US2511778A - Bathroom cabinet with shelf - Google Patents

Description

June 1950 c. A. LAYSTRO M EI'AL 2,511,778

- BATHROOM CABINET WITH SHELF Filed July 17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1 v I I /5' 7 INVENTORg C? 71 119718004 FED %-WWMQTTO F5 Nil 3 c. A. LAYsTRoM rm. 2,511,778

BATHROOM CABINET wrm SHELF June 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1'7, 1945 N \/F N TO RS CfiEL fiiPLamz-eaM l/owfieo 5/64 as a-WWATTORNEYS June13, 1950 c. A. LAYsrRbM El AL 2,511,778

BATHROOM 0 2mm wrru SHELF Filed July 17, 1946 4'Sheets-Sheet s 2/ un u l N V E N TO F2 5 (FBI. 6. lm srea/w Hon HBO E. 51s; as

J n 13,1950 A. LAYSTRQM Em 2,51 718 BATHROOM CABINET WITH SHELF Filed July 17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' I N V E'NTCDRS (an. H L/vrsreom How/7E0 E. ,5IGZ E6 Z/Z/TQR N Us Patented June 13, 1950 2,51r,g7s BATHROOM oABIfi'E'r wrrn SHELF Carl A. Laystrom, Chicago, and Howard E. Sigler, Argenta, Ill., assignors, by-mesne assignments, to Faries Manufacturing. Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 17, 1946; Serial No. 684,353

4 Claims. (01. 312- 186) This invention relates to improvements in wall i cabinets. While useful in cabinets intended for many purposes it will be herein described as applied to bathroom wall cabinets wherein an ornamental foldable shelf in accordance with this invention is embodied in sucha cabinet and located below the mirrored door with which such a cabinet is usually equipped.

While a large mirrored door makes a useful and convenient closure element for the main part of a bathroom cabinet, the utility of such a cabinet may be greatly enhanced by providing one shelf space below the mirror which is accessible at all times without opening the large door on which such a mirror is mounted. However, the other- Various further particular objects and advantages of the invention will be alluded to hereinafter or will become apparent from a reading of the specification and examination of the drawings whereinthere is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figurelis a front elevation of a cabinet of the character above described showing the large mirroreddoor in open position and showing the auxiliary door also swung to open position;

wise neat appearance of the cabinet would be impaired unless the shelf space below the mirror door were itself provided with a closure element. The present invention provides av hinged closure element for such a shelf space and. this" closure element is so constructed that, when open',-' it; constitutes an auxiliary or supplemental"-horizontal shelf. v r r f Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a wall cabinet having hinged tl'i'erefi on a large door which may carry a mirrorjon-itsl outer surface, for closing the major portion ofthej shelving space of the cabinet and anadditional door for closing a shelf space provided below the large door. f

Another object of the invention is to"provid'e". a cabinet of the characterdescribedhavin 'a shelf space below the large mirrored door andt'a separate closure for said space constructed and: arranged to constitute a shelf when openedtoj horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of the character described a shelf space below the large mirrored door with aseparate door for closing said space so constructed 'and arranged that when such separate door is open it provides a supplemental horizontal shelf,and is. adequately braced to maintain its horizontal posie tion. Another object of the invention is to providejin a cabinet of the character described a horizontally hinged door for closing a shelf space below the main vertically hinged door and providing-means constituting a supplemental horizontal shelf when said lower door isopen;

p 7 50 panel:

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure Bis an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on the-lineIII-HI of Figure 4, but omitting allhinges;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the combination shelf and ornamental base plate in closed position folded up against the face of the cabinet;

Figure 5 is a-plan view of an end portion of the upper channeled member forming a support for the shelf, showing the inner face of this member;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5';

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 5; v

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the inner face of the panel member constituting a portion of the shelf assembly;

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line IX-IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 isa fragmentary sectional view on theline X'X of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing the 'inner face of the lower channel member of the shelf assembly;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line XlI-XII of Figure 11;

