Patent Publication Number: US-9844264-B1

Title: Multi-tray cabinet with a compound opening

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cabinets for holding trays, and, more particularly, is concerned with a multi-tray cabinet with a compound opening. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Multi-tray cabinets (also referred to as carts when mobilized) are known to have a pair of opposite vertical side walls, a top wall, a back wall and a bottom wall defining an interior compartment with a front door mounted along a front vertical edge of one of the side walls for opening and closing a front opening to the compartment. Also, in the compartment racks are vertically spaced on the interiors of the side walls for supporting trays horizontally one above the other in the compartment. Multi-tray cabinets are also known to have an interior compartment with front and rear access openings that may be independently opened and closed by front and rear doors. 
     Room for sliding trays in and out of interior compartments of these cabinets is typically cramped and so is restricted primarily by a server using only one hand. This is the case whether the cabinet has only a front access opening or both front and rear access openings for reason that the server can only slide a food tray in or out of one of the openings at a time, that being the one opening that accommodates the server&#39;s hand. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an innovation that will overcome the deficiencies of the known prior art and problems that remain unsolved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an innovation that overcomes the deficiencies of the known prior art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a multi-tray cabinet with a compound opening allowing access by both hands of a server to the trays in an interior compartment of the cabinet. The compound opening of the cabinet is provided by two adjacent openings in the cabinet merging with and in an angular relationship to one another. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a multi-tray cabinet includes:
         a cabinet body defining an interior compartment and a compound opening to the interior compartment, the compound opening being formed by first and second openings merging with and in an angular relationship to one another;   first and second doors located on the cabinet body adjacent and at an angle to one another, the first and second doors being mounted to the cabinet body to undergo movement relative to one another and to the cabinet body in order to correspondingly open and close the first and second openings of the compound opening; and   a plurality of opposing pairs of tray support members attached in a vertically spaced relationship from one pair to another on a pair of opposite interior surfaces of the cabinet body and being aligned with the first opening of the compound opening.       

     In another aspect of the present invention, the first and second openings are front and top openings merging with and extending in a transverse relationship to one another and, more specifically, at a right angle to one another. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the cabinet body is mobilized by at least a pair of rear wheels disposed proximate opposite lower rear corners formed by a pair of opposite side walls and a rear wall of the cabinet body. Further, a steering arm is attached to and extendable above the rear wall of the cabinet body. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of trays are removably and slidably supported on and extend between the pairs of vertically spaced tray support members. At least one of the trays has cutouts that removably receive receptacles. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a multi-tray cabinet includes:
         a cabinet body comprising a pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall and a vertical rear wall defining and partially surrounding an interior compartment and defining a compound opening to the interior compartment, the compound opening being formed by front and top openings merging with and in an angular relationship to one another;   front and top doors located on the cabinet body adjacent and at an angle to one another, the front and top doors being mounted to the cabinet body to undergo movement relative to one another and to the cabinet body in order to correspondingly open and close the front and top openings of the compound opening; and   a plurality of opposing pairs of tray support members attached in a vertically spaced relationship from one pair to another on opposite interior surfaces of the pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls and being aligned with the front opening of the compound opening.       

     In another aspect of the present invention, the front opening of the compound opening extends from a horizontal front edge of the horizontal bottom wall of the cabinet body and upwardly between vertical front edges of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls of the cabinet body. Further, the top opening of the compound opening extends rearwardly between horizontal top edges of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls of the cabinet body to a horizontal top edge of the vertical rear wall of the cabinet body. The front and top openings merge with and extend in a transverse relationship to one another and, more specifically, at a right angle to one another. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a multi-tray cabinet includes:
         a connected pair of cabinet bodies each comprising a pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall and a vertical rear wall defining and partially surrounding an interior compartment, at least one of the cabinet bodies defining a compound opening to the interior compartment thereof, the compound opening being formed by front and top openings merging with and in an angular relationship to one another;   a pair of front and top doors located on the at least one of the cabinet bodies adjacent and at an angle to one another, the pair of front and top doors being mounted to the at least one of the cabinet bodies to undergo movement relative to one another and to the cabinet body in order to correspondingly open and close the front and top openings of the compound opening; and   a plurality of opposing pairs of tray support members in the at least one of the cabinet bodies being attached in a vertically spaced relationship from one pair to another on opposite interior surfaces of the pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls and being aligned with the front opening of the compound opening of the at least one of the cabinet bodies, wherein the pair of cabinet bodies are mobilized by at least a pair of rear wheels disposed proximate opposite lower rear corners of the cabinet bodies and have a steering arm attached to the cabinet bodies between and extendable above the rear walls of the cabinet bodies.       

