The present disclosure relates to the field of storage systems, doors, and other furniture. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a storage system and related method for interchanging an exposed furniture surface of the storage system.
Many people enjoy redecorating rooms in their homes and businesses. However, redecorating can become expensive, tedious and time consuming, especially to the extent storage systems are replaced in the remodeling process. Many storage systems such as cabinets and drawers are custom made and have unique dimensions. Hence, redecorating that includes creating a new custom made storage system having, for example, cabinets, drawers and shelves for a kitchen may involve a steep expense. In addition, the remodeling may require disassembling the original storage system and building a new storage system using specialized tools. This endeavor takes time, disrupting the lives and/or businesses of those who use the room occupied by the storage system.
Often, once a cabinet system is installed in a home, they cannot be changed without completely remodeling the kitchen, requiring the homeowner to throw out or somehow recycle the existing cabinet system. During the conventional remodeling process, a homeowner is typically left without a functioning kitchen for weeks, and usually months. Kitchen management firms often devote a large portion of their project management time and efforts to post delivery punch list items, such as getting replacement parts for items damaged on site or missing from delivery, which causes completion delays and frustrates both the retailers' staff and their clients. Even if the end result of the remodeling is a pleasing and correct design, the heartache, and frustration, and waiting may leave a bitter taste, coloring the whole felt experience of the remodeling process.
The present disclosure is directed to a cabinet door system comprising a modular frame that includes a plurality of legs. Each leg of the plurality of legs has opposing ends, a first channel, a second channel, and a lip extending longitudinally along a whole length of each frame leg, between said opposing ends of each leg. The cabinet door system additionally comprises a removable panel having a front, exterior face, and an opposing back, or interior face. The panel has four sides corresponding to each respective leg and edges along the perimeter of each of said four sides. Each edge of said panel is positioned within the first channel of a corresponding respective leg. The first channel is sized and recessed to accommodate the removable panel.
The door system includes a plurality of clips that are coupled to the removable panel. Each of the clips is positioned within the second channel of the respective legs, which second channel is recessed to accommodate each clip. A fastener removably couples each clip to each second channel of a respective leg.
The frame's lip extends from the back, or interior face to the front, or exterior face of the pane. The lip additionally extends a width of the thickness of the panel and conceals the panel's edges so that at least a portion of the lip is exposed and is flush with front, exterior face of the panel.
Each leg of the cabinet door includes a first shallow channel, and a second deeper channel, contained within said first channel. Each leg of the modular frame comprises a hole on a side of the frame opposite and corresponding to the second channel of the leg. The terms modular frame used herein is hereby defined as a frame constructed of standard units. The panel's dimensions, for example, height, width and thickness, are configured to cooperate with the frame.
Each clip can be coupled to the removable panel with an adhesive such as glue or tape, or coupled to the panel mechanically with a fastener such as a screw. The first channel of the frame can have a height and a width, such that at least one of said height or width of the first channel exceeds either the height or width of the removable panel by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the first channel can have a height and a width, such that at least one of its height or width exceeds either the height or width of the removable panel by a tolerance of 0.125 of an inch to allow for the removal of the panel from said first channel.
The second channel has a height and a width, such at least one of said height or width of the second channel exceeds either the height or width of the clip by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment the second channel has a height and a width, and at least one of said height or width of said second channel exceeds either the height or width of the clip by a tolerance of 0.03125 of an inch to allow for the removal of the clip from the second channel. The first channel encompasses a width, length, and depth of the second channel, such that the second channel's dimensions are situated within a width, length, and depth of the first channel.
In one embodiment, the plurality of legs of the cabinet door system comprises four legs. In an embodiment, the plurality of legs form a parallelogram when assembled, coupled to one another via corner brackets and screws at each corner to enclose a removable panel.
The front face of the panel and a portion of the lip that is flush with the front surface of the removable panel are both exposed. Only the front face of the door and the lip that is flush with front face of the panel are exposed when the cabinet door of the cabinet door system is in a closed position, and when viewed head on from the front face. At least a portion of the exposed lip is beveled. The frame lip comprises four surfaces, a first surface touching and flanking the edges of a side of the removable panel, a second opposing top surface, a third front and exposed surface that is flush with front face of the panel, and a fourth beveled side adjoining the opposing top surface of the lip and the front exposed front surface of the lip.
