Cabinet systems with tension rods as frame members

Claim 1

A cabinet unit having a plurality of compartments comprising: a plurality of tension rod/frame assemblies, one such assembly located in each corner of said unit and extending transversely across the width thereof, each assembly including a metal stretcher channel forming a conduit extending the width of each compartment, all of said conduits for each assembly being horizontally aligned, each assembly further including a continuous metal rod received in said aligned conduits, each of said stretcher channels comprising an elongated metal member having a plurality of inteconnected thin metal walls including a first horizontal wall, a second horizontal wall spaced beneath said first horizontal wall, and first and second vertical wall means integral with said first and second horizontal walls to define said conduit receiving an associated tension rod; each conduit being larger in area than the cross section of a rod received therein and each stretcher including spacer means within said conduit for holding said stretcher channel against lateral movement relative to a rod on whhich it is assembled; a separator panel separating each adjacent pair of compartments and interposed between all four pairs of adjacent channels; a pair of exterior side panels, each of said separator and exterior panels defining corner holes aligned with the conduit of an associated tension rod/frame assembly; end fastener means holding the ends of each continuous rod in tension against the outboard ends of said aligned stretcher channels, said stretcher channels being dimensioned to extend beyond said associatEd corner holes of said separator panels and providing end portions biting into the separator panels engagecd thereby and holding an associated separator panel in vertical alignment while resisting twisting of said channels; a door assembly including upper and lower hinge means secured respectively to the stretcher channels associated with said upper and lower front tension rod/frame assemblies; a door hingedly connected to said hinge means; and a bottom panel for each compartment carried by the lower rear and front tension rod/frame assemblies.