US2191116A - Cabinet construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1940.

F. J. OSUCH CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRH/VC/ J'Ol-IN osucH Y W 8. M

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. F. J. osucH CABINET consmwcwxon Fil ed Aug. 24, 1938 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 rawlllrallrll'l"lplllrprrll INVENTOR. FHA/V616 mmv osucn Y am ATTORNEY.

P a'tented Feb. 20, 1940 PTEN- orrlce CABINET CONSTRUCTION Francis John Osuch, Grosse Pointe, Mich assignor to Robot Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,531 3Claimsf (01412 -112) I This. invention relates to cabinets, and more particularly to storage cabinets of the type used inv the kitchen and the like. 1 j The present application is a continuation in partof my co-pending application Serial Number 70,74l, filed March 25, 1936, for Cabinet construction.

1 In the manufacture of storage cabinets and the likehaving more than one compartment to .1 be assembled upon delivery to the user, some means should be provided to compensate for manufacturing irregularities so that the various sections of the unit may be readily secured together without fabrication at the point of use. This is particularly true when the cabinet structure, is made of steel with a coat of vitreous enamel which is easily chipped or marred should the entire unit be assembled with bolts and screws to force the various sections into position instead of having provisions for adjusting to compensate for the manufacturing irregularities. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a unitary structure which may be readily assembled at the point of use without in any manner chipping or marring the enamel of the cabinet. Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary shelving structure consisting of a plurality of superimposed compartments having open fronts and in which one compartment is of less depth than the compartment thereabove so as to dispose the compartment in stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary cabinet structure consisting. of numerous storage compartments manufactured in sections and which may be readily assembled as a unit, andztoarrange certain parts of the structure so that the same may be. adjustable to compensate for manufacturing irregularities to thus permit the ready assembly of the unit. g

1 Another object of my invention is to provide a storage cabinet including the shelf supporting section and end sections, and to arrange the shelf supporting section in such a manner that it is telescoped within the end sections so that the entire structure is expansible or contractible to fit in a given wall space.

, Another object of my invention is to provide 1 the sectionsof the aforementioned unit with adjustableportions so as to permit interchangeability of sections in the unit.

. Other objects and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

1 In the drawings: 1

Fig. l is a front View in elevation of the unit embodying features :of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a topview of the unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a fragmentary view taken along the line t% of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of arrows i l of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of em odiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in a further modified form disclosing my invention;

Fig; 7 is a. front View in elevation of a modified form of unit embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a view taken in the direction ofarrows il tofFigJl;

Fig. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrows ii!i of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the upper left hand corner of the structure shown in Fig. '7; 1 1 a Fig. ll is an enlarged fragmentary View of the lower left hand corner of the structure shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper left handcorner of the structure shown in Fig. 8; and.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of the lower part .of the structure shown in Fig. 8 and shown in modified form.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral it liesignates, in general, a unitary structure embodying features of my invention. Unit 2t includes a cabinet sink 2i, cabinet 23, which is adapted to house an electric ironer (notshown) refrigerator cabinet 25, st rage cabinet 26, storage cabinet 2'! and storage cabinet 28. The cabinets iii, 23, 25, 25, ill and 28 may be secured together by any suitable means, such as bolts, screws and the like.

As will be noted in the drawings, the cabinets 2'1 and 2% form a unitary upright structure, and the refrigerator cabinet and storage cabinet 25 form an upright structure which is spaced apart from the storage cabinets 21 and Between these two upright structures, there is provided shelf supporting structures 30. The structures provide three shelf members 33 and 3d vertically spaced with the shelf tending forwardly from the rear of the cabii shelf or and the shelf member 533 extending forwardly from the rear of the cabinet further than the shelf 34. The shelf members 32 are ,her than 36, preferably secured to the shelf 32 by hinges I 38. As will be noted in Fig. 3, the shelf structure the shelf structure 32 so as to clamp the shelf I section in position but to permit relative movev ment between end section 40 and the shelf 32 when it is desired to effect movement therebe-' tween. I

By having the shelf members 32, 33 and 34 of different widths as disclosedit is possible to mount the structure 30 above and below the height of the average person without having any part of the structure in the way of the user thereof as is the case in the use of conventional shelf structure. This is occasioned because the uppermost shelf may be above the users head while the lower shelves retreat away from the user.. This type of structure is particularly advantageous where it is desired to place a work table or sink below such shelf structure as the shelf structure does not interfere with the work on the sink or work table, nor do the lower shelves'extend outwardly far enough to hide the work from view when the housekeeper or user is standing up.

The rear of the cabinet is closed by rear panel 44 which is secured to cabinet structure 28 and cabinet structure 26 by screws 46. Preferably, the screws extend through elongated slots 48 in the member 44 so as to permit adjustment of the member 44 relative to the rear of the cabinet. On the opposite end of theshelf'structure 32, there is provided an end section 50 which. corresponds to the end section 40, the end section 50 being rigidly secured to the end section 52 of a shelf structure 54. The shelf structure 54 corresponds in all respects to'shelf structure 32. The shelf structure 32 is also arranged to telescope within the endsection 50 and is frictionally engaged thereby so as to permit relative movement between the two surfaces. A trim element 56 is provided to overlap the joint between the sections 4050 and the shelf structure 32. The trim section includes a flat portion 58which is preferably secured to the end section 40 and an inwardly directed flange 60 which is adapted to engage shelf structure 32 so as to effect a seal joint therebetween.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the stepped shelf structure 30 isadjustable in length due to the arrangement between the various shelf structures and the end sectionsMl and 56. By this arrangement there can be a variation of several inches in the entire width of the unit as manufactured at the factory, and upon setting up the job at the point of use the shelf structure may be expanded or contracted to take care of the several inch discrepancy in measurements. Furthermore, the rear panel of the cabinet, due to elongated slots 46, is arranged to take care of the variations in the over all width of the cabinet.

Furthermore, some users may find it desirable to substitute for the ironer cabinet 23 an electric range or the like, and if so, there is likely to be considerable difference in the width of the cabinet, thus necessitating an adjustment of certain parts of the cabinet to compensate for the difference in widths over the range and ironer. By making the shelf structures 30 and rear panel 1 adjustable with respect to the remaining parts date a given wall space.

end section 80 andthe shelf structure 82 is cov-.

structed of sheet metal.

posed on a horizontal plane and is provided with of the cabinet, it is possible to substitute various types of sections for those disclosed in the unit and at the same time compensate for any variations in width of the entire unit.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of shelf structure ID which is adapted to be received within end section I2 in telescopic arrangement. However, in this section a trim element .14 is provided with an inwardly formed portion "I6 which is adapted to frictionally engage the shelf structure Ill to clamp the shelf structure to the end section I2 but to permit relative movement therebetween when so desired. As shown, the structure I0 is slightly bent to aid in the frictional engagement with the portion I6.

Fig. 6 discloses a cup-shaped endmember 80' adapted to, close the end of shelf structure 82 with the shelf structure 82 being received by the cup-shaped end member 80 in telescopic arrangement. In some instances, it has been found desirable to manufacture merely the stepped sh elf structure having end sections as shown at 80" independent of the entire unit 20. When structures of this type are manufacturedindepend-w ently of unit 20, it has been found desirable to arrange the end sections 86 so that the same may be slid relative to the shelf structure 82 so as to vary the overall width of the cabinet to accommo- The joint between the a work table therebelow instead of sinks and In this case the Work table and shelf structure may be made to definite dimensions 'at" the factory. Another instance is in the low cost ranges.

housing field where wall space isstandardized.

Inthis case the wall space dimensions are known and the shelf structure is made to definite dimen-- sions at the factory. A third instance is where a work table of standard dimensions is placed below the shelf structure and sinks and. ranges fitted to the work table at installation at point Of use.

Referring to Figs. '7 to 12, there is shown atop wall I40, bottom wall I44 and cup-shaped end walls 550. These walls'are all preferably con- The top wall I40 is disdownturned edges I54 at the front and rear of the cabinet. The top wall I40 also includes extension members I56 at the ends thereof. The extensions are formed on a slightly lower plane than the wall proper and are used for receiving and securing the cup-shaped end members I50. in a manner about to be described. The bottom wall I44 includes a vertical section I62 and horizontal sections I 64 and I66. The sections I64 and I66 are integrally formed with the section I62'and arranged so that section I64 is on a higher vertical plane than section 8 55 and so that section IE4 extends forwardly from section it?! and section its extends rearwardly from section H52.

Bottom wall H52 provided with an upturned edge ill! at the front of the cabinet and an upturned edge H2 at the rear of the cabinet. I'he rear of the cabinet may be closed by a rear member iltl which may be secured. to edges its .and Hit by welding or bolts (not shown). The front of the cabinet includes mullions H8. The mullionsinclude extensions 58% and i which are secured to edges i and lit, respectively, by

welding or bolts (not shown). As shown in Fig. 11, thebottom wall Md is providedwith extensions Hi5 forreceiving and securing the cupshaped end members 56. The end members use are cup-shaped and include inwardly directed flanges its which are placed over extensions I55 of top wall Hill and extensions $85 of bcttomwall bolts (not shown). Edges its and i622 of walls hit, and HM terminate in abutting relation to anges tilt?! of end members .ififi.

Shelves 290 and EM may be provided and these shelves may be carried by the end walls by brackets 2M and 2M, respectively.

. .In Fig. 9 I have, for the purposefof clarity,

omitted the shelves so as to better disclose the bottom wall structure. i

The front part of the cabinet is provided with openings 208 between the door mullions and also openings 2m provided in section 162 of wall structure M4. Openings 205, are closed by doors 212. hinges 226. The hinges may be welded or bolted to the mullions and doors. Doors 2H! move above a vertical axis. The opening 219 in section it? of wall structure MM is closed by doors 225. Doors 225 are hinged to section I62 by hinges 228. doors 225 and section I62. Doors .225 are the type which may be lifted up to move about a horizontal axis.

By the present arrangement there is provided a series of superimposed compartments 230 and 232 in which one compartment 232 is of less depththan the compartment 230 thereabove so as to dispose the compartmentsin stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly.

If desired, hinges 228 may be omitted from doors 225 and hangers (not shown) of the type used in conventional book shelves substituted for the hinges 223. In this case the front part of the doors may be lifted upwardly and then the doors slid rearwardly into compartment 232.

In securing the cabinet together by welding as described it may be desirable to spot weld the various sheets of metal together. viding the cup-shaped end members By pro- !5!) and spot welding the end members to the extensions i I55 and I85, a rigid structure without the use of panels and the like is provided. Also, by providing extensions itil and I82 to door mullions H8 and spot welding such extensions to the top and bottom walls of the structure additional rigidity to the structure is. provided.

Fig. 13 discloses an arrangement wherein compartment 232 is closed by a drawer front 250 instead of doors 225. A drawer 252 is secured to front 250. Sincethe compartment -232.may be The end walls and extensions Hit and 585 are secured together preferably by welding or Doors 252 are hinged to mullions I18 by,

Hinges 228 may be welded orbolted to advantageously used for storing small articles, it maybe in some instances desirable to use drawer 252 and front instead of the open compartment closed by doors 225 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. 1 I 1 If desired, the cabinet shelf structure i353 may be used independently of the remainder of the" Also, if desired, the cabinet shelf structure may be mounteddirectlyto a wall of the cabinet.

of greater depth from front to rear than its lower portion and including a series of superimposed compartments having open fronts and in which one compartment is of less depth than the compartment thereabove, so as to dispose the compartments in stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly, doors for the open fronts of the compartments hinged to fixed portions thereof .and end members conforming to the contour of the shelving structure and each comprising an end wall having inwardly directed peripheral flanges embracing telescopically end portions of said structure, whereby the length of the cabinet may be varied.

1 2 A wall cabinet comprising a unitary shelving structure having open ends and an upper portion of greater depth from front to rear than its lowerportion and including'a plurality of superimposed compartments having open fronts and in which one compartment is of less depth than the compartment thereabove, so as to dispose the compartments instepped arrangement downwardly andrearwardly, an independent door for each of the open fronts of the compartments movably secured to fixed portions thereof and end members conforming to the contour of the shelving structure and each comprising an end wall having inwardly directed peripheral flanges embracing telescopically end portions of said structure.

3. A wall cabinet comprising a unitary shelving structure having open ends and an upper portion of greater depth from front to .rear than its lower portion and including a plurality of superimposed compartments having open fronts and in, which one compartment is of less depth than the compartment thereabove, so as to dispose the compartments in stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly, an independent door for each of the open fronts of the compartments movably secured to fixed portions thereof. and

end members conforming to the contour of the shelving structure and each comprisingan end wall having inwardly directed peripheral flanges embracing end portions of said structure, with at least one of said flanges embracing telescopically an end portion of said structure whereby the length of the cabinet may be varied.

FRANCIS JOHNOSUCI-I.

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