Apparatus and method for maintaining a gap

A method for maintaining a fixed distance between two cabinets during installation comprising:

• adjusting a first stop along an axial length of an elongated rail with a channel that runs along the axial length;
• fixing the first stop in a first position by tightening a first fastener coupled to a first flange within the channel such that a first flat surface of the first stop is perpendicular to the axial length;
• adjusting a second stop along the axial length of the elongated rail;
• fixing the second stop in a second position by tightening a second fastener coupled to a second flange within the channel such that a second flat surface of the second stop is perpendicular to the axial length and is parallel and facing an opposite direction from the first flat surface, wherein the first flat surface and the second flat surface are the fixed distance apart;
• placing the elongated rail with the first stop and second stop between the two cabinets such that the first surface interfaces with a first cabinet of the two cabinets and the second flat surface interfaces with a second cabinet of the two cabinets;
• adjusting a first clamp along the axial length of the elongated rail;
• fixing the first clamp in a third position adjacent the first stop by tightening a third fastener coupled to a third flange within the channel such that a first wall of the first cabinet is between the first stop and the first clamp;
• tightening the first clamp to squeeze the first wall between the first stop and the first clamp;
• adjusting a second clamp along the axial length of the elongated rail;
• fixing the second clamp in a fourth position adjacent the second stop by tightening a fourth fastener coupled to a fourth flange within the channel such that a second wall of the second cabinet is between the second stop and the second clamp;
• tightening the second clamp to squeeze the second wall between the second stop and the second clamp;
• fixing the first cabinet and second cabinet in place;
• and
• loosening the first clamp and the second clamp and removing the elongated rail with the first stop, second stop, first clamp and second clamp from between the two cabinets.

An apparatus for maintaining a fixed distance between two objects comprising:

• an elongated rail with an axial length and a channel running along the axial length;
• a first stop releasably coupled to the elongated rail such that the first stop is adjustable along the axial length of the elongated rail and fixable in various positions along the axial length of the elongated rail and wherein the first stop has a first flat surface that is perpendicular to the axial length when the first stop is in a first fixed position along the axial length of the elongated rail and the first stop has a first ridge that extends into the channel;
• a second stop releasably coupled to the elongated rail such that the second stop is adjustable along the axial length of the elongated rail and fixable in various positions along the axial length of the elongated rail and wherein the second stop has a second flat surface that is perpendicular to the axial length and facing in an opposite direction from the first flat surface when the first stop is in a second fixed position along the axial length of the elongated rail and the second stop has a second ridge that extends into the channel;
• a first clamp releasably coupled to the elongated rail such that the first clamp is adjustable along the axial length of the elongated rail and fixable in various positions along the axial length of the elongated rail and wherein the first clamp has a first tip designed to press an object against the first stop and wherein the first tip is adjustable along the axial length of the first clamp;
• and
• a second clamp releasably coupled to the elongated rail such that the second clamp is adjustable along the axial length of the elongated rail and fixable in various positions along the axial length of the elongated rail and wherein the second clamp has a second tip designed to press an object against the second stop and wherein the second tip is adjustable along the axial length of the second clamp.