Patent Application
20070034121
This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0074307, filed on Aug. 12, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a cabinet, and more particularly, to a cabinet having an improved outer appearance and an efficient assembly thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a cabinet includes plates disposed one above another to provide a space therebetween for displaying ornaments, and columns connecting the plates.
An example of a conventional cabinet is disclosed in Korean Utility Model No. 20-0309750. The conventional cabinet includes a top plate made of glass on which items are put, four column members disposed on a lower surface of the top plate, and a plurality of bolts fastening the top plate to the column members.
However, in the conventional cabinet, there are several drawbacks. Since head portions of the bolts fastening the top plate to the column members are exposed above the top plate, an outer appearance of the cabinet is degraded. Further, in a case where another plate is provided in addition to the top plate, a fastening structure for coupling the top plates with the column members becomes complicated, thereby deteriorating efficiency in assembly work thereof.
The present general inventive concept provides a cabinet, which is capable of improving an outer appearance thereof by preventing an exposure of fastening members, and improving efficiency in an assembly thereof.
Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a cabinet, comprising a base plate, a top plate disposed above the base plate to be spaced therefrom, a column member disposed between the top plate and the base plate to be coupled with the top plate and the base plate, a fastening member which is fastened to the column member through the top plate from an upper surface of the top plate, and a fastening member cover which is disposed on a top of the fastening member to cover the fastening member and is magnetically coupled with the fastening member.
The fastening member cover may comprise a cover main body to cover the fastening member, and more than one magnet member mounted on the cover main body to be magnetically coupled to the fastening member.
The fastening member cover may further comprise a magnet covering member coupled to the cover main body to interpose the magnet member therebetween.
A lower surface of the cover main body may be provided with a magnet receiving part to receive the magnet member and a magnet cover receiving part to receive the magnet covering member.
The cabinet may further comprise a middle plate disposed between the top plate and the base plate to be spaced from the top plate and the base plate, wherein the column member includes a lower column member disposed between the base plate and the middle plate, and an upper column member disposed between the middle plate and the top plate.
The fastening member may comprise at least one upper fastening member fastened to the upper column member through the top plate from the upper surface of the top plate, and at least one lower fastening member fastened to the lower column member through the base plate from a lower surface of the base plate.
The cabinet may further comprise at least one fastening member through-hole formed in the upper and the lower column member in a lengthwise direction, and at least one connection member mounted through the middle plate and having female threaded portions at an upper and a lower end portion thereof, wherein the upper fastening member comprises a long bolt to be fastened to the upper end portion of the connection member through the fastening member through-hole of the upper column member, and the lower fastening member comprises a long bolt to be fastened to the lower end portion of the connection member through the fastening member through-hole of the lower column member.
The connection member may comprise a plastic material.
According to an aspect of the present general inventive concept, the cabinet may further comprise an auxiliary column member spaced from the column member to be supported on a predetermined installation surface at a lower end thereof and coupled to the top plate at its upper end, wherein the base plate has a top area less than that of the top plate.
According to an aspect of the present general inventive concept, the base plate is disposed adjacent to a predetermined display apparatus, and the lower end of the auxiliary column member is supported on an upper surface of a base part of the display apparatus.
The cabinet may further comprise a middle plate disposed between the top plate and the base plate to be spaced from the top plate and the base plate, wherein the auxiliary column member is provided with a lower auxiliary column member disposed below the middle plate, and an upper auxiliary column member disposed between the middle plate and the top plate.
The top plate, the base plate, and the middle plate may comprise glass.
The column member may comprise wood.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a cabinet having a frame and a top plate, comprising fastening members to secure the top plate to the frame, the fastening members having a head portion, the fastening members extending up through the top plate such that the head secures the top plate to the frame, the head portions having a magnetic property, and a fastening member cover to cover the heads of the fastening member, the fastening member cover comprising magnets attached to the fastening member cover to magnetically connect to corresponding fastening members, magnet receiving parts provided in the fastening member cover to receive the corresponding magnets, magnet covers to attach to a side of the corresponding magnets opposite the fastening member cover, and magnet cover receiving parts provided in the fastening member cover to receive corresponding ones of the magnet covers.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a shelf apparatus usable with a display unit having a display base, the shelf apparatus comprising a top plate, a column member to support a side of the top plate, a base plate on which the column member is fastened at one side directly below the top plate, and an auxiliary column member having a first end to support the top plate at another side of the top plate and a second end to rest on a top surface of the display base.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a shelf assembly useable with a display apparatus having a display unit and a base, the shelf assembly comprising at least one rectangular shelf, a column member fastened at one end thereof to a first part of a lower surface of the at least one rectangular shelf, a base member fastened at an upper surface thereof to an opposite end of the column member to support the column member and the at least one rectangular shelf, the base member to be positioned in a same plane with the base of the display apparatus such that at least one side of the base member rests against a side of the base of the display apparatus, and an auxiliary column member fastened at one end thereof to a second part of the lower portion of the rectangular shelf opposite to the first part and a second end thereof to rest on the base of the display apparatus.
These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.
According to the present embodiment, the base plate 10 is formed as a triangular plate made of glass. However, in other embodiments, the base plate 10 may be one of a variety of shapes, such as a circular plate or the like, and may be made of a variety of materials, such as wood or the like. The base plate 10 is provided with a plurality of fastening through-holes 11 which are formed therein to allow the lower fastening members 55 to pass through. On a lower surface of the base plate 10, a plurality of leg members 15 are provided such that they can contact a floor, or other surface on which the cabinet 1 may rest, to space the base plate 10 away from the floor. On the lower surface of the base plate 10, a fastening member support part 13 is provided so as to support the lower fastening members 55. The base plate 10 may have a top area less than that of the top plate 20 and is located adjacent to a display apparatus 90, to be described later.
According to the present embodiment, the fastening through-holes 11 are formed in one corner portion of the base plate 10 and are three in number. However, in other embodiments, there may be a different number of the fastening through-holes 11, as necessary. Lower bushings 17 may be mounted to the corresponding fastening through-holes 11 to prevent the lower fastening members 55 from contacting the fastening through-holes 11.
The lower bushing 17 may be formed into a tubular shape, so that the corresponding lower fastening member 55 can pass therethrough. The lower bushing 17 may be made of an acetal material to prevent damage to the base plate 10 when being brought into contact with the base plate 10, when made of glass or other fragile material.
According to the present embodiment, the leg members 15 are provided on the base plate 10 and are two in number. However, in other embodiments, there may be a different number of leg members 15. The leg members 15 may be coupled to the base plate 10 with an adhesive material that may be made of an elastic material, such as a rubber material or an acetal material. The leg member 15 may alternatively be coupled to the base plate 10 with a screw.
The fastening member support part 13 is in contact with the lower surface of the base plate 10 and provided with a plurality of through-holes 14 which are formed therein to correspond to the fastening through-holes 11 to allow the corresponding lower fastening members 55 to pass therethrough. On a lower surface of the fastening member support part 13, an auxiliary leg member 16 is provided to contact the floor. The auxiliary leg member 16 spaces the base plate 10 away from the floor at a height similar to the leg members 15. The auxiliary leg member 16 may be made of an elastic material, such as a rubber material or an acetal material.
According to the present embodiment, the top plate 20 is formed as a rectangular plate made of glass. However, in other embodiments, the top plate 20 may also be formed in a variety of shapes, such as a circular plate or the like, and may be made of a variety of materials, such as wood or the like. The top plate 20 is provided with a plurality of top fastening through-holes 21 which are formed therein to allow the corresponding upper fastening members 51 to pass therethrough. In addition, the top plate 20 is provided with an auxiliary top fastening through-hole 23 formed therein to be coupled with an upper auxiliary column member 81, to be described later.
According to the present embodiment, the top fastening through-holes 21 are formed in one corner portion of the top plate 20 and are three in number. However, in other embodiments, there may be a different number of top fastening through-holes 21. Upper bushings 25 may be mounted to the corresponding top fastening through-holes 21 to prevent the upper fastening members 51 from contacting the corresponding top fastening through-holes 21.
The upper bushings 25 may be formed into a tubular shape, so that the corresponding upper fastening members 51 can pass therethrough. The upper bushings 25 may be made of an acetal material to prevent damage to the top plate 20 when being brought into contact with the top plate 20, when made of glass.
According to the present embodiment, the auxiliary top fastening through-hole 23 is formed in another corner portion of the top plate 20 provided diagonally from the top fastening through-holes 21 to allow a screw 84, to be described later, to pass therethrough. Although only one top fastening through-hole 23 and screw 84 are illustrated, the fastening through-hole 23 and the screw 84 may be provided in plurality.
According to the present embodiment, the column member 40 is made of wood and has a triangular cross section. However, in other embodiments, the column member 40 may have various cross sections, such as a circle, and can be made of a variety of materials, such as plastic. The column member 40 includes a lower column member 45 interposed between the base plate 10 and the middle plate 30, and an upper column member 41 interposed between the middle plate 30 and the top plate 20. The column member 40 is provided with fastening member through-holes 48 formed therein to allow the corresponding upper fastening members 51 and the corresponding lower fastening members 55 to pass therethrough.
According to the present embodiment, the fastening member through-holes 48 are formed in the column member 40 and are three in number to allow three corresponding upper fastening members 51 and three corresponding lower fastening members 55 to pass therethrough. In other embodiments, there may be a different number of fastening member through-holes 48 provided in the upper and lower column members 41 and 45 to correspond to the number of the upper fastening members 51 and the lower fastening members 55, respectively.
Upper bushing receiving parts 42 are formed in an upper end portion of the upper column member 41 to receive a portion of the corresponding upper bushing 25. Upper connection member receiving parts 43 are formed in a lower end portion of the upper column portion 41, each of which receives a corresponding upper portion of a connection member 70, to be described later.
The upper bushing receiving parts 42 are formed in an upper end portion of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48 of the upper column member 41 and have a diameter greater than that of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48. Thus, an upper portion of the upper bushings 25 are received in the corresponding top fastening through-holes 21 of the top plate 20 and a lower portion of the upper bushings 25 are received in the corresponding upper bushing receiving parts 42 of the upper column member 41.
The upper connection member receiving parts 43 are formed in a lower end portion of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48 of the upper column member 41 and have a diameter greater than that of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48.
Lower bushing receiving parts 46 are formed in a lower end portion of the lower column member 45, each of which receives a portion of the corresponding lower bushings 17. Lower connection member receiving parts 47 are formed in an upper end portion of the lower column member 45, each of which receives a lower portion of the corresponding connection members 70, to be described later.
The lower bushing receiving parts 46 are formed in the lower end portion of the fastening member through-holes 48 of the lower column member 45 to have a diameter greater than that of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48. Thus, the lower portion of the lower bushings 17 are received in the corresponding fastening through-holes 11 of the base plate 10 and the upper portion thereof is received in the corresponding lower bushing receiving parts 46 of the lower column member 45.
The lower connection member receiving parts 47 are formed in an upper end portion of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48 of the lower column member 45 to have a diameter greater than that of the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48. Thus, the upper portion of the connection members 70 are received in the corresponding upper connection member receiving parts 43 of the upper column member 41 and the lower portion thereof is received in the corresponding lower connection member receiving parts 47 of the lower column member 45.
The fastening members 51 and 55 include more than one upper fastening member 51 fastened to the upper column member 41 through the top plate 20 from the upper surface of the top plate 20, and more than one lower fastening member 55 fastened to the lower column member 45 through the base plate 10 from the lower surface of the base plate 10. The upper fastening members 51 and the lower fastening members 55 may comprise long bolts. That is, each of the upper fastening members 51 and the lower fastening members 55 may be provided with a head 52 and a body 53 extending from the head 52 and having a threaded portion thereon. The head 52 has a cross section greater than that of the body 53. The fastening members 51 and 55 are made of a magnetic material, so that it can be coupled with the fastening member cover 60 by a magnet member 66 mounted therein.
The upper fastening members 51 are fastened to the corresponding connection members 70 through the top plate 20 and the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48 of the upper column member 41. However, the upper fastening members 51 may alternatively be threadedly fastened in the upper column member 41 through the top plate 20 from the upper surface of the top plate 20. The body 53 of each upper fastening member 51 is fastened in the corresponding connection member 70 through the corresponding upper bushing 25 and corresponding fastening member through-hole 48 of the upper column member 41, while the head 52 of the upper fastening member 51 is exposed at the top of the top plate 20. In addition, a washer 57 may be provided between the upper fastening member 51 and the upper surface of the top plate 20.
According to the present embodiment, the lower fastening members 55 are fastened to the corresponding connection members 70 through the base plate 10 and the corresponding fastening member through-holes 48 of the lower column member 45. However, in other embodiments, the lower fastening members 55 may be threadedly fastened in the lower column member 45 through the base plate 10 from the lower surface of the bottom plate 10. The bodies 53 of the lower fastening members 55 are fastened in the corresponding connection members 70 through the through-holes 14 of the corresponding fastening member support parts 13, the lower bushings 17 and the fastening member through-holes 48 of the lower column member 45, while the head 52 of each upper fastening member 51 is exposed at the bottom of the fastening member support part 13. In addition, the washers 57 may be provided between the corresponding lower fastening members 55 and the lower surface of the fastening member support part 13.
According to the present embodiment, the middle plate 30 is formed by a rectangular plate made of glass. However, in other embodiments, the middle plate 30 may be formed in a variety of shapes, such as a circular plate or the like, and may be made of various materials, such as wood and the like. The middle plate 30 is provided with a plurality of middle fastening through-holes 31 formed therein to allow the corresponding connection members 70 to be mounted therein. The middle plate 30 is provided with an auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 to be fastened with the upper auxiliary column member 81 and the lower auxiliary column member 85. According to the present embodiment, one middle plate 30 is provided. However, in other embodiments, more than one middle plate 30 may be provided such that the middle plates 30 are disposed one above another and are spaced apart from each other.
According to the present embodiment, the middle fastening through-holes 31 are three in number and are provided in one corner portion of the middle plate 30. However, in other embodiments, there may be a different number of middle fastening through-holes 31. The connection members 70 are mounted in the corresponding middle fastening through-holes 31, each of which is connected to the corresponding upper fastening members 51 and the lower fastening members 55.
According to the present embodiment, the auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 is formed in a different corner portion of the middle plate 30 from the middle fastening through-holes 31. Although only one auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 is illustrated, the auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 may be provided in plurality.
One connection member 70 is mounted in each middle fastening through-hole 31 of the middle plate 30. According to the present embodiment, each connection member 70 may have internally threaded portions at its upper and lower portions, and three connection members 70 may be provided to correspond to the three middle fastening through-holes 31. However, in other embodiments, there may be a different number of the connection members 70 provided. Each connection member 70 may be provided with an upper fastening portion 71, a female threaded portion, formed at its upper portion to be fastened with the upper fastening member 51, and a lower fastening portion 75, a female threaded portion, to be fastened with the lower fastening member 55. Each connection member 70 may be made of an acetal material, so that it can be readily mounted in the middle fastening through-hole 31 of the middle plate 30 without causing any damage to the middle plate 30, when made of glass. However, in other embodiments, the connection member 70 may be made of various materials, such as wood or the like.
The fastening member cover 60 is provided on the top of each upper fastening member 51 and magnetically coupled with the upper fastening members 51 to cover the upper fastening members 51. The fastening member cover 60 includes a cover main body 61 to cover the upper fastening members 51, at least one magnet member 66 mounted on the cover main body 61 to be magnetically coupled with the corresponding upper fastening members 51, and a magnet covering member 68 coupled to the cover main body 61 while interposing the corresponding magnet member 66 therebetween.
Magnet receiving parts 63 are provided in a lower surface of the cover main body 61 to receive each corresponding magnet member 66. Magnet cover receiving parts 64 are also provided in the lower surface of the cover main body 61 to receive each corresponding magnet covering member 68 while each magnet receiving part 63 receives the corresponding magnet member 66. The cover main body 61 is provided with a skirt portion 62, which is formed at its periphery portion so as to extend downward and contact the upper surface of the top plate 20 without exposing the magnet members 66, the magnet covering members 68 and the heads 52 of the upper fastening members 51. According to the present embodiment, the cover main body 61 may be made of wood. In other embodiments the cover main body 61 may be made of various materials, such as plastic, metal or the like.
According to the present embodiment, three magnet members 66 are provided to correspond to the three upper fastening members 51. In other embodiments, the number of the magnet members 66 may be varied to correspond to that of the upper fastening members 51. Further, each magnet member 66 is received in the corresponding magnet receiving part 63 of the cover main body 61 and coupled thereto by an adhesive material. However, each magnet member 66 received in the corresponding magnet receiving part 63 of the cover main body 61 may be coupled thereto by a retaining protrusion (not shown) or may be mounted on the corresponding upper fastening member 51 to be magnetically coupled with the cover main body 61.
According to the present embodiment, three magnet covering members 68 may be provided to correspond to the three upper fastening members 51. However, in other embodiments, the number of the magnet covering members 68 may be varied depending on the number of the upper fastening members 51 provided. Each magnet covering member 68 may be received in the corresponding magnet cover receiving part 64 of the cover main body 61 and coupled thereto by an adhesive material. However, the magnet covering members 68 may also be coupled thereto by various methods like the aforementioned magnet member 66. Thus, the exposure of the magnet members 66 to the outside can be prevented by the corresponding magnet covering members 68. Therefore, foreign material, such as rust, generated from each magnet member 66 by a long term use, can be prevented from leaking to an outside.
The auxiliary column member 80 is spaced away from the column member 40, and is supported by a predetermined installation surface at a lower end thereof. The auxiliary column member 80 is connected to the top plate 20 at an upper end thereof. According to the present embodiment, the lower end of the auxiliary column member 80 may be supported by a top surface of a display base part 91 (see
The upper auxiliary column member 81 is provided with an upper auxiliary column fastening part 82 formed at an upper end portion thereof to be fastened with the screw 84 passing through the auxiliary top fastening through-hole 23 of the top plate 20, and a lower auxiliary column fastening part 83 formed at a lower end portion thereof to be fastened with a coupling bolt part 86 of the lower auxiliary column member 85, to be described later, passing through the auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 of the middle plate 30.
The lower auxiliary column member 85 may be provided with a soft contact pad 87 (see
Referring to
A method of assembling the cabinet 1, with the configuration described above, in accordance with the present general inventive concept will now be described.
First, referring to
Next, referring to
Next, the upper auxiliary column member 81 is disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 20 and then fastened thereto by screwing the screw 84 into the auxiliary top fastening through-hole 23 of the top plate 20 and the upper auxiliary column fastening part 82 of the upper auxiliary column member 81. Thereafter, the lower auxiliary column member 85 is disposed on the lower surface of the middle plate 30 and the coupling bolt part 86 of the lower auxiliary column member 85 is screwed into the lower auxiliary column fastening part 83 of the upper auxiliary column member 81 through the auxiliary middle fastening through-hole 33 of the middle plate 30. At this time, by adjusting a length of a portion of the coupling bolt part 86 of the lower auxiliary column member 85 received in the lower auxiliary column fastening part 83 of the upper auxiliary column member 81, a length of the lower auxiliary column member 85 can be adjusted such that the contact pad 87 of the lower auxiliary column member 85 is brought into contact with the top surface of the display base part 91 to be supported thereon. The length of the portion of the coupling bolt part 86 may be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the coupling bolt part 86 into or out of the lower auxiliary column fastening part 83. With the configuration described above, the cabinet 1 in accordance with the present general inventive concept can be assembled readily.
Next, referring to
As described above, in accordance with the present general inventive concept, it is possible to provide a cabinet to improve the outer appearance thereof by preventing the heads from being exposed and to improve an efficiency in an assembly thereof.
Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-74307 | Aug 2005 | KR | national |
