Cabinet with sliding closure panel

• US 8,246,126 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ralph Johnannes Weber
• Original Assignee: Ralph Johnannes Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Ralph Johnannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Hansen, James O
• Application Number:
  US12/231,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 312/245, 312/246, 312/224, 312/226, 312/227, 312/302, 312/303, 312/310, 248/474, 248/476, 248/477, 248/478, 248/479, 248/480, 359/871, 359/872, 359/875, 359/882
• US Class Current: 312/227
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 67/005 Mirror cabinets; Dressing-tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/24 Appliances for adjusting pictures, mirrors, or the like, into a desired position, especially inclined A47G1/1646 - A47G1/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0621 Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides E05D15/0604, E05D15/08 - E05D15/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/48 allowing alternative movements E05D15/0604 takes precedence ; for vertically-sliding wings E05D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/10 Additional functions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/122 Telescopic action
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

Provided are cabinets, methods of making the cabinets, and methods of using the cabinets. One embodiment of the cabinet includes an enclosure and at least one horizontally slidable closure panel interconnected to the enclosure with a first fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the top of the enclosure and a second fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the bottom of the enclosure. Another embodiment of the cabinet includes an enclosure, at least one enclosure cover plate, at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel interconnected to the enclosure with a first fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the top of the at least one enclosure cover plate and a second fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the bottom of the enclosure or the at least one enclosure cover plate, and an angular adjustment mechanism for vertically tilting the least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel. The cabinets disclosed herein are particularly advantageous for use by non-ambulatory people due to compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines.

Claims

1. A cabinet comprising:

an enclosure,

at least one enclosure cover plate,

at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel interconnected to the enclosure with a first fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the top of the at least one enclosure cover plate and a second fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the bottom of the enclosure or the at least one enclosure cover plate to provide complete access to the enclosure contents, and

an angular adjustment mechanism for vertically tilting the least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel,

wherein the first and second fully extendible concealed rail slide assemblies each include;

a slotted channel horizontally mounted to the enclosure with an internal fully extendible slide bearing rail mechanism,

a panel mounting bracket interconnected at one end to the back surface of the at least one enclosure cover plate and at the other end to the extendible rail of the internal fully extendible slide bearing rail mechanism, and

caps at each end of each slotted channel to conceal the internal fully extendible slide bearing rail mechanism.

2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the angular adjustment mechanism includes:

at least one detent block including multiple detent holes or recesses mounted at one end to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel and at the other end to the at least one cover plate,

at least one ball plunger block mounted to the at least one enclosure cover plate including at least one spring-loaded ball plunger, wherein the at least one ball plunger block is positioned proximate the at least one detent block to allow alignment of the at least one spring loaded ball plunger and the at least one detent block to permit discrete angular positioning of the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel,

at least one spring loaded hinge proximate the bottom edge of the enclosure and mounted at one end to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel and at the other end to the at least one enclosure cover plate, and

at least one adjustment lever arm or handle interconnected to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel for adjusting the vertical angle of the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel along the at least one detent block.

3. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein the at least one adjustment lever arm is located proximate a bottom edge of the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel for ease of access and adjustment by non-ambulatory people.

4. The cabinet of claim 1, further including at least one safety strap, safety cable, sliding safety bracket or safety gas cylinder interconnected between the at least one enclosure cover plate at one end and the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel at the other end for limiting the angular adjustment of the closure panel.

5. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the panel mounting bracket is a u-shaped bracket or an s-shaped bracket.

6. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the internal fully extendible slide bearing rail mechanism includes ball slides, roller slides or polymer slides.

7. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is mountable within a wall recess or on the surface of a wall.

8. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel is a single panel.

9. The cabinet of claim 8, wherein the single panel fully extends to provide unobstructed access to a cavity of the enclosure.

10. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel is a pair of panels with one slidable outward from the enclosure in one horizontal direction and the other slidable outward from the enclosure in the opposite horizontal direction.

11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein the pair of panels fully extend to provide unobstructed access to a cavity of the enclosure.

12. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontally slidable closure panel is chosen from a mirror, a picture, a painting, a poster, a decorative structure, a clock, a plaque, a diploma, a certificate and combinations thereof.

13. A cabinet comprising:

an enclosure,

at least one enclosure cover plate,

at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel interconnected to the enclosure with a first fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the top of the at least one enclosure cover plate and a second fully extendible concealed rail slide assembly mounted proximate the bottom of the enclosure or the at least one enclosure cover plate, and

an angular adjustment mechanism for vertically tilting the least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel,

wherein the angular adjustment mechanism includes;

at least one detent block including multiple detent holes or recesses mounted at one end to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel and at the other end to the at least one cover plate,

at least one ball plunger block mounted to the at least one enclosure cover plate including at least one spring-loaded ball plunger, wherein the at least one ball plunger block is positioned proximate the at least one detent block to allow alignment of the at least one spring loaded ball plunger and the at least one detent block to permit discrete angular positioning of the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel,

at least one spring loaded hinge proximate the bottom edge of the enclosure and mounted at one end to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel and at the other end to the at least one enclosure cover plate, and

at least one adjustment lever arm or handle interconnected to the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel for adjusting the vertical angle of the at least one horizontally slidable and vertically angularly adjustable closure panel along the at least one detent block.