EQUIPMENT CABINET
A cabinet comprising an access panel having a first end and a first tongue formed proximate the first access panel end, and a top panel having a first end with a first slot formed therein; wherein the first tongue is configured to cooperate with the first slot to fasten the top panel to the access panel. In one embodiment, the cabinet may be a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system cabinet. A method of manufacturing the cabinet is also provided.
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The present invention is directed, in general, to equipment cabinetry and, more particularly, to a cabinet for HVAC applications such as air filters, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), and electronic air cleaners (EAC).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHeating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems require ducting to route conditioned air to the served area and return air back to the HVAC equipment for further conditioning. These ducts may be rigid and constructed of sheet metal or flexible and constructed of a variety of materials including several plastics. Among the conditioning processes performed on return air is filtration, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), and electronic air cleaner (EAC). Typically, these processes are done in sequential stages to the air and therefore require some form of cabinet to house the equipment that performs the process while the return air passes through the cabinet. Historically, these cabinets have been constructed of sheet metal and may be shipped from the manufacturing plant to the sales or installation site in assembled form. Especially in the case of the filter cabinet, this results in a bulky, but light-weight cabinet, because the filters are generally packaged separately. The filter cabinet is fully assembled and only needs to be installed in the return air duct and a filter inserted. This traditional approach may result in higher shipping costs as well as requiring more storage space because of the size.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a filter cabinet that can be stored and shipped in a knocked-down state, thereby saving storage and shipping bulk, but that is readily assembled at the installation site and of sufficient strength to be functional for many years.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides, in one aspect, a cabinet comprising an access panel having a first end and a first tongue formed proximate the first access panel end, and a top panel having a first end with a first slot formed therein; wherein the first tongue is configured to cooperate with the first slot to fasten the top panel to the access panel. In one embodiment, the cabinet may be a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system cabinet. A method of manufacturing the cabinet is also provided.
The foregoing has outlined preferred and alternative features of the present invention so that those skilled in the pertinent art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the pertinent art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the pertinent art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring initially to
The equipment cabinet 100 comprises an access panel 110, a top panel 120, a back panel 130, a bottom panel 140 and a cover panel 150. The access panel 110 comprises a first end 111, a second end 112, an access opening 113 therethrough, a first outer flange 114a, a first inner flange 114b, a second outer flange 115a (not visible), a second inner flange 115b, a plurality of locking nibs 116 formed in the first inner flange 114b, a plurality of female fasteners 117, and an outer side flange 118. In a preferred embodiment, the access opening 113 allows service access to the equipment within the cabinet once the cover panel 150 is removed. A single locking nib 116a, i.e., a projection of material above or below the surface in which it is located, is also formed at each corner of the outer side flange 118. In the illustrated embodiment, the first inner flange 114b is configured as a first tongue 114b. The first tongue 114b and the outer side flange 118 are substantially normal a face 119 of the access panel 110.
The top panel 120 comprises a first end 121, a second end 122, a first slot 123 formed in the first end 121, a second tongue 124 formed at the second end 122, a top edge panel 125, a plurality of locking apertures 126 formed in the first end 121 at the first slot 123, and a plurality of locking nibs 127 formed in the second tongue 124. The second tongue 124 and the top edge panel 125 are substantially normal a face 128 of the top panel 120. The back panel 130 and bottom panel 140 are configured in a like manner as the top panel 120 having first and second ends 131, 132 and 141, 142, respectively. The first and second back panel ends 131, 132 comprise third and fourth slots 133, 134, respectively. The bottom panel first end 141 has a third tongue 143 and the bottom panel second end 142 has a fourth slot 144. The cover panel 150 comprises a plurality of male fasteners 151 configured to cooperate with the plurality of female fasteners 117 to removeably couple the cover panel 150 to the access panel 110 and to cover the access opening 113.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The cabinet 400 further comprises a top trim panel 460, a pair of upper filter guides 470, and a pair of lower filter guides 480. The top trim panel 460 is optional and may be used to give an even more finished outer appearance to the cabinet 400. The top panel 420 further comprises first and second longitudinal slots 425, 426 formed along a long side of the top panel 420. The upper filter guides 470, 471 comprise vertical tabs 472, 473, respectively, that fit in the first and second longitudinal slots 425, 426, respectively. The bottom panel 440 further comprises first and second longitudinal slots 445, 446 formed along a long side of the bottom panel 440. The lower filter guides 480, 481 comprise vertical tabs 482 (not visible), 483, and filter flanges 484, 485, respectively. The lower filter guide vertical tabs 482 (not visible), 483, respectively, fit in the first and second longitudinal slots 445, 446, respectively.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The top panel 620 comprises a first end 621, a second end 622, a first slot 623 formed in the first end 621, a second tongue 624 formed at the second end 622, a plurality of locking apertures 626 formed in the first end 621 at the first slot 623, and a plurality of locking nibs 627 formed in the second tongue 624. The second tongue 624 is substantially normal a face 628 of the top panel 620. The back panel 630 and bottom panel 640 have first and second ends 631, 632 and 641, 642, respectively. The first and second back panel ends 631, 632 comprise third and fourth slots 633, 634, respectively. The bottom panel first end 641 has a third tongue 643 and the bottom panel second end 642 has a fourth slot 644. The cover panel 650 comprises a plurality of male fasteners 651 configured to cooperate with the plurality of female fasteners 617 to removeably couple the cover panel 650 to the access panel 610. The cabinet 600 may further comprise upper and lower equipment panels 660, 670, respectively, located inside of the upper and lower panels 620, 640, respectively. The upper and lower equipment panels 660, 670, respectively, may be fastened to the upper and lower panels 620, 640, respectively, with screws 680. The upper and lower equipment panels 660, 670 may be custom configured for any one of a variety of equipment such as: photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), and electronic air cleaner (EAC).
