Bracket system for mounting an appliance to a cabinet structure

Abstract

A bracket system for coupling an appliance to a cabinet structure includes a mounting bracket having an inner wall spaced-apart from an outer wall and a plurality of apertures is provided through the outer wall. The inner wall couples to the outer surface of the appliance in assembly. A trim member includes first and second mounting portions and an abutment portion inwardly offset from the first and second mounting portions. The first and second mounting portions each include a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough. An inner surface of the first mounting portion abuts the outer wall of the mounting bracket, such that the apertures disposed therebetween are aligned. The second mounting portion includes a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough, and an outer surface of the second mounting portion is configured to abut the inner surface of the cabinet compartment for mounting thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket system for use between an upper surface of an appliance and inner surfaces of a cabinet structure, the bracket system comprising:
 a hinge bracket having a first portion with upper and lower surfaces and a second portion extending orthogonally from the first portion and having front and rear surfaces, wherein the second portion of the hinge bracket includes a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough; and   a mounting bracket having first and second portions, wherein the first portion of the mounting bracket is a substantially horizontal portion that includes upper and lower surfaces, and further wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket is a substantially vertical portion that extends orthogonally in a downward direction from the lower surface of the first portion of the mounting bracket, wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket includes front and rear surfaces, and further wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket includes a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes an overall L-shaped configuration between the first and second portions thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures of the hinge bracket align with the plurality of apertures of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge bracket is coupled to the mounting bracket, such that the rear surface of the second portion of the hinge bracket abuts the front surface of the second portion of the mounting bracket as coupled thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , including:
 at least one hinge support bracket, wherein the at least one hinge support bracket includes a first portion and a second portion, and further wherein the second portion of the at least one hinge support bracket extends upwardly from the first portion of the at least one hinge support bracket and is coupled to the second portion of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         6 . The bracket system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one hinge support bracket includes a third portion extending outwardly in a forward direction from a front surface of the second portion of the at least one hinge support bracket, and further wherein the third portion of the at least one hinge support bracket includes at least one mounting flange extending upwardly from an upper surface of the third portion of the at least one hinge support bracket. 
     
     
         7 . A mounting system, comprising:
 a cabinet structure having a top wall with an inner surface, a first sidewall with an inner surface, and a second sidewall with an inner surface, wherein the top wall and the first and second sidewalls cooperate to partially define a cabinet enclosure;   an appliance having an upper surface, wherein the appliance is received within the cabinet enclosure such that the upper surface of the appliance is positioned below the inner surface of the top wall of the cabinet structure;   a hinge bracket having a first portion with upper and lower surfaces and a second portion extending upwardly from the first portion and having front and rear surfaces, wherein the lower surface of the first portion of the hinge bracket abuts the upper surface of the appliance; and   a mounting bracket having first and second portions, wherein the first portion of the mounting bracket is coupled to the inner surface of the top wall of the cabinet structure, and further wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket extends downwardly from the first portion of the mounting bracket, wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket includes front and rear surfaces, and further wherein the second portion of the mounting bracket is coupled to the second portion of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The mounting system of  claim 7 , including:
 a first hinge support bracket having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the first hinge support bracket extends upwardly from the first portion of the first hinge support bracket and is coupled to a first end of the second portion of the hinge bracket; and   a second hinge support bracket having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the second hinge support bracket extends upwardly from the first portion of the second hinge support bracket and is coupled to a second end of the second portion of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting system of  claim 8 , wherein the first hinge support bracket includes a third portion extending outwardly in a forward direction from a front surface of the second portion of the first hinge support bracket, and further wherein the first portion of the first hinge support bracket extends rearwardly from a rear surface of the second portion of the first hinge support bracket, and is vertically offset from the third portion of the first hinge support bracket; and
 wherein the second hinge support bracket includes a third portion extending outwardly in a forward direction from a front surface of the second portion of the second hinge support bracket, and further wherein the first portion of the second hinge support bracket extends rearwardly from a rear surface of the second portion of the second hinge support bracket, and is vertically offset from the third portion of the second hinge support bracket.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second hinge support brackets each include at least one mounting flange extending upwardly from an upper surface of the third portions thereof, and further wherein the at least one mounting flange of the first and second hinge support brackets is operably coupled to the inner surface of the top wall of the cabinet structure. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second hinge support brackets each include a side mounting flange disposed below the respective third portions of the first and second hinge support brackets, and further wherein the side mounting flange of the first hinge bracket is coupled to the inner surface of the first sidewall of the cabinet structure, and the side mounting flange of the second hinge bracket is coupled to the inner surface of the second sidewall of the cabinet structure.