US2561681A - Cabinet - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1951 G. WISE 2,561,681

CABINET Filed Nov. 15, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Y George Wp's'e.

ATTORNEYS July 24, 1951 G. WISE. 2,561,681

1 CABINET Filed Nov; 15, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I @1 1 9.19. I I I George Wp'sg.

ATTORNEYS mmvme.

Patented July 24, 1951 CABINET George Wise, Washington, D. 0.

Application November 15, 1948, Serial No. 60,108 In Great Britain June 13, 1946 12 Claims.

This invention relates to cabinets for toilet articles, and while the invention will hereinafter be described with particular reference to its use as a cabinet for shaving articles or kits, it is to be expressly understood that it is Within the contemplation of the invention to embody the same in cabinets for facilitating convenient access to other toilet articles. This application is a continuation-in-partof my applications Serial Nos. 600,741, filed June 21, 1945 and now abandoned and 681,348, filed July 3, 1946.

In. my PatentNo. 2,297,995, granted October 6, 1942, and reissued on March 14, 1944, Reissue No. 22,456, I have disclosed a cabinet wherein a door hinged at its lower edge is provided with rails or the like so that a shaving kit or kit carrying means can be moved thereon from a position within the cabinet to a position exteriorly of the cabinet for ready use.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet to facilitate access to toilet articles normally stored within the cabinet but movable to a stable position of ready access when a closure for the cabinet is opened.

Another object of my invention is to have the conventional medicine, cabinet so constructed that the medicines will be segregated from the shaving and cosmetic articles and wherein there will be neat orderly storage for all articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type characterized wherein the member for closing the cabinet also becomes a shelf extension in front of the toilet articles when moved to the exterior of the cabinet or partially to the exterior of the cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type characterized wherein the movement of the toilet articles exteriorly or partially exteriorly of the cabinet may be eifected automatically, as by movement of the closure member as an incident to the opening or release of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type characterized with which may be readily associated illumination means, as for example to facilitate shaving, or other electrical provisions, as for example a drying pad.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type characterized which is simple in construction, durable in character, compact as to space consumption, and of such nature that it may be readily designed and adapted to take a wide variety of forms depending on the articles to be stored and to fit into 2 the architectural requirements of bathrooms or the like, having regard for the size, cost and appearance of the installation.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, several of which are illustrated on the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the draw ings are for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended to. be a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein the same parts have corresponding reference characters in the several figures and different phases of the invention are illustrated more or less diagrammatically in different views for facility of understanding,

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the embodiment of Fig. 1 to illustrate respectively the cabinet in closedposition, the cabinet when the closure member is first opened and the cabinet when the toilet articles are moved furthe to the exterior of the cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the embodiment of Fig. 2 parallel to the face of the cabinet;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections of the embodiment of Fig. 6 respectively illustrating the cabinet in closed position, the cabinet with 010- sure members open and the cabinet with the toilet articles moved exteriorly of the cabinet;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section of the embodiment of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the embodiment of i i Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in section of the automatic means for moving the toilet articles exteriorly of the cabinet; i

Fig. 13 is a perspective elevation of anothe embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through yet another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view from the rear of yet another embodiment and also showing th adapter hereinafter described;

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective of a detail of Fig. 18;

Figs. 18 and 19 respectively are elevational and recessed into the wall of the room, preferably immediately adjacent to and below the usual medicine cabinet, or it may be made as a separate portable cabinet that may be attached to a wall by any suitable support, or suspended from a wall in any suitable way, at any suitable location, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Mounted within the cabinet 20 is a toilet kit or case 23 which also may be of any suitable size, construction and material and built to provide convenient access to any desired number of suitable toilet articles. As shown, the kit is in the form of a case having an open front and an open top and provided with one or more shelves 24, one ormore drawers 25, suitable racks 26, etc., but it is to be expressly understood that the toilet cases shown have been selected merely for purposes of illustration.

Case 23 is suitably mounted so that it may move into and out of the cabinet 20 as hereinafter explained in greater detail. A variety of provisions for facilitating such movement are herein described, but it is to be expressly understood that they have been selected merely to exemplify some of the various provisions that may be used in embodying the invention, any suitable provision to this end being within the contemplation of this invention. Where economyor other reasons-dictate the provision for the movement of the case into and out of the cabinet may be a single means disposed preferably in the central medial foreand-aft plane of the cabinet as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, but for purposes of stability I may employ a plurality of runners disposed symmetrically with respect to the medial fore-and-aft plane of the cabinet as shown in embodiments herein illustrated.

1 To provide relatively slidable members in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to the bottom 21 of the cabinet has at opposite sides thereof a pair of fore-and-aft extending tracks or rails 28, here shown as in the form of inwardly facing channelshaped ways in which slides a flat plate-like member having at its opposite sides flanges 29 that fitslidably in the slots of said channel-shaped members 28. The bottom 22 of case 23 is secured in any suitable way as by screws to the member 30. To provide relatively slidable members in the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 17 the ways for the runners are shown as in the form of inverted T-shaped slots 3| provided in a flat plate 32 suitably secured to the bottom of the cabinet, while the underside of the case 23 is provided with a pair of plates 33 suitably attached to the bottome 22 of the case as by screws 34 and having an inverted T-shaped rib or runner 35 of any suitable length sliding therein. In the embodimentof Figs. 14 and 20 a lazy tongs or set of nested links 36 is suitably attached to the bottom 22 of the case 23 at 31 and directly to the cabinet wall, preferably the bottom 21 thereof, at 38. The relatively slidable members of the embodiment of Fig. 15 include a'plate 39 suitably attached to the bottom 22 of the case 23 and it in turn slides by means of the dovetailed runners 40 in the dovetailed grooves 4| of a second plate 42 which may be either fixedly attached to the bottom 21 of the cabinet 20 or it may itself be slidable so as to double the extent of the projection of the case outside of the cabinet, in which event the lateral edges of the plate 42 may be provided with slotted plates 43 for cooperation with pins 44 mounted in the lateral walls of the cabinet 20 and projecting into the slots of said plates 43. Th relatively slidable members of the embodiment of Fig. 16 include a plate 45 provided for attachment to the bottom of the case and it carries suitable brackets 46 for slidable movement on a pair of rods, bars or the like 41 of any suitable cross section. Such rods, bars or the like may be directly attached to the bottom 21 of the cabinet or to the rear wall thereof at their inner extremities. Other suitable means to provide for the sliding of the case 23 into and out of the cabinet 20 will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the several embodiments means (not shown) are provided to constitute stops to prevent movement of the case so far out of the cabinet as to result in a disengagement of the case from the cabinet by separation of the members in sliding engagement. Such stops may conveniently be associated with the ways or runners or they may be mounted in the cabinet walls for cooperation with the slidable parts.

Where the slidable member has ledges running in channel-shaped grooves or the runners are of wedgeor inverted T-shape-and they are stopped before disengagement from the grooves in the tracks or rails the case is still firmly supported and stable whenmoved to its forwardmost posi tion, but to relieve the runners andtracks from sustaining the overhanging weight of the forwardly disposed case, and particularly where the case is extended to a considerable distance in front of the cabinet so that the moment of the case is relatively large, means may be provided for cooperation with the slidable support to oppose the moment of the extended case tending to rotate the same around the edge of the cabinet. Thus as shown in Fig. 15 suitable guide members 48 may be attached to the side Walls of the cabinet and overlay the upper surface of the slide 42 to hold the latter against tilting movement. Also any suitable antifriction means may be provided between the relatively slidable elements of the support.