' Figure 13is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line XIII-XIII of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the keeper shown in Figure 4;

Figure 15 is an end view of the same keeper; Figure 16 is a perspective view of the track member shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 1'7 is a, plan view of one end of the ornamental cover panel;

Figure 18 is an end view of the same part of the Figure 19 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the cabinet showing the bottom foldable shelf depicted in Figure 2 folded upwardly to enclose the lowermost shelf space of the cabinet. Figure 19 is on the same scale as Figure 1;

Figure 20 is a sectional view on the same scale as Figure 4 showing the foldable shelf in lowered position; and

Figure 21 is a sectional view on the line XXI-XXI of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the cabinet includes a box which will usually be set into the wall of a bathroom, the box having a bottom wall It, a top wall H, a rear wall I2 and side walls l3 and 14. A channel frame generally indicated as i5 is secured to the outer edge of the box preferably by welding and its free edge rests against the wall surface which is indicated by line I6 in Figure 2. This channel frame extends beyond and neatly conceals the margins of the hole pro-' vided in the wall for the large box which affords the shelf space, and also provides a rigid support for the vertical hinge which carries the weight of the usual mirrored door. This frame is also employed in the support of the dropshelf herein described.

To one margin of the channel frame is secured a large door H, by means of a piano hinge 18, preferably carrying a mirror on its outer face. A link IQ of common construction secured to the box and door as shown in Figure 2 will limit the outward rotation of the door. It will be observed that this mirrored door extends somewhat above the top margin of the cabinet and its lower edge terminates in a position to enclose all of the cabinet excepting the lowermost shelf space. This shelf space is generally indicated as 20,-and employs the bottom wall ll] of the cabinet as a shelf. A spring loaded button 2| mountedon the wall I3 of the box is positioned to engage a spring catch 22 on the inside surface of the main door to releasably hold the door in closed position.

As indicated, the portion of the cabinet enclosed by the mirrored door may be provided with a plurality of shelves resting on supports such as 23 which are secured upon the opposite side Walls I 3 and i4.

As a closure element for the lowermost shelf space there is provided a combination shelfandhinged door, constructed as follows.

A piano hinge 24 is secured by means of its flanges, preferably by welding,.to the lower-edge of the channel frame i5 and to the shelf 25. The

right and left ends of the shelf are turned down wardly to form flanges, suchas the flange 26 shown in Figure 2. Mounted near the right and left hand edges of this shelf are buttons 21 and 28 adapted to be received into sockets 29 and 30 in the cabinet box frame to releasably hold the A piano hinge 3:2 is secured to the outer edge of the shelf by having one leaf thereof secured in any suitable manner, for example by spot welding to the under side of the shelf, and the other leaf of the hinge secured to the flange 33 of the upper box member by means of a plurality of countersunk screws 34 which are also employed to secure a reinforcing bar 35 to the under surface of this flange. As shown in Figure 1, this piano hinge is somewhat shorter than the length of the shelf.

The leaf 36 of this hinge, at its opposite end, is pierced by the buttons 2! and 28 which engage the sockets 29 and 30 in the cabinet frame to hold the shelf in its raised, closed position.

The lateral sides of the upper box member are provided with side flanges such as 3'! and 38, whose extremities are bent inwardly to form an additional flange such as the flange 39 shown in Figure 5 to abut against the under surface of the shelf 25.

To the lower end of the outer wall surface 40 ofthe upper box member is secured by means of a plurality of screws 4|, a channel member 42 extending substantially the full length of the shelf and having its upper and lower edges curved as shown in Figures 4, 14 and 15 to engage flanges on. an ornamental cover or panel 43 which concea-ls the space between the upper and lower box members. These flanges, as plainly indicated in Figure 4, fit snugly behind the curved portions of the channel member 42 and hold this panel se-' curely in position.

Referring now to the'lower box member, forming a. part of the shelf assembly, this member is attached to the bottom of the cabinet flange [5 by means of a piano hinge 44 one leaf of which is secured to the cabinet frame by a plurality of screws 45, while the other leaf of the spring, s shown in Fig. 4' is spot welded to a flange 46 at the bottom of this box member. The outer wall surface 41 of the lower 'box member extends under and in sliding engagement with the channel member 42 and the lower inturned flange '48 of the cover plate 43. It will be noted, however, that the upper inturned flange 49 of the panel 43 does not slide relatively to the upper box member wall 40.

.In order that the shelf 25 may be rotated downwardly from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position as shown in Figures 2 and 20, it is apparent that the lower box member in the shelf support must move in a telescopic fashion toward the upper box member when the shelf is being lowered. Such movement is provided for beneath the cover plate 43 and channel 42, and it is aided and guided by means of a pair of rigid track members one located at the lefthand and the other at the righthand of the shelf support. Such a track member indicated as 50 in Fig. 4 has an offset foot 5| which is preferably Spot welded to the lower flange 46 along with the adjoining leaf of the lower hinge 44. A similar track member 52 having a foot 53 is located at the righthand margin of the shelf support, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cover member 43 is anchored to the upper box member and has, in addition to the inwardly turned flanges 48 and 49., a pair of flanged ends at the left and right sides of the shelf support which are indicated in Figure 10 as 54 and 55. These flanged ends embrace the right and left hand margins of the box members forming a part of the shelf support and each flange has an inwardly turned toe such as 56 and 51, these toes being designed to slidably embrace the track members, as well as adjoining edges of the box members. The inwardly turned toes 56 and 57 contact the track members 50 and 52 during theopening and closing movements of the shelf, thus 5. keeping the box members properly aligned with the track members. a

It may also be observed that the flanges 39 on the upper box member, shown in Figures and 6 also have sliding contact with the track members for maintaining the shelf support properly aligned. As shown in Figure 5' andi Figure m the lower edge of the flanges 39 are' cut back some distance from the'corner ofbox memberf-lllso that the toe flanges 55 and 51 of the panel may be brought into engagement with the edges of the side walls of the upper box member.

As a further provision. for cooperation with the track members, -the lower flange 55onthe upper box member is cut back at the corners to permit the track members to extend therethrough. Also, Figure 11 shows that the upper flange 59 on the lower box member is cut back at the corner 5| to permit the track member to extend therethrough. It will now be obvious that cut backs in the flanges are provided wherever necessary to permit the track members to extend into such box members.

In the operation of the device, when the shelf is closed, as indicated in Figure 4, the opposite ends of the shelf assembly may be grasped between the hands and pulled downwardly, during which time the shelf 25 will rotate about the hinge 24, while the assembly of box members will rotate about the hinge M. The lower box member, which may be referred to as 41, will slide upwardly within the confines of the panel member 43, carrying with it the track members at its opposite ends. At the time the shelf 25 comes to rest at a horizontal position, the extremities of the track members will come into contact with the reinforcing bar 35, thus forming a rigid brace for the shelf. Due to the coaction between the various parts of the shelf support the box members remain in alignment and will maintain a presentable appearance. As is apparent from Figure 2, the supplemental shelf 25 then constitutes a continuation of the bottom wall In of the cabinet and provides a convenient place for toilet articles such as shaving kits and other toilet articles.

It will now be appreciated that the drop shelf 25 is very firmly supported in the rigid channel frame IS in such a manner as to sustain not only normal loading but also severe loads that might inadvertently be imposed upon it.

Whenever the horizontally extended shelf 25 is no longer needed, the assembly may readily be closed, concealing whatever is disposed within the lowermost shelf compartment 20, while the box members and their associated panel member 43 will present an attractive closure for the lowermost shelf space. Preferably this closure will lie substantially in the plane of the closed door IT, as indicated.

The cabinet herein shown is provided with a channel shaped frame l5 entirely surrounding the opening of the shelf space. The mirrored door not only covers the upper shelf spaces but also overlaps and conceals the greater portion of this frame. The auxiliary closure assembly, it should be noted, not only covers the remainder of the shelf space, but also harmoniously covers all of the frame not covered by the door.

