US20200146445A1

US20200146445A1 - Eurostyle modular cabinet system

Info

Publication number: US20200146445A1
Application number: US16/675,370
Authority: US
Inventors: Doris Bachmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-11-09
Filing date: 2019-11-06
Publication date: 2020-05-14

Abstract

A Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system that is customizable by a customer. The Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system includes a base cabinet having a bottom floor, an upper countertop, and an opposing pair of side walls extending generally vertically between the upper countertop and the bottom floor, which define the interior of the base cabinet. The base cabinet further includes a toe kick, and the upper countertop including one or more sinks. The base cabinet houses various interchangeable modules designed as custom cabinet individual modules selected by the customer. Finally, a sink base apron extends beyond the interchangeable modules.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of the provisional application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as Application No. 62/757,871 entitled MODULAR EUROSTYLE BATHROOM CABINETRY, filed Nov. 9, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a Eurostyle modular bathroom cabinet system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular cabinet system wherein the various portions of the cabinet system are readily interchangeable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Furniture is often designed for a specific purpose and is manufactured and assembled at the factory and is shipped whole. Sometimes furniture is built and assembled on site to custom dimensions and designs, or is cut and partially assembled in a factory or shop, with final construction and assembly on site. Other types of furniture are sold in kits consisting of pre-cut parts that are assembled on site, typically by homeowners. Examples of this type of furniture include computer workstations, television tables, bookcases, and the like. Such kits are typically made from inexpensive press board and have an inexpensive poorly finished appearance that is not nearly as pleasing as factory assembled or custom furniture.
A cabinet in its basic form comprises a piece of furniture fixed in place in a home or the like. Cabinets are most commonly used in a kitchen, bathroom or other portions of a home where storage is desired. A cabinet consists of a case with a front, back, opposite sides, a top and a bottom in a parallelepiped configuration. The cabinet may include shelves or drawers or doors or combinations thereof, as necessary or desired.
A typical cabinet, such as a kitchen cabinet, uses box or frame construction typically made of plywood or particle hoard, or the like. The cabinet is constructed using opposite side or end panels, a bottom panel and a back panel secured together using glue, nails, screws, or combinations thereof. Facers are typically secured around the front of the cabinet to provide access to the cabinet. A countertop is typically mounted atop the cabinet.
Such cabinets may be provided in standard sizes and configuration or custom design. The cabinets are typically constructed in a factory and then shipped to a user for installation. Each cabinet must be boxed or somehow protected during shipment and can be expensive to ship due to the size and weight of individual cabinets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system that is customizable by a customer. The Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system includes a base cabinet having a bottom floor, an upper countertop, and an opposing pair of side walls extending generally vertically between the upper countertop and the bottom floor, which define the interior of the base cabinet. The base cabinet further includes a toe kick, and the upper countertop including one or more sinks. The base cabinet houses various interchangeable modules designed as custom cabinet individual modules selected by the customer. Finally, a sink base apron extends beyond the interchangeable modules.
Further according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system that is customizable by a customer. The Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system includes a base cabinet having a bottom floor, an upper countertop, and an opposing pair of side walls extending generally vertically between the upper countertop and the bottom floor, which define the interior of the base cabinet. The base cabinet further includes a toe kick mounted below the base cabinet, flexible LED strips disposed under the base cabinet, and the upper countertop including one or more sinks. The base cabinet houses various interchangeable modules having LED lights and a touch switch, designed as custom cabinet individual modules selected by the customer. One or more medicine cabinets are disposed above the base cabinet. Finally, a sink base apron extends beyond the interchangeable modules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures (FIGs.). The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.

In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) may be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.