In conformity with the present invention the movement of the case forwardly may be effected by movement of the closure member of the cabinet, or it may be effected automaticallyby the opening or release of the closure means, or it may be effected manually by operation of the closure means.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 the door 50 for closing the front of the cabinet is shown as hinged at 5| to the lower edge of the case 23. The lower extremity of the door 50 extends b yond the hinge 5| as shown at 52, so that when the door is opened this extension 52 engages the for.- ward ends of the channel-shaped ways 28 as abutments and thereby cams the door, together with the p1ate-like member 30 to which it is hinged and the case 23 mounted on the latter, to a for- Ward position. If, as shown, in Fig. 2, the front of the door 50 is to be flush with the face of the cabinet, the forward ends of the channel-shaped members 28 are set back from the face of cabinet by an amount equal to the thickness'of spams! the door, and the front extremity of the bottom 21 of the cabinet is suitably grooved as shown at 53 so as to provide for the aforesaidmovementor the extension 52. By varying the elevation of the hinge line above the bottom 21 of the cabinet, and thereby the length of the ex t 'nsion 52, as well as the location of the abutments for cooperation with the latter, the extent to which the case 23 is 'cammed forwardly by the opening movement of the door "can be varied so as to predetermine 123 is moved forwardly with respect to the cabinet. With the arrangement shown in Figs. '1 to 5 the case 23, as "shown in Fig. 3, is cammed forwardly by the opening movement of the door so as to "advance the case 23, with the parts carried thereby, forwardly of the position occupied 'bythe shelves of the ordinary medicine cabinet, but

projecting out of the cabinet only to a small -extent, as this is ordinarily sunicient to dispose the parts carried by the face 23 in a position of ready accessibility.

When the door is in its lower horizontal position the extension '52 engages the bottom of the case-and holds the door in a horizontal position so that itconstitutes a shelf projecting forwardly from the case, If it is then desired to advance the case 23 so that it projects to a greater distance from the cabinet 23, the door 50 may be pulled outwardly, advancing the member and the case 23 carried thereby up to the limit protermined by the stop means hereinabove referred to, to the position shown in Fig. 4.

When the door is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 2 it completely closes the front of the cabinet, and any suitable spring look as diagrammatically indicated at 54 may hold the door closed, the lock preferably being of the type well the extent to which the case,

known in cabinet constructions that is readily releasable when a moderate pull is applied to the knob 55. Movement of the door 5|] to open position, as shown in Fig. 3, automatically advances the case 23 forwardly to a position of ready accessibility and to an extent determined by the 4,

length of the extension 52 of the door below the hinge 5|. If preferred, the hinge 5| may be a spring hinge so as to cause the door to move to this position automatically. If desired the case 23 can then be moved still farther out of the cabinet 20 to the position shown in Fig. 4, as explained above. In either open position of the door it constitutes an extension shelf which may be used for deposit of the shaving or other toilet articles while in use. Pushing inwardly on the door 50 moves the case from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3, whereupon the door 50 may be swung upwardly to move the case back into the cabinet and close the front of the latter.

This same automatic camming of the case forwardly due to the opening movement of the door may also be employed when other provisions are used for mounting the case for movement into and out of the cabinet as hereinabove referred to. Thus in the embodiment of Fig. 14 wherein the case is movably mounted by lazy tongs or a set of nested links, the door may be hinged to the bottom of the case 23 as shown at 5| and the lower extending projection 52 of the door may cooperate with blocks 86 secured in any suitable way at opposite extremities of the bottom 21 of the cabinet 20, so as to provide abutments for cooperation with the door extension 52 and effect the camming action when the door is opened. Similarly, in the embodiment of 13 the door (not shown) may be hinged to the hottom 2'2 ofthe case23 as shown at SI and the extending portion 52 of said door (compare Figs. 1-5 cooperates with the forward edge of the plate 32, the latter acting as an abutment to effect the forward camming action of the case. In the embodiment of Fig. 15 the door (not shown) may be hinged at 5| on the plate 39, and the forward edge of'the second slidable plate 42 acts as an abutment while the door is being opened for cooperation with the extension 52 (comparerfigs. 1-5) in efiecting forward movement of the member 39 together with the case 23 carried thereby-with respect to the lower plate 42.

