Patent Application
20060218722
The present invention relates to a cabinetry system, and more particularly to lavatory console system used to support plumbing fixtures.
Home remodeling is a billion dollar a year business, spawning such retailers as HOME DEPOT and LOWES. One of the more popular forms of remodeling is that of the kitchen or bathroom, which often involves the removal of cabinetry, countertops, and associated plumbing fixtures and replacement with items of a different style. The work involved in removing these items can be time consuming and laborious, and the cost can be considerable.
The instillation of the new materials can be similarly time consuming, laborious, and expensive. Individual cabinets and associated cabinet accessories usually are pre-fabricated at a factory or may be custom built on-site by skilled cabinet makers. Custom built on-site cabinetry is considerably more expensive than pre-fabricated construction due to the higher labor charges associated with the services of skilled tradesmen.
However, in both instances the overall installation can be costly, having high material and labor expenses. In addition, prefabricated and custom-built cabinets can only be further customized by the addition of different accessories, such as knobs or drawer pulls, or by refacing. Any later desire to have a more significant change in style or appearance to the cabinetry, however, would necessitate removal and replacement of the older cabinets with new ones.
Currently, refacing cabinets gives a homeowner some ability to change the way a cabinet looks. Some examples of refacing techniques include painting or applying a laminate or veneer to the exterior surface of the cabinets. Application of a new veneer over the surfaces of older cabinets usually can be costly and time consuming. For instance, manufacturers may not consider refacing flexibility when designing their cabinets. Instead, the veneer must be specially cut to match the cabinets after they have been installed.
As a result of this requirement for custom cutting and precise fitting of a veneer over the cabinets, cabinet refacing is not usually considered to be a do-it-yourself project for a homeowner. Instead, refacing is usually carried out by a company that specializes in these services. While the cost of refacing can be lower than the cost of removal and replacement of cabinets, it nevertheless still can be expensive. Furthermore, while refacing and repainting of cabinets can help them look newer, they do not allow a homeowner to make significant changes to the body or structure of the cabinets. Thus, in both instances, refacing and repainting do little to change the design of the exterior surfaces of the cabinets.
The invention relates to a more convenient, cost-effective modular cabinet system that can be altered or changed more easily or less expensively than in the past. Another potential benefit of the invention is that it provides a simplified approach for alteration so that more homeowners may be capable of making these changes on their own according to their own schedule and without the need to hire expensive specialists. It is believed that the potentially lower costs and greater simplicity of installation may allow for a homeowner to select from a variety of styles and cabinet combinations.
One embodiment of the invention involves a lavatory console system having easily removable and interchangeable components that conveniently allow for changes in the styling of the console. For example, the lavatory console system may have a support frame made of a first platform attached to a plurality of legs. The support frame is designed to bear the load of the lavatory console system. A lavatory support is mounted to the first platform having a lavatory sink mounted thereto. The lavatory support is selected to support a vessel, countertop, or undercounter lavatory sink.
The lavatory console system further includes front and side panels removeably attachable to front and side sections of the support frame. The front and side panels are easily removable and replaceable with panels of different styling. Similarly, the lavatory sink may be easily removable and replaceable with a different style or shape of sink. Different size and shapes of lavatory supports may be used to better match the size and shape of the sink as well as the overall look desired by the homeowner.
The removable and interchangeable components allow for a change in the styling of the lavatory console, including changing the lavatory sink or exterior styling, without the removal of the base support frame structure.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention provides a lavatory console system including easily removable and interchangeable components. The removable and interchangeable components allow for a change in the styling of the lavatory console, including changing the lavatory sink or exterior styling, without the removal of the base support frame structure.
Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
Referring to
Thus, a plurality of interchangeable lavatory supports 22 may be provided so that a homeowner can customize the appearance of the system according to their own taste. For instance, the lavatory supports may vary in height so that the overall height of the console may be changed without necessitating removal and replacement of the entire cabinet. Likewise, the color, texture, materials may of the lavatory support 22 may vary to provide further customization by a homeowner. In addition, some lavatory supports may have different edge profiles, such as a right-angle corner, a rounded or curved edge, a raised lip to prevent water runoff, and the like. As shown in
Preferably, installation of the sink 20 and lavatory support 22 onto the support frame 10 is straightforward. The lavatory support 22 is positioned on the first platform 12, aligning a drain in the vessel (not shown) with the drain hole 18 in the first platform 12. A drain pipe is connected to the vessel 20 through the drain hole 18. The lavatory support 22 may be held in position on the first platform 12 by the weight of the vessel 20 and vessel platform 22, and the securement of the drain pipe to the vessel 20. However, it is contemplated that the lavatory support 22 also may be secured to the first platform 12 with fasteners, clips, adhesive materials, screws, staples, nails, and the like.
The lavatory support 22 of
The sink platform 26 includes a lavatory sink aperture for mounting of a lavatory sink 32 therein. The lavatory sink 32 can be a countertop sink 32, such that an outer rim supports the counter top sink 32 on the sink platform 26. Alternatively, the lavatory sink 32 is an undercounter mounted sink 32, wherein the undercounter mounted sink 32 is mounted to an underside surface of the sink platform 26.
The lavatory sink 32 is mounted in the lavatory support 24 and to the first platform 12, aligning a drain 33 in the lavatory sink 32 with the drain hole 18 in the first platform 12. A drain pipe (not shown) is connected to the sink drain 33 through the drain hole 18. The sink platform 26 can optionally include apertures 34 for the mounting of a faucet to the sink platform 26.
The lavatory support 24 is held in position on the first platform 12 by the weight of the lavatory support 24 and the lavatory sink 32 on the first platform 12, and the securement of the drain pipe to the sink drain 33. However, it is contemplated that the lavatory support 24 also can be secured to the first platform 12 by fasteners, clips, adhesive materials, screws, staples, nails, woodworking joints, pegs and holes, and the like.
Referring to
Alternatively, drawer 36 is a faux drawer mounted to the front wall section 28 of the base structure 27. The faux drawer 36 may be removeably mounted to the front wall section 28 of the base structure 27, allowing the faux drawer 36 to be easily removed and replaced.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Alternatively, the front panels may be doors 44 and 46 that are mounted to the front of the support frame 10. A first door 44 is hingedly mounted to leg 16(a) of the support frame 10 and a second door 46 is hingedly mounted to leg 16(c) of the support frame 10, opposite the first door 44. The doors 44 and 46 are removable mounted to the legs 16(a) and (c) of the support frame 10, allowing the doors 44 and 46 to be easily removed and replaced.
Referring to FIGS. 8A-B, the front and side panels 38, 40, and 42 and the doors 44 and 46 are available in a number of different design styles, which can be easily affixed to a removed from the support frame 10.
The above structural configuration provides a lavatory console system the styling of which can be changed without removal of the support frame 10. In a first exemplary configuration, the support frame 10 is provided with a lavatory support 22 or 24 and lavatory sink 20 or 32. At any given time, the configuration of the lavatory console system can be changed by the addition of panels, 38, 40, and 42 or side panel 38 and 40 and doors 44 and 46. Alternatively, the lavatory sink 20 or 32 can be removed and replaced with a different style lavatory sink 20 or 32. It is also contemplated that both changes can be incorporated onto the support frame 10.
In a second configuration, the support frame 10 is provided with a lavatory support 22 or 24 and lavatory sink 20 or 32, as well as side panels, 38, 40, and a front panel 42 mounted thereon. At any given time, the configuration of the lavatory console system can be changed by removing the side panels, 38, 40 and front panel 42 or changing the side panel 38 and 40 and front panel 42 for those of different styles. Alternatively, doors 44 and 46 can be added, replacing the front panel 42.
Furthermore, the lavatory sink 20 or 32 can be removed and replaced with a different style lavatory sink 20 or 32. It is also contemplated that both styling changes can be incorporated on the support frame 10.
The lavatory console system can be provided as individual components, wherein a consumer will purchase a support frame 10 and select additional design components to add to the support frame 10. An initial component selection will include selecting either a lavatory sink such as vessel 20 or sink 32. A sink 32 selection will require a lavatory support 24. The lavatory base 24 can include a drawer or faux drawer 36, where the styling of the drawer 36 will be selected.
The support frame 10 can optionally include side and front paneling 38, 40, and 42, where the front paneling 42 can be a pair of doors 44 and 46. The side and front paneling 38, 40, and 42 and doors 44 and 46 are provided in a variety of styles which the consumer can choose from.
All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
