Modular Closet Unit
A modular closet unit comprising a structure of upright frame members connected between a floor and a ceiling of an occupied space, a horizontal track between the upright frame members, and bifold doors for closing the space between the upright frame members and between the horizontal track and the floor. The modular closet unit further includes fascia panels positioned above the bifold doors and side panels positioned at one or more ends of the modular closet unit.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/253,227, filed on Oct. 20, 2009, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a modular closet unit and more particularly, to a structure of upright frame members, interconnected horizontal tracks, bifold doors, fascia panels, and side panels for enclosing a specific storage area within a larger occupied space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStorage areas, such as garages and basements, frequently become cluttered with items such as sporting equipment, tools, lawn and garden equipment, and the like. Sometimes, such items are stored on open shelving within the larger occupied space of a garage or basement. In any case, storage of such items is not only unattractive, but storage of such items may pose hazards where children or pets may have ready access to such items. Such a typical circumstance is illustrated in
The present invention addresses the problem outlined above by providing an easily assembled modular closet unit comprising a structure of upright frame members, interconnected horizontal tracks, feet, bifold doors, fascia panels, and side panels. In one embodiment of the invention, the upright frame members extend between the floor and ceiling of the larger occupied space. The length of the upright frame members is variable by means of a top foot that extends upwardly from the top of the upright frame member to engage the ceiling of the occupied space. The top foot may be either spring-loaded to extend and thereby to engage the ceiling, or the top foot may be threaded into the top of the upright frame member and rotated in order to extend the top foot and thereby to engage the ceiling. Each upright frame member has a bottom frame member foot attached to the bottom end of the upright frame member. The bottom frame member foot contacts the floor of the occupied space to support the upright frame member. The bottom frame member foot further includes a bottom hinge pin foot for engaging and securing a lower hinge pin for each bifold door. An additional center foot, with a center foot slot on each side, is mounted to the floor of the occupied space to engage a lower guide pin on each of the bifold doors when the bifold doors are in the closed position.
The horizontal tracks are attached to the upright frame members and extend between adjacent upright frame members. The horizontal tracks are attached to the upright frame members at a height approximately equal to the height of the bifold doors. Each horizontal track includes a top track channel for engaging an upper hinge pin for the bifold door as well as for engaging an upper guide pin for the bifold door. The horizontal tracks are connected to the upright frame members by any suitable means including screws, hooks and slots, or other fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The horizontal tracks have a length that is equal to the width of the bifold door or doors that engage the top track channel of the horizontal track.
Fascia panels preferably cover the space between the top of the bifold doors and the ceiling and are connected to the upright frame members by any suitable means, including screws, hooks and slots, or other fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the fascia panels may not extend entirely to the ceiling. In other embodiments, the fascia panels may be omitted.
Side panels preferably cover the end of the modular closet unit and are connected to the upright frame members by any suitable means, including screws, hooks and slots, or other fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the side panels may be omitted to facilitate access to the end of the modular closet unit.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, lower ends of upright frame members are supported by the floor of the occupied space and upper ends of the upright frame members are secured to an offset from a wall frame attached to a wall of the occupied space.
Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention gain structural integrity from the ceiling, floor, and/or walls of the larger occupied space. Thus, unlike conventional cabinets and utility cabinets, the size of the space enclosed by the present invention can be customized and adjusted to meet the particular storage needs of the customer. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can enclose larger spaces and hide larger items than conventional utility cabinets because multiple units of the present invention can be assembled side by side to create a large enclosed space. Because the units of the present invention are preferably assembled in place inside the larger occupied space, it is also possible to utilize the entire height of the occupied space. This feature contrasts with conventional utility cabinets which typically are shorter than the larger occupied space to facilitate movement of the cabinet into or out of the occupied space.
Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
With particular respect to
As shown in
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The modular closet unit 10 is completed by installation of the bifold doors 40 within the framework formed by the upright frame members 12 and the horizontal tracks 30, by installation of the fascia panels 70 on the upright frame members 12 above the bifold doors 40, and by installation of side panel 60 between the back wall 8 of the occupied space and the upright frame member 12 at the end of the modular closet unit 10. The fascia panels 70 and side panels 60 can be attached to the upright frame members 12 using suitable fasteners such as screws, hooks and slots, or other fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The fascia panels 70 and side panels 60 can be attached to the ceiling 6 and side wall 9, respectively, by any combination of brackets, screws, or other fasteners. As shown in
In order to install the bifold doors 40, the bottom hinge pin foot 18 engages and secures the lower hinge pin 44 of the bifold door 40, as shown in
The horizontal track channel 32 of the horizontal track 30 engages and secures the upper hinge pin 42 of the bifold door 40 (
A center foot 20 (
The horizontal track channel 32 of the horizontal track 30 engages an upper guide pin 46 (
In some embodiments, the upper guide pins 46 and/or lower guide pins 48 may be spring-loaded so they may be easily inserted into the horizontal track channel 32 or lower horizontal track channel (not pictured). Similarly, in some embodiments, the upper hinge pins 42 and/or lower hinge pins 44 may be spring-loaded so they may easily be inserted into a hollow shaft opening in the horizontal track channel 32 or the bottom hinge pin foot 18, respectively.
The fascia panels 70 are connected to the upright frame members 12 above the bifold doors 40 by means of screws or other suitable fasteners. The fascia panels 70 give the modular closet unit 10 a finished look. In some embodiments, the fascia panels 70 may be attached to the ceiling 6 by means of brackets, screws, or other fasteners, alone or in combination. In other embodiments, the fascia panels 70 may not extend entirely to the ceiling 6. In yet other embodiments, the fascia panels 70 may be omitted altogether.
As shown in
Turning to
A second embodiment of a modular closet unit 110 is shown in
The lower end of each of the upright frame members 112 includes a bottom frame member foot 116 including a bottom hinge pin foot 118. The floor 4 supports the bottom frame member foot 116 and thereby supports the upright frame member 112. The upright frame member 112 has a top end 114 that is offset from and secured to the back wall 8 by means of a wall frame 125. The wall frame 125 comprises a vertical wall frame member 126 that is secured to the back wall 8 by means of screws or other conventional fasteners, a horizontal wall frame member 128 that is secured to the back wall 8 by means of screws or other conventional fasteners, offset wall frame members 129 that extend between the top end 114 of the upright frame member 112 and the horizontal wall frame member 128, and corner angle members 127 to provide rigidity between the horizontal frame member 128 and the offset wall frame members 129.
Horizontal tracks 130 extend between upright frame members 112 at a height approximately equal to the height of the bifold doors 140. The horizontal tracks 130 are connected to the upright frame members 112 by means of screws, although other suitable fasteners may be used. The upright frame members 112, which are supported by the floor 4 and secured by the wall frame 125, and the interconnected horizontal tracks 130 together provide the basic structural frame for the modular closet unit 110. The modular closet unit 110 is completed by installation of the bifold doors 140 within the framework formed by the upright frame members 112 and the horizontal tracks 130, by installation of the fascia panels 170 on the upright frame members 112 above the bifold doors 140, and by installation of the side panel (not shown) between the vertical wall frame member 126 on the back wall 8 of the occupied space and the upright frame member 112 at the end of the modular closet unit 110.
An optional top panel (not shown) can be fastened to the top of wall frame 125, thus providing a shelf on top of the modular closet unit 110 for accommodating additional storage items. In addition, the vertical wall frame member 126 adapts the side panel to the back wall 8 where the wall 8 has a kickboard or footer that would otherwise interfere with installing the side panel directly to the back wall 8. Certain embodiments of the modular closet unit 110 may comprise a back panel (not shown) that can be attached to the rear of the wall frame 125 for enclosing the modular closet unit 110 without utilizing the back wall 8.
Each bifold door 140 of the modular closet unit 110 preferably has an upper hinge pin bracket and a lower hinge pin bracket similar to the hinge pin brackets of the first embodiment shown in
Similarly, each bifold door 140 of the modular closet unit 110 preferably has an upper guide pin bracket and a lower guide pin bracket similar to the guide pin brackets of the first embodiment. These upper and lower guide pin brackets are adapted to hold upper and lower guide pins in place. The upper and lower guide pins are adapted to engage the horizontal track channel of the horizontal track 130 and the center foot slot of the center foot 122, respectively.
Finally, the modular closet unit 110 can be adapted to include a lower horizontal track (not pictured) that connects the bottom frame member foot 116 to the center foot 122. Such a modified embodiment of the modular close unit 110 provides a lower horizontal track channel through which the lower guide pins may travel when the bifold doors 140 are opened or closed. These embodiments provide added stability towards the bottom of the modular closet unit 110.
In some embodiments of the present invention, sliding doors can be utilized instead of the bifold doors 40, 140 described above. In yet other embodiments, swinging hinged doors can be utilized instead of the bifold doors 40, 140.
Advantageously, modular closet units of the present invention can be assembled in a variety of configurations to create an enclosed space. In some configurations, multiple units can be placed side by side to create a wide enclosed space such as along an entire wall or to partition the larger enclosed space into two (or more) rooms. In some configurations, two units can be placed at right angles to one another and be used to enclose the inside corner of the larger occupied space. In other configurations, four units can be placed at right angles to each other to create an interior room inside the larger occupied space. The size of any such room can be expanded by placing multiple units on each side of the enclosed room. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of shapes of enclosed spaces, partitions, or partial enclosures can be created by arranging multiple units of the present invention in various configurations.
While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A modular closet unit comprising:
- a. a plurality of upright frame members connected between a floor and a ceiling of an occupied space,
- b. a horizontal track connected to the upright frame members between the upright frame members, and
- c. doors connected to the upright frame members and the horizontal track.
2. The modular closet unit of claim 1 further comprising a side panel connecting at least one upright frame member to a back wall of the occupied space.
3. The modular closet unit of claim 1 further comprising a fascia panel connected to at least one upright frame member and positioned above at least one door.
