US2239487A - Medicine cabinet - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1941. w. M. FULTON MEDICINE CABINET Filed April 13. 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22, 1941. w. M. FULTON MEDICINE CABINET Filad April 15, 1958 5 Sheets-sh f 2 April 22, 1941- W. M. FULTON 2,239,487

MEDICINE CABINET Filed April 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FICE MEDICINE CABINET Weston Fulton, Knoxville; Tenn, assignor to W. J. Sav'ageCompany, Ina, Knoxville, Tenn, a corporation of Tennessee Application April 1a, msaseriar'no. 2015839- (Cl.'8#100i 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in medicine cabinets and more particularly to an improvement in themounting' for the mirror of the medicine cabinet.

The object of this invention is to provide a medicine cabinet which can be installed upon or within the wall of a room at the rear side of a plumbing fixture, and which has a door provided with a mirror which can be adjusted forward from the cabinet a sufiicient distance to avoid all danger of having the us'ers body come into physical contact with the front side of the plumbing fixture, said mirror being universally adjustable angularly.

Present day practice requires that the medicine cabinet shall be of less width than the plumbing fixture with which it isused, and in no event can it be of greater width than the fixture. This requirement is based mainly on appearance. No interior decorator or architect would specify a medicine cabinet equal in width to the plumbing fixture with which it isto. be used, 'because" this would completely upset the balance in decorative proportions and detract from thesymmetry of the room Furthermore,-- such -a-- cabinet would provide more storage capacity than necessary and thereby consume more wall space than requirements would justify; In addition to the decorative and uneconomic objections,- it is impracticable to use a cabinet which is greater in width than the plumbing fixture used with it. This latter is due to the fact that other objects lavatory, preventing close inspection in the mirror' while a person is standing in front of the lavatory withoutleariingover it and producing eye strain in an effort to" get a close-up view. Furthermore; withsuch a hinge arrangement as proposed heretofore, the angular adjustment of the mirror is unsatisfactory because it is impossibleto'so positionthemirror as to obtain the best light thereon when maximum light comes from one side or the other of the medicine cabinet, especially in confined quarters.

Furthermore, when the mirror is drawn for- Wardfrom the cabinet, it is displaced laterally from its central vertical position, which is objectionable, because there is frequently an obstruction which will interfere with the proper.

access to, the mirror.- This also leaves the contents; of the cabinet exposed to View and to dust,

which is objectionable.

This invention overcomes these objectionable features: in the structures proposed heretofore cabinet.

For practical, utilitarian reasons, a lavatory is so proportioned that its width is not'grea-tly in excess of its depth, and consequentlya medicine cabinet used with this lavatory, being of less width thanthe width of the lavatory,- is likewise less in width than the lavatory is in depth;

It has been proposed heretofore to provide means hinged-1y connecting the inner side of the door on its approximate central vertical line with one edge of the front frame of the cabinet. It is apparent that the hinge plate cannot possibly be greater in length than one-half the widthof the cabinet, so that when the mirror is brought forward from the cabinet the greatest distance possible, the amount of this forward extension cannot possibly be more than the equivalent of onehalf the width of the cabinet. Since the total width of the cabinet never equals the depth of the lavatory, it is evident that when the mirror is extended to its maximum position,- it will still be considerably back of the front edge of the I and provides for adjustment of the mirror to any convenient position where ready and close-up access may be had thereto without interference by the lavatory or other objects in the room and enables the user to obtain the maximum light effect on the mirror; ,7

The mirror is connected with the door of the medicine cabinet to be supported thereby but is capable of adjustment relative to the door, so that an adjustment of the mirror does not leave exposed the contents of the medicine cabinet.

A- preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

. which:

1 is a top plan View of a medicine cabinet showing the mirror extended;

Fig. 2' is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the same approximately on the line 3-=-3 of Fig. 4 is 'adetail horizontal section through a corner of the cabinet showing the mirror and door closed and the latches-provided therefor;

Fig. 5 is a detail edge view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of thecabinet and door with the mirror removed and showing the extensible mechanism-folded in place;

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic plan viewsillustrating adjustments of the mirror; and

Fig. 9 is a ,detail'side elevation of a wall showing a wall receptacle and mirror above the lavatory. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,

themedicine' cabinet isdesignated generally by the numeral I, being of the usual metallic boxlike structure and having a door 2, hinged to one side wall of the cabinet at 3. The opposite edge of the door is provided with a spring catch 4 in position to engage a clip 5 attached to the adjacent side wall of the cabinet I to hold the door in a closed position.

The door 2 is made substantially thick and is constructed with a recess 6 in its front face within which is normally housed the supporting mechanism for the mirror.

Secured to the door 2 within the recess 6 are lugs I to which are hinged at 8 a frame section 9. The section 9 is substantially U-shaped having its closed side hinged at 8, while its open side receives a companion section ID hinged thereto at H. The section i is similarlyconstructed and at its open side it receives a section l2 higed thereto at I3, and this in turn supports an additional section l that is hinged at l6 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) the mirror extension mechanism, being pivotally connected together and capable of folding into the recess 6 of the door 2, succeeding sections being of less height than the preceding one, so that they fall one within the other by reason of the interconnection of the respective closed and open sides thereof. Each section projects forwardly beyond its pivot point where it carries a stud ll against which the smaller section may abut to prevent the sections from-being drawn out into straight line position, thereby preventing the extension means from being drawn into a dead center position. Thus it is always possible to readily fold the sections upon backward pressure of the mirror. 7

The outer section I5' of the extension mechanism is formed intermediate its ends with a discshaped portion l8, as shown in Fig. 3, in position to be embraced by an approximately U- shaped clip I9. The clip I9 is secured to the disc-shaped portion [8 by a wing screw 20, which extends through the part-s as shown in Fig. 3, and into a threaded hub 21 formed on one side of the U-shaped clip l9, so that when said screw is tightened, the clip is incapable of turning rel- The sections 9, I8, l2 and I6 form ative to the disc-shaped portion l8 because of the frictional connection therebetween.

The mirror is designated generally by the numeral 22, being preferably formed of plate glass, or the like, and is encased within a rigid back 23, preferably formed of relatively thick sheet metal, and as here shown, the mirror is held in position by folding the edges of the sheet metal back 23 around the edges of the mirror as at 24. However, any other desired means may be employed for supporting the mirror orsecuring it to the back plate 23, as for instance by constructing the back plate somewhat smaller in size than the mirror and attaching the same thereto by means of ornamentalscrews. Spot-welded or otherwise fastened to the back plate 23 is a hinge member 25 which has a pintle 26, embraced by the U-shaped clip [9 forming a hinge support for the mirror between the same and the extension mechanism for securely supporting the mirror and permitting adjustment to different positions.

On opposite sides of the plate 23 atthe rear thereof and slightly below the center, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, are looking devices for holding the mirror snugly against the cabinet door 2 when not extended. Each of these locking devices consists vof a spring catch. 2! attached to the back plate 23 by means of a rivetor spotwelding, or the like. This catch 21. projects rearwardly from the back plate 23 in position to engage a clip 28 located in a recess 29 at the adjacent side edge of the door 2. Attached to each of the spring clips 21 is a finger piece or arm 30 projecting laterally therefrom approximately to the edge of the mirror for disengaging the catch 21 from the clip 28 for forward adjustment of the mirror from its closed position flush against the forward face of the door 2 with the extension mechanism housed in the recess 6, as shown in Fig. 6, to an adjusted position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8.

When the mirror is in this normal position against the door of the cabinet, it is locked by the spring catches 21 in engagement with the clips 28. Then the door 2 of the cabinet may be opened and closed at will, as usual. It is opened by a positive pull on the door which causes the catch 4 to slip off of clip 5 and thus leave the door free to swing on its hinges 3. As the door is opened and closed, the mirror remains locked in position thereon and moves with the door.

However, when it is desired to use the mirror for close observation, the cabinet door is first closed and then the fore fingers press forwardly on the arms 20, disengaging the catches 21 from the clips 28, thus releasing the mirror from the door and permitting it to be drawn forward to the desired position, where it is securely supported by the extension mechanism which unfolds from the recess 6. It will be noted that the openings 29, at each side of the door 2 permit the fore fingers of the operator to be inserted therein for engagement with the arms 30 to disengage the catches 21.

When the mirror has been moved forward to its desired position, it may be turned on its vertical axis by means of the hinge at 26, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. It may be adjusted about a horizontal axis by loosening wing screw 20 (Fig. 3) and permitting turning of the clip l9 relative to the disc portion I8 of the extension section l5, to permit the parts to turn about the wing screw as a pivot and allowing th mirror to be tilted up or down. After this adjustment has been made, the wing screw 20 is tightened again to hold the mirror in its adjusted position.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, this improved structure permits forward adjustment of the mirror in the same vertical plane of the cabinet to a position forwardly of the lavatory with which it is used, so as to permit close observation in the mirror without the necessity for leaning over the lavatory and without being out of alignment therewith. By increasing or decreasing the number of sections in the extension mechanism, the mirror may be given any desired range of adjustment to meet any practical requirements, either as to position, location, or to obtain the best light effect on the mirror according to the direction of the major portion of the light reaching it, even to a position where it is perpendicular to the face of the cabinet as illustrated in Fig. '7.

Although I preferably provide the recess 6 in the door of .the cabinet to receive the extension mechanism, such a recess may be provided in the back portion of the mirror structure or partly in each, if desired. In either event, provision is made for concealing the extension mechanism when folded and the door and mirror then will appear substantially as a single unit. Furthermore, the mirror may be either larger or smaller than the cabinet door, if desired.

the mirror 22 is mounted above the recess 32. The

adjusting means for the mirror is enclosed within the recess 6' behind the same as described above,

except that it is in the wall. In this event, no cabinet or cabinet door will be provided, but the extension mechanism may be mounted in the wall in the same respect.

I claim:

1. A cabinet adapted to be fixed to a wall of a room, comprising an enclosure, a door for closing the front of said enclosure, said door being of appreciable thickness with a recess in the front face thereof and having a wall portion substantially closing the back of said recess, a mirror, and means for mounting the mirror on the door, said mounting means comprising a plurality of approximately U-shaped members connected in end to end relation with the closed end of one member within and pivoted to the open end of the adjacent member, one of said members being pivotally connected with the door within said recess and another of said members being connected with the mirror, said members being constructed for collapsing to a retracted position in the recess with the members telescoped one within the other and to be extended therefrom substantially in en'd-to-end relation, and means for limiting the relative swinging movements of the members in said extended relation to less than 180 relative to each other.

2. A cabinet adapted to be fixed to a wall of a room, comprising an enclosure, a door for closing the front of said enclosure, said door being of appreciable thickness with a recess in the front face thereof and having a wall portion substantially closing the back of said recess, a mirror, and means for mounting the mirror on the cabinet, said mounting means comprising a plurality of approximately U-shaped members connected in end to end relation with the closed end of one member within and pivoted to the open end of the adjacent member, one of said members being pivotally connected with the door within the recess and said members being constructed for col= lapsing to a retracted position in the recess with the members telescoped one within the other and to be extended therefrom substantially in end-toend relation, means for limiting the relative swinging movements of the members in said extended relation to less than relative to each other, the outermost member having a disc-like portion, and a clip embracing said disc-like portion and pivotally connected therewith, and means pivotally connecting the mirror with said clip for swinging movement relative thereto.

3. A medicine cabinet adapted to be fixed to a wall of a room, comprising an enclosure having a door mounted thereon for movement to an open position, said door being appreciably thick with a recess in the front face thereof and having a wall portion closing the back of said recess, a mirror constructed to cover the recess when the mirror is in place against the door, and collapsible means having a plurality of elements connected together and extensible relative to each other and connected with the door within the recess and supporting the mirror for bodily movement thereof from a position abutting against the door over the recess to a position spaced forwardly therefrom, said supporting means being constructed for collapsing movement into .the recess when the mirror is retracted against the door.

4. A medicine cabinet adapted to be fixed to a wall of a room, comprising an enclosure having a door hinged thereto for swinging movement to an open position, said door being appreciably thick with a recess in the front face thereof and having a wall portion closing the back of said recess, a mirror adapted to cover the front portion of the door and of appreciably greater area than the recess covering the recess completely when said mirror is in place against the door, and collapsible means pivotally connected with the door at one side of the recess and supporting said mirror, said means being constructed of a plurality of U-shaped elements pivotally connected together end-to-end in telescopic relation and extensible relative to each other for extensible movement of the mirror forwardly in a straight line from the door to a position spaced a substantial distance therefrom, said collapsible means being retractable wholly within the recess when the mirror is in position abutting against the door,

WESTON M, ULTON.

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