Refrigerator cabinet and method of assembly

Claim 3

The method of assembling a refrigerator cabinet as recited in claim 1 further forming projecting chamfers adjacent the vertically spaced pair of fastener openings in one of said cross members; and forming recesses adjacent one of said pair of vertically spaced apertures in said support bars for receiving said chamfers.

Claim 4

The method of assembling a refrigerator cabinet as recited in claim 2 further including the step of providing a corner bracket secured in each of the upper front corners of said cabinet, each said corner bracket including a leg portion arranged adjacent said first wall portions of said cabinet.

Claim 5

The method of assembling a refrigerator cabinet as recited in claim 3 further including the steps of providing said support bars with elongated mounting brackets which extend upwardly to engage said corner brackets; and; securing said leg portion of each of said corner brackets to said elongated mounting brackets to thereby provide a frame surrounding both of said freezer and fresh food compartments.

Claim 6

A refrigerator cabinet of the type having an outer metal shell with side walls connected by a top wall forming upper front corners and a front face, an inner liner and a partition separating a freezer and fresh food compartments; said front face including inwardly extending parallel side wall portions connected by a top wall portion; said side wall portions each being bent upon itself to provide a first wall portion forming a first recess between said side wall portion and said first wall portion and a second wall portion forming a second recess between said first and second wall portions; said side wall portions and said first wall portions having a first vertically spaced pair of aligned apertures generally located in the area of said partition, and a second pair of vertically spaced aligned apertures arranged in a lower end of said side wall portions and said first wall portions; a frame structure including an elongated mounting bracket arranged vertically in said first recess between each of said side wall portions and said first wall portions, including a pair of vertically spaced openings at each end communicating with said pairs of vertically spaced aligned apertures in said side wall portions and said first wall portions of said front face; a first cross member having end portions arranged in said second recesses including a pair of fastener openings in each end portion spaced vertically apart a distance such that when aligned with said first vertically spaced pair of said aligned apertures said outer metal shell will have the correct cabinet width; a second cross member extending between said side wall portions including a vertically spaced pair of fastener openings in each end thereof spaced to align with said second pair of vertically spaced aligned apertures; securing means insertable through said vertically spaced apertures for drawing said cross member and elongated mounting brackets relative to said first wall portions and said side wall portions for securely holding said cross members substantially perpendicular to said side walls to thereby insure that said cabinet side walls are maintained in a substantially square relationship.

Claim 7

A refrigerator cabinet of the type having an outer metal shell with side walls connected by a top wall forming upper front corners and a front face, an inner liner and a partition separating a freezer and fresh food compartments; said front face including inwardly extending parallel side wall portions connected by a top wall portion; said side wall portions each being bent upon itself to provide a first wall portion forming a first recess between said side wall portion and said first wall portion and a second wall portion forming a second recess between said first and second wall portions; said side wall portions and said first wall portions having a first vertically spaced pair of aligned apertures generally located in the area of said partition, and a second pair of vertically spaced aligned apertures arranged in a lower end of said side wall portions and said first wall portions; a frame structure including an elongated mounting bracket arranged vertically in said first recess between each of said side wall portions and said first wall portions, including a pair of vertically spaced openings at each end communicating with said pairs of vertically spaced aligned apertures in said side wall portions and said first wall portions of said front face; a first cross member having end portions arranged in said second recesses including a pair of fastener openings in each end portion spaced vertically apart a distance such that when aligned with said first vertically spaced pair of said aligned apertures said outer metal shell will have the correct cabinet width; a second cross member extending between said side wall portions including a vertically spaced pair of fastener openings in each end thereof spaced to align with said second pair of vertically spaced aligned apertures; securing means insertable through said vertically spaced apertures for drawing said cross member and elongated mounting brackets relative to said first wall portions and said side wall portions for securely holding said cross members substantially perpendicular to said side walls to thereby insure that said cabinet side walls are maintained in a substantially square relationship.

Claim 8

The refrigerator cabinet as recited in claim 5 wherein a chamfers are formed adjacent the fastener openings in one of said cross members and recesses are formed adjacent the openings in said mounting brackets for receiving said chamfers.

Claim 9

The refrigerator cabinet recited in claim 6 wherein a corner bracket is secured in each of the upper front corners of said cabinet, each of said corner brackets including a leg portion arranged adjacent said side wall portions of said cabinet.

Claim 10

The refrigerator cabinet recited in claim 7 wherein said elongated mounting brackets extend upwardly to engage said corner brackets, means securing said leg portions of said corner brackets to said elongated brackets to form a frame surrounding both of said freezer and fresh food compartments.