Cabinetry system having removable cabinet faces

• US 9,185,981 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richardson Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richardson Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Kane, Gary R., Schneider, Adam J., Gudex, Jason T., Voigt, James A., Dassow, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US14/639,438
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 312/204, 312/109, 312/326, 312/348.2, 312/348.4, 312/285, 495/01, 52D/IG.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2096/207 Furniture panels consisting of a frame with interchangeable insertable panel
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2096/209 Magnetic decorative panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/05 with panels on a separate frame, e.g. a metal frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 77/02 General layout, e.g. relative arrangement of compartments, working surface or surfaces, supports for apparatus A47B77/08 takes precedence ; combinable furniture units A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 77/04 Provision for particular uses of compartments or other parts ; Compartments moving up and down, revolving parts cabinets in general A47B49/00, A47B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/944 Drawers characterised by the front panel
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/00 Fittings for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/04 Keyplates; Ornaments or the like rims specially adapted for table tops A47B13/08; keyplates in general E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/201 Edge features

Abstract

A door assembly is disclosed herein that is usable in a cabinetry system having removable cabinet faces. The door assembly includes a door plate coupleable to at least one hinge assembly, the door plate having a first portion and a second portion extending outward from the first portion. The door assembly also includes a door panel having a recess formed in an inward-facing surface thereof, the recess sized to receive the door plate. A plurality of magnets are inset within the inward-facing surface of the door panel adjacent the recess and are magnetically coupled to the door plate. According to various embodiments, the door plate may have a substantially L-shaped or C-shaped configuration.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising:

a door plate coupleable to at least one hinge assembly, the door plate having a first portion and a second portion extending outward from the first portion, the door plate having a width defined between a rightmost side surface and a leftmost side surface;

a door panel having a width greater than the width of the door plate and having a recess formed in an inward-facing surface thereof, the recess sized to receive the door plate; and

a plurality of magnets inset within the inward-facing surface of the door panel adjacent the recess, the plurality of magnets magnetically coupled to the door plate.

2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the door plate is substantially vertical;

wherein the second portion of the door plate is substantially horizontal; and

wherein the first portion of the door plate has a length that is greater than a width of the second portion of the door plate.

3. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein a single magnet of the plurality of magnets is magnetically coupled to the first portion of the door plate;

and

wherein a single pair of magnets of the plurality of magnets is magnetically coupled to the second portion of the door plate.

4. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein a top surface of the single pair of magnets is substantially aligned with a top surface of the cavity.

5. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the door plate comprises steel;

and

wherein the plurality of magnets comprise rare earth magnets.

6. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the door plate comprises an L-shaped structure;

and

wherein the recess in the door panel is L-shaped.

7. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the door plate further comprises a third portion arranged with respect to the first portion and the second portion to form a C-shaped structure;

and

wherein the recess in the door panel is C-shaped.

8. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein a notch is formed along an edge of the first portion of the door plate, the notch sized to receive a portion of the at least one hinge assembly.

9. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the door plate is substantially equal to a depth of the recess of the door panel.

10. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the door plate comprises a ferrous material.

11. A cabinet assembly comprising:

a cabinet box comprising a pair of side panels; and

a door assembly comprising;

a hinge assembly;

a door plate coupled to a side panel of the pair of side panels via the hinge assembly, the door plate comprising a vertical portion and at least one horizontal portion extending outwardly from the vertical portion;

a door panel having a recess formed in an inward-facing surface thereof, the recess sized to receive the door plate; and

a first plurality of magnets positioned within recesses formed within the inward-facing surface of the door panel adjacent the recess;

wherein the first plurality of magnets are magnetically coupled to the door plate.

12. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of magnets are magnetically coupled to a first surface of the door plate;

and

wherein a second surface of the door plate, opposite the first surface, is substantially flush with a portion of the inward-facing surface of the door panel.

13. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 wherein the door panel comprises a vertical portion and a single horizontal portion arranged in an L-shaped configuration.

14. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 wherein the door panel comprises a vertical portion and a pair of horizontal portions arranged in a C-shaped configuration.

15. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 wherein a single magnet of the first plurality of magnets is positioned to engage the vertical portion of the door plate;

and

wherein a pair of magnets of the first plurality of magnets are positioned to magnetically engage a horizontal portion of the door plate.

16. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 further comprising a drawer assembly coupled to the cabinet box, the drawer assembly comprising:

a drawer box;

a metal drawer plate coupled to a front surface of the drawer box; and

a drawer panel coupled to the metal drawer plate, an inward-facing surface of the drawer panel having a cavity formed therein to receive the metal drawer plate.

17. The cabinet assembly of claim 11 wherein the drawer assembly further comprises a second plurality of magnets coupled to the inward-facing surface of the drawer panel.

18. A door assembly comprising:

at least one hinge;

an L-shaped magnetic plate coupled to the at least one hinge via a mechanical fastener; and

a door panel coupled to the L-shaped magnetic plate via a plurality of magnets positioned within recesses formed in an inward-facing surface of the door panel, the door panel having an L-shaped recess sized to receive the L-shaped magnetic plate;

wherein a surface of the door panel and a surface of the L-shaped magnetic plate form an interior surface of the door assembly.

19. The cabinetry system of claim 18 wherein the L-shaped magnetic plate comprises steel;

and

wherein the plurality of magnets comprise rare earth magnets that are directly coupled to the L-shaped magnetic plate.

20. The cabinetry system of claim 18 wherein the door assembly further comprises:

a pair of magnets coupled to a horizontal portion of the L-shaped magnetic plate; and

a third magnet coupled to a vertical portion of the L-shaped magnetic plate.