Patent Abstract:
A vanity table organizer that includes multiple compartments for storing jewelry, cosmetic and/or both items in a user friendly and efficient, manner.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The embodiments of the inventions are directed to a vanity table, and, more particularly, a vanity table that organizes items such a jewelry and/or cosmetics. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vanity table are known and typically have a pivotal top that can be rotated to an open position to expose a storage compartment. Typically the storage compartment is used to hold cosmetic items and the interior surface of the top has a mirror disposed thereon. This allows a user to comfortably sit at the vanity table, rotate the top to its open position to expose the mirror and provide easy access to the compartment. The user can then have access to and apply her cosmetic items comfortably while simultaneously being able to view herself in the mirror. 
         [0003]    U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 303,593 discloses a vanity table with a storage top that has a left and right section, each of which is hingedly attached to the side of the table along one of its long edge so that each section can be rotated away from the center of the table to an open position to expose a storage compartment underneath. 
         [0004]    U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 303,594 discloses a vanity table having a mirror centrally disposed on a top of the table and a cabinet disposed on top of the table on each side of the mirror. It appears that a plurality of hooks are disposed on a side wall of the left cabinet. 
         [0005]    U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 311,832 disclose a vanity table that combines certain features of Design Pat. Nos. 303,593 and 303,594 discussed above. In particular, a vanity table is disclosed with a storage top that has a left and right section, each of which is hingedly attached to the side of the table along one of its long edges so that each section can be rotated away from the center of the table to an open position to expose a storage compartment underneath. A mirror is centrally disposed on top of the table and a cabinet disposed on top of the table on each side of the mirror. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,329 discloses a portable dressing table or vanity that has a centrally disposed mirror that can be rotated to an upright position when the table is being used and can be folded down flat so that it forms part of the top surface of the table. On each side of the mirror is a lid hingedly coupled along an inner long edge so that the lid can be rotated from a closed position where it forms part of the top of the table to an open position where the lid is rotated towards the center of the table to expose a storage compartment underneath. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vanity having a body including a front, a back, a left side, a right side, a top extending from the back to the front and from the left side to the right side, and a bottom generally parallel with the top, the bottom extending from the back to the front and from the left side and to the right side. The top includes three sections: a left section, a middle section and a right section. The left section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s left side and extends to the body&#39;s front, the right section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s right side and extends to the body&#39;s front, and the middle section is locate between the left and right sections, the middle section having a fixed portion attached to the body&#39;s back and extends towards the body&#39;s front and a movable portion pivotally coupled to the fixed portion and extends to the body&#39;s front. 
         [0008]    According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vanity having a body including a front, a back, a left side, a right side, a top extending from the back to the front and from the left side to the right side, and a bottom generally parallel with the top, the bottom extending from the back to the front and from the left side and to the right side. The top includes three sections: a left section, a middle section and a right section. The left section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s left side and extends to the body&#39;s front, the right section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s right side and extends to the body&#39;s front, and the middle section is locate between the left and right sections. 
         [0009]    According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a vanity having a body including a front, a back, a left side, a right side, a top extending from the back to the front and from the left side to the right side, and a bottom generally parallel with the top, the bottom extending from the back to the front and from the left side and to the right side. The top includes three sections: a left section, a middle section and a right section wherein the left section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s left side and extends to the body&#39;s front, the right section is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back adjacent to the body&#39;s right side and extends to the body&#39;s front, and the middle section is locate between the left and right sections, the middle section having a fixed portion attached to the body&#39;s back and extends towards the body&#39;s front and a movable portion pivotally coupled to the fixed portion and extends to the body&#39;s front. The vanity further includes a cabinet located on the fixed portion of the middle section of the top, the cabinet extending generally parallel with the front and back of the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the vanity table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the vanity table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table showing its top left, right and middle sections rotated to their partially open position and left and right top drawers pulled out. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table showing its top sections rotated to their closed position, the left and right bottom drawers pulled out and the cabinet door swung open. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of the interior of the upper left drawer according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top elevation view of the interior of the upper right drawer according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top elevation view of the interior of the bottom left according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top elevation view of the interior of the bottom right drawer according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table  10 . The vanity table  10  has a front  12 , a back  14 , a left side  16 , a right side  18 , a top  20  extending from the back  14  to the front  12  and from the left side  16  to the right side  18  and a bottom  22 , generally parallel with the top  20 , the bottom  22  extending from the back  14  to the front  12  and from the left side  16  and to the right side  18 . Four legs  24  extend from generally the bottom  22  of the table. 
         [0020]    The top  20  of the table has three sections: a left section  26 , a middle section  28  and a right section  30 . The left section  26  is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back  14  adjacent to the body&#39;s left side  16  and extends to the body&#39;s front  12 . The right section  30  is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back  14  adjacent to the body&#39;s right side  18  and extends to the body&#39;s front  12 . The middle section  28  is locate between the left and right sections,  26  and  28 . In one embodiment, the middle section  28  has a fixed portion  32  attached to the body&#39;s back  14  and extends towards the body&#39;s front  12  and a movable portion  34  pivotally coupled to the fixed portion  32  and extends to the body&#39;s front  12 . In another embodiment, the middle section  28  is pivotally coupled to the body&#39;s back  14  and extends to the body&#39;s front  12 . In another embodiment, the middle section  28  is fixedly coupled to the body&#39;s back  14  and front  12 . 
         [0021]    In the embodiments where the middle section  28  includes a fixed portion  32  and a movable portion  34  or where the middle section  28  is fixedly coupled to the body&#39;s back  14  and front  12 , a cabinet  36  can be disposed on an exterior surface of the fixed portion  32 . The cabinet  36  extends generally parallel with the front  12  and back  14  of the body. The cabinet  36  will be described in further detail hereinafter, but it can be seen that it has a door  38  with an exterior surface on which is disposed a mirror  40 . 
         [0022]    A plurality of drawers  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  (see  FIG. 2 ) are located underneath the top  20  of the body. In an embodiment, there are two drawers  42 ,  46  located under the left section  26  of the top  20 , two drawers  44 ,  48  located under the right section  30  of the top  20  and one drawer  49  located under the middle section  28  of the top  20 . Of course the number of drawers may be varied. In addition, instead of having legs  24  supporting the body, a series of drawers or a cabinet may be located under both the left and right sections of the top  20  that extend to the floor. Room is left under the middle section  28  to allow a user to place comfortably her legs when she is using the vanity table  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the vanity table  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . It can be seen the located an interior surface of the left, right and middle sections  26 ,  30  and  28  of the top  20  are cutouts  50  that allow a user to rotate the sections of the top  20  to their open position as will be explained in detail hereinafter.  FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the vanity table  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table  10  showing its top left, right and middle sections  26 ,  30  and  28  rotated to their partially open position and left and right top drawers pulled out. The left section  26  of the top  20  has an interior surface on which is disposed a plurality of elastic loops  52  that can be used to secure items such as brushes, mascara or lipstick tubes or such to the interior of the left section  26  as shown. The middle section  28  has an interior surface on which is disposed a mirror  54 , as shown. The right section  30  has an interior surface that does not have anything disposed thereon although it could also have a plurality of elastic loops  52  or a mirror  54 , for example. The location of the various items on the interior surfaces of the sections may be arranged differently from that shown in  FIG. 4  but still define features of the embodiments of the invention. Located underneath the left and right top sections  26  and  30  is an upper left and right drawer  42  and  44  respectively which are show partially pulled out. Each of the drawers has various dividers  56  used to form compartments within the drawer. The dividers  56  may be fixed or they may be removable so that a user can configure the storage space located within the drawer according to her desired use. Located underneath the middle section  28  is a compartment that also has dividers  56  which may or may not be removable. Located directly underneath the upper left and right drawers  42  and  44  is a lower left and right drawer as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vanity table  10  showing its top  20  sections rotated to their closed position, the left and right bottom drawers  46  and  48  pulled out and the cabinet door  38  swung open. The lower left  46  drawer has a plurality of dividers  56  used to create lipstick tube holders  58 . A sole divider  56  divides the remaining portion of the compartment of the lower left drawer  46 . Alternatively instead of a sole divider, multiple dividers may be located in the drawer. The bottom right drawer  48  also has a plurality of dividers  56  as well as it may or may not have a ring holder  51 . The ring holder  51  may be formed of a plurality of slits formed in an spongy material as is well know or plurality of rolls adjacent one another where the ring is secured between adjacent rolls. 
         [0026]    The cabinet  36  is located on the fixed portion  32  of the middle section  28  of the top  20  and extends generally parallel with the front  12  and back  14  of the body. The cabinet  36  has a back wall  60 , a top  62 , a bottom  64 , a first side wall  66 , a second side wall  68  that define a cavity  70  and a door  38  hingedly couple to the first side wall  66  of the cabinet  36 , the door  38  having an interior surface and an exterior surface. Located inside the cabinet  36  are a plurality of hooks  72  disposed on an interior surface of the back wall  60 . The door  38  has an exterior surface on which is disposed a mirror  40  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0027]    A plurality of receptacles  74  are located along the bottom of the cabinet&#39;s cavity  70 . In one embodiment, the cavity  70  and interior surface of the door  38  may be lined with antitarnish cloth. In addition, an earring stand  76  is disposed on the interior surface of the door  38 . The earring stand  76  has a plurality of vertical bars  78  attached to the interior surface of the door  38 . A plurality of crossbars  80  extend between the vertical bars  78 , as shown. The crossbars  80  can be fixedly attached or they may be removably attached to the vertical bars  78 . 
