US3346314A

US3346314A - Wall wardrobe

Info

Publication number: US3346314A
Application number: US401952A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hugh C Acton
Original assignee: Brunswick Corp
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc; Brunswick Corp
Priority date: 1964-10-06
Filing date: 1964-10-06
Publication date: 1967-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-10

Description

Oct. 10, 1967 H. c. AcToN -3,345314 WALL WARDROBE Filed Oct. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. C. ACTON WALL WARDROBE Oct. 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

/97702F2YEVS United States Patent O 3,346,314 WALL WARDROBE Hugh C. Acton, Birmingham, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 401,952 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-245) This invention relates generally to wall-hung wardrobes, and more particularly, to wall-hung wardrobes of the type comprising a substantally vertically extending front or cover panel and support means which functions to support the cover panel in a position spaced from and substantially parallel to a wall or similar support structure.

The present invention is an improvement of the wallhung wardrobe construction disclosed in the .applicanfs patent, No. 3,126,238, issued Mar. 24, 1964.

lt is van object of the present invention to provide a wall-hung wardrobe of the above character wherein the means 'for supporting the cover panel on a wall or sirnilar support structure extends along ,a single axis, thereby minimizing to the extreme, the requisite number of support members and corresponding structurally accrued weight of the wardrobe, together with the cost and complexity of construction and installation thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wall-hung wardrobe of the above Character which includes one or more luggage and/or clothes supporting shelf members that are arranged behind 'and serve to materially aid in securing the cover panel to the associated wall or similar support structure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wall-hung wardrobe that may be easily assemb'led and disassembled to facilitate the storage, transportation and relocation thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 'apparent from the 'following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevated perspective view of a preferred form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the wardrobe structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top elevational, view similar to FIG- URE 2, of a modified form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4, ras seen in the direction of the arrow 5 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an elevated perspective view of another modified form of the wall-hung wardrobe embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a top elevational view of the wardrobe structure illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an elevated perspective view of yet another modified form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is an elevated perspective view of yet a further modified form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention, portions of this structure being broken away for the sake of space saving and clarity;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of still 'a further modified 'form of the wall-hung wardrobe embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a top e'levational view of the wardrobe structure illustrated in FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is an elevated perspective view of still another modified form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the dr'awings, a wall-hung wardrobe 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a rigid, vertically extending -front or 'cover panel 12 that is cantilever mounted spaced from and substantially parallel to a wall or a similar support structure, representatively designated by the numeral 14. The panel 12 may be of virtually 'any suitable material, such as wood, Masonite, Formica, veneered fiberboard, plastic, or the like, that is Isubstantially planar in form and will serve to enhance and/ or complement the decor of the room in which the wardrobe 10 is mounted. The panel 12 is rigidly secured to the wall 14 by means of 'a horizontally extending rack or shelf assembly 16 that projects between the upper end of the panel 12 and the wall 14, ,and comprises a pair of spaced parallel support bars or

arms

18 and 20 that are secured at their outer ends by suitable screws, bolts or the like, and conventional mounting fianges 22 |and 24, respectively, to the upper end of the side of the panel 12 confrontng the wall 14. The shelf assembly 16, together with each of the hereinafter to be described shelf members which serve to support clothes, luggage and the like within the various forms of the wall-hung wardrobe embodyng the present invention, is preferably fabricated of stainless steel, a chrome plated steel, enrameled steel, or some other ornamental metal such as extruded or oast aluminum. The ends of the

arms

18 and 20 opposite those which are secured to the cover panel 12 are formed with downwardly extending shoulder or

flange portions

26 and 28, respectively, which are adapted to engage or be hooked within a horizontally extending rail or channel member 30 that is rigidly secured, as by suitable screws, bolts or the like, to the wall 14, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3. A plurality of spaced parallel support bars, generally designated 32, extend between and are rigidly secured at their opposite ends to the

arms

18 and 20. The bars 32 define a support surface upon which luggage, clothes and the like may be stored while being substantially concealed from view by the panel 12.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a pair of horizontally extending spacer members or arms 34 and 36 extend between the lower end of the panel 1,2 'and the wall 14, which arms function to space the lower end of the panel 12 away from the wall 14 and thereby maintain the panel 12 spaced from and substantially parallel to the wall 14. The arms 34 and 36 are secured at one end to the panel 12 as by suitable screws and conventional mounting sleeves, the opposite ends of the arms 34 and 36 |being bi'ased toward and mantained in engagement with the wall 14 by only the weight of the panel 12. It may be noted that a plurality of horizontally extending support bars or the like may be provided between and be secured at their opposite ends to the spacer arms 34 and 36, thereby forming a support shelf or rack similar to that provided by the aforediscussed rack assembly 16.

