US2019045A - Cabinet construction - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1935. I z CHAFEE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. s, 1930 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 I 122111 7018 31/ 2 2 v M A Tram/ Oct. 29, 1935. z. CHAFEE 2,019,045

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1950 s Shet-Sheet 2 ii? j 2 6M [IV/25222:? I wyfiy Patented Oct. 2 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE CABINET CONSTRUCTION 1 Zechariah Chafee, Providence, B. I.

Application December 5, 1930, Serial No. 500,319

- 11 Claims. (01.128-37) My invention relates to improvements in cabinet construction, particularly in atype of cabinet adapted to be used in insulated gas and electric ranges as ovens, burner units, etc. "'An object of 5 my invention is to provide a cabinet construction particularly adapted for gas ranges in which all operative parts including the panel side walls, all insulation right up to the corners thereof and all working parts are directly mounted on a rigid reinforcing frame.

In such cabinet constructions, it has become the fashion to ornament the exposed surfaces of the visible top, front and side walls of the cabinet. The usual method of ornamenting the exposed surfaces is to enamel them. It is well known that if the enameled surfaces are exposed to rough handling in transit they are apt to crack and if in use they are subjected to any strain caused by temperature changes or otherwise, they are apt m to buckle or if expanded to crack. Since the demand for enameled ornamented surfaces has arisen in cabinets of this description there has been practically no change in the inherent construction thereof and such cabinets have not been 5 built taking into consideration the perishable nahandle economically should be handled with as much care as glass. While a change has become evident in the building industry and it has been 30 recognized therein that the most economical and practical way to construct a building is to provide a rigid frame therefor first and later attach the walls and roof on to the frame, cabinet constructions have generally still been built in accordance 35 with theold style building construction.

An object of my invention therefore is to provide a cabinet with a rigid reinforcing frame like a skyscraper capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation and readily detachable panel members for the top, front and side walls which may be readily hung on the frame in order not to subject them to any strain in use. I thus construct my improved cabinet so that the steel or other rigid framework may take all the 15 strains of each unit attached to it and'consequentture of the enameled surface, which in order to handling. At present the crate for shipping a cabinet of this description has to be made so strong that the frame work will not be deformed in shipping. By making the framework on which the other parts are hung so strong that it can not 5 be distorted in shipping, I am enabled to ship cabinets of this description in less expensive crates, or even without crates in some instances.

A further object of my invention is to so mount the walls or panel members onto the frame that 10 no unit thereof will be subjected to any strain in connection with any other unit but so that each unit may be attached as directly as possible to the framenot related to any other unit.

The advantage of such a construction of having 15 each of the walls or panel members attached to the frame independently of the other members, are the ease of interchangeability of panels and the. possibility of postponing their attachment until late in the process of manufacture of the cabinet. v

A further advantage of so mounting the side walls or other panel members on such a rigid framework is to provide a cabinet frame with the suitable or desired attachments directly mounted thereon, such as gas burners, etc. and to provide panel or side members which may be attached thereto which may be easily changed without interfering with the general structural arrange-'- ment of the cabinet. As in my improved construction the cabinet members bear a relatively small cost to the cost of the mechanism normally the latest style and provide panel members which 5 i may be interchanged for old style panel members in whole or in part without interfering with the general structural arrangement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cabinet construction wherein the panels can be 40 readily replaced, if one should, become damaged in the shop or in transit, bythe ultimate consumer or his repair man and could if desired be shipped separately and attached in the home, thereby reducing the liability of panel breakage.

A further object of my invention is to lessen the cost of inventory in cabinet constructions of this description as with a change of style it is only necessary to provide new replaceable panel members to replace those which have gone out of style and not carry entire cabinets with their inner working parts which will have to be entirely replaced when they go out of style.

