COMBINATION CABINET

Abstract

A combination cabinet has a rear panel, two side panels, a front panel and a top panel. The rear panel has a top and two side edges. The side panels are connected respectively to the side edges of the rear panel. Each side panel has a top and a side edge opposite to the rear panel. The front panel is attached to the side edges of the side panels and has a top. The top panel is attached to the tops of the front, rear and side panels. The side panels are connected to the rear panel and the front panel with a single kind of detachable fastening devices. Each detachable fastening device has a male member and a female member combined detachably with each other. Accordingly, the combination cabinet is easy and convenient in assembling with a single kind of fastening devices.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cabinet, and more particularly to a combination cabinet having multiple panels assembled with a single kind of detachable fastening devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Combination furniture is popular due to ease and convenience in assembling and disassembling and is widely used. To assemble components of conventional combination furniture, multiple fastening devices in different structures are always used. Therefore, different kinds of fastening devices have to be prepared, but this is costly and cause trouble in assembling the conventional combination furniture.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a combination cabinet to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a combination cabinet that is easy and convenient in assembling.

The combination cabinet has a rear panel, two side panels, a front panel and a top panel. The rear panel has a top and two side edges. The side panels are connected respectively to the side edges of the rear panel. Each side panel has a top and a side edge opposite to the rear panel. The front panel is attached to the side edges of the side panels and has a top. The top panel is attached to the tops of the front, rear and side panels. The side panels are connected to the rear panel and the front panel with a single kind of detachable fastening devices. Each detachable fastening device has a male member and a female member combined detachably with each other.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a drawer chest is shown;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a double dresser is shown;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a combo is shown;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a hutch is shown;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a wardrobe is shown;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the combination cabinet in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the rear panel and one side panel with a first embodiment of a fastening device of the combination cabinet in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a fastening device for a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional top view of the fastening device in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view in partial section of the assembling blocks on the front panel with the rear panel and one side panel of the combination furniture in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a fastening device for a combination cabinet in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional top view of the fastening device in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a combination cabinet 10 in accordance with the present invention may be a drawer chest as shown in FIG. 1, a double dresser as shown in FIG. 2, a combo as shown in FIG. 3, a hutch as shown in FIG. 4 or a wardrobe as shown in FIG. 5. In the following description, the drawer chest severs as an example for describing the combination cabinet 10 in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the combination cabinet 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a rear panel 11, two side panels 12, a front panel 13 and a top panel 14 and may comprise at least one drawer 16. The rear panel 11 has a top and two side edges. The side panels 12 are connected respectively to the side edges of the rear panel 11. Each side panel 12 has a top and a side edge opposite to the rear panel 11. The front panel 13 is attached to the side edges of the side panels 12 to define a space between the panels 11,12,13 for storing objects, such as cloths or the like. The front panel 13 has a top and may be opened, such that drawers 16 can be held in the space defined by the panels 11,12,13 via the opened front panel 13. Alternatively, at least one door panel 18 can be pivotally mounted on and close the opened front panel 13 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The top panel 14 is attached to the tops of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13. The side panels 12 are connected to the rear panel 11 and the front panel 13 with a single kind of detachable fastening devices 20. Each detachable fastening device 20 has a male member 22 and a female member 24 combined detachably with each other. Accordingly, to prepare different kinds of fastening devices for assembling the combination cabinet 10 is unnecessary, and time and cost for assembling and manufacturing the combination cabinet 10 can be effectively reduced.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, the male member 22,22A of each detachable fastening device 20,20A comprises a base 222, a mounting protrusion 224 and at least one connecting block 226,226A. The base 222 has a mounting side, a connecting side and two mounting holes 223. The mounting side is attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13. Preferably, the male members 22,22A of the fastening devices 20,20A are mounted on and may be embedded in the side panels 12. The connecting side is opposite to the mounting side. The mounting holes 223 are defined through the base 222 respectively near two ends of the base 222, and two fasteners, such as screws are mounted respectively through the mounting holes 223 and screwed into the corresponding panel 11,12,13 to securely mount the male member 22,22A on the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The mounting protrusion 224 is formed on and protrudes from the mounting side of the base 222 and is embedded in the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The mounting protrusion 224 has multiple engaging ribs 225 formed on the mounting protrusion 224. The at least one connecting block 226,226A is formed on and protrudes from the connecting side of the base 222. Preferably, a single connecting block 226 or two connecting blocks 226A may be implemented. Each connecting block 226,226A has a neck 227 and an enlarged head 228. The neck 227 is formed on and protrudes from the connecting side of the base 222 and has a width. The enlarged head 228 is formed on the neck 227 and has a width larger than that of the neck 227.

