Modular Outdoor Cabinetry System

Abstract

A modular outdoor cabinetry system that can be easily assembled from standardized, prefabricated parts, and can be modified or disassembled with ease. The system consists of corner posts and panels that can be assembled into cabinets of various sizes. The cabinets may be configured as standard cabinets having one or more opening doors or may be configured as specialty cabinets with different kits. A bar kit enables a cabinet to include a raised bar, a sink kit enables a cabinet to house a sink, a grill kit enables a cabinet to house a grill, a drawer kit enables a cabinet to include drawers, a refrigerator kit enables a cabinet to house a refrigerator and a trash can kit enables a cabinet to house a trash can. The cabinets are configured to enable the exterior of the cabinets to be changed in an easy manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular cabinet comprising:
 a cabinet floor defining a shape of the cabinet;   a plurality of panels to provide walls of the cabinet;   a plurality of corner posts to be secured to corners of the cabinet floor, wherein each of the corner posts is configured to receive and secure two panels, wherein each panel secured to one of the corner posts provides at least a portion of at least one of the walls of the cabinet;   a first upper support to connect between a first set of the corner posts to provide support to an upper end of a first side of the cabinet;   a second upper support to connect between a second set of the corner posts to provide support to the upper end of a second side of the cabinet and to provide support for a counter top for the cabinet; and   an entry point along a side of the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the corner posts include two flanges and the panels are secured to the flanges, wherein the panels have a thickness approximately equal to thickness of the corner posts so that the panels and the corner posts are in alignment. 
     
     
         3 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a center post secured to the cabinet floor and the second upper support, wherein a wall for the second side of the cabinet is formed by a panel between each corner post and the center post. 
     
     
         4 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the entry point includes at least one pivoting door. 
     
     
         5 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the entry point includes a frame having an opening provided therein for accessing a device housed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a glide rail system mounted within the cabinet, wherein the entry point includes at least one pull out door, wherein the door has a drawer connected to a lower end thereof to house one or more bins, wherein the drawer is secured to the glide rail system, and wherein the door and the cabinet are capable of being pulled in and out of the cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a faceplate to be secured to the cabinet, wherein the faceplate has a plurality of drawer holes formed therein and wherein each of the drawer holes has a gutter formed therearound to route water away therefrom; and   a plurality of glide rail systems mounted within the cabinet, wherein a glide rail system is associated with each drawer hole;   wherein the entry point includes at a plurality of pull out drawers, wherein a pull out drawer is associated with each drawer hole and each glide rail system and is capable of being pulled in and out of the cabinet, wherein a front panel for each pull out drawer has a frame and a recessed portion, wherein the frame abuts the faceplate and the recessed portion receives the gutter.   
     
     
         8 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper support is U shaped and connects between the corner posts along the second side of the cabinet and two sides adjacent thereto, wherein the U shaped support includes a raised portion for securing a grill above a top of the cabinet. 
     
     
         9 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a bar kit having a back splash and a bar extending from the back splash, wherein the bar kit is to be mounted to a side of the cabinet so the backsplash extends upward from the top of the cabinet and the bar extends from the side of the cabinet. 
     
     
         10 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the panels include a receiving panel and a faux designer panel to be secured to the receiving panel. 
     
     
         11 . The modular cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a toe kick that includes an upper portion secured to the cabinet and a lower portion movably connected to the upper portion to provide for alignment on an uneven surface. 
     
     
         12 . A modular cabinetry system comprising:
 a plurality of modular cabinets connected together in an arrangement, wherein each cabinet comprises
 a cabinet floor defining a shape of the cabinet; 
 one or more decorative panels to provide external walls for sides of the cabinet that will be external to the arrangement; 
 one or more divider panels to provide internal walls for sides of the cabinet that will be external to the arrangement; 
 a plurality of corner posts to be secured to corners of the cabinet floor, wherein each of the corner posts is configured to receive and secure some combination of decorative panels and divider panels from two sides; 
 a first upper support to connect between a first set of the corner posts to provide support to an upper end of a first side of the cabinet 
 a second upper support to connect between a second set of the corner posts to provide support to the upper end of a second side of the cabinet and to provide support for a counter top for the cabinet; and 
 an entry point along a side of the cabinet; 
   a plurality of mounting brackets to connect the plurality of modular cabinets together.   
     
     
         13 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets includes the entry point having at least one pivoting door. 
     
     
         14 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets includes the entry point having a frame providing an opening therein for accessing a device housed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         15 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets includes a glide rail system mounted therewithin, wherein the entry point includes at least one pull out door having a drawer connected to a lower end thereof to house one or more bins, wherein the drawer is secured to the glide rail system. 
     
     
         16 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets is a drawer cabinet, wherein the drawer cabinet includes
 a faceplate to be secured to the cabinet, wherein the faceplate has a plurality of drawer holes formed therein and wherein each of the drawer holes has a gutter formed therearound to route water away; and   a plurality of glide rail systems mounted within the cabinet, wherein a glide rail system is associated with each drawer hole;   wherein the entry point includes at a plurality of pull out drawers, wherein a pull out drawer is associated with each drawer hole and each glide rail system, wherein a front panel for each pull out drawer has a frame and a recessed portion, wherein the frame abuts the faceplate and the recessed portion receives the gutter.   
     
     
         17 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets is a grill cabinet, wherein
 the second upper support is U shaped and connects between the corner posts along the second side of the cabinet and two sides adjacent thereto;   the U shaped support includes a raised portion for securing a grill above a top of the cabinet; and   the first upper support is lowered so that a portion of the first side of the cabinet is to receive a control panel for the grill.   
     
     
         18 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets includes a bar kit having a back splash and a bar extending from the back splash, wherein the bar kit is to be mounted to the back of the cabinet so the backsplash extends upward from the top of the back of the cabinet and the bar extends from the back of the cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular cabinets includes a glide rail system mounted therewithin and a cabinet adapted to be received within the glide rail system, wherein the entry point includes at least one pivoting door. 
     
     
         20 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , further comprising a corner cabinet to change direction of the plurality of modular cabinets in the arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , wherein at least a subset of the one or more decorative panels include a receiving panel and a faux designer panel to be secured to the receiving panel. 
     
     
         22 . The modular cabinetry system of  claim 12 , further comprising a toe kick that includes an upper portion secured to the perimeter of the arrangement of the modular cabinetry system and a lower portion movably connected to the upper portion to provide for alignment on an uneven surface.