SEALING CORNER BRACKET FOR RECEIVING TWO FRAME MEMBERS AND CABINET INCLUDING CORNER BRACKET
A corner bracket may include first and second retainers configured to receive respective ends of first and second frame members, such that the first and second frame members are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another. The first and second retainers may include structural and sealing portions, wherein the structural portion includes a first material and the sealing portion includes a second material, with the first material being relatively more rigid than the second material, and the second material being relatively more elastic than the first material. The corner bracket may also include first and second exterior surfaces at least partially including the second material and first and second door panel interfaces configured to provide a seal between the first and second exterior surfaces and interior surfaces of first and second door panels in a closed position. The corner bracket may be incorporated into a frame for a cabinet.
This application claims the benefit of priority of International Application No. PCT/US19/36027, filed on Jun. 7, 2019, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDCabinets may be used to enclose and protect equipment, such as, for example, fiber optic equipment associated with fiber optic cables including optical fibers. For example, fiber optic equipment may be enclosed in cabinets and provide connections and circuitry for facilitating broadband voice, video, and data transmission. One example of a cabinet for enclosing fiber optic equipment is a fiber optic distribution outdoor cabinet, some of which may be intended to be installed in an outdoor environment exposed to the elements. In order to substantially prevent moisture and dust from the environment from entering the interior of the cabinet, some cabinets include a seamless single-piece shell. However, cabinets formed in such a manner may exhibit a number of possible drawbacks. For example, due at least in part to the single-piece shell construction, such cabinets are not scalable, and thus, cannot be easily assembled or modified in the field to increase (or reduce) the size of the cabinet to tailor the cabinet to meet the capacity requirements of the equipment being enclosed therein. Thus, it may be necessary to manufacture such cabinets in a large number of different sizes to meet the needs for different installations, which may result in manufacturing and inventory inefficiencies.
In addition, larger cabinets needed to meet large capacity requirements may be cumbersome to transport and install due to their large size and weight. Further, it may be difficult to repair or replace damaged portions of the cabinet due, at least in part, to having a single-piece construction and/or the possible need to disconnect any cables entering the cabinet when repairing the cabinet, which may result in additional complexity and expense.
Some examples described herein may address one or more of these possible drawbacks and/or other possible drawbacks.
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The same reference numbers in different figures indicate similar or identical items.
This disclosure relates to cabinets, and more particularly, to cabinets for housing equipment and including corner brackets for providing structural support and a seal providing resistance to entry of dust, dirt, and/or fluid between the corner brackets, frame members, panels, and/or door panels of the cabinet.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a corner bracket. The corner bracket may include a structural portion including at least one first material, and a sealing portion at least partially covering the structural portion and including at least one second material. The at least one first material may be relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material may be relatively more elastic than the at least one first material. The corner bracket may also include a first retainer configured to receive an end of a first frame member, and the first retainer may at least partially include the at least one first material and may define a first longitudinal axis. The corner bracket may also include a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and defining a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer. The second retainer may be configured to receive an end of a second frame member, such that the first frame member and the second frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer. The second retainer may at least partially include the at least one first material. The corner bracket may also include a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially including the at least one second material. The first exterior surface may include a first door panel interface configured to provide a seal between the first exterior surface of the corner bracket and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position. The corner bracket may also include a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially including the at least one second material. The second exterior surface may include a second door panel interface configured to provide a seal between the second exterior surface of the corner bracket and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, in which the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface may be substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
This disclosure is also generally directed to a corner joint. The corner joint may include a first frame member defining a first longitudinal frame member axis, and a second frame member defining a second longitudinal frame member axis. The corner joint may also include a corner bracket coupling the first frame member and the second frame member to one another, such that the first frame member longitudinal axis and the second frame member longitudinal axis are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer. The corner bracket may include a first retainer coupled to an end of the first frame member, and the first retainer may at least partially include at least one first material and may define a first longitudinal axis. The corner bracket may also include a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and defining a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer. The second retainer may be coupled to an end of the second frame member, such that the first frame member and the second frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer. The second retainer may at least partially include the at least one first material. The corner bracket may also include a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially including at least one second material. The first exterior surface may include a first door panel interface configured to provide a first seal between the first exterior surface and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position, wherein the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material is relatively more elastic than the at least one first material. The corner bracket may also include a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially including the at least one second material. The second exterior surface may include a second door panel interface configured to provide a second seal between the second exterior surface and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, such that the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