The female member 24,24A comprises a base 242, a mounting protrusion 244 and at least one connecting recess 246,246A. The base 242 has a mounting side, a connecting side and two mounting holes 243. The mounting side is attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13. Preferably, the female members 24,24A are mounted on and may be embedded in the front and rear panels 11,13. The connecting side is opposite to the mounting side. The mounting holes 243 are defined through the base 242 respectively near two ends of the base 242, and two fasteners, such as screws are mounted respectively through the mounting holes 243 and screwed into the corresponding panel 11,12,13 to securely mount the female member 24,24A on the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The mounting protrusion 244 is formed on and protrudes from the mounting side of the base 22 and is embedded in the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The mounting protrusion 244 has multiple engaging ribs 245 formed on the mounting protrusion 244 to improve the combination of the female member 24,24A and the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The at least one connecting recess 246,246A is formed in the connecting side of the base 242 and respectively holds the at least one connecting block 226,226A of a corresponding male member 22,22A inside. Preferably, a single connecting recess 246 or two connecting recesses 246A may be implemented. Each connecting recess 246,246A has a length, an opening and two holding flanges 247. The length of the connecting recess 246,246A is at least double of that of the corresponding connecting block 226,226A. The opening is defined in the connecting side of the base 242 and has two inner edges facing to each other. The holding flanges 247 protrude respectively from the inner edges of the opening to define a gap between the holding flanges 247. The gap has a width than that of the enlarged head 228 of the corresponding male member 22,22A to hold the neck 227 of the corresponding male member 22,22A inside.

To connect the side panel 12 with the rear or front panel 11,13, the connecting blocks 226,226A of the male members 22,22A on the side panel 12 are inserted into the connecting recesses 246,246A in the female members 24,24A on the rear or front panel 11,13 via the openings. The side panel 12 is then moved downward to make the necks 227 of the connecting blocks 226,226A on the male members 22,22A entering and being held in the gaps in the female members 24,24A, such that the side panel 12 can be securely connected with the rear or front panel 11,13 with the fastening devices 20,20A. Accordingly, the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13 can be combined with each other with the fastening devices 20,20A to form a space for storing objects.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 10, to securely attach the top panel 14 to the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13, multiple assembling blocks 15 are mounted securely on the bottom face of the top panel 14. Each assembling block 15 abuts with one of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13 and has a through hole 152 defined through the assembling block 15. Each one of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13 has at least one assembling hole 17 defined in the panel 11,12,13 and aligning with the through hole 152 of one of the assembling blocks 15 that abuts with the panel 11,12,13. Multiple fastening rods 16 are mounted respectively through the through holes 152 in the assembling blocks 15 on the top panel 14 and respectively and securely into the assembling holes 17 in the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13. Accordingly, the top panel 14 can be securely attached onto the tops of the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13 with the assembling blocks 15 and the fastening rods 16.

In addition, the top panel 14 may further have multiple positioning holes 142 defined in the bottom face of the top panel 14. The front and rear panels 11,13 have multiple positioning rods 18 mounted on the tops of the front and rear panels 11,13 and held respectively in the positioning holes 142 in the top panel 14. Accordingly, the top panel 14 can be securely attached the front, rear and side panels 11,12,13 at a desired position.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the male member 22B of each detachable fastening device 20B is connected with the female member 24B of the detachable fastening device 20B in a dovetail manner. Preferably, the male member 22B comprises a base 222B and an elongated connecting block 226B. The base 222B may be embedded in a corresponding panel 11,12,13 and has a mounting side, a connecting side and two mounting holes 223B. The mounting side is attached to a corresponding panel 11,12,13. The connecting side is opposite to the mounting side. The mounting holes 223B are defined through the base 222B respectively near two ends of the base 222B. Two fasteners, such as screws are mounted respectively through the mounting holes 223B and screwed into the corresponding panel 11,12,13 to securely mount the male member 24B on the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The elongated connecting block 226B is formed on and protrudes from the connecting side of the base 222B. The connecting block 226B has a bottom formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base and a free side face opposite to the bottom. The connecting block 226B has a trapezoid cross section to make the width of the connecting block 226B gradually increasing from the bottom to the free side face.

The female member 24B comprises a base 242B and an elongated connecting protrusion 241. The base 242B may be embedded in a corresponding panel 11,12,13 and has a mounting side, a connecting side and two mounting holes 243B. The mounting side is attached to the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The connecting side is opposite to the mounting side. The mounting holes 243B are defined through the base 242B respectively near two ends of the base 242B. Two fasteners, such as screws are mounted respectively through the mounting holes 243B and screwed into the corresponding panel 11,12,13 to securely mount the female member 24B on the corresponding panel 11,12,13. The elongated connecting protrusion 241 is formed on and protrudes from the connecting side of the base 242B and has connecting side and a connecting channel 246B. The connecting side is opposite to the connecting side of the base 242B. The connecting channel 246B is defined in the connecting side of the connecting protrusion 241, holds the connecting block 226B of a corresponding male member 22B inside and has a bottom, a side opening, an end opening and a width. The side opening is defined in the connecting side of the connecting protrusion 241, and the end opening is defined in an end of the connecting protrusion 241. The width gradually increases from the bottom to the side opening to fit with the connecting block 226B on the male member 22B. With the engagement between the connecting block 226B and the connecting channel 246B, the male and female members 22B,24B can be securely but detachably combined with each other. Accordingly, the panels 11,12,13 can be combined with each other with the fastening devices 20B.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A combination cabinet comprising:

a rear panel having a top and two side edges;

two side panels connected respectively to the side edges of the rear panel and each having a top and a side edge opposite to the rear panel;

a front panel attached to the side edges of the side panels and having a top; and

a top panel attached to the tops of the front, rear and side panels, wherein

the side panels are connected to the rear panel and the front panel with a single kind of detachable fastening devices; and

each detachable fastening device has a male member and a female member combined detachably with each other.

2. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the male member of each detachable fastening device comprises

a base having a mounting side attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels, a connecting side opposite to the mounting side and two mounting holes defined through the base respectively near two ends of the base;

a mounting protrusion formed on and protruding from the mounting side of the base and having multiple engaging ribs formed on the mounting protrusion; and

at least one connecting block formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base, and each one of the at least one connecting block having

a neck formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base and having a width; and

an enlarged head formed on the neck and having a width larger than that of the neck; and

the female member of each detachable fastening device comprises

a base having a mounting side attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels, a connecting side opposite to the mounting side and two mounting holes defined through the base respectively near two ends of the base;

a mounting protrusion formed on and protruding from the mounting side of the base and having multiple engaging ribs formed on the mounting protrusion; and

at least one connecting recess formed in the connecting side of the base and respectively holding the at least one connecting block of a corresponding male member inside, and each one of the at least one connecting recess having

an opening defined in the connecting side of the base and having two inner edges facing to each other; and

two holding flanges protruding respectively from the inner edges of the opening to define a gap between the holding flanges and having a width smaller than that of the enlarged head of the corresponding male member to hold the neck of the corresponding male member inside.

3. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the top panel has a bottom face and multiple assembling blocks mounted on the bottom face of the top panel;

each assembling block abuts with one of the front, rear and side panels and has a through hole defined through the assembling block;

each one of the front, rear and side panels has at least one assembling hole defined in the panel and aligning with the through hole of one of the assembling blocks that abuts with the panel; and

multiple fastening rods mounted respectively through the through holes in the assembling blocks on the top panel and respectively and securely into the assembling holes in the front, rear and side panels.

4. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the top panel further has multiple positioning holes defined in the bottom face of the top panel; and

the front and rear panels have multiple positioning rods mounted on the tops of the front and rear panels and held respectively in the positioning holes in the top panel.

5. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the male member of each detachable fastening device comprises

a base having a mounting side attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels, a connecting side opposite to the mounting side and two mounting holes defined through the base respectively near two ends of the base; and

an elongated connecting block formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base and having

a bottom formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base;

a free side face opposite to the bottom;

a trapezoid cross section; and

a width gradually increasing from the bottom to the free side face; and

the female member of each detachable fastening device comprises

a base having a mounting side attached to a corresponding one of the front, rear and side panels, a connecting side opposite to the mounting side and two mounting hole defined through the base respectively near two ends of the base; and

an elongated connecting protrusion formed on and protruding from the connecting side of the base and having

a connecting side opposite to the connecting side of the base; and

a connecting channel defined in the connecting side of the connecting protrusion, holding the connecting block of a corresponding male member inside and having

a bottom;

a side opening defined in the connecting side of the connecting protrusion;

an end opening defined in an end of the connecting protrusion; and

a width gradually increasing from the bottom to the side opening.

6. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the top panel has a bottom face and multiple assembling blocks mounted on the bottom face of the top panel;

each assembling block abuts with one of the front, rear and side panels and has a through hole defined through the assembling block;

each one of the front, rear and side panels has at least one assembling hole defined in the panel and aligning with the through hole of one of the assembling blocks that abuts with the panel; and

multiple fastening rods mounted respectively through the through holes in the assembling blocks on the top panel and respectively and securely into the assembling holes in the front, rear and side panels.

7. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the top panel further has multiple positioning holes defined in the bottom face of the top panel; and

the front and rear panels have multiple positioning rods mounted on the tops of the front and rear panels and held respectively in the positioning holes in the top panel.

8. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male member of each detachable fastening device is connected with the female member of the detachable fastening device in a dovetail manner.

9. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the top panel has a bottom face and multiple assembling blocks mounted on the bottom face of the top panel;

each assembling block abuts with one of the front, rear and side panels and has a through hole defined through the assembling block;

each one of the front, rear and side panels has at least one assembling hole defined in the panel and aligning with the through hole of one of the assembling blocks that abuts with the panel; and

multiple fastening rods mounted respectively through the through holes in the assembling blocks on the top panel and respectively and securely into the assembling holes in the front, rear and side panels.

10. The combination cabinet as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the top panel further has multiple positioning holes defined in the bottom face of the top panel; and

the front and rear panels have multiple positioning rods mounted on the tops of the front and rear panels and held respectively in the positioning holes in the top panel.