NZ507687A - Drawer matching the corner profile of a cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

A corner storage compartment for a cabinet or joinery unit consisting of an open top boxlike container that follows the contours of both the back corner and front of the cabinet as shown in fig 2. The unit slides in and out horizontally on a frame or track and has front-end surface finish to match the rest of the joinery unit or cabinet, with handles to help facilitate the movement of the container. This container is much like a drawer, but adapted to fit in a corner. Also described is a joinery unit consisting of one or more of these containers.

Description

50768? Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: MF802236 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Corner Storage Compartment I, STEPHEN JOHN MURDOCH, a citizen of New Zealand of 108 Ventry Street, Alexandra, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 PT0598159 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 9 MAY 2001 RECEIVED 2 Corner Storage Compartment Field of the Invention The invention relates to corner storage compartments for cabinets and other joinery units, and in particular the invention relates to a corner storage compartment for the joinery unit under a kitchen bench.

Background to the Invention How to utilise the space in the corner of a cabinet or joinery unit which fits into the corner of a room has long been a problem. A typical example of such a space is under the corner of a kitchen bench. The storage space in this area is deeper than 15 along the rest of the unit, and placing and retrieving items can pose a difficulty for aged, disabled or less agile individuals. Even healthy, able-bodied persons might find the task of placing and retrieving items from this area awkward.

One solution to this problem is the so-called "Lazy Suzie." A Lazy Suzie is two or 20 more vertically disposed circular or disk shaped shelves on a central rotating axis. Stored items can be placed on the circular shelves which can be rotated through 360° so that the item of interest can be brought to the front of the storage area for easy retrieval. However, the Lazy Suzie suffers from a number of disadvantages. For instance, the shape of the circular shelf limits the size of objects which can be 25 comfortably stored. Further, the circular shelf does not reach right to the back of the storage area thereby creating wasted space, and when the circular shelf becomes cluttered stored objects can easily fall off while it is being rotated. This can be particularly annoying if the object falls into the dead space at the back of the storage compartment.

A further problem with the storage area in the corner of a joinery unit is in providing a closure for the area. It is difficult to get two hinged doors to meet in the oblique corner of the unit without leaving a clearance gap. Without a clearance gap the 3 doors would jam or catch on each other. One method of overcoming this problem is to use a bi-fold door. These doors tend to have complicated hinge mechanisms and even relatively small doors are known to drop or sag after a short period of time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a corner storage compartment for a cabinet or other joinery unit which overcomes or ameliorates some of the problems with the prior art, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention In a first aspect the invention provides a corner storage compartment for a cabinet or joinery unit comprising: an open top boxlike container having at least a first end wall adapted to substantially profile the shape of a corner of a cabinet or joinery unit; and 15 a frame or track on which the boxlike container can slide substantially horizontally from an in position to an out position, the frame being disposed at the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit; and wherein when the boxlike container is in the in position the first end wall is substantially flush with the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit, and when the 20 boxlike container is in the out position there is access to the inside of the container where objects may be stored; and wherein the first end wall has a surface finish to match the surface finish of the cabinet or joinery unit and has a handle, decorative or otherwise, to help facilitate the sliding in and out of the boxlike container.

Preferably a second, or back, end wall of the container is adapted to have the same profile as the first end wall. Alternatively, the second, or back, end wall may be adapted to profile the back of the cabinet or joinery unit when the container is in the in position.

Preferably the frame or track on which the boxlike container slides is a drawer frame or track of known type.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 0 JUN 2001 RECEIVED 4 In a second aspect the invention provides for a cabinet or joinery unit having a corner storage compartment as hereinbefore defined.

Preferably the cabinet or joinery unit has two or more of said corner storage compartments vertically disposed one on top of the other.

Preferably the cabinet or joinery unit is under a kitchen bench.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a corner of a kitchen bench unit having corner storage 15 compartments according to the invention, the compartments shown in an in position; Figure 2 illustrates the corner of the kitchen bench unit with one corner storage compartment in an out position; and Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a corner storage container 20 according to the invention.

Description of the Preferred Example The invention will now be described with reference to a kitchen bench unit with storage compartments under it. However, it is envisaged that the corner storage 25 compartment will have application in any cabinet or joinery unit which has a corner or is adapted to fit the corner of a room. Furthermore, the invention is described with reference to an oblique corner, i.e. an inside corner having an angle of less than 180°. It is also envisaged that the invention may have application to outside corners, i.e. corners with an angle of greater than 180°.

