Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6726296
-
Patent Number
6,726,296
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, September 25, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 27, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 228
- 312 2281
- 312 3301
- 312 278
- 312 229
- 312 3341
- 312 3347
- 312 3483
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cabinet including a frame structure that defines an interior space of the cabinet. Plumbing components are disposed within the interior space for connection to a sink mounted on a top of the frame structure. The drawer assembly is mounted within the interior space of the cabinet and is movable from open and closed positions along guides that are associated with the frame structure. The drawer assembly is configured to fit within the interior space of the cabinet when in the closed position without interference with plumbing components disposed within the interior space of the cabinet.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention generally relates to a cabinet structure for accommodating a sink, and more particularly, to a cabinet structure for accommodating a sink that includes a drawer assembly movable within the cabinet without interference with a plumbing fixture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cabinets are generally known in the art for providing storage area for a variety of items. Also known in the art, are cabinets that are utilized as a base for mounting a sink. A top surface is generally mounted on the cabinet and a cutout is provided such that a sink may be mounted over the base cabinet. Plumbing components are usually disposed within the interior space of the cabinet to provide connections to the sink, such as hot and cold water, as well as, drain lines for transporting water from the sink. Generally, cabinets utilized for mounting a sink do not include drawers for storage due to the plumbing components described above. There is, therefore, a need in the art for a cabinet in which a sink can be mounted that includes a drawer assembly that is configured to fit within the interior space of the cabinet without interference with the plumbing components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cabinet including a frame structure having opposite side surfaces, a back surface, a front surface having an opening formed therein, and a top surface for mounting a sink. The frame structure defines an interior space of the cabinet. There is also included plumbing components disposed within the interior space of the cabinet for connection to the sink. A drawer assembly includes a drawer having opposing side surfaces, a front surface, a back surface, and a bottom surface. The drawer also includes guides to facilitate mounting of the drawer to the frame structure. The drawer assembly is mounted within the interior space of the cabinet and is movable from a closed position, where the drawer is completely housed within the interior space and a open position wherein at least a portion of the drawer assembly is positioned outside of the interior space of the cabinet to allow access to the drawer. The drawer assembly is configured to fit within the interior space when in the closed position without interference with the plumbing components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly shown in an open position;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a first embodiment wherein the drawer assembly is partially closed and detailing the cutout section of the drawer assembly;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly in an open position;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a top view of the first embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly shown in open and closed positions;
FIG. 6
is a side view of the first embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly in open and closed positions;
FIG. 7
is a front view of the first embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 8
is a front view of the second embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 9
is a front view of the second embodiment having notches for accommodating a sink.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to
FIG. 1
, there is shown a first embodiment of the cabinet of the present invention. The cabinet frame structure
10
includes opposing side surfaces
15
, a back surface
20
, a front surface
25
that includes an opening
30
formed therein, and a top surface
35
for mounting a sink
40
. The frame structure
10
defines an interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
. Plumbing components
50
are disposed within the interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
for connection to a sink
40
. A drawer assembly
55
comprising a drawer
60
having opposing side surfaces
65
, a front surface
70
, a back surface
75
, and a bottom surface
80
is mounted within the interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
. The drawer assembly
55
also includes guides
85
to facilitate mounting of the drawer
60
on the frame structure
10
. The drawer assembly
55
is movable from a closed position
90
wherein the drawer assembly
55
is completely housed within the interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
and an open position
95
wherein at least a portion of the drawer assembly
55
is positioned outside the interior space
45
to allow access to the drawer assembly
55
. As can be seen, the drawer assembly
55
is configured to fit within the interior space
45
when in the closed position
90
without interference with the plumbing components
50
.
With reference to
FIG. 1
, the drawer assembly
55
is shown in the open position
95
. The drawer assembly
55
of the first embodiment includes a drawer
60
having a cutout section
100
formed therein. The cutout section
100
comprises an opening
105
formed in the back surface
75
of the drawer
60
. Opposing side cutout surfaces
110
are positioned at the boundaries
115
of the opening
105
and extend inboard towards the front surface
70
of the drawer assembly
60
. A front cutout surface
120
connects the opposing side cutout surfaces
110
. As can be seen in
FIG. 1 and 2
, the cutout section
100
accommodates a drain trap
42
that is attached to the sink
40
.
As shown in
FIGS. 5
,
6
and
7
, the cutout section
100
is positioned approximately in a center along a length of the back surface
75
. It is to be understood that the cutout section
100
may be positioned anywhere along a length of the back surface
75
to accommodate various positions of plumbing components
50
. With reference to
FIG. 5
, the drawer
60
when in the open position
95
allows a person access to contents placed within the drawer
60
. When in the closed position
90
, the cutout section
100
houses the drain trap
42
of the sink
40
such that the drawer
60
does not interfere with the plumbing components
50
, such as the drain trap
42
.
