US2911275A - Attachments to cabinets - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1959 G. wlsE ATTACHMENTS T0 CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1957 IN VENTOR G. WISE ATTACHMENTS TO CABINETS Nov. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1957 INVENTOR United States Patent Ofifice 2,911,275 Patented Nov. 3, 1959 ATTACHlVIENTS TO CABINETS George Wise, Washington, D.C. Application March 21, 1957, Serial No. 647,627

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-242) This invention relates to new and useful attachments and improvements to new and existing cabinets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide special-purpose storage facilities such as receptacles, article-supports, compartments, containers, racks, and the like in new and existing cabinets, particularly bathroom medicine cabinets, by attaching these to cabinets by means of the existing conventional attaching and supporting means now used for supporting the shelves within these cabinets, and by also attaching these to the existing conventional means now used for attaching these cabinets to a wall. The novel methods include new and useful adapters r attachments that take advantage of the existence of these conventional attaching means Within the cabinets by conforming in the easiest and cheapest manner both to these existing attaching means and to the special type of storage facility required.

, Another object of this invention is to provide orderly storage and better arrangement for the items that are normally stored in a cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a place for everything that is stored in the cabinet and everything in its place.

Another object of this invention is to provide adapters or attachments to existing: attaching means within the cabinets so that special-purpose receptacles, containers, article-supports, racks and the like can be permanently secured to the cabinet instead of being loosely placed therein and shifted around from one place to another, thus adding to the confusion and clutter in the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to segregate like items from the unlike ones and to provide a permanent storage place for each of these like groups of products.

Another object of this invention is to separate the medicines in bathroom medicine cabinets from the shaving and make-up items that would otherwise all become mixed together, cause clutter and inconvenience.

Another object of this invention is to provide safety and sanitary conditions in cabinets, particularly in medicine cabinets, where it is now not uncommon to find medicines of all kinds mixed together with shaving and make-up articles that often become loosely scattered in such a Way as to cause serious accidents.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a bathroom medicine cabinet, a special and convenient place for an electric razor, or a special and convenient place for a safety razor, shaving brush, and blades, and a special and convenient place for tooth-paste tubes and tooth-brushes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a special and convenient place for a safety-compartment for poisonous medicines.

Another object of this invention is to provide, at the option and choice of the user of an electric razor, an adapter for securing to the cabinet the box that holds the electric razor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter of the type described above that will contain means thereon for the interchangeability and use of various types of receptacles, article-supports, and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter capable of positioning the receptacles, articlesupports, racks and the like in different locations within the cabinet and for them to use a minimum of space.

Another object of this invention is to provide receptacles, racks and the like of either a collapsible or stationy yp Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that I have illustrated my device as being applied to a bathroom medicine cabinet but it will be obviousthat the device is applicable to any type of cabinet or case that is recessed in, or mounted, on a wall. Typical examples are kitchen cabinets or bookcases having conventional interior attaching and supporting means similar to those shown in the bathroom medicine cabinet, for attaching and supporting stationary and movable shelves therein. Further, kitchen cabinets, bookcases and the like have one more thing in common with bathroom medicine cabinets in that they are similarly fastened to a wall by conventional screws. In recessed cabinets, particularly bathroom medicine cabinets, four (4) screws are commonly used to fasten the cabinet to the frame in the wall, two screws on each side wall of the cabinet with one screw on top and another on the bottom. My invention is associated with cabinets, bookcases and the like of the nature described above and is particularly related both to the existing conventional interior attaching and supporting means found in such cabinets and to the existing conventional means for attaching these cabinets to their frames in the Wall. It is, therefore, to be expressly understood that while the drawings show a bathroom medicine cabinet for purposes of illustration, reference is to be made to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bathroom medicine cabinet with its 'door open and showing conventional attaching and supporting means on the side wall of the cabinet, and a receptacle and a compartment secured in place.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a receptacle or container With means on one face for securing to the cabinet, and with an article-support on the opposite face.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a modified type of receptacle in the form of a collapsible container comprising two plates hinged together and fastened to the cabinet, the plates When opened to the position of the dotted lines forming a container.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing a modified means for securing a container to a conventional supporting means Within a bathroom medicine cabinet.

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective of the securing means shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is another modified form of means for securing an article-holder to the cabinet.

Fig. 9 is a variation of the means shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the article-support shown in Fig. 4 and includes special-purpose retainer means.

Fig. 11 is still another modification of means for securing a container to the cabinet. Referring to the views on the accompanying drawings everything in its place.

in detail, a bathroom medicine cabinet is shown at 10, having a hinged door 11, and shelves 12 supported on conventional angle iron shelf supports 13 as are used in standard cabinets and as are well known in the art. Medicine cabinet 10 is shown recessed in a wood framed wall to which it is attached by means of four (4) conventional screws 25, one of which is on the top and onthe bottom of each side wall of the cabinet. The medicine cabinet is fastened to the vertical wood studs 26 of the wood framed opening in the wall by means ofithe four (4) screws 25 which pass through the side walls of the cabinet and the vertical framing studs 26 at the top and bottom of each side wall of the cabinet, thus tying in the cabinet to the wall. While a wood framed wall has been chosen for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that any type of wall can be used in whichto house the cabinet for the purposes of this invention. Regardless of whether a cabinet is housed in a masonry, concrete, wood or another type of wall, it is generally fastened to a framed opening in such wall to which it is attached by means of conventional screws passing through the side walls of the cabinet and the side walls of the framed opening. These existing fastening means are utilized in the basic embodiment of my invention for the purpose of providing special-purpose storage means which can be permanently or interchangeably attached to the interior of new and existing cabinets in order to create orderly storage facilities in lieu of the clutter that now appears'to be prevalent in the great majority of existing installations.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11, novel and practical means are illustrated whereby the conventional screws used in fastening the cabinet to the wall are also utilized to fasten special-purpose receptacles, containers, compartments, article-supports and the like to the inside of the cabinet. This is especially desirable in bathroom medicine cabinets in order to achieve orderly storage for the diversified items that are generally stored therein in lieu of the clutter that new is generally the rule. Receptacles, containers, article-supports and the like that are not fastened in the cabinet but are loosely placed therein will add to the clutter rather than restore order. Obviously, it is name advantageous to fasten the storage facilities within the cabinet and have a place for everything and With this main objective in view, screw 25 serves mainly to fasten receptacle 20 permanently in place in the cabinet, preferably on the bottom of the lowest shelf compartment, to the left, as shown, or to the right if more desirable according to the individuals taste and requirements. This is accomplished by means of strap 21 having a hole for screw 22 for fastening the strap to receptacle 2%. Strap 21, in turn, is fastened to the cabinet by means of existing conventional screw 25 which screws into the studding 26 of the framed opening in the wall. Since the hole for screw 25 is always fixed in every cabinet but may vary in vertical distance in different-make cabinets, slot 23 is provided in receptacle 20 for vertical adjustment. Similarly, slot 24 is provided in strap 21 for horizontal adjustment to enable the receptacle 2% to be moved forward or backward in the cabinet, depending on the size of the re ceptacle.

In order to secure to the cabinet a box for holding an electric razor such as is furnished when one buys the electric razor, a different technique is employed for attaching this box to the cabinet. Unlike the receptacle which can be fabricated with a ready made slot and a hole, the electric razor box must be used as is. In Fig. ll is shown such a box 20 being attached to the cabinet by means of a U-shaped clip 79 having vertical legs 71. One of the legs 71 is fastened to the cabinet by means of existing conventional screw 25 which screws through the leg into the studding 26 of the framed opening in the wall while the other leg 71 is fastened to the box. Leg

71 which fastens to the box may be longer than the other leg 71 depending upon the height of the box. This leg 71 has a threaded hole for a handle-headed screw 72 to screw through in order to adjust the box closer to or farther away from the side wall of the cabinet by turning handle 73 one way or the other. In this embodiment of my invention for fastening either a receptacle or a box to the cabinet, it will be observed that provision has been made for adjustment of these containers in three directions in the cabinet, namely, vertically, forwardly or backward and sidewise in the cabinet.

Utilizing existing conventional screw 25, his to be further observed that article-holder 55 shown both in Figs. 4 and 10 can likewise be fastened directly to the cabinet by turning strap 21 from horizontal to vertical position and then attaching strap 21 to holder 55. This hook-up can be simply accomplished by using a screw, similar to 60, to fasten article-holder 55 through hole 58 to the strap 21 through its slot 24. Thus, it is seen that an electric razor holder or article-support, or any type of container can be similarly attached as is the receptacle 2% to the inside of a cabinet by means of the existing conventional framing screw 25 and adapter strap 21.

In Fig. 5 is shown another variation of the main embodiment of my invention featuring a collapsible-type receptacle. This receptacle is fastened to the cabinet by means of existing conventional screw 25 which fastens strap 21 to studding 2,6 of the framed opening in the wall. Strap 21 in turn is hinged to plate 30 at hinge 31. Another hinge 33 hinges plates 30 and 32 together. Slot 24 in plate 21 provides for adjustment of plates 30 and 32 either forward or backward in the cabinet. At the end of plate 32 there is a catch 34 for holding the receptacle to the back of the cabinet, when in unfolded condition. At the top center of plate 32 is provided a hole 35 for fastening thereon an article-support such as 55. The collapsibletype receptacle described above has several advantages. it can hold article-supports for various purposes on the side wall of the cabinet, when in collapsed condition and at a minimum sacrifice of space, It can likewise hold article supports for various purposes when in unfolded condition at the same time that it serves as a receptacle. In lieu of forming a receptacle, it can serve to form an unenclosed compartment of a varying size to meet the needs and tastes of the user.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 8,9 and 10, novel and practical means are illustrated whereby either receptacle 20 or article support 55 is attached permanently, temporarily or interchangeably to the side wall of a cabinet by utilizing existing conventional attaching means for shelf supports for vertically adjustable shelves as is well known in the art. ()ne type of such existing conventional attaching means in the form of struck out slots 14 is indicated on the side wall of the cabinet in Fig. l but more clearly shown in Fig. 8. Angle iron shelf supports 13 having lugs 52 such as are more clearly shown in Fig. 8, fit and are secured in the struck out slots 14 to support the existing conventional adjustable shelves as is known in the art. In my invention, however, the angle iron shelf supports 13 are replaced with a support bar 50 having hole 51 and lugs 52 which fit and fasten into the existing conventional struck out slots 14 so that article-support 55 having hole 58 can be fastened to support bar 50 at hole 51 and thus article-support 55 can be supported on the existing conventional struck out slots 14 on the side wall of the cabinet that are intended for use of the shelf supports. In similar manner receptacle 20, without plate 21, slot 23 and article-holder 55 shown in Fig. 4 but with hole shown for screw 6! can be attached directly to support bar 59. If it is desired to rest receptacle 20 on the bottom of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1, it can be attached to support bar 5% by turning horizontal plate 21 vertically and fastening a screw through slot 24 and hole 51.,

Article-support 55 is shown in Fig. as having a vertical leg 56 and a horizontal leg 57 with a hole 58 for fastening to a support, such as support bar 50. In lieu of thus being knocked down in two parts, article-support 55 can be fabricated in one piece by omitting vertical leg 56 with its hole 58 and in lieu thereof substituting support bar 50 connected vertically downward below horizontal leg 57, without hole 51 but with lugs 52 so that it can fit in one piece into the existing conventional struck out slots 14 on the side wall of the cabinet. Slots 59 of articlesupport 55 are intended primarily for placing therein a shaving brush, and a safety-razor with stem down. If no shaving brush is used, one of the slots can be used to hold new safety-razor blades. However, if an electric razor is to be stored away on this shelf support, articleretainers 61 are provided in order to prevent the electric razor from falling off. These article-retainers 61 are placed on the front only. They are not needed on the ends of the article-support because the back wall of the cabinet forms an enclosure on the back end, and the front end must remain open in order to permit the electric razor to be taken out for use. Article-retainers 61 have vertical portions 62, and horizontal portions 63 positioned parallel with leg 57 to fit tightly and prevent the electric razor from falling out. In lieu of coming knocked down for purposes of interchangeability with safety razors and other articles, the electric shaver holder can be fabricated in one piece to fit into the conventional struck out slots 14 by combining support bar- 50 with article-holder 55 and article-retainers 61.

