Supports: cabinet structure – Simulation – ornamentation or with secret compartment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-05-01
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Simulation, ornamentation or with secret compartment
C312S326000, C403S401000, C052S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224175
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
None.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of furniture and, more particularly, to a drawer, door, or the like for a storage space (e.g., cabinets, dressers) which utilizes a log or log-like frame or facing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Furniture has had a long existence and has been and continues to be available in a large variety of designs. Many types of articles may be classified as “furniture.” Cabinetry is one such article and is utilized in kitchens and various other rooms in houses and other types of structures as well (e.g., office buildings) for the storage of appropriate articles (e.g., dishes, housewares, clothes). “Cabinets” as used herein includes those structures which are effectively “permanent” (e.g., kitchen cabinets), as well as those which are portable or readily movable (e.g., a night stand with an at least partially enclosed storage space). Another such article is a dresser which is commonly used in bedrooms to store various types of clothing or other household goods/materials.
Log homes have also had a long existence. Early settlers in the United States commonly used logs to construct their home. These types of designs continue to be popular today, including for primary residences and vacation homes as well. Aesthetics is probably the primary motivation for selecting a log home design today. Commonly the interior decor of today's log homes continues with some type of a rustic theme as well. Various types of rustic furniture are available to compliment this rustic theme. However, there continues to be a need to further compliment the log home design through its interior furnishings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to furniture and, more particularly, to cabinets, cupboards, armoires, dressers, and any other type of furniture having at least one door or drawer for accessing some type of storage space or area. A first aspect of the present invention is embodied in a storage device which includes an enclosure of at least some sort (e.g., a “body” with some type of storage space therein), a first opening or access to the storage space, and a door which is movably interconnected with the enclosure (e.g., via one or more hinges) and which is at least at some point in time aligned with this first opening or access. The door may close an entirety or only part of this first opening or access. Representative examples which would embody the enclosure, first opening or access, and door of the subject first aspect of the present invention would be a “permanently” mounted cabinet or cupboard (“permanent” in the sense that it is not meant to be moved without rather considerable effort, such as a wall-mounted structure in a kitchen), as well as “portable” structures such as an end table or night stand with a storage space, a hutch, an armoire, or the like.
The door of the subject first aspect of the present invention includes a frame (e.g., wood) which is formed by a plurality of individual frame members. Various types of wood may be used for the door frame, including pine, cedar, and redwood, with pine being preferred. Commonly, four of such frame members will be utilized to define a rectangular or square “closed” configuration for the door frame (e.g., no openings in the perimeter of the frame). Each frame member includes front and back surfaces, as well as a pair of longitudinally spaced ends and pair of laterally sides extending between these two ends (i.e., the length dimension of the individual frame members is defined between its pair of ends, while the width dimension is defined between its pair of sides herein). The front surface of each of these frame members is convexly-shaped progressing from one of its sides to the other of its sides. This profile of the front surface of the individual frame members may then be characterized as giving the appearance of a log construction for the door frame of the subject first aspect. Methods for producing the above-noted storage device and components thereof are also contemplated by the subject first aspect where the above-noted individual frame members would first be formed into the above-noted profile, and thereafter assembled into a door frame which could then be incorporated with the above-noted enclosure.
Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the first aspect of the present invention. Further features may also be incorporated in the first aspect of the present invention as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. The ends of each of the individual frame members may be mitered at an appropriate angle, most commonly at about 45 degrees. Disposing opposing mitered ends of two frame members in abutting engagement allows these frame members to be interconnected in a desired door frame configuration. Appropriate adhesives may be utilized to facilitate the interconnection. However, since these individual frame members may be significantly more “robust” than what is commonly used in prior art furniture door constructions, at least one groove may be formed on the back surface proximate each miter joint in at least one of the two frame members which define each such miter joint. The depth of each such groove may increase in the direction of the corresponding miter joint. This allows a wood screw to be directed through an end of this groove, through the remainder of the frame member having the groove(s) formed therein, through the miter joint, and into the adjoining frame member at an appropriate angle and without having the back surface of the door frame interfere with the action of the screwdriver on the screw(s). Both mechanical fasteners and adhesives may be utilized to assemble the door frame.
As noted, the frame members may be significantly more “robust” than has been commonly employed in prior art furniture door designs, which further contributes to the door frame of the subject first aspect of the present invention having the appearance of at least a log-like construction. For instance, the width of each individual frame member may be at least about three inches, the thickness or depth (i.e., the distance between a front surface and a corresponding back surface) of each frame member may be at least about 1½ inches at the apex of the convexity, or both, which appropriately simulates a log construction for the door frame of the subject first aspect. Another way to characterize a log construction appearance for the door frame is to define the front surface of each of the frame members at least generally by a radius which extends between its pair of sides (e.g., about a three inch radius in one embodiment). Yet another way to characterize a log construction appearance for the door frame is by having the front surface of each frame member be at least substantially continuously arcuate between its pair of sides.
A center panel may be attached to the door frame of the subject first aspect of the present invention to occupy the space disposed inwardly of its perimeter. This center panel may be inset within a groove formed on the back surface of the door frame (e.g., a notch or groove formed on an edge of each of the individual frame members). Appropriate materials for the center panel include wood, and various types of glass (e.g., clear, smoked, colored, leaded). Various grooves may be formed on the front surface of the center panel (e.g., one or more vertically extending, generally v-shaped grooves). The center panel may also have a more robust thickness compared to center panels commonly employed in prior art furniture door designs. For instance, one embodiment of such a center panel has a thickness of at least about ¼-¾ inches. One or more boards may also be attached to the front surface of the center panel. Routering of the edges of these center panel boards may be utilized as well. Moreover, any such center panel boards may be of eq
Cuomo Peter M.
Hansen James O.
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
LandOfFree
Cabinet door with log frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cabinet door with log frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cabinet door with log frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2509446