FIG. 1 is a front, three-dimensional view of the Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system and mirrored medicine cabinet, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a front, three-dimensional view of the drawer pull of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front, three-dimensional view of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system and oval and round medicine cabinet with very thin glass lighted mirrored door, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front, three-dimensional view of the drawer pull of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system and sink base, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a first longer embodiment of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system utilizing numerous cabinets and two sink bases ganged together, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a top view of a second embodiment of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front, three-dimensional view of the Eurostyle modular cabinet system wall hung ganged together, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. Well-known processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obfuscating the description of the present invention.
In the description that follows, exemplary dimensions may be presented for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The dimensions should not be interpreted as limiting. They are included to provide a sense of proportion. Generally speaking, it is the relationship between various elements, where they are located, their contrasting compositions, and sometimes their relative sizes that is of significance.
In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, often both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) will be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is illustrated a front, three-dimensional view of the Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system 10. The Eurostyle modular cabinet system 10 is designed for easy installation and practical use in an existing or new room. It is an objective of the cabinet system 10, to provide maximal aesthetic quality and comfort as well as the ability for a purchaser to customize the design. The Eurostyle modular cabinet system 10 provides a wide variety of styles, materials, and finishes, which also provides the ability to change, customize, and upgrade the cabinet at purchase. Further, the cabinet system 10 is highly customizable having a wide range of dimensions and lengths when ganged together.
In general terms, the cabinet system 10 includes a base cabinet 12 that can be wall-hung, or supported on the floor depending on height of above cabinet and toe kick which can house a step stool for a child or pull out water bowl for a dog. A plurality of complementary bolt fasteners on a proximal end thereof. Alternatively, the base cabinet 12 may be wall hung, and independent from the floor. The base cabinet 12 includes an upper countertop 14 that can include one or more sinks 16. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which a single sink 16 b is illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the base cabinet 12 in which two adjacent sinks 16 a and 16 b are utilized. The sinks 16 may be under mounted or surface decorative vessel sink.
The base cabinet 12 is designed to accommodate drawers, doors, pull outs, etc. The cabinet system 10 can be designed with different modular cabinet combinations of drawers, sinks, hampers, wastebaskets, make-up, shaving, blow dryer/hair accessory and other features for achieving a customizable storage interior design. As illustrated, the sink base apron extends beyond the interchangeable module 18 to give the base cabinet 12 a less bulky and lesser depth appearance. The cabinet system is designed such that the various modules 18 may be interchanged at purchase with other different width modules, and be narrower in depth than the 22″ sink base apron with the cabinet below being the lesser depth of modular side cabinets.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the base cabinet 12 is mounted to a reinforced wall, such as with a stud fastener. However, as noted, it is within the terms of the embodiment that the base cabinet 12 can also stand on a toe kick that goes to the floor. The base cabinet 12 is generally formed as a rectangular (as illustrated in FIG. 1), although any desired shape may be utilized. Any appropriate dimensions are to be used, such as a width of 12 inches, 15 inches, and a height of 24 inches or any other desired height for wall hung or to the floor cabinets. Typically, the base cabinet 12 and various modules will be formed of metal, wood, MDF, etc. with finishes in glass, wood veneer, marble, porcelain, etc. and preferably a combination thereof. The base cabinet 12 can easily be matched to numerous designs, such as but not limited to transitional, traditional or modern style bathrooms.
The base cabinet 12 includes a countertop 14 which preferably is formed with the undermounted sinks integrally formed therein, although surface mounted vessel sinks may be used. The countertop 14 is formed as the main surface to cover the various modules 18 which is normally used as connectors between the adjacent sinks 16 a and 16 b or to complete a given area to working surface next to the sinks.
Alternatively, it is within the terms of the embodiment that integrated openings or cutouts be formed within the countertop 14 to accommodate sinks to be mounted therein separately. The countertop 14 can have various formations, as seen in first embodiment in FIG. 4A, and second embodiment in FIG. 4B.
The countertop 14 is typically formed of a sheet of natural stone such as marble, granite, quartzite, or solid surface materials quartz, dekton, glass, or synthetic other stone-like materials, etc.
It is within the terms of the embodiment that there be fixture cutouts (not shown) are formed in the countertop 14. Preferably, there are three fixture cutouts available depending on customer's choice: three cutouts for a widespread faucet, one cutout for a single hole faucet, and no holes for wall mount faucets.
Further, the base cabinet 12 includes a bottom floor 26, and an opposing pair of side walls 28 and 30, extending generally vertically between the upper countertop 14 and the bottom floor 26, which define the interior 32 of the base cabinet 12. The various interchangeable modules are designed as a custom cabinet individual module selected by customer, per their needs, each assembled in the factory. Further customizable interior elements may be dividers for makeup, skin care products, interior cup and/or spacing for blow-dryers, brushes, hair tools, etc., shaving equipment, trash basket, hamper, etc. and/or custom draw pulls which would take the place of built in pulls FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3 shows a curved sink base unit for a single sink base, where apron front pull-out will be a drawer, with center portion cut out to account for plumbing, sink base, pipes and shut off valves. This apron front curved sink base also works perfectly for accessibly challenged individuals, who use a wheelchair and need to access the sink and faucet, when seated in wheelchair. This will leave sufficient legroom below for their legs and feet. Sink base height can be adjusted by raising or lowering where cabinets are located when hung on the wall. Depending on the size of the space, there could be additional accessible storage space, adjacent to sink base and a larger countertop space. This would make their lives more accessible, comfortable, organized, and safe.
The base cabinet 12 on FIG. 5 may further include a toe kick panel 34 between the bottom floor 26, and the floor to permit clearance for the doors and/or drawers to open and for cabinets to sit on the floor. Typically, the space behind toe kick panel is unused “dead space”, although it also could provide a stepstool for a child or a short adult in front of sink or pull out to provide a water bowl for a dog/cat in this concealed dead space, hidden in toe kick.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, medicine cabinets 36, 36A, 36B and may be recessed, semi-recessed, or surface mounted with mirrored end, mirrored insides, and glass shelves. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the medicine cabinet 36 may take a rectangular, oval or round shape. The drawers, doors, and medicine cabinet can be programmed with Alexa or any other custom voice activated system to open and close all doors and drawers, as well as turning on and off all drawer lighting and overhead lights or any electrical associated with the cabinet. This will be especially beneficial for disabled and physically challenged individuals.
Further, it is within the terms of the embodiment that the medicine cabinet 36, 36A, 36B mirrored door have a frosted glass lit mirrored edge with integrated dimmable LED strip light mounted inside the cabinet door with an aluminum angle at edge of door, to conceal exposed frosted glass edge with a mirrored center on the exterior face of door. LED strip light recessed into perimeter of cabinet to shine out for indirect lighting behind the cabinet door.
Medicine cabinet also includes LED lighting when door is opened. Further still, the medicine cabinet 36, 36A, 36B inside can have GFI electrical outlet, defogger, and night light. When drawers, doors, or medicine cabinet lights are shut off by automatic touch switch, when the drawers and doors are closed, all interior electrical plugs/GFI's will automatically shut off too, as a safety feature to prevent fires and shorts. Drawers can be individually programmed to stay on continuously to handle appliances like water picks, electric toothbrushes, and electric shavers.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A, the upper edges of the interchangeable modules 18 are angled with a space, to allow hand access to pull open the drawers or doors. The base cabinet, 12 may take any desired form, such as a drawer module 18B, or a hamper module 18B, etc. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the drawer module 18 a preferably includes a number of surface mounted pull handles, 46, which may include curved pull handles, or any other desired form. 18B should be a hamper whose front appears as a door front. Behind the door, would be the hamper, which would be part of the drawer. By way of example, the drawer module 18B can include a number of independent drawers, 41, which may be of varying sizes.
The interchangeable modules 18 may include LED lights 40 and a touch switch that is activated when the drawer is pulled open and shut off when the drawer is closed. A baffle covers flexible LED strips under the cabinet that makes wall hung cabinets look like they're floating. Include a baffle only under the wall hung cabinets that covers the LED light strips so it looks like the cabinet is floating. If necessary, cover with an opaque lens to cover the LED lights, so as not to reflect on floor.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. A Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system that is customizable by a customer, comprising:

a base cabinet including a bottom floor, an upper countertop, and an opposing pair of side walls extending generally vertically between the upper countertop and the bottom floor, which define the interior of the base cabinet;

the upper countertop including one or more sinks;

the base cabinet housing various interchangeable modules designed as custom cabinet individual modules selected by the customer; and

a sink base apron that extends beyond the interchangeable modules.

2. The Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the base cabinet is mounted to a reinforced wall and independent from the floor.

3. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the base cabinet is supported on the floor.

4. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 3 wherein a toe kick is mounted below the base cabinet.

5. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 4 wherein the toe kick houses a step stool for a child.

6. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 4 wherein the toe kick houses a pullout water bowl for a pet.

7. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the base cabinet is constructed from a group consisting of metal, wood, MDF. with finishes in glass, wood veneer, marble, and porcelain.

8. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein upper edges of the interchangeable modules are angled with a space, to allow hand access to pull open the modules.

9. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 8 wherein the interchangeable modules include LED lights and a touch switch that is activated when the module is pulled open and shut off when the module is closed.

10. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 9 wherein the interchangeable modules are selected from a group consisting of drawers, hampers, wastebaskets, make-up drawers, shaving drawers, and hair accessories drawers.

11. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 10 wherein the interchangeable modules can be individually programmed to stay on continuously to handle various electrical appliances.

12. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sinks are under mounted.

13. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sinks are surface decorative vessel sinks.

14. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 1 wherein one or more medicine cabinets are disposed above the base cabinet and include mirrored ends, mirrored insides, and glass shelves.

15. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 2 wherein a baffle covers flexible LED strips disposed under the base cabinet to give the illusion of floating.

16. A Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system that is customizable by a customer, comprising:

a toe kick mounted below the base cabinet;

flexible LED strips disposed under the base cabinet;

the upper countertop including one or more sinks;

the base cabinet housing various interchangeable modules having LED lights and a touch switch, designed as custom cabinet individual modules selected by the customer;

one or more medicine cabinets disposed above the base cabinet; and

a sink base apron that extends beyond the interchangeable modules.

17. The Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 16 wherein the base cabinet is mounted to a reinforced wall and independent from the floor.

18. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 16 wherein the base cabinet is supported on the floor.

19. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 16 wherein upper edges of the interchangeable modules are angled with a space, to allow hand access to pull open the modules.

20. The customizable Eurostyle modular bath cabinet system of claim 9 wherein the interchangeable modules are selected from a group consisting of drawers, hampers, wastebaskets, make-up drawers, shaving drawers, and hair accessories drawers.