Fig. 9 shows a variation of Figs. 8 and 10 whereby article-support 55 is made to serve on the back of the cabinet instead of on the side wall. It also features an arrangement whereby the maximum possible use is made of one corner of a cabinet for storing articles of a like nature so that the remainder of the cabinet is left free and clear for other purposes. T-wo angularly related support bars 53 and 54 are shown having holes 51and 51' respectively. One of the support bars 53 also has lugs 52 for fitting and securing in existing conventional struck out slots on the side wall of a cabinet so as to fasten the support bar 53 to the inside of the cabinet. When bar 53 is thus attached to the cabinet, the angularly connected and related bar 54 becomes capable of attachment to article-holder 55 shown in Fig. 10 by fastening screw, slmrlar to screw 60, through holes 51' of bar support 54 and hole 58 of article-support 55, thus allowing articlesupport 55 to serve on the back instead of on the side wall of the cabinet. In this featured alternative arrangement In Fig. 9, an article-support 55 can also by choice be attached to support bar 53 instead of to support 54 thus allowing various types of articles to be attached to an article-supporting member fastened to support bar 54 through hole 51.

Referring finally to another embodiment of this inventron shown in Figs. 6 and 7, novel and practical means are shown whereby receptacle 20 is attached to a channel shelf support 13 that is either riveted or welded to the side wall of the cabinet for the purpose of supporting a stationary shelf instead of the adjustable type shelf referred to in the previous embodiment. This is accomplrshed by means of connector bar having a tie-in end 42 at its top to fit over the bottom flange of channel 13', and hole 41 through which to fasten screw 22 to receptacle 20 at slot 23. By this method, an electric shaver holder or any other type of article container or articlesupport can likewise be fastened to a channel shelf support such as is in use in many new and existing cabinets.

Another new feature disclosed in this invention is the placement of struck out slots on the inside of the back wall of the cabinet in the fabrication of new cabinets, not for the purpose of providing slots for discarded razor blades as is now the custom, but for the novel purpose of providing means for attaching receptacles, containers, article-supports, racks and the like on the back of the cabinet at the most convenient place. In Fig. I, struck out slots 14 are shown in the lowest shelf compartment at the right. Similar slots 14 can be placed at any other convenient location on the back of newly fabricated cabinets, thus permitting the user the option of choosing a location most satisfactory to his individual taste and needs.

It will therefore be perceived that various novel and useful improvements and attachments to new and existing cabinets have been provided in this invention. While a medicine cabinet has been chosen for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that this invention applies also to any type of a cabinet, case and the like. Also, while particular types of receptacles, containers, articlesupports, racks, etc. have been shown and described, it is likewise to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto. Further, while many of these articlesupports, receptacles and the like have been shown knocked down and interchangeable, it is also intended that they be fabricated in one piece where this is more practical in actual usage. Specifically, for example, articlesupport 55 shown in Fig. 10 when used as an electric razor holder is best applicable in one piece with integrated retainers 61 and with integrated support bar 50 shown in Fig. 8. Or, receptacle 20 shown in Fig. 4, for all practical purposes for a particular individuals use, is best used as one piece integrated with article-support 55. In like manner, while a vertical row of two (2) struck out slots have been chosen as typical new and existing conventional attaching means on the side wall of the cabinet, it is intended that a vertical row of single struck out slots be also considered as typical attaching means. Also, struck in slots may be used in lieu of struck out slots. The same is true that one lug 52 on support bar 50 is as conventional as two (2) lugs 52, shown in Fig. 8. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a cabinet having a plurality of attaching means for securing it to a supporting wall, at least one adapter, and at least one article-holder, said cabinet utilizing at least one of said means of attachment on its interior for the detachable mounting of said adapter thereon, said attaching means comprising openings in the walls of said cabinet for receiving screws, said adapter and said article-holder having means for being attached to each other, said adapter having means for demountable attachment to said cabinet at any of said openings in said cabinet walls.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said adapter has hinged sections for moving said articleholder within, or without said cabinet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,644 Stroben May 22, 1945 764,487 Morrison July 5, 1904 955,312 Belfi Apr. 19, 1910 1,247,938 Curtenius Nov. 27, 1917 1,254,132 Garman Jan. 22, 1918- 1,564,989 Weisberger Dec. 8, 1925 1,621,536 Handte Mar. 22, 1927 1,720,309 Wakefield July 9, 1929 1,916,509 Hammer July 4, 1933 1,956,164 Voight Apr. 24, 1934 1,981,674 Solomon Nov. 20, 1934 2,346,316 Lumley Apr. 11, 1944 2,488,431 Parnell etal Nov. 15, 1949 2, 73,733 ,Rahm et al.' Mar. 30, 1954

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