     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a front isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-tray cabinet having a compound opening being shown in a closed condition by both front and top doors being in closed positions; 
         FIG. 2  presents a front isometric view of the cabinet originally introduced in  FIG. 1 , illustrated with its compound opening being shown in a partially opened condition by its front door being in an opened position with its top door still in the closed position; 
         FIG. 3  presents a front isometric view of the cabinet similar to as shown in  FIG. 2 , but now with a lid on the top door being shown in an opened position with the top door still in the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  presents a front isometric view of the cabinet originally introduced in  FIG. 1 , illustrated with its compound opening being shown in a fully opened condition by its front and top doors being in opened positions; 
         FIG. 5  presents a front isometric view of the cabinet originally introduced in  FIG. 1 , being illustrated with the cabinet empty and an exemplary embodiment of a tray and two receptacles in an exploded relationship to the empty cabinet; 
         FIG. 6  presents a front exploded isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a tray that may be employed with or in place of the tray shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  presents a front isometric view of the cabinet originally presented in  FIG. 1  now mobilized with rollers; 
         FIG. 8  presents a rear isometric view of the mobile cabinet originally presented in  FIG. 7  now illustrated having a steering arm thereon; 
         FIG. 9  presents an enlarged cross-section view taken along section line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 10  presents an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a mobile cabinet with dual compartments and a steering arm thereon. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 and 9 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a multi-tray cabinet in accordance with aspects of the present invention, being generally designated  100 . The cabinet  100  includes a cabinet body  102  defining an interior compartment  104  and a compound opening  106  to the interior compartment  104 . The cabinet  100  also includes a pair of front and top doors  108 ,  110  located on the cabinet body  102  adjacent and at an angle to one another. The front and top doors  108 ,  110  are mounted to the cabinet body  102  to undergo movement relative to one another and to the cabinet body  102  in order to open and close the compound opening  106 . 
     More particularly, the cabinet body  102  is formed by a plurality of interconnected walls, for example, a pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114 , a horizontal bottom wall  116  and a vertical rear wall  118 . These interconnected walls  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  define and partially surround the interior compartment  104  and define the compound opening  106  thereto. In  FIG. 9 , there is shown an insulated construction of the cabinet body  102  incorporated by the interconnected walls. The compound opening  106  includes a front opening  120 , extending from a horizontal front edge  122  of the horizontal bottom wall  116  and upward between vertical front edges  124 ,  126  of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114 , and a top opening  128 , merging with the front opening  120  and extending rearward between horizontal top edges  130 ,  132  of the opposite vertical side walls  112 ,  114  to a horizontal top edge  134  of the vertical rear wall  118 . The front opening  120  and top opening  128  extend transversely, or at a right angle, to one another. 
     Front and top doors  108 ,  110  of the cabinet  100  have respective hinges  136 ,  138  connecting them to the cabinet body  102  so that the doors may undergo pivotal movement relative thereto in order to open and close the front and top openings  120 ,  128  of the compound opening  106 . The lower edge  140  of the front door  108  is pivotally connected by the hinge  136  to the horizontal front edge  122  of the horizontal bottom wall  116  of the cabinet body  102 . The rear edge  142  of the top door  110  is pivotally connected by a pair of hinges  138  to the horizontal top edge  134  of the vertical rear wall  118  of the cabinet body  102 . 
     Also, the front and top doors  108 ,  110  and the cabinet body  102  have latches which may take the form of protrusions  144 ,  146  formed on opposite side inset peripheral edges  148 ,  150  of the front and top doors  108 ,  110 , and depressions  152 ,  154  formed in front and top peripheral edge portions of respective interior surfaces  156  of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114  of the cabinet body  102 . The protrusions  144 ,  146  on the front and top doors  108 ,  110  respectively align and mate, or latch, with the depressions  152 ,  154  on the cabinet body  102  so as to retain the respective front and top doors  108 ,  110  at their closed positions relative to the compound opening  106  in the cabinet body  102 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . The protrusions  144 ,  146  respectively become unmated, or unlatched, from the depressions  152 ,  154  when the respective front and top doors  108 ,  110  are pulled to pivotally move them from their closed positions toward their opened positions relative to the compound opening  106  in the cabinet body  102 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The mating, or latching, and unmating, or unlatching, actions of the protrusions  144 ,  146  relative to the depressions  152 ,  154  may, by way of example but not limitation, be provided in accordance with conventional spring-loading or press-fitting technologies. 
     The cabinet  100  also may have a handle  158 , for example, of an inverted U-shaped configuration, mounted at its opposite ends to respective exterior surfaces  160  of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114  of the cabinet body  102 . Manipulation of the handle  158  enables it to undergo pivotal movement between an upright position, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a stored position, as seen in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     The multi-tray cabinet  100  further includes a plurality of opposing pairs of tray support members  162 ,  164  attached in a vertically spaced relationship from one pair to another on the respective interior surfaces  156  of the opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114  of the cabinet body  102 . The pairs of tray support members  162 ,  164  are provided in rows that align with the front opening  120  of the compound opening  106 . The multi-tray cabinet  100  still further includes a plurality of trays  166  extending between the pairs of vertically spaced tray support members  162 ,  164  and being removably and slidably supported at their opposite end edges  168  on the tray support members  162 ,  164 . The trays  166  may have cutouts  170  that removably receive receptacles  172 .  FIG. 6  shows an alternative design of an outer tray  174  having a cutout  176  for nesting an inner tray  178  that also has cutouts  180  for removably receiving receptacles (not shown). All designs of the trays  166 ,  174 ,  178  may have slots  182 ,  184  for stiffening and/or reducing the respective weight thereof. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 10 , there is illustrated various additions to and modifications of the cabinet  100 . In  FIG. 3  there is shown an auxiliary lid  186  mounted on the top door  110  and pivoted to an opened position with the top door  110  being still in the closed position. The open lid  186  exposes a hidden compartment  188  built into the top door  110  having an interior wall unit  190  that divides the compartment  188  into separate sub-compartments  192 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8  the cabinet  100  is shown mobilized by rear wheels  194  located and mounted proximate opposite lower rear corners formed by the pair of opposite spaced apart vertical side walls  112 ,  114  and the vertical rear wall  118  of the cabinet body  102 . In  FIG. 10  there is shown another exemplary embodiment of a modified cabinet  200  having a modified cabinet body  202  connected to a respective one cabinet body  102 . Also, in  FIG. 8  there is shown a steering arm  196  attached to and extendable above the vertical rear wall  118  of the cabinet body  102 . In  FIG. 10  connected pair of cabinet bodies  102 ,  202  are mobilized by rear wheels  194  (only one being shown) and may be guided by the steering arm  196  attached to and extendable above a rear wall thereof. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.