Patent Abstract:
A panel set system and storage system is provided having faces which can be easily interchanged, creating a new look for the furniture and even the whole rooms The new decor is easily accomplished at reasonable prices the average homeowner can afford.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0000]    
       
         This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62,233,393 filed Sep. 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       
     
         [0002]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 13/848, 309, filed Mar. 21, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    The present disclosure relates to the field of storage systems, doors, and other furniture. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a storage system and related method for interchanging an exposed furniture surface of the storage system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Many people enjoy redecorating rooms in their homes and businesses. However, redecorating can become expensive, tedious and time consuming, especially to the extent storage systems are replaced in the remodeling process. Many storage systems such as cabinets and drawers are custom made and have unique dimensions. Hence, redecorating that includes creating a new custom made storage system having, for example, cabinets, drawers and shelves for a kitchen may involve a steep expense. In addition, the remodeling may require disassembling the original storage system and building a new storage system using specialized tools. This endeavor takes time, disrupting the lives and/or businesses of those who use the room occupied by the storage system. 
         [0005]    Often, once a cabinet system is installed in a home, they cannot be changed without completely remodeling the kitchen, requiring the homeowner to throw out or somehow recycle the existing cabinet system. During the conventional remodeling process, a homeowner is typically left without a functioning kitchen for weeks, and usually months. Kitchen management firms often devote a large portion of their project management time and efforts to post delivery punch list items, such as getting replacement parts for items damaged on site or missing from delivery, which causes completion delays and frustrates both the retailers&#39; staff and their clients. Even if the end result of the remodeling is a pleasing and correct design, the heartache, and frustration, and waiting may leave a bitter taste, coloring the whole felt experience of the remodeling process. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure is directed to a cabinet door system comprising a modular frame that includes a plurality of legs. Each leg of the plurality of legs has opposing ends, a first channel, a second channel, and a lip extending longitudinally along a whole length of each frame leg, between said opposing ends of each leg. The cabinet door system additionally comprises a removable panel having a front, exterior face, and an opposing back, or interior face. The panel has four sides corresponding to each respective leg and edges along the perimeter of each of said four sides. Each edge of said panel is positioned within the first channel of a corresponding respective leg. The first channel is sized and recessed to accommodate the removable panel. 
         [0007]    The door system includes a plurality of clips that are coupled to the removable panel. Each of the clips is positioned within the second channel of the respective legs, which second channel is recessed to accommodate each clip. A fastener removably couples each clip to each second channel of a respective leg. 
         [0008]    The frame&#39;s lip extends from the back, or interior face to the front, or exterior face of the pane. The lip additionally extends a width of the thickness of the panel and conceals the panel&#39;s edges so that at least a portion of the lip is exposed and is flush with front, exterior face of the panel. 
         [0009]    Each leg of the cabinet door includes a first shallow channel, and a second deeper channel, contained within said first channel. Each leg of the modular frame comprises a hole on a side of the frame opposite and corresponding to the second channel of the leg. The terms modular frame used herein is hereby defined as a frame constructed of standard units. The panel&#39;s dimensions, for example, height, width and thickness, are configured to cooperate with the frame. 
         [0010]    Each clip can be coupled to the removable panel with an adhesive such as glue or tape, or coupled to the panel mechanically with a fastener such as a screw. The first channel of the frame can have a height and a width, such that at least one of said height or width of the first channel exceeds either the height or width of the removable panel by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the first channel can have a height and a width, such that at least one of its height or width exceeds either the height or width of the removable panel by a tolerance of 0.125 of an inch to allow for the removal of the panel from said first channel. 
         [0011]    The second channel has a height and a width, such at least one of said height or width of the second channel exceeds either the height or width of the clip by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment the second channel has a height and a width, and at least one of said height or width of said second channel exceeds either the height or width of the clip by a tolerance of 0.03125 of an inch to allow for the removal of the clip from the second channel. The first channel encompasses a width, length, and depth of the second channel, such that the second channel&#39;s dimensions are situated within a width, length, and depth of the first channel. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the plurality of legs of the cabinet door system comprises four legs. In an embodiment, the plurality of legs form a parallelogram when assembled, coupled to one another via corner brackets and screws at each corner to enclose a removable panel. 