It will be seen from the structure thu's described, that the panel 12, together with the rack assembly 16 and spacer arms 34 and 36, is secured to the wall 14 merely by having the outer ends of the

support arms

18 and 20 hooked within the channel member 30, the lower end of the panel 12 being he'ld against the wall 14 under the influence of gravity. Accordingly, the entire wardrobe structure 10 may 'be conveniently dismounted or removed from the wall 14 for cleaning, storage, or the like by merely lifting or elevating the panel 12 and rack assembly 16 sufiicient to disengage the

flange portions

26 and 28 of the

support arms

18 and 20 from the channel member 30, it being apparent, of course, that the wardrobe may be re-mounted on the wall 14 by merely reversing this operation.

It may 'be noted that since the panel 12 is wall-hung, a free passage is provided beneath the wardrobe 10 due to the elirnination of all supporting legs, braces, etc., thereby Vfacilitating dusting, cleaning and the like of the floor subjaoent this unit.

In a slightly modified form of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the cover panel 12 may be secured to the wall 14 by engaging or hooking the

fiange portions

26 and 28 of the rack assembly's support arms 18 and within a pair of horizontally spaced

brackets

38 and 40 that are rigidly secured as by screws, bolts or i the like, to 'the Wall 14. As best seen in FIGURE 5, the

includes aV vertically extending side panel 42 which is of the same height as the cover panel 12 and lies along a plane extending perpendicular thereto. The side panelr42 is attached along its outer edge to lone vertically extending edge of the cover panel 12, and'is secured along its opposite edge to the wall or similar support structure V14 by Va vertically extending angle iron member 44 which is secured to the wall 14 and the side panel 42 as by conventional screws'or the like,whereby the cover panel 12 is cantilever mounted in a spaced parallel relation with the wall 14, as seen in FIGURE 7.

A pair of vertically spaced

shelf members

46 and 48 project horizontally between the cover panel 12 and the wall 14, each of which comprises a pair of spaced

parallel support rails

50 and 52 between which extend a plurality of spaced parallel support bars, generally designated 54.

VThe

shelf members

46 and 48 are' secured between the cover panel 12 and the'wall 14 by a plurality of conventional support clips or 'brackets'56, two of which secure each of the

shelf members

46 and 48 to the'wall 14 and another two of which secure the

members

46 and 48 to the panel 12,.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, in yet another embodiment of the wall-hung Wardrobe of the present invention, the cover panel 12 is secured to the wall or similar structure 14 -by means of a rectangularly configured frame member, generally design'ated 58, that extends horizontally between the upper end of the panel 12 and the wall 14. The Vframe member 58 comprises a pair ofrspaced side portions 60 and 62 that are respectively secured, asfby conventional screws, b'olts or the like, to the wall 14 Vland is cantilever mounted on the wall V14 in a manner similar Vto which itV is supported by the rack assembly 16Vin the embodiment of the presentrinvention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 3. It will be noted that the frame member 58 may be provided with a plurality of horizontally extending bars or the like 63 and thereby serve as a shelf member for supporting clothes, luggage and the like, behind the cover panel 12, as above described. v

