Patent Application
20180199709
This disclosure relates to cabinet shelving assemblies. In particular, the disclosure relates to a rotary shelf assembly designed to fit within a blind corner cabinet.
Blind corner cabinets present a problem of an inaccessible space. A blind corner cabinet occurs at a set of intersecting walls. At the intersection, a space is created that cannot be easily accessed by a front cabinet door.
A rotary shelf assembly offers one way to access the dead space. Rotary shelf assemblies typically provide semi-circular shelves rotatably attached to a centrally positioned pole. The shelves rotate about the pole from a stored position within the dead space and extend to a deployed position outside the cabinet.
Prior art rotary shelf assemblies are not completely satisfactory. Providing rotating shelves that can accommodate the dead space without impacting interior cabinet panels during deployment and stowing is a problem. Furthermore, there is no satisfactory way to adjust the height of the shelves during or after installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,495 to Mitts discloses a rotary shelf storage assembly for a blind corner base cabinet. The device comprises a lower shelf and an upper shelf rotatably supported on a vertical post. The vertical post is secured to the cabinet carcass by a lower mounting bracket attached to the cabinet and an upper mounting bracket also attached to the cabinet. The lower mounting bracket is rotatably engaged with a lower mounting base and the upper mounting bracket is rotatably engaged with an upper mounting base. Each mounting base is connected to a set of slide assemblies which are further connected to the lower and upper shelves, respectively. In order to adjust the height of the upper shelf, the vertical post must be removed from both mounting brackets in order to access the mounting hardware used to mount the mounting brackets to the cabinet. In order to switch between right-hand and left-hand orientations of corner cabinets, the shelves must be completely removed from engagement with the slide assemblies and the slide assemblies repositioned on the mounting bases.
Therefore there is a need for a rotary shelf assembly for a blind corner that is simple to install, is easily adjusted without disassembly, does not impact interior cabinet panels during use, and can easily accommodate left and right-hand oriented cabinet arrangements.
The apparatus disclosed is a semi-circular rotary shelf assembly for utilizing the dead space of a blind corner cabinet. The apparatus is easily reconfigured to accommodate left and right-hand configurations and does not contact the partitions of the cabinet during stowage or deployment. Height adjustment is accomplished without disassembly.
The apparatus is comprised of a center pole secured to a cabinet frame with a universal frame bracket. The frame bracket has a set of opposing flanges attached to a base through which the center pole extends. A rotary coupling is secured to the base of the frame bracket. A rotary support engages the rotary coupling and rotates about the center pole. A shelf is adjustably and slidably attached to the rotary support by a set of slide assemblies. While one shelf is possible, in a preferred embodiment, more than one shelf is rotatably secured to the central pole with additional frame brackets.
In use, each shelf can be independently rotated about the center pole from a stowed position within the dead space of a corner cabinet through a rotated position through a door opening, to a deployed position outside the opening. In the course of deployment, each shelf slides linearly along the set of slide assemblies.
A height adjustment of a shelf is accomplished by altering the vertical position of the frame bracket with respect to the cabinet frame. In order to accomplish the height adjustment, it is unnecessary to remove the center pole or the rotary support. The frame bracket can be repositioned with respect to the cabinet frame without detaching the rotary support from engagement with the rotary coupling.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:
In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
Referring to
Shelf 102 is generally semi-circular and is supported by and slidably attached to rotary support 104. Rotary support 104 is supported by and rotatably engaged with rotary coupling 106. Rotary coupling 106 is mounted to universal frame bracket 108. Shelf 112 is generally semi-circular and is slidably attached to rotary support 114. Rotary support 114 is rotatably engaged with rotary coupling 116 which is mounted universal frame bracket 118. Rod 120 is vertically oriented and passes through the universal frame brackets, the rotary couplings, and the rotary supports. Set screws removably secure the rotary couplings to rod 120.
Rotary supports 104 and 114 and their attached shelves 102 and 112 rotate about longitudinal axis 122 of rod 120. Shelves 102 and 112 have smooth, uninterrupted top surfaces 124 and 125, respectively. Top surfaces 124 and 125 are free from any mounting structure. In one embodiment, shelves 102 and 112 are identically shaped having width 126 and depth 128. In a preferred embodiment, width 126 is 32 inches, 35 inches, or 38 inches for fitment within available common industry sizes of blind corner cabinets. Other widths ranging from 24 to 48 inches are envisioned. In order to maximize shelf space, larger shelves are used in larger cabinets. In a preferred embodiment, depth 128 ranges from 10 to 18 inches. The universal bracket, the rotary coupling, and the rotary support can accommodate the entire range of shelf sizes.