With reference to
FIG. 3
, there is shown a second embodiment of the cabinet
5
and drawer assembly
55
of the present invention. The second embodiment includes a drawer
60
wherein the back surface
75
of the drawer
60
includes at least one notch
125
formed therein to allow clearance with the plumbing components
50
. In one aspect of the second embodiment, the at least one notch
125
comprises two notches for accommodating hot and cold water lines
46
,
48
as shown in the front view of the second embodiment in FIG.
8
. The notches
125
can have a rectangular shape, as shown in
FIG. 3
or a circular shape, as shown in FIG.
8
. Other shapes of notches including any number of polygonal and irregular shapes may be utilized without departing from the invention. The notches
125
as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 8
are placed adjacent the cutout section
100
as previously described with reference to the first embodiment. It is to be understood that the notches may be used in combination with the cutout section
100
as detailed in
FIGS. 3 and 8
or may be utilized without the cutout section
100
when such an orientation is desirable.
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 8
, the notches may be positioned along the back surface
75
of the drawer
60
next to the opening
105
formed in the back surface
75
of the cutout section
100
. In this manner, the cutout section
100
can accommodate a drain trap
42
, while the notches
125
accommodate hot and cold water lines
46
,
48
as are commonly installed in an under sink cabinet. The size and shape of the notches
125
can be modified to accommodate various orientations of plumbing components
50
. For example, as shown in
FIG. 9
, the notches
125
are sized to accommodate the sink
40
such that a drawer having a depth greater than the clearance from a sink can be utilized. In this manner, notches
125
can be utilized to accommodate various plumbing components
50
including the sink
40
and hot and cold water lines
46
,
48
as well as other components such as an under sink hot water heater or disposal as will be discussed in more detail below.
With reference to
FIG. 4
, there is shown a third embodiment of the cabinet and drawer assembly of the present invention. The third embodiment includes a drawer assembly
55
having a height such that it clears plumbing components
50
positioned in the cabinet. With reference to
FIG. 4
, there is shown a hot water heater
51
, and disposal
52
positioned within the cabinet
5
. As can be seen, the drawer assembly
55
includes a drawer
60
with a height below the height of the hot water heater
51
and disposal
52
. There is no interference when the drawer is moved from open
95
and closed
90
positions.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the cabinet
5
further includes a door
130
attached to the frame structure
10
. The door
130
is movable to allow access to the interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
. The drawer assembly
55
when in the closed position
90
maintains a clearance between the door
130
such that the door
130
remains in an aesthetically pleasing flat position. Therefore, a person may open the door
130
and move the drawer assembly
55
from its closed position
90
, where it is housed within the interior space
45
of the cabinet
5
without interference with plumbing components
50
, to its open position
95
such that items placed within the drawer
60
can be added or removed in a conventional manner.
While preferred embodiments are disclosed, a worker in this art would understand that various modifications would come within the scope of the invention. Thus, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A cabinet comprising:a) a frame structure including opposite side surfaces, a back surface, a front surface having an opening formed therein, and a top surface for mounting a sink, the frame structure defining an interior space of the cabinet; b) plumbing components disposed within the interior space of the cabinet for connection to the sink; c) a drawer assembly comprising: a drawer having opposing side surfaces, a front surface, a back surface and a bottom surface, the drawer including guides associated therewith to facilitate mounting on the frame structure, the drawer assembly mounted within the interior space and movable from a closed position wherein the drawer assembly is completely housed within the interior space and an open position wherein a portion of the drawer assembly is positioned outside the interior space for allowing access to the drawer assembly; the drawer assembly configured to fit within the interior space when in the closed position without interference with the plumbing components; wherein the drawer includes a cutout section formed therein, the cutout section comprising an opening formed in the back surface of the drawer, opposing side cutout surfaces positioned at the boundaries of the opening and extending inboard towards the front surface of the drawer assembly, and a front cutout surface connecting the opposing side cutout surfaces; and wherein the cutout section accommodates a drain trap of the sink.
- 2. A cabinet comprising:a) a frame structure including opposite side surfaces, a back surface, a front surface having an opening formed therein, and a top surface for mounting a sink, the frame structure defining an interior space of the cabinet; b) plumbing components disposed within the interior space of the cabinet for connection to the sink; c) a drawer assembly comprising: a drawer having opposing side surfaces, a front surface, a back surface and a bottom surface, the drawer including a cutout section formed therein, the cutout section comprising an opening formed in the back surface of the drawer, opposing side cutout surfaces positioned at the boundaries of the opening and extending inboard towards the front surface of the drawer assembly, and a front cutout surface connecting the opposing side cutout surfaces; the cutout section accommodating the plumbing components such that the drawer assembly fits within the interior space when in a closed position without interference with the plumbing components.
- 3. The cabinet of claim 2 wherein the cutout section accommodates a drain trap of the sink.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
11714 |
May 1986 |
GB |
24326 |
Feb 1907 |
SE |