Sheet Assembly For Cabinet

Abstract

A sheet assembly for a cabinet includes a plurality of sheets having a plurality of horizontal sheets and a plurality of vertical sheets. Each horizontal sheet includes a first insertion/coupling section. Each vertical sheet includes a second insertion/coupling section engageable with one of the first insertion/coupling sections. One of a pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes an insertion groove. The other of the pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes a buckling slot. The sheet assembly further includes a plurality of buckle devices each having a fixed seat, a lever, and a buckle. The fixed seat is fixed to one of the first and second insertion/coupling sections having the insertion groove. The lever is pivotably connected to the fixed seat. The buckle includes an end pivotably connected to the lever. The buckle further includes a hooked portion releasably engaged with one the buckling slots.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sheet assembly for a cabinet and, more particularly, to a sheet assembly for a cabinet providing convenience to transportation, storage, and assemblage.

A conventional cabinet generally includes a horizontal top sheet, a horizontal bottom sheet, two vertical lateral sheets, and other sheets. Upper and lower ends of the lateral sheets are connected to two ends of the top and bottom sheets to form a frame. A rear sheet is mounted to a rear of the frame, and a door is mounted to a front of the frame, forming the cabinet with a compartment.

To reduce the space for storage and transportation, the sheets are not assembled after manufacture, so that the sheets can be stacked and packaged. Engaging holes are formed in predetermined locations of the sheets. In assembly, bolts are extended through the engaging holes of the sheets to form the cabinet. However, the assemblage requires a tool for tightening the bolts, causing inconvenience to the assemblage. Furthermore, insecure threading engagement between the bolts and the engaging holes causes loosening of the bolts and disengagement of the sheets.

In an approach to avoid the inconvenience of assemblage using bolts, the cabinet sheets include mortises and tenons. Examples of which have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,883,882; 6,474,759; 6,382,748; 6,099,095; and 5,921,646. However, the mortise and tenon joint is still insecure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a sheet assembly for a cabinet providing convenience to transportation, storage, and assemblage while providing secure assemblage.

A sheet assembly for a cabinet according to the present invention includes a plurality of sheets having a plurality of horizontal sheets and a plurality of vertical sheets. Each of the plurality of horizontal sheets includes a first insertion/coupling section. Each of the plurality of vertical sheets includes a second insertion/coupling section engageable with one of the first insertion/coupling sections. One of a pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes an insertion groove. The other of the pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes a buckling slot. The sheet assembly further includes a plurality of buckle devices each having a fixed seat, a lever, and a buckle. The fixed seat is fixed to one of the first and second insertion/coupling sections having the insertion groove. The lever is pivotably connected to the fixed seat. The buckle includes an end pivotably connected to the lever. The buckle further includes a hooked portion releasably engaged with one the buckling slots. The lever is pivotable between first and second position. A spacing between the hooked portion and the fixed seat is increased when the lever is in the first position. The spacing between the hooked portion of the buckle and the fixed seat is decreased when the lever is in the second position.

The plurality of horizontal sheets and the plurality of vertical sheets are assembled together by engaging each of the first insertion/coupling sections with one of the second insertion/coupling sections. The hooked portion of each of the plurality of buckle devices is engaged in one of the buckling slots.

By use of the sheet assembly according to the present invention, the inconvenience of assemblage using bolts is avoided while providing rapid, convenient assemblage. Furthermore, the assemblage is secure by providing the insertion/coupling sections and the buckle devices.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a bottom sheet and a lateral sheet of a sheet assembly of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of buckle device of the sheet assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the buckle device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of FIG. 1 with the buckle device in an unbuckling position.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of FIG. 4 according to section line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with the buckle device in the unbuckling position.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of FIG. 1 with the buckle device in a buckling position.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of FIG. 6 according to section line 7-7 of FIG. 6 with the buckle device in the buckling position.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a cabinet formed by the sheet assembly according to the present invention with a door of the cabinet removed.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded, perspective view of a sheet assembly for a cabinet of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 shows a sheet assembly of a first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein like reference number denotes like element. The sheet assembly includes a plurality of sheets and a plurality of buckle devices 3. The sheets include a plurality of horizontal plates and a plurality of vertical plates. The horizontal plates include a bottom plate 1 and a top plate 4. The vertical sheets include two lateral sheets 2. Assemblage of one of the lateral plates 2 and the bottom plate 1 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-7. The other lateral plate 2 and the top plate 4 can be assembled in the same way.

An insertion/coupling section 21 is provided on an inner face of the lateral plate 2 and includes an insertion groove 211. An insertion/coupling section 11 is provided on an inner face of the bottom plate 1. The insertion/coupling section 11 is engaged in the insertion groove 211 and includes a buckling slot 12.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each buckle device 3 includes a fixed seat 31, a lever 32, and a buckle 33. The fixed seat 31 includes fixing holes 311. Fasteners 34 are extended through the fixing holes 311 into the lateral sheet 2, fixing the fixed seat 31 to the inner face of the lateral sheet 2. The fixed seat 31 includes a pivotal portion 312. The lever 32 includes an end having a first pivotal portion 321 pivotably connected by a pin 324 to the pivotal portion 312 of the fixed seat 31. The lever 32 further includes a second pivotal portion 322 at a central section thereof. A gripping section 323 is provided on the other end of the lever 32. The buckle 33 includes an end having a pivotal portion 331. A hooked portion 332 is provided on the other end of the buckle 33. The pivotal portion 331 is pivotably connected by a pin 325 to the second pivotal portion 322 of the lever 32. The lever 32 is pivotable between first and second positions relative to the fixed seat 31. A spacing between the hooked portion 332 of the buckle 33 and the fixed seat 31 is increased when the lever 32 is in the first position. The spacing between the hooked portion 332 of the buckle 33 and the fixed seat 31 is decreased when the lever 32 is in the second position.