The embodiment of'Figs. 6 to 12 illustrates an automatic construction employing the type of case and means "providing movement thereof into and out of the cabih'et of the type embodied in Figs. 1 to 5, but it is to be expressly understood thatthe automatidfeature may be associated with the other embodiments illustrated or other suitable constructions within the present: inven-- "ti'onj In this form the front of the cabinet 20 is shown as provided with closure means composed of two1eaves 56 and 51 hinged respectively at 58 and 5 9 to theupper front edge of the cabinet 20 and to the lower front edge of the case 23. In thi's'embodim'ent the closure member for actuati ng the automatic means is one of the two leaves, preferablythe lower. The hinges 58 and 59 are preferably spring hinges so that the leaves when released will move automatically to upper and lower horizontal positions as shown in Fig. 8. suitablelock releasable mechanically or elec tri'cally as diagrammatically indicated at 60 in Fig. 7 may be used for retaining the doors in closed position, or the lock may be one such as referred to in coniunction with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 with reliance on the spring hinges tomove the leaves 56 and 51 to upper and lower horizontal positions to effect the automatic op,- eration next to be described.

'To move: the case to its forward position automatically, suitable spring means are provided interiorly of the cabinet for cooperation with the case or some movable part attached thereto for projectingthe case to its forward position when actuated by the lower leaf 51 moving to its horizontalposition. Any suitable means to this end may be employed. The embodiment of Figs. 6 to cylinder '62 is a plunger 63 attached by suitable brackets M to the'underside of the case 23. Fiv otally mounted on a pin 65 carried by and ex tending diametrically across the cylinder 62 is a trigger having a forwardly projecting trip arm "61, thetrip arms of the two devices 6| being connected as shown at 68 for simultaneous operation. Trigger 66 has a forwardly extending detent arm 69 provided with a nose 10 adapted to engage and lock Withthe extremity of a slot H in the cylinder 62 "and thereby form a latch for the plunger in its inner position. Interposed between the trigger B6 and the front end of the plunger 63 is a coil spring 12 centered by a lug 13 at the forward 'end'of the plunger and by a lug 14 on the trigger it. Plunger B3 slotted as shown at 15 so that it may move with respect to the transversely extending pivotpinBS. Trip member 61-, 68 projects amass;

forwardly to a position where. it is engaged by the lowermost extremity of door leaf 51 as it moves into its horizontal position shown in Fig. 8.

Trigger 66 is thereby moved slightly in an antision of the springs I2 until the plungers are locked in inner position by the operation of the latches I0, after which the leaves of the door may be moved to closed position and locked there by the lock at'60. l V

The embodiment of Figs. 6 to 12 also illustrates an additional feature that may be incorporated in this and other embodiments of the present invention: the upper leaf 56 of the door is shown as provided with any suitable lighting means .16, with or without a suitable reflector, and said lighting means preferably is automatically energized by one of the two leaves here shown as the upper leaf 58 closing a switch through a press button I1 as the upper leaf 56 ismoved automatically to its open position by its spring hinge 58.

The embodiments of Figs. 13, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate how cases of different sizes may be readily adapted for use with the present invention. As

