Patent Publication Number: US-2003222547-A1

Title: Interchangeable cabinetware

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/383,738, filed May 28, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to cabinets having interchangeable features to facilitate selectively changing the appearance of the cabinets. More particularly, the present invention relates to interchangeable cabinetware the appearance of which can be partially or completely changed according to the discretion of the user.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Various cabinetware having removable or interchangeable features is known in the art. Patents of interest in this regard include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,186,027; 3,533,190; 3,697,363; 3,826,551; 4,783,945; 4,900,109; 5,176,435; 5,791,752; 5,806,942; and 6,053,585.  
       Summary of the Invention  
       [0004] The present invention comprises cabinetware having interchangeable features to facilitate partially or completely changing the appearance of the cabinets. The interchangeable features may include interchangeable cabinet doors, drawer fronts, toe kick plates, crown molding, decorative end panels, embellishments, and finished end panels used either alone or in combination with each other.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0005] The invention will be better understood, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a base cabinet and an upper cabinet of the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention;  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a cabinet section of the base cabinet shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the base cabinet of FIG. 2, more particularly illustrating a toe kick assembly for an interchangeable toe kick plate of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 4 is an exploded, front perspective view of a drawer of the interchangeable cabinetware, more particularly illustrating a drawer front assembly for an interchangeable drawer front;  
     [0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded, front perspective view of the drawer front assembly of FIG. 4, more particularly illustrating a slide runner technique for removably mounting the interchangeable drawer front on the drawer;  
     [0011]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the drawer front assembly of FIG. 5, with slide runners of the interchangeable drawer front slidably engaging companion slide runners of the drawer to removably attach the interchangeable drawer front to the drawer;  
     [0012]FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view illustrating slide runners of the interchangeable drawer front slidably engaging the companion slide runners of the drawer in removable attachment of the interchangeable drawer front to the drawer;  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is an exploded, front perspective view of a base cabinet of the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention, with a pair of interchangeable drawer fronts shown removed from the base cabinet;  
     [0014]FIG. 7A is a rear perspective view of an interchangeable false drawer front of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a base cabinet of the present invention, more particularly illustrating a detachable hinge for removably mounting interchangeable cabinet doors on the base cabinet;  
     [0016]FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of the base cabinet of FIG. 8, with the interchangeable cabinet door detached from the cabinet;  
     [0017]FIG. 10 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an upper cabinet of the present invention, with an interchangeable top crown molding strip removably attached to the cabinet;  
     [0018]FIG. 11 is an exploded, front perspective view, partially in section, of the upper cabinet of the present invention, more particularly illustrating an illustrative technique for removably attaching the top interchangeable crown molding strip to the cabinet;  
     [0019]FIG. 12 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an upper cabinet of the present invention, with an interchangeable bottom crown molding strip removably attached to the cabinet;  
     [0020]FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the upper cabinet of the present invention, more particularly illustrating an illustrative technique for removably attaching a bottom interchangeable crown molding strip to the cabinet;  
     [0021]FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an upper cabinet of the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention, more particularly illustrating interchangeable keystone-shaped embellishments attached to the interchangeable top crown molding strip of the upper cabinet;  
     [0022]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an interchangeable embellishment of the present invention, removed from the interchangeable top crown molding strip;  
     [0023]FIG. 16 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an upper cabinet of the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention, with an interchangeable decorative end panel removably attached to the cabinet;  
     [0024]FIG. 17 is a sectional view, taken along section lines  17 - 17  in FIG. 17, illustrating an illustrative decorative end panel assembly for removably mounting each interchangeable decorative end panel on the upper cabinet of the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the upper cabinet of the present invention, with the decorative end panel of FIG. 17 removed from the cabinet;  
     [0026]FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of an interchangeable open cabinet assembly of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 20 is an exploded, perspective view of the interchangeable open cabinet assembly of FIG. 19;  
     [0028]FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of an upper cabinet of the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention, with an interchangeable finished end panel removably mounted on the upper cabinet; and  
     [0029]FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the upper cabinet of FIG. 21, with the interchangeable finished end panel removed from the upper cabinet.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0030] Referring initially to FIGS.  1 - 3  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the inerchangeable cabinetware of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1  and includes various interchangeable features which may be included as parts of a base cabinet  2 , an upper cabinet  44 , or both. Such interchangeable features include interchangeable drawer fronts  15 , interchangeable cabinet doors  37  and interchangeable toe kick plates  8 , as well as additional features to be hereinafter described. Any of the interchangeable features of the present invention may be used alone or in combination with any or all of the other interchangeable features of the invention. Furthermore, any of the interchangeable features may be used in combination with features which are not interchangeable.  
     [0031] In one embodiment of the interchangeable cabinetware  1 , the base cabinet  2  includes cabinet side panels  3 , a cabinet top  4 , a cabinet bottom  6  (FIG. 3) and a toe space  5 . The upper cabinet  44  typically includes side panels  45 , top panels  46  and bottom panels  47 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base cabinet  2  may include one or more interchangeable toe kick plates  8 , each of which is removably attached to a plate support  10  (FIG. 3) mounted between the cabinet sidewalls  3 . The toe kick plate  8  is part of a toe kick assembly  7  for removably mounting the interchangeable toe kick plate  8  to the plate support  10 . Accordingly, the toe kick assembly  7  may include multiple insertion pegs  9  which extend from the rear surface of the toe kick plate  8  for removable friction-insertion in respective peg openings  11  in the plate support  10 . In accordance with the invention, each toe kick plate  8  removably mounted on the plate support  10  is one of a variety of two or more toe kick plates  8  having various colors and appearances. Accordingly, one of the toe kick plates  8  may be removed from the plate support  10  and replaced with a replacement toe kick plate  8  of a different color and/or design to facilitate changing the appearance of the interchangeable cabinetware  1  according to the desires of the user. It is understood that each interchangeable toe kick plate  8  may be removably mounted on the plate support  10  using any of a variety of techniques according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including magnets, in non-exclusive particular.  
     [0032] Referring next to FIGS.  4 - 6  of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may further include interchangeable drawer fronts  15  of various color and appearance and which are removably mounted on each of multiple drawers  26  sidably mounted in the base cabinet  2 . Each of the drawers  26  typically includes a pair of elongated, parallel side panels  27 , joined by a rear panel  28  and to which is attached a bottom panel  29 . A drawer runner  30  is mounted on the exterior surface of each side panel  30  for slidably engaging companion cabinet runners (not illustrated) mounted in the base cabinet  2 , in conventional fashion. As shown in FIG. 4, each interchangeable drawer front  15  may be a part of a drawer front assembly  14  which includes a drawer front runner plate  16  mounted on the rear surface of the interchangeable drawer front  15 . The rear surface of the drawer front runner plate  16  is fitted with a pair of parallel vertical slide runners  19  which removably and slidably engage respective companion slide runners  24  on the front surface of a fixed runner plate  21  mounted on the drawer  26 . As shown in FIG. 6A, a support tab  25  typically connects the bottom edge of the slide runner  24  with the bottom edge of the fixed runner plate  21  to facilitate nesting or support of the slide runner  19  on the drawer front runner plate  16  in the slide runner  24  when the interchangeable drawer front  15  is mounted on the fixed runner plate  21 , as hereinafter further described. The drawer front runner plate  16  may be mounted on the rear surface of the interchangeable drawer front  15  by extending mount fasteners  20  through respective fastener openings  18  at respective corners of the drawer front runner plate  16  and into the rear surface of the interchangeable drawer front  15 , as further shown in FIG. 4. In like manner, the fixed runner plate  21  may be mounted on the side panels  27  of the drawer  26  using multiple mount fasteners  23 . However, it is understood that the drawer front runner plate  16  may be attached to the interchangeable drawer front  15  and the fixed runner plate  21  may be attached to the drawer  26  by any suitable alternative method known by those skilled in the art. The drawer front runner plate  16  includes multiple, horizontally-spaced hardware bolt openings  17  which register with respective hardware bolt openings  22  in the fixed runner plate  21 . A hardware bolt opening  15   a  may be provided centrally in the interchangeable drawer front  15  for receiving a hardware bolt  32 , which is extended through an aligned pair of one of the hardware bolt openings  17  in the drawer front runner plate  16  and hardware bolt opening  22  in the fixed runner plate  21  to secure a knob  33 , for example, on the drawer  26 . Alternatively, handles (not shown) of various design and width may be mounted on the interchangeable drawer front  15  by extending each of multiple hardware bolts  32  through the appropriate pair of aligned hardware bolt openings  17  and  22  and threading the hardware bolts  32  into the handle, in conventional fashion.  