A further object of my invention is to so attach the detachable panel members or walls to the frame that their points of attachment will normally be concealed in use. 7

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of an embodiment thereof applied to a gas stove construction such as is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas stove constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rigid framework preferably constructed of steel and preferably rectangular I employ capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view generally similar to Fig. 1 with the cooking spider and upper burner removed andportions of the wall being broken away and shown in section to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view showing the framework with the operating parts mounted thereon and the various detachable side, front and top panels I preferably employ.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, in generally indicates a gas stove constructed in accordance with. the teachings of my invention. While I have shown my invention applied to a gas stove it is obvious that it may be employed in any type of a heating cabinet construction, particularly a cabinet construction adapted to hold a plurality of working parts and to insulate them from the exterior thereof, such as gas or electric ranges, burner units, etc., and I employ the words operative parts to include an operative mechanism, such as a burner. As stated, I provide a rigid framework l2 constructed so as to sustain all strain without appreciable deformation, such as strain occurring in the actual manufacture, transportation or use of such a cabinet. The frame work 12 in the preferred embodiment includes horizontally and vertically extending right angle bars I4 attached together to form a rectangular frame and I preferably rivet and spot-weld said angle bars l4 together to form a thoroughly rigid inner structural skeleton frame including spaced rigid vertically and horizontally extending bars I l. The frame i2 may if desired be suitably mounted on legs it, which if desired may have their exposed surfaces suitably ornamented as with enamel or otherwise.

As stated hitherto I preferably provide a cabinet construction which may be readily set up or knocked down if desired for any purpose by the ultimate consumer. In my preferred embodiment I have shown a gas burner which as in similar heating cabinet constructions has certain working parts which is desired to mount therein. I thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, directly mount the gaspipes l8 and burners 20 on the members.

22 directly attached to the frame l2. A cabinet of this construction having operating parts oftentimes has to be either insulated to keep the heat therein and it is necessary to provide insulating panels 24 or to provide interior cabinet walls 26 for separating parts of the interior of the cabinet rectly hung on the frame and the partitions" are secured to the frame by the members 28. These members are usually hung on the interior of the frame so that the rigid exterior thereof may protect them in shipment and thus a cab- 5 the frame thus assembled at the home of the. ultimate consumer thereby permittingthe panel members which are relatively more fragile than the cabinet so constructed and protected inshipment by the rigid frame to be shipped in separate 20 containers and to be readily and inexpensively set up at the ultimate consumer's home by either a the ultimate consumer or a repair man and that they may be later interchanged in accordance with changes in style. It is obvious, however, '25 that the construction of the operating parts insulation and partitions of my invention is such that even they if desired may also be readily set up or knocked down at the ultimate consumers.

I provide the readily detachable panel members 30 forming the cabinet side walls 30, the cabinet front wall 32 and the cabinet top wall 34. These members form substantially the entire exposed surface of the completed cabinet and in the embodiment shown the back wall 36 may be omitted 35 if desired or unornamented, in the embodiment shown the back being closed in by merely the insulation 26. However, if desired, it is obvious that the back panel could be also overlappingly attached in a similar manner to the front or side 40 panels. As shown my improved type of insulation comprises an intermediate insulating medium 25 and rigid sheets 21 enclosing said medium 25 and it is apparent that in the construction shown the rear surface of the sheet 21 may form a sufficient 45 back for the cabinet although, of course, it is not necessarily ornamental.

A feature of my invention resides in the fact that I hold the panel members of said frame in such a manner that the panel members are re- 50 lieved of all strain and may expand or contract independently of the frame and I do this in what I believe is a novel manner. I rigidly attach one edge only of said panel, members whether they be the side panel members 30, the front panel 55 member 32 or the top panel member 34 to the rigid framework l2 and I so construct the cabinet that the other edges of'said panels are held on the frame by overlapping constraint of other cabinet portions only, whereby said panel mem- 60 bers may expand or contract independently of the framework and without strain thereon. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 I provide readily detachable side panels 30 for said frame each'having an ornamented outer surface 3|. that the exposed surface of the panel members .may be ornamented in any suitable manner either by different colors, different shapes, embossing, etc. although my invention is particularly adapted foruse with exposed surfaces 3| 70 enameled as usual. The detachable side panels 30 are preferably provided as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 with inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame edges such as the top flanges 36, the bottom flanges 38 and the rear to It is obvious 65 g flanges 40. I preferably attach the panel mem bers to the frame so that their points of attachment will be concealed and I thus provide the rear inturned flange 40 with the bolt holes 42 through which the bolts 43 may project to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange 42 to the rear side of said rear side right angle bar 44 provided with the cooperating bolt holes 46. As stated the side, top and front panel members, which are the only exposed members in the present construction each have one end thereof rigidly attached to the frame and the opopsite edge thereof adapted to be held in position onthe frame by overlapping engagement of other cabinet portions and for this purpose I provide the side panel with an inset front flange 48 adapted to overlie the side wall 50 of the respective front side right angle frame bar 52 and be retained thereagainst by the overlapping flange 58 of the front panel member 32. In attachment it is obvious that the side panel will be brought adjacent the frame as shown in Fig. 4, the inset flange thereof rigidly attached to the rear side of its respective upright rear side right angle bar 44 by medium of the bolts 43 and it is thus obvious in use that saidside panel 30 may expand or contract horizontally, the inset flange 48 merely sliding underneath the flange 58. Theinturned' top and bottom flanges 36 and 38 are spaced apart relative to the height of the frame so that they will not contract vertically to bind on the frame.

