Skirting board attachment system for appliance

By introducing adjustable wedge-shaped members into the skirting board locking system, the difficulty of adjusting the depth of the skirting board in the prior art is solved, effective locking and depth adjustment of the bracket legs are achieved, and the flexibility and stability of the installation of the equipment are improved.

CN119894408APending Publication Date: 2025-04-25FISHER & PAYKEL APPLIANCES LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380066142.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-07-29
Filing Date
2023-07-31
Publication Date
2025-04-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The prior art is difficult to adjust the depth of the skirting board, especially after the appliance has been installed, adjustments from the side or rear become no longer feasible.

Method used

A locking system is designed, including skirting boards, cabinets and wedge-shaped members. The wedge member can adjust its position within the forming channel to change the friction locking force applied to the bracket legs, thereby allowing repositioning of the bracket legs.

Benefits of technology

By adjusting the position of the wedge member, the user can adjust the insertion degree of the bracket legs as needed, adjust the depth of the skirting board, and ensure that the bracket legs are effectively locked, avoiding the problems of offset or looseness of the skirting board during use.

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Abstract

A locking system for a skirting board of an appliance includes a skirting board having a substantially planar body having an inwardly facing first surface and an outwardly facing second surface, the skirting board having a bracket leg extending from the second surface. The appliance has a cabinet having a shaped channel configured to receive at least a portion of the stand leg, the shaped channel comprising at least a first channel wall and a second channel wall. A wedge member may be positioned between the walls of the shaped channel such that the bracket leg is frictionally locked within the shaped channel between at least one of the channel walls and the wedge member. The wedge member is adjustably advanced within the shaped channel such that a frictional locking force applied to the bracket leg can vary.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to methods of locking the position of slidingly engaged bracket legs. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a kick plate attachment mechanism for use with an appliance or kitchen appliance, such as a refrigeration cabinet. Background Art

[0002] Known commercial and domestic (i.e., "household") appliances are typically mounted into alcoves or spaces defined by surrounding structures and / or other appliances and cabinets in a manner that makes them virtually indistinguishable from surrounding cabinets. These "integrated" (or "built-in") appliances can be installed in several stages, with the main frame or body being installed first, followed by an exterior and outward-facing panel added to the front of the door, and typically a skirting board (also called a skirting strip) adjacent to the floor, embedded behind the front face of the panel. It is desirable that these skirting boards be adjustable so that they can be used on a range of appliances, as well as to take into account any depth offset or misalignment between the appliance and the surrounding mounting space / cabinet.

[0003] In conventional installations, it is difficult to make such adjustments to the skirting boards once the appliance cabinet has been installed, and access from the side or rear is no longer feasible.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this problem. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a locking system for a skirting board of an appliance is provided, the locking system comprising: a skirting board having a substantially planar body having a first surface facing inward and a second surface facing outward, the skirting board also comprising a bracket leg extending from the second surface; a cabinet having a shaped channel, the shaped channel being configured to receive at least a portion of the bracket leg, the shaped channel comprising at least a first channel wall and a second channel wall; a wedge member, the wedge member being positionable between the walls of the shaped channel so that the bracket leg is frictionally locked within the shaped channel, the wedge member being located between at least one of the channel walls and the wedge member, wherein the wedge member is adjustably advanceable within the shaped channel so that the friction locking force applied to the bracket leg can be varied.

[0006] This arrangement enables the user to adjust the extent to which the bracket leg is inserted into the shaped channel (and thereby adjust the depth of the skirting board) as desired. As the wedge member is pulled into the shaped channel, subsequent insertion of the wedge member frictionally locks the bracket leg into the shaped channel, thereby forcing the bracket leg against the channel wall and providing a clamping force. Advantageously, the position of the wedge member along the shaped channel can be adjusted to vary the clamping force, thereby allowing the bracket leg to be repositioned.

[0007] Optionally, the wedge-shaped member includes a rear wedge-shaped portion having a first angle at a first position along the length of the wedge-shaped member.

[0008] Optionally, the forming channel has a first engagement surface positioned to be engaged by the rear wedge portion as the wedge member advances within the forming channel such that the first engagement surface urges the wedge member against the first channel wall and / or the second channel wall.

