Patent Abstract:
An adjustable width vanity has a main body that can be positioned relative to a side unit so that the overall width of the vanity can be adjusted to fit within a variety of stalls having different widths.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/946,660, filed Jun. 27, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to bathroom vanities and in particular to an adjustable width vanity and method for securing same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Bathroom vanities are the countertops used typically with bathroom sinks and mirrors. Bathroom vanities, particularly those in hotels, are placed in a stall that has a left wall, a right wall, and rear wall. 
         [0006]    In hotels, there can be a need to install thousands of similar vanities into the many rooms. When the size of the stall is universal, one sized vanity can be manufactured in quantity for discount and installed in all of the stalls. 
         [0007]    Unfortunately, in many hotels the size of the stalls is not universal. That is, the stalls may come in a range of widths. Despite the different sizes, hoteliers are still seeking a vanity that can be provided at the low cost afforded by bulk manufacturing. Accordingly, there is a need for a vanity that can be in stalls having a range of widths. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,381 to Fitzgerald, Sr. teaches a, “Universal Fixture Support.” The support provides a means for support the weight of a fixture (i.e. a sink) with the floor rather than the wall. The fixture support is unable to telescope to accommodate different heights of roofs. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,253 to Wasek teaches an, “Adjustable Vanity.” The device provides a means for adjusting the height of a sink. The adjustable vanity is unable to telescope to accommodate different heights of roofs. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,109 teaches a, “Vertically Adjustable Lavatory Assembly.” The device describes a motorized assembly for moving a lavatory along a track. The vertically adjustable lavatory assembly is unable to telescope to accommodate different heights of roofs. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,290 to Mullick et al. teaches “Movable Bathroom Fixtures.” Rails are provided within a room to allow fixtures to be changed as desired. The movable fixtures unable to telescope to fit into stalls with different widths. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,549 to McMurtrie et al. teaches a, “Modular Frame Construction and Installation of Bathroom Fixtures.” The system provides a system for interlocking fixtures. The system does not provide a system of telescoping widths to accommodate different sized stalls. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0222179 to Garcia teaches a, “Modular Rack System.” The rack has two legs. Items (i.e. boards) are placed on and span the legs for drying after being painted or stained. The legs rest on the floor. No vanity is taught. Likewise, the system suggests no solution for installation into bathroom stalls having a range of widths. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an adjustable width vanity and a method for installing an adjustable width vanity that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type. 
         [0015]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an adjustable width vanity that can have its width adjusted to be installable in stalls having different widths. 
         [0016]    The vanity includes a main body and at least one side unit. The main body has a countertop. Typical cutouts can be made in the countertop for addition of a washbasin and faucets. The side unit telescopes laterally relative to the main body so that the overall width of the main body and side unit(s) span the width of the stall. 
         [0017]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, an adjustable width vanity with a main body and two laterally opposed (i.e. a left and a right) side units is particularly useful for installation. First, each side unit is installed on a respective side wall of the stall. Then, the main body is rested on the side units, moved into place, and then fastened together. By installing the side units first, the weight of the main body can be born by the side units, rather than the installer. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, the side units are connected to the side walls of the stall. In cases where the rear wall of the stall is tiled or made of stone, the installer may not want to fasten the vanity to the rear wall. The adjustable width vanity is installed on the side walls of the stall. While it may be additionally connected to the rear wall of the stall, the adjustable width vanity does not necessarily need to be so attached. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, a socket and closing bracket can be used to connect a main body of to side units of the adjustable width vanity. A socket is placed on one of the main body and the side unit; a support is placed on the other of the main body and the side unit; then the support and the socket are connected. The socket includes a c-channel. The support seats in the c-channel. A closing bracket is then added to lock the support in the c-channel. 
         [0020]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, the support has a flange for limiting travel of the support relative to the bracket. The flange abuts the bracket when the side unit is moved to a maximum width relative to the main body. The flange prevents the support from being overtelescoped in which case the main body could become unsupported by the side unit and fall to the ground. 