- As stated I also provide a readily detachable front panel 32 for said frame also having an enameled or otherwise ornamented outer surface 3|. Said front panel is provided with the intumed side flanges 58 spaced apart more than the length of the frame and adapted to overlapplngly engage the respective inset front flange 48 of the side panel 3| with sufficient space to permit normal horizontal contraction and expansion thereof. The bottom portion of the front panel 32 is adapted to be rigidlyattached to the frame and for this purpose is provided with the threaded recesses 56 opening forwardly from the inside wall thereof adapted to be secured by means of the bolts 51 in said recesses 56 and through suitable holes 59 in the lower front right angle bar Bl. The upper end 54 of said front panel member 32 is retained against the frame in a manner to be described. In practice it is obvious that the front panel 32 is attached to the frame before the side panels 30 in order that inset front flanges 48 thereof may be connected underneath the already attached side flanges 58 of said front panel member 32.

I also provide a readily detachable top panel 34 for said frame, also having an ornamented preferably enameled outer surface 3! and down turned edge flanges 60 adapted to overlie and frictionally constrain the front panel 32 and side panels 30 to said frame to permit relative ex-'' holes 61 therein. It is thus obvious that like a can top with downtumed flanges, the toppanel 34 will rest on top of the improved cabinet against the upper edges '10 of the respective top right angle front and rear skeleton frame forming bars to bear all the strain of the carrying tension 13 of the front panel 32 to form a channel 14 exterior of the frame body for mounting the angle cocks therein for turning on and off the supplyof gas to the respective burners 20.

It is thus obvious that I have provided a novel type of cabinet construction in which all the working parts and insulation thereof are directly attached and hung on a rigid frame and in which the replaceable side panels thereof are directly attached and hung on the frame along one edge thereof and are retained against the frame by overlapping constraint of other members also having one edge thereof directly attached to the frame, retained thereby against the frame, that I have provided a cabinet construction which may be readily assembled with a 'minimum amount of effort by the ultimate consumer and which may be shipped in parts, that I have provided a cabinet construction whichas an operating unit may 'be' shipped in amanner thoroughly protected by a rigid frame thereof with minimum cratage and transportation cost, and that I have provided a cabinet construction the exposed parts of which may readily set up by the ultimate consumer or a repair man and may be readily replaced by him with other respective panels to meet changes in style design or color. Thus it is merely necessary for a dealer to stock a limited supply of cabinet operating units and he may also have in stock various ornamental panels of different colors, shapes, finishes, etc. and he thus may be able'to sell to the ultimate consumer a complete unit equipped with the ornamentation the particular ultimate consumer desires, without having to carry a large stock of complete ranges with a consequent large reduction of capital tied up in inventory.

It is apparent that my invention is particularly adapted for use with panel 'members adapted to be damaged by strain, such as enameled panel members, painted panel members, or electroplated panel members of which the flnish is likely to crack or peel under strain. Insofar as this feature of my invention is concerned, however, it is apparent that thin panelsv may be employed, which would similarly be damaged by strain as tending to buckle. I therefore, employ the word "flnished or words finished surface to cover any panel surface that would be impaired under expansion and contraction if both ends were rigidly connected.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, but that'various deviations may be made therefrom both in the construction and type of cabinet desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a'cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, readily detachable panel members forming the cabinet side, front'and top walls, having flnished exposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to theframe, at least one other edge of each of said side and front panel members being held ished exposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame-work, at least one other edge of each of said side panel members being held in position on the frame-work only by overlapping constraint of the front panel member.

3. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open framework sumciently rigid of itself to sustain all strains without appreciabledeformation, readily detachable panel -members forming the cabinet side, 'front and top walls, and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame-work, at least the opposite edge of each of said side and front panel members being held in position on the frame-work by overlapping constraint of other panel members only.

4. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, comprising right angle bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outer surface and side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front right angle frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frame each having enameled exposed surfaces and top, bottom and rear inturned flanges adapted to overlie the. respective frame edges and an inset front flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner topermit expansion and contraction of said side panel, means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange thereof to the rear side of said rear side right angle frame bar and a readily detachable top panel for said frame having an enameled surface and downturned edge flanges adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrain the front and side panels to said frame to permit relative expansion and contraction thereof, and means to rigidly attach the rear downturned flange to the rear side of the top rear right angle frame bar;

5. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation comprising bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frame each having top, bottom and rear inturned flanges adapted 'to overlie the respective frame edges and an inset front flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner to permit expansion and contraction of said side panel, means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange thereof to the rear side frame bar, and a readily detachable top panel for said frame having downturned edge flanges adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrain the front and side panels to said frame to permit relative expansion and contraction thereof and means to rigidly attach the downturned'flange to the rear top frame bar.

6. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation comprising bars Joined together, areadily detachable front panel having side inturned flanges for said cabinet, means to rigidly attach the bottom end thereof to the bottom front frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frame each having an inset front flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner to permit expansion and contraction of said side panels, means to rigidly attach the rear end thereof to the rear side frame bar, and a readily detachable top panel for said frame and means to I rigidly attach the rear end to the rear topframe bar. 7

'7. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation comprising right angle bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outer surface, side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front right angle frame bar and a readily detachable top panel for said frame having an enameled surface, a downturned rear flange and a downturned front flange adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrain the front panel to said frame to permit relative expansion and contraction thereof, and means to rigidly attach the rear downturned flange to the rear side of the top rear right angle frame bar. j

8. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capableof sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation comprising bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to said bottom front frame bar and a readily detachable top panel for said frame having a downturned rear flange and a downtumed front flange adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrain the front panel to said frame to permit relative expansion and contraction thereof, and means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange to the top rear frame bar.

9. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular open framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, readily detachable panel member:

forming the cabinet front and top walls, having finished exposed surfaces and means for rigid];

attaching one edge only of said panel member: to the frame-work, the opposite edges of said front and top panels being arranged and adapted to be held in position in over-lapping relatior on the frame-work.

10. In a cabinet construction, the combinatior of a rigid open framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, a readily detachable panel member forming the cabinet front wall, other panel members and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel member to the frame-work, at least one 01 the other edges of said panel being adapted and arranged to be held in position on the frame-work by overlapping constraint of one of said othei panel members only.

11. In a cabinet construction, the combinatior of a rigid framework capable of sustaining a1 strains without appreciable deformation, readih detachable panel members forming the cabinet front and top walls, means for rigidly attaching the bottom edge of said front panelmember only to the frame, means for attaching the rear edge only of the top panel member to the frame, the top panel member resting by gravity on the top of said frame and having a downturned front protruding portion adapted to overlie the upper edge of the front panel to retain said front panel against the frame, whereby said front and top panel members may expand and contract without strain thereon.

12.-In a heating cabinet construction capable of standing all strains caused by expansion or contraction without appreciable deformation, the combination of a rigidinner structural skeleton framework including spaced rigid vertical and horizontal members capable of sustaining all strain without appreciable deformation, panel members forming the outer cabinet walls and means for rigidly attaching said panel members to said frame-work, so that said panel members may expand and contract independently of said framework, and operating parts and insulation for said cabinet all directly mounted on said frame-work.

13. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, comprising right angle bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outer surface and side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front right angle frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frame strains without appreciable deformation comprising bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frame each having top, bottom and rear inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame edges and an inset front flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner to permit expansion and contraction of said side panel, and means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange thereof to the rear side frame bar.

15. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open frame work capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, readily detachable panel members forming cabinet walls having finished exposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame-work, at least the opposite edge of some of said panel members being arranged and adapted to be positioned on the framework in overlapping relation with other panel member edges.

16. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open frame work capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, readily detachable panel members forming cabinet walls having finished exposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame-work, at least some of the adjacent edges of said panel members being positioned on the frame-work in overlapping relation.

17. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangular framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, readily detachable panel members forming the cabinet side, front and top walls, having flnished exposed surfaces and means for attaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame, the opposite edges of each of said side and front panel members being positioned in overlapping relation on the frame.

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