A pair of spacer arms, generally designated 64 and one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 8, extends between the lowerv end of the panel 12 and the wall 14 and function to maintain 'the lower end of the panel 12 spaced from and substantially parallel to the wall 14 in a manner identical to the aforediscussed arms 34 and 36. The arms 64 are rigidly secured to the lower end of the panel 12 by conventional mounting fianges 65 and may, if desired, be interconnected by a plurality of horizontally extending support bars, herein designated 66, thereby formingV a support rack or shelf between the lower` end of the panel I Vinvention wherein the cover panel 12 is secured to the wall or ,Similar llpport structure 14 by means of a vertically extending and rectangularly configured frame mem-V ber 68 that projects between the panel 12 and the wall 14 adjacent one side edge of the panel 12. The frame member 68 comprises a pair of spaced side portions 70 and'72 respectively secured as by screws or the like to the walll 14 and to the side of the panel 12 facing the wall 14, whereby the panel 12 is cantilever mounted spaced from and substantially parallel to the wall 14. i

A pair of vertically spaced and horizontally extending

spacer membersV

74 and 76 project between the panel 12 and the wall 14, these members being rigidly secured to the side of the panel 12 facing the wall 14 by suitable screws and conventional mounting flanges 78 and 80. The

spacer arms

74 and 76 are preferably arranged so as to lie in the same horizontal planes as the upper land lower end portions, herein designated 82 and 84, respectively, of the frame member 68, whereby it is possible to provide a plurality of horizontally extending support bars, generally designated 86, between the end portions 82, 84 and ture 14 by a rack or shelf assembly, .generally designatedV 88, that extends horizontally between the upper end of the panel 12 and 'the wall'14. The 'rack assembly 88 includes 7 a generally C-shaped frame member 90 comprising .side

portions

92 and 94 that are interconnected by a medial portion 96. The outer ends of the frame memberis

side portions

92 and 94 are formed with downwardly extend ing support sections 98, as seen in FIGURE 10,`which are vadapted to be rigidly secured to the wall 14 as by suitable screws or the like. A plurality of support bars, generally designated 100, extend between and are rigidly secured at their opposite ends to the

side portions

92 and 94 of the frame member 90, thereby providing a horizontally extending shelf between the cover panel 12 and the wall 14.

A pair of spaced apart J-shaped hooks or brackets 102 are secured to the upper end of the side of the panel 12 facing the wall 14 and are adapted to be hooked over or engaged with the medial portion 96 of the frame member a 90, thereby securing the panel 12 to the rack assembly 88. A pair of

spacer arms

104 and 106 extend between the lower end of the panel 12 and the wall 14, and function to spaceVV the lower end of the panel 12 from the wall 14 and thereby maintain the panel 12 in a substantially parallel relatibnship with respect to the wall 14. The

spacer arms

104 and 106, While preferably being secured at one end to the panel 12 as by suitablermounting flanges, may or may not be rigidly afiixed to the wall 14, depending on whether or not it is desired to removably or permanently I secure the panel 12 to the wall 14.. i

Referring again to FIGURE 8, a horizontal extending coat hanger rod 108 may be provided 'between and. rigidly secured at its opposite Vends as by suitable mounting fianges 110 and 112 to the panel 12 and the wall 14, respectively, thereby permitting coats and the like to be hung upon conventional coatihangers behind the panel 12. It will |be apparent, of course, that such a rod may be incorporated in each of the various forms or embodiments of the wall-hung wardrobe described herein, and also that such a rod might ybe incorporated as an integral member in any of the above 1described shelf or shelf support frame members, such as the frame member 58 illustrated in FIGURE 8 or the member 90 illustrated in FIGURE ll. i

Referring now to FIGURE 12, in still another form of the wall-hung wardrobe of the .present invention, the cover panel 12 is secured to the wall or similar structure 14 by means of a rectangularlyrconfigured frame member 114 that projects horizontally between the lower end of the panel 12 and the wall 14 and is rigidly secured tothe panel 12 with suitable screws, bolts, Vor the like. The side i of the -frame member 114 opposite that which is secured to the panel 12 is attached to the wall 14 by being disposed and supported within a pair of horizontally spaced U-shaped 'brackets, generally desifgnated 116, that are rigidly secured to the wall 14 'by means of suitable screws, bolts, and the like.

