Patent Publication Number: US-2021169222-A1

Title: Secret storage furniture article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/183,705, filed on Nov. 7, 2018, pending, which is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/582,648 filed Nov. 7, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided is prior art or material to the presently described or claimed inventions or any expressly or implicitly referenced publication or document is prior art. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to furniture and more specifically relates to furniture with a secret storage compartment. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     When a house is burglarized, the most likely theft targets have a relatively small size and weight but high monetary value. For obvious reasons, a thief is more inclined to take jewelry, other precious metals, cash, etc., in favor of larger and heavier items that are more difficult to transport and conceal. People are always looking for inconspicuous ways to store their valuable personal belongings around a home. Some people may invest in a safe, but such storage methods can be expensive, conspicuous, and aren&#39;t practical for everyone. Additionally, small safes can be removed from a home. Some people may hide their belongings in different, unsuspecting places, but it can be a hassle to find these belongings when they&#39;re needed. A suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,396 to Gerald H. Stephan relates to furniture having a concealed drawer with a dual stage locking mechanism. The described furniture having a concealed drawer with a dual stage locking mechanism includes a front drawer that is revealed. The front drawer is received within a receptacle defined by a lateral partition disposed proximately at the center of the furniture and a pair of oppositely disposed side aprons. The lateral partition serves to hide the concealed drawer in the event the front drawer is removed. A stop is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the back wall of the front drawer to limit the forward travel of the front drawer out of the receptacle. A first locking mechanism includes a push button, key operated lock which is locked simply by pushing a button and is unlocked using a key. The first locking mechanism may be disposed on either the bottom of the furniture or on the lateral interior partition of the furniture. A second locking mechanism consists of a magnetically operated lock configured to open when a magnet of an opposite pole from a magnet incorporated in the second locking mechanism is placed near the second locking mechanism. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Given the preceding disadvantages inherent in the known furniture art, the present disclosure provides a novel secret storage device. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a safe, secured, discreet way to store personal belongings of value, including money and jewelry. 
     An article of furniture is disclosed. The dresser includes a housing which may include a first inner capacity defined by a bottom surface relative to a floor surface, a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, a rear wall, and a first open front opposite the rear wall. The first inner capacity may be configured to slideably receive at least two visible drawers via the first open front. A dresser top may be attached to the top of the housing. It may include a second inner capacity defined by a top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a rear surface, and a second open front opposite the rear surface. The second inner capacity may be configured to receive the hidden drawer via the second open front. 
     A latch mechanism may be attached to the dresser top&#39;s inner surface in communication with the hidden drawer. The latch mechanism may be configured to selectively lock and unlock the hidden drawer within the second inner capacity. Further, an opener may be attached to the dresser top and in communication with the latch mechanism. The opener may be configured to actuate the latch mechanism to unlock the hidden drawer selectively. 
     A method of using the dresser is also disclosed. The method of using the dresser may comprise the steps of providing the dresser as above; using the opener to actuate the latch mechanism to unlock the hidden drawer selectively; placing an item of the items within the hidden drawer; shutting the hidden drawer, and selectively locking the hidden drawer with the opener. 
     In some versions, the article of furniture has a body containing visible drawers, a body top with one or more concealed top drawer including a concealed drawer front, a concealed latch bridging the body and the concealed drawer; a concealer; and a concealed opener in communication with the concealed latch and operable to lock or unlock the latch. In some versions, the concealed drawer sits flush with the sides of the body. 
     The opener can connect the controller, and either the controller or the opener is, in some versions, in wireless communication with a device running an app. The app contains code that causes the device to send a signal to the controller or the opener, causing the opener to lock or unlock the latch. 
     The opener can include a variety of locking mechanisms including a key mechanism or biometric sensor. The biometric sensor can include a fingerprint scanner, a face recognition scanner, or an iris recognition scanner. 
     In some versions, the concealed drawer has a depth that ranges from 2 to 5 inches. And the concealed drawer can be waterproof, fireproof, or both. 
     In some versions, the concealer sits or is concealed within a visible drawer, and in some of these versions, the opener is concealed by the concealer. 
     In other versions, the concealer is a concealed sliding panel adjacent to and flush with the concealed drawer, and in some of these versions, the concealed opener is concealed by the concealed sliding panel. 
     Among other locations, the concealed sliding panel can be located on the front of the body or body top in front of the concealed opener or can be on the side of the body top or body covering the concealed opener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures that accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a secret storage article constructed and operative according to the present disclosure&#39;s teachings. 
         FIG. 1  is a side front perspective view of the dresser during an ‘in use’ condition. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side-front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a side perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the dresser of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the article. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will be described with the appended drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, the present disclosure&#39;s embodiments relate to furniture and, more particularly, to a secret storage article with a secret storage compartment. 
     Generally, disclosed is an article of furniture. This article can be a dresser and will be described as such throughout this disclosure. The dresser has a hidden or concealed compartment, including various locking methods, like biometric and key access. For purposes of this disclosure, a hidden or concealed drawer is a drawer not having a discernible presence; a hidden or concealed drawer front is a drawer front not having a discernible presence. 
     The present invention may virtually eliminate the need to store obvious and expensive items in a safe or to stash important items elsewhere around a home. This further saves a considerable amount of time and frustration retrieving personal items. The dresser may further withstand fire and water for maximum protection and security. The dresser may hide jewelry, money, and other personal belongings in plain sight without detection or access. 
     The dresser may function as an ordinary dresser but include at least two hidden compartments. The compartments, or drawers, can be located at the top or bottom of the dresser, do not have handles, and can sit flush with the dresser, creating the appearance of wooden seams within the dresser. The drawers may further include one of two methods of opening. One method can include using a key to trigger a spring latch and magnet system that ejects the drawers. The second method can include concealed biometric sensors, such as fingerprint scanners. Further, the dresser may be made from wood material, in various shades, having a modern look and clean finish that complements the décor of any room. The exact specifications may vary upon manufacturing. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , various views of a dresser  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a dresser  100  during an ‘in use’ condition  150 . As illustrated, the dresser  100  may include a housing  110 , a dresser top  120 , a latch mechanism  150  ( FIG. 4 ), and an opener  160 . As shown, the dresser  100  may be used for discretely securing items  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of the dresser  100  of  FIG. 1 . The housing  110  may include a first inner capacity  111  defined by a bottom surface  112  relative to a floor surface  10 , a second sidewall  114  opposite a first sidewall  113 , a rear wall  115 , and a first open front  116  opposite the rear wall. As shown, the first inner capacity  111  may be configured to slideably receive at least two visible drawers  130  via the first open front. In a preferred embodiment, the body or first inner capacity  111  of the housing  110  may be configured to receive one or more visible drawers  130 . However, other amounts of visible drawers  130  are contemplated. For example, the first inner capacity  111  of the housing  110  may be configured to slideably receive less than six visible drawers  130  or more than six visible drawers  130 . 
     Further, housing  110  may be made from wood. The wood may be natural wood such as maple, oak, mahogany, beech, etc. The wood material may be finished with a varnish or lacquer to provide a decorative appearance or to protect the wood material&#39;s surface and provide added durability to prevent scratches and nicks in the wood material. In another example, the wood material may be a manufactured wood. The manufactured wood may include a top layer of natural wood covered by a coating as above. The coating may be a melamine. The melamine coating may be useful for preventing scratches and nicks in the wood, and also may be useful for preventing burning of the wood material in the event of a fire. Under the top layer of natural may be a pressed wood material such as medium density fiberboard. In this example, the cost to manufacture may be less than using natural wood. Other materials may be used. 
     Further, in other embodiments, the housing  110  may be made from plastic materials, metal materials, or a mix of any two of the wood materials, plastic materials and metal materials. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side front perspective view of the dresser  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in the preferred embodiment, the dresser top  120  may be attached to the top of the housing  110 . The dresser top  120  may include a second inner capacity  121  defined by a top surface  122 , a first side surface  123 , a second side surface  124  opposite the first side surface  123 , a rear surface  125 , and a second open front  126 . The inner capacity may be configured to slideably receive hidden drawer  140  via the second open front  126 . As shown in the preferred embodiment, the second inner capacity  121  of the dresser top  120  may be configured to receive one or more hidden drawer  140   s . However, any number of hidden drawers  140  are contemplated. The two hidden drawer  140   s  may sit flush with the first side surface  123 , the second side surface  124 , and the top surface  122  of the dresser top  120  such that the two hidden drawers  140  are undetectable to anyone who is unaware of their existence. In some exemplars, hidden or concealed means undetectable to those not aware of the drawer&#39;s existence. 
     As discussed above, housing  110  may be made from wood material. In the preferred embodiment, the dresser top  120  is foreseen to be made from the same material. Further, as discussed above, the wood material may be coated with a protective composition such as melamine to protect against burning. As such, in the preferred embodiment, the hidden drawer  140  may be fireproof and waterproof. This is particularly important for the hidden drawers  140 , as they are foreseen to hold valuable items such as jewelry, money, computers, etc. The hidden drawer  140  may include a depth  142  of between 2-3 or 2-6 inches. However, other depths  142  are contemplated. In some embodiments, the hidden drawer  140  may be manufactured in various sizes depending on user preference. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  show side and front perspective views of the dresser  100  of  FIG. 1 . The latch mechanism  150  may be attached to an inner surface  127  of the dresser top  120  and in communication with the hidden drawer  140 . The latch mechanism  150  may be configured to selectively lock and unlock the hidden drawer  140  within the second inner capacity  121 . In the preferred embodiment, the latch mechanism  150  may include a spring latch  152  and a magnet system  154  configured to eject the hidden drawer  140  when the latch mechanism  150  is actuated. 
     Further, as shown, the opener  160  may be attached to the dresser top  120  and in communication with the latch mechanism  150 . The opener  160  may be configured to actuate the latch mechanism  150  to lock or unlock the hidden drawer  140 . In one embodiment, the opener  160  may be located within a visible drawer  130 . Further, as shown, in one embodiment, the opener  160  may include a lock and key mechanism  162 , whereby the lock is connected to the latch mechanism  150 . Upon insertion of the key into the lock, the spring latch  152  and the magnet system  154  may eject the hidden drawer  140 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  show front perspective views of the dresser  100  of FIG.  1 . As shown here, in another embodiment, the opener  160  may be located on a front surface  128  of the dresser top  120 . In this embodiment, the opener  160  is preferably hidden until revealed by the user of the dresser. Further, in one embodiment, the opener  160  may include a biometric sensor  164 . The biometric sensor  164  may include a fingerprint scanner, a face recognition scanner or an iris recognition scanner. Other biometric sensors  164  are also contemplated, for example, DNA, retina, palm print, odor, voice, etc. It should also be appreciated that any future advancements in biometric sensor  164  technology may also be included. 
     In addition, in this embodiment, the dresser may further include a controller  166  communicably coupled to the opener  160  and configured to recognize an input at the biometric sensor  164  and output a command. For example, the biometric sensor  164  may receive an input such as a fingerprint on the fingerprint scanner, compare the fingerprint with a correct fingerprint in the memory of the controller  166 , verify whether the fingerprint is a match, and then actuate the latch mechanism  150  ( FIG. 4A ) to open the hidden drawer  140  ( FIG. 4A ) if it is a match. If the fingerprint is not a match, the controller  166  may output an alert such as an audible alarm, or silent alarm to another room, or a remote device accessible to the user, for example, a notification on a smartphone. In some versions, the opener or controller interfaces with a mobile phone or other device operating an app that controls the opener without a physical connection between the device having the app and the opener. In variations of this exemplar, the device having the app may connect to the opener or controller using any known communication protocol, e. g. BlueTooth. 
       FIG. 6  shows a front perspective view of the dresser  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the housing  110  may include the first inner capacity  111  defined by the bottom surface  112  relative to the floor surface  10 , the second sidewall  114  opposite the first sidewall  113 , the rear wall  115  and the first open front  116  opposite the rear wall  115 . The first inner capacity  111  may be configured to slideably receive at least two visible drawers  130  via the first open front. The dresser may include a dresser bottom (rather than the dresser top  120  discussed above) in this embodiment. As shown, the dresser bottom may be attached to the bottom surface  112  of the housing  110 , the dresser bottom including the second inner capacity  121  defined by the bottom surface  112 , the first side surface  123 , a second side surface  124  opposite the first side surface  123 , the rear surface  125  and the second open front  126 , and the inner capacity may be configured to slideably receive the hidden drawer  140  via the second open front  126 . 
     Further, the latch mechanism  150  ( FIG. 4A ) may be attached to an inner surface  127  of the dresser bottom and in communication with the hidden drawer  140 ; the latch mechanism  150  configured to selectively lock and unlock the hidden drawer  140  within the second inner capacity  121 . The opener  160  may be attached to the dresser bottom and in communication with the latch mechanism  150 ; the opener  160  is configured to actuate the latch mechanism  150  ( FIG. 4A ) to unlock the hidden drawer  140 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a dresser for discretely securing items  700 . As illustrated, the method of using a dresser for discretely securing items  700  may include the steps of step one  701 , providing the dresser  100  as above; step two  702 , using the opener  160  to actuate the latch mechanism  150  to unlock the hidden drawer  140 ; step three  703 , placing of an item of the items  5  within the hidden drawer  140 ; step four  704 , shutting the hidden drawer  140 ; and step five  705 , selectively locking the hidden drawer  140  with the opener  160 . 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference.