US3583781A

US3583781A - Foldable wooden cabinet

Info

Publication number: US3583781A
Application number: US767135A
Authority: US
Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamawaki; Toyoji Osada
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-10-30
Filing date: 1968-10-14
Publication date: 1971-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-08

Abstract

A foldable wooden cabinet having a rectangular front frame formed by narrow board member only, the left and right sideboards hinged to the front frame so as to be swinged inwardly, a rear side board inserted between the end portions of the left and right sideboards, a table board with a top board hinged thereto or a top board mounted on the upper ends of the sideboards and the front frame, and the binding devices fastening the rear sideboard to the left and right sideboards and the table board or the top board to the sideboards and the front frame. When, after the binding devices being released, the table board or the top board is removed from the sideboard and the front frame, and the rear sideboard from the end portions of the left and right sideboards, the left and right sideboards is folded, laying one over another, on the inside of the front frame.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Ynsuhlro Yamawaki N0. 35, Chihaya-eho, 1-chome,Toshlmaku, Tokyo; 1 Toyojl Osada, No. 18-12, Kaijln-cho, 2- Chome, Funabashi-shi, Chiba, both of Japan [21] Appl. No. 767,135 [22] Filed Oct. 14, 1968 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [32] Priority Oct. 30, 1967 1 JIP [31] 43-21,643

[S4] FOLDABLE WOODEN CABINET 10 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1. 312/258 [51] Int. A47b 43/00 [50] Field ofSearch 312/257, 257 SK, 263, 258; 24/270 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 122,179 12/1871 Lawrence et al. 312/258 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Beveridge & De Grandi ABSTRACT: A foldable wooden cabinet having a rectangular front frame formed by narrow board member only, the left and right sideboards hinged to the front frame so as to be swinged inwardly, a rear side board inserted between the end portions of the left and right sideboards, a table board with a top board hinged thereto or a top board mounted on the upper ends of the sideboards and the front frame, and thebinding devices fastening the rear sideboard to the left and right sideboards and the table board or the top board to the sideboards and the front frame. When, after the binding devices being released, the table board or the top board is removed from the sideboard and the front frame, and the rear sideboard from the end portions of the left and right sideboards, the left and right sideboards is folded, laying one over another, on the inside of the front frame.

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2 or 6 INVENTORS! YAS u IIIRO YAMA wmt I 73ml: Osn 0A m s 71 W PATENTED'JUN 8 I97] SHEEI l 0F 6 3/0? INVENTORS- YAs uH/Ro Yum mun ATTEKNEYS CSAAA BBY PATENTEDJUN man 3583781 SHEET 5 BF 6 YASUHIRQ YAnAwA-m 757ml: OSAOA INVENTORS'- FOLDABLE WOODEN CABINET The invention relates to a foldable wooden cabinet, which is composed of boards and capable of being folded and assembled easily, and more particularly to a foldable wooden cabinet, wherein the left and right sideboards are hinged to a rectangular front frame formed by upright narrow board members confronting with each other on the left and right sides, a board crossmember or board crossmembers connecting both upright board members with each other, so as to be folded, laying one over another, on the inside thereof, and a rear sideboard is inserted removably between both rear ends of the left and right sideboards, and a table board or top board is mounted removably on the upper ends of all the sideboards and the front frame, while the rear sideboard is rigidly joined with binding devices to the right and left sideboards and the table board or top board similarly to the front frame and the sideboards, so as to be capable of disjoining.

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable wooden cabinet, which is capable of being disjoined, folded and assembled easily and promptly without using any tool and the bulk of which is minimized by folding for the convenience of transport or storing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable wooden cabinet, wherein the right and left sideboards may be laid upon one another and folded into a comparatively flat shape convenient for packing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable wooden cabinet which can be manufactured simply and at a low cost in consequence of assembling of boards only.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldable wooden cabinet having an excellent strength and little warping.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will become apparent from consideration of the detailed specification referring to the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, show an embodiment applied to a box-type cabinet for a sewing machine;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a table board with a top board folded thereon of the same cabinet, viewed from the underside thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a set of conventional binding devices;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the same cabinet wherefrom the table board with the top board is removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the same cabinet in the folded state;

