US2965427A - Washroom cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1960 M. H. SESSIONS WASHROOM CABINET Filed May 5, 1958 Mnecfl. 5551570115;

INVENTOR.

53 M XML Un t SW68 atent 6 WASHROOM CABINET Filed May 5, H58, Ser. No. 732,994

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-242) This invention relates to a washroom cabinet which combines the functions of a towel dispenser, soap dispenser, waste paper receptacle, and storage cabinet in a single unitary cabinet structure. The objects and advantages of this invention will be best understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, in connection with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of the invention showing the cabinet doors closed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the embodiment of Fig. 1, showing the cabinet doors open.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises an enclosure having two sides 10, a back 14, and a top 15. An upper door 24 and lower door 32 are hinged to one side of the enclosure with an aperture between them, the upper door having a lock 26, and the lower door having a latch 34, which may be a lock. Flanges 12 extend from the sides and top and bottom of the enclosure to adapt the cabinet for flush mounting within a wall as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, it will be understood that the cabinet need not be flush-mounted within a wall, and that flanges 12 are therefore required only when the cabinet is to be flush-mounted. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the enclosure also has a bottom and a bottom flange extending therefrom. However, the bottom may not be necessary in every embodiment of the invention.

Attached to the rear of the upper door is a towel dis penser unit generally indicated at 28. The towel dispenser unit may be of any suitable type. However, it is preferably of shallow depth, as shown. The towel dispenser employed in this embodiment has a body portion 27 which is adapted to hold paper towels, and which has an opening in its bottom from which extends a portion of the lowermost towel 30. The towels are folded and in terleaved, such that when the lowermost towel is re moved, a portion of the towel above is drawn out the bottom opening of body portion 27. A cover portion 33 is hinged to the bottom of the body portion by hinge pivots 31, and is normally latched in its closed position by a latch 29, which is located at the top of the dispenser. When the upper cabinet door is opened, cover 33 may be unlatched and opened for reloading the towel dispenser, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The bottom edge of the towel dispenser unit is near the bottom edge of upper door 24, so that towel portion 30 normally extends below the level of that door into the aperture between the doors.

Storage shelves 16 and 18 are mounted within the enclosure behind the towel dispensing unit. The lowermost storage shelf 18 substantially abuts against the lower edge of the towel dispensing unit 28 when the upper door is closed, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, thus serving to seal off access to the storage space when the upper door is closed. In the instant embodiment the towel dis ensing unit 28 extends substantially fully across the width of the upper door. However, in embodiments where it 'tloes not it may be necessary to form lower storage shelf 2 18 with extensions which close off the space between the sides of the towel dispensing unit and the sides of the enclosure, to prevent access to the storage space when the door is closed. The storage shelves may be used to store any desired material, for example spare towels 17 and soap 19.

A soap dispensing unit 20 is mounted by means of bracket 22 to the back of the enclosure below lower storage shelf 18. This soap dispensing unit may be of any type. However, it is preferable that it be of a type which is loaded from the top, as herein disclosed. An opening 23 is provided in storage shelf 18 to afford access to the top of the soap dispensing unit for loading thereof. The soap dispensing unit is located with its loading portion very close to the storage shelf so that it cannot be tampered with when the upper door is locked. The delivery handle 21 of the soap dispensing unit extends below the lowermost towel 30, where it may be easily seen and operated by the user.

A waste paper receptacle 36 is contained within the en closure behind lower door 32. The top of receptacle 36 is open and is conveniently accessible through the aperture between the two cabinet doors. The container is preferably removable from the enclosure, but it may be of any type. It is also possible to have the sides and bot tom of the enclosure serve as a waste paper receptacle; however, this is usually less convenient for removal of the waste paper.

A particularly important feature of this invention is that the loading portions of the soap and towel dispenser units may be left open, or unlocked, and spare towels and soap conveniently stored on the storage shelves along with any other necessary items used in a washroom, and all secured against theft or tampering by the single lock 26. Thus, refilling the towel and soap dispensing units becomes very simple, and furthermore whenever the storage cabinet is opened to get any other materials the maintenanee personnel are reminded to refill the two dispensing units and are encouraged to do so by the ease of refilling.

A further important advantage of the invention is that access is provided to towels, soap, and the waste recep tacle via a single aperture in the cabinet. This provides convenience in use and conservation of space. An additional important advantage of the invention is that no special mechanism or operation is necessary for catching and disposing of waste soap from the soap dispenser, since it falls directly into the waste paper receptacle. Ordinarily an apron or equivalent structure is necessary with soap dispensers mounted in a cabinet or wall.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention combines the functions of a towel dispenser, soap dispenser, storage cabinet, and waste paper receptacle in a single unitary washroom cabinet structure that provides for ease in the refilling of the dispensers, protects them against tampering, and permits convenient access by the user to soap, towels, and waste receptacle via a single aperture. And, although this invention has been described in connection with one specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many modifications can be made in the specific embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention. This invention includes all modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A washroom cabinet comprising an enclosure having a back, two sides, and a top, an upper door hinged to one side of the enclosure and extending from the top thereof downward, the upper door ha ing lock means operable to secure the door in its closed position, a lower door hinged to one side of the enclosure below the upper door. the lower door extending from the bottom edges of the enclosure upward and having latch means operable to Patented Dec. 20, 1960.

taehed to the inner side of the upper door with the hot-' tom edge of't'he towel dispenser near the bottom edge of the upper door so that towels normally extend from the dispenser into said aperture, a shelf having an opening therein attached to the enclosure near the bottom edge of 10 the towel dispenser and substantially abutting the same when the door is closed, a soap dispenser having an open top mountedin the enclosure below and substantially abutting the bottom of said shelf so that the open top of the soap dispenser is in direct communication with the" opening in the shelf and the bottom of the soap dispenser is accessible through said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,681,840 Carlson d-. Aug. 21, 1928 1,688,242 Lawrence Oct. 16, 1928 Jantzen t Jail 1, 1,920,797 Jones Afig. 1, 1933 2,584,274 Laystrom J Feb. 5 1952 2,636,645 Reynolds .t Apr. 28, 1953

Images