Therefore, a cabinet has been described that can be stored and shipped in a knocked-down state, thereby saving storage and shipping bulk. The cabinet may be especially useful for HVAC applications involving a variety of equipment such as: air filters, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), and electronic air cleaners (EAC) Nonetheless, the cabinet is readily assembled at the installation site and of sufficient strength to be functional for many years
Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the pertinent art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Claims
1. An equipment cabinet, comprising:
- an access panel having an access opening therethrough and a first end;
- a first tongue formed proximate said first access panel end and substantially normal a face of said access panel;
- a first locking nib formed in said first tongue;
- a top panel having a first end with a first slot formed therein; and
- a first locking aperture formed in said first top panel end, said first tongue configured to cooperate with said first slot, and said first locking aperture configured to cooperate with said first locking nib to fasten said top panel to said access panel.
2. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
- a female fastener coupled to said access panel; and
- a cover panel having a male fastener configured to couple to said female fastener, said cover panel configured to cover said access panel and said access opening.
3. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said access panel comprises a first outer flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel, said first outer flange configured as said tongue.
4. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said access panel comprises a first inner flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel, said first inner flange configured as said tongue.
5. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said access panel has a second end and a second tongue formed proximate said second access panel end; and
- a bottom panel having a first end with a first bottom panel slot formed therein, wherein said second tongue is configured to cooperate with said first bottom panel slot to fasten said bottom panel to said access panel.
6. The cabinet as recited in claim 5 wherein said access panel comprises a second outer flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel, said second outer flange configured as said tongue.
7. The cabinet as recited in claim 5 wherein said access panel comprises a second inner flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel, said second inner flange configured as said tongue.
8. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said top panel has a second end and further comprising a top panel tongue proximate said second top panel end, said cabinet further comprising a back panel having a first back panel end, said first back panel end having a back panel slot formed therein; said top panel tongue and said back panel slot configured to cooperate to fasten said back panel to said top panel.
9. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said top panel has a second end and further comprising a second top panel slot proximate said second top panel end, said cabinet further comprising a back panel having a first back panel end, said first back panel end having a back panel tongue formed therein; said back panel tongue and said second top panel slot configured to cooperate to fasten said back panel to said top panel.
10. The cabinet as recited in claim 1 further comprising a seal positioned between said cover panel and said access panel.
11. A method of manufacturing a cabinet, comprising:
- providing an access panel having an access opening therethrough and a first end;
- forming a first tongue proximate said first access panel end and substantially normal a face of said access panel;
- forming a first locking nib in said first tongue;
- providing a top panel having a first end;
- forming a first slot in said first top panel end;
- forming a first locking aperture in said first top panel end; and
- configuring said first tongue to cooperate with said first slot and further configuring said first locking aperture to cooperate with said first locking nib to fasten said top panel to said access panel.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
- coupling a female fastener to said access panel; and
- coupling a male fastener to said cover panel, said male fastener configured to couple to said female fastener, and said cover panel configured to cover said access panel and said access opening.
13. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
- forming a first outer flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel; and
- configuring said first outer flange as said tongue.
14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
- forming a first inner flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel; and
- configuring said first inner flange as said tongue.
15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said access panel has a second end and further comprising:
- forming a second tongue proximate said second access panel end;
- providing a bottom panel having a first end;
- forming a first bottom panel slot in said first bottom panel end; and
- configuring said second tongue to cooperate with said first bottom panel slot to fasten said bottom panel to said access panel.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising:
- forming a second outer flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel; and
- configuring said second outer flange as said tongue.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising:
- forming a second inner flange projecting from and substantially normal a face of said access panel; and
- configuring said second inner flange as said tongue.
18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said top panel has a second end and further comprising:
- forming a top panel tongue proximate said second top panel end;
- providing a back panel having a first back panel end;
- forming a back panel slot in said first back panel end; and
- configuring said top panel tongue and said back panel slot to cooperate to fasten said back panel to said top panel.
19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said top panel has a second end and further comprising:
- forming a second top panel slot proximate said second top panel end;
- providing a back panel having a first back panel end;
- forming a back panel tongue in said first back panel end; and
- configuring said back panel tongue and said second top panel slot configured to cooperate to fasten said back panel to said top panel.
20. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising positioning a seal between said cover panel and said access panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 10, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Applicant: Lennox Manufacturing, Inc. (Richardson, TX)
Inventor: Murry Joel Moffett (Carrollton, TX)
Application Number: 11/463,715