The buckle devices 3 are mounted to upper and lower ends of the lateral sheet 2 after manufacture. The sheets 1 and 2 are not assembled to reduce to the volume for storage and transportation.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in assemblage, the lateral sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 1 are engaged together by engaging the insertion/coupling sections 21 and 11. The insertion groove 211 receives the insertion/coupling section 11. It can be appreciated that the top sheet 4 and the other sheet 2 can be assembled in the same way. The hooked portion 332 of the buckle 33 of each buckle device 3 is adjacent the buckling slot 12. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the hooked portion 332 of the buckle 33 is inserted into the buckling slot 12. The lever 32 is moved to the first position relative to the fixed seat 31 such that the hooked portion 332 of the buckle 33 engages with an edge of the buckling slot 12. By such an arrangement, bolts are not required during assemblage of the sheet assembly according to the present invention while providing rapid, convenient assemblage. Furthermore, the assemblage is secure by the engagement of the insertion/coupling sections 21 and 11 and the engagement between the hooked portions 332 of the buckle devices 3 and the edges of the buckling slots 12.

With reference to FIG. 8, after assemblage of the buckle devices 3, the lateral sheets 2, the bottom sheet 1, and the top sheet 4 to form a frame, a back sheet 5 can be assembled to a rear of the frame by bolts or other provisions, and partitioning sheets 6 can be mounted between the top and bottom sheets 4 and 1. A door can be mounted to a front of the frame. The assemblage of the sheet assembly according to the present invention is more convenient and more reliable than conventional cabinets.

The buckle devices 3 can be mounted to the top and bottom sheets 4 and 1 instead of the lateral sheets 2. Furthermore, buckling slots can be provided on the insertion/coupling sections on the lateral sheet 2. With reference to FIG. 9 showing a second embodiment according to the present invention, insertion/coupling sections 41 and 11 are provided on the inner faces of the top and bottom sheets 4 and 1. A buckle device 3 is mounted to each insertion/coupling section 11, 41. Insertion/coupling sections 21 are provided on the inner faces of lateral sheets 2 and each include an insertion groove 211 for receiving one of the insertion/coupling sections 11, 41 and a bucking slot 23 for receiving the hooked portion 332 of one of the buckle devices 3. The insertion/coupling sections 21 on each lateral sheet 2 are engaged with the insertion/coupling sections 41 and 11 of the top and bottom sheets 4 and 1. Then, the buckle devices 3 are engaged with the buckling slots 23, achieving the same effect.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A sheet assembly for a cabinet comprising:

a plurality of sheets including a plurality of horizontal sheets and a plurality of vertical sheets, with each of the plurality of horizontal sheets including a first insertion/coupling section, with each of the plurality of vertical sheets including a second insertion/coupling section engageable with one of the first insertion/coupling sections, with one of a pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections including an insertion groove, with another of the pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections including a buckling slot; and

a plurality of buckle devices each including a fixed seat, a lever, and a buckle, with the fixed seat fixed to one of the first and second insertion/coupling sections having the insertion groove, with the lever pivotably connected to the fixed seat, with the buckle including an end pivotably connected to the lever, with the buckle further including a hooked portion releasably engaged with one of the buckling slots, with the lever pivotable between first and second position, with a spacing between the hooked portion and the fixed seat being increased when the lever is in the first position, with the spacing between the hooked portion of the buckle and the fixed seat being decreased when the lever is in the second position,

wherein the plurality of horizontal sheets and the plurality of vertical sheets are assembled together by engaging each of the first insertion/coupling sections with one of the second insertion/coupling sections, the hooked portion of each of the plurality of buckle devices is engaged in one of the buckling slots.

2. The sheet assembly for a cabinet as claimed in claim 1, with the plurality of vertical sheets including two lateral sheets, with the plurality of horizontal sheets including a top sheet and a bottom sheet, with the first insertion/coupling sections provided on inner faces of the top and bottom sheets, with the second insertion/coupling sections provided on inner faces of the two lateral sheets.

3. The sheet assembly for a cabinet as claimed in claim 2, with the fixed seat including a pivotal portion, with the lever including a first end having a first pivotal portion pivotably connected to the pivotal portion of the fixed seat, with the lever further including a second pivotal portion at a central section thereof, with the lever further including another end having a gripping section, with the buckle including an end having a pivotal portion pivotably connected to the second pivotal portion of the lever, with the hooked end formed on another end of the buckle.

4. The sheet assembly for a cabinet as claimed in claim 3, with the plurality of buckles mounted to the second insertion/coupling sections on the two lateral sheets, with the buckling slots formed in the first insertion/coupling sections on the top and bottom plates.

5. The sheet assembly for a cabinet as claimed in claim 3, with the plurality of buckles mounted to the first insertion/coupling sections on the top and bottom plates, with the buckling slots formed in the second insertion/coupling sections on the two lateral sheets.