This disclosure is also generally directed to a frame defining an interior and an exterior. The frame may include an upper back frame member, an upper first side frame member coupled to upper back frame member at a first upper corner, and an upper front frame member. The frame may also include an upper corner bracket coupled to the upper first side frame member and the upper front frame member. The frame may also include a lower back frame member, a lower first side frame member coupled to the lower back frame member at a first lower corner, and a lower front frame member. The frame may also include a lower corner bracket coupled to the lower first side frame member and the lower front frame member. The frame may also include a first upright coupled to the upper back frame member and the upper first side frame member at the first upper corner, and a second upright coupled to the upper front frame member at an upper coupling location and the lower front frame member at a lower coupling location, wherein the upper coupling location is spaced from the upper corner bracket and the lower coupling location is spaced from the lower corner bracket. The frame may define an open space between the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket, such that the open space is devoid of any structural member extending between the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket. The upper corner bracket may include a first retainer coupled to an end of the upper first side frame member, and the first retainer may at least partially include at least one first material and may define a first longitudinal axis. The upper corner bracket also may include a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and may define a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer. The second retainer may be coupled to an end of the upper front frame member, such that the upper first side frame member and the upper front frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer. The second retainer may at least partially include the at least one first material. The upper corner bracket may also include a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially including at least one second material. The first exterior surface may include a first door panel interface configured to provide a first seal between the first exterior surface and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position. The at least one first material may be relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material may be relatively more elastic than the at least one first material. The upper corner bracket may also include a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially including the at least one second material. The second exterior surface may include a second door panel interface configured to provide a second seal between the second exterior surface and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, such that the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
This disclosure is also generally directed to a cabinet defining an interior and an exterior. The cabinet may include a frame, for example, as described above. The cabinet may also include a back panel coupled to at least one of the upper back frame member, the first upright, or the lower back frame member. The cabinet may also include a top panel coupled to at least one of the upper back frame member, the upper first side frame member, or upper front frame member. The cabinet may also include a first hinge coupled to the first upright and providing a first pivot axis, and a second hinge coupled to the second upright and providing a second pivot axis. The cabinet may also include a first door panel coupled to the first hinge and configured to pivot about the first pivot axis between an open position permitting access to the interior of the cabinet and a closed position in which an interior side of the first door panel contacts the upper corner bracket, the lower corner bracket, and at least one of the upper first side frame member or the lower first side frame member. The cabinet may also include a second door panel coupled to the second hinge and configured to pivot about the second pivot axis between an open position permitting access to the interior of the cabinet and a closed position in which an interior side of the second door panel contacts the upper corner bracket, the lower corner bracket, and at least one of the upper front frame member or the lower front frame member.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
As noted above, this disclosure is generally directed to cabinets, such as, for example, cabinets for housing equipment and including corner brackets for providing structural support and dust- and/or fluid-resistance between the corner brackets, frame members, panels, and/or door panels of the cabinet. According to some examples, the cabinets described herein may be assembled on site and may be scalable to meet the capacity requirements of the equipment being enclosed by the cabinet. For example, some examples of the cabinet may be formed by a frame assembled from frame members coupled to one another by brackets, including corner brackets. The frame members may be provided (or modified on-site) to build a frame (e.g., off-site or on-site) defining the desired interior dimensions, and the brackets may be used to couple the frame members to one another. Panels may be attached to the frame to create the cabinet. In some examples, one or more door panels may be pivotally coupled to the frame to provide one or more doors configured to pivot between open and closed positions.