     [0033] The interchangeable drawer front  15 , with the drawer front runner plate  16  mounted on the rear surface thereof, is removably attached to the fixed runner plate  21  by slidably engaging the slide runners  19  of the interchangeable drawer front  15  with the respective slide runners  24  of the fixed runner plate  21 , as shown in FIG. 6, and lowering the slide runners  19  to rest on the respective support tabs  25  of the slide runners  24  of the fixed runner plate  21 , as shown in FIG. 6A. When the interchangeable drawer front  15  is so mounted on the fixed runner plate  21 , the hardware bolt openings  17  of the drawer front runner plate  16  register with the respective hardware bolt openings  22  of the fixed runner plate  21 . The hardware bolt or bolts  32  can then each be extended through the appropriate pair of registering hardware bolt openings  17 ,  22  and through the hardware bolt opening  15   a  in the interchangeable drawer front  15 , to mount the knob  33 , for example, on the interchangeable drawer front  15 . The interchangeable drawer front  15  may be removed from the drawer  26  to facilitate placement of an interchangeable drawer front  15  of different color and/or styling, as desired, by initially removing the hardware bolt or bolts  32  from the interchangeable drawer front  15  and hardware bolt openings  17 ,  22  and then slidably disengaging the slide runners  19  of the drawer front runner plate  16  from the slide runners  24  of the fixed runner plate  21  by raising the drawer front runner plate  16 .  
     [0034] Referring next to FIGS. 7 and 7A of the drawings, one or multiple interchangeable false drawer fronts  106  may be removably mounted on the base cabinet  2  of the interchangeable cabinetware  1 . The rear surface of each interchangeable false drawer front  106  is fitted with a mount plate  107 , from which extends multiple threaded studs  108 . The threaded studs  108  are inserted through respective stud openings  110  provided in drawer mounting members  109  in the base cabinet  2 . Each of the threaded studs  108  typically receives a washer and a securing nut (not shown) to removably secure the false drawer front  106  on the base cabinet  2 . Accordingly, each interchangeable false drawer front  106  may be removed from the base cabinet  2  and replaced with an interchangeable false drawer front  106  of different color and/or styling, as desired, by removing the washers and securing nuts (not shown) from the threaded studs  108 ; removing the threaded studs  108  from the respective stud openings  110 ; and securing the replacement interchangeable false drawer fronts  106  on the base cabinet  2 . Hardware bolt openings  111  may extend through the mount plate  107 , and a hardware bolt (not shown) may be extended through one of the hardware bolt openings  111  and through a registering hardware bolt opening  112  in the interchangeable false drawer front  106  to secure a knob  33  or handle (not shown) on the interchangeable false drawer front  106 , as desired.  