Referring to
The universal frame brackets of rotary shelf assembly 100 are mounted to front panel 202 at edge 212. As shown, blind corner cabinet 200 is oriented in a right-hand configuration as opening 210 is to the right of the majority of front panel 202. Rotary shelf assembly 100 can easily accommodate a left-hand configuration as well which will be described further later.
Referring to
Rotary coupling 106 is generally circular having outer edge 338 extending between lower surface 340 and an upper surface 342. Rotary coupling 106 has a concentrically aligned inner stanchion 344 defining hole 346. Hole 346 is positioned to align with hole 320 and is sized to accept rod 120. A plurality of slats 348 radiate from inner stanchion 344 to outer edge 338. A plurality of vertically oriented stanchions 350 extend from lower surface 340, each defining a threaded hole. Rollers 352 and 353 are free to rotate about axles 354 and 355, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the rollers are Teflon and are optionally supported by needle bearings 358, which ride on each of the axels. Rollers 352 and 353 extend above upper surface 342 and do not contact lower surface 340. Axles 354 and 355 each extend between inner stanchion 344 and outer edge 338. Horizontally oriented stanchion 356 interrupts outer edge 338 and extends to inner stanchion 344. Stanchion 356 defines a threaded hole which leads to hole 346. Set screw 360 is sized to engage the threaded hole of stanchion 356 and is used to removably secure rotary coupling 106 to rod 120. Mounting hardware 362, such as machine screws, are sized to pass through mounting holes 322 and threadably engage the threaded holes of stanchions 350 to secure rotary coupling 106 to universal frame bracket 108. Rotary coupling 116 is identical to rotary coupling 106 and attaches to universal frame bracket 118 in the same manner and will not be described further.
Referring to
Slots 412, 414, 416, and 418 provide an oblong shaped opening from upper surface 406 through to lower surface 408. Slots 412, 414, 416, and 418 have longitudinal axes parallel with longitudinal axis 410. Adjacent slot 412 are markings 413A, 413B, and 413C. Adjacent slot 414 are markings 415A, 415B, and 415C. Adjacent slot 416 are markings 417A, 417B, and 417C. Adjacent slot 418 are markings 419A, 419B, and 419C. All markings are present on both upper surface 406 and lower surface 408. Upper surface 406 includes ridge 422 along its perimeter. Ridge 422 includes notches 424 and 425 proximate collar 404.
Collar 404 includes stop 430 and stanchion 432. In a preferred embodiment, stop 430 is integrally formed collar 404. In alternate embodiments, stop 430 may be an arc shaped extension attached to collar 404 manufactured of dense foam, rubber, or spring steel. Stop 430 is sized to frictionally engage flanges 302 and 304 during rotation of rotary support 104. Stanchion 432 defines hole 434. Hole 434 is cylindrical and sized to accept rod 120. Seated in hole 434 are bushings 438A and 438B. Bushings 438A and 438B provide a friction reducing barrier between collar 404 and rod 120. The bushings also provides a smoother feel to the rotary motion between the parts. The exterior of stanchion 432 is frustoconical. Roller surface 436 is at the base of stanchion 432 and surrounds hole 434. Rollers 352 and 353 engage roller surface 436. Rotary support 114 is identical to rotary support 104 and will not be described further.
Referring to
Referring to
Primary stanchion 622 and secondary stanchion 623 extend from outer rail 616. Primary stanchion 626 and secondary stanchion 627 extend from outer rail 617. Primary stanchions 622 and 626 and secondary stanchions 623 and 627 are sized to slidingly engage slots 412, 414, 416, and 418. Each stanchion includes a threaded hole sized to receive mounting hardware 630 to adjustably attach rotary support 104 to outer rails 616 and 617. The stanchions enter the slots from upper surface 406 but stop short of the plane of lower surface 408 such that mounting hardware 630 can be secured against lower surface 408. Which slot each stanchion engages and where along the slot each stanchion is positioned is determined by right and left-hand cabinet configuration and shelf size.
Referring to
Referring to
If a shorter travel is desired in the right hand direction than the left hand direction, then the set screw can be moved to hole 652 to limit the travel of the bearing cage and the slide in the left hand direction.
Referring to
In one preferred embodiment, the mounting point of the primary stanchion to the rotary support is dictated by the size of the shelf and whether the blind corner cabinet is a right or left-hand configuration. Markings 413A, 413B, and 413C; 415A, 415B, and 425C; 417A, 417B, and 417C; and 419A, 419B, and 419C are pre-determined mounting points that correspond to shelf widths of 32 inches, 35 inches, and 38 inches, respectively. Table 1 indicates which pre-determined mounting point should be used for the primary stanchions in each scenario.
In other embodiments, different sized shelves may be accommodated by scaling the distance between mounting points or by providing a greater or lesser number of mounting points.
The attachment of the shelf to a rotary support can be converted to a left-hand blind corner cabinet configuration. Drawer slide assemblies 610 and 611 are rotated 180° such that inner rail 618 is attached to the underside of the shelf using mounting hardware 614 in mounting holes 603L and inner rail 619 is attached to the shelf in mounting holes 602L. Primary stanchion 622 extends through slot 414 next to the appropriate marking according to the above Table 1. Secondary stanchion 623 extends through slot 412. Primary stanchion 626 extends through slot 418 next to the appropriate marking according to the above table. Secondary stanchion 627 extends through slot 416.
Referring to
As shown in
The attachment of universal frame bracket 108 to front panel 202 can be easily converted to a left-hand blind corner cabinet configuration. In a left-hand blind corner cabinet configuration, opening 210 is to the left of front panel 202. Universal frame bracket 108 is rotated 90° such that flange 302 abuts front panel 202 and is secured to front panel 202 with mounting hardware 330 through mounting holes 312. Flange 308 abuts edge 212 of front panel 202 and is secured to edge 212 with mounting hardware 332 through mounting holes 316.
In use, rotary shelf assembly 100 is assembled by securing rotary coupling 106 to universal frame bracket 108 ensuring stanchion 356 is accessible. Universal frame bracket 108 is mounted to front panel 202 and edge 212 in a manner that corresponds to a right or left-hand blind corner cabinet configuration. Universal frame bracket 108 may or may not abut floor panel 222. Universal frame bracket 108 is not attached to floor panel 222. Drawer slide assemblies 610 and 611 are mounted to the underside of shelf 102 in the appropriate mounting holes for the chosen right or left-hand blind corner cabinet configuration. Rotary support 104 is mounted to drawer slide assemblies 610 and 611 in a manner that corresponds to size of shelf 102. Rod 120 is inserted through hole 346 in rotary coupling 106 and hole 320 in universal frame bracket 108 until rod 120 abuts floor panel 222. Rod 120 is not attached to floor panel 222. Set screw 360 is tightened within stanchion 356 until it abuts rod 120. Set screw 360 prevent rotation of rod 120 relative to universal frame bracket 108 and rotary coupling 106. Lastly, rotary support 104 is mounted onto rod 120 such that rod 120 enters hole 434 and roller surface 436 rests on rollers 352 and 353. Rotary support 104 and the attached shelf is free to rotate about longitudinal axis 122 of rod 120. Rotary shelf support 104 and the attached shelf slide parallel to longitudinal axis 410 via drawer slide assemblies 610 and 611. If additional shelves are desired the process is repeated such that the second universal frame bracket is mounted to front panel 202 and edge 212 at a desired spaced vertical distance from the already installed universal frame bracket.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In order to store a shelf of rotary shelf assembly 100 from the deployed position to the stowed position, the movements are performed in reverse. The limited travel of the drawer slide assemblies and the bumper clips engaging the universal frame brackets prevent the shelf from contacting the rear and side panels of the blind corner cabinet during deployment and stowage movements.
If additional shelves are desired, it is unnecessary to dismantle rotary shelf assembly 100. A second universal frame bracket can receive rod 120 and be mounted to front panel 202 and edge 212 while the first universal frame bracket remains in place. Mounting holes 312 and 314 are accessible while rod 120 is positioned within holes 320 and 346. A second rotary support with an attached shelf is then mounted onto rod 120.
To adjust the height of either shelf, the rotary support and shelf are first disengaged from rod 120. Set screw 360 is loosened to disengage the rotary coupling from the rod. The mounting hardware securing the universal frame bracket to the front panel and the edge is removed. The universal frame bracket and rotary coupling are moved along rod 120 to the desired position. The universal frame bracket and the rotary coupling are remounted to the front panel and edge. The rotary coupling is secured to the rod with set screw 360. The universal frame bracket and rotary coupling is then positioned to receive the rotary support and attached shelf at the desired height. Mounting holes 312 and 314 are accessible while rod 120 is positioned within holes 320 and 346. In this way, the height of the shelves may be adjusted without dismantling the entire rotary shelf assembly.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments herein, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
