IP Library Granted Patent US 7,451,535
Granted Patent B2
US 7,451,535 · App. 11/443,831 · Granted Nov 18, 2008

Semi-frameless cabinet and method for making the same

Assignee: MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,451,535
App. No.
11/443,831
Granted
Nov 18, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semi-frameless cabinet system including a top panel, bottom panel, two side panels, and a back panel. The cabinet may also include one or more middle shelves, drawers, or doors. Each of the forward facing sides of the cabinet include a grooved surface, wherein edging is secured to each panels such that the panels and edging form an interior space within the cabinet. The edging overlaps the outer edge of the cabinet panels, but not the inner edge, such that the edging and panels are flush within the interior space of the cabinet. As such, the cabinet employs the advantages of both framed and frameless cabinetry.

Claims (23)

1. A method for assembling a cabinet comprising the steps of:

providing cabinet panels, each panel including a top surface that will define an outer surface of the assembled cabinet, a bottom surface that will define an interior surface of the assembled cabinet, and a front surface perpendicularly spanning between an edge of the top surface and an edge of the bottom surface, the front surface defining a forward facing surface of the assembled cabinet;

grooving at least a portion of the front surface of at least one of said cabinet panels, wherein the grooving is performed by removing cabinet material at an intersection of the edge of the bottom surface and the front surface of the at least one of said cabinet panels while leaving the top surface of said at least one of said cabinet panels un-grooved;

securing edging by frictionally engaging a first edging inner portion with the grooved front surface of said at least one of said panels and frictionally engaging a second edging inner portion with the un-grooved top surface of said at least one of said panels to form an overhang that projects beyond said edge of the top surface of said at least one of said panels along substantially an entire length of the grooved front surface such that an outer surface of the edging is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of said at least one panel such that the interior cabinet surface defined by the bottom surface of said at least one panel and the outer surface of the edging is substantially planar about its entirety; and

assembling said panels to form a cabinet.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of drilling a set of grooves on each of said panels.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of inserting biscuit joints, dowel rods, or a spline in said grooves, wherein said biscuit joints, dowel rods or spline is used to connect said cabine panels.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching cabinet hardware directly to the bottom surface of at least one of said side panels.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching one or more middle shelves to said cabinet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of grooving the front surface is performed by removing a corner edge of the panel that is formed by the intersection of the bottom surface and the front surface to create a step on the front surface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the edging is substantially U shaped with two legs that join a middle portion to define an edging interior, and wherein the step of securing edging to the front surface is performed by inserting one of the legs into the step and pressing the edging interior onto the remaining front surface of the panel.

8. A method for assembling a cabinet comprising the steps of:

providing cabinet panels, each panel including a top surface that will define an outer surface of the assembled cabinet, a bottom surface that will define an interior surface of the assembled cabinet, and a front surface perpendicularly spanning between an edge of the top surface and an edge of the bottom surface, the front surface defining a forward facing surface of the assembled cabinet;

grooving at least a portion of the front surface of at least one of said cabinet panels, wherein the grooving is performed by removing cabinet material at an intersection of the edge of the bottom surface and the front surface of the at least one of said cabinet panels to create a step on the front surface while leaving the top surface of said at least one of said cabinet panels un-grooved;

providing edging that is substantially U shaped with two legs that join a middle portion to define an edging interior;

securing the edging to said at least one of said cabinet panels by inserting a first leg into the step and pressing the edging interior onto the remaining front surface of the panel such that second leg confronts the un-grooved top of said at least one of said cabinet panels to form an overhang that projects beyond said edge of the top surface of said at least one of said panels along substantially an entire length of the grooved front surface such that an outer surface of the first leg is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of said at least one panel such that the interior cabinet surface defined by the bottom surface of said at least one panel and the outer surface of the first leg is substantially planar about its entirety; and

assembling said panels to form a cabinet.

9. A method for assembling a cabinet comprising the steps of:

providing cabinet panels, each panel including a top surface that will define an outer surface of the assembled cabinet, a bottom surface that will define an interior surface of the assembled cabinet, and a front surface perpendicularly spanning between an edge of the top surface and an edge of the bottom surface, the front surface defining a forward facing surface of the assembled cabinet;

grooving at least a portion of the front surface of at least one of said cabinet panels, wherein the grooving is performed by removing cabinet material at an intersection of the edge of the bottom surface and the front surface of the at least one of said cabinet panels to create a step on the front surface while leaving the top surface of said at least one of said cabinet panels un-grooved;

providing edging that is substantially U shaped with two legs that join a middle portion to define an edging interior, the first of the two legs being configured to fit within the step such that an outer surface of the first leg is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the one of said panels when the first leg is inserted in the step;

securing the edging to said at least one of said cabinet panels by inserting the first leg into the step and pressing the edging interior onto the remaining front surface of the panel such that the second leg confronts the un-grooved top of said at least one of said cabinet panels to form an overhang that projects beyond said edge of the top surface of said at least one of said panels along substantially an entire length of the grooved front surface and further wherein the outer surface of the first leg is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the one of said panels; and

assembling said panels to form a cabinet.

Assignments (4)
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jul 9, 2024
From: MASTERBRAND CABINETS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068256/0208 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2022
From: MASTERBRAND CABINETS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 062093/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2022
From: WELLS, ANDREW D.; BRINKMAN, WAYNE ANDREW; ROSE II, JOHN BENNETT
To: MASTERBRAND CABINETS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061325/0008 →
CONVERSION Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: MASTERBRAND CABINETS, INC.
To: MASTERBRAND CABINETS LLC
Reel/Frame 061570/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Division 1070849300 · Mar 8, 2004
Provisional Application 6045289400 · Mar 7, 2003
Related Publication 20060214545A1 · Sep 28, 2006