GB2187637A

GB2187637A - Collapsible wardrobe

Info

Publication number: GB2187637A
Application number: GB08604406A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Truman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-21
Filing date: 1986-02-21
Publication date: 1987-09-16
Also published as: GB8604406D0

Abstract

A collapsible wardrobe (10) generally comprises an open front 11, a pair of doors 12 hinged to the front of the frame and a pair of side members 13, 14 hinged to the rear of the frame. The wardrobe is transportable with the side members folded parallel to the plane of the frame so that it is generally flat. It can be secured in its erected position by battens 15 on a wall 16 and a top cupboard (18) or top member (not shown) can be secured to the side members 13, 14 to give rigidity. This construction enables the wardrobes to be packed in great density and easily manoeuvred into their final location. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wardrobes and the like This invention relates to wardrobes and the like and in particular, but not exciusively,to such articles for supply on a contract basis.

Many institutions such as Universities and Hos pitals provide accommodationfortheirstudents.

Typically this is in purpose built blocks and thefurniture in every room is the same. For reasons of economy such blocks a re freq u ently built with extremely small corridors and the man-handling of wardrobes and large cupboards into the rooms is very time consuming and damage often occurs. In addition, a large number of factory assembled wardrobes are very expensive to transport and the framework required for many self assembly units is too la bourintensiveforthis sortofproject.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide an improved wardrobe or the like which can be readily man-handled.

From one aspect the invention consists in award- robe orthe like including a frontopen frame, a pairof doors hinged to the front of the frame on respective sides thereof and two side members hinged to the rear oftheframe at respective sides thereof such that the wardrobe can be packed in the flat with the side members and doors generally parallel and mutually overlapping.

In a preferred embodiment the axis of the hinge of one of the side members is offset rearwardlywith respecttothe axis of the hinge of the other sidle member so that the other side member can lie between the one side member and the frame. It is also preferred that the axis of the hinges of the side mem bers are inset laterallyfrom the outer edge ofthe frame.

The wardrobe may further include a top member or cupboard having downward projectionsforengaging the innerfaces ofthe side members, when they are rotated to a position at right angles ofthe frame, such that the top member or cupboard can be secured to the side members to provide rigidity.

Means may also be provided for securing the free edges ofthe side members to a wall at spaced positions.

The frame may be generally rectangular with two front legs projecting downwardly and it is preferred thatthe doors and side members stop short ofthe level ofthe bottom ofthe legs.

Although the invention has been defined above it isto be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa view from the front of a wardrobe in its fully erected position; Figure2 is a plan view of the wardrobe as shown in Figure 1, with the collapsible position indicated in dotted lines; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the top cupboard shown mounted on the wardrobe in Figure 1.

In the Figures a wardrobe 10 generally comprises an open frontframe 11, a pair of doors 12 hinged to the front of the frame and a pair of side members 13, 14 hinged to the rear of the frame.

In use, the wardrobe 10 is transported with the side members 13, 14folded parallel to the plane ofthe frame 11, so thatthe wardrobe is generally flat. This enables itto be packed in great density and easily manoeuvred into its final location, Once in position it is simply erected by securing two battens 15 on the wall 16, using a template, and then swinging the side members 13,14 into the solid line position shown in Figure 2 (from their dotted line positions) and securing them to the batten by respective angle iron brackets 17.

If required a top cupboard 18 is then placed on the top of the wardrobe 10 and secured to the side members by means of dependent location blocks 19 and suitable screws. The top cupboard thus provides complete rigidityforthewardrobe, but if it is not re quiredasimpletop platewith dependent blocks 19is used.

An open shelf unit 20 can be transported inthetop cupboard 18 and positioned in the wardrobe.

Turning to the construction of the wardrobe 10 in more detail, it will be seen that the frame 11 has a rearwardly projecting batten 21 extending up its right hand side and the side member 14 is hinged to it. The thickness of the batten is the same as thethick nessoftheside member 13 and this allows the side member 13 to lie snugly between the frame 11 and the side member 14 in the collapsed position. The hinge 22 connectingthe side member 14to the batten 21 is slightly spaced from the edge ofthe side member 14so that when rotated into its erected posi tionthe edge 23 lies flush againsttheframe 11.

The hinges 22 and 24 ofthe side members are also inset laterally by the thickness of the side members so that they fit flush with the edges ofthe frame 11 when erected.

As can be seen in Figure 1 the frame 1 1 is generally rectangularwith two dependent legs 25. It will also be seen that the bottom edge of the doors 12 and side members 13,14 are spaced slightly above the bottom of the legs 25. This enables any unevenness in the floor to be accommodated and at most only the relatively small area of the bottom of the legs 25 will need to be planed. Similarlythe side members 13,14 are attached to the battens 15 leaving a space atthewall to allowforany irregularities in the wall.

1. Awardrobe orthe like, including afrontopen frame, a pair of doors hinged to the front oftheframe on respective sides thereof and two side members hinged to the rear of the frame at respective sides thereof such that the wardrobe can be packed in the flat with the side members and the doors generally parallel and mutually overlapped.