It should now be apparent that the drop shelf herein described may be used advantageously with cabinets other than bathroom cabinets, and such other uses of the invention are contemplated. The drop shelf is, of course, applicable to a wall cabinet whether the cabinet be recessed into the claims. a H Having sho n and described our invention, we claim: i 1 I 1'. In awall cabinet, a chamber'providing a shelf and storage spacesthereabove, and-closurez means for covering said-chamber mounted for;

hinging movement between a vertical closure positionan'd a lowered position, said closure means including a supplementary shelf having one edge hinged to the cabinet substantially at the level of said chamber shelf for rotation into the same plane therewith, and a combination cover and support for said supplementary shelf having a pair of upper and lower telescoping members substantially coextensive in width with said supplementary shelf, the upper of said members being hinged to the outer edge of said supplementary shelf and the lower being hinged to the cabinet a substantial distance below said cabinet shelf, said members when telescoped serving for rigidly supporting said supplementary shelf in a horizontal position upon the shelf and cover hinges, and when extended serving to fully enclose the shelf when the latter is in raised position.

2. In a wall cabinet, a chamber providing a shelf and storage space thereabove, a supplementary shelf having one edge hinged to the cabinet substantially at the level of the chamber shelf for rotation downwardly into the same plane as said chamber shelf, and a combination cover and brace for said supplementary shelf comprising two telescoping members each substantially coextensive in width with said supplementary shelf, one of said members being hinged to the outer edge of said supplementary shelf and the other being hinged to the cabinet a substantial distance below said cabinet shelf, means connecting said members and guiding them for telescopic movement relatively to each other, and stop means for limiting the retracting telescopic movement of said members for rigidly supporting the supplementary shelf in horizontal position.

3. In a wall cabinet, a chamber providing a shelf and storage space thereabove, a supplementary shelf having one edge hinged to the cabinet substantially at the level of said chamber shelf for rotation into the same horizontal plane therewith, and a combined cover and support for said supplementary shelf comprising a pair of box-like members substantially coextensive in width with said shelf, means including rigid brace members positioned within and connecting said box members for telescopic movement, the upper box member being pivoted to the outer edge of said supplementary shelf and the lower box member being pivoted to the cabinet a substantial distance below the chamber shelf, and stop means limiting the retractile telescopic movement of said members for supporting said supplementary shelf in horizontal position, the supplementary shelf upon being raised against the cabinet being covered by said box members.

4. In a wall cabinet, a chamber providing a shelf and storage space thereabove, a supplementary shelf having one edge hinged to the cabinet substantially at the level of said chamber shelf for rotation into the same horizontal plane therewith, a pair of shelf support members each 7 8 substantially GOEXFBQI'SiVB inIWidth withzsaidwsup REFERENCES CITED Plemental;shmioneujssandmmbmbemghmged The following references are of reeord in "the t0 the iouter adge (Of saidaupplementary $116111.- file of et ip t the other Lmember being clhinged: to (the caibinet azsubstantial distance:belowxsaidxchamber shelf 5 H TISTATESJPATENTS meansconnecting saidanemhers andFguidingthem4 Number, Name 1 Date for relative movement toward and from-, ea'ch 4571;204- Patten Feb. 16, .1897

othemincluding-ean a'cmteru panel membenwcon- 1,225,054 ;Rowe11 -.,.-...v Maya, 1917 cealing their opposed edge portions, and means, 1,556,353 Rqfldding Oot.-\6,"1925 limiting their movement toward. each other for 10 353,331 :Ha n-'-.-----,-- July 11, 19.44 rigidly supporting :said' supplementary shelf vm: vFFOREHGN PATENTS said members imhorizontalmositiont CARL Number vCtrmntry JDate 3 R 470,954 vvGreat.11811152311-.. ...'A1.1g. 25, I937

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