Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Pivotal – fixed axis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-09-11
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Pivotal, fixed axis
C016S382000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286918
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a hidden hinge system employed with cabinets of frameless construction to attach a cabinet door to a cabinet wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many types of cabinet hinges, including cabinet hinges employed in cabinets of so-called frameless construction, i.e., cabinets lacking a face frame.
The following prior art is known and believed representative of the current state of the prior art: U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,200, issued Nov. 26, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,539, issued Nov. 3, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,287, issued Apr. 30, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,290, issued Jan. 24, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,141, issued Aug. 15, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,616, issued Jul. 12, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,297, issued Dec. 27, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,165, issued Apr. 28, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. RE.36,213, issued Jun. 1, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. RE.30,717, issued Aug. 25, 1981, U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,077, issued Oct. 1, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,072, issued Oct. 7, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,706, issued May 21, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,877, issued Oct. 13, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,493, issued Feb. 28, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,296, issued Nov. 26, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,532, issued Apr. 14, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,766, issued Nov. 10, 1987, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,006, issued Dec. 11, 1990. A frameless cabinet door hinge is closed in German Offenlegungsschrift DE 4405349A1. Other hinges of some degree of relevance are shown in pages 93 and 112-114 of the 1998 Charles McMurray Catalog.
The hinge systems disclosed in the above-identified prior art do not incorporate the structural combinations disclosed and claimed herein.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hidden hinge system which is particularly applicable to attaching cabinet doors to walls of frameless cabinets. The invention is characterized by its ease of use and also by its superior strength characteristics. Most notably, the hinge system and cabinet wall to which it is applied can withstand the application of large forces without failure when the hinge is bent back from a maximum normal open position. Forces from the hinge are distributed over a large area of the cabinet wall, allowing frameless cabinets incorporating doors to be constructed using less material than otherwise would be the case.
Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that a range of adjustment is provided, allowing the structure to be utilized with components and materials of differing sizes and types. The teachings of the invention can be applied to a variety of hinge constructions from different manufacturers and of differing sizes. This adjustability feature also simplifies and facilitates installation.
The hinge system of the present invention is utilized with a cabinet of frameless construction, the cabinet including a cabinet wall and a cabinet door. The cabinet wall includes spaced wall sides and a wall front extending between the spaced wall sides. The cabinet wall defines an opening at the wall front, an elongated recess extending inwardly from the opening into the cabinet wall between the wall sides and an elongated slot in one of the wall sides communicating with the elongated recess.
The elongated slot has a vertical dimension less than the vertical dimension of the elongated recess and it is located at an elevation below the uppermost extent of the elongated recess and above the lowermost extent of the elongated recess.
A double-ended elongated support plate is located within the elongated recess with one of the ends of the elongated support plate disposed at or closely adjacent to the opening in the wall front of the cabinet wall and the other end located a predetermined distance inwardly of the opening.
The elongated support plate defines an elongated aperture in communication with the elongated slot in one of the wall sides.
The hinge incorporated in the invention includes pivotally interconnected first and second hinge members, the first hinge member being attached to the door.
Mechanical fastener means extends into the recess and through the elongated slot defined by the cabinet wall through the elongated aperture of the elongated support plate for releasably securing the second hinge member to the cabinet wall at a selected location on the cabinet wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 30717 (1981-08-01), Dargene
patent: Re. 36213 (1999-06-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 3524216 (1970-08-01), Fernandez et al.
patent: 4517706 (1985-05-01), Lautenschläger et al.
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patent: 4703539 (1987-11-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 4704766 (1987-11-01), Almestad
patent: 4799290 (1989-01-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 4856141 (1989-08-01), Sassenberg
patent: 4976006 (1990-12-01), Lautenschläger
patent: 5052077 (1991-10-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5067200 (1991-11-01), Stowell et al.
patent: 5103532 (1992-04-01), Youngdale et al.
patent: 5108165 (1992-04-01), Rorke et al.
patent: 5327616 (1994-07-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5375297 (1994-12-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5392493 (1995-02-01), Youngdale
patent: 5511287 (1996-04-01), Lautenschläger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5577296 (1996-11-01), Grass
patent: 6163930 (2000-12-01), King
patent: 4405349A1 (1998-08-01), None
Charles McMurray Catalog pp. 93 and 112-114.
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J.
Lampe Thomas R.
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