel having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said cutout having a downwardly extending foot received by the cleat, with the rear surface contacting the wall when installed with the cleat extending from at least one of the left and right faces of the wall; and   a shelf connected to the vertical wall panel.   
   
   
       20 . The storage configuration of  claim 19  wherein the first panel is connected by a top and a bottom to a third planar vertical panel, said third panel having a rear surface with a cutout defined between left and right faces, said first panel having a downwardly extending foot extending into the cutout received by the cleat in the gap when installed, with the rear surface of the first panel contacting the wall when installed and the cleat extending past at least one of the left and right faces of the wall thereby providing a first cabinet portion; and the shelf extends in a direction from the first panel opposite to the second panel with a rear of the shelf at least partially supported by the cleat.