     [0035] Referring next to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, interchangeable cabinet doors  37  may be removably mounted on the base cabinets  2 , the upper cabinets  44 , or both, of the interchangeable cabinetware  1 . Each of the interchangeable cabinet doors  37  is removably attached to the base cabinet  2  or upper cabinet  44  by means of a pair of detachable hinges  38 . Each of the detachable hinges  38  includes a receiving element  39  typically secured by means of an attachment bolt  40  or otherwise mounted on the base cabinet  2  or upper cabinet  44 , and an insertion element  41  is bolted or otherwise mounted on the inside surface of the interchangeable cabinet door  37 . As shown in FIG. 8, the insertion element  41  is removably inserted in the receiving element  39  of each detachable hinge  38  to facilitate removably mounting each interchangeable cabinet door  37  to the base cabinet  2 , as shown, or to the upper cabinet  44 . Accordingly, interchangeable cabinet doors  37  of various color and styling can be removed and replaced on the base cabinet  2  or upper cabinet  44 , as desired, to change the appearance of the interchangeable cabinetware  1 , by detaching and reattaching the receiving element  39  and insertion element  41  of each detachable hinge  38 .  
     [0036] Referring next to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may include interchangeable top crown molding strips  51  which are mounted typically on the top panel  46  of the upper cabinet  44 . Each interchangeable top crown molding strip  51  is part of a top crown molding assembly  50  which includes multiple insertion pegs  52  extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the interchangeable top crown molding strip  51 . The insertion pegs  52  are removably friction-inserted in respective peg openings  54  provided in a strip support  53  that is bolted, glued or otherwise mounted on the top panel  46 . Accordingly, an interchangeable top crown molding strip  51  may be removed from the strip support  53  by removing the insertion pegs  52  from the respective peg openings  54  and replaced with an interchangeable top crown molding strip  51  having a different color and/or styling, according to the desires of the user.  
     [0037] Referring next to FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may further include interchangeable bottom crown molding strips  57  which are mounted typically on the bottom panel  47  of the upper cabinet  44 . Each interchangeable bottom crown molding strip  57  is part of a bottom crown molding assembly  56  which includes multiple insertion pegs  58  extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the interchangeable bottom crown molding strip  57 . The insertion pegs  58  are removably friction-inserted in respective peg openings  60  provided in a strip support  59  that is bolted or otherwise mounted on the bottom panel  47  of the upper cabinet  44 . Accordingly, an interchangeable bottom crown molding strip  57  may be removed from the strip support  59  by removing the insertion pegs  58  from the respective peg openings  60  and replaced with an interchangeable bottom crown molding strip  57  having a different color and/or styling, according to the desires of the user.  
     [0038] Referring next to FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may further include interchangeable decorative embellishments  68  which may be removably mounted on the interchangeable top crown molding strips  51 , typically at the junction between adjacent strips  51 . Each interchangeable decorative embellishment  68  may include a decorative body  69  which may be shaped in the configuration of a keystone, as illustrated, or may have any other desired alternative configuration. An attachment clip  70  may extend rearwardly from the decorative body  69  for receiving the interchangeable top crown molding strip  51  to facilitate removably attaching the decorative embellishment  68  to the interchangeable top crown molding strip  51 . Accordingly, the interchangeable decorative embellishment  68  may be removed from the interchangeable top crown molding strip  51  by disengaging the attachment clip  70  from the strip  51 , and replaced with an interchangeable decorative embellishment  68  having a different color and/or styling, as desired. It is understood that the decorative body  69  may be removably mounted on the strip  51  by any suitable mechanism known by those skilled in the art other than the attachment clip  70 , including magnets, in non-exclusive particular.  
     [0039] Referring next to FIGS.  16 - 18  of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may further include interchangeable decorative end panels  73  which are removably mounted to the base cabinet  2 , or to the upper cabinet  44 , as shown, or both. For mounting of the interchangeable decorative end panels  73 , the upper cabinet  44  typically includes modified side panels  45   a , as shown in FIG. 18, to facilitate removably mounting each interchangeable decorative end panel  73  to the upper cabinet  44 . Accordingly, a decorative end panel assembly  72  for removably attaching each interchangeable decorative end panel  73  to the modified side panel  45   a  is shown in FIG. 17, and typically includes multiple, typically four, panel attachment pegs  74 , one of which is shown in FIG. 17 and each of which has a base  74   a  mounted typically in a peg panel  80  which is attached to the interchangeable decorative end panel  73 . Each of multiple, typically four, cams  75  corresponds to each of the panel attachment pegs  74 , as shown in FIG. 18, and includes an outer barrel  76  which extends through the modified side panel  45   a  of the upper cabinet  44  and contains an inner barrel  77  which is rotatable inside the outer barrel  76 , as shown in FIG. 17. A lock flange  78  extends inwardly from the inner barrel  77 . After insertion of the panel attachment peg  74  into the inner barrel  77  of the cam  75 , the inner barrel  77  is rotated in the outer barrel  76  to cause engagement of the lock flange  78  with a lock groove  74   b  circumscribing the panel attachment peg  74 . This is typically accomplished by inserting a screwdriver blade (not shown) in a screwdriver blade groove  81 , which is provided in a turn cap  79  connected to the inner barrel  77 , and rotating the screwdriver in one direction. Rotating the inner barrel  77  in the opposite direction using the screwdriver causes disengagement of the lock flange  78  from the lock groove  74   b  in the panel attachment peg  74  and facilitates removal of the panel attachment peg  74  from the cam  75 . Accordingly, removal of the interchangeable decorative end panel  73  from the corresponding modified side panel  45   a  may be effected to mount a replacement interchangeable decorative end panel  73  on the modified side panel  45   a , by disengaging the lock flange  78  of each cam  75  from the corresponding panel attachment peg  74 , removing each panel attachment peg  74  from the corresponding cam  75 , and inserting and locking the panel attachment pegs  74  of the replacement interchangeable decorative end panel  73  in the respective cams  75  in the modified side panel  45   a . It is understood that the cam  75  may have any suitable alternative design than that heretofore described. Furthermore, it is understood that the interchangeable decorative end panel  73  may be removably attached to the modified side panel  45   a  using any suitable technique known by those skilled in the art, including magnets, in non-exclusive particular.  
     [0040] Referring next to FIGS. 19 and 20 of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may further include a open cabinet assembly  82  which includes a cabinet shell  83 , having side panels  84 , a bottom panel  85 , a top panel  86 , and a rear panel  87  that together define a shell interior  88 . A cabinet insert  90  is removably fitted in the shell interior  88  of the cabinet shell  83  and typically includes side panels  91 , a top panel  92 , a front panel  93 , and a rear panel  94 . An upper cabinet space  95  of selected design may be defined in the upper portion of the cabinet insert  90 , whereas a plate rack  96 , as shown, may be defined in the lower portion of the cabinet insert  90 . Alternatively, additional cabinet space may be defined in the lower portion of the cabinet insert  90 . The plate rack  96  typically includes multiple divider panels  97  for separating adjacent plate slots  98  in the plate rack  96 . The cabinet insert  90  may be friction-fitted or secured in the shell interior  88  of the cabinet shell  83  using magnets (not shown), fasteners (not shown) or any other suitable mechanism known by those skilled in the art.  
     [0041] Referring next to FIGS. 21 and 22 of the drawings, the interchangeable cabinetware  1  may include interchangeable finished end panels  101  of selected design which are fitted to the side panels  45  of the upper cabinets  44 , as shown, to the side panels  3  (FIG. 1) of the base cabinets  2 , or to both. Each interchangeable finished end panel  101  is part of a finished end panel assembly  100  which includes a rectangular insertion flange  102  mounted on the inner face of the interchangeable finished end panel  101 . A rectangular inset flange  103  mounted on the side panel  45  defines an inset space  104  which receives the insertion flange  102 , typically in a friction-fit to removably mount the interchangeable finished end panel  101  on the side panel  45 . Accordingly, the interchangeable finished end panel  101  may be removed from the side panel  45  by removing the insertion flange  102  from the inset space  104 , and replaced with an interchangeable finished end panel  101  having a different color and/or styling, as desired.  
     [0042] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there is no limit to the number of times the various interchangeable elements on the interchangeable cabinetware of the present invention may be interchanged. Moreover, the interchangeable cabinet elements may be easily interchanged by a homeowner or other user without the need for special tools or skill.  
     [0043] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.