Cabinet system

A cabinet system includes a cabinet and a mirror standing adjacent to the cabinet. In addition, an adjustable connection device joins the cabinet to the mirror whereby the angle between the cabinet and the mirror changes while the mirror remains in a fixed standing position. Also, a second adjustable device can join a second cabinet to the mirror whereby the angle between the second cabinet and the mirror changes while the mirror remains in the same standing position. The mirror and the cabinet can also be positioned with respect to each other so that three groups of substantially identical cabinets and mirrors can be placed next to each other so that each cabinet and corresponding mirror contacts an adjacent cabinet. A swivel drawer is received in and extends from a side of the cabinet opposite from the mirror. The drawer extends out of the side and swivels around towards the front of the cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
While the invention is subject to a wide range of applications, it is 
especially suited for use in a hairdressing environment and will be 
particularly described in that connection. 
In the past, hairdressing environments commonly employed a mirror with a 
cabinet or vanity located underneath the mirror. The client sat in front 
of the mirror while the hairdresser worked behind or next to the client. 
In this situation, the client was positioned between the hairdressing 
equipment, storage and work surface and the hairdresser. This led to a 
great deal of wasted motion and wasted time by the operator. 
A further development of this system was to provide a mirror with a cabinet 
or vanity attached thereto and extending adjacent to the mirror. The 
cabinet was affixed to the mirror at some desired angle. This provided the 
tools, storage and work surface adjacent to the operator so that there was 
a reduction in wasted motion and time since the client did not interfere 
with the operator. The problem with this arrangement was the inflexibility 
in changing the position between the vanity and the mirror depending upon 
the particular layout of the beauty salon or the specific needs of the 
operator. For example, the operator may require more space between the 
client's chair and the vanity than provided. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet system which 
substantially obviates one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of 
the described prior arrangement. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved 
cabinet system which allows the angle between the mirror and the vanity to 
be changed. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cabinet 
system wherein two cabinets may be adjustably connected to a single 
mirror. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cabinet 
system wherein three cabinets and mirrors may be clustered together. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, there has been provided a cabinet system including a cabinet 
and a mirror standing adjacent to the cabinet. In addition, an adjustable 
connection device joins the cabinet to the mirror whereby the angle 
between the cabinet and the mirror changes while the mirror remains in a 
fixed standing position. Also, a second adjustable device can join a 
second cabinet to the mirror whereby the angle between the second cabinet 
and the mirror changes while the mirror remains in the same standing 
position. The mirror and the cabinet can also be positioned with respect 
to each other so that three groups of substantially identical cabinets and 
mirrors can be placed next to each other so that each cabinet and 
corresponding mirror contacts an adjacent cabinet. 
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other 
and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following 
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, while its 
scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
A cabinet system 10 comprises a cabinet 12. Also, a mirror 14 is standing 
adjacent to the cabinet. An adjustable connection device 16 joins the 
cabinet to the mirror whereby the angle between the cabinet and the mirror 
changes while the mirror remains in a fixed standing position. 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a plan view of a cabinet system in 
accordance with the present invention. A mirror 14 is substantially 
rectangular and includes a frame 20 comprising two side-frame members 22 
and 24, a top member 26 and a bottom frame member 28. In addition, a base 
support member 30 is provided to hold the mirror in a standing upright 
position. If desired, the mirror may be free standing on a floor surface 
by attaching elements (not shown), such as L-shaped angle irons, to the 
base support member and the surface upon which the mirror rests. A panel 
32 is provided between the bottom frame member and the base support member 
to provide a cosmetic effect. Each of the side members has a groove 34 and 
36 which extends along its length and is used to receive a portion of the 
adjustable connection device 16 as will be further described. The frame 20 
is preferably formed of extruded aluminum, but it is within the scope of 
the present invention to construct it of any other desired material. In 
addition, the shape of the mirror 14 may be changed as desired. Further, a 
mirror may be provided on both the front and back faces of mirror 14. 
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a cabinet in accordance 
with the present invention. The cabinet includes a body structure 40 
having a top member 42 affixed to the body structure. The body structure 
includes a lower section 44 having a hamper 46 therein. The hamper is 
hinged along its bottom edge 48 and may contain a removable waste basket 
50 carried therein as best seen in FIG. 1. This hamper may be used by the 
operator to throw in towels or any other items that need to be discarded. 
A side panel 52 of the lower section may be provided with a conventional 
four-way outlet 54 to provide power for different accessories used by the 
operator as will be further described. The lower section may preferably be 
supported by a base support 56 whereby the hamper 46 can easily be opened. 
The lower section includes a top member 60. The top member provides a 
support base for the upper section 62 as best seen in FIG. 3. Top member 
60 has a side edge 64 extending substantially perpendicular to a rear edge 
66. A section of a front edge 68 is substantially parallel to the rear 
edge while another section 70 of the front edge extends at an angle 
towards the rear edge. A second side edge 72 is connected to one end of 
the section 70 and to the rear edge 66 by a curved edge 74. 
An upper section 62 supports the top member 42 and is supported by the 
lower section 44. The upper section includes a panel 78 on the side near 
the connection with the mirror. Also, front and rear parallel panels are 
connected to either edge of panel 78. A swivel drawer 80 is disposed 
between the front and rear parallel panels and extends from the side of 
the upper section opposite to the connection with the mirror. 
The details of the swivel drawer 80 can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The 
swivel drawer sits on a conventional extension chassis with a built in 
swivel. As seen in FIG. 1, a base 82 moves in and out of the upper section 
on telescopic extensions. A plate, carried by the base, supports the 
drawer and is able to turn and allow the drawer to swivel approximately 60 
degrees through its center of rotation after the drawer is pulled out. 
Further, the drawer may include another drawer 84 therein. This provision 
of the swivel drawer is quite significant. When an operator is standing 
next to a client, it is very easy and efficient to reach any of the 
required hairdressing tools which are stored either within the swivel 
drawer or the drawer 84. 
The upper section also includes the top member 42. The top member 42 has a 
rear edge 88, a side edge 90 and a portion 92 of the front edge connected 
to the side edge and parallel to the rear edge. A second portion 94 of the 
front edge is connected to portion 92 of the front edge and extents back 
toward the rear edge. A side edge extends at an angle of approximately 120 
degrees from the rear edge and is disposed between the rear edge 88 and 
the second portion 94 of the front edge. 
A plurality of bars 100 are disposed between the top member 42 and the top 
member 60 and extend along the curved portion 74 of the top member 60. 
Although these bars may be circular and formed of a metal such as 
aluminum, it is within the scope of the present invention to form them in 
any desired shape and of any desired material. Also, a rectangular end 
element 102 is disposed between the two top members 42 and 60 and is 
further adjacent the bars 100. The space provided on the top member 60 
between the bars, the end element 102 and the panel 78 serves as a storage 
space. 
An adjustable connection device 16 is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The 
adjustable device 16 includes a plate 104 which is preferably circular. 
Two substantially identical curved slots 106 and 108 are disposed opposite 
each other and spaced an equal distance from the center of the plate. The 
slots have a length to provide approximately 35 degrees of rotation of the 
plate as will be further explained. A leg element 110 may be affixed to 
one edge of the plate by any desired means such as welding. The leg 
element includes a spinal portion 112 having two holes therein. Also, two 
identical side elements 114 and 116 are disposed opposite each other and 
connected to the spinal portion. In addition, the leg element 110 is 
received in the groove of the frame member of the mirror to connect the 
adjustable connection device to the mirror as will be further described. 
The adjustable connection device is affixed to the bottom of the top member 
42 by means of two screws extending through the slots into the top member 
to hold the plate 104 securely against the top member. Although screws are 
illustrated in the preferred embodiment, it is within the scope of the 
present invention to use any other fastening devices, such as nuts and 
bolts, to secure the plate against the top member. The leg element 110 
extends outwardly from the edge of the top member 42 and is received in 
the groove 34 of the side member 22 of frame 20. The side elements 114 and 
116 contact the sides of the groove as best seen in FIG. 6 and the spine 
of the leg element contacts the back edge of the groove. The entire leg 
element may be affixed within the groove by screws extending through the 
holes in the leg element. It is also within the scope of the present 
invention to affix the leg element to the groove in any other desired 
manner such as for example, nails. 
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a schematic of the mirror connected to 
the cabinet by means of the adjustable connection device. It can readily 
be appreciated that loosening the screws which extend through the slots 
106 and 108 permits the top member to rotate with respect to the plate. In 
other words, there is a rotation of the cabinet which changes the angle 
between the cabinet and the mirror. Since the mirror is preferably 
free-standing and may be affixed to the floor upon which it stands, the 
cabinet is most easily rotated in order to suit the needs of the operator. 
These needs may require a change in the space located between the chair 
120 and the edge of the cabinet 12. The slots 106 and 108 are preferably 
of a length to provide an approximate 35 degree angle of rotation about 
the connection device 16. Thus, movement of the cabinet away from the 
chair may provide the operator with a comfortable working space as 
required. It can further be appreciated that the swivel drawer 80 is 
readily accessible to the operator when it is pulled out and swiveled 
towards the chair 120. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, there is illustrated a holding device 122 which 
is provided to accomodate a dryer and two curling irons. The device 
includes a back plate which may be affixed to the swivel drawer. Two 
parallel side plates extend outwardly from the back plate away from the 
swivel drawer. One of the side plates has two substantially cylindrically 
shaped elements affixed thereto and a slot extends along the length of 
each of the cylindrical elements. The other side plate has another larger 
cylindrical shaped element affixed thereto which has a slot extending 
along its length. The holding device is preferably made out of metal so as 
not to be effected by heat as will be explained. 
The larger cylindrical element is preferably used to hold a hair blower 
while the two smaller cylindrical elements support hair curling irons. 
Very often the curling irons are quite hot and therefore a separation 
between the two side plates is necessary to prevent the heat from damaging 
the hair blower as well as the irons themselves. In addition, the grooves 
along the length of the three cylindrical shaped elements serve as 
extended cooling surfaces. The position of the holding device 122 on the 
end of the swivel drawer prevents wires from the hair blower or hair 
curler from obstructing movement of the operator or rubbing against the 
client who is sitting on the chair 120. 
Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the 
present invention. A second cabinet 130 which may be substantially 
identical to the cabinet 12 of the first embodiment, is connected by an 
adjustable connection device 132 to a mirror 14 and cabinet 12 as 
described in the first embodiment. The adjustable connection 132 allows 
the second cabinet to be joined to the mirror whereby the angle between 
the cabinet 130 and the mirror changes while the mirror remains in a fixed 
standing position. As in the first embodiment, the cabinet is designed to 
move approximately 35 degrees with respect to the mirror. The mirror of 
the second embodiment provides an advantage in that a single mirror, which 
reflects on both sides, can be utilized by two cabinets which can each be 
individually adjusted according to the needs of two different operators. 
Preferably, the adjustable connection devices 16 and 132 are disposed 
opposite each other in the grooves in which they are received. 
Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a third embodiment of the present 
invention. This embodiment is primarily drawn to the manner in which three 
substantially identical cabinets and mirrors can be organized in a 
triangular shaped unit. In this embodiment, three substantially identical 
cabinet systems 140, 142 and 144, substantially identical to the cabinet 
and mirror as described in the first embodiment and illustrated in FIG. 6, 
are described. Each of the mirrors is positioned adjacent the cabinet in 
the plane of the side 146, 148, 150 of the cabinet that the plane of the 
mirror is approximately 120 degrees to the rear edge 152, 154, 156 of the 
top member. As in the first embodiment, each of the cabinets and mirrors 
are joined by an adjustable connection device. With each of the mirrors 
and cabinets arranged in this position, the first, second and third 
cabinets may be positioned with their sides 152, 154, 156 and its adjacent 
mirror in contact with the rear edge of an adjacent top. Of course, in the 
event that it is required, one of the cabinets may be moved up to 35 
degrees with respect to its mirror as previously described. This 
triangular configuration allows for very efficient use of space and 
provides an attractive unit. 
It can thus be seen by one skilled in the art that there has been provided 
a cabinet system wherein the angle between the mirror and vanity can be 
changed, two cabinets may be adjustably connected to a single mirror and 
three cabinets and mirrors may be clustered together. 
While there has been described what is at present considered to be the 
preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those 
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made 
therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed 
in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall 
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.