Method for designing and detailing cabinets

Claim 1

A method for building cabinets to fit within an available space, comprising the steps of: a computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for a user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space and construction rules for the construction of the individual cabinets, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined cabinet design standards having parameters that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined cabinet design standards in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined cabinet design standards in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined cabinet design standards into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space of the base cabinets and the upper cabinets remaining after the step of providing, by selecting an array of base cabinets according to the layout design rules of the database and the available space constraints, adding upper cabinets, each corresponding in location and lateral dimension to the base cabinet directly below the upper cabinet, and accepting modification to the placement or dimension of a cabinet or element thereof selectively by the user, thereafter repeating the steps of selecting an array and adding; the computer completing final design of the cabinets using the construction rules of the cabinet design standards in the job database; the computer detailing the cabinets to establish a cutting list, a bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, and printing the cutting list, bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, the computer providing a user-selected elevational or three dimensional current image of the visual appearance of the design of the cabinets to the user on a video display terminal at each of the steps of selecting, filling the available space, and completing the final design; and building an arrangement of cabinets according to the design produced responsive to the interaction between the user and the computer.

Claim 2

A method for building cabinets to fit within an available space, comprising the steps of: a computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for a user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space and construction rules for the construction of the individual cabinets, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined cabinet design standards having parameters that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined cabinet design standards in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined cabinet design standards in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined cabinet design standards into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space of the base cabinets and the upper cabinets remaining after the step of providing, by selecting an array of base cabinets according to the layout design rules of the database and the available space constraints, adding upper cabinets, each corresponding in location and lateral dimension to the base cabinet directly below the upper cabinet, and accepting modification to the placement or dimension of a cabinet or element thereof selectively by the user, thereafter repeating the steps of selecting an array and adding; the computer completing final design of the cabinets using the construction rules of the cabinet design standards in the job database; the computer detailing the cabinets to establish a cutting list, a bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, and printing the cutting list, bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, the computer providing a user-selected elevational or three dimensional current image of the visual appearance of the design of the cabinets to the user on a video display terminal at each of the steps of selecting, filling the available space, and completing the final design; and building an arrangement of cabinets according to the design produced responsive to the interaction between the user and the computer.

Claim 3

A method for designing a group of cabinets to fit within an available space and for producing instructions for the building of the group of cabinets, using an interactive computer system operated by a user, comprising the steps of: the computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for the user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined layout rules that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined layout rules in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined layout rules and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined layout rules into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space with a grouping of cabinets based upon the job database so established by applying the design rules of the job database, and outputting instructions on the building of the group of cabinets, the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets being selectively visible to the user on a video display terminal in elevational or three-dimensional views.

Claim 4

A method for designing a group of cabinets to fit within an available space and for producing instructions for the building of the group of cabinets, using an interactive computer system operated by a user, comprising the steps of: the computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for the user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined layout rules that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined layout rules in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined layout rules and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined layout rules into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space with a grouping of cabinets based upon the job database so established by applying the design rules of the job database, and outputting instructions on the building of the group of cabinets, the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets being selectively visible to the user on a video display terminal in elevational or three-dimensional views.

Claim 13

A method for building cabinets to fit within an available space, comprising the steps of: a computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for a user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined layout rules that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined layout rules in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined layout rules in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined layout rules in the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space with a group of cabinets based upon the job database so established by applying the design rules of the job database and outputting instructions on the building of the group of cabinets, the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets being selectively visible to the user on a video display terminal in elevational or three-dimensional views; and building an arrangement of cabinets according to the design produced responsive to the interaction between the user and the computer.

Claim 14

A method for building cabinets to fit within an available space, comprising the steps of: a computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for a user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined layout rules that may be modified by the user, the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined layout rules in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined layout rules in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined layout rules in the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space with a group of cabinets based upon the job database so established by applying the design rules of the job database and outputting instructions on the building of the group of cabinets, the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets being selectively visible to the user on a video display terminal in elevational or three-dimensional views; and building an arrangement of cabinets according to the design produced responsive to the interaction between the user and the computer.

Claim 15

A method for designing and detailing a group of cabinets including base cabinets and upper cabinets to fit within an available space and providing instructions for the building of the cabinets, using an interactive computer system operated by a user, comprising the steps of: the computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for the user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space and construction rules for the construction of the individual cabinets, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined cabinet design standards having parameters that may be modified by the user the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined cabinet design standards in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined cabinet design standards in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined cabinet design standards into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space of the base cabinets and the upper cabinets remaining after the step of providing, by selecting an array of base cabinets according to the layout design rules of the database and the available space constraints, adding upper cabinets, each corresponding in location and lateral dimension to the base cabinet directly below the upper cabinet, and accepting modification to the placement or dimension of a cabinet or element thereof selectively by the user, thereafter repeating the steps of selecting an array and adding; the computer completing final design of the cabinets using the construction rules of the cabinet design standards in the job database; and the computer detailing the cabinets to establish a cutting list, a bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, and outputting the cutting list, bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, the computer providing a user-selected elevational or three dimensional current image of the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets to the user on a video display terminal at each of the steps of filling the available space and completing the final design.

Claim 16

A method for designing and detailing a group of cabinets including base cabinets and upper cabinets to fit within an available space and providing instructions for the building of the cabinets, using an interactive computer system operated by a user, comprising the steps of: the computer establishing a job database comprising cabinet design standards customized for the user, the job database having cabinet design standards initially provided in the job database, and user-defined cabinet design standards that are fully defined by the user, the cabinet design standards including layout rules for the type, configuration, and positioning of cabinets to fit within an available space and construction rules for the construction of the individual cabinets, the step of establishing including the steps of the computer copying from a system database an initial job database of system-defined cabinet design standards having parameters that may be modified by the user the user selectively modifying parameters for system defined cabinet design standards in the job database, the computer permitting the user to selectively create custom defined cabinet design standards in the job database and permitting the user to input values for the custom defined cabinet design standards into the job database; the user providing available space constraints for the placement of the cabinets, the placement being the designed location in space occupied by the cabinets; the computer filling the available space of the base cabinets and the upper cabinets remaining after the step of providing, by selecting an array of base cabinets according to the layout design rules of the database and the available space constraints, adding upper cabinets, each corresponding in location and lateral dimension to the base cabinet directly below the upper cabinet, and accepting modification to the placement or dimension of a cabinet or element thereof selectively by the user, thereafter repeating the steps of selecting an array and adding; the computer completing final design of the cabinets using the construction rules of the cabinet design standards in the job database; and the computer detailing the cabinets to establish a cutting list, a bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, and outputting the cutting list, bill of materials, and projected costs of manufacture, the computer providing a user-selected elevational or three dimensional current image of the visual appearance of the design of the group of cabinets to the user on a video display terminal at each of the steps of filling the available space and completing the final design.