Closet pull-out organizer cabinet
A closet system pull-out valet organizer system provides a slidable cabinet having a front, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a back opposite the front. The cabinet slides along a line perpendicular to the front. A mirror is hingedly attached close to where the second side meets the front, and a door can be hingedly attached close to where the first side meets the back.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/802,939 filed May 23, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is related to closet equipment, and in particular to storage compartments in a closet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ARTIt is known to store neckties in a cabinet having a door on the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is equipped with a mirror. See Elmo (U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,022). However, this type of fixed arrangement requires considerable space, and therefore is not optimal for use in a walk-in closet.
It is also known for a storage cabinet to be mounted above a track so as to slide from a retracted position to an extended position. See Janson (U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,143). However, combining such a system with Elmo would be problematic, for several reasons. For example, the mirror would face the wrong way when the cabinet door is opened.
Additionally, a pullout tie and belt case is known from the Sienna Collection. See http://www.closets.com/siena/accessories-ptbc.html (accessed 21 May 2007). Unfortunately, such a case does not show how to include a mirror. The Siena case also does not include any door for securing the contents, or for providing additional storage. Further problems with the Siena case include the fact that it cannot be attached to an existing closet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is designed to make the best use of a small space within a typical closet system. For men, this space could be used for belts, ties, and a mirror. For women, this space could be used for belts, jewelry, and a mirror. The present invention combines several potential uses in one small area, by providing a slidable cabinet that fits in this small space. The cabinet includes a front, a first side, a second side, a back, and a slide mechanism for sliding the cabinet along a line perpendicular to the front.
The invention is based partly on the realization that an access door to access the interior of this retractable cabinet will preferably be hinged toward the rear of the cabinet, so that the open door will not block or inhibit the access. However, a mirror will preferably be hinged toward the front of the cabinet in order to provide a more convenient and close-up reflection. Thus, it is apparent that the mirror should not be on the same side of the cabinet as the access door.
Therefore, the cabinet of the present invention includes a mirror hingedly attached closer to where the second side meets the front than where the second side meets the back. The mirror has a reflective surface facing outwardly from the cabinet, if the mirror is in a closed position parallel to the second side. The cabinet also includes a for accessing the first side, the door being hingedly attached closer to where the first side meets the back than where the first side meets the front.
In the track system of the present invention, full extension tracks are used for strength, stability and smoothness of operation. This invention can be oriented for left or right hand use (for the opening of the unit), by simply turning the unit upside-down.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. It is to be understood that this detailed description is an example only, and does not in any way limit the scope of the invention.
Referring to
Turning now to
This unit can be manufactured in different sizes for a variety of applications. A larger unit may be used for shoe or sweater storage, with adjustable shelves, or a smaller unit with the appropriate hooks and storage areas for scarves and/or jewelry.
As shown in
The sequence for assembling the embodiment shown in
Turning now to
It is to be understood that the present figures, and the accompanying narrative discussions of best mode embodiments, do not purport to be completely rigorous treatments of the system and cabinet under consideration. A person skilled in the art will understand that the various structures described in this application can be implemented by a variety of different configurations, using various different combinations of hardware and material which need not be further detailed herein.
Claims
1. A slidable cabinet, comprising:
- a front;
- a first side;
- a second side opposite the first side;
- a back opposite the front;
- a mirror hingedly attached closer to where said second side meets the front than where said second side meets the back, said mirror having a reflective surface facing outwardly from the cabinet if the mirror is in a closed position parallel to the second side;
- a door hingedly attached closer to where said first side meets the back than where said first side meets the front; and
- at least one slide mechanism configured to slide the cabinet substantially along a line perpendicular to the front.
2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the second side is closed, the first side is open or has an opening, and access to the cabinet interior is only via the door.
3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one slide mechanism comprises a top slide mechanism located above a bottom slide mechanism, said top and bottom slide mechanisms being attached to either the first side or the second side.
4. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein slide mechanisms are attached to the cabinet at only one side of the cabinet.
5. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said mirror is hingedly attached substantially where the second side meets the front, and wherein said door is hingedly attached substantially where said first side meets the back.
6. The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a lockable device that is configured to lock said door to said first side, or is configured to lock said front so that the cabinet will not slide.
7. The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to the front, the handle being configured to push or pull the cabinet along the line perpendicular to the front.
8. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the front, the back, the first side, the second side, the mirror, the door, and the at least one slide mechanism are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to an imaginary horizontal plane that bisects the cabinet.
9. The cabinet of claim 8, wherein the cabinet is flippable so that the first side can be placed right of the front and can instead be placed left of the front.
10. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one slide mechanism includes a device for resisting movement of the cabinet out of a fully extended position toward a retracted position.
11. A closet system pull-out valet organizer comprising:
- a closet system defining an enclosure;
- at least one slide mechanism mounted in the enclosure;
- a valet organizer dimensionally sized to fit at least partially within the enclosure of the closet system and mounted on at least one slide mechanism for reciprocating movement between a position retracted within the enclosure and a position extended from the enclosure; and
- a mirror hingedly connected on one side of the valet organizer.
12. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the mirror covers at least a part of a side of the valet organizer.
13. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 11, further including a door hingedly connected on a side of the valet opposite the mirror.
14. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 13, wherein the door covers an opening in the valet organizer.
15. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 13, further including a belt holder mounted on the door.
16. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 11, further including shelves mounted in an interior portion of the valet organizer.
17. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 11, further including at least one tie rack mounted in an interior portion of the valet organizer.
18. A closet system pull-out valet organizer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one slide mechanism mounted in the enclosure comprises slide mechanisms mounted at a top portion of the valet organizer and at a bottom portion of the valet organizer.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2007
Inventors: Guy Verfaillie (Bethel, CT), Peter Krajcsik (Shelton, CT)
Application Number: 11/805,711
International Classification: A47B 67/00 (20060101);