Abstract:
A wall mounted cabinet with an improved hinge design having a mounting frame, a cabinet body and a pair of improved hinge apparatus. The hinge apparatus includes a hinge shaft attachable to a side of the mounting frame in such a manner that the hinge shaft is slidably adjusted along the mounted frame side and a hinge plate attached to the cabinet body. The hinge shafts can engage the hinge plates, securing the cabinet body to the mounting frame, or disengage the hinge plate, thereby allowing the removal of the cabinet body from the mounting frame. Fasteners secure the hinge shafts to the side of the mounting frame and maintain the hinge shafts in the desired position. The fasteners can only be removed from the inside of the cabinet, thereby providing a secure enclosure when the cabinet body is attached to the mounting frame and secured.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/233,702, filed Sep. 19, 2000, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wall mounted cabinets and, in particular, a wall mounted cabinet having any improved hinge design in which a cabinet body is easily attached and detached at the hinge from a frame mounted to the wall. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wall mounted cabinets for storing or housing equipment, electrical or otherwise, having some form of a mounting frame on which the main cabinet body is attached are known. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,362, discloses a cabinet for housing electrical equipment. The cabinet has a back door mounted to a wall, a central casing attached to the back door by at least one hinge, and a front door. The central casing can be rotated away from the back door and, hence, the wall, by the hinge. However, this construction does not provide for the complete detachment of the central casing from the back door. Thus, a need exists for a cabinet in which the central body is completely detachable from a mounting frame to provide adequate space in which to access equipment housed within the cabinet and also allow for easier mounting of the cabinet frame and body. 
     Another type of wall mounted cabinet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,289, which teaches a cabinet body that is detachable from the wall mounted frame. In this construction, a box body is attached to the wall by an H-frame. A mounting frame is attached to an assembly plate which is attached to the interior of the box body. The frame body fits inside and is attached to the mounting frame. The construction prevents the box body from being deformed when mounted during ongoing construction. However, this patent does not teach or suggest having a box body, or cabinet, that is readily detachable from the wall mounting once the construction is complete, nor is the use of hinges to provide access to the equipment housed within the cabinet taught or suggested. Thus the need exists for a cabinet that has a readily accessible, yet secure, interior. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,591, a detachable cabinet body is disclosed. However, the cabinet body in this construction detaches by sliding the cabinet body over two side flanges that are attached to the wall. The use of hinges to detach the cabinet from the wall is not taught by this construction. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a device for easily attaching and detaching a cabinet body from a wall-mounted frame yet maintain a secure environment for the equipment housed therein when the cabinet body is attached to the wall-mounted frame. 
     This object is attained by having hinge apparatus attach the cabinet body to a mounting frame which is attached to a wall or other solid object. The hinge apparatus allow the cabinet body to be rotated away from the mounting frame to provide entry to the interior of the cabinet body. The hinge apparatus also permit the cabinet body to be completely detached from the mounting frame. A front cover is attached to the cabinet body opposite the mounting frame so that the contents of the cabinet, for example electrical equipment, are completely enclosed and protected from the surrounding environment and secure against intrusion. 
     In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet body is attached to the mounting frame by two hinge apparatus—one at the top of the cabinet and one located at the bottom of the cabinet. Each of the hinge apparatus has a hinge assembly and a hinge plate. The hinge assembly has a set of three vertically aligned frame holes penetrating the same side of the mounting frame. The holes have a rectangular cross-section. Each hinge assembly also includes a hinge shaft having two portions—one with a square cross-section (referred to hereafter as the “square portion”) and one with a circular cross-section (referred to hereafter as the “cylindrical portion”). Three vertically aligned holes extend the entire width of the square portion of each hinge shaft, the spacing of the holes corresponding to the spacing of the holes in the mounting frame. Each hinge shaft has associated with it three attachment fasteners, e.g., bolts, that pass through the sets of holes in the mounting frame and into the holes in the hinge shafts. Fastener retainers, e.g., nuts, are attached to the fasteners, securing the hinge shafts to the mounting frame. The outer frame holes, e.g. the top and bottom holes of each set of frame holes, are shaped as vertical slots, allowing the corresponding outer fasteners, e.g., the top and bottom bolts, to slide along the length of the slots. Thus, the hinge shafts attached to the mounting frame by the fasteners also slides a distance equal to the length of the slots in the mounting frame. The inner frame holes, e.g., the center hole, are conventional holes, i.e., not slots. The corresponding inner fasteners and fastener retainers are used with the inner frame and shaft holes to secure the hinge shaft from sliding movement. Hinge plates are attached to opposite parts of the cabinet body, for example on the top section and the bottom section of the cabinet body. Each hinge plate. has a portion that extends rearwardly beyond the back of the cabinet body, toward the mounting frame. A hole in each of the extending portions of the hinge plates is slightly larger in diameter than the cylindrical portion of the hinge shafts. 
     When the present invention is used, the mounting frame is first attached to the wall. The cabinet body is then placed adjacent to the mounting cabinet. The fasteners are moved along the slotted frame holes so that the cylindrical portion of each of the hinge shafts is withdrawn into the mounting frame, the inner fasteners having been removed. The cabinet body is positioned so the holes in the hinge plates are aligned with the hinge shafts in the mounting frame. When the cabinet body is in alignment, the fasteners are moved along the slotted outer frame holes so that the cylindrical portion of each of the hinge shafts extend beyond the top and bottom, for example, of the mounting frame and engage the holes in the extending portions of the hinge plates, thereby attaching the cabinet body to the mounting frame. Once the hinge shafts are in engagement with the holes in the hinge plates, the fastener retainers for the fasteners are tightened, securing the hinge shafts in place. If the cabinet body is to be removed, the inner fasteners are removed and the outer fasteners are loosened so that they slide within the corresponding slotted frame holes. The fasteners are moved along the slots, withdrawing the hinge shafts into the mounting frame and thus detaching the cabinet body from the mounting frame. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are carriage bolts or similar threaded fasteners having a rounded, self-locking head. In this manner, when the cabinet body is attached to the mounting frame and the cabinet is closed, then the fasteners can not be loosened from the exterior of the cabinet, thus providing a secure enclosure in which the store equipment. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the cabinet body can be removed by withdrawing only one hinge shaft from the extending portion of the hinge plate and then removing the cabinet body from the stationary hinge shaft. Likewise, the cabinet body can be installed on the mounting frame by securing one hinge shaft in the extended position, withdrawing the other hinge shaft into the cabinet body, inserting the stationary hinge shaft through the corresponding hinge plate hole, extending the other hinge shaft thought its respective hinge plate hole and securing the second hinge shaft, thereby securing the cabinet body to the mounting frame. 
    
    
     Further details, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following disclosure of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a right-side perspective view of a wall mounted cabinet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the cabinet body pivotally opened about the hinge shafts; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded left-side view of the mounting frame of FIG. 1 attachable to a wall; 
     FIG. 3 a  is an exploded breakaway perspective view of the top of the mounting frame of FIG. 2 illustrating the removal of the hinge shaft and fasteners; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 a  showing the hinge shaft secured to the interior of the mounting frame; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting frame of FIG. 2 showing the bottom hinge shaft and fasteners; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wall mounted cabinet of FIG. 1 showing the cabinet body attached to the mounting frame at the top hinge plate by the hinge shaft and separated from the mounting frame at the bottom hinge plate; 
     FIGS. 6 a - 6   c  are cross-sectional views taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 1 illustrating a first method for attaching the cabinet body to the mounting frame in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 7 a - 7   c  are cross-sectional views taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 1 illustrating a second method for attaching the cabinet body to the mounting frame in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A wall mounted cabinet  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, has a mounting frame  20 , a cabinet body  40 , a front cover  60  attached to the cabinet body  40  opposite the mounting frame  20 , and a pair of hinge apparatus  65 ,  66  connecting the cabinet body  40  to the mounting frame  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting frame  20  has a back portion  22 , a front portion  24 , a top portion  26 , a bottom portion  28  and two sides  30 ,  31 . The back portion is attachable to a wall  15  by attachment devices  17 , e.g., screws, nails, toggle bolts or the like. The front portion  24  has faces  23  that may be placed in abutment with the cabinet body  40 , when the cabinet body  40  is closed against the mounting frame  20 . The top portion  26  and the bottom portion  28  are attached to the back portion  22  and the front portion  24 . The two sides  30 ,  31  are attached at each end to the top portion  26  and the bottom portion  28 , and to the front portion  24  and the back portion  22  along continuous edges of the two sides  30 ,  31 , thus defining an open area  38  of the mounting frame  20 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the cabinet body  40  has a back portion  42 , a front portion  44 , top portion  46 , a bottom portion  48  and two sides  50 ,  51 . The back portion  42  has faces  41  that correspond to the faces  23  of the front portion  24  of the mounting frame  20  and may be placed in abutment with the faces  23  of the mounting frame  20  when the cabinet body  40  is closed against the mounting frame  40 . The top portion  46  and the bottom portion  48  are attached to the back portion  42  and the front portion  44 . The two sides  50 ,  51  are attached at each end to the top portion  46  and the bottom portion  48 , and to the front portion  44  and the back portion  42  along continuous edges of the two sides  50 ,  51 , thus defining an open area  58  of the cabinet body  40 . Hinges (not shown) attach the front cover  60  to the front  44  of the cabinet body  40 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3 a , an opening  34  is formed in the top portion  26  of the mounting frame  20 , adjacent to one of the sides  30  and near the front portion  24  of the mounting frame  20 . An opening  36  is similarly formed in the bottom portion  28  of the mounting frame  20 . The side  30  of the mounting frame  20  adjacent the openings  34 ,  36 , has a first set of vertically aligned frame holes  32  near the top of the side  30  and a second set of vertically aligned frame holes  33  near the bottom of the side  30 . The first and second sets of frame holes  32 ,  33  each has outer frame holes  32   a ,  33   a  and an inner frame hole  32   b ,  33   b . The frame attachment holes  32 ,  33  have rectangular cross-sections and the outer frame holes  32   a ,  33   a , are elongated in the vertical dimension so that they are vertical slots. FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  illustrate the relative disposition of the opening  34  and the first set of frame holes  32   a ,  32   b.    
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 a  and  5 , the top hinge apparatus  65  includes a top hinge assembly and a top hinge plate  52 . The top hinge assembly has a hinge shaft  70  attached to the side  30  of the mounting frame by fasteners  80  inserted through the frame holes  32  and corresponding shaft holes  74  extending completely through the rectangular portion of the hinge shaft  70 . The shaft holes  74  are vertically aligned and spaced at approximately the same interval as the frame holes  32 . Fastener retainers  84 , attached to the fasteners  80  against the rectangular portion of the hinge shaft, secure the hinge shaft  70  to the fasteners  80 . The hinge shaft also has a cylindrical portion which is extensible through the opening  34  in the top portion  26  of the mounting frame  20  to engage the hinge plate  52 . The hinge shaft  70 , is placed adjacent to the interior surface  30   a  of the side  30  of the mounting frame  20  and oriented such that the cylindrical portion of the hinge shaft  70  faces the opening  34  in the mounting frame  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom hinge apparatus  66  similarly includes a bottom hinge assembly and a bottom hinge plate  54 . The bottom hinge assembly has a hinge shaft  72  attached to the side  30  of the mounting frame by fasteners  82  inserted through the frame holes  33  and corresponding shaft holes  74  extending completely through the rectangular portion of the hinge shaft  72 . The shaft holes  74  are vertically aligned and spaced at approximately the same interval as the frame holes  33 . Fastener retainers  84 , attached to the fasteners  82  against the rectangular portion of the hinge shaft  72 , secure the hinge shaft  72  to the fasteners  82 . The hinge shaft  72  also has a cylindrical portion which is extensible through the opening  36  in the bottom portion  28  of the mounting frame  20  to engage the hinge plate  54 . The hinge shaft  72 , is placed adjacent to the interior surface  30   a  of the side  30  of the mounting frame  20  and oriented such that the cylindrical portion of the hinge shaft  72  faces the opening  36  in the mounting frame  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top and bottom hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are placed adjacent the interior surface  30   a  of the side  30  of the mounting frame and oriented such that the cylindrical portions of the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are facing the openings  34 ,  36  in the top portion  26  and the bottom portion  28  of the mounting frame, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The openings  34 ,  36  are of sufficient size to accommodate the disposition of the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  therein. Fasteners  80 ,  82  are inserted through the frame attachment holes  32  and  33  in the mounting frame  20  and extend through the corresponding shaft holes  74  in the top and bottom hinge shafts  70 ,  72 . The fastener retainers  84  are attached to the fasteners  80 ,  82  and tightened, thereby securing the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  to the mounting frame  20 . Each set of fasteners  80 ,  82  includes a pair of outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a , which correspond to the outer frame holes  32   a ,  33   a  and an inner fastener  80   b ,  82   b  which correspond to the inner frame holes  32   b ,  33   b . The inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  can be removed and the outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a  loosened, allowing the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  to be slidably adjusted along the length of the outer frame holes  32   a ,  33   a . This permits the cylindrical portion of each hinge shaft  70 ,  72  to be extended through the openings  34 ,  36 , in the top and bottom portions  26 ,  28  of the mounting frame  20  to engage the hinge plates  52 ,  54  or to be retracted through the openings  34 ,  36  into to open area  38  of the mounting frame  20 , thus disengaging from the hinge plates  52 ,  54 . 
     The top and bottom hinge plates  52 ,  54  are fixedly attached by fasteners  56  to the rear corners of the top portion  46  and the bottom portion  48  of the cabinet body  40  on the side  50  of the cabinet body  40  corresponding to the frame holes  32 ,  33  in the mounting frame  20 . Portions of the hinge plates  52 ,  54  extend rearward beyond the back portion  42  of the cabinet body  40 . Each extending portion of the hinge plates  52 ,  54  has a hinge hole  53 ,  55  that extends the thickness of the hinge plates  52 ,  54 . The hinge engagement holes  53 ,  55  are of sufficient size such the cylindrical portions of the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  can easily pass through the hinge engagement holes  53 ,  55  when the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are in the engagement position. 
     In use, the mounting frame  20  without the cabinet body  40  is attached to a wall  15  with attachment devices  17  as shown in FIG.  2 . The next steps are illustrated in FIGS. 6 a - 6   c . If the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are already installed in the mounting frame  20 , then fastener retainers  84  on the inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  are removed and the inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  are withdrawn from the corresponding shaft holes  74  and the inner frame holes  32   b ,  33   b . The fastener retainers  84  of the outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a  are loosened, allowing the outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a  to slide along the length of the outer frame holes  32   a ,  33   a . Thus, the hinge shafts  70 ,  72 , attached to the outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a , are adjusted such that the cylindrical portions of the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are retracted through the openings  34 ,  36  in the top portion  26  and bottom portion  28  of the mounting frame  20  and into the open area  38  of the mounting frame  20 . The back  42  of the cabinet body  40  is placed against the front  24  of the mounting frame  20  and the hinge holes  53 ,  55  are aligned with the openings  34 ,  36  in the mounting frame  20 . The hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are moved such that the cylindrical portions pass through the openings  34 ,  36  and into the engagement with the hinge holes  53 ,  55 . The inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  are inserted into the inner frame holes  32   b ,  33   b  and through the respective shaft holes  74 . The inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  are retained against hinge shafts  70 ,  72  by the respective fastener retainers  84 , securing the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  to the side  30  of the mounting frame  20 . The outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a  are then secured, thus securing the cabinet body  40  to the mounting frame  20 . The hinge shafts  70 ,  72  can be moved to engage the hinge hole  53 ,  55  in the respective hinge plate  52 ,  54  simultaneously or separately. 
     By following the above method, the cabinet body  40  is thus securely attached to the mounting frame  20 . The cabinet body  40  can then be pivoted about the hinge shafts  70 ,  72  thereby allowing the cabinet body  40  to be opened without detaching it from the mounting frame  20 . If the cabinet body  40  is to be detached from the mounting frame  20 , then the process is reversed as follows. First, the inner fasteners  80   b ,  82   b  are removed and the outer fasteners  80   a ,  82   a  are loosened. The hinge shafts  70 ,  72  are then retracted through the respective opening  34 ,  36  and into the open area  38  of the mounting frame  20 . The cabinet body  40  is then removed. 
     In a second preferred method, shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 a - 7   c , one hinge shaft, e.g., the top hinge shaft  70 , is first extended through the top opening  34  and secured in position by the respective fasteners  80 . The bottom hinge shaft  72  remains retracted into the open area  38  of the mounting frame  20 . The cabinet body  40  may then be attached by aligning the hinge hole  53  in the top hinge plate  52  with the cylindrical portion of the top hinge shaft  70  and placing the cabinet body  40  such that the cylindrical portion of the top hinge shaft  70  engages the hinge hole  53 . The engagement between the top hinge shaft  70  and the hinge engagement hole  53  in the top hinge plate  52  is such that an angle α can exist between the front  24  of the mounting frame  20  and the back  42  of the cabinet body  40  after the hinge shaft  70  is inserted into the hinge hole  53 . The inner fastener  82   b  for the bottom hinge shaft  72  is removed and the outer fasteners  82   a  are loosened, thus allowing the bottom hinge shaft  72  to slide along the outer set of frame holes  33   a . The bottom hinge hole  55  in the bottom hinge plate  54  and the opening  36  in the bottom portion  28  of the mounting cabinet  20  are aligned, and the bottom hinge shaft  72  is moved so that the cylindrical portion  72   b  of the bottom hinge  72  extends through the opening  36  and into the bottom hinge hole  55 . The inner fastener  82   b  is inserted and the fasteners  82  for the bottom hinge shaft  72  are tightened, thereby securing the cabinet body  40  to the mounting frame  20 . Likewise, the cabinet body  40  can be detached from the mounting frame  20  by retracting one of the hinge shafts, e.g., the bottom hinge shaft  72 , from the bottom hinge hole  55  and the opening  36  into the open area  38  of the mounting frame  20  and moving the cabinet body  40  such that the top hinge hole  53  is disengaged from the top hinge shaft  70 . It will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that although this method is illustrated with the top hinge shaft being extended and secured first, this method works with either hinge shaft  70 ,  72  extended and secured first. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners  80 ,  82  are carriage bolts sized to engage the rectangular cross-section of the frame holes  32 ,  33 . 
     Although illustrated as a separate feature, the hinge plates  52 ,  54  may be integral to the cabinet body  40 . 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.