US3066995A

US3066995A - Knockdown cabinets

Info

Publication number: US3066995A
Application number: US21052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Derman Sam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-04-08
Filing date: 1960-04-08
Publication date: 1962-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1962 s. DERMAN KNOCKDOWN CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 8, 1960 INVENTOR. 5/1M DER/MN Dec. 4, 19624 s. DERMAN 3,066,995

KNOCKDOWN CABINETS IN V EN TOR. 5/7M DER/wmv HTTRNEY United States Patent Oilice aasasss Patented Dee. 4, 1962 3,066,995 KNCKDUWN CABINET@ Sam Dorman, 150 Glenview Road, South Grange, NJ. nnen Apr. s, issn, ser. Ne. arnese 6 Claims. (Cl. SI2- 297) This invention relates to what are generally referred to as linockdown cabinets employing a unitary doorframe construction having horizontally slidable and collapsible door members composed of iiexible material. More particularly, the invention deals with a cabinet structure, wherein side wall members of the cabinet are collapsible with respect to the doorframe structure to constitute a unitary knockdown part of the doorfrarne structure and, wherein, the remainder of the cabinet, aside from accessories is formed from heavy substantially rigid top, bottom and back wall members.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. l is a front View diagrammatically illustrating a cabinet made according to my invention.

iFIG. 2 is a side View of the structure as seen in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the front and rear corner portions of a cabinet, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged broken section substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. l and illustrating the side wall part in at least partially folded position in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 5 is a broken section substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, with parts of the construction broken away.

FIG. 6 is a broken section substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. l illustrating upper, lower and substantially central portions of the cabinet front; and

iFIG. 7 is a broken section view on the line 7 7 of FIG. 3 illustrating the hanger rod and its mounting in connection with the side wall member.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a doorrame unit i0, two similar side wall units lll, one of which is shown in side elevation in FIG. 2 of the drawing and, as each side wall unit is of identical construction, the brief description of one will apply to both. In this connection, it will be understood that one is of lefthand construction and the other is of righthand construction.

The cabinet, insofar as wall structures are concerned, also comprises top and bottom wall members i2 of similar construction and a back wall member 13. The member 13 simply comprises a heavy relatively rigid panel interiitting with the other wall members of the cabinet, as later described; whereas, the similar top and bottom wall members comprise a panel lll, generally similar to the panel 13, but fixed to the rear edges of the panels 14 are grooved strips 15 having horizontal grooves 16, in which the panels 14 are positively Iixed in any desired manner and vertical grooves I7, in connection with which the panel I3 is detachably coupled. This latter structure is clearly shown in FIG. 7 and also illustrated, in part, in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The doorframe unit comprises relatively wide side strips 18 joined by top and bottom strips 19 and Ztl, shown clearly in FIG. l of the drawing, and between these strips is formed a large door opening 21. It will appear, from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 and others, that the front face of the strips 19 and Ztl are in alinement with the forward edges of the side strips 1S, thus 2 producing a neat and finished appearance at the front of the cabinet.

Substantially triangular corner portions 22 are fixed between the lower edge of the strip 2li and the inner surfaces of the strips IS, as clearly noted in FIG. l of the drawing, to form, between the strips 1? and corner portions 22, what may be termed front leg members for the cabinet.

Arranged in the doorframe unit lil `are two generally similar iiexible, collapsible door members 23 and, as each door member is generally of the same construction, the brief description of one member will apply to both. These doors are formed from iieXible sheet material of any type or kind, having accordion or other type of folds 24 therein by bringing two of the sheets together and securing them at upper and lower ends of the sheets by eyelets 25, in the apertures of which are arranged upper and lower supporting rods 26 mounted in the side strips IS, one of these mountings being indicated at 27 in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Considering FIG. 6 of the drawing, it will appear that the rods 26 are arranged above the lower edge of the strip I9 land below the upper edge of the strip 2G, so as to be substantially concealed in viewing the cabinet from the front.

Inner or adjacent side edges of the flexible sheets of any suitable fabric forming the door members 23 are folded around vertical rails 28, as seen at 29 in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the free edge portions being secured to the rails Z3 by reinforcing strips Sil tacked or nailed to the rails 2d, one of these attachments being indicated diagrammatically `in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The outer side edges of the sheets forming the door members 23 have similar attachments to inner surfaces of the side strips 18, as diagrammatically illustrated at El in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Suitably secured to inner suraces of the rails 28, substantially centrally thereof, are magnets 32. for maintain ing the rails in abutting relationship to each other while, at the same time, facilitating movement of each of the door members through the medium of fingerpiece knobs 33, note FIG. l, for actuating the door members. At this time, it is also pointed out that suitable means, not shown, will be provided to limit movement of both Vdoor members into the closed position, noted in FIG. l. However, it will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 4 of the drawing, that the straight inner portions 34 of the sheet forming the door member will check and limit eX- tension movement of each door member. As noted in FIG. 4, the portions 3d extend at right angles to the folds 24 when the door members are in closed position in the cabinet. The folds 24 form the relatively deep channels 35 between the folds 24, as will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Considering FIG. 6 of the drawing, it will appear that the rails 28 terminate short of the rods 26 and recessed in and secured to upper and lower end portions of the rails are hook-shaped rod engaging shoes 36 which will provide a minimum frictional engagement with the rods in sliding movement of the door members on the rods, the eyelets 25 also presenting a minimum of frictional engagement with said rods. In this connection and in considering FIG. 5 of the drawing, it will appear that the sheet material from which the door members 23 are formed is preferably tensioned vertically to a slight eX- tent in order to maintain reasonably straight vertical folds in the forward edges of the sheet, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. l of the drawing. This tensioning is diagrammatically illustrated by engagement of the eyelets 25 with the rods 26 at 37.

The top strip I9 of the doorframe unit l@ is grooved o on its inner surface, as indicated at 38 in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawing, to receive the forward edge of the top Wall panel 14. The lower strip 2d is similarly grooved, as seen at 39 in FIG. 5 of the drawing, to receive the forward edge of the bottom wall panel I4. Above the groove 39 is another groove dil, in which is permanently lixed a false bottom strip or closure element di arranged adjacent the lower end of the door members 23 in forming a substantial closure for the channel portions 35.

Each side wall unit comp-rises a front strip 42, a longer back strip d3, the lower extension of which forms a rear leg 44 for the cabinet and top and bottom strips and 46. Inner edges of all of these strips are grooved to receive the panel d'7 of the side wall, the assemblage of the strips with the panel 47 being permanent, one of these latter `groove mountings of the panel 47 being indicated in the strip 4Z at in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

The top and bottom strips d5 and 4d are of common construction, with the one exception that the top strip 54 has fixed to the lower surface thereof inside the panel 47 a triangular block 49 having an aperture, as at 5d, for support of a hanger rod 5l, as clearly noted in FIG. 7 of the drawing. Otherwise, end portions of both of these strips d5, do have tongue and groove engagement with the strips 42, d3, as clearly illustrated at 52 in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Also, considering this figure, it will appear that inner surfaces of the rear strips d?) are recessed, as seen at 53, to remove side edge portions of the back panel I3 where the panel I3 extends beyond end limits of the strips f5.

In supporting the cabinet in its assembled relationship, screws 54 pass through the strips d3 and into the strips I5 in maintenance of the wall parts in assembled relaD tionship to each other and, if desired, other fastenings can be employed to secure the wall parts together. In this connection, it will appear that side edges of the top and bottom panels ld extend into grooves 55 on inner surfaces of the strips 45 and do, one of these grooves being clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

In maintaining the side wall units if in permanent engagement with the door frame unit It?, hinges 56 are employed at abutting edges of the strips 42 with the strips I8 and two or more of the hinges will be arranged along these abutting edges, depending entirely upon the height of the cabinet. In a reasonably high cabinet, `at least three hinges will be used at each side thereof. In FIG. 4, I have shown one of the side wall units Il in at least a partially folded position in dot-dash lines, so that, in packaging, storage and shipment of the knockdown cabinet, the side wall units Il will be disposed upon the inner surface of the doorframe unit and the panels forming the top and bottom and back walls are fitted in this collapsed unit, together with the rod 5f.

In some cabinets of the type and kind under consideration, shelf members are employed, as known in the art. However, the present structure deals with a cabinet dispensing with the shelf and used primarily as a garment support.

It will be understood that the mounting of the rods 26 in the side strips 18 and the structure of the door members 23 is such that, in the completely collapsed movement of the door members, the flexible material or the portions 34 thereof will fold to positions substantially within the environment of the width of the side strips IS, thus setting up no interference with clothing which may be stored in the cabinet. It will also be understood that doorframe units of the type and kind under consideration can be used in conjunction with cabinets having modified types and kinds of side, top and bottom and back wall structures.

For purposes of description, each door member may be said to comprise a plurality of collapsibly related vertically arranged portions. In some instances, and particularly, with narrow cabinets, a single door can be utilized, instead of the double door arrangement, as shown for illustrative purposes in the present disclosure. Further, in constructing the doors of certain plastic materials which are subject to extension between upper and lower mountings for the doors, the doors may be said to be under tension, which aids in maintaining the contour diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. l and 4 of the drawing.

'Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprising united side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large door opening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the top strip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members of exible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds, means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means and the folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securing means extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheet material joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds in checking extension of the door members, side edges of the door members being fixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe, adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to vertical rails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the doorframe, means slidably securing ends of said rails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open and closed position, and means supporting said rails in abutting relationship to each other when the door members are in closed position.

2. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprising united side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large door opening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the top strip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members of flexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds, means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means and the folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securing means extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheet material joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds in checking extension of the door members, side edges of the door members being iixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe, adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to vertical rails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the door frame, means slidably securing ends of said rails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open and closed position, means supporting said rails in abutting relationship to each other when the door members are in closed position, and a closure element mounted on and extending inwardly from the bottom strip of the doorframe unit and arranged in close proximity to lower edge portions of said door members.

3. In cabinets of the character described, a door frame unit comprising united side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large door opening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the top strip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members of flexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds, means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means and the folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securing means extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheet material joining said folds extending at right angles to the folds in checking extension of the door members, side edges of the door members being fixed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe, adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to vertical rails, ends of which extend beyond adjacent edge surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the doorframe, means slidably securing ends of said rails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open and closed position, means supporting said rails in abutting relationship to each other when the door members are in closed position, and said second named means comprising hook-shaped members xed to end portions of said rails and operatively engaging said rods.

4. In cabinets of the character described, a doorframe unit comprising united side and top and bottom strips collectively forming a large door opening, rods mounted in the side strips above the lower edge of the top strip and below the upper edge of the lower strip, door members of flexible sheet material having a plurality of vertically arranged folds, means securing said folds together to form apertures in said means and the folds for mounting of the door members on said rods, said securing means extending the major portion of the width of said folds, the sheet material joining said molds extending at right angles to the folds in checking extension of the door members, side edges of the door members being xed to inner surfaces of the side strips of the doorframe, adjacent edge portions of said door members being fixed to vertical rails, ends of Which extend beyond adjacent edge isurfaces of the top and bottom strips of the door frame, means slidably securing ends of said rails on said rods for free movement of the door members into open and closed position, means supporting said rails in abutting relationship to each other when the door members are in closed position, said second named means comprising hook-shaped members xed to end portions of said rails and operatively engaging said rods, and a closure element mounted on and extending inwardly from the bottom strip of the doorframe unit and arranged in close proximity to lower edge portions of said door members.

5. A cabinet of the character described comprising a doorframe unit lhaving a large door opening therein, said opening being bordered by side and top and bottom strips, door supporting rods mounted in said side strips and spaced from and concealed by said top and bottom strips, a door member forming a closure for said opening, said door member being fashioned from a folded sheet of flexible material forming a plurality of vertically arranged rib-like members with intermediate recessed portions, said rib-like members being joined by substantially straight unfolded portions checking separation of said rib-like mem bers, eyelets secured to upper and lower ends of said riblike members, said eyelets extending the major portion of the width of said rib-like members in substantially maintaining contour of said rib-like members when the door is in closed position, the eyelets slidably engaging said rods in movement of the door member into open and closed positions, means securing one side of the sheet of said door member to one side of the doorframe unit, the other side portion of said sheet being iixed to a vertical rail7 and end portions of said rail having means slidably engaging said rods.

6. A cabinet of the character described comprising a doorframe unit having a large door opening therein, said opening being bordered by side and top and bottom strips, door supporting rods mounted in said side strips and spaced from and concealed by said top and bottom strips, a door member forming a closure for said opening, said door member being fashioned from a folded sheet of exible material forming a plurality of vertically arranged rib-like members with intermediate recessed portions, said rib-like members being joined by substantially straight unfolded portions checking separation of said rib-like members, eyelets secured to upper and lower ends of said rib-like members, said eyelets extending the major portion ofthe width of said rib-like members in substantially maintaining contour of said rib-like members when the door is in closed position, the eyelets slidably engaging said rods in movement of the door member into open and closed positions, means securing one side of the sheet of said door member to one side of the door frame unit, the other side portion of said sheet being fixed `to a vertical rail, end portions of said rail having means slidably engaging said rods, and a false bottom strip secured to and extending the full length of the inner surface of the bottom strip of the door frame and arranged adjacent the lower end of said door member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,814 Phares Sept. 12, 1871 242,355 Nicholas May 31, 1881 581,834 Stafford May 4, 1897 1,188,974 Montgomery June 27, 1916 2,360,451 Stone Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 639,816 France Mar. 17, 1928 843,445 France Mar. 27, 1939 979,957 France Dec. 20, 1950