Patent Application
20210052069
A preferred form of the present invention is directed to a vanity or cabinet that includes one or more drawers on one side of the cabinet/vanity and one or more doors or other closure on the other side of cabinet/vanity where the one or more doors/closures cover an enlarged opening and may provide access to an interior cabinet/vanity space. The preferred form of the present invention allows the same cabinet/vanity to be installed in an installation site regardless of whether the installation site requires the one or more drawers to be mounted on the left side or the right side of the cabinet/vanity due to the location of one or more plumbing components or other existing structure. In a most preferred form of the present invention, the vanity or cabinet is a bathroom vanity/cabinet having one or more sinks.
A wide variety of vanities/cabinets have been previously designed to house plumbing that connects to one or more sinks. These vanities include one or more doors that cover an interior space and allow an individual to access plumbing housed in the interior space behind the one or more doors. On the opposite side of the one or more doors, vanities typically include one or more drawers that provide storage space that an individual can readily access by merely sliding the drawer between a closed position and an open position.
Existing vanities/cabinets are specifically designed to be installed such that the one or more drawers can only be mounted on one side the vanity/cabinet. Therefore, when purchasing a vanity or cabinet a customers must specify whether the vanity/cabinet is to have a left side mounting for mounting one or more drawers or a right side mounting for mounting one or more drawers based on the location of existing structure (e.g., one or more plumbing components) at the installation site of the vanity or cabinet so the one or more drawers will be sufficiently offset from any existing structure to allow the one or more drawers to be freely opened and closed without hitting or rubbing up against any existing structure (e.g., one or more plumbing pipes).
Often, the contractor and/or the d-i-y customer buy/order the wrong side drawer cabinet. This is obviously a significant problem as the customer or contractor must reorder the correct cabinet causing significant delay in completion of the project. This may require additional travel to the cabinet supplier/distributor/manufacturer to return the wrong product and pick-up the correct product. Even where the correct product is shipped directly to the contractor or d-i-y customer, the delay in receiving the correct product can be significant.
Also, where the error is that of the customer or contractor, the cabinet supplier/distributor/manufacturer may not refund the money to the customer or contractor that ordered the wrong product. For example, many suppliers do not even allow exchanges or returns once the product has been opened. For those suppliers that do allow exchanges or returns, a hefty restocking fee may be assessed for the returned product.
Also, the cabinet/vanity supplier may provide the customer or contractor with the wrong side drawer cabinet. While the supplier may provide the correct side drawer cabinet at no cost, there will still be a significant delay in the completion of the project.
Regardless of whether the error in ordering the product was that of the contractor, d-i-y customer or the supplier, the customer will likely become dissatisfied with the product, the supplier and/or the contractor negatively impacting future sales of the supplier and/or negatively impacting future work for the contractor.
Hence, there is a significant need for a product that prevents a contractor, d-i-y customer or other individual from ordering the wrong vanity/cabinet.
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobvious vanity or cabinet.
Another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a vanity or cabinet that can accommodate both left drawer mounting for mounting one or more drawers on a left side of the vanity or cabinet and right drawer mounting for mounting one or more drawers on a right side of the vanity or cabinet.
A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a bathroom vanity that includes at least one sink and at least one drawer wherein the bathroom vanity is configured to allow both left and right drawer mounting to allow the same bathroom vanity to be used regardless of whether existing installation site structure requires the at least one drawer to be mounted on the left side or the right side of the bathroom vanity.
Yet another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a vanity or cabinet having an adjustable panel or other housing member forming at least a portion of the housing of the vanity or cabinet wherein when the adjustable panel or housing member is in a first position the vanity or cabinet enables left side drawer mounting and in a second position the vanity or cabinet enables right side drawer mounting.
Still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a vanity or cabinet having at least one adjustable housing member forming at least a portion of the housing of the vanity or cabinet wherein when the adjustable housing member is in a first position the vanity or cabinet enables left side drawer mounting and when the adjustable housing member is rotated a predeterminer number of degrees (e.g., 180 degrees) from the first position to assume a second position the vanity or cabinet enables right side drawer mounting.
Still yet a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a vanity or cabinet having at least one adjustable front housing member forming at least a portion of the front of the housing of the vanity or cabinet and a rear housing member wherein the adjustable front housing member is configured to accommodate both left and right side drawer mounting by merely rotating the at least adjustable front housing member between two different installation positions and the rear housing member having attachment means for facilitating attachment of one or more drawer support brackets regardless of whether the vanity or cabinet is configured to be left side drawer mounting or right side drawer mounting.
It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.
In summary, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a universal cabinet accommodating both left and right side drawer mountings allowing the universal cabinet to be installed in a first installation site having plumbing requiring left side drawer mounting and a second installation site requiring right side drawer mounting. The universal cabinet includes a cabinet housing having an interior space and an upper opening. The upper opening is configured to receive at least one sink operably connected to a countertop. The interior space is sized to receive an interior portion of at least one drawer and at least a portion of plumbing to be connected to the at least one sink. The cabinet housing includes a frame member having a first opening for receiving a drawer and a second opening allowing an individual to access the at least a portion of plumbing housed in the interior space of the cabinet housing. The frame member is configured to be detachably connected to at least one other member forming at least a portion of the cabinet housing. The frame member is configured to mount a drawer on a left side of the cabinet housing when an installation site requires a left side drawer mounting and a drawer mounted on a right side of the cabinet housing when an installation site requires a right side drawer mounting.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a universal cabinet accommodating both left and right side drawer mountings allowing the universal cabinet to be installed in a first installation site having an existing structure requiring left side drawer mounting and a second installation site having an existing structure requiring right side drawer mounting. The universal cabinet including a cabinet housing having an interior space and an upper opening. The interior space is sized to receive an interior portion of at least one drawer and provide a storage area horizontally offset from the interior portion of the at least one drawer. The cabinet housing includes a frame member having a first opening for receiving a drawer and a second opening allowing an individual to access the storage area. The frame member is configured to be detachably connected to at least one other member forming at least a portion of the cabinet housing. The frame member is configured to mount a drawer on a left side of the cabinet housing when an installation site requires a left side drawer mounting and to mount a drawer on a right side of the cabinet housing when an installation site requires a right side drawer mounting.
A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a universal cabinet accommodating both left and right side drawer mountings allowing the universal cabinet to be installed in a first installation site having an existing structure requiring left side drawer mounting and a second installation site having an existing structure requiring right side drawer mounting. The universal cabinet includes a cabinet housing having an interior space. The interior space is sized to receive an interior portion of at least one drawer and provide an interior storage area horizontally offset from the interior portion of the at least one drawer. A first drawer is configured to be slidably mounted to the cabinet housing. The cabinet housing includes a front frame member, a rear frame member and at least one side frame member. The front frame member is configured such that when installed in a first position the cabinet housing is configured to be a left side drawer mounting and when the frame member is rotated 180 degrees in a vertical plane from the first position the cabinet housing is configured to be a right side drawer mounting.
The above preferred forms of the present invention described above provide various examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to any of the preferred forms described above.
The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to
Referring to
Referring to
Side frame members D and E are notched at a lower front portion to receive lower front frame member C.
While cabinet A is shown as having two side frame members and a rear frame member, existing wall structures of a room in which cabinet A is installed may form one of the side frame members and/or the rear frame member.
One or more support brackets or other mounting structures may be used to slidably connect drawers G and H to the cabinet housing so that the drawers are movable (e.g., slide) between a closed position illustrated in
Referring to
Members 4 and 6 include a pair of fasteners 26. Each of the fasteners 26 of member 4 are vertically aligned with a corresponding fastener 26 of member 6. Members 10 and 14 preferably include four fasteners 26. Fasteners 26 of member 10 are horizontally aligned with a corresponding fastener 26 of member 14. All fasteners 26 of members 4 and 6 are preferably identical.
Member 12 of front frame member B may include a plurality of vertically spaced openings, slots or bores 28 to receive a portion of a support bracket K or support pin for supporting an adjacent portion of adjustable shelf J. Members 10 and 12 include a plurality of vertically spaced preformed openings/slots/bores 30 (e.g., predrilled openings) configured to receive a corresponding portion of an internal sliding tray mounting bracket. Each opening 30 of member 10 is horizontally aligned with a corresponding opening 30 of member 12.
Members 10 and 12 include a plurality of vertically spaced preformed openings/slots/bores 31 (e.g., predrilled openings) configured to receive a corresponding portion of a drawer mounting bracket. Each opening 31 of member 10 is horizontally aligned with a corresponding opening 31 of member 12.
Members 12 and 14 include a plurality of vertically spaced preformed openings/slots/bores 32 (e.g., predrilled opening) configured to receive a corresponding portion of a door mounting hinge or bracket. Each opening 32 of member 12 is horizontally aligned with a corresponding opening 32 of member 14.
Referring to
Frame member B is configured such that rotation of frame member B 180 degrees in a vertical plane from the position illustrated in
Members 4 and 6 are preferably identical or substantially identical including any and all fasteners or fastening components associated with these members. Members 10 and 14 are also identical or substantially identical including any and all fasteners or fastening components associated with these members. This configuration allows either member 4 or member 6 to be detachably connected to a front face of bottom section 40 without altering members 4 and 6 or bottom section 40 including any fasteners associated therewith. This configuration of members 10 and 14 allows either member to be detachably connected to the left side frame member D or the right side frame member E without altering members 10 and 14 and without altering the left side frame member D or the right side frame member E including any fasteners associated therewith.
Referring to
Rear frame member F includes enlarged openings 52, 54 and 56. Openings 52 and 56 are preferably identical in size and shape. Opening 54 is preferably larger than openings 52 and 56. These openings allow for existing plumbing components to extend into the interior of the cabinet housing. Vertically extending members 58, 60, 62 and 64 include preformed attachment means 66 to receive a portion of a corresponding drawer mounting bracket. The attachment means 66 can be preformed openings, bores, slots and/or mounting plates. The attachment means 66 allow drawer support brackets to be connected to rear panel member F when cabinet A is configured to be a right side drawer mounting cabinet and when cabinet A is configured to be a left side drawer mounting cabinet. Vertically extending members 58, 60, 62 and 64 may also include preformed attachment means 68 to receive a portion of an internal tray mounting bracket so that each drawer may have an internal sliding tray. Vertically extending members 58 and 64 also preferably includes three vertically spaced fasteners 70 for detachably connecting rear frame member F to side frame members D and E. Fasteners 70 can take any suitable form. Front frame member B may include similar fasteners to detachably connect frame member B to side frame members D and E.
Attachment means 72 may be formed in a notched or recessed lower section 74 that receives a rear portion of bottom section 40 to detachably connect bottom section 40 to rear frame member F. The attachment means 72 can be performed opening, slots, bores, recesses, etc. that receive a fastener extending outwardly from a rear face of bottom section 40. For example, the rear face of bottom section 40 may include a plurality of dowels that are received in bores 72.
Referring to
As is readily evident from the above discussion, both cabinets A and M allow an individual to configure the corresponding cabinet to be a left side or right side drawer mounting cabinet without the individual machining or otherwise altering the physical make-up of the components of the cabinets A and M. The individual is not even required to drill new or additional holes or openings. Rather, an individual need only rotate the front frame member in a vertical plane 180 degrees to change the cabinet from a left to a right side drawer mounting cabinet. The front frame member, side frame members and rear frame member are all preferably preformed and configured so that the positions of drawers including any internally sliding trays, the doors, the adjustable shelf and all corresponding mounting components (e.g., door hinges, drawer mounting brackets) can be attached or mounted on or to the corresponding portion of the cabinet when the cabinet is a left side drawer mounting cabinet or a right side drawer mounting cabinet without the individual altering the physical composition of the components of the cabinets from the form of the components supplied to the individual from the cabinet supplier. For example, the individual need not cut any component of drill additional holes or openings in any component to change the side the drawers are mounted on the cabinet housing.
It should be noted that each of the components of the cabinets A and M described above can be formed from any suitable material. Cabinets A and/or M can be shipped from the supplier, distributor or manufacturer fully assembled, partially assembled or disassembled. If shipped fully assembled, the detachable nature of corresponding components will readily allow the installer to change the drawer side mounting of the cabinet by merely disassembling the corresponding components and reinstalling the components in the alternate configuration/position. The cabinets A and/or M can be shipped with the door or doors, drawer or drawers, adjustable shelf and front frame member detached from a partially assembled cabinet housing so that the installer can attach the front frame member and other components to the partially assembled cabinet housing to create a cabinet having the drawer or drawers mounted on a side desired by the customer or dictated by the existing structure of the installation site.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.