Figure 1 shows a conventional corner kitchen bench top 1 with joinery and storage compartments under it. On the inside corner of the joinery unit there are three corner storage compartments 2a, 2b and 2c according to the invention. The storage compartments 2a, 2b and 2c in Figure 1 are illustrated in the closed or in position. Either side of the corner storage compartments 2a, 2b and 2c are conventional storage cupboards 3 and 4. Alternatively, cupboards 3 and 4 could be other storage compartments, for example standard drawers.

Figure 2 shows one of the corner storage compartment 2c in its open or out position. In this position there is access to a storage area 5 where objects can be stored.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a corner storage compartment 2 removed from 10 the joinery unit. The corner storage compartment 2 is an open top boxlike container having sides 6, 7, 8 and 9. Within the boxlike container 2 is an area 5 for the storage of objects. The first or front end 6 of the boxlike container 2 is shaped to profile the shape of the corner of the joinery unit. The back end 7 of the boxlike container 2 is profiled to match the front end 6. Alternatively, back end 7 could be 15 profiled to match the back of the storage area in the joinery unit. This is illustrated by the dashed line 11 on Figure 2.

The boxlike container 2 has parallel sides 8 and 9 which enable it to slide substantially horizontally on a track or frame (not shown) disposed within the corner 20 of the joinery unit. The sides 8 and 9 may have part of the track or frame attached thereto to aid this purpose. The track or frame may be a standard drawer track or frame of known type.

The front end 6 of the boxlike storage container 2 may have decorative panelling 10, 25 or surface finish, attached thereto to match the cabinet or joinery into which it is fitted. It may also have handles 12 and 13, of known type, to aid in sliding it from the in position to the out position and vice versa. The handles 1 2 and 1 3 may also be of a decorative nature.

Thus according to the invention there is a corner storage compartment for the corner of a cabinet or joinery unit which allows ease of storage and retrieval of objects. As the storage compartment 2 can be made of any length to reach to the back of the 6 area in the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit - see dashed line 11 on Figure 2 - all of the storage space available is utilised.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components 5 or integers of the invention having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or 10 improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A corner storage compartment for a cabinet or joinery unit comprising: an open top boxlike container having at least a first end wall adapted to substantially profile the shape of a corner of a cabinet or joinery unit; and a frame or track on which the boxlike container can slide substantially horizontally from an in position to an out position, the frame being disposed at the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit; and wherein when the boxlike container is in the in position the first end wall is substantially flush with the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit, and when the boxlike container is in the out position there is access to the inside of the container where objects may be stored; and wherein the first end wall has a surface finish to match the surface finish of the cabinet or joinery unit and has a handle, decorative or otherwise, to help facilitate the sliding in and out of the boxlike container.

2. A compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second, or back, end wall of the container is adapted to have the same profile as the first end wall.

3. A compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second, or back, end wall of the container is adapted to profile the back of the cabinet or joinery unit when the container is in the in position.

4. A compartment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame or track on which the boxlike container slides is a drawer frame or track of known type.

5. A cabinet or joinery unit having a corner storage compartment comprising: an open top boxlike container having at least a first end wall adapted to substantially profile the shape of a corner of a cabinet or joinery unit; and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 0 JUN 2001 RECEIVED 7 ^ 7 L> c 10 8 a frame or track on which the boxlike container can slide substantially horizontally from an in position to an out position, the frame being disposed at the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit; and wherein when the boxlike container is in the in position the first end wall is substantially flush with the corner of the cabinet or joinery unit, and when the boxlike container is in the out position there is access to the inside of the container where objects may be stored; and wherein the first end wall has a surface finish to match the surface finish of the cabinet or joinery unit and has a handle, decorative or otherwise, to help facilitate the sliding in and out of the boxlike container. 15 A cabinet or joinery unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two or more of said corner storage compartments vertically disposed one on top of the other. A cabinet or joinery unit as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 which is under a kitchen bench. 20 A corner storage compartment, for a cabinet or joinery unit, as herein described with reference to Figure 3. A cabinet or joinery unit as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. 25 STEVEN JOHN MURDOCH 30 By his Attorneys BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS 35 CSPEC95517 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 0 JUN 2001 RECEIVED