GB1584354A

GB1584354A - Containers such for example as cupboards cabinets wardrobes and drawers

Info

Publication number: GB1584354A
Application number: GB4189976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kemp M J
Current assignee: Kemp M J
Priority date: 1977-10-07
Filing date: 1977-10-07
Publication date: 1981-02-11

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATiNG TO CONTAINERS SUCH FOR EXAMPLE AS CUPBOARDS, CABINETS, WARDROBES AND DRAWERS (71) I, MICHAEL JOHN KEMP, a British subject of 5a Blackheath Village, London, SE3, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a container such for example as a cupboard, cabinet, wardrobe or drawer.

Accordingly, this invention provides a container comprising a body and an opening portion, the opening portion and the part of the body around the opening portion being curved and being cut out of the same piece of material, and the outer surface of the opening portion and the outer surface of the part of the body around the opening portion being such that they constitute separate portions of a single curved surface.

When the container is a cupboard, cabinet or wardrobe, then the opening portion will be a door or doors. When the container is a chest of drawers or a sink unit having drawers in it, then the opening portion of the container will be each drawer front.

The opening portion may be concave or convex.

The containers of the present invention may be made of any suitable material. It is presently preferred that the containers be made from wood material. When the wood material is veneered, the veneer of the wood material can, in accordance with the present invention, easily be continued from the surface of the opening portion to the surrounding surface of the body.

Preferably, the opening portion is cut from the initial piece of material such that the corners of the opening portion, e.g.

the door of drawers, are curved. Such curved corners obviously facilitate cutting, especially when this is effected by means of a saw.

The container may be one in which the opening portion is constituted by a pair of doors or at least a pair of drawer fronts, the pair of doors or drawer fronts each having at least one circular hole which is formed half in one door or drawer front and half in the other door or drawer front, the half circles enabling the doors and drawers to be opened.

In one method of forming the doors, the doors are partially cut from the initial piece of material and then hinges can be secured in position over the cut surfaces.

The remainder of the door can then be cut out and the door will then be correctly hinged and aligned. Advantageously, the parts of the hinges to be secured to the door and to the portion of the container adjacent the door are semi-circular.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawins in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first arrangement of kitchen cupboards and drawers in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a second arrangement of kitchen cupboards and drawers in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown arranged on a wall 2 a high level cupboard/ shelf arrangement 4 and a low level cupboard/drawer arrangement 6. More specifically, the cupboards in the arrangement 4 comprise a body 8 and curved doors 10.

The doors 10 are mounted on the body part 8 by means of round surface-mounted hinges 12. Each hinge 12 comprises a pair of semi-circular pads which hinge about a pivot pin (not shown). Round holes 14 are also provided for enabling the cupboards to be opened. Appropriate edging devices can be fitted in these holes 14 to give a good appearance. In the arrangement 4, shelves are also shown at 16 and 18.

In the low level arrangement 6, there is a work surface 20 and a cupboard 22. The cupboard 22 comprises curved doors 24 which fit in a surrounding body 26 and which open with respect thereto by means of the aforementioned hinges 12.

Also in the arrangement 6 there is shown a chest of drawers 28 comprising four drawers 30 which have curved fronts and which are opened by means of circular hand grips 32.

In the whole of the structure shown in Figure 1, the doors 10, 24 and the fronts of the drawers 30 have initially been cut from the same piece of curved material as that which is shown surrounding the doors and drawers. The outer surface of the doors and drawers and the surface of the body part around the doors and drawers constitute separate portions of a single curved surface. If the initial sheets of material is wood material, then any veneer on the wood material is automatically aligned.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a second kitchen arrangement which comprises cupboard doors 50 and drawers 52 of the general type described above with reference to Figure 1. It will be noticed that as in Figure 1, all the doors and drawers are cut with curved corners, both in the high level arrangement 54 and the low level arrangement 56.

In Figure 2, there is also shown a concave door 50A which forms a portion of a single curved surface, the sing]e curved surface including the body part 58 surrounding the door 50A. The door 50A is located in a corner of the kitchen. There is further shown a convex door 50B which also forms a portion of a single curved surface, the single curved surface including the rounded corner 60 at the end of the arrangement 56.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, it is preferred to have hinges 12 which are designed as illustrated to match in shape with the pull out holes 14 or with handles (not shown) but this is clearly not absolutely necessary. Similarly, the hinges are preferably arranged to match in colour with the edging devices for the holes 14 or with the handles but again this is not absolutely necessary.

WHAT I CLAIM IS : -- 1. A container comprising a body and an opening portion, the opening portion and the part of the body around the opening portion being curved and being cut out of the same piece of material, and the outer surface of the opening portion and the outer surface of the part of the body around the opening portion being such that they constitute separate portions of a single curved surface.

2. A container according to claim 1 which is in the form of a cupboard, cabinet or wardrobe, the opening portion being a door.

3. A container according to claim 1 which is in the form of a chest of drawers or a sink unit having drawers, the opening portion being a drawer front.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the opening portion is concave or convex.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims which is made from wood material.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the wood material is veneeered.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the corners of the opening portion are curved.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the opening portion is constituted by a pair of doors or at least a pair of drawer fronts, the pair of doors or drawer fronts each having at least one circular hole which is formed half in one door or drawer front and half in the other door or drawer front, the half circles enabling the doors and drawers to be opened.

9. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Also in the arrangement 6 there is shown a chest of drawers 28 comprising four drawers 30 which have curved fronts and which are opened by means of circular hand grips 32. In the whole of the structure shown in Figure 1, the doors 10, 24 and the fronts of the drawers 30 have initially been cut from the same piece of curved material as that which is shown surrounding the doors and drawers. The outer surface of the doors and drawers and the surface of the body part around the doors and drawers constitute separate portions of a single curved surface. If the initial sheets of material is wood material, then any veneer on the wood material is automatically aligned. Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a second kitchen arrangement which comprises cupboard doors 50 and drawers 52 of the general type described above with reference to Figure 1. It will be noticed that as in Figure 1, all the doors and drawers are cut with curved corners, both in the high level arrangement 54 and the low level arrangement 56. In Figure 2, there is also shown a concave door 50A which forms a portion of a single curved surface, the sing]e curved surface including the body part 58 surrounding the door 50A. The door 50A is located in a corner of the kitchen. There is further shown a convex door 50B which also forms a portion of a single curved surface, the single curved surface including the rounded corner 60 at the end of the arrangement 56. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, it is preferred to have hinges 12 which are designed as illustrated to match in shape with the pull out holes 14 or with handles (not shown) but this is clearly not absolutely necessary. Similarly, the hinges are preferably arranged to match in colour with the edging devices for the holes 14 or with the handles but again this is not absolutely necessary. WHAT I CLAIM IS : --

1. A container comprising a body and an opening portion, the opening portion and the part of the body around the opening portion being curved and being cut out of the same piece of material, and the outer surface of the opening portion and the outer surface of the part of the body around the opening portion being such that they constitute separate portions of a single curved surface.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the wood material is veneeered.