FURNITURE WITH RETRACTABLE VANITY
A furniture unit including a case having a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the top.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/829,050, filed, Oct. 11, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly to a retractable vanity structure for use with an item of furniture.
Dressing tables or “vanities” include a working surface and usually a mirror so that a person can perform hygiene, apply cosmetics, etc. Ordinarily a vanity is a separate piece of furniture which serves only a single function and takes up valuable floor space when not in use.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vanity which can be stored out of the way when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis need is met by the present invention, which provides a furniture item having a retractable vanity structure mounted therein.
Therefore, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a furniture item having a retractable vanity structure mounted therein.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a furniture unit including a case comprising a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer. The drawer is openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the drawer top.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is movable into position with respect to a drawer bottom to form a substantially continuous working surface.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is pivotably connected to the drawer bottom.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is retainable in the position forming the substantially continuous working surface.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the top comprises a front and a rear and the front is pivotably connected to the rear.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, pivoting the front of the top provides the mirror.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the lights are low voltage.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a furniture unit includes a plurality of drawers in a front surface of the unit and one of the drawers includes a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel. A bottom panel is coupled to the front panel, and a pair of opposed side panels are each coupled to the bottom panel. Also, a top panel includes a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the continuous working surface includes a plastic laminate.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the furniture unit includes a pair of opposed drawer slides, each of the pair connected to one of the opposed side panels.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom panel is coupled to the front panel with at least one hinge.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a fixed section of the top panel.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a hinge connecting the pivotable section of the top panel to the fixed section.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a lid support for retaining the pivotable section of the top panel in the open position.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a lid support for retaining the front panel in its open position.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a drawer for a furniture unit includes a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel. The drawer further includes a bottom panel coupled to the front panel and a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel. Also, the drawer includes a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.
The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,
When not in use, the vanity 20 is completely hidden inside the dresser 10 and consumes no floor space. When opened as shown in
The foregoing has described a dresser with a vanity. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.
Claims
1. A furniture unit including a case comprising a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the top.
2. The furniture unit according to claim 1 wherein the drawer front is movable into position with respect to a drawer bottom to form a substantially continuous working surface.
3. The furniture unit according to claim 2 wherein the drawer front is pivotably connected to the drawer bottom.
4. The furniture unit according to claim 3 wherein the drawer front is retainable in the position forming the substantially continuous working surface.
5. The furniture unit according to claim 4 wherein the top comprises a front and a rear and the front is pivotably connected to the rear.
6. The furniture unit according to claim 5 wherein pivoting the front of the top provides the mirror.
7. The furniture unit according to claim 6 where in the light is battery powered.
8. A furniture unit comprising a plurality of drawers in a front surface of the unit, one of the drawers comprising:
- (a) a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel;
- (b) a bottom panel coupled to the front panel;
- (c) a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel; and
- (d) a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.
9. The furniture unit according to claim 8 wherein the continuous working surface comprises a plastic laminate.
10. The furniture unit according to claim 9 further including a pair of opposed drawer slides, each of the pair connected to one of the opposed side panels.
11. The furniture unit according to claim 10 wherein the bottom panel is coupled to the front panel with at least one hinge.
12. The furniture unit according to claim 11 further including a fixed section of the top panel.
13. The furniture unit according to claim 12 further including a hinge connecting the pivotable section of the top panel to the fixed section.
14. The furniture unit according to claim 13 further including a lid support for retaining the pivotable section of the top panel in the open position.
15. The furniture unit according to claim 14 further including a lid support for retaining the front panel in its open position.
16. A drawer for a furniture unit, the drawer comprising:
- (a) a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel;
- (b) a bottom panel coupled to the front panel;
- (c) a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel; and
- (d) a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 28, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2008
Inventor: John C. Debonis (Hickory, NC)
Application Number: 11/680,245
International Classification: A47B 96/16 (20060101);