Indoor/outdoor appliance housing

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an appliance housing, configured to at least partially enclose and support kitchen and grilling appliances and further configured to support decorative finishes, such as a countertops and paneling. An appliance housing may include a first panel and a second panel. An appliance housing may include a connector, wherein the connector includes a first and second slot, wherein the first slot receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot receives a portion of the second panel.

1 . An appliance housing, comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel; and   a connector, wherein the connector includes a first and second slot, wherein the first slot receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot receives a portion of the second panel.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels each include two sheet layers separated by an insulating layer. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second panels are each aluminum honeycomb panels. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are cement panels. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second slots include plurality of apertures, and wherein each of the apertures of the first and second slots is aligned with a respective one of a plurality of apertures of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 5 , wherein rivets are provided through the apertures of the respective first and second panels and first and second slots to fasten the first and second panels to the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connector is either a mid-section connector or a corner connector. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a mid-section connector configured such that the first and second panels are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the connector exhibits a substantial H-shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a corner connector configured such that the first and second panels are substantially non-parallel to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the connector is a corner connector configured such that the first and second panels are substantially perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the connector is a corner connector configured such that the first and second panels are arranged at an angle of about 30°, 45°, or 60° relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the appliance housing includes a finish. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the appliance housing includes at least one cavity defined partially by the first panel or second panel, configured to at least partially receive an appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first panel and second panel are connected to the connector without any welds. 
     
     
         16 . An appliance housing, comprising:
 a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel;   a mid-section connector including a first slot and a second slot, wherein the first slot of the mid-section connector receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot of the mid-section connector receives a portion of the second panel such that the first and second panels are substantially parallel to one another; and   a corner connector including a first slot and a second slot, wherein the first slot of the corner connector receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot of the corner connector receives a portion of the third panel such that the first panel is substantially non-parallel to the third panel.   
     
     
         17 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first, second, and third panels each include two sheet layers separated by an insulating layer. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first, second, and third panels are each aluminum honeycomb panels. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance housing as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first, second, and third panels are cement panels. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 arranging a first and second panel in a first slot and a second slot, respectively, of a mid-section connector of an appliance housing such that the first slot of the mid-section connector receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot of the mid-section connector receives a portion of the second panel, and such that the first and second panels are substantially parallel to one another; and   arranging the first panel and a third panel in a first slot and second slot, respectively, of a corner connector such that the first slot of the corner connector receives a portion of the first panel and the second slot of the corner connector receives a portion of the third panel, and such that the first panel is substantially non-parallel to the third panel.