Abstract:
A medicine cabinet with a frame whereby tiles can be attached to create a customized cabinet to match a user&#39;s bathroom tiles or personal tastes. The medicine cabinet includes a cabinet body, a door, and a frame imposed on either the door or the cabinet body capable of receiving tiles. The door is rotatably or slidably attached to the cabinet body. To accommodate standard tile widths, the door or cabinet body frames have widths equal or slightly larger than the standard tile widths.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a customizable medicine cabinet comprising a tiled frame. In particular, the present invention relates to a medicine cabinet whereby tiles can be attached to match a user&#39;s bathroom tile or personal tastes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Medicine cabinets are widely used in residential areas for storing toiletries, medicines, and various other articles. They are often rectangular and have a shallow depth. The depth allows them to be mounted to an outer surface or be recessively mounted within the surface. One or more doors having mirrors are mounted to the cabinet body via hinges or other commonly used hardware. Shelving inside the cabinet body is used to compartmentalize the cabinet for better storage.  
         [0003]     The cabinets can be installed during initial construction or while remodeling. Often they are viewed as important pieces for the home. Thus, manufacturers strive to offer a variety of medicine cabinet styles, finishes, shapes, and functionality to please a customer. Traditionally, frames are used to enhance the overall appearance of the cabinet and to complement or contrast other textures, colors and finishes. The frames are either mounted on the cabinet body or on the cabinet door. Frames made of wood, metal, plastic, mirrors, or combinations of light fixtures are commonly used and well known.  
         [0004]     Although many varieties of cabinets are currently available, they have extremely limited customizable feature availability. Instead, currently available cabinets are sold as a finished product having minimal assembly, which are generally ready to be installed. As a result, a customer must rely on the limited number of styles and finishes offered by the manufacturer. Importantly, medicine cabinet manufacturers do not offer solutions for complementing or contrasting the surrounding tiles of tiled surfaces.  
         [0005]     Therefore what is needed is a medicine cabinet with a frame whereby tiles can be attached to create a customized cabinet to match a user&#39;s bathroom tiles or personal tastes. The cabinet can be sold as an unfinished product, which allows a user to finish it through the selection and installation of preferred tile. Advantageously, this process allows almost complete customization of the overall appearance of a medicine cabinet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a medicine cabinet which includes a cabinet body and a door rotatably or slidably attached to the cabinet body. In addition, a frame is imposed around the cabinet door or the cabinet body and is offered in various sizes to match the width of various standard tile sizes.  
         [0007]     As a marketable product the medicine cabinet can be sold as an unfinished product requiring the customer to select preferred tile. Alternatively, the cabinet can be sold in a catalog whereby a user can place a custom order through the catalog. To place the order the customer can choose the cabinet size, design, tile size, and tile finish. After receiving the order, the manufacturer can assemble the custom cabinet and install the chosen tiles on the cabinet door or body frame according to the custom order. Of course, sale of the cabinet is not restricted to a catalog; any well known means of purchasing a cabinet can be used including way of non-limiting examples: purchase at a retail store, purchase at wholesale store or purchase over the Internet.  
         [0008]     A ready to purchase cabinet kit can be sold by offering a series of ready to use models. The models can differ according to cabinet sizes, cabinet styles, door configuration, and frame sizes capable of accommodating standard tile sizes. The cabinet can be offered for sale as a completed kit or piecemeal, wherein the customer purchases the cabinet body, one or more cabinet doors, and the tiles separately. The cabinet can then be installed and finished by the customer or a hired professional. Well known adhesives can be utilized to attach tiles to the cabinet frame. To aid in this type of tile installation, the cabinet frame may comprise an adhesive ready surface. Alternatively, easy to use adhesives and/or grout can be included in the cabinet kit to enable “do-it-yourselfers” to finish the product at home. In addition, the tiles need not be permanently attached to the frame. Instead of adhesives, removable tile systems can be used to enable customers to install tiles quickly and easily.  
         [0009]     The present invention has the capability for mass customization as each customer can create an individual, unique pattern of tiles for the frame. Instead of the currently available, limited selection of medicine cabinets, the present invention can exist in hundreds of variations based on both the size of the tile and its design.  
         [0010]     One object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet which can be easily manufactured and marketed.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet with a door frame capable of receiving tiles.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet with a body frame capable of receiving tiles.  
         [0013]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet which utilizes standard sizes of tiles mounted on a door frame or cabinet body frame.  
         [0014]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a customizable medicine cabinet with large selection of door or cabinet frames to accommodate a variety of tile sizes.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to utilize pre-existing tile adhesives to mount tiles on a cabinet door frame or a cabinet body frame.  
         [0016]     A further object of the present invention is to utilize quick and easy tile adhesives for tile installation.  
         [0017]     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet with a removable tile system, so that the tiles can be easily and interchangeably applied to the door or cabinet body frame.  
         [0018]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a medicine cabinet wherein the tiles for the door or cabinet body frame can be selected to match the bathroom tiles.  
         [0019]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple do-it-yourself kit comprising a medicine cabinet, a door frame or a cabinet body frame capable of receiving tiles, a tile mounting system, and wide selection of tiles.  
         [0020]     The present invention comprises a medicine cabinet comprising a cabinet body having outer side walls, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, tiles, and at least one door comprising a frame capable of receiving the tiles. The cabinet body can further comprise shelving and can either recessively mount in a wall or can mount on a wall surface. Mirrors can be mounted on the cabinet door, on the outside surface, on the inside surface, or any combination thereof. Various shaped doors can be utilized with the present invention such as, but not limited to, a square, a rectangle, a circle, an oval, and a polygon. Hinges can be utilized to rotatably mount the cabinet door to the cabinet body. To accommodate standard tile widths, door frames comprising widths equal or slightly larger than the standard tile widths can be used. The tiles can be mounted on the door frame via a tile adhesive or can be removably mounted on the door frame.  
         [0021]     Alternatively, the present invention can comprise a cabinet body having outer side walls, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a frame capable of receiving the tiles, and at least one door. The tiles can be mounted on the cabinet body frame. The cabinet body may also comprise shelving and can recessively mount in a wall or on a wall surface. Mirrors can be mounted on the cabinet door, on the outside surface, on the inside surface, or any combination thereof. Square, rectangle, circle, oval and polygon shaped doors can be utilized in the present invention. Also, the doors can be rotatably or slidably attached to the cabinet body. The cabinet body frame widths can be made equal or slightly larger than standard tile widths. The tiles are mounted on the cabinet body frame via a tile adhesive or are removably mounted on the cabinet body frame.  
         [0022]     In addition, the present invention discloses a medicine cabinet assembly method, comprising: choosing a cabinet body size; providing the cabinet body comprising outer side walls, a back wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall; choosing tile sizes and styles; providing the tiles; choosing a door style; providing at least one door comprising a frame capable of receiving tiles; attaching the door to the cabinet body; and attaching tiles to the door frame.  
         [0023]     Also, the present invention discloses a medicine cabinet assembly method comprising: choosing a cabinet body size; providing the cabinet body comprising outer side walls, a back wall, a top wall, a frame capable of receiving tiles, and a bottom wall; choosing tile sizes and styles; providing the tiles; choosing a door style; providing at least one door; attaching the door to the cabinet body; and attaching tiles to the cabinet frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the present invention, both the organization and method of operation of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates the front view of a medicine cabinet comprising a door having a frame capable of receiving tiles in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates the front view of a medicine cabinet exemplifying shelving, an inside mirror, a door catch, and hinges in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged and fragmented top view of a medicine cabinet wherein tiles are mounted on a door frame in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a medicine cabinet having a multiple door configuration wherein the cabinet doors have various door frame configurations for receiving tiles in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates the front view of a medicine cabinet comprising a cabinet body having a frame capable of receiving tiles in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates the front view of medicine cabinet exemplifying shelving and hinges in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged and fragmented top view of a medicine cabinet wherein tiles are mounted on a cabinet body frame in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates a medicine cabinet having multiple slidable doors and a cabinet body frame for receiving tiles in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 9A, 9B , and  9 C illustrate various tile sizes and configurations which can be applied to a door frame or a cabinet body frame in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 10A, 10B , and  11 C illustrate various door shape and mounted tile configurations which can be utilized in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  illustrates tile application via adhesive to a door frame or a cabinet body frame in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  illustrates a removable tile application wherein the tiles slide through two tracks mounted on a door frame or a cabinet body frame in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  illustrates the respective side view of a door frame or a cabinet body frame containing tracks for sliding tiles in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]     Detailed illustrative embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different form those in the disclosed embodiments. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiments for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present invention. The following presents a detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is a medicine cabinet  100  comprising a rectangular cabinet body  105  and a single rectangular cabinet door  101 . Herein, the cabinet door  101  has a door frame  102  surrounding the entire outside perimeter of the door  101 . Tiles  103  are deposited on the front face of door  101  fully covering the door frame  102 . Square tiles are shown, however, it is understood that other tile shapes and sizes can be used, and is later exemplified. A mirror  104  is recessively placed on the front surface of the door  101  surrounded by the door frame  102 .  
         [0040]     In greater detail, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the cabinet body  105  has an opened front section and generally comprises a back wall  200 , side walls  201  and  202 , top wall  203  and a bottom wall  204 . Preferably, the cabinet body  105  is made of powder coated steel for better performance and durability; however other materials, such as other metals or wood can be used. European hinges  214 - 215  are used to rotatably mount door  101  to cabinet body  105 . Other hinges capable of supporting door  101  with tiles  103  can be used, such as, but not limited to, piano hinge, butt hinge, pin hinge, leaf hinge, concealed hinge, and the like. Magnetic door catch  217  and magnet  218  are used to lock door  101  shut. Of course, other well known means for keeping a door closed can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, an inside mirror  216  recessively mounted on the inside door  101  is used for user convenience. In addition, mirror can be mounted on any other surface of cabinet  100 . Also, adjustable or permanent shelving  219  is horizontally placed between cabinet side walls  201 - 202  and is used for better space organization. Also, vertical shelves (not shown) can be used to further compartmentalize the interior of cabinet  100 .  
         [0041]     The cabinet  100  can be mounted on a wall surface using holes  210 - 213  on the cabinet back wall  200 . Holes  210 - 213  can be pre-drilled or drilled at the installation site. The cabinet  100  is placed on a wall surface and centered such that the holes  210 - 213  are matched with studs in the wall. Mounting screws are screwed through holes  210 - 213  into the wall studs to mount cabinet  100  on the wall surface. For recessed installations, pre-drilled holes  206 - 209  are provided on the side walls  201 - 202  of cabinet  100 . A surface, to fit the cabinet body  105 , is constructed using a frame comprising two side studs and top and bottom studs in the wall. The cabinet body  105  is placed within the wall opening while lip  205 , protruding perpendicularly from cabinet walls  201 - 204 , is laid flat on the outside surface of the wall, preventing the cabinet from sliding further into the wall opening. Mounting screws are screwed through the holes  206 - 209  into the two side studs. Of course, any other well known means for attaching cabinet  100  to any surface can be used.  
         [0042]     An enlarged and fragmented top view of cabinet  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As shown, the inside and outside mirrors  104  and  216  are recessed in door  101 . The applied tile  103  is recessed in the door frame  102  such that the door surface along mirror  104  and tile  103  is substantially flat. Advantageously, the configuration illustration in  FIG. 3  achieves a clean, visually pleasing look. Frame  102  has a width which is equal to or slightly larger than tile  103  width to eliminate unnecessary spacing. An adhesive  300  is used to attach tile  103  to frame  102  which will be later discussed. Of course, any other well known attaching means can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  illustrates a medicine cabinet  400  with a multiple door configuration for receiving tiles  413 . A single body  401  is used in conjunction with three doors  402 - 404 . To achieve a continuous single frame look throughout the perimeter of cabinet  400 , each door frame configuration differs between door  402 ,  403  and  404  while the doors  402 - 404  remain of the same size. Door  402  has a frame with a horizontal top section  405 , a vertical side section  406 , and a horizontal bottom section  407 , leaving one side having no frame section. Middle door  403  has a horizontal top section  408  and a horizontal bottom section  409 , while door  404  has horizontal top section  410 , vertical side section  411 , and a horizontal bottom section  412 . Additionally, mirrors  416 - 418  are recessively deposited on each door  402 - 404 . Side mirrors  416  and  418  are of the same size surrounded by tiles on three sides. The center mirror  417  is horizontally larger than the side mirrors to accommodate for missing vertical side sections  406  and  411  of doors  402  and  404  respectfully. Of course, the mirrors can be mounted anywhere in cabinet  400  in any well known manner.  
         [0044]     Shelving  414  (in this example horizontally placed) is used for better cabinet organization. Additionally, vertical shelves (not shown) can be used to further compartmentalize the interior of cabinet  400 . Vertical members  415  and  419  are placed perpendicular to the top and bottom walls of cabinet body  401  in order to provide cabinet body support, while member  419  additionally acts as a mounting member for supporting door  403 . It is to be understood that other multiple door configurations, although not shown, can be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, in a two door configuration the middle door  403  is eliminated and a smaller cabinet body is used. Additional middle sections  403  can be added with a larger cabinet body to create a multiple door configurations.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , shown is a medicine cabinet  500  comprising a rectangular cabinet body  501  and a single rectangular mirror door  504 . The cabinet body  501  has an outwardly extended frame  502  surrounding the entire outside perimeter of the cabinet body  501 . Tiles  503  are deposited on the front face of the cabinet frame  502 . Although square tiles are shown, other tile shapes and sizes can be used, as are later exemplified. The mirror door  504  is rotatably attached to the cabinet body  504  by pin hinges  505  and  506 . Other hinges may be used as well to mount the door  504  to the cabinet body  501  such as European hinges, concealed hinges, piano hinges, butt hinges, leaf hinges, and the like.  
         [0046]     A more detailed medicine cabinet having a cabinet body frame is shown in  FIG. 6 . The cabinet body  501  has an opened front section and generally comprises a back wall  600 , top wall  601 , bottom wall  602  and side walls  603 - 604 . Adjustable or permanent shelving  605  which is horizontally placed between cabinet side walls  603 - 604  is used for better space organization. Additional vertical shelves (not shown) can be used to further compartmentalize the interior of cabinet  500 .  
         [0047]     The cabinet  500  can be mounted on a wall surface using holes  610 - 613  located on the cabinet back wall  600 . Holes  610 - 613  can be pre-drilled or drilled at the installation site. The cabinet  500  is placed and centered on a wall surface with holes  610 - 613  matching wall studs for support. Mounting screws are screwed into the wall studs through holes  610 - 613 . To recessively install the cabinet  500 , pre-drilled holes  606 - 609  are provided on the side walls  603 - 604  of cabinet  500 . A surface to fit the cabinet body  501  is constructed using a frame comprising two side studs and top and bottom studs. The cabinet body  501  is placed within the wall opening while the cabinet frame  502  is laid flat on the outside surface of the wall, preventing the cabinet from sliding further into the wall opening. Mounting screws are screwed through the holes  606 - 609  into the two side studs. Of course, any other well known means for attaching cabinet  500  to any surface can be used.  
         [0048]     An enlarged and fragmented top view of cabinet  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The mirror door  504  can comprise a sheet of a beveled mirror. In contrast, the door  504  can comprise other materials such as wood, plastic, metal, and the like, and can have a mirror layered on the outside surface of door  504 . Tile  503  is attached to door frame  502  using adhesive  700 . Of course, any other well known attaching means can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Advantageously, the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7  achieves a clean, visually pleasing look, since the cabinet body frame  502  width is equal to or slightly larger than the tile  503  width.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  illustrates a medicine cabinet  800  with multiple doors. A single body  801  and a single frame  803  perpendicularly and outwardly extending from the body  801  are used. The body frame  803  is capable of receiving tiles Shelving  804  deposited inside the cabinet body is used for better organization. Two sliding mirror doors  805 - 806  are attached to the cabinet body  801  through tracks (not shown) and are capable of sliding open and closed in directions  807 - 808  respectfully. Alternatively, doors  805 - 806  can be rotatably attached to the cabinet body  801  utilizing hinges similar to those preview described. Of course, it is to be understood that additional doors can be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, to make a three door cabinet, an additional mirror door is used and the cabinet body  801  and the cabinet frame  803  are constructed horizontally larger to accommodate the third door.  
         [0050]     Various tile sizes and shapes can be used in accordance with the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 9A-9D . Tiles can be chosen of different material such as, but not limited to, glass, ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles. The thickness can range from ¼ to ¾ inches. The frame for receiving tiles is made slightly larger than the various tile sizes such that a clean look is achieved leaving enough space between tiles and on the edges for mounting. Preferably, the spacing between neighboring tiles and the frame is approximately ¼ inches. To use square tiles  900  of  FIG. 9A  having the width  903 , the frame width  902  is slightly larger than the tile width  903 . A double square  910  tile design of  FIG. 9B  or a larger combination of smaller tiles (i.e. mosaic tiles) can also be accommodated. The frame width is made slightly larger than the number of consecutive tiles times the tile width, as illustrated in the example of  FIG. 9B , (i.e. the frame width  912  is slightly larger than twice the tile width  913 ). Different frame widths can be available to accommodate standard square tile sizes such as 1×1, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 1×6, 2×6, 1×12, and 6×6 inches. Preferably, the tile size is 4×4 inches.  
         [0051]     Rectangular tiles  920  can also be accommodated by a cabinet door frame or a cabinet body frame  921 . The frame width  922  is made slightly larger than tile width  923 . Frame widths should accommodate standard rectangular tile widths such as, but not limited to, 2×1, 2×6, 3×6, 3×9, and 3×12 inches. A frame can be available for diagonal tile designs as shown in  FIG. 9D . Square tiles  920  and triangular tiles  924  (which can be formed by cutting a square tile into two) are placed along the diagonal  923  on frame  921 . Frame  921  should have width  922  slightly larger than diagonal length  923  of tiles  920 . Other frame widths can be made available to accommodate various ornamental tile designs. These tile designs, well known in the art, can include by way of non-limiting examples: circular, ovular, polygonal, or the like. Indeed, any shape, color, and thickness can be used with any type of tile without separating from the spirit of the invention. In addition, pre-fabricated sheets of tiles (not shown) can be used in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0052]     For design variations, the cabinet door frame or the cabinet body frame may be configured in a variety of ways as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C .  FIG. 10A  shows a polygonal frame  1000  having four sides and diagonally cut corners which is capable of receiving standard sized tiles  1001  along its perimeter. Also, square shape  1003  as shown in  FIG. 10B  can be provided for receiving standard size tiles  1004 . Finally, a circular frame  1005  is capable of receiving tiles  1006  cut down for a circular pattern. It is contemplated that any designed shape can be adapted for use with the current invention.  
         [0053]      FIG. 11  illustrates tile application via an adhesive  1103  to a door frame or a cabinet body frame  1101 . A number of tile adhesives can be used such as but not limited to cement-based, thinset, organic adhesive, latex-based, and the like. Easy to use adhesives of premixed and ready to use mastics are preferred (i.e. organic adhesives). A membrane layer  1102  over the frame  1101  surface is used to provide protection for tile installations from problematic substrates and external stresses. Tile adhesive  1103  is applied covering the complete surface of membrane  100 . The tile  1100  is then installed directly to the adhesive  1103 . Finally, grout or silicon sealer is applied to fill in the spacing.  
         [0054]     For an even easier tile installation, an adhesive system comprising a double sided adhesive on a roll can be used. The roll would be cut to the frame shape, peeled to expose the adhesive, and applied to the frame. The cabinet can be sold with the roll already cut and adhered to the frame. To install the tiles, a user simply peels a film from the face of the roll to expose the adhesive and applies the tile to the exposed adhesive (located on the frame). Mounting is finished with the application of grout or silicon sealant to fill in tile spacing.  
         [0055]     Alternatively, a removable tile application shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  is used for quick, easy, and removable tile installation. Two tracks  1202 - 1203  are mounted perpendicularly to the frame  1200  edges. Each track  1202  and  1203  is of a ‘U’ configuration along the cross section. The tracks can be made of any well known material and mounted in any known manner. To install tile  1201 , the tile edges should be aligned with tracks  1202 - 1203  such that the edges can be inserted into tracks  1202 - 1203  and slide along tracks  1202 - 1203 . A locking mechanism (not shown) can be used to lock the tile in place and prevent it from falling out. The tracks  1202 - 1203  are constructed to be able to accept standard tile thicknesses such as ¼ to ¾ inches thick. With a removable tile configuration, the tiles  1201  on the cabinet door frame or cabinet body frame  1200  can be removed and changed as desired. Of course, a removable tile system is not limited to the use of two tracks. It is contemplated that any other means for attaching the tiles to a door or cabinet frame can be used in accordance with the present invention.