Cabinetry system having removable cabinet faces and reversible inserts

Abstract

A face panel assembly for a cabinet is disclosed herein that includes a reversible insert with different designs on its forward and reverse surfaces. The assembly also includes a face panel frame having a central opening formed through a thickness thereof and a cavity formed in an inward-facing surface thereof. The cavity extends around the opening and is sized to receive the forward and reverse surfaces of the reversible insert so that, when the reversible insert sits within the cavity, one of the forward and reverse surfaces is visible through the opening. The assembly further includes magnets coupled to the inward-facing surface of the frame that are configured to couple the frame to a cabinet box. The magnetic coupling system and reversible inserts permit a user to quickly and easily change the outward appearance of the cabinet.

1 . A face panel assembly for a cabinet comprising:
 a reversible insert comprising:
 a forward surface having a first design thereon; and 
 a reverse surface opposite the forward surface, the reverse surface having a second design thereon different from the first design; 
   a face panel frame having a central opening formed through a thickness thereof and a cavity formed in an inward-facing surface thereof, wherein the cavity extends around the central opening and is sized to receive the forward and reverse surfaces of the reversible insert so that, when the reversible insert sits within the cavity, one of the forward and reverse surfaces is visible through the central opening; and   a plurality of magnets coupled to the inward-facing surface of the face panel frame, the plurality of magnets configured to couple the face panel frame to a cabinet box.   
     
     
         2 . The face panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of magnets are recessed within the inward-facing surface of the face panel frame. 
     
     
         3 . The face panel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of tabs positioned around the cavity of the face panel frame, the plurality of tabs movable between a retaining position and a reversing position and positioned to engage the reversible insert. 
     
     
         4 . The face panel assembly of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of tabs are positioned within a plurality of recesses positioned around the cavity of the face panel frame and one of below and flush with the inward-facing surface of the face panel frame, the plurality of tabs coupled to the face panel frame within the recesses via a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The face panel assembly of  claim 3  wherein in the insert retaining position, the plurality of tabs are configured to retain the reversible insert within the cavity of the face panel frame; and
 wherein in the insert reversing position, the plurality of tabs is configured to allow the reversible panel to be reversed. 
 
     
     
         6 . The face panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first design comprises a stained surface finish; and
 wherein the reverse surface comprises a painted surface finish. 
 
     
     
         7 . The face panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first design comprises a first color scheme; and
 wherein the second design comprises a second color scheme different from the first color scheme. 
 
     
     
         8 . A cabinet assembly comprising:
 a cabinet box;   at least one face panel assembly coupled to at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box, the at least one face panel assembly comprising:
 a face panel frame having an opening formed through a thickness thereof and a cavity formed through a thickness thereof and surrounding a perimeter of the opening; and 
 a central insert sized to be received within the cavity of the face panel frame, the central insert comprising:
 a first surface having a first design; and 
 a second surface opposite the first surface and having a second design different from the first design; 
 
   a plurality of magnets coupling the at least one face panel assembly to the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box; and   wherein the central insert is reversible within the face panel frame so that either of the first and second surfaces may be shown through the opening of the face panel frame.   
     
     
         9 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the cabinet box further comprises an opening formed in the at least one outward-facing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the at least one face panel assembly is further coupled to the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box with a piano hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the at least one face panel assembly further comprises a plurality of tabs positioned within a plurality of recesses around the cavity and rotatable between a closed position in which the plurality of tabs retain the central insert within the cavity of the face panel frame and an open position in which the central insert is removable from the face panel frame. 
     
     
         12 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the at least one face panel assembly comprises:
 a first face panel assembly; and 
 a second face panel assembly; 
 wherein the first and second face panel assemblies are coupled to the same outward-facing surface of the cabinet box; and 
 wherein the each of the first and second face panel assemblies comprise: 
 a respective face panel frame having an opening formed through a thickness thereof and a cavity formed through a thickness thereof and surrounding a perimeter of the opening; and 
 a respective central insert sized to be received within the cavity of its respective face panel frame. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 12  wherein first surfaces of the central inserts of the first and third face panel assemblies are visible through the openings of the face panel frames of the first and third face panel assemblies; and
 wherein a second surface of the central insert of the face panel frame of the second face panel assembly is visible through the opening of the face panel frame of the second face panel assembly. 
 
     
     
         14 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of magnets comprises:
 a first set of magnets recessed within an inward-facing surface of the face panel frame at least one face panel assembly; and 
 a second set of magnets recessed within the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box for coupling to the first set of magnets. 
 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a self-centering locating pin assembly comprising:
 a pin body comprising:
 a base portion recessed within the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box; and 
 a stem portion extending outwardly from the base portion; and 
 
 a receiving body positioned within an inward-facing surface of face panel frame and sized to receive the stem portion; and 
 wherein, when the plurality of magnets couple the at least one face panel assembly to the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box, the locating pin is received within the mating receptacle. 
 
     
     
         16 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the at least one outward-facing surface of the cabinet box comprises a first outward-facing surface and a second outward-facing surface substantially perpendicular to the first outward-facing surface; and
 wherein the at least one face panel assembly comprises a first face panel assembly coupled to the first outward-facing surface and a second face panel assembly coupled to the second outward-facing surface. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a cabinet assembly comprising:
 constructing a cabinet box;   constructing a face panel frame having an opening formed through a thickness thereof and a cavity formed through a thickness thereof and surrounding a perimeter of the opening;   positioning a central insert within the cavity of the face panel frame, the central insert comprising:
 a first surface having a first design; 
 a second surface opposite the first surface and having a second design different from the first design; and 
 wherein the central insert is reversible within the face panel frame so that either of the first and second surfaces may be shown through the opening of the face panel frame; and 
   coupling the face panel frame to an outward-facing surface of the cabinet box via a plurality of magnets.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 embedding a first set of magnets of the plurality of magnets within the outward-facing surface of the cabinet box; 
 embedding a second set of magnets of the plurality of magnets within an inward-facing surface of the face panel frame; and 
 coupling the first set of magnets to the second set of magnets. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 embedding a pin body within the outward-facing surface of the cabinet box; 
 embedding a receiving body within the inward-facing surface of the face panel frame; and 
 aligning the receiving body with the pin body so that the first set of magnets is aligned with the second set of magnets. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising forming an opening in the outward-facing surface of the cabinet box, the opening positioned behind the face panel frame and central insert when the face panel frame is coupled to the outward-facing surface of the cabinet box.