2. Awardrobeasclaimed inClaim 1,wherein the axis of the hinge of one of the side members is offset rearwardlywith respect to the axis of the hinge ofthe other side member, so that the other side member

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wardrobes and the like This invention relates to wardrobes and the like and in particular, but not exciusively,to such articles for supply on a contract basis. Many institutions such as Universities and Hos pitals provide accommodationfortheirstudents. Typically this is in purpose built blocks and thefurniture in every room is the same. For reasons of economy such blocks a re freq u ently built with extremely small corridors and the man-handling of wardrobes and large cupboards into the rooms is very time consuming and damage often occurs. In addition, a large number of factory assembled wardrobes are very expensive to transport and the framework required for many self assembly units is too la bourintensiveforthis sortofproject. It is an object ofthe invention to provide an improved wardrobe or the like which can be readily man-handled. From one aspect the invention consists in award- robe orthe like including a frontopen frame, a pairof doors hinged to the front of the frame on respective sides thereof and two side members hinged to the rear oftheframe at respective sides thereof such that the wardrobe can be packed in the flat with the side members and doors generally parallel and mutually overlapping. In a preferred embodiment the axis of the hinge of one of the side members is offset rearwardlywith respecttothe axis of the hinge of the other sidle member so that the other side member can lie between the one side member and the frame. It is also preferred that the axis of the hinges of the side mem bers are inset laterallyfrom the outer edge ofthe frame. The wardrobe may further include a top member or cupboard having downward projectionsforengaging the innerfaces ofthe side members, when they are rotated to a position at right angles ofthe frame, such that the top member or cupboard can be secured to the side members to provide rigidity. Means may also be provided for securing the free edges ofthe side members to a wall at spaced positions. The frame may be generally rectangular with two front legs projecting downwardly and it is preferred thatthe doors and side members stop short ofthe level ofthe bottom ofthe legs. Although the invention has been defined above it isto be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description. The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa view from the front of a wardrobe in its fully erected position; Figure2 is a plan view of the wardrobe as shown in Figure 1, with the collapsible position indicated in dotted lines; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the top cupboard shown mounted on the wardrobe in Figure 1. In the Figures a wardrobe 10 generally comprises an open frontframe 11, a pair of doors 12 hinged to the front of the frame and a pair of side members 13, 14 hinged to the rear of the frame. In use, the wardrobe 10 is transported with the side members 13, 14folded parallel to the plane ofthe frame 11, so thatthe wardrobe is generally flat. This enables itto be packed in great density and easily manoeuvred into its final location, Once in position it is simply erected by securing two battens 15 on the wall 16, using a template, and then swinging the side members 13,14 into the solid line position shown in Figure 2 (from their dotted line positions) and securing them to the batten by respective angle iron brackets 17. If required a top cupboard 18 is then placed on the top of the wardrobe 10 and secured to the side members by means of dependent location blocks 19 and suitable screws. The top cupboard thus provides complete rigidityforthewardrobe, but if it is not re quiredasimpletop platewith dependent blocks 19is used. An open shelf unit 20 can be transported inthetop cupboard 18 and positioned in the wardrobe. Turning to the construction of the wardrobe 10 in more detail, it will be seen that the frame 11 has a rearwardly projecting batten 21 extending up its right hand side and the side member 14 is hinged to it. The thickness of the batten is the same as thethick nessoftheside member 13 and this allows the side member 13 to lie snugly between the frame 11 and the side member 14 in the collapsed position. The hinge 22 connectingthe side member 14to the batten 21 is slightly spaced from the edge ofthe side member 14so that when rotated into its erected posi tionthe edge 23 lies flush againsttheframe 11. The hinges 22 and 24 ofthe side members are also inset laterally by the thickness of the side members so that they fit flush with the edges ofthe frame 11 when erected. As can be seen in Figure 1 the frame 1 1 is generally rectangularwith two dependent legs 25. It will also be seen that the bottom edge of the doors 12 and side members 13,14 are spaced slightly above the bottom of the legs 25. This enables any unevenness in the floor to be accommodated and at most only the relatively small area of the bottom of the legs 25 will need to be planed. Similarlythe side members 13,14 are attached to the battens 15 leaving a space atthewall to allowforany irregularities in the wall. CLAIMS

2. Awardrobeasclaimed inClaim 1,wherein the axis of the hinge of one of the side members is offset rearwardlywith respect to the axis of the hinge ofthe other side member, so that the other side member can lie between one side member and the frame.

3. AwardrnbeasclaimedinClaiml orClaim2 wherein the axes of the hinges ofthe side members are inset laterally from the outer edge of the frame.

4. Awardrobe as claimed in any one of the pre- ceding claims further including a top member or cupboard having downward projectionsforengaging the innerfaces of the side members, when they are rotated to a position at right-angles to the frame, such thatthe top member or cupboard can be sec ured to the side membersto provide rigidity.

5. Awardrobeasclaimed in anyoneofthepre- ceding claims further including means for securing the free edges of the side members to a wall at spaced positions.

6. Awardrobe as claimed in any one of the pre- ceding claims wherein the frame is generally re ctangularwith two front legs projecting downwardly.

7. Awardrobeasclaimed inclaim6,whereinthe doors and side members stop short of the level ofthe bottom of the legs.

8. A wardrobe or the like substantially as here it before described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.