         [0013]    The front face of the panel and a portion of the lip that is flush with the front surface of the removable panel are both exposed. Only the front face of the door and the lip that is flush with front face of the panel are exposed when the cabinet door of the cabinet door system is in a closed position, and when viewed head on from the front face. At least a portion of the exposed lip is beveled. The frame lip comprises four surfaces, a first surface touching and flanking the edges of a side of the removable panel, a second opposing top surface, a third front and exposed surface that is flush with front face of the panel, and a fourth beveled side adjoining the opposing top surface of the lip and the front exposed front surface of the lip. 
         [0014]    Each frame leg comprises polygonal members defining a hole on an opposing side of each leg such that the hole corresponds and allocates a space for a top cylindrical structure of a screw having threading. The hole defines an opening on the face of the clip opposing the side positioned in the second channel. The threading corresponds to a screw, and the screw&#39;s threading, such that the screw fastens the clip into the second channel. The polygonal members define a hole hold a screw in place when said frame legs are assembled and said removable panel is fastened. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the figures, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1 a    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cabinet door system of the present disclosure with some cabinets in an open configuration and some embodiments of cabinets in a closed configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1 b    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cabinet door system of the present disclosure with cabinets and drawers in an open configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the modular frame of the cabinet door system shown as  125  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the cabinet door system shown as  100  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a rear side elevational view of an embodiment of the back face, or interior side of the cabinet door shown as  105  in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The present disclosure provides an economical way for a home or business owner to change the decor of a storage system while said storage system is still assembled, without disassembling the storage system, and without specialized tools. The present disclosure provides a cabinet door system with replaceable exposed surfaces. The interchangeable feature of the exposed surfaces is not visible from the perspective of a casual viewer, mainly because the unfinished or even finished edges of the interchangeable exposed surfaces are substantially concealed by a frame, providing a finished and professional appearance. 
         [0022]    The frame can have a small lip that overlaps and is sufficient to substantially conceal any unfinished edges of a cabinet door system, allowing the frame to be thin and minimally visible. By simply replacing the original exposed surfaces with replacement surfaces having a different design, it may seem to the casual viewer that the whole room was redecorated, and the entire storage system was replaced. The storage system, in accordance with the present disclosure, provides savings in environmental costs by eliminating the need to dispose of an entire storage system when redecorating, minimizing waste and/or using biodegradable materials. Furthermore, the cabinet door system can reduce decorating costs and expands options for redesigning living and working environments. 
         [0023]    A storage system vendor may utilize an online tracking system and a shopping for customers to use to replace exposed surfaces of purchased storage systems with new designs. The owner of the storage system may be able to enter a form of identification, such as an order number, onto a storage system vendor&#39;s website. Once the vendor website identifies the customer, the customer may view his or her purchased storage system on his or her screen. The customer can then shop for a new design for his or her exposed surfaces by imposing different designs on his or her system viewed on screen. 
         [0024]    Referring now to the drawings described in detail below, like reference numerals identify the cabinet door system and identical or corresponding elements in accordance with the present disclosure. With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 a    and  1   b,  an exemplary cabinet door system in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated and is designated generally as cabinet door system  100 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 1 a    represents a perspective view of an embodiment of a cabinet door storage system  100  with some cabinet doors  100  in an open configuration, and some embodiments of cabinet doors  100  in a closed configuration. An embodiment of the cabinet door system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and shows a cabinet door system  100  having five cabinets.  FIG. 1 a    shows the front face  106 , defined herein as the exterior side or face  106 , of cabinet doors  100  in a closed configuration. The back face  105 , defined herein as the interior side or face  105 , of the doors is shown in an open configuration of the cabinet door system  100 . A panel  130  is shown in the cabinet door system  100 , enclosed by the frame  103 . The interior side  105  of the door shows a modular frame  103 , constructed of a plurality of legs  125 , enclosing the edges of the panel  130 . The term “enclose,” as used herein, refers to surrounding or encircling cabinet door  100  on four sides. The term “edge” as used herein, refers to the rim or outer boundary forming the border of panel  130 . 