[0009] Optionally, the wedge-shaped member further comprises a front wedge-shaped portion having a second angle at a second position along the length of the wedge-shaped member.

[0010] Optionally, the forming channel has a second engagement surface positioned to be engaged by the front wedge portion as the wedge member advances within the forming channel such that the second engagement surface urges the wedge member against the first channel wall and / or the second channel wall.

[0011] Optionally, the first angle and the second angle are the same.

[0012] Using multiple distinct wedge portions rather than a single wedge interface between the wedge member and the wall of the shaped channel serves to prevent the wedge member from locking or otherwise sticking, as might be the case with a single larger mating surface.

[0013] Optionally, the first channel wall and the second channel wall are angled toward each other along the first portion of the shaped channel such that the first portion of the shaped channel has a non-uniform width along the length of the first portion.

[0014] Optionally, in the second portion of the shaped channel, the first channel wall and the second channel wall are angled away from each other.

[0015] Thus, by changing the position of the wedge-shaped member along the shaped channel, a clamping force is applied to the bracket leg.

[0016] Optionally, the shaped channel includes a wedge portion having a third angle configured to engage the wedge portion of the wedge member.

[0017] Optionally, the angle of the wedge-shaped portion is different from the angle of the wedge-shaped member.

[0018] Providing a mating surface having an angle different than that of the wedge portion of the wedge member minimizes the contact area between the wedge portion and the shaped channel to prevent sticking or friction locking between the two components.

[0019] Optionally, the locking mechanism further comprises a screw arranged to extend at least partially along the length of the formed channel and pass through the wedge member, limiting axial movement of the screw relative to the cabinet so that rotating the screw adjusts the position of the wedge member along the formed channel.

[0020] This allows the wedge-shaped member to be continuously advanced within or retracted from the shaped channel by interacting with a screw head located at the front of the assembly, rather than requiring access to both ends of the shaped channel.

[0021] Optionally, the screw further comprises a nut or abutment at or near an end thereof which limits the range of travel of the wedge-shaped member along the screw.

[0022] This prevents the wedge-shaped member from completely falling out of the shaped channel.

[0023] Optionally, one end of the threaded rod is attached to the bracket leg.

[0024] Optionally, the threaded rod engages with a threaded through hole in the bracket leg.

[0025] Optionally, the wedge-shaped member comprises a first sub-wedge-shaped member and a second sub-wedge-shaped member, and wherein each of the first sub-wedge-shaped member and the second sub-wedge-shaped member is independently advanceable along the shaped channel.

[0026] Optionally, a first sub-wedge member may be positioned in the first portion along the shaped channel and a second sub-wedge member may be positioned in the second portion along the shaped channel.

[0027] Optionally, the first sub-wedge member and the second sub-wedge member are configured to slide at least partially over each other as they advance along the length of the shaped channel toward the center point.

[0028] This arrangement allows the clamping force on the bracket leg to be gradually increased and applied more evenly across the body of the bracket leg.

[0029] Optionally, the support leg comprises a flange arranged to prevent the support leg from being completely withdrawn from the shaped channel.

[0030] Optionally, the flange is also arranged to limit the extent to which the wedge-shaped member can be retracted from the shaped channel.

[0031] Optionally, the shaped channel has a third channel wall and has a generally right triangle cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the wedge-shaped member, wherein the bracket includes a generally L-shaped cross-section corresponding to the shape of the first channel wall and the second channel wall.

[0032] This arrangement allows the wedge-shaped member to connect with the shaped channel on one of the three sides (eg, the beveled edge) and evenly clamp the bracket leg against the remaining two sides.

[0033] Optionally, the skirting board further comprises a second bracket leg extending from the second surface, the second bracket leg being receivable by a second said shaped channel in the cabinet.

[0034] Optionally, the support legs extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the planar body.

[0035] Optionally, the support leg includes one or more relief slots.

[0036] The grooves serve to reduce the stiffness of the bracket legs so that a clamping force applied to the bracket can be applied consistently and transmitted through the bracket to the first and second channel walls of the shaped channel.