FIGS. 7-10, inclusive, show another embodiment applied to a box-type cabinet, with several drawers on the right side, for a sewing machine;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the same cabinet;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a table board with the top board folded thereon of the same cabinet, viewed from the underside thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the same cabinet in the folded state;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment applied to a console-type cabinet for a sewing machine;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the same cabinet;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13-16, inclusive, show a still further embodiment applied to a desk-type cabinet;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the same cabinet;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view ofthe same partly disjoined;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 15-15 ofFlG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the same in the folded state.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, 1 designates a rectangular front frame wherein both ends of a vertical board crossmember 3 ofa considerable width are mortised respectively to the upper insides of the front portions of two upright

narrow board members

2 and 2a of the same thickness and size confronting in parallel with each other on the right and left sides, while both ends of a horizontal board crossmember 4 respectively to the lower insides of the

upright board members

2 and 2a, where the vertical board crossmember 3 and the horizontal board crossmember 4 have the same thickness as that of the

upright board members

2 and 2a, the width of the horizontal board crossmember 4 being the same as that of the latter 2 and 2a.

The left leaf 5a of a folding front door 5 is attached with hinges 6 and 6' to the left upright board member 2, while the right leaf 5b of the same door 5 with hinges 6a and 6'0 to the right upright board member 2a, so that both leaves 511 and 5b may swing open outwardly and make a flat front side when closed.

A reinforcing narrow board member 7 is vertically attached by any adhesive agent to both insides of the left upright board member 2 and the vertical board crossmember 3 in the corner formed by them, the reinforcing board member 7 having the same thickness as that of the upright board member 2 and such a width that the rear surface of the reinforcing board member 7 may make a plane with the rear surface of the left upright board member 2.

Similarly, a reinforcing board member 7a is vertically attached to both insides of the right upright board member 2a and the vertical board crossmember 3 in the corner formed by them, the thickness of the reinforcing board member 7a being the same as that of the reinforcing board member 7 and the width of the former 70 approximately thrice that of the latter 7.

The front end of a left sideboard 8 having the same thickness and height as those of the left upright board member 2 and a width smaller than that of the frame I abuts to the rear surface of the left upright board member 2 connecting with hinges 9 the left sideboard 8 with the reinforcing board member 7 so as to be folded inwardly.

Similarly, the front end of the right sideboard 8a having the same thickness and height as those of the right upright board member 2a and the same width as that of the left sideboard 8 abuts to the rear surface of the right upright board member 2a connecting with hinges 9a a portion receding from the front end of the right sideboard 8a with the reinforcing board member 7a so as to be folded inwardly.

To the inside of the rear end portion of the left sideboard 8, a reinforcing narrow board member 10 having the approximately same thickness and height as those of the left sideboard 8 and the same width as that of the reinforcing board member 7, is attached vertically by means of any adhesive agent.

Similarly, to the inside of the rear end portion of the right sideboard 8a, another reinforcing board member 10a having the same dimensions as those of the reinforcing board member 10, is attached vertically by means of any adhesive agent.

Furthermore, a doubling board member 11, the rear end whereof is bevelled at an angle of 45 and abuts to the front surface of the reinforcing board member 10 to make a groove of V-like shape in cross section, is attached vertically by means of any adhesive agent to the inside of the rear end portion of the left sideboard 8, while a similar doubling board member 11a is attached similarly to the inside of the rear end portion of the right sideboard 8a.

A bottom board I2, having the 'width equal to or less than the distance between the reinforcing board member 7 and the doubling board member 11, and the length equal to the distance between the right and

left sideboards

8 and 8a, which is less than the distance from the lower end of the reinforcing board member 7 to the level of the same board I2 in the horizontal position, is attached with hinges l3 and 13a to the inside lower portion of the left sideboard 8 so as to swing upwardly to be folded thereon, the right front corner of the same board 12 being cut away corresponding to the cross-sectional shape and area of the reinforcing board member 7a.

A rather thin rear sideboard M of a rectangular shape, having the width slightly less than the distance between the right and left reinforcing board members It) and 10a, and the height equal to that of the sideboard 8 or 80, is attached by means of i any adhesive agent to a rectangular rear frame formed by the adhesive connection of a plurality of horizontal

narrow board members

16, 16a and 16b with the left and right vertical narrow board members and 15a the outer ends whereof are bevelled at an angle of 45 so as to be fitted removably into the V-like shaped grooves as disclosed in the above.

A set of conventional binding devices 17, as shown in FIG. 3, consists of a hook l8 and a clasp 19 having a ring for interlocking with the hook R8. The hook 18 is secured to each of the doubling members 11 and lla, while the clasp 19 to each of the right and left

vertical member

15a and 15 of the rear frame, so that the rear frame with a rear sideboard may be rigidly fastened to both doubling

members

11 and 11a when inserted between the latter.

FIG. 2 shows a table board 21 to which a top board is attached with

hinges

22 and 22a so as to be folded and unfolded. The table board 21 has an opening Zia which is shaped in two overlapped rectangles of the same size properly displaced along either of coinciding diagonals and provided with an approximately rectangular plate 24 hinged to the rear edge in order to support a sewing machine head (not shown in the drawings) and another L-shaped 24a hinged swingably upward only to the front edge in order to sustain the plate 24 loaded in the horizontal position.

Several clasps 19 are secured to the insides adjacent to the upper ends of the right and

left sideboards

8 and 8a, the vertical board erossmember 3 and the upper horizontal narrow board member 16, while the hooks R8 of the same number as that of the clasps 19 to the under side of the front, left, right and rear edge portions of the table board 21 in the positions corresponding to those of the clasps 19 so that the table board 21 with the top board 20 may be rigidly fastened with the binding devices 17 in position, when mounted on the upper ends of the sideboard and the frames, as shown in F IG. 1.

The lower ends of the front frame 1, the left and

right sideboards

8 and 8a, and the rear frame are provided with resting

foots

26, 27, 27a and 26a (not shown in the drawings) respectively.

Moreover, if required, ornamental vertical lines 28 and 28a resembled to a seam of junction are engraved on the outsides of the left and right sideboards in the positions corresponding to that of the junction seams between the left upright board member 2 and the left sideboard 8, and between the right upright board member 2a and the right sideboard 8a respectively.

Referring to FlGS. 7l0, inclusive, showing another embodiment in a box-type cabinet, having drawers, for a sewing machine, the width of the upright board member 2a of the front frame 1 is approximately equal to the sum of the width of the left upright board member 2 and the thickness thereof, and a vertical doubling board member 32a of the same thickness as that of the upright board member 2a is joined by means of hinges 9a to the rear end of the same member 2a so that the left sideboard 8a, to the inside whereof a doubling board member 32 is firmly attached by means of any adhesive agent to the outer surface of the doubling member 32a and which forms a drawer casing 29 together with the outer right sideboard 2911, a backing board 2% and several shelves 290, may be folded inwardly. The drawer casing 29 incases conventionally

drawers

30, 30a, 30b and 30c arranged vertically in four stages.

In this embodiment, the front door 5, having one leaf only, is attached with three

hinges

6, 6a and 6b to the left upright board member 2 so as to swing open outwardly.

Furthermore, as shown in H68. 7 and 8, the length of the table board 21 is slightly longer than the distance between the outside of the left sideboard 8 and that of the outer right sideboard 29a of the drawer casing 29, while the top board 20 to cover the table board 21 is composed of the longer portion 20a hinged to the table board 20 and approximately equal to the distance between the outsides of the left and

right sideboards

8 and 8a, and the shorter portion 20b hinged to the longer portion 20a and approximately equal to the distance between the outsides of the right sideboard 8a and the outer right sideboard 29.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, showing a further embodiment in a console-type cabinet for a sewing machine, the front frame 11 is constructed in a manner wherein vertical reinforcing

board members

31 and 31a are mortised respectively to the upper insides of the front portions of the upright

narrow board members

2 and 2a confronting in parallel with each other on the left and right sides to make the front legs of L- shaped cross section, where the reinforcing narrow board members 3i and 31a have the same thickness and height as the

upright board members

2 and 2a have and are narrower than the same. Both ends of the vertical board erossmember 3 of a considerable width and a thickness less than that of the

upright board member

2 or 2a arefixed respectively to the insides of the upright board member 2 and the reinforcing board member 31 in the corner formed thereby, and of another upright board member 2a and another reinforcing board member 31a in the comer formed thereby.

A reinforcing board member 7, having the same thickness as that of the upright board member 2, the same width as the distance between the rear surfaces of the vertical board crossmember 3 and the upright board member 2, and the same height as that of the vertical board erossmember 3, is firmly attached to the insides of the upright board member 2 and the vertical board erossmember 3 in the corner formed thereby. The front end of the left sideboard 8 having the same thickness and height as those of the vertical board crossmember 3 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the upright board member 2, and the left rear leg composed of a upright board member 33 and a reinforcing board member 10 respectively and symmetrically corresponding to the upright board member 2 and the vertical reinforcing board member 31 of the left front leg is firmly attached to the rear end of the left sideboard 8. A doubling board member 32, which has the same thickness as that of the reinforcing board member 7 and is firmly attached to the inside of the front end portion of the left sideboard 8, is joined with hinges 9 to the rear side of the reinforcing board member 7 so as to be folded inwardly together with the left sideboard 8.

Similarly, a reinforcing board member 7a adequately broader than the reinforcing board member 7 is firmly attached to the insides of the upright board member 2a and the vertical board erossmember 3 in the comer formed thereby. The front end of the right sideboard having the same dimensions as those of the left sideboard 8 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the upright board member 2a, and the right rear leg composed of a upright board member 33a and a reinforcing board member 10a respectively and symmetrically corresponding to the upright board member 2a and the reinforcing board member 31a of the right front leg is firmly attached to the rear end of the right sideboard 8a. A doubling board member 32a, which has the same dimensions as those of the doubling board member 32 and is firmly attached to the inside of a portion receded from the front end of the right sideboard 8a, is joined with hinges 9a to the rear side of the reinforcing board member 70 so as to be folded inwardly to overlap the right sideboard 8a on the left sideboard 8 having been folded.

The doubling

board members

11 and 11a are attached firmly to the insides of the joined portions of the left sideboard 8 and the left rear upright board member 33, and the right sideboard 8a and the rear upright board member 33a, while the rear ends of the doubling

members

11 and 11a are bevelled at an angle of 45 to make V-like shaped grooves together with the inner surfaces of the reinforcing board member 10 and Mia.

A rear sideboard 14 of the same thickness as that of the vertical board crossmember 3 is firmly provided with the left and right vertical board members and 15a the outer ends whereof are bevelled at an angle of 45 so as to be fitted into the V-like shaped grooves as disclosed in the above to fasten the rear sideboard l4 detachably with binding devices 17 to the left and

right sideboards

8 and 8a.

The table board 21, supporting a sewing machine head, with a top board hinged thereto is mounted on the legs and fixed in position with binding devices 17 similarly to other embodi ments.

Furthermore, the vertical board crossmember 3 is provided with a rectangular opening having a receptacle 35 hinged with

separable hinges

36 and 36a to the lower edge portion so as to be swinged outwardly and detached when the cabinet is folded.

Referring to FIGS. 13l6, inclusive, showing the embodiment in a desk type cabinet, the front frame 1 is formed by the left and right upright

narrow board members

2 and 2a, which are confronting in parallel with each other, the latter being shorter than the former, and the vertical board crossmember 3.

In this embodiment, the left and

right sideboards

8 and 8a of the same dimensions are shorter than the left

upright board members

2 and 33 of the same dimensions serving respectively the purpose of the front and rear legs on the left side.

The right sideboard 8a is provided with the drawer casing 29, incasing four drawers 30, a, 30b and 300 arranged vertically in stages, composed of the right sideboard 8a, the outer right sideboard 29a, the backing board 29b and several shelves 29c supporting slidably the

drawers

30, 3a, 3b and 30c. A foot 36 consisting of a lateral vertical narrow board is attached to the bottom of the drawer casing 29 to cause the latter 29 to have the same height as that of the

leg

2 or 33.

In this embodiment, any hinged front door is not provided and a narrow footboard 37 is hinged with

hinges

13 and 13a to the middle portion of the lower inside of the left sideboard 8 so as to swinged upward only to be folded on the inside of the left sideboard 8.

Moreover, the height of the rear sideboard 14 is the same as that of the vertical board crossmember 3 and, therefore, the vertical

narrow board members

15 and 15a having respective bevelled outer ends are connected by two

crossmembers

16 and 16a only.

The top board 20' has not the table board 21 hinged thereto and is securely fitted with several hooks 18 on the marginal portions of the under side corresponding to several clasps 19 secured to the upper insides of the upper crossmember 16, the vertical board crossmember 3 and the left and right sideboards 8 and 80.

Accordingly, when the cabinet in accordance with the invention is required to be folded, the binding devices 17 fastening the table board 21 with the top board 20 or the top board 20' without the table board 21 to the front frame 1, the upper crossmember 16 attached to the rear sideboard 14, the left sideboard 8 and the right sideboard 8a or the outer right sideboard 29a are released to remove the table board 21 with the top board 20 or the top board 20 without any table board, and thereafter the binding devices 17 fastening the rear vertical reinforcing

board members

15 and 15a respectively to the

vertical doubling members

11 and 11a of the left and

right sideboards

8 and 8a are released so that the left and right reinforcing

members

15 and 15a may be pulled out of the V-like grooves upwardly together with the rear sideboard 14.

Then, after the bottom board or footboard 12 is folded on the inside of the left sideboard 8, and the left sideboard 8 is folded inwardly together with the bottom or footboard 12 to be laid upon the inside of the front frame 1, as indicated by a dot-dash line in FIGS. 4, 9, 12 and 15, and further the right sideboard 8a or the same together with the drawer casing 29 is folded inwardly to be laid upon the left sideboard 8 having been folded, as indicated by another dot-dash line in the figures aforesaid.

Finally, the rear sideboard 14 pulled out and the removed table board 21 with the top board 20 folded thereon or the removed top board 20 are laid upon any flat outside of the folded parts of the cabinet, as shown in FIGS. 6. 10 and 16.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A foldable structure for use as a table or cabinet capable of supporting an object such as a sewing machine; the structure comprising in combination, a front frame, right and left hand side panels, means hinging said side panels to opposite sides of said front frame at offset locations on said front frame for movement of the sideboard between an extended unfolded position extending rearwardly from the front frame and a collapsed folded position parallel to the front frame with one side panel extending along the inside of said front frame and the other side panel extending in overlapping fashion over a portion of said one side panel, said side panels having adjacent their rear vertical edges means defining channels extending vertically adjacent the rear vertical edges of said side panels for slidably receiving opposite side portions of a rear panel, a rear panel having opposite side portions received in said channels and having a shape matching the internal cross section of said channels, said rear panel being slidably removable from said side panels channels, removable fastening means on said side panels and said rear panel for releasably securing said side panels to said rear panel, a top panel resting on upper edges of said side panels and said front frame, and releasable fastening means on said top panel and said side panels for releasably securing the top panel thereto in position for use.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the edges of said slide portions of the rear panel extend at an angle to the plane of the rear panel and are complimentary to internal surfaces of said channels with which they engage.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein all of said panels are made from wood, said side and rear panels being rectangular boards, said side panels when in their unfolded position extending generally at right angles to said front and rear panels, said top panel also being a rectangular board.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said channels on said side panels are formed by two pairs of wooden board members fixed to said side panels in close relationship to each other to define said channels.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 including a pair of e1ongated reinforcing boards fixed to the corners between said front frame and side panels and wherein said hinge means are fixed to said reinforcing boards.

6. The structure defined in claim 3 further including a bottom panel made from a rectangular wooden board, and hinge means hinging said bottom board to a lower portion of said one side panel for movement between an unfolded position extending generally at right angles from said one side panel and a folded position lying against the inside surface of said one side panel.

7. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said side and rear panels are rectangular in shape, and wherein there is further included, a bottom rectangular panel and hinge means pivotally connecting said bottom panel to said one side panel for movement between an unfolded position extending generally at right angles from said one side panel a folded position extending along the inside surface of said one side panel.

8. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said front frame is formed by pairs of opposite side and end members forming a rectangular frame and wherein there is further included a pair of front doors having outer sides hinged to said front frame for opening and closing access into the interior of the structure.

9 The structure defined in claim 8 further including a drawer casing attached to the outside of said other side panel and containing a plurality of drawers slidably received, said drawer casing including the drawers being movable with said posed relationship and in an unfolded position wherein the sections lie in coplanar position, the lower section having an aperture therein and a plate projecting into the aperture below the top surface of the lower section for supporting a sewing machine head.

Claims

5. The structure defined in claim 4 including a pair of elongated reinforcing boards fixed to the corners between said front frame and side panels and wherein said hinge means are fixed to said reinforcing boards.

8. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said front frame is formed by pairs of opposite side and end members forming a rectangular frame and wherein there is further included a pair of front doors having outer sides hinged to said front frame for opening and closing access into the interior of the structure. 9 The structure defined in claim 8 further including a drawer casing attached to the outside of said other side panel and containing a plurality of drawers slidably received, said drawer casing including the drawers being movable with said other side panel between the folded and unfolded position of said other side panel.

10. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said top panel is formed in two upper and lower sections having hinge means pivotally interconnecting the sections between a collapsed folded position wherein the sections are in overlying superposed relationship and in an unfolded position wherein the sections lie in coplanar position, the lower section having an aperture therein and a plate projecting into the aperture below the top surface of the lower section for supporting a sewing machine head.