US2521572A - Cabinet having foldable supporting means - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1950 C. E. ECKEL ET AL CABINET HAVING FOLDABLE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Oct. 16, 1945 l INVENTORS ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 CABINET'HAVING FOLDABLE SUPPORTING MEANS Charles E. Eckel, Scarsdale, and Anne Silver, I New York, N. Y.

Application October 16, 1945, Serial No. 622,506

1 Claim. (01. s12-14e) This invention relates to furniture in general, and particularly to utility cabinets, and especially to portable cabinets which may be used in either suspended or supported positions.

The prime object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and practical cabinet adapted to be either suspended or supported, and which is especially designed for use in caring for infants, and which, due to its intended purpose, must be readily portable to permit changing its location and position to the best advantage of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cabinet, comprising a body divided into a plurality of compartments, wherein at least one of the compartments is open and readily accessible, whereas other compartments are closable, such cabinet having a plurality of suspension means, of which at least one is retractible, and wherein are provided similarly retractible base extensions, serving for enlargin the effective support for the cabinet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cabinet with a false back and bottom, and with which false back are associated the aforementioned retractible suspension means and retractible base extension means, whereas at the false bottom a foldable towel bar is arranged and is so constructed that it may swing into the false bottom when the cabinet is to be placed upon an existing support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet of the type indicated, wherein the bottom compartments are provided with a downwardly swinging closure equipped with limiting means adapted to check the outward movement thereof, and which closure, when in open position, serves as an extension of the bottommost compartment.

The foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet in accordance with the instant invention, the cabinet resting upon a support, such as a table;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the cabinet with its suspension and base extension means in retracted position; and

Fig, 3 is another perspective view of the cabinet shown suspended from a bassinet.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, numeral I0 denotes a cabinet body consisting of a back panel H framed within a peripheral flange I2 to form a recessed-back. There is also provided a recessed bottom panel 13 within a flange M, the latter extendin about both sides and the front of the panel. The upper end of the back is arcuated at A5 and is provided with a central aperture l6 for the reception of a hook or the like, while below and symmetrically spaced from aperture it are provided two other apertures I! for the reception of a cord or rope which may also serve as suspension means for the cabinet, say, from a corner post of a bed.

Hinged at I8 to the side members of flange l2 of the false back are retractible hook-shaped suspension elements I9 which are adapted, when not in use, to fold towards one another and into the recessed back, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be swung outwards into operative position as clearly seen in Fig. 3. I-Iingedly secured also ed to swing toward each other when not in use, I

but to swing outwards into operative position when the cabinet is to be placed upon an existing support, as shown in Fig, 1. In their inoperative position base extensions 2| fold against the recessed back. When suspension hooks l9 as well as base extensions H are in their retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, their outer faces are disposed in the plane in which lies the outer edge of peripheral flange l2.

Hinged at 22 near the front bottom corners of the cabinet and within the recessed bottom thereof is a towel rack or bar 23 which is retracti-b'le, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. When the cabinet is suspended, as shown in Fig. 3, this towel bar swings downwards for its intended use.

The body of the cabinet is divided into a plurality of compartments. The upper portion of the cabinet constitutes an open shelf 24 provided with a low, frontal retaining wall 25, and which shelf is adapted-for the reception of articles required to be readily accessible. Beneath open shelf 24 there are arranged three rows of subdivided compartments provided with low retaining ledges 25, and below these three rows of sub-divided compartments are two compartments extending the full width of the cabinet. The upper, full-width compartment 28 is also equipped with a low retaining ledge 21. The three rows of the sub-divided compartments are closable by doors 28 which are adapted to swing out to both sides of the cabinet, whereas the two full-width compartments are closable by door 29 which swings out forward'and serves in its swung-out position as extension of the bottom of the lowermost compartment. Door 29 is equipped with side segments 30 provided with slots 3!. These slots engage pins 32 which are adapted to limit the outward swinging movement of the door. Secured to the outer face of the door are knobs 33 which not only facilitate the opening of the door, but also serve as supports for the door when in swung-out position.

While the drawing and the foregoing description deal with only one specific form of a portabl cabinet, it is to be understood that changes and improvements may be incorporated therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the annexed claim.

We claim:

In a cabinet having recessed back and bottom, open compartments at its upper end and closable compartments below the open compartments, hinged suspension means at the upper end of the cabinet and hinged base extensions at its bottom "end; both foldable into the recessed back, and a 4 forwardly swingable closure for some of the compartments, said closure serving as extension of the lowermost compartment when in open position.

CHARLES E. ECKEL.

ANNE SILVER.

fiEF ERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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