[0037] Optionally, the bracket leg has a guide edge for maintaining alignment of the wedge-shaped member relative to the bracket leg as the wedge-shaped member is advanced within the forming channel.

[0038] Optionally, the shaped channel includes support ribs extending into the cabinet.

[0039] Optionally, the shaped channel has a longitudinal axis along which the wedge-shaped member can be advanced.

[0040] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an appliance comprising: a cabinet having a front extending from an upper part of the appliance toward a floor on which the appliance is positioned, a space arranged between the floor and a lower edge of the front, a formed channel arranged on the cabinet in the space, and a locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, the locking system having a skirting board positioned in the space and embedded behind the plane of the front, wherein a bracket leg of the locking system is received in the formed channel.

[0041] Features from one or more embodiments or configurations may be combined with features from one or more other embodiments or configurations. In addition, more than one embodiment or configuration may be used together. In addition, the following focuses on embodiments of the present invention being used with a refrigeration appliance (i.e., a refrigerator, or a freezer, or a refrigerator / freezer combination), but embodiments of the present invention are equally compatible with being incorporated into other appliances, such as other kitchen appliances, e.g., a dishwasher.

[0042] As used herein, the term "(s)" following a noun is intended to refer to the plural and / or singular forms of that noun.

[0043] As used herein, the term "and / or" means "and" or "or", or both as the context permits.

[0044] The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of..." When interpreting each statement in this specification including the term "comprising", there may also be features other than the features beginning with this term. Related terms such as "include" and "contain" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

[0045] Reference to a numerical range disclosed herein (e.g., 1 to 10) is also intended to include reference to all rational numbers within that range (e.g., 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, and 10) and any range of rational numbers within that range (e.g., 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5, and 3.1 to 4.7), and thus, all subranges of all ranges explicitly disclosed herein are hereby explicitly disclosed. These are merely examples of what is specifically intended, and all possible combinations of numerical values ​​between the lowest and highest values ​​recited are considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

[0046] The present disclosure may also be broadly said to include the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the present application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features.

[0047] Where reference is made herein to specific integers that have known equivalents in the art to which the present disclosure relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[0048] The present disclosure includes the foregoing and also contemplates configurations of which the following merely gives examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0050] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a refrigerated cabinet according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] 2 , 3 and 4 show various schematic diagrams of a locking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 5 A horizontal cross-sectional view from below of a locking system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0053] Figure 6 A view showing a locking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B A perspective view of a locking system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0055] Figure 7C A cross section of a locking system according to one embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0056] Fig. 8A A cross-sectional view of a locking system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0057] Figure 8B is a plan view of a cross section of a locking system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Fig. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a locking system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 9B is through Fig. 9A Cross-sectional plan view of the locking system.

[0059] Fig.10 A perspective view of an individual bracket leg is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Figure 1 A cabinet for a refrigeration appliance 1 is shown having a skirting board 2 positioned below a door, the skirting board forming the lowest part of the outwardly facing surface of the refrigeration cabinet adjacent to the floor.

[0061] Figure 2A and Figure 2B A close-up of the grille face 10 present at the lower front region of the refrigerator 1 is shown. The kick plate 2 (not shown) is attached to the grille face 10 by one or more bracket legs 30 that are configured to engage within a formed channel 20 in the refrigerator body 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket leg 30 is substantially L-shaped, having a first vertical surface 33 and a second horizontal surface 32, and an attachment portion 34 for anchoring the bracket to the kick plate 2. Although the vertical surface 33 and the horizontal surface 32 are illustrated and described as being approximately 90 degrees to each other, any suitable arrangement may be used as long as their function is described below.

[0062] In use, the bracket leg 30 is received by the shaped channel 20, which has (see Figure 2A ) vertical channel wall 23, horizontal channel wall 22 and connecting angled channel wall 21. In the illustrated embodiment, vertical channel wall 23 and horizontal channel wall 22 extend beyond angled channel wall 21. In an alternative embodiment, all three walls have the same length. When located in the shaped channel 20, the vertical surface 33 of the bracket leg 30 is parallel to the vertical channel wall 23, and the horizontal surface 32 of the bracket leg is parallel to the horizontal channel wall 22.

[0063] Also shown is a wedge member 40 having a front wedge portion 41 and a rear wedge portion 42. In one embodiment, both of the two wedge portions 41, 42 have an angle of about 30 degrees (with faces adapted to lie flat against the vertical wall 23), which has been found to provide maximum clamping loads once the wedge member engages the forming channel, while being shallow enough to prevent the contact surface on the wedge member 40 from sticking to the wall of the forming channel 20. In alternative embodiments, the two wedge portions 41, 42 have different angles. Advantageously, the material of the wedge member 40 can be selected based on the desired friction characteristics. In some embodiments, the wedge member 40 is formed of nylon. Alternatively, the wedge member 40 is formed of ABS, but any suitable material can be selected.

[0064] The wedge-shaped member 40 further comprises a channel and through-hole 43 for receiving the screw 50. In one embodiment, the channel and through-hole 43 are provided with corresponding threads or threaded inserts.

[0065] like Figure 2B As shown, the screw 50 is arranged to pass through the shaped channel 20 and engage the channel and the through hole 43 of the wedge-shaped member 40. The screw 50 can pass through the opening in the flange 24 (see Figure 2A ), the flange extends from the angled channel wall 21 and partially passes through the channel towards the vertical wall 23, so that by rotating the screw, the wedge-shaped member is pulled into the forming channel 20 from the rear and the angled surfaces of the wedge-shaped portions 41, 42 contact the corresponding surfaces in the forming channel 20. This contact provides a reaction force in a direction perpendicular to the contacted channel surface, which is transmitted by the wedge-shaped member 40 as a horizontal and vertical clamping force, which presses the surface of the bracket leg 30 against the corresponding wall of the forming channel 21. In other words, the contact surfaces 21A and 21B have a normal with both a horizontal component and a vertical component. This ensures that the surface of the bracket leg 30 is always clamped flush with the vertical channel wall 23 and the horizontal channel wall 22 of the forming channel 20, rather than being clamped at an angle. The surfaces 21A and 21B can be substantially parallel, in particular when the front wedge portion and the rear wedge portion are at the same angle. Ideally, the front and rear wedge portions and contact surfaces 21A and 21B are shaped so that they each contact their respective opposing surfaces / wedge portions over substantially the entire height of the wedge member 40 .

[0066] Figure 3A and Figure 3B(both from the rear of the appliance) shows the wedge portion 40 fully inserted into the shaped channel 20, with the two wedge portions 41, 42 engaging the channel wall 21. Also shown is a dome nut 51, which is used to hold the wedge member 40 in place and prevent it from completely disengaging from the locking system. The use of the dome nut 51 further prevents the nut from running too far on the screw 50, thereby preventing the user from adjusting the position of the wedge member 40.

[0067] FIG4 depicts an embodiment in which the inner end of the bracket leg 30 is provided with a flange 35 on the leading edge of the vertical surface 33. The flange acts as an end stop to prevent the bracket 30 from being completely withdrawn from the shaped channel 20 when it is to engage the front face of the grille face 10. It also provides a limit to the extent to which the kick plate can protrude from the refrigerator grille face 10. In addition to or as an alternative to the dome nut 51 shown in FIG3, the flange 35 can also prevent the wedge member 40 from falling out of the shaped channel.

[0068] Figure 5 A horizontal cross-section of the locking mechanism as viewed from below is shown, wherein the angled channel wall 21 includes an angled portion 21A to engage the rear wedge portion 42 of the wedge member 40. In one embodiment, portion 21A has a characteristic angle that is different from the characteristic angle of the rear wedge portion 42 so as to minimize the contact area between the angled rear wedge portion 42 and the angled portion 21A and prevent sticking.

[0069] In use, as the wedge member 40 is advanced into the forming channel 20, the rear wedge portion 42 first contacts the angled channel wall 21 of the forming channel 20 via the angled edge portion 21A. In one embodiment, the front wedge portion 41 then contacts a surface of the forming channel 20, such as the angled channel wall 21. In another embodiment, the front wedge portion 41 may contact another surface of the forming channel, such as surface 21B (which may be, for example, a beveled edge of a boss around the rear side of the through hole in the flange 24), rather than the angled channel wall 21, after which deformation of the wedge member 40 and / or the wall of the forming channel 20 is due to the rear wedge portion 42 and the angled portion 21A moving past each other and deflecting. Ideally, the longitudinal spacing (i.e., along the axis of the channel) between the front wedge portion 41 and the rear wedge portion 42 is set to correspond to the longitudinal spacing of the surfaces 21A and 21B, so that the front wedge portion and the rear wedge portion engage the forming channel simultaneously, although this is not necessary.

[0070] Figure 6 A rear cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism is shown. Visible in this view are support ribs 24, 25 extending from each of the horizontal and vertical walls 22, 23 of the shaped channel into the body of the refrigerator grille 10. These support ribs serve to support and structurally strengthen the shaped channel.

[0071] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B An alternative embodiment is depicted in which a screw 50 extends through a threaded screw hole in a flange 35 disposed at the front (i.e., rearmost) edge of the bracket leg 30. This embodiment functions in the same manner as described above, whereby rotating the screw 50 pulls the wedge member 40 forward through the shaped channel 20 to control the frictional force that holds the bracket leg 30 in place. Also visible are lips or beads that function at the edge of the bracket leg surface, which act as guide edges to guide the wedge member 40 and maintain alignment of the wedge member relative to the bracket leg as it advances along the shaped channel 20.

[0072] Figure 7C Shows Fig. 7A and Figure 7B A cross section of a locking mechanism used in FIG. 4 which utilizes a simple wedge as the wedge member 40 .

[0073] FIG8 depicts another alternative embodiment utilizing a pair of opposing wedge members 40A, 40B. Rotation of the screw 50 is used to pull the two wedge members 40A, 40B toward each other to bias the vertical surface 33 and horizontal surface 32 of the bracket leg 30 against the underlying vertical wall 23 and horizontal wall 22 of the shaped channel 20. As shown in FIG8, the two wedge members may be provided in a mirror image pair, each configured to engage a wall of the shaped channel 20 that narrows toward its center (shown in FIG8).

[0074] exist Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B In the alternative embodiment shown, the wedge members 40A, 40B are disposed within a shaped channel 20 having uniformly spaced or substantially parallel channel walls. In this embodiment, the wedge members 40A, 40B are arranged so that they slide over each other when brought together, thereby pushing each other into the channel walls of the shaped channel 20 to lock the bracket leg 30 in place.

[0075] Fig.10 A bracket leg 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown separately. Visible on the edge of the horizontal surface 32 is a serrated portion that serves to guide the installation of the bracket leg 30 within the shaped channel 20, allowing the user to visually determine the extent or depth to which the bracket leg 30 has been inserted. This is useful when the skirting board 2 has multiple bracket legs 30 that need to be inserted into the shaped channel 20 equidistantly along the length of the grille 10.

[0076] Also shown is a relief slot 38 in the form of a cutout provided along the joining edge of the vertical surface 33 and the horizontal surface 32 of the bracket leg 30. This relief slot 38 serves to reduce the stiffness of the bracket leg 30 in the area where it is clamped to the wall of the forming channel 20, so that the vertical surface 33 and the horizontal surface 32 can independently transfer force to the corresponding vertical wall 23 and horizontal wall 22 of the forming channel 20. This ensures that the clamping force is evenly and uniformly distributed along the bracket leg 30 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical surface 33 and the horizontal surface 32, so that the exact position of the bracket leg 30 within the forming channel 20 depends on component tolerances rather than clamping forces, wherein unbalanced forces can operate to "squeeze" the bracket leg 30 outward from the forming channel 20.

[0077] The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof, which may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A locking system for a skirting board of an appliance, the locking system comprising: a skirting board having a substantially planar body with a first inwardly facing surface and a second outwardly facing surface, the skirting board further comprising a bracket leg extending from the second surface; a cabinet having a shaped channel configured to receive at least a portion of the bracket leg, the shaped channel comprising at least a first channel wall and a second channel wall; and a wedge-shaped member positionable between the walls of the shaped channel such that the bracket leg is frictionally locked within the shaped channel between at least one of the channel walls and the wedge-shaped member, The wedge-shaped member is adjustably advanceable within the shaped channel so that the friction locking force applied to the bracket leg can be varied. 2 . The locking system of claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped member includes a rear wedge-shaped portion having a first angle at a first position along the length of the wedge-shaped member.

3. A locking system according to claim 2, wherein the forming channel has a first engagement surface, and the first engagement surface is positioned to be engaged by the rear wedge portion when the wedge-shaped member advances in the forming channel, so that the first engagement surface pushes the wedge-shaped member against the first channel wall and / or the second channel wall.

4. A locking system according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the wedge-shaped member further comprises a front wedge-shaped portion having a second angle at a second position along the length of the wedge-shaped member.

5. A locking system according to claim 4, wherein the forming channel has a second engagement surface, and the second engagement surface is positioned to be engaged by the front wedge portion when the wedge-shaped member advances in the forming channel, so that the second engagement surface pushes the wedge-shaped member against the first channel wall and / or the second channel wall.

6. A locking system according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the first angle and the second angle are the same.

7. The locking system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first channel wall and the second channel wall are angled toward each other along a first portion of the shaped channel such that the first portion of the shaped channel has a non-uniform width along the length of the first portion.

8. The locking system of claim 7, wherein in the second portion of the shaped channel, the first channel wall and the second channel wall are angled away from each other.

9. The locking system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped channel includes a wedge-shaped portion having a third angle configured to engage the wedge-shaped member.

10. The locking system of claim 9, wherein the angle of the wedge-shaped portion is different than the angle of the wedge-shaped member.

11. A locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a screw rod, the screw rod being arranged to extend at least partially along the length of the forming channel and passing through the wedge-shaped member, limiting the axial movement of the screw rod relative to the cabinet, so that rotating the screw rod adjusts the position of the wedge-shaped member along the forming channel.

12. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the screw further comprises a nut or abutment at or near an end of the screw, the nut or abutment being used to limit the range of travel of the wedge member along the screw.

13. A locking system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein one end of the screw is attached to the bracket leg.

14. A locking system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the screw engages with a threaded through hole in the bracket leg.

15. A locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wedge member includes a first sub-wedge member and a second sub-wedge member, and wherein each of the first sub-wedge member and the second sub-wedge member is capable of being independently advanced along the forming channel.

16. The locking system of claim 15, wherein the first sub-wedge member is positionable in a first portion along the shaped channel, and the second sub-wedge member is positionable in a second portion along the shaped channel.

17. A locking system according to any one of claims 15 or claim 16, wherein the first sub-wedge member and the second sub-wedge member are configured to slide at least partially over each other as they advance along the forming channel toward a center point.

18. A locking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the forming channel has a third channel wall and has a substantially right-angled triangular cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the wedge-shaped member, and wherein the bracket includes a substantially L-shaped cross-section corresponding to the shape of the first channel wall and the second channel wall.

19. The locking system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the skirting further comprises a second bracket leg extending from the second surface, the second bracket leg being receivable by a second of the shaped channels in the cabinet.

20. A locking system according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket legs extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the planar body.

21. The locking system of any preceding claim, wherein the bracket leg includes one or more stiffness relief slots.

22. A locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket leg has a guide edge for maintaining alignment of the wedge member relative to the bracket leg as the wedge member is advanced within the forming channel.

23. The locking system of any preceding claim, wherein the shaped channel comprises support ribs extending into the cabinet.

24. A locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped channel has a longitudinal axis along which the wedge member is advanceable.

25. An apparatus, comprising: a cabinet having a front face extending from an upper portion of the appliance toward a floor on which the appliance is positioned, a space disposed between the floor and a lower edge of the front face, a shaped channel disposed on the cabinet in the space, and A locking system according to any one of the preceding claims, having a skirting board positioned in the space, embedded behind the plane of the front face, wherein the bracket legs of the locking system are received in the shaped channel.