         [0028]    The vanity table  10  allows a user to sit comfortably at the table and locate her jewelry and cosmetics in an organized fashion. The mirrors  40  and  54  provided on the exterior surface of the cabinet  36  door  38  and on the interior surface of the middle section  28  of the top allow the user to properly apply her makeup, as well as see how an article of jewelry will look on her. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of the interior of the upper left drawer according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  is a top elevation view of the interior of the upper right drawer according to another embodiment of the invention. A ring holder  51  may be provided in the back of the drawer and may be formed of a plurality of slits formed in an spongy material as is well know or plurality of rolls adjacent one another where the ring is secured between adjacent rolls.  FIG. 8  is a top elevation view of the interior of the bottom left drawer according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  is a top elevation view of the interior of the bottom right drawer according to another embodiment of the invention. While each drawer is shown having a particular configuration, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to what is shown and various arrangements are contemplated. As previously mentioned, the dividers may be removable so that a user can configure the interior of the drawers to suit her particular needs. If the drawer is meant to hold jewelry, it may be lined with an antitarnish cloth. Alternatively, if it is meant to hold cosmetic items it made be made of a material that is easily cleaned. For example, the interior of the drawer may be lined with plastic or vinyl or an insert of plastic that holds the dividers may be provided separately so that it can be placed in the drawer. 
         [0030]    In other embodiments, the pivotable sections of the top may have other configurations. Fir example, a particular pivotable top section, whether it be the left, right or middle section, may not extend the entire distance from the back of the body to its front. Instead, it may only extend halfway so that it extends from the front of the body to a point midway between the front and the back of the body. The remaining portion would be fixed, i.e. not movable. In another embodiment, a particular top section may be slidable so that it folds like an accordion or closet door as it is slid towards the back of the body. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various configurations of the described embodiments are possible. Thus, as an example, the left top section may be of the pivotable lid-type while the right top section may be of the slidable-type or vice versa. 
         [0031]    In other embodiments, the loops for holding brushes may be located on other positions of the vanity organizer. For example, they may be located in one of the drawers. As an example, the drawer underneath the middle top section may be provided with loops in its interior. Or the loops may be provided on the interior surface of the middle top section adjacent one or both side of the mirror. In addition, a panel could be added to the bottom of the vanity organizer that can be pivoted away from the bottom of the organizer towards the user. The lops may be provided on an exterior surface of such a panel so that as the panel is pivoted towards the user, the loops face the user and are accessible to the user. 
         [0032]    While the top left, right and middle drawers have been shown as pullout-type drawers, in other embodiments, the may be fixed since access to the interior of these drawers is provided through the left, right and middle top sections. 
         [0033]    In other embodiments, the left and right top sections are not pivotably coupled to the back of the body, but rather are coupled along one of their sides. For example, the top left section may be pivotally coupled along its right side to a center section of the top so that as it is rotated open, it rotates towards the middle top section. The top right section may be pivotally coupled along its left side to a center section of the top so that as it is rotated open it rotates towards the top middle section. The exterior surfaces of such left and right top sections may be provided with mirror so that when they are rotated open, and the middle section is rotated open, they present a three-way or tri-fold type mirror to the user. The top left and right sections may be adjustable when in their rotated open position so that the user can adjust the angle of the mirror located on the exterior surface of the sections. 
         [0034]    In addition, in some embodiments, the middle top section may have coupled on its interior surface a left and right panel that each fold inward underneath the interior surface of the top middle section so that the middle section can be rotated to its closed position. When the middle section is rotated to its open or partially open position, the left and right panels may be rotated away from the interior surface of the middle section and each panel may be provided with a mirror to provide a three-way or tri-fold mirror to the user. The angle of the left and right panels may be adjusted by the user. 
         [0035]    The cabinet  36  located on top of the organizer may in one embodiment, be removable. In other embodiments, the cabinet  36  may be rotatably coupled to the vanity organizer so that it can be rotated preferably 360 degrees, for example. In addition, the cabinet  36  located on top of the organizer may be of the swivel type with multiple compartments such as described in the following applications: U.S. Ser. No. 11/368,019 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Mar. 3, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 29/263,540 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Jul. 25, 2006; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,341 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,342 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,343 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,344 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,345 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/277,346 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Feb. 22, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/281,878 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Jul. 5, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/281,880 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Jul. 5, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,087 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,095 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,097 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,098 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,101 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,104 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,106 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,110 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,113 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,115 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,118 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,119 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,121 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,123 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,124 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,128 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,134 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,136 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,139 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007; U.S. Ser. No. 29/295,141 entitled “Swivel Organizer” filed Sep. 21, 2007 all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0036]    In addition, the cabinet  36 , whether it is rotatable or not may include a tri-fold mirror arrangement as described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/610,170 entitled “Tri-Fold Mirror Swivel Organizer” filed Dec. 13, 2006 and U.S. Ser. No. 11/768,979 entitled “Tri-Fold Mirror Organizer” filed Jun. 27, 2007 all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0037]    The hinges used to couple the top left and right sections preferably have a stop so that those top sections can be rotated about 110 degrees. The top middle section uses hinges that allow a user to adjust the tilt of the middle section by using adjustable hinges. 
         [0038]    The vanity organizer has been described in various embodiments as hold jewelry items and cosmetic items. Alternatively, the vanity organizer may house all jewelry items or all cosmetic items depending on the needs of the user. 
         [0039]    The embodiments of the invention are subject to many variations and modifications while remaining within the scope of the embodiments of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0