Prefabricated cabinet assembly

Claim 2

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly comprising: a first end bulkhead; a second end bulkhead spaced from said first end bulkhead and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said first end bulkhead; a plurality of front panels lying in a common plane normal to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads and positioned in edge-to-edge relation between said first and second end bulkhead; means for rigidly connecting said first end bulkhead to one of said front panels adjacent thereto; means for rigidly connecting said second end bulkhead to another of said front panels adjacent thereto; at least one intermediate bulkhead, lying in a plane parallel to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads and engaging a corresponding one of said front panels proximate the edge thereof and adjacent the edge of the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting said intermediate bulkhead and said corresponding one of said front panels; and means for rigidly connecting said intermediate bulkhead and the front next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto are rigidly mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge relation.

Claim 3

The improved prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: said means for rigidly connecting said intermediate bulkhead and said corresponding one of said front panels is characterized further to include: slotted clip means fixedly secured to said intermediate bulkhead adjacent said corresponding one of said front panels for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending from said corresponding one of said front panels toward said slotted clip means for sliding interconnection with said slotted clip means in response to sliding movement of said corresponding one of said panels relative to said intermediate bulkhead.

Claim 4

The improved prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein: said means for rigidly connecting said intermediate bulkhead and the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead is characterized further to include: additional slotted clip means fixedly secured to said intermediate bulkhead adjacent said front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending from said front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead toward said additional slotted clip means for sliding interconnection with said additional slotted clip means in response to sliding movement of said front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead relative to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the corresponding front panel, and the front panel next adjacent thereto are rigidly mutually connected.

Claim 5

The improved prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein: said means for rigidly connecting said first end bulkhead to one of said front panels is characterized further to include: slotted clip means fixedly secured to said first end bulkhead adjacent said front panel for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending from said front panel toward said slotted clip means for sliding interconnection with said slotted clip means in response to sliding movement of said front panel relative to said first end bulkhead.

Claim 6

The improved prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein: said means for rigidly connecting said second end bulkhead to another of said front panels is characterized further to include: slotted clip means fixedly secured to said second end bulkhead adjacent said front panel for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending from said front panel toward said slotted clip means for sliding interconnection with said slotted clip means in response to sliding movement of said front panel relative to said second end bulkhead.

Claim 7

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly comprising: a first end bulkhead lying in a vertical plane and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a second end bulkhead spaced from said first end bulkhead and lying in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of said first end bulkhead, and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface facing the inner surface of said first end bulkhead; a plurality of front panels, each having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and lying in a common vertical plane normal to the planes of said first and second end bulkhead, each front panel being in edge-to-edge contact with the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said first end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said second end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertial edge of said front panel; at least one intermediate bulkhead, each lying in a plane parallel to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, and having parallel vertical edges, one vertical edge thereof engaging the inner surface of a corresponding one of said front panels proximate a vertical edge thereof and adjacent the vertical edge of the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting the one vertical edge of each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels; and means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly, mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact.

Claim 8

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly comprising: a first end bulkhead lying in a vertical plane and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a second end bulkhead spaced from said first end bulkhead and lying in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of said first end bulkhead, and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface facing the inner surface of said first end bulkhead; a plurality of front panels, each having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and lying in a common vertical plane normal to the planes of said first and second end bulkhead, each front panel being in edge-to-edge contact with the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said first end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said second end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertial edge of said front panel; at least one intermediate bulkhead, each lying in a plane parallel to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, and having parallel vertical edges, one vertical edge thereof engaging the inner surface of a corresponding one of said front panels proximate a vertical edge thereof and adjacent the vertical edge of the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting the one vertical edge of each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels; and means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly, mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact.

Claim 9

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 6, characterized further to include: a plurality of rear support members lying in a common plane parallel to the plane of said front panels; means for rigidly connecting said first end bulkhead to one of said rear support members adjacent thereto; means for rigidly connecting said second end bulkhead to another of said rear support members adjacent thereto; means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead, proximate the opposite vertical edge thereof, to a corresponding one of said rear support members; and means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead, proximate the opposite vertical edge thereof, to the rear support member next adjacent the corresponding one of said rear support members.

Claim 10

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein each rear support member is related to a corresponding front panel.

Claim 11

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the horizontal spacing between the vertical edges of at least one front panel differs from the horizontal spacing between the vertical edges of one of the other front panels.

Claim 12

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein: said first and second end bulkheads each includes a finished outer surface and an unfinished inner surface; and said plurality of front panels are each characterized to include a finished outer surface. and an unfinished inner surface.

Claim 13

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said intermediate bulkhead is characterized as being unfinished.

Claim 14

The prefabricated cabinet assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second end bulkheads, said plurality of front panels and said at least one intermediate bulkhead are formed of sheets of wood particle board.

Claim 15

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly comprising: a first end bulkhead lying in a vertical plane and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a second end bulkhead spaced from said first end bulkhead and lying in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of said first end bulkhead, and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface facing the inner surface of said first end bulkhead; a plurality of front panels, each having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and lying in a common vertical plane normal to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, each front panel being in edge-to-edge contact with the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said first end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels proximate thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said second end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; at least one intermediate bulkhead, each lying in a plane parallel to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, and having parallel vertical edges, one vertical edge thereof engaging the inner surface of a corresponding one of said front panels proximate a vertical edge thereof and adjacent the vertical edge of the next adjacent front panel, each said intermediate bulkhead further including: a vertical bulkhead panel having parallel vertical front and rear edges, a first vertical side and a second, opposite vertical side; and at least one rigid horizontal member fixedly secured to the first side of said bulkhead panel, said horizontal member including a vertical edge thereon lying in a plane coinciding with the plane of the first vertical edge of said bulkhead panel; means for rigidly connecting the one vertical edge of each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels, said means further including: vertical slotted clip means fixedly secured to the front vertical edge of said vertical bulkhead panel for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and horizontally extending protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels for slidingly engaging said vertically slotted clip means and rigidly connecting the front vertical edge of said vertical bulkhead panel to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels; means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact, said means further including: second vertically slotted clip means fixedly secured to the vertical edge of said at least one rigid horizontal member for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and horizontally extending protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead for slidingly engaging said second vertically slotted clip means and rigidly connecting the vertical edge of said at least one rigid horizontal member to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto, and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact.

Claim 16

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly comprising: a first end bulkhead lying in a vertical plane and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a second end bulkhead spaced from said first end bulkhead and lying in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of said first end bulkhead, and having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface facing the inner surface of said first end bulkhead; a plurality of front panels, each having parallel vertical edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and lying in a common vertical plane normal to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, each front panel being in edge-to-edge contact with the next adjacent front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said first end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels proximate thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; means for rigidly connecting one vertical edge of said second end bulkhead to the inner surface of the one of said front panels adjacent thereto proximate one vertical edge of said front panel; at least one intermediate bulkhead, each lying in a plane parallel to the planes of said first and second end bulkheads, and having parallel vertical edges, one vertical edge thereof engaging the inner surface of a corresponding one of said front panels proximate a vertical edge thereof and adjacent the vertical edge of the next adjacent front panel, each said intermediate bulkhead further including: a vertical bulkhead panel having parallel vertical front and rear edges, a first vertical side and a second, opposite vertical side; and at least one rigid horizontal member fixedly secured to the first side of said bulkhead panel, said horizontal member including a vertical edge thereon lying in a plane coinciding with the plane of the first vertical edge of said bulkhead panel; means for rigidly connecting the one vertical edge of each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels, said means further including: vertical slotted clip means fixedly secured to the front vertical edge of said vertical bulkhead panel for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and horizontally extending protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels for slidingly engaging said vertically slotted clip means and rigidly connecting the front vertical edge of said vertical bulkhead panel to the inner surface of the corresponding one of said front panels; means for rigidly connecting each said intermediate bulkhead to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact, said means further including: second vertically slotted clip means fixedly secured to the vertical edge of said at least one rigid horizontal member for slidingly receiving and retaining protuberant member means therein; and horizontally extending protuberant member means fixedly secured to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead for slidingly engaging said second vertically slotted clip means and rigidly connecting the vertical edge of said at least one rigid horizontal member to the inner surface of the front panel next adjacent the front panel corresponding to said intermediate bulkhead, whereby said intermediate bulkhead, the front panel corresponding thereto, and the next adjacent front panel are rigidly mutually connected with said corresponding front panel and the front panel next adjacent thereto in edge-to-edge contact.