         [0021]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, the bracket can have a c-channel opening rearward. When a rearward-opening c-channel is connected to the main body, the main body can be placed on the side units and pushed rearward. As the main body moves rearward, the rearward opening c-channels will receive the supports that are connected to the side units. 
         [0022]    If the bracket is connected to the side units and the supports are connected to the main body, then forward opening c-channels are preferred. In this configuration, the supports move into the c-channels as the main body is pushed rearward during installation. 
         [0023]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, a method for installing an adjustable width vanity in a stall having two opposing sidewalls and a rear wall is encompassed. The first step includes fastening the side unit to a first of the opposing sidewalls of the stall. The next step involves fastening a second side unit to the other wall of the stall. In the next step, the main body is connected to the two side sections by placing the main body on the side units and then pushing it rearward. Typically, the main body is pushed rearward to abut the rear wall of the stall. 
         [0024]    The method can further include engaging supports on one of the side unit and the main body into sockets located on the other of the side unit and the main body. 
         [0025]    In accordance with a further object of the invention, the method of installation can include connecting a closing bracket to the main body or side unit after sliding the support into the bracket in order to secure the support in the bracket. 
         [0026]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0027]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an adjustable width vanity and a method for securing an adjustable width vanity, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0028]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic front perspective view of a variable width vanity according to the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the variable width vanity shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the vanity shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a rear exploded view of the vanity shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a socket according to the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of the socket shown in  FIG. 5  with a closing bracket. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a right side view of a side section seated in a socket and closing bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIGS. 1-3  thereof, there is seen an adjustable width vanity. The adjustable width vanity includes a main body  200  and two laterally opposed (i.e. a left and a right) side units  100 . A shelf assembly  300  can be included as well. 
         [0037]    The main body  200  includes a countertop  203 . The countertop  203  has a washbasin cutout  208  formed therein. A washbasin  205  is attached beneath the countertop  203 . Alternatively, a drop-in sink or a vessel that rests on the countertop  203  could be used. Fixture cutouts  206  are formed in the countertop  203 . Preferably, there are three fixture cutouts  206 : one for a faucet, one for a hot-water knob, and one for a cold-water knob. A counter face  204  (also known as a valance) is connected to a front edge of the countertop  203 . The counter face  204  hides plumbing and the side units  100  from sight. A lip  207  is disposed along a rear edge of the main body  200 . The lip  207  abuts the rear wall of the stall. 
         [0038]    The width of the main body  200  is approximately the same width or slightly narrower than the narrowest possible stall in which the adjustable width vanity is to be installed. By sizing the width of the main body  200  in this way, the adjustable width vanity can be guaranteed to fit in any stall. Furthermore, by matching the width of the stall, the amount of the side units  100  that is visible is minimized. 
         [0039]    The shelf assembly  300  is an optional addition to the adjustable width vanity. The shelf assembly  300  includes a plurality of shelves  301 . The shelves rest on respective shelf frames  302 . The shelf assembly  300  has shelf upper legs  303  and shelf lower legs  304 . Telescoping feet  305  telescope into the shelf lower legs  304  and allow the height of the legs to be adjustable. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  shows the side unit  100  in detail. The side unit includes a support top  104 , a support rear  108 , a support face  105 , and a lateral face  102 . A side-unit frame  107  reinforces the support top  104 , the support rear  108 , the support face  105 , and the lateral face  102 . The lateral face  102  has predrilled holes  103 . The lateral face  102  is attached to the lateral wall of a stall by drilling screws into the lateral walls of the stall using the predrilled holes  103 . Preferably, the support rear  108  is also attached to the rear wall of the stall. The support face  105  hides the underlying mechanism and piping from sight. 
         [0041]    Supports  101  extend medially (i.e. orthogonally) from the lateral face  102 . Preferably, at least two supports  101  are included. The two supports  101  are parