EP0941678A1

EP0941678A1 - Shoe cabinet with simplified assembly

Info

Publication number: EP0941678A1
Application number: EP99100309A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Furlanetto
Original assignee: Plastitecnica Srl
Current assignee: Plastitecnica Srl
Priority date: 1998-03-12
Filing date: 1999-01-11
Publication date: 1999-09-15
Also published as: ITPD980022U1; IT245035Y1

Abstract

A shoe cabinet (10) comprising a box-like element (11) which is open at the front and has, at each one of the internal surfaces of the two sides (12), in the front region, first hinge elements (14). The first hinge elements (14) are coupled to second hinge elements (19) which protrude from the sides (17) of a swing-out door (18), which is provided with a pocket (23) for the insertion of shoes which is adapted to accommodate the shoes. The first and second hinge elements are a pair of female elements (19) and a pair of male elements (14). Each one of the female elements (19) is constituted by a slot (19) which is directed downwards and at least partially diagonally and each one of the male elements is constituted by a pivot (14).

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe cabinet with simplified assembly.
It is known that closed shoe cabinets, which allow to store a plurality of shoes of various shapes and dimensions in a relatively small space are currently increasingly widespread.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a shoe cabinet which provides good functionality and strength and is adapted to provide a high ratio of shoe storage with respect to the space occupied.
In relation to this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe cabinet which can be manufactured by molding plastics and can be assembled by means of simple operations for interlocking its various parts and in which said parts do not require finishing operations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe cabinet which is adapted to achieve appreciable aesthetic and styling results as well as being very simple to use.
Another object is to provide a shoe cabinet having a simple structure which can be manufactured at competitive costs and with conventional equipment and technologies.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe cabinet, characterized in that it comprises at least one box-like element which is open at the front and has, at each one of the internal surfaces of the two sides, in the front region, first hinge elements which are coupled to second hinge elements which protrude from the sides of a swing-out door, with a pocket for the insertion of shoes which is adapted to accommodate said shoes, said first and second hinge elements being a pair of female elements and a pair of male elements, each one of said female elements being constituted by a slot which is directed downwards and at least partially diagonally, each one of said male elements being constituted by a pivot.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a shoe cabinet according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modular application of a shoe cabinet such as the one shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another modular combination of a shoe cabinet according to Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional, partial view of a detail of the modular application of the shoe cabinet of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along a transverse plane, of the shoe cabinet of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of a detail of a coupling element related to Figure 1.
With reference to the above figures, a shoe cabinet according to the invention, entirely made of components obtained by molding plastics, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
In particular, in this embodiment the cabinet 10 is preset for modular application, as described in greater detail hereinafter.
The cabinet 10 comprises a box-like element 11 which is open at the front and at the rear and has, in this embodiment, adjacent to each one of the internal surfaces of the two sides 12, in the front region, a border 13 which forms a C-shaped cross-section together with the side 12.
First hinge means constituted by a pivot 14 protrudes from each one of the sides 12 at two mutually opposite points on the border 13, and can be divided ideally into a body 15 and an enlarged head 16.
Second hinge elements constituted by a slot 19 is correspondingly formed on each side 17 of a swing-out door 18 and has a path defined, starting from the front, by a first diagonal downward portion 20 and a second vertical portion 21 which ends with an access opening 22.
The door 18 has a pocket 23 for the insertion of shoes, which are not shown for the sake of simplicity in the above figures; such pocket is adapted to provide the actual seat for the shoes and at the same time close the box-like element 11.
The two slots 19 face each other, and the pivot 14 that protrudes from the corresponding side 12 of the box-like element 11 is rotatably inserted in the corresponding slot 19 starting from the opening 22.
In particular, the enlarged head 16 of the pivot 14 is larger than the slot 19 inside which the body 15 slides.
In this embodiment, the door 18 has, at its outer surface, a handle 24 which is fixed by means of screws which are not shown in the figures and is available for the user's actuation.
The box-like element 11 has, in this configuration, opposite the door 18, a rear panel 25, to be arranged for example against a wall, in which air passage openings 26 are formed.
The box-like element 11 has, along the border of the bottom 27, a frame 28 which is conveniently recessed with respect to the bottom and is meant to support the cabinet 10.
Tabs 29 also protrude from the outer surface of the bottom 27; each tab is constituted by a flat portion 30 which is conveniently inclined with respect to the vertical axis and from the end whereof an engagement tooth 31 protrudes at right angles.
In this solution, the tabs 29 are aligned and there are three tabs for each row.
Strengthening portions 32 protrude at right angles in particular from the sides of the flat portion 30 of each tab 29, as better explained hereinafter.
The box-like element 11 has, at the outer surface of the top panel 33, seats 34 for the engagement of the tabs 29.
Each seat 34 is formed by means of a transverse raised portion 35 of the top panel 33, so as to have a U-shaped cross-section at the top of which a slot 36 is formed longitudinally.
The orientation of each seat 34 is perfectly aligned with each one of the rows of tabs 29.
In particular, the slot 36 has larger regions 37 whose number and position match those of the engagement teeth 31 of the tabs 29.
A folded edge 38 is provided along the perimetric profile of the upper panel 33.
The coupling of two box-like elements 11 occurs by arranging them one above the other, so that said folded edge 38 of the top panel of one of the box-like elements surrounds and retains internally the frame 28 of the bottom 27 of the cabinet 10 that lies above it.
The fixing of the cabinets 10 one above the other is ensured after inserting the tabs 29 in the seats 34.
This insertion is achieved by forcing, by virtue of an adequate pressure, each flat portion 30 of the tabs 29 so that it deforms elastically, allowing the insertion of the engagement tooth 31 in the enlarged region 37.
After this has been done, the flat portion 30, by returning to the inactive position, prevents any disengagement, while the portions 32 constitute supporting means for the upper cabinet 10 which rests on the top panel 33 of the lower cabinet 10.
The cabinet 10 is also provided with a cover 39 which has, on its lower face, tabs 29 so that it can be rested on, and stably joined to, the top panel 33 of the box-like element 11 that is arranged at the top of a stack.
In this embodiment, in the rear panel 25 of the cabinet 10 slotted holes 40 to allow optional fixing to a wall are provided.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.
It should in fact be noted that extreme constructive simplicity is combined with considerable strength and equally high functionality.
Attention is also drawn to the simplicity of the assembly of the cabinet according to the invention and to its flexibility in terms of use and modularity.
The materials used to provide the present invention and its dimensions may be any according to the requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model No. PD98U000022 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