Each frame leg comprises polygonal members defining a hole on an opposing side of each leg such that the hole corresponds and allocates a space for a top cylindrical structure of a screw having threading. The hole defines an opening on the face of the clip opposing the side positioned in the second channel. The threading corresponds to a screw, and the screw's threading, such that the screw fastens the clip into the second channel. The polygonal members define a hole hold a screw in place when said frame legs are assembled and said removable panel is fastened.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the figures, wherein:
The present disclosure provides an economical way for a home or business owner to change the decor of a storage system while said storage system is still assembled, without disassembling the storage system, and without specialized tools. The present disclosure provides a cabinet door system with replaceable exposed surfaces. The interchangeable feature of the exposed surfaces is not visible from the perspective of a casual viewer, mainly because the unfinished or even finished edges of the interchangeable exposed surfaces are substantially concealed by a frame, providing a finished and professional appearance.
The frame can have a small lip that overlaps and is sufficient to substantially conceal any unfinished edges of a cabinet door system, allowing the frame to be thin and minimally visible. By simply replacing the original exposed surfaces with replacement surfaces having a different design, it may seem to the casual viewer that the whole room was redecorated, and the entire storage system was replaced. The storage system, in accordance with the present disclosure, provides savings in environmental costs by eliminating the need to dispose of an entire storage system when redecorating, minimizing waste and/or using biodegradable materials. Furthermore, the cabinet door system can reduce decorating costs and expands options for redesigning living and working environments.
A storage system vendor may utilize an online tracking system and a shopping for customers to use to replace exposed surfaces of purchased storage systems with new designs. The owner of the storage system may be able to enter a form of identification, such as an order number, onto a storage system vendor's website. Once the vendor website identifies the customer, the customer may view his or her purchased storage system on his or her screen. The customer can then shop for a new design for his or her exposed surfaces by imposing different designs on his or her system viewed on screen.
Referring now to the drawings described in detail below, like reference numerals identify the cabinet door system and identical or corresponding elements in accordance with the present disclosure. With initial reference to
The panel 130 can be inserted into the frame 103 through the front of the cabinet door system 100, with an interior face 105 of the panel 130 approaching the plurality of frame legs 125 before the panel's exterior face 106, in embodiments of this disclosure. The panel 130 can be seen from both the exterior face 106 in the closed cabinet doors 100 and an interior face 105 of the door panel 130 shown enclosed by frame 103. A storage area 108 can be positioned behind each door as shown in said Figure.
In an embodiment, the door panel 100 can encompass a plurality of materials coupled as one removable panel 130. In one embodiment, a single surface material 132 can compose the removable panel 130. A back or interior face 105 of the panel 130 of the cabinet door system, may be the back face 105 of the surface material 132 of the cabinet door 100, with the exterior, or front face of the surface material 106 visible from the front face 106 of the cabinet door. In another embodiment, the back face 105 of the panel 130 can be a backboard that is coupled to a surface material 132 which would be visible and seen from the exterior, or front face 106 of a cabinet door system 100. The term “panel” as used herein can refer to one sheet of material alone, or one more sheets of material coupled together as a unit.
Access to the storage cavity 108 may be gained by, for example, but not limited to, moving a cabinet door 100 from a closed to an open position (such as rotating about on an axis or sliding along a path), or by moving the receptacle itself, e.g., a drawer that can slidably open and shut, as shown in
A storage system 120 can include cabinets configured as, for example, but not limited to, kitchen cabinets, utility cabinets, office filing cabinets, and stand-alone or built-in furniture (such as used in a bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom). A storage system 120 cabinet can stand on a floor surface or, alternatively, may be mounted to a wall, for example, but not limited to, the wall of a building with, e.g., via connectors or a bracket, as is known in the art.
While the exterior faces 106 of cabinet doors may be exposed, outer cabinet walls 100b may be exposed as well, and replaceable panels 130 may be used as shown in
Moving on to
Each leg 125 in
A clip 115 is shown, positioned to be placed over a hole 145 in the second channel 119, for the cylindrical top 115a-b of the clip 115 to extend through, and so that the clip's hole 127 lines up with the hole 145 in the clip 115 (shown in
In one embodiment, each clip 115 may have a length of 1.0 inch, a width of 0.5 inches, and a height of 0.25 inches. In an embodiment, the clip 115 length may extend between 0.5-1.5 inches, the width may extend between 0.25-1 inches, and the height may extend between 0.25-0.75 inches. The second channel 119 may, in embodiments, exceed the clip's 115 dimensions by 0.03125 inches, as the second channel 119 may be sized and recessed to accommodate the clip 115 and its removal from the second channel 119. The depth of the second channel 119 be defined from 0.28125-0.078125 inches.
The first channel 117 is sized and recessed to accommodate the edges 133 of the removable panel 130, and thus having dimensions exceeding the panel 130 edge's 133 dimensions by 0.125 inches. In one embodiment, the panel 130 may have various heights and widths, and the edges 133 having a thickness of 0.375 inches, defining the width of the first channel 117 as 0.5 inches. In embodiments, the first channel 117 may have a width between 0.375 and 1.5 inches, and a depth of between 0.125-0.25 inches. Correspondingly, in one embodiment the lip 113 can extend in width between 0.125-0.25 inches.
Each lip 113 may extend from said back face 105 to said front face 106 of said panel 103, wherein said lip 113 extends a width of a thickness of said panel 103 and conceals the edges 133 of said panel 103. In an embodiment, at least a portion of said lip 113 is exposed and is flush with said front face 105 of said panel 130, without extending any further than the removable panel 130, showing no overhanging lip 113 on its exterior face 106. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an overhanging lip 113 may extend up to an inch over the panel's 103 front face 106, overlapping onto the front or exterior face 106 of the panel 130 with an “L” shaped profile.
The panel 130 is shown positioned in the first channel 117 and in embodiments, is lightly held in place by the first channel 117 and the frame lip 113. However, without being fastened into the frame 103 with a screw 129, any slight force may cause the panel 130 to fall out of the frame 103. The first channel 117 of the frame 103 can have a width 117a-117b (of
The tolerance by which the first channel width 117a-117b exceeds the thickness of the panel 103 forms a gap 176, defined by surface 113d of the frame lip 113 and the surface of edges 133 adjacent to surface 113d. Gap 176 allows panel 130 to be easily removed from and inserted into replaceable panel 130.
In one embodiment, the lip 113 substantially conceals the edges 133 that define at least two border surfaces of replaceable panel 130. In one embodiment, lip 113 of frame 102 substantially conceals the edges 133 on all four sides of the replaceable panel 130 to the degree that any gap 176 between the frame 103 and replaceable panel 130 is less than or equal to ⅛th inch, or 0.125 inches, so that the panel 130 is held in place. The gap 176 is miniscule so that it is impossible for a person to insert his or her finger between panel 130 and lip 113. In one embodiment, the gap 176 may measure 1/32nd inch wide. In one embodiment, gap 176 may measure 1/20th inch.
The removable panel 130 can be formed of, for example, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: plastic, glass, wood, metal, concrete or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the thickness of the panel 130 can be minimized in order to preserve the appearance of the removable panel 130. Additionally, minimizing the thickness of the removable panel 130 aids in ease of transport and assembly. The panel 130 may have a thickness in the range of 0.125-1 inches. In one embodiment, the panel may have a thickness of 0.375 inches, 0.25, or 0.5 inches.
In
The legs 125 can be coupled via connectors 149 to form an integral frame 103, as shown in
The panel 130 can be removed by unscrewing connectors 129 that secure clips 115 of panel 130 to frame 103. A force can be applied to the interior face 105 of panel 130, pushing out panel 130 in the direction of its exterior face 106. To replace the removed panel 130, a new panel 130 can be inserted through the exterior face 106 of the panel 130 until it rests against the frame 103, and until the lip 113 substantially conceals and blocks access to the edges 133 of panel set 130 once again. Clips 115 can then be inserted into second channel 119, and screws 129 inserted into the clip hole 127 to fully secure the panel 130 to the frame 103.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein can be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62,233,393 filed Sep. 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 13/848,309, filed Mar. 21, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3296745 | Johnson et al. | Jan 1967 | A |
3877765 | Hassing | Apr 1975 | A |
4114341 | Vincens | Sep 1978 | A |
4415236 | Perregaux | Nov 1983 | A |
6053585 | Osen | Apr 2000 | A |
7078085 | Nykamp et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7207636 | Livingston et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7387151 | Payne | Jun 2008 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160340965 A1 | Nov 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62233393 | Sep 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13848309 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 15158580 | US |