Abstract:
The illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons each include at least one pocket formed therein for removably placing a panel capable of transmitting light therethrough. The pockets may be formed by cutting a saw kerf between the two opposite panel faces, by separating the front and rear sheets of the panel with spacers, or by adding spacers to the back of a front sheet and attaching a series of webs to the spacers. The front of each panel includes at least one light passage therein. The light passage may have any regular or irregular geometric shape, or may be in the outline of a caricature, an object or symbol relating to an occupation or hobby, etc. The light passage through the rear of the panel may be any desired shape. Various attachments may be provided for removably attaching the panels to the cabinets for interchanging the panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to electrical lighting. More specifically, the present invention relates to illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons for wall-mounted hanging kitchen cabinets and other wall-mounted hanging cabinets commonly installed in the home, shop, and workplace. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Wall-mounted hanging cabinets are a nearly universal means of providing storage space for various articles in a number of different environments. Such cabinets can vary greatly in their vertical extent and mounting height, but are generally mounted with their bases about five feet above the floor. Such cabinets are generally about two to two and one-half feet high from bottom to top, which results in a gap of between six inches and one foot in height above the cabinets in the case of the typical eight-foot high ceiling of most structures in the U.S. This above-cabinet open space is often used to store infrequently used articles and for running additional wiring, conduit, pipe, etc. Whatever the actual use to which this above-cabinet gap is put, the result is generally rather unsightly. 
         [0005]    As a result many people will cover this above-cabinet gap with a closure panel or soffit of some sort, generally without lighting or any particular decorative aspects. In some cases, the soffit panels may be ornamented or decorated in some manner, but very few have included any lighting. Where lighted soffits have been developed, they generally use a translucent panel with no decorative pattern to serve as room lighting. In any event, such soffit panels are generally permanently installed, with no provision for changing the appearance of the soffit panels without major remodeling effort. 
         [0006]    Under-cabinet lighting is also often installed beneath such hanging wall cabinets. Such under-cabinet lighting is used to illuminate the underlying countertops or the like. Often, an apron is attached to the lower edge of the wall-mounted cabinetry to block generally horizontal light emission directly into the eyes of a person in the area of the cabinetry. As such, there is generally no provision for light output through the apron. These aprons at best generally have only rudimentary ornamental appearance to match the adjacent cabinetry; seldom is any additional ornamentation provided. As in the case of conventional soffit installations, there is generally no provision for modifying or changing the appearance of such aprons without a fair amount of remodeling work. 
         [0007]    The present inventor is aware of various examples of lighting installed with cabinetry. One such example is found in Japanese Patent No. 4-193,215 published on Jul. 13, 1992, which describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) an under-cabinet lighting system actuated by a photocell. A light barrier is installed surrounding the under-cabinet light, depending from the bottom of the overlying cabinet. The photocell is installed exterior to the light and light barrier in order to detect variations in the lighting pattern without being affected by the under-cabinet lighting. 
         [0008]    Japanese Patent No. 4-341,219 published on Nov. 27, 1992, describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a single lighting unit for a divided produce case or the like. The single light is installed in a partition between the two sections of the case, thereby projecting light into both sections. 
         [0009]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons solving the aforementioned problems are desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons, collectively addressed as illuminated cabinet panels, are installed to extend between the upper edge of hanging wall-mounted cabinet and the overlying ceiling structure and to depend from the lower periphery of such wall-mounted cabinets. Each of the soffit and apron panels includes at least one light passage therethrough, with a corresponding pocket for holding a removable light transmitting pane therein. The pocket may be formed by cutting a saw kerf between and parallel to the two faces of the panel, by spacing apart the front and rear sheets of the panel with a series of ribs or spacers, or by applying a series of such ribs to the back surface of the panel and applying wider webs to those ribs. The upper edge of the pocket is always open, permitting access to the translucent pane therein for removal thereof and interchange with another pane for changing the color, etc. 
         [0011]    Preferably, each soffit or apron panel has a plurality of light passages therethrough, with a pocket generally centered therebehind for holding a translucent pane therein. The light passages on at least the front face of the panel may be in any decorative or other form or shape as desired, e.g., various regular or irregular geometric shapes, caricatures, outlines of various articles such as automobiles, airplanes, locomotives, etc., or shapes of various articles relating to an occupation or hobby, e.g., musical instruments, etc. The light opening formed in the rear face of the panel may be an easily formed regular shape, e.g., a circular opening, etc. 
         [0012]    In addition to providing for the interchange of different translucent panels in the pockets of the panels, the panels themselves may be removably installed within the front of the soffit space or below the edges of the cabinets if so desired. Such a removable installation permits the panels to be readily interchanged to provide light openings having different themes, if so desired. The soffit and apron panels may be provided in prefabricated lengths, with joining brackets provided for assembling two or more such soffit or apron panels end-to-end to provide a longer run, if so desired. 
         [0013]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of kitchen cabinets incorporating the illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons according to the present invention, illustrating an exemplary installation. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons according to the present invention, showing the insertion of translucent panes therein. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a fragmented, exploded perspective view of the end assembly of two panels of the illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons according to the present invention, showing their assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an end view in section of a soffit space above a cabinet, showing provision for removable illuminated soffit panels. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of illuminated cabinet soffits or aprons according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of another alternative embodiment of illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention relates to illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons (collectively described as “panels”) for installation with cabinets and similar environments. Each of the soffits and aprons includes at least one pocket therein for the removable installation of a pane capable of transmitting light therethrough, with each of the panels preferably being elongate and including a series of such pockets therein. The panes may be exchanged to provide decorative lighting of different colors or producing different lighting effects. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an illustration of a cabinet installation, including a series of illuminated soffit panels  10  and apron panels  50 .  FIG. 2  illustrates further details of the soffit and apron panels. Each of the panels or boards  10  and  50  is formed of a single, unitary length of material (e.g., wood board, metal, plastic, etc.) with a series of pockets  12  cut therein for holding corresponding translucent panes. Each of the pockets  12  may be formed as a saw kerf, or routed or otherwise cut from the material between the front and rear faces  14  and  16  of the soffit or apron panel  10  or  50 . The pockets  12  are cut through the upper edges of the soffit and apron panels  10  and  50 , but do not extend through the bottom edges of the panels. Each of the pockets  12  is discrete from its adjacent pocket to provide a plurality of separate and distinct pockets in each soffit and apron panel  10  and  50 . 
         [0023]    The front face  14  of each soffit and apron panel  10  and  50  includes at least one light passage  18  formed therethrough in the corresponding pocket  12 , with the opposite rear face  16  having a corresponding light passage  20  formed therethrough. The light passages  18  and  20  are at least generally aligned with their corresponding pocket  12  to allow light to pass through the pocket  12  and passages  18 ,  20  from the back to the front of the board or panel  10  or  50 . The rear light passages  20  may be any suitable or practicable shape, so long as they allow light to pass or diffuse through essentially the entire front light passages  18 . The front light passages  18  may have any desired shape, e.g., regular or irregular geometric shapes, silhouettes or outlines of caricatures, objects or articles used in one&#39;s occupation or hobbies, etc. For example, the front light passages  18  of the soffit panels  10  of  FIG. 1  is an alternating series of heart shapes  18   a  and diamond shapes  18   b , while the front light passages  18   c  of the aprons  50  are relatively simple circular shapes. Such circular shapes are easily formed with a hole saw, while more complex shapes may be routed, laser cut, etc. using known technology. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the backlighting of an exemplary soffit panel  10  or apron panel  50  using a conventional fluorescent tube  22  disposed behind the soffit or apron panel. Other forms of lighting may be used, e.g., incandescent, light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. The panel  10 ,  50  of  FIG. 2  differs further from the soffit  10  and apron  50  of  FIG. 1  in that the panel includes four different cutouts or shapes for the front light passages, i.e., a spade-shaped passage  18   d , the heart-shaped and diamond-shaped passages  18   a  and  18   b  also being used in the soffit panel  10  of  FIG. 1 , and a club-shaped passage  18   e . Such a soffit or apron panel might be installed in a den or recreational room in a home, or perhaps a casino or other area where card games are played from time to time. 
         [0025]    Each pocket  12  has a pane  24  capable of transmitting light therethrough removably installed or placed therein, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The light transmissible panes  24  may actually be completely clear or transparent, but are preferably tinted, frosted, or otherwise made to be translucent. The panes  24  may be provided in any color(s), e.g. a relatively dark color, such as a dark blue or a neutral gray tint for the spade- and club-shaped light passages  18   c  and  18   d , and a red tint for the heart- and diamond-shaped light passages  18   a  and  18   b  of the panel  10 ,  50  of  FIG. 2 , to represent at least the approximate colors of those suits in a deck of cards. Other colors may be provided, e.g., green for leaf-shaped light passages, appropriate colors for passages having the shapes of specific species of flowers, etc. 
         [0026]    The soffit and apron panels  10  and  50  are preferably provided as prefabricated modules, i.e., precut to predetermined lengths, with precut shapes for the front light passages  18 . Customers may select the style desired in keeping with their desires for decorating the room or other area in which the panels  10 ,  50  are to be installed. As the panels  10 ,  50  are provided in predetermined lengths, e.g., four feet or so, a series of such panels must be placed end-to-end to span a longer distance.  FIG. 3  provides an illustration of a portion of a first panel  10  or  50  having a circular front light passage  18   c , octagonal and hexagonal front light passages  18   f  and  18   g , and a first end  26 . A separate but identical second panel  10 ,  50  includes triangular and a square front light passages  18   h  and  18   i , respectively, and opposite first and second ends  26  and  28 . An end having an I-beam shape joining bracket  30  having a central web essentially equal in width to the thickness of the two panels and two opposed flanges is placed upon the adjacent first and second ends  26 ,  28  of the two panels to secure them to one another in a continuous line. The panels  10 ,  50  may be slid from the bracket  30 , e.g., to remove the panels  10 ,  50  for maintenance to any light fixture installed therebehind, for changing the color(s) of the pane(s) installed therein, etc. 
         [0027]    The illuminated cabinet soffits  10  and aprons  50  are preferably removably installed, rather than being permanently installed, in order to allow for maintenance to the light fixture and exchange of the various light panes, as noted above.  FIG. 4  provides an illustration of such a removable soffit panel  10  installation. In  FIG. 4 , an inverted and relatively deep, generally U-shaped upper edge channel  32  is installed to the overhead ceiling panel P along the forward edge of the soffit space S above the forward edge of the cabinets C. An opposite, generally U-shaped lower edge channel  34  is secured along the upper and forward edge of the cabinets C, with the two open channels  32  and  34  facing one another. 
         [0028]    The vertical span of the installed soffit panel  10  is slightly less than the distance between the bases of the two channels  32  and  34 , thus allowing some vertical play when the soffit panel  10  is installed in the two channels  32  and  34 . When the soffit panel  10  is lifted so that its upper edge  36  contacts the inner base or floor of the upper edge channel  32 , the lower edge  38  of the soffit panel  10  is slightly above the upstanding edges or sides of the lower edge channel  34 . This allows the soffit panel  10  to be swung outwardly, as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4 , for removal from its installed position for access to the light fixture  22  therebehind, for exchanging one or more of the translucent panes installed within the soffit panel  10 , or perhaps for exchanging the entire soffit panel  10  for one with a different appearance. The apron panels  50  may be removably installed below the forward edge of the cabinetry by a similar channel configuration, with the lower edge channel  34  being suspended from a series of vertical ties extending downwardly from the bottom of the cabinetry or the overlying upper edge channel  32 . 
         [0029]    The soffit and apron panels may be constructed of a plurality of pieces or components, rather than being formed from a single unitary sheet of wood or other material, as in the case of the soffit and apron panels  10  and  50  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 .  FIG. 5  provides an exploded perspective view of such an alternative soffit and apron construction. The soffit  110  or apron  150  of  FIG. 5  includes a front sheet  114  and a separate rear sheet  116  separated by further structure therebetween and described further below. The front sheet  114  has a front surface  114   a  and an opposite rear surface  114   b , with a plurality of front sheet light passages  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c , etc., being formed therethrough. The exemplary front light passages  118   a  through  118   c  of the soffit  110  or apron  150  panel assembly of  FIG. 5  are in the form of silhouettes of musical instruments. Again, the various front light passages (or light passages through the rear face or sheet, for that matter) may be in any desired form or shape. The rear sheet  116  serves as a pane-retaining member and includes a front surface  116   a  and opposite rear surface  116   b , with a plurality of rear sheet light passages  120  being formed therethrough. The front light passages  118  and rear light passages  120  are at least generally aligned with one another when the soffit or apron panel  110 ,  150  of  FIG. 5  is assembled. 
         [0030]    A plurality of additional structural members are installed between the two sheets  114  and  116  to separate the two sheets and provide pockets  112  for the light panes to be installed therein. A single elongate lateral spacer  140  is secured along the lower edge of the rear surface  114   b  of the front sheet  114  and along the lower edge of the front surface  116   a  of the rear sheet or pane retaining member  116 . A series of vertical spacers  142  are also secured to the rear surface  114   b  of the front sheet  114  and to the front surface  116   a  of the rear sheet  116  between the light passages  118  and  120 . The lateral spacer  140 , thus, defines the bottom of a plurality of pockets  112  for removably holding the light panes, with the vertical spacers  142  defining the lateral limits of the pockets  112 . The front and back surfaces  114   b ,  116   a  of the front  1   14  and rear  116  sheets define the front and rear limits of the pockets  112 . The upper edges of the pockets  112  remain open to permit the insertion and removal of light panes therein, e.g., light pane  24  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is an exploded rear perspective view of yet another embodiment of the illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons, comprising a soffit  210  or apron  250 . The soffit or apron  210 ,  250  of  FIG. 6  includes a front sheet  214  having a front surface  214   a  and opposite rear surface  214   b , as in the case of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . A series of front face light passages, e.g., circular light passages  218 , or other shape(s) as desired, are provided through the front sheet  214 . As in the case of the built-up soffit or apron panel  110 ,  150  of  FIG. 5 , the front sheet  214  and the rear retaining member are separated by a single elongate lateral spacer  240  secured along the lower edge of the rear surface  214   b  of the front sheet  214 . A series of vertical spacers  242  are secured to the rear surface  214   b  of the front sheet  214  between each of the light passages  218 . The front sheet  214  defines the front of each pocket  212 , with the lateral spacer  240  and vertical spacers  242  defining the bottom limits and lateral limits of the pockets  212 . 
         [0032]    However, rather than having a pane-retaining member comprising a single, continuous rear sheet as in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the backs of the translucent pane pockets  212  are defined by a plurality of separate, relatively wide webs. In the example of  FIG. 6 , a single, relatively wide lower lateral web  244  is secured to the back of the lateral spacer  240  and the lower portions of the vertical spacers  242 . A relatively wide vertical web  246  is secured to each of the vertical spacers  242 . These lateral and vertical webs  244 ,  246  do not extend across the entire span of each of the pockets  212  in order to provide a rear light passage between each adjacent vertical web  246 , but they do extend sufficiently far to prevent the light panes, e.g., pane  24  of  FIG. 2 , from falling laterally away from the front sheet  214 . It will be seen that the single lateral web  244  may be eliminated if so desired, with the backs of the pockets  212  being defined or limited by the lateral extent of each of the wide vertical webs  246  extending beyond their respective vertical spacers  242 . 
         [0033]    In conclusion, the illuminated cabinet soffits and aprons enable persons to quickly and easily change the appearance of a room or other area incorporating such panels. Rather than permanently securing the light panes to the rear surfaces of the panels, the user of such soffit and apron panels may merely remove the panel from its installation and remove and replace the light panes from the pockets within the panels, or exchange the entire soffit or apron panel for another configuration or style, if so desired. The modular nature of the soffit and apron panels facilitates installation and interchange by the homeowner or other person making use of such panels without requiring extensive remodeling or carpentry work to do so. The resulting savings in time and expense in comparison to changes to conventional light panels will prove to be most valuable to the owner or user. 
         [0034]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.