A shoe cabinet, characterized in that it comprises at least one box-like element which is open at the front and has, at each one of the internal surfaces of the two sides, in the front region, first hinge elements which are coupled to second hinge elements which protrude from the sides of a swing-out door, with a pocket for the insertion of shoes which is adapted to accommodate said shoes, said first and second hinge elements being a pair of male elements and a pair of female elements, each one of said female elements being constituted by a slot which is directed downwards and at least partially diagonally, each one of said male elements being constituted by a pivot.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said box-like elements, stacked and stably associated to each other.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that said pivots protrude from the sides of said box-like element and said slots are correspondingly formed on the sides of said swing-out door.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that each one of said pivots has a head which is larger than its body.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that each slot has a shape which comprises, starting from the front, a first downward diagonal portion and a second vertical portion which ends with an access opening.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one box-like element has interlocking tabs at the outer surface of the bottom, and, at the outer surface on the top panel, components which are complementary to said interlocking tabs.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that said tabs are elastic and comprise engagement teeth and said complementary elements comprise complementarily shaped slots.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cover which is provided with tabs on its lower face.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that each one of said tabs of the cover comprises a flat portion which is inclined with respect to the vertical and from which said engagement tooth protrudes at right angles, said flat portion having, at its sides, perpendicular portions which rest, in the active configuration, on the upper panel of an underlying shoe cabinet.
The shoe cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided, at the rear panel of the box-like element, with one or more slotted holes shaped for wall fixing.
A shoe cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided, at the rear panel of the box-like element, with openings for the passage of air.