Abstract:
A Medicine Cabinet Assembly that provides for easier use and storage of electrical appliances by having electrical outlets on the interior surface of the walls.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an improved Medicine Cabinet Assembly with built-in electrical outlets that provides for the use and storage of portable electrical appliances.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The use of a Medicine Cabinet Assembly heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.  
         [0003]     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,746 that is multi sectional Medicine Cabinet Assembly which cites a number of references that are also applicable to this application. These are, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,489 and several design patents. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Medicine Cabinet Assembly that provides for the easy use and storage of portable electrical appliances.  
         [0004]     Most electrical appliances used in bathrooms today require an electrical plugin for use. Once a house is wired for electricity it is difficult and expensive to rewire, and often requires the removal of the wall coverings such as sheetrock or lathing which can also be expensive.  
         [0005]     There is a trend to use of more and more electrical appliances in a bathroom. For example, a beard or mustache trimmer, other hair trimmers, hair dryers, curling irons, electrical toothbrushes, contact glasses containers, sterilizers, etc. Other larger outlets on the typical bathroom counter can include lamps, humidifiers, deordirzers, and the like, which will also use up the existing outlets and create the need for more outlets. With only a set amount of outlets available a lost cost means to provide additional electrical outlets is therefore needed.  
         [0006]     Since the typical bathroom counter is also an environment that is expected to have water, it would increase the safety of the user if a means to both power and store these items away form the water was available.  
         [0007]     Additionally, as the number of the people that use the same bathroom increases, the need for additional storage and outlets also increases.  
         [0008]     The instant invention is a medicine cabinet having from one to a multiplicity of shelves and power recepticals, and appliance storage positions, and also includes mirror doors being hingedly attached to the cabinet and being closable over the open fronts of the sections; and optionally includes drawers being removably disposed in the cabinet.  
         [0009]     In these respects, the Medicine Cabinet Assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing extra electrical outlets as well as easier storage and use of electrical appliances.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of existing medicine cabinets now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new Medicine Cabinet Assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a means to power and stored electrical appliances. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new Medicine Cabinet Assembly which has many of the advantages of the esiting medicine cabinets mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new Medicine Cabinet Assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art medicine cabinets, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
         [0011]     Outlets are provided inside the Medicine Cabinet Assembly to power things like razors, trimmers, and other personal care items. For safety purposes the outlets should not point upward, and should be located on the interior surfaces of the walls of the medicine cabinet. The outlets should be identical to those used in house construction for the area of intended use.  
         [0012]     An advantage of the instant invention is that a existing Medicine Cabinet Assemblyman be replaced with one with outlets, thereby avoiding costly construction in an effort to increase the ease in use of appliances. However, replacement is not necessary, an additional cabinet can easily be added to any existing bathroom.  
         [0013]     Another advantage is that additional outlets and storage spaces for electrical appliances can be provided when replacing the existing medicine cabinet. Also, the storage spaces can be designed for currently popular appliances that are immediately needed. Yet another advantage is that existing commercial designs can easily be modified to include the advantages of the additional outlets with sacrificing shelves or storage space. This would allow the availability of the present invention to public on a economically viable basis.  
         [0014]     To attain these advantages, the present invention generally comprises a Medicine Cabinet Assembly having outlets placed on the interior wall surfaces of the medicine cabinet.  
         [0015]     The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the improved medicine cabinet.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a typical outlet assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A′ illustrating the attachment of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly to a stud or wall structure.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A′ illustrating the attachment of the outlet directly to the left side wall without the use of a outlet housing.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line B-B′ illustrating the use of a hollow side wall that acts as both an outlet housing and a support. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Now referring to  FIG. 1  the instant invention  1  is an improved Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1 , that has a first electrical outlet assembly  3  and a second electrical outlet assembly  5 , mounted on the interior surface  9   a  of the left side wall  9 , that is opposite from the right side wall  11 , of said Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1 .  
         [0023]     For ease of reference the left side wall  9  has interior surface  9   a  and an exterior wall surface  9   b , the right side wall  11  has an interior surface  11   a  and exterior surface  11   b , the top side wall  29  has an interior surface  29   a  and exterior surface  29   b , the bottom wall  10  has an interior surface  10   a  and exterior surface  10   b , and at the rear of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  a back wall  12  that encloses the interior volume of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly  14 , and has a rear surface  12   b  and a front surface  12   a . The vast majority of medicine cabinets have doors  41  that typically have a mirror front  43  and sheet metal back  45  that are attached to either the left side wall  9  or the right side wall  11  with hinges such as  47 , 49 . When said walls are assembled the forward facing edges  51 , 53 , 55 , 57  form the front of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1 .  
         [0024]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , outlets  13  are typical housed in an outlet housing  15 , in which the outlet  13  is attached to lead wires  17 , 19  to provide power to the outlet for use with an appliance (not shown). The use of outlets are well know in the art, and existing outlets can be used in most applications.  
         [0025]     Now referring to  FIG. 3  the outlet assemblies  3 , 5  should be mounted opposite the wall structure such as a vertical stud  21  within, and part of the, wall structure to support the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  in order to allow for room for the outlet assemblies  3 , 5 . The right side  11  wall would then be secured to left face of the wall stud  23 , typically via fasteners such as bolts  25 , 27 . The mounting of medicine cabinets  1  to wall structures is well know in the art, and the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  can be mounted with screws or nails as well to either metal or wood studs, or mounted to the wall surface itself (not illustrated).  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , outlet assemblies can also be placed facing downward on the top wall  29  of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1 . However, it is not recommended to place electrical outlet assemblies facing upward on the bottom wall  10  of the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  due to the anticipated use of liquids in and around the instant invention  1 . Liquids collecting in a prong receptacle could be an electrical shock or fire hazard. As is apparent shelves  33 , can be added to the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  to increase storage capacity.  
         [0027]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , instead of using a outlet housing  15  the outlet  13  can be mounted directly to the side wall  9   a  of the instant invention  1 . As illustrated a wire  16  with two lead wires  17 , 19  or three lead wires  17 , 19 , 35  is attached to the outlet  13 . As is well known in the art, the third wire is a ground  35  wire. It is not recommended to use the Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1  as ground. Code rules should be consulted to ensure compliance within the jurisdiction of intended use. If an outlet  13  is directly mounted to the side or top wall then a cover, preferable of non-conductive material, can be used to shield the receptacle from debris or other hazards. In either embodiment the outlets should be covered with a face plate  37 .  
       A CONTEMPLATED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     The use of electrical outlets  13  that are now commercially available is not required. It is contemplated that outlets  13  can be specifically designed for a Medicine Cabinet Assembly 1 . However, the prongs (not shown) at the end of nearly all commercially available appliances are universal in size and shape.  
         [0029]     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , in the event that local electrical codes require the use of outlet housings  15 , an alternative to using commercially available outlet housings  15  is to use hollow side walls  9 , 11  or top wall that would provide space  39  to insert an outlet  13  and to run the wire  16  and lead wires  17 , 19 , 35  through.  
       OTHER EMBODIMENTS POSSIBLE  
       [0030]     While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.