In some examples, the cabinet may be devoid of an upright support at one or more corners of the cabinet, for example, such that the frame defines an open space between an upper corner bracket and a corresponding lower corner bracket. In some such examples, one or more door panels may be coupled to the cabinet, such that in an open position the one or more door panels pivot away from the corner of the cabinet devoid of the upright support, which may provide greater access to the interior of the cabinet, including, for example, access through the front and/or a side of the cabinet. This may provide ease of access to components in the interior of the cabinet that may not otherwise be accessible from the front of the cabinet.
In some examples, the equipment to be enclosed in the cabinet may be assembled and/or coupled to the interior of the cabinet during and/or after completion of assembly of the cabinet. In some examples, the corner brackets may provide both structural support for securely coupling two or more frame members to one another (e.g., rigidly coupling two frame members to one another) and a substantially dust- and/or fluid-resistant seal (e.g., a fluid-tight seal) between the corner bracket and the two or more frame members and, in some examples, between the brackets and the panels of the cabinet. Some examples may also at least partially provide a cabinet that is scalable to tailor its exterior size and/or interior size to meet the capacity needs of a particular installation due to the cabinet being formed as a frame with panels secured thereto, as compared to a cabinet including a monolithic shell having a size that cannot be easily altered. For example, brackets such as at least some of the example corner brackets disclosed herein may be used with frame members having different lengths (or different combinations of frame members and brackets) to create cabinets having different dimensions to meet the capacity needs of a particular installation. In addition, some examples may provide an ability to repair and/or replace portions of a cabinet, for example, by removing one or more of the panels and/or door panels from the frame and repairing and/or replacing the portions of the cabinet desired to be replaced and/or repaired. In addition, if the future requirements of a particular installation change, such that, for example, a larger interior space is desired to meet greater interior capacity requirements, some examples may provide the ability to be modified to increase the size of cabinet, for example, by removing some of the exterior panels, increasing the size of the frame to the desired size using frame members and brackets, and installing panels and/or door panels onto the modified frame to create a cabinet having the desired interior capacity.
The example cabinet 10 shown in
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In some examples, additional brackets 98 and additional frame members (and/or frame members having a different length) may be used to increase the length of the frame 24A, provide coupling points for additional frame members (e.g., uprights 100) and/or provide structural support and/or dust- and/or fluid-resistant sealing structures (e.g., fluid-tight sealing structures) for one or more of the first door panel 30 or the second door panel 36. Use of brackets such as the corner brackets 14 and brackets 98 may facilitate expanding the length of the frame 24A. Such corner brackets 14 and/or brackets 98 may facilitate increasing the size of the cabinet 10, (e.g., on-site) without replacing the entire cabinet 10.
For example, an example lengthened frame 24B may include the upper back frame member 58 including a first frame member 16 and a second frame member 16 coupled to one another by a bracket 98, the upper first side frame member 60, the upper front frame member 62 including a first frame member 16 and a second frame member 16 coupled to one another by a bracket 98, the upper second side frame member 64 opposite the upper first side frame member 60, the lower back frame member 66 including a first frame member 16 and a second frame member 16 coupled to one another by a bracket 98, the lower first side frame member 68, the lower front frame member 70 including a first frame member 16 and a second frame member 16 coupled to one another by a bracket 98, and a lower second side frame member 72 opposite the lower first side frame member 68. The example frame 24B also includes the first upper corner bracket 74 coupling the upper back frame member 58 and the upper first side frame member 60 to one another, a second upper corner bracket 76 (e.g., corner bracket 14) coupling the upper first side frame member 60 and the upper front frame member 62 to one another, a third upper corner bracket 78 coupling the upper front frame member 62 and the upper second side frame member 64 to one another, and a fourth upper corner bracket 80 coupling the upper second side frame member 64 and the upper back frame member 58 to one another. The example frame 24B further includes a first lower corner bracket 82 coupling the lower back frame member 66 and the lower first side frame member 68 to one another, a second lower corner bracket 84 (e.g., corner bracket 14) coupling the lower first side frame member 68 and the lower front frame member 70 to one another, a third lower corner bracket 86 coupling the lower front frame member 70 and the lower second side frame member 72 to one another, and a fourth lower corner bracket 88 coupling the lower second side frame member 72 and the lower back frame member 66 to one another.
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In some examples, one or more of the corner brackets 14 may include a structural portion including at least one first material, and a sealing portion including at least one second material different than the at least one first material. In some examples, the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material is relatively more elastic than the at least one first material. For example, the at least one first material may be sufficiently rigid to rigidly secure the frame members 16 to one another, such that the frame 24 provides a structural support to which the panels and/or door panels of the cabinet 10 (see
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In some examples, the structural portion 102 may be formed as a single unitary piece, for example, as shown in
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Similarly, the second interior surface 188 includes a second interior side sealing face 194 including the at least one second material of the sealing portion 104. In some examples, the second interior side sealing face 194 defines second fastener clearance portions 196 surrounding the apertures 154 in the second retainer 134. The second fastener clearance portions 196 are substantially devoid of the at least one second material of the sealing portion 104 and are configured to receive respective fastener heads of the fasteners, such that the fastener head contacts the respective second fastener clearance portion 196, for example, to provide a rigid engagement between the fastener head and the structural portion 102, for example, as explained with respect to
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Although the corner bracket 14, the first frame member 206, the second frame 208, and related structures are sometimes described herein including terminology related to upper, lower, and lateral relationships, which may imply absolute orientations and/or relationships, these descriptions should not be interpreted in a manner to necessarily require absolute relationships, but rather, they should be interpreted in manner consistent with relative orientations and relationships.
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Some examples of the corner bracket 14 may also include a plurality of small holes 252 in an underside of the sealing portion 104 of the corner bracket 14, for example, as shown in
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Although this subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claims.
Claims
1. A corner bracket comprising:
- a structural portion comprising at least one first material;
- a sealing portion at least partially covering the structural portion and comprising at least one second material,
- wherein the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material is relatively more elastic than the at least one first material;
- a first retainer configured to receive an end of a first frame member, the first retainer at least partially comprising the at least one first material and defining a first longitudinal axis;
- a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and defining a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer, the second retainer configured to receive an end of a second frame member such that the first frame member and the second frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer, and the second retainer at least partially comprising the at least one first material;
- a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially comprising the at least one second material, the first exterior surface comprising a first door panel interface configured to provide a seal between the first exterior surface and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position; and
- a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially comprising the at least one second material, the second exterior surface comprising a second door panel interface configured to provide a seal between the second exterior surface and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
2. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein the first retainer comprises a first frame member interface configured to be coupled to the first frame member, and wherein the second retainer comprises a second frame member interface configured to be coupled to the second frame member.
3. The corner bracket of claim 2, wherein the first frame member interface comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first fastener for coupling the first frame member to the first frame member interface, and wherein the sealing portion at least partially surrounds the first aperture and is configured to provide a first fastener seal between the first aperture and the first frame member.
4. The corner bracket of claim 3, wherein the sealing portion comprises a first raised portion surrounding the first aperture.
5. The corner bracket of claim 2, wherein the first frame member interface comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first fastener for coupling the first frame member to the first frame member interface, wherein the first retainer defines an interior surface opposite the first exterior surface, and wherein the interior surface comprises an interior side sealing face comprising the at least one second material, and wherein the interior side sealing face defines a fastener clearance portion surrounding the first aperture, the fastener clearance portion being substantially devoid of the at least one second material and configured to receive a first fastener head of the first fastener such that the first fastener head contacts the fastener clearance portion.
6. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first exterior surface or the second exterior surface further comprises a sealing ridge comprising the at least one second material, wherein the sealing ridge is configured to be compressed by the end of one of the first frame member or the second frame member.
7. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first retainer or the second retainer defines a face defining a channel extending substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first longitudinal axis of the second longitudinal axis, and wherein the at least one second material is received in the channel forming a compressible seal face configured to provide a seal between the at least one of the first retainer or the second retainer and the at least one of the first frame member or the second frame member.
8. The corner bracket of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the face comprises a first structural face, wherein the first structural face is at least substantially devoid of the at least one second material and provides a first rigid support configured to abut a portion of the at least one of the first frame member or the second frame member.
9. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first exterior surface or the second exterior surface comprises a drainage channel configured to drain fluid away from an interior side of the corner bracket opposite the at least one of the first exterior surface or the second exterior surface.
10. The corner bracket of claim 1, further comprising an interior surface opposite at least one of the first exterior surface or the second exterior surface, the interior surface defining a recess in the sealing portion exposing a latch receiver at least partially defined by the structural portion and configured to receive a door latch coupled to at least one of the first door panel or the second door panel.
11. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first retainer or the second retainer comprises a panel interface configured to provide a seal between the at least one of the first retainer or the second retainer and a panel coupled to the first frame member and the second frame member.
12. The corner bracket of claim 1, wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are coupled to one another at an apex defining an apex axis extending perpendicular to first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis, wherein the corner bracket further comprises a flange seal at an end of the corner bracket adjacent a first end of the apex, the flange seal defining a first flange seal surface comprising the at least one second material and configured to provide a seal with a portion of the end of at least one of the first frame member or the second frame member.
13. The corner bracket of claim 12, further comprising a flange receiver at a second end of the apex opposite the first end of the apex, wherein the flange receiver is configured to provide a seal between a portion of the end of at least one of the first frame member or the second frame member.
14. A corner joint comprising:
- a first frame member defining a first longitudinal frame member axis;
- a second frame member defining a second longitudinal frame member axis; and
- a corner bracket coupling the first frame member and the second frame member to one another, such that the first frame member longitudinal axis and the second frame member longitudinal axis are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another, the corner bracket comprising: a first retainer coupled to an end of the first frame member, the first retainer at least partially comprising at least one first material and defining a first longitudinal axis; a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and defining a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer, the second retainer coupled to an end of the second frame member such that the first frame member and the second frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer, and the second retainer at least partially comprising the at least one first material; a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially comprising at least one second material, the first exterior surface comprising a first door panel interface configured to provide a first seal between the first exterior surface and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position, wherein the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material is relatively more elastic than the at least one first material; and a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially comprising the at least one second material, the second exterior surface comprising a second door panel interface configured to provide a second seal between the second exterior surface and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
15. The corner joint of claim 14, wherein the corner bracket comprises:
- a structural portion comprising the at least one first material; and
- a sealing portion at least partially covering the structural portion and comprising the at least one second material.
16. The corner joint of claim 14, wherein the first retainer comprises a first frame member interface coupled to the first frame member, wherein the first frame member interface comprises a first aperture receiving a first fastener coupling the first frame member to the first frame member interface, and wherein the at least one second material at least partially surrounds the first aperture and is configured to provide a first fastener seal between the first aperture and the first frame member.
17. The corner joint of claim 16, wherein the first retainer comprises a structural portion comprising the at least one first material, and wherein the first fastener seal comprises a first raised portion surrounding the first aperture and configured to be compressed between the first frame member the structural portion.
18. The corner joint of claim 14, wherein the corner bracket further comprises a first interior surface opposite the first exterior surface, the first interior surface defining a first recess in the at least one second material exposing a first latch receiver at least partially defined by the at least one first material and configured to receive a first door latch coupled to the first door panel.
19. The corner joint of claim 14, wherein the first retainer comprises a first frame member interface coupled to the first frame member, wherein the first frame member interface comprises a first aperture receiving a first fastener coupling the first frame member to the first frame member interface, wherein the first retainer defines a first interior surface opposite the first exterior surface, wherein the first interior surface comprises a first interior side sealing face comprising the at least one second material, and wherein the first interior side sealing face defines a first fastener clearance portion surrounding the first aperture, the first fastener clearance portion being substantially devoid of the at least one second material and receiving a first fastener head of the first fastener, such that the first fastener head contacts the first fastener clearance portion.
20. A frame defining an interior and an exterior, the frame comprising:
- an upper back frame member;
- an upper first side frame member coupled to upper back frame member at a first upper corner;
- an upper front frame member;
- an upper corner bracket coupled to the upper first side frame member and the upper front frame member;
- a lower back frame member;
- a lower first side frame member coupled to the lower back frame member at a first lower corner;
- a lower front frame member;
- a lower corner bracket coupled to the lower first side frame member and the lower front frame member;
- a first upright coupled to the upper back frame member and the upper first side frame member at the first upper corner; and
- a second upright coupled to the upper front frame member at an upper coupling location and the lower front frame member at a lower coupling location, wherein the upper coupling location is spaced from the upper corner bracket and the lower coupling location is spaced from the lower corner bracket,
- wherein the frame defines an open space between the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket, the open space devoid of any structural member extending between the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket, and
- wherein the upper corner bracket comprises: a first retainer coupled to an end of the upper first side frame member, the first retainer at least partially comprising at least one first material and defining a first longitudinal axis; a second retainer coupled to the first retainer and defining a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the first retainer, the second retainer coupled to an end of the upper front frame member such that the upper first side frame member and the upper front frame member are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another when respectively received by the first retainer and the second retainer, and the second retainer at least partially comprising the at least one first material; a first exterior surface at least partially defined by the first retainer and at least partially comprising at least one second material, the first exterior surface comprising a first door panel interface configured to provide a first seal between the first exterior surface and an interior surface of a first door panel in a closed position, wherein the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material, and the at least one second material is relatively more elastic than the at least one first material; and a second exterior surface at least partially defined by the second retainer and at least partially comprising the at least one second material, the second exterior surface comprising a second door panel interface configured to provide a second seal between the second exterior surface and an interior surface of a second door panel in a closed position, the first door panel interface and the second door panel interface substantially perpendicular with respect to one another.
21. The frame of claim 20, wherein the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket have substantially the same structure.
22. The frame of claim 20, wherein at least one of the upper corner bracket or the lower corner bracket comprises:
- a structural portion comprising the at least one first material; and
- a sealing portion at least partially covering the structural portion and comprising the at least one second material.
23. A cabinet defining an interior and an exterior, the cabinet comprising:
- the frame of claim 20;
- a back panel coupled to at least one of the upper back frame member, the first upright, or the lower back frame member;
- a top panel coupled to at least one of the upper back frame member, the upper first side frame member, or upper front frame member;
- a first hinge coupled to the first upright and providing a first pivot axis;
- a second hinge coupled to the second upright and providing a second pivot axis;
- a first door panel coupled to the first hinge and configured to pivot about the first pivot axis between an open position permitting access to the interior of the cabinet and a closed position in which an interior side of the first door panel contacts the upper corner bracket, the lower corner bracket, and at least one of the upper first side frame member or the lower first side frame member; and
- a second door panel coupled to the second hinge and configured to pivot about the second pivot axis between an open position permitting access to the interior of the cabinet and a closed position in which an interior side of the second door panel contacts the upper corner bracket, the lower corner bracket, and at least one of the upper front frame member or the lower front frame member.
24. The cabinet of claim 23, further comprising a first latch mechanism coupled to the interior side of the first door panel and comprising a first door latch configured to secure the first door panel in the closed position, wherein at least one of the upper corner bracket or the lower corner bracket comprises a first interior surface opposite the first exterior surface, the first interior surface defining a first recess in the at least one second material exposing a first latch receiver configured to receive the first door latch.
25. The cabinet of claim 24, further comprising a second latch mechanism coupled to the interior side of the second door panel and comprising a second door latch configured to secure the second door panel in the closed position, wherein at least one of the upper corner bracket or the lower corner bracket comprises a second interior surface opposite the second exterior surface, the second interior surface defining a second recess in the at least one second material exposing a second latch receiver configured to receive the second door latch.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 29, 2021
Publication Date: Dec 7, 2023
Inventors: Arash Abedijaberi (Painted Post, NY), William Julius McPhil Giraud (Azle, TX), Brian Duane Kingsbury (Watauga, TX), Robert Tomasz Klak (Zdunska Wola), Przemyslaw Andrzej Kukian (Lodz)
Application Number: 17/536,255