4. The modular closet unit of claim 2 wherein the modular close unit is enclosed on one side by a side wall of the occupied space.
5. The modular closet unit of claim 2 wherein each upright frame member is supported by a bottom frame member foot, and wherein each bottom frame member foot frictionally engages the floor of the occupied space.
6. The modular closet unit of claim 5 wherein at least one door comprises an upper hinge pin bracket and a lower hinge pin bracket, wherein an upper hinge pin is adapted to secure the upper hinge pin bracket to the horizontal track, and wherein a lower hinge pin is adapted to secure the lower hinge pin bracket to a bottom hinge pin foot.
7. The modular closet unit of claim 6 wherein at least one door comprises an upper guide pin bracket and a lower guide pin bracket, wherein an upper guide pin is adapted to engage the upper guide pin bracket, wherein a distal end of the upper guide pin is adapted to fit inside a horizontal track channel formed in the horizontal track, wherein a lower guide pin is adapted to engage the lower guide pin bracket, and wherein a distal end of the lower guide pin is adapted to fit inside a slot in a center foot.
8. The modular closet unit of claim 5 further comprising a lower horizontal track connecting at least one bottom frame member foot to an adjacent bottom frame member foot.
9. The modular closet unit of claim 8 wherein at least one door comprises an upper hinge pin bracket and a lower hinge pin bracket, wherein an upper hinge pin is adapted to secure the upper hinge pin bracket to the horizontal track, and wherein a lower hinge pin is adapted to secure the lower hinge pin bracket to the lower horizontal track.
10. The modular closet unit of claim 9 wherein at least one door comprises an upper guide pin bracket and a lower guide pin bracket, wherein an upper guide pin is adapted to engage the upper guide pin bracket, wherein a distal end of the upper guide pin is adapted to fit inside an upper horizontal track channel formed in the horizontal track, wherein a lower guide pin is adapted to engage the lower guide pin bracket, and wherein a distal end of the lower guide pin is adapted to fit inside a lower horizontal track channel formed in the lower horizontal track.
11. A modular closet unit comprising:
- a. a plurality of upright frame members connected between a floor and a ceiling of an occupied space,
- b. a wall frame for positioning the upright frame members offset from a back wall of the occupied space,
- c. a horizontal track connected to the upright frame members between the upright frame members, and
- d. doors connected to the upright frame members and the horizontal track.
12. The modular closet unit of claim 11 further comprising a side panel connecting at least one upright frame member to the back wall of the occupied space.
13. The modular closet unit of claim 11 further comprising a fascia panel connected to at least one upright frame member and positioned above at least one door.
14. The modular closet unit of claim 12 wherein the modular close unit is enclosed on one side by a side wall of the occupied space.
15. The modular closet unit of claim 12 wherein each upright frame member is supported by a bottom frame member foot, and wherein each bottom frame member foot frictionally engages the floor of the occupied space.
16. The modular closet unit of claim 15 wherein at least one door comprises an upper hinge pin bracket and a lower hinge pin bracket, wherein an upper hinge pin is adapted to secure the upper hinge pin bracket to the horizontal track, and wherein a lower hinge pin is adapted to secure the lower hinge pin bracket to a bottom hinge pin foot.
17. The modular closet unit of claim 16 wherein at least one door comprises an upper guide pin bracket and a lower guide pin bracket, wherein an upper guide pin is adapted to engage the upper guide pin bracket, wherein a distal end of the upper guide pin is adapted to fit inside a horizontal track channel formed in the horizontal track, wherein a lower guide pin is adapted to engage the lower guide pin bracket, and wherein a distal end of the lower guide pin is adapted to fit inside a slot in a center foot.
18. The modular closet unit of claim 15 further comprising a lower horizontal track connecting at least one bottom frame member foot to an adjacent bottom frame member foot.
19. The modular closet unit of claim 18 wherein at least one door comprises an upper hinge pin bracket and a lower hinge pin bracket, wherein an upper hinge pin is adapted to secure the upper hinge pin bracket to the horizontal track, and wherein a lower hinge pin is adapted to secure the lower hinge pin bracket to the lower horizontal track.
20. The modular closet unit of claim 19 wherein at least one door comprises an upper guide pin bracket and a lower guide pin bracket, wherein an upper guide pin is adapted to engage the upper guide pin bracket, wherein a distal end of the upper guide pin is adapted to fit inside an upper horizontal track channel formed in the horizontal track, wherein a lower guide pin is adapted to engage the lower guide pin bracket, and wherein a distal end of the lower guide pin is adapted to fit inside a lower horizontal track channel formed in the lower horizontal track.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 19, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2011
Inventors: David Allis (Dothan, AL), Beverley Shelley (Dothan, AL), William Bookman (Dothan, AL), Chad Carver (Dothan, AL), Randy Windham (Newville, AL), Susan Jacobs (Headland, AL), Oscar Hughes (Hartford, AL)
Application Number: 12/907,114
International Classification: E04H 1/12 (20060101);