Extending horizontally ;between the upper end of the panel 12 and the wall 14 is a flat elongated rack or shelf member, 'generally designated by the numeral 118 and comprising a pair of spaced apart support arms 120 'and 122 that are secured to the side of the panel 12 facing the wall 14 by conventional mounting flanges and suitable screws or the like. A pair of horizontally spaced retaining brackets, -generally designated 124, are pivotally or rotata-bly secured to the wall 14 and are adapted to selectively engage the side edge of the shelf member 118 adjacent the wall 14. It may be noted that the brackets 124 do not actually function to support the panel 12 on the wall 14, but instead merely serve to prevent the upper end of the panel 12 from swinging away lfrom the wall 14 under the influence of gravity. It will be seen that the panel 12 is detachably secured to the wall 14 and many be readily dismounted or removed therefrom by appropriately pivoting or rotating the -brackets 124 out of engagement with the shelf member 118 and lifting the panel 12 sufiiciently to disengage the frame member 114 from the U-shaped brackets 116, it being apparent that the panel 12 may be conveniently remounted on the wall 14 by merely reversing this operation.

It will be readily apparent from each of the aforegoing embodiments of the wall-hung wardrobe of the present invention, that the cover panel 12 serves to substantially conceal the various rack or shelf assemblies which project between the panel 12 and'the wall or similar support structure 14, and that these rack or shelf assem'blies, with the exception of the wardrobe structure illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7, are readily accessible from either side of the cover panel 12. It will also be apparent that each of the aforegoing constructions of the present invention may serve to contain and eflectively conceal a substantal quantity of hanger supported clothing, luggage, or the like, and thereby may be used in lieu of or to complement conventional type storage closets, one particular feature of the hereinabove described wardrobe constructions over such conventional storage closets Ibeing the extreme simplicity of construction and the corresponding ease of assembly and disassembly thereof. This feature is provided by the fact that each of the various above described forms of the Wall-hung wardrobe embodying the .present invention is supported on its associated wall or similar support structure along a single axis, thereby minimizing to the extreme, the requisite number of support members and corresponding complexities of construction and installation of these wardrobes.

While it will be apparent that the various hereinhefore described embodiments are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the wallhung wardrobe construction of the present invention is susceptible to modification, Variation and change Without departing from the proper scope or fair meanin'g of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wall wardrobe for containing apparel and the like and adapted to be mounted on a wall or similar structure, a substantially vertically extending n'gid cover panel, means extending between the wall and said panel for supporting said panel in a position spaced from and substantially parallel to the wall, said last mentioned means including means defining a generally rectangular configured rigid frame having side portions extending substantially parallel to the wall and said panel, and end portions extending 'between the wall and said panel, said frame having means for being secured to the Wall so as to stand rigidly out from the wall, said panel being sustained against gravity by said frame, and apparel supporting means interposed lbetween the Wall and said panel and being at least partially supported by said frame.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame is located in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame is located in a substantially Vertical plane.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame is positioned adjacent one edge of said panel, and further comprising spacing means positioned adjacent the opposite edge of said panel and extending between said panel and the wall to maintain said panel substantially parallel to the wall.

References Cited UNITED STAT ES PATENTS 455,725 7/ 1891 Redding 312 5 2,00l,324 6/1935 Early 312-245 2,148,`043 2/ 1939 Zero 312.- 206 2,649,350 8/ 1953 Backus 3 l2 25=8 2,848,880 7/ '8 Riedel et al. 62-263 2,944,863 7/ 1960 Bertelsen 312-238 3,126,238 3/ 1964 Acton 312-245 FOREIGN PAT ENTS 210,993 2/ 1924 Great Britain. 558,836 1/ 1944 Great Britain.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A WALL WARDROBE FOR CONTAINING APPAREL AND THE LIKE AND ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A WALL OR SIMILAR STRUCTURE, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING RIGID COVER PANEL, MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE WALL AND SAID PANEL FOR SUPPORTING SAID PANEL IN A POSITION SPACED FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE WALL, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURED RIGID FRAME HAVING SIDE PORTIONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE WALL AND SAID PANEL, AND END PORTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE WALL AND SAID PANEL, SAID FRAME HAVING MEANS FOR BEING SECURED TO THE WALL SO AS TO STAND RIGIDLY OUT FROM THE WALL, SAID PANEL BEING SUSTAINED AGAINST GRAVITY BY SAID FRAME, AND APPAREL SUPPORTING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE WALL AND SAID PANEL AND BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME.