US3353885A - Expansible multi-purpose cabinet - Google Patents

Description

H. C. HANSON EXPANSIBLE MULTI -PURPOSE CABINET Nov. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1966 FIGURE 3 Howard 0 Hanson mvENTo.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 21, 1967 H. c. HANSON 3,353,885

EXPANSIBLE MULTI-PURPOSE CABINET Filed Feb. 1, 1966 2 Sheets-$heet 2 FIGURE 7 FIGURE 8 Howard C. Hanson, INVENTOR.

FIGURE //0 I r ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,353,885 EXPANSIBLE MULTI-PURPOSE CABINET Howard C. Hanson, 577 Nothornb St, El Cajon, Calif. 92021 Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,008 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-205) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multi-purpose cabinet structure expandable from a smaller closed lamp table to a larger open vanity having paired cabinets communicating by a slidable track immovably carrying a top adapted to cover said cabinets when in adjacent closed condition. Similar lateral top extensions are carried by one of the cabinets and adapted to be placed laterally adjacent the top when the cabinets be expanded to form a continuous vanity top. A compound winged mirror is hingeably carried by the rear edge of the top to be upwardly pivotable to an adjustable operative position.

This invention relates generally to expandable furniture and more particularly to a compact cabinet that may be expanded into a desk or vanity.

Multi-purpose furniture has been known for some time and has gained popularity where the multiuse feature is of more advantage than other disadvantages necessarily associated with this type of structure. Most such furniture has provided its multi-use as a result of particular design of a non-changeable structure. One type of such furniture, however, has provided its multi-use by reason of structural changes that may be provided as desired within the basic structure. It is with this second class of multi-use furniture that this invention is primarily concerned.

' The instant invention seeks to provide a furniture structure of the structurally changing type of a particular new and novel design that is an improvement over the existing art. In so doing, it is:

A principal object of my invention to provide a multipurpose expansible cabinet that expands from a compact lampstand into a knee-hole type desk or vanity, as desired;

A further object of my invention to provide a structure of the nature aforesaid that is expansible and yet provides adequate storage facilities of a nature equal to those of a non-expanding desk or vanity;

A still further object of my invention to provide a vanity with foldable mirror that is adjustably positionable to regulate mirror tilt for proper viewing by the user;

A still further object of my invention to provide a furniture structure of the nature aforesaid that is aesthetically desirable with the aesthetic appeal of nonexpansible furniture of a similar nature;

A still further object of my invention to provide such a structure of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, and of great economy and use and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which it is intended.

These and other objects of my invention will further appear from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part of this application. In carrying out the objects of my invention, it is, however, to be understood that its essential features are susceptible of changes in design and structural arrangement, with only one preferred practical embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of my cabinet structure in unexpanded condition.

3,353,885 Fatented Nov. 21, 1967 "ice FIGURE 2 is a similar isometric view of the same cabinet as FIGURE 1 in a partially expanded condition, showing its parts and the method of expansion.

FIGURE 3 is a similar isometric view of my invention completely expanded to form a knee-hole vanity with mirror.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the removable top side-wing of my invention, partially cut away to show the positioning dowels associated therewith.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cutaway, orthographic view of an adjoining portion of mirror and top wing, showing the sliding adjustment for mirror tilt.

FIGURE 6 is an orthographic, vertical cross-sectional view of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2, taken on the line 6-6 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is an orthographic, vertical cross-sectional view of the invention of FIGURE 2, taken on the line 77 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is an orthographic, vertical cross-sectional view of the invention shown in FIGURE 3, taken on the line 88 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 9 is a partial orthographic cross-sectional view of the hinge junction between principal vanity mirror and wing mirror taken on the line 9--9 of FIGURE 3, in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 10 is a partial, isometric view of the lateral sliding portion of the top member showing dowel pin hole for positioning top wings and slide-stop for eliminating lateral motion of the cabinet sides.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail and particularly to that of FIGURE 1, it will there be seen that my invention comprises essentially right cabinet member 11 and left cabinet member 12 slidably supporting for limited motion top member 13. The right and left cabinet members are externally similar, one being substantially the mirror image of the other and differing only in internal arrangement, Each member has inner side piece 14 and outer side piece 15 structurally joined by a bottom member 16 and back member 17. The forward edge of each outer side piece 15 carries cabinet door 18 pivotably supported upon paired cabinet hinges 19 communicating therebetween. The upper portion of each cabinet supports forward top support 20 and rearward top support 21 to provide some rigidity to the upper portion of the structure. The lateralmost extension of the top supports 20, 21 carries upwardly projecting top side cover 22 of size and shape adapted to cover the side portion of the top member 13 when in closed position.

In spaced medial position between forward and rearward top supports 20, 21 are forward track support 23 and rearward track support 24, carrying respectively the laterally extending female portion 35 of the sliding track. The upper surfaces of support members and track supports should be flush with each other to allow for appropriate motion of the side cabinet members relative to the top member as hereinafter provided,

The inside of the left cabinet is provided with a plu rality of shelves 25 spaced as desired for convenience. This shelving may be rigidly positioned or adjustably moveable by means well known in the cabinetry arts. The right cabinet is provided with vertical divider 26 defining the narrow chamber 27 adapted to receive lateral top extensions 28 when in storage. The other chamber 29 is provided with shelves 30, again positioned for maximum utility as desired.

Cabinet doors 18 may be provided with catches (not shown) to maintain them in closed position. They should be provided with knobs 31 to provide for ease of manual manipulation.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 7, top member 13 comprises the flat, planar, central top 32 having a medial,

\ 3 laterally extending channel 33 formed in its lower surface to receive the male member 34 of the slide rails, adapted to be received by the female member 35 carried by track supports 23, 24. Top member 32 is dimensionally co-extensive in area with the two cabinet members when in adjacent position, and has a lateral extension such that it extends between the two top side covers 22 when the cabinet members are adjacent to each other. The upper surface of'the top member is preferably provided with some structurally rigid, physically durable material such as glass, Formica, or plastic.

Rearwardmost edge 36 of top 32 carries mirror strip 37 extending upwardly above the upper surface of top 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, and laterally co-extensively with the top member. This strip 37 supports on its rearward surface the mirror stop mold 38 having channel 39 adapted to prevent rotation of the mirror rearwardly beyond a substantially vertical position, as in most vanities adesired view by a viewer is not obtained if the mirror be rotated past this point.

Mirror member 40 comprises principal-rearward mirror '41 hingeably supporting by internal piano hinge 42 similar side wing mirrors 43. All of these mirrors are of standard construction with peripheral frame members 44 supporting reflecting mirror glass '45 in appropriate rabbets 46 and having mirror backing members 47 for additional rigidity and support. The principal mirror frame dimensionally forms the top of top member 32 and should therefore be co-extensive therewith.

In folded condition the wing members 43 are on the under surface of rearward member 41 so they, of necessity, must be of not greater vertical dimension, and if symmetrical, not more than one-half of the lateral dimension of the principal mirror so that they may be so positioned. The rearward surface of principal mirror 41 structurally communicates with piano hinge 48 carried by mirror strip 37 to allow the principal mirror to rotate to substantially a vertical position where it will be maintained by mirror stop mold38.

Obviously from FIGURE 7 the pivot point of this hinge must be above the upper surface of top 32 to provide for the structure and motion recited and for this reason, the upwardly projecting mirror strip 37 is necessary. The upper and forward edge of principal mirror frame 41 carries the forwardly or downwardly extending cover strip 49 adapted to cover the forward top edge of the top member to provide a unitary surface without joints and to prevent physical debris of an environmental nature from entering the structure.

Lower frame member 44a of wing mirrors 43 is provided with a lengthwise-extending channel 50 to slidably receive the head 51 of pin 52 extending through an appropriate slot 53 in the lower portion of this frame member .to structurally communicate with rubber button 54. This structure provides for some forward adjustable tilt of the mirrors, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3, as the button 54 may be variously positioned in wing mirrors 43 when in angled position shown in FIGURE 3 to variously change the angle of the mirrors from vertical within limits.

Lateral top extensions 28 are best shown in the illustration of FIGURE 4. They comprise a flat, planar body member 55 with depending side members 56 on the forward and rearward edges 57, 58 respectively. The lower surface of these members carries dowel pins 59 depending therefrom to communicate with mating holes in the tops of cabinets 11, 12 to properly position and align the members. The dimensioning of this member should be such that it fits over the top of either cabinet member when extended between the top member 13 and top side cover 22 with the depending sides 56 extending downward- -ly over the top portion of the cabinets to form a continuous surface with the forward and rearward side members of the top, all as shown in FIGURE 3.

Dowel pins 59 fit in appropriately positioned dowel pin holes 60 prOVided in the top structural members 20,

21 to properly align the members when assembled and provide some rigidity to the assembled structure.

Appropriate stops 61 are provided in the slide tracks, preferably the female member 35, to limit the motion of cabinets 11 and -12 relative to top 13 to prevent them from coming out of communication with each other; such stops are well known and one common type is illustrated in the partial view of FIGURE 10.

The dimensioning of my cabinet should be such preferably as to allow the top side extensions 28 to both be carried in the chamber 27 of right cabinet member 11, though this, of course, is no necessity. The lower surface of cabinets 11, 12 may also be provided with some device to give a rolling support upon a supporting surface but again, in some instances this may be desirable and others not, as the cabinet may be expanded by manually lifting the portion that is to be moved.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention, its operation is relatively obvious. The right and leftcabinet members 11 and 12 will slidably carry, within limits, the top member 13 by reason of the engagement of the slide track therebetween. The entire structure may be moved together as illustrated in FIGURE 1 with right cabinet member 11 immediately adjacent the left cabinet member and top 13 covering the whole.

In this position the structure is a compact piece of furniture well adapted for use as a small cabinet and lampstand.

To make a knee-hole desk of the structure, the right and left cabinet members are moved laterally away from each other to form the knee-hole 62 therebetween. The two lateral top extensions 28 are then placed on the top of the lateral part of both right and left cabinet members to form a planar surface which is well adapted for use as a desk. In this structure, it is to be noted that what normally would be the back of principal rearward mirror 41 forms a central portion of the desk top.

To further expand the invention and make a vanity, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the principal mirror is lifted vertically upward until it comes to rest in mirror stop mold 38 and side wing mirrors 43 are laterally pivoted until rubber buttons 54 carried by the lower surface of each are properly positioned on the upper surfaces of lateral top extensions 28 to angle the mirror as desired; in this form the structure is well adapted to serve as atypical vanity. The structure may, of course, be compacted as desired by the inverse motions From the foregoing specification it is seen that I have described a particular useful embodiment of my invention as required butit is to be understood that various rearrangements of parts, multiplications and modifications'of detail may be resorted to in connection with the invention without departing from its spirit, essence or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and

What I claim is:

An expansible multi-purpose cabinet, convertible from a smaller closed lamp table to a larger open vanity, of the nature aforesaid, comprising, in combination:

similar paired opposed cabinet members slidably communicating with a top supported thereby, one of said cabinets having a vertically elongate storage cell to store top extensions;

a slidable track structure communicating between the upper portions of said cabinet members to allow slidable positioning of said cabinet members from a medial adjacent position to a lateral spaced position;

a top member supported above saidtrack structure in immoveable relationship therewith, said top adapted to cover said cabinets when in medial adjacent position;

similar paired lateral top extensions adapted to fit laterally of said top member, when said cabinets are laterally extended, to form a continuous vanity top surface; and

compound mirror member comprising a principal rearward element pivotably carried by the rearward edge of said top to raise vertically upward therefrom 5 and having paired opposed wing mirrors pivotably carried by the vertical lateral edges of said principal mirror, said Wing mirrors each being supported upon said top extensions by support buttons slidably carried in their lower edges to allow adjustable vertical 10 positioning of all said mirrors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Loring.

Strain 312240 X Schreiner 312-240 X Murray 312240 X De Gaal 108-86 Troutman 248129 Hindin 312-227 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

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