         [0026]    The panel  130  can be inserted into the frame  103  through the front of the cabinet door system  100 , with an interior face  105  of the panel  130  approaching the plurality of frame legs  125  before the panel&#39;s exterior face  106 , in embodiments of this disclosure. The panel  130  can be seen from both the exterior face  106  in the closed cabinet doors  100  and an interior face  105  of the door panel  130  shown enclosed by frame  103 . A storage area  108  can be positioned behind each door as shown in said Figure. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the door panel  100  can encompass a plurality of materials coupled as one removable panel  130 . In one embodiment, a single surface material  132  can compose the removable panel  130 . A back or interior face  105  of the panel  130  of the cabinet door system, may be the back face  105  of the surface material  132  of the cabinet door  100 , with the exterior, or front face of the surface material  106  visible from the front face  106  of the cabinet door. In another embodiment, the back face  105  of the panel  130  can be a backboard that is coupled to a surface material  132  which would be visible and seen from the exterior, or front face  106  of a cabinet door system  100 . The term “panel” as used herein can refer to one sheet of material alone, or one more sheets of material coupled together as a unit. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1 b    shows embodiments of a cabinet door system  100  with cabinets in a closed and in an open configuration. A storage system can include cabinets as well as drawers. A cabinet door  100  can be configured as a drawer  100   a  that may slidably open and shut, still having a storage area  108  positioned behind the interior of the drawer door  100   a.    
         [0029]    Access to the storage cavity  108  may be gained by, for example, but not limited to, moving a cabinet door  100  from a closed to an open position (such as rotating about on an axis or sliding along a path), or by moving the receptacle itself, e.g., a drawer that can slidably open and shut, as shown in  FIG. 1   b.  A cabinet door  100  can be coupled via hinges  128  to a frame  103  framing and encasing the storage area  108  so that the cabinet door  1000  can rotate about hinges  128  to open and close. 
         [0030]    A storage system  120  can include cabinets configured as, for example, but not limited to, kitchen cabinets, utility cabinets, office filing cabinets, and stand-alone or built-in furniture (such as used in a bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom). A storage system  120  cabinet can stand on a floor surface or, alternatively, may be mounted to a wall, for example, but not limited to, the wall of a building with, e.g., via connectors or a bracket, as is known in the art. 
         [0031]    While the exterior faces  106  of cabinet doors may be exposed, outer cabinet walls  100   b  may be exposed as well, and replaceable panels  130  may be used as shown in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    to be able to replace those exposed cabinet walls  100   b  as well. Unexposed cabinet walls  131  shown in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    are not replaceable, such as a top cabinet wall that may be covered by a countertop, or interior cabinet walls  131  that adjoin two or more cabinets, and are not exposed when those cabinet doors  100  are in a closed position. 
         [0032]    Moving on to  FIG. 2 , sections of two legs  125  are shown. In one embodiment, legs  125  can be coupled to one another via, for example, but not limited to, dovetail coupling, connectors, or snap-fit, as is known by persons skilled in the art, to enclose panel  130  in frame  103 . In one embodiment shown, legs  125  can be coupled to one another via corner brackets  143  and connectors  149  holding the corner brackets  143  in place (connectors  149  are shown in  FIG. 4  at the corners of the assembled cabinet door  100 ) to form the frame  103  as an integral frame  103 . The term “integral frame,” as used herein, refers to forming a frame  103  as a single unit from one or more parts. The connectors  149  can include, for example, but not limited to, screws, fasteners, bolts, wires, brackets, cables and corner brackets  143 . As shown in  FIG. 1   a,  leg  125   a  connects with a corner bracket  143  to leg  125   b,  which connects via corner bracket  143  and connectors  149  to leg  125   c,  which connects to leg  125   d.    
         [0033]    Each leg  125  in  FIG. 2  is shown having a hollow interior  121 , a first channel  117 , a second channel  119 , and a lip  113 . The first channel  117  encompasses a width, length, and depth of said second channel  119  within a width, length, and depth of said first channel. The term “encompasses” as used herein is defined as included within. Each leg  125  has opposing ends, and the first channel  117 , the second channel  119 , and the lip  113  extend longitudinally along a whole length of each frame leg  125 , between said opposing ends of each leg  125 . The width of the first channel  117 , is shown to extend from  117   a  to  117   b.  The width of the second channel  119  is shown to extend from  119   a  to  119   b.    
         [0034]    A clip  115  is shown, positioned to be placed over a hole  145  in the second channel  119 , for the cylindrical top  115   a - b  of the clip  115  to extend through, and so that the clip&#39;s hole  127  lines up with the hole  145  in the clip  115  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each leg includes at least one hole  145 , corresponding to each clip  115 . A screw  129  is shown positioned to extend through the same hole  145  in the second channel  119  of each leg  125 , from an opposite side and opposing face of the leg  125 , and also through the clip&#39;s hole  127 . Each hole  145  in the frame leg  125  can be at a midpoint of the leg&#39;s  125  width and height, or at other placements corresponding to one or more clips  115 , in other embodiments. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, each clip  115  may have a length of 1.0 inch, a width of 0.5 inches, and a height of 0.25 inches. In an embodiment, the clip  115  length may extend between 0.5-1.5 inches, the width may extend between 0.25-1 inches, and the height may extend between 0.25-0.75 inches. The second channel  119  may, in embodiments, exceed the clip&#39;s  115  dimensions by 0.03125 inches, as the second channel  119  may be sized and recessed to accommodate the clip  115  and its removal from the second channel  119 . The depth of the second channel  119  be defined from 0.28125-0.078125 inches. 
         [0036]    The first channel  117  is sized and recessed to accommodate the edges  133  of the removable panel  130 , and thus having dimensions exceeding the panel  130  edge&#39;s  133  dimensions by 0.125 inches. In one embodiment, the panel  130  may have various heights and widths, and the edges  133  having a thickness of 0.375 inches, defining the width of the first channel  117  as 0.5 inches. In embodiments, the first channel  117  may have a width between 0.375 and 1.5 inches, and a depth of between 0.125-0.25 inches. Correspondingly, in one embodiment the lip  113  can extend in width between 0.125-0.25 inches. 
         [0037]    Each lip  113  may extend from said back face  105  to said front face  106  of said panel  103 , wherein said lip  113  extends a width of a thickness of said panel  103  and conceals the edges  133  of said panel  103 . In an embodiment, at least a portion of said lip  113  is exposed and is flush with said front face  105  of said panel  130 , without extending any further than the removable panel  130 , showing no overhanging lip  113  on its exterior face  106 . In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an overhanging lip  113  may extend up to an inch over the panel&#39;s  103  front face  106 , overlapping onto the front or exterior face  106  of the panel  130  with an “L” shaped profile. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows the lip  113  having a plurality of surfaces or edges. In one embodiment, the lip  113  is shown in the Figure as having a first surface  113   d  touching and flanking the edges  133  of a side of the removable panel  103 , a second, opposing top surface  113   c,  a third front surface  113   a  that is flush with the front face  106  of the removable panel  130 , and a fourth beveled side  113   b  adjoining, said second surface  113   c  and said front surface  113   a  of the lip. The term flanking used herein is hereby defined as bordering closely on a side. The term flush used herein is hereby defined as even and on the same level with, so that no part sticks out higher or lower or protrudes more than the other. The term beveled used herein is hereby defined where the angle or inclination of a line or surface that meets another meets at any angle but 90 degrees The term adjoining used herein is hereby defined as joining and sandwiched between. The lip&#39;s  113  front surface  113   a  is exposed and is flush with the removable panel  130  when the cabinet door  100  is in the open position, and in most other configurations and positions of the cabinet door  100 . 
         [0039]    The panel  130  is shown positioned in the first channel  117  and in embodiments, is lightly held in place by the first channel  117  and the frame lip  113 . However, without being fastened into the frame  103  with a screw  129 , any slight force may cause the panel  130  to fall out of the frame  103 . The first channel  117  of the frame  103  can have a width  117   a - 117   b  (of  FIG. 2 ) that exceeds the width  117   a - 1117   b  of the removable panel  103  by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the first channel  117  can have a width  117   a - 117   b,  such that the width  117   a - 117   b  exceeds the width or thickness of the removable panel  103  by a tolerance of 0.125 of an inch to allow for the removal of the panel  103  from the first channel  117 . 
         [0040]    The tolerance by which the first channel width  117   a - 117   b  exceeds the thickness of the panel  103  forms a gap  176 , defined by surface  113   d  of the frame lip  113  and the surface of edges  133  adjacent to surface  113   d.  Gap  176  allows panel  130  to be easily removed from and inserted into replaceable panel  130 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the lip  113  substantially conceals the edges  133  that define at least two border surfaces of replaceable panel  130 . In one embodiment, lip  113  of frame  102  substantially conceals the edges  133  on all four sides of the replaceable panel  130  to the degree that any gap  176  between the frame  103  and replaceable panel  130  is less than or equal to ⅛ th  inch, or 0.125 inches, so that the panel  130  is held in place. The gap  176  is miniscule so that it is impossible for a person to insert his or her finger between panel  130  and lip  113 . In one embodiment, the gap  176  may measure 1/32 nd  inch wide. In one embodiment, gap  176  may measure 1/20 th  inch. 
         [0042]    The removable panel  130  can be formed of, for example, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: plastic, glass, wood, metal, concrete or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the thickness of the panel  130  can be minimized in order to preserve the appearance of the removable panel  130 . Additionally, minimizing the thickness of the removable panel  130  aids in ease of transport and assembly. The panel  130  may have a thickness in the range of 0.125-1 inches. In one embodiment, the panel may have a thickness of 0.375 inches, 0.25, or 0.5 inches. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 3 , a clip  115  is shown positioned in the second channel  119 , coupled to the back or interior face  105  of the panel  130  with, for example, but not limited to, a glue, adhesive, double sided tape. In other embodiments, the clip  115  may be coupled to the panel  130  using mechanical coupling means, such as connectors or magnet, or any other coupling means known in the art. The clip  115  includes a cylindrical head  115   a - b.  The clip&#39;s  115  cylindrical head  115   a - b  are shown extended through the hole  145  in the leg, extending from the second channel  119  through the whole  145  to the opposite side of the leg. A connector  129 , such as a screw  129 , is shown, the screw  129 , having a top  109  fastened through the hole  145 . The majority of the screw  129 , extends through the hole  127  in the cylindrical top  115   a - b  of the clip  115 , fastening the clip  115  into the second channel  119 . The screw threading  123  is shown cooperating with the clip&#39;s threading  111  situated on the inner surface of the clip&#39;s hole  127 . The frame leg  125  is shown having polygonal members  107   a - b,  defining a cylindrical hole  145 , and retaining the head  109  of connector  129  in holes  145  of the leg  125  and hole  127  of the clip  115 . The term polygonal member as used herein refers to a multi-sided part. The hollow parts  121  of the frame leg  125  are seen in  FIG. 3  as well, allowing the frame  103  to be lightweight to maneuver and assemble.  FIG. 4  shows a rear side elevational view of the current disclosure. In one embodiment, a corner bracket  143  couples each leg  125  to another, concealed within the hollow space  121  of the legs  125  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Connectors  149  are shown that fasten the corner bracket  143  (concealed within frame  103 ) in place through holes  141  in each leg  125  corner to hold the assembled frame  103  together. Leg  125   a  is shown coupled to legs  125   b  and  125   d,  Leg  125   b  is shown coupled to leg  125   c,  and leg  125   c  is shown coupled to leg  125   d.    
         [0044]    The legs  125  can be coupled via connectors  149  to form an integral frame  103 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, frame  103  can form a polyhedron, for example, but not limited to, a cuboid as shown in  FIGS. 1 a - b    and  4 . A polyhedron as used herein is defined as a solid figure with many plane faces. A cuboid as used herein is defined as a solid that has six rectangular faces at right angles to each other. In one embodiment, a leg  125  can be curved and not straight to form a curved frame  103  (not shown). Thus, integral frame  103  may form a shape that has curves well. The frame  103  and panels  130  can remain stationary, and do not need to be opened or disassembled to remove or replace a removable panel  130 . In  FIG. 4 , the back face  105  of the removable panel  130  is shown, and the connectors  129  can be seen at each midpoint of each leg  125  of the frame  103 , fastened through the holes  127  in each clip and through the holes  145  in each leg  125 . 
         [0045]    The panel  130  can be removed by unscrewing connectors  129  that secure clips  115  of panel  130  to frame  103 . A force can be applied to the interior face  105  of panel  130 , pushing out panel  130  in the direction of its exterior face  106 . To replace the removed panel  130 , a new panel  130  can be inserted through the exterior face  106  of the panel  130  until it rests against the frame  103 , and until the lip  113  substantially conceals and blocks access to the edges  133  of panel set  130  once again. Clips  115  can then be inserted into second channel  119 , and screws  129  inserted into the clip hole  127  to fully secure the panel  130  to the frame  103 . 
         [0046]    It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein can be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4