Patent Publication Number: US-7914092-B2

Title: Dresser

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a dresser that includes a first set of drawers, a second set of drawers, a set of shelves, a first concealing device, and a second concealing device that enables a person to conceal stored clothing, shoes, and electronic equipment while simultaneously being able to open the dresser for full access. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Persons with clothing often wish to store their clothing in a concealed manner such as a storage unit. Persons also may wish to have a storage unit that fits within a specific corner of a room. Additionally, a person may wish to have a storage unit that will store entertainment equipment. One solution is to have a first storage unit that stores the clothing and a second storage unit that stores the entertainment equipment. However, a room in a house may be too small to have more than one unit to store items. Additionally, the storage unit will not fit within a corner of a room. Furthermore, the device used for opening and closing the dresser does not allow for full access to the stored items. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved dresser, where a person may conceal stored items within the dresser and gain full access to the items using the device for opening and closing the dresser. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a dresser according to the invention including a first set of drawers, a second set of drawers, a first concealing device, and a second concealing device. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a dresser according to the invention with a first concealing device and a second concealing in open position including a first set of drawers, a second set of drawers, and a set of shelves. 
         FIG. 3A  is an illustration of a dresser according to the invention with the second concealing device in open position. 
         FIG. 3B  shows the particular dimensions of the novel dresser. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view illustration (looking from the top surface) of a dresser according to the invention including a set of shelves, a first support leg, a second support, a first concealing device, and a second concealing device. The ceiling of the center storage piece is on the underside of the top surface.  FIG. 4B  is again a top view looking pass the top tracks and the shelves, and seeing the bottom tracks attached to the floor of the center storage piece. 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of a dresser according to the invention with a first concealing device in closed position.  FIG. 5B  is a top view of a dresser according to the invention with a first concealing device in a semi-open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a dresser according to the invention with a first concealing device in a completely open position (door slide all the way back). 
         FIG. 7  shows a door with a couple of studs attached near the top and bottom edges of a door. 
         FIG. 8  shows a door slide-ably secured to a top track and a bottom track, which are attached to the ceiling and floor of the center storage piece, respectively. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a cross sectional view of the door being slide-ably secured to the top track and bottom track. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , dresser  100  comprises first set of drawers  110 , second set of drawers  120 , first concealing device  130 , and second concealing device  140 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first concealing device  130  comprises a first door  132 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second concealing device  140  comprises second door  142 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , dresser  100  fits in a corner to provide maximum storage area with minimum area in a room being used. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first set of drawers  110  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first set of drawers  110  comprises one drawer. In other embodiments, first set of drawers  110  comprises at least one drawer. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second set of drawers  120  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second set of drawers  120  comprises one drawer. In other embodiments, second set of drawers  120  comprises at least one drawer. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first door  132  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first door  132  comprises a height of about 58.5 inches. In certain embodiments, first door  132  comprises a width of about 16 inches. In certain embodiments, first door  132  comprises a mirror on the outside of first door  132 . As used herein, the term “about” means plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second door  142  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second door  142  comprises a height of about 58.5 inches. In certain embodiments, second door  142  comprises a width of about 16 inches. In certain embodiments, second door  142  comprises a mirror on the outside of second door  142 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , dresser  100  comprises first set of drawers  110 , second set of drawers  120 , first concealing device  130 , second concealing device  140 , and a set of shelves  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , set of shelves  210  comprises a first shelf  212  and a second shelf  214 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first shelf  212  comprises first support leg  212   a  and second support leg  212   b . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second shelf  214  comprises first support leg  214   a  and second support leg  214   b.    
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first door  132  and second door  134  are in an open position and hidden within dresser  100  providing access to set of shelves  210 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first shelf  212  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second shelf  214  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first support leg  212   a  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first support leg  212   a  comprises a tubular member having a length (i.e., height) between about 10 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, first support leg  212   a  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, first support leg  212   a  comprises a solid member having circular cross-section. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second support leg  212   b  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second support leg  212   b  comprises a tubular member having a length between about 10 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, second support leg  212   b  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, second support leg  212   b  comprises a solid member having circular cross-section. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first support leg  214   a  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first support leg  214   a  comprises a tubular member having a length between about 10 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, first support leg  214   a  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, first support leg  214   a  comprises a solid member having circular cross-section. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second support leg  214   b  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second support leg  214   b  comprises a tubular member having a length between about 10 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, second support leg  214   b  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, second support leg  214   b  comprises a solid member having circular cross-section. 
     In some embodiments, furniture buttons (or tacks) are pinned on the bottom side of the dresser to provide a slight lift of the dresser off the ground. For example, a furniture button may be pinned at each corner on the bottom side of the dresser. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , dresser  100  comprises first set of drawers  110 , second set of drawers  120 , first concealing device  130 , second concealing device  140 , and a set of shelves  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , set of shelves  210  comprises a first shelf  212  and a second shelf  214 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , first shelf  212  comprises first support leg  212   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , second shelf  214  comprises first support leg  214   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , first door  132  is closed and second door  142  is open. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top view of dresser  100  is shown comprising first concealing device  130 , second concealing device  140 , first door  132 , second door  142 , first shelf  212 , first support leg  212   a , and second support leg  212   b . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , first concealing device  130  comprises first track  410 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , second concealing device  140  comprises second track  420 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , first track  410  and second track  420  comprise a major bend  420   a / 420   b  and a minor bend  422   a / 422   b . The major bend  420   a / 420   b  has an angle  412   a / 412   b  of about 35 degrees (see  FIG. 4B ). The minor bend  422   a / 422   b  has an angle  414   a / 414   b  of about 10 degrees (see  FIG. 4B ). As used herein, the term “about” means plus or minus ten percent from the reference number, e.g., “about” 10 degrees means 9 to 11 degrees. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , first door  132  and second door  142  are in a closed position. When a user desires to have access to stored items on set of shelves  210  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the user will push first door  132  and/or second door  142  into dresser  100  along first track  410  and second track, respectively. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , first track  410  comprises a standard slot track known to one skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, first track  410  comprises a set of rollers known to one skilled in the art that allows first door  132  to slide on first track  410 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , second track  420  comprises a standard slot track known to one skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, second track  420  comprises a set of rollers known to one skilled in the art that allows second door  142  to slide on second track  420 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a top view of one side of dresser  100  is shown comprising first concealing device  130 , first door  132 , first shelf  212 , second support leg  212   b , and first track  410 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , first door  132  is shown in a half open position. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , first door  132  is pushed into dresser  100  on first track  410 . First door  132  is hid within dresser  100  when first door  132  is in a full open position. 
     In some embodiments, the first concealing device  130  comprises a first top track  410  and a first bottom track  410 . 1  for a first door  132  to be sandwiched there between, wherein the first door can slide open and shut. The first top track  410  and the first bottom track  410 . 1  each comprise a first portion  411  being about 12.5 inches, a second portion  413  being about 12 inches and a third portion  415  being about 12 inches. In some embodiments, the second portion  413  bends away from the first portion  411  by about 35 degrees (major bend) towards the back of the dresser and the third portion  415  bends away from the second portion  413  by about 10 degrees (minor bend) towards the back of the dresser. The first door  132  comprises a couple of guide studs  134  located on an upper edge of the first door and a couple of guide studs  134  located on a bottom edge of the first door. The guide studs  134  resides within sidewalls of the first top track  410  first bottom track and glides back and forth therein along with the first door  132 . The studs are positioned about 1 inch from each edge of the first door  132  (see  FIG. 7 ). The first top track is attached to the ceiling of the center storage piece  100 , and the first bottom track  410 . 1  is attached to the floor of the center storage piece  100 , in a manner such that when viewed from the top of the center storage piece  100 , the first top track  410  super imposes exactly on the first bottom track  410 . 1 . 
     The left top track  420  has the same dimensions as that of the right top track  410 , except that they are mirror images of each other. The left bottom track  420 . 1  has the same dimensions as that of the right bottom track  410 . 1 , except that they are mirror images of each other. 
     In some embodiments, the second concealing device  140  comprises a second track  420  for a second door  142  to slide open and shut. The second track  420  comprises a first portion  421  being about 12.5 inches, a second portion  423  being about 12 inches and a third portion  425  being about 12 inches. In some embodiments, the second portion  423  bends away from the first portion  421  by about 35 degrees (major bend) towards the back of the dresser and the third portion  425  bends away from the second portion  423  by about 10 degrees (minor bend) towards the back of the dresser. The second door  142  comprises a couple of guide studs  134  located on an upper edge of the first door and a couple of guide studs  134  located on a bottom edge of the first door. The guide studs  134  resides within the sidewalls of the second track  420  and glides back and forth therein along with the second door  142 . The studs are positioned about 1 inch from each edge of the second door  142  (see  FIG. 7 ). The second top track  420  is attached to the ceiling of the center storage piece  100 , and the second bottom track  420 . 1  is attached to the floor of the center storage piece  100 , in a manner such that when viewed from the top of the center storage piece  100 , the second top track  420  super imposes exactly on the second bottom track  420 . 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a top view of one side of dresser  100  is shown comprising first concealing device  130 , first door  132 , first shelf  212 , second support leg  212   b , and first track  410 . 
     The outer edge shelves  212 / 214  are set back by about 4 inches from the sidewalls  500  and doors  132 / 142  of the center storage piece to allow enough room for the doors  132 / 142  to glide back and forth (see  FIGS. 4-6 ). 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. For example, a bigger or smaller novel dresser may be constructed using the proportionate dimensions (e.g., ratios) of the dimensions set forth herein. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.