here shown the case 23 is attached to its slidable support by an extension bracket I8 composed of a pair of relatively slidable members I9 and 80 (see Figs. 16 and 17) having upstanding flanges 82 by which the adapter constituted by this extension bracket I8 may be attached to the sides of the case as shown at 83 in Figs. 13 and 15. By telescoping the plates I9 and 80 with respect to each other they can be adjusted in the direction of the widthof the cabinet so as to receive cases of different widths. The slidable meansbeing properly located and attached to the adjustable plates the bottom of the case may then be attached to the ad'aptenFig. 15 showing the adapter attached to the slidable plate 39 by screws 84. 'The' embodiments of- Figs. 13 to 16 may be made fully automatic if desired by providing the same with spring actuated plungers tripped by the movement of the door to open position.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 wherein-the case for movement into and out of the cabinet occupies onlya part of the space available for the arrangement of shaving articles, toilet articles 'or the like, the construction here illustrated being of the type disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 681,348, filed July 3, 1946, wherein the cabinet is provided with suitably arranged hingedly mounted partitions, shelves, and the like so as to increase the flexibility with which the interior of the cabinet may be subdivided into compartments of varying shapes, sizes and locations to meet the desires of the user. The cabinet 90 as illustrated is provided with a pair of vertical partition members 9| and 92 hingedly mounted at 93'and 94 on the rear wall 95 of said cabinet so that they may be folded back against said rear wall or moved forwardly to a right angular position wherein the width of the cabinet'is subdivided into three compartments arranged widthwise of the cabinet. As illustrated, these ;compartments are arranged symmetricallywidthwise ofthe cabinet, but this is-notnecessary. Partition member 92 and end wall 96 are shown as carrying shelves QIand 98 hingedly mounted at 99 and I00 so that they may be folded against the vertically extending member on which they are mounted ormoved to horizontalposition to constitute a shelf, in. which position the two members 98, 99 maybe in alignment or arranged to-provide non-aligning shelves. The compartment at the opposite extremity of .the cabinet is shown as. provided with one or more drawers -IOI. Case-I03 inthis embodiment of the invention is moved into and out of the central compartment I02 of the cabinet by the opening and closing movements of the door. Case I03 may be of such a depth as to occupy the fulldepth of the compartment I02, or as illustrated itmay be shallower than the compartment so as to. provide spaceat the rear thereofin which bottles or the like I04 maybe disposed. Case I03 may be of any suitable construcution, being shown as in theform ofan open faced kit, box or comparable container carrying on its rearwall a pluralityr-of hooks, clamps or the like I05, mounted in any suitable way so that various shaving, toilet or the like articles may'be'mounted'or suspended thereon in position for ready accessibility.

The cabinet 90 is provided with a suitable closure {member or door I06 hinged to the lower edge of the cabinet by suitable horizontal hinges I01" so that it may be moved into a horizontal position forming an extension of the bottom of the cabinet and providing a shelf that projects forwardly of the cabinet for the convenient support of toilet articles when in use. Any suitable construction may be used for holding the closure member firmly in its horizontal position, that shown being composed, at each side of the closure member, of a pair of links I0? and I00 pivoted'together at I09 and pivoted to the closure member and the end wall of the cabinet at H0 and III, re"- spectively.

Closure member I06 -may also' be provided with any suitablelocking element H2 for retaining the closure member in closed position in a manner well understood in the art.

In conformity with the present invention case I03 movesforwardly into a-position of ready accessibilitydue to the opening movement of the "door. To this end, case- I03 is shown as supported at either'side thereof by a series of interconnected pivoted links II4 attached tothe side of the I ease atone extremity asshown at I andat- 'tached at its opposite extremity to the closure member I06 as shown at H6. When the closure member I06 is in closed position as shown'in full lines in Fig. 18 the case is supported in the central compartment I02 of the cabinet, but forwardly of the rear wall thereofas before referred to; The bottom of the case is then supported above the bottom of the cabinet, providing a free spaceunderneath the case which is also available for use. When closure member I06 moves from closed to open position as indicated by dotted lines in Figs: 18 and 19, the links are so constructed as to pull the case forwardly out of the cabinet in vertical position as shown at II"? "in Fig. 18 and then, if desired, the links may be so constructed that they will-lower the case onto the closure member I06 as'shown at I I8 in Fig. 18. Conversely-when closure member I06 is swung upwardly around its hinge III'I the case I03, by

reason of the construction of the links M4,. is

ent invention a cabinet for toilet articles has been provided which is of wide utility and readily adaptable to a wide variety of conditions and services. In each embodiment relatively mov able parts which may take a variety of forms and which are preferably relatively slidable members provide for movement of the case containing the toilet articles to a forward position for ready access, and if desired the extent of movement which may be nearly as great as the depth of the cabinet to dispose the case in front of the cabinet. By providing one or more intermediate parts between the relatively movable members attached to the case and to the cabinet as in Fig. 15 the extent of forward movement of the case may be made appreciably greater. At the same time the closure member for the cabinet in its entirety or a leaf thereof may be used as an extension shelf in front of the case, providing a convenient platform upon which to place the toilet articles while in use. By hinging the door or a leaf of the door to the case, the entire door or leaf is free for use as a shelf, and at the same time the door or leaf may be used to effect the movement of the door outwardly and also as a push-pull member for moving the case into and out of the cabinet. While the preferred embodiments use relative sliding motion between the case and cabinet a hinged or other pivotal movement between the case and the cabinet may be used with certain aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention readily lends itself to fully automatic operation so that by merely pressing a suitable button the door or door leaves may be readily released, whereupon the door or door leaves under the action of their spring hinges move to their outer position of service automatically and, in so doing, actuate automatic means for moving the case outwardly,

closing the switch to energize illuminating means,

etc. Furthermore, each of the constructions provides a relatively simple and compact arrangement which is strong and durable with the case for the toilet articles supported rigidly in a position of stability when moved to its position of service.

While the embodiments of the invention illustrated on the drawings have been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto as the invention is capable of receiv ing a variety of other expressions as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement, proportion of parts, etc., and certain features may be used without other features, and the several features disclosed may be asso ciated in various combinations thereof, all without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet for articles, comprising an outer cabinet, a case for said articles housed in said outer cabinet, relatively movable members attached to said case and said outer cabinet for movably mounting said case to move into and out of said outer cabinet and to provide a rigid support for said case when in its outer position, and a closure member for said outer cabinet pivotally attached to said case and operable to move said case into and out of said cabinet.

2. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which said closure member is hinged to the lower horizontal edge of said case to form a shelf in front of said case when in open position.

3. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which means are provided and actuated by said closure member upon reaching the open position for automatically moving said case out of said cabinet.

4. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein relatively slidable members attached to said case and said outer cabinet prevent disengagement thereof.

5. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which said closure member comprises upper and lower portions, said lower portion being pivoted to said case, said upper portion being pivoted to said outer cabinet and pivoting upwardly, said upper and lower portions of said closure member being movable to open position.

6. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which said movable members associated with said case are provided with an adjustable adaptor for operative connection to cases of different sizes within said cabinet.

'7. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which pivotally connected links are attached at their opposite ends to said case and to a wall of said outer cabinet.

8. A cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein the means operated by the movement of said closure member comprises pivotally connected means operatively connected at their opposite ends to said case and to said closure member.

9. A cabinet comprising an outer cabinet, 2. case housed in said outer cabinet, relatively movable members attached to said case and said outer cabinet for movably mounting said case to move into and out of said outer cabinet and to provide a rigid support for said case when in its outer position, and a closure member for said outer cabinet pivotally attached to said case, the hinged end of said closure member engaging a wall of said outer cabinet to act as a cam to move said case forwardly when said closure member is moved to open position.

10. A cabinet as defined in claim 9 in which said closure member extends below said case and engages a wall of said outer cabinet to act as: a cam to move said case forwardly when said closure member is moved to open position.

11. A cabinet as defined in claim 9 in which means are provided and actuated by said closure member upon reaching the open position for automatically moving said case out of said cabinet.

12. A cabinet as defined in claim 9 in which said closure member when in open position comprises a push-pull means for moving said case into and out of said cabinet.

GEORGE WISE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,718,374 Oberst June 25, '1929 2,238,033 Carlson Apr. 15, 1941 2,302,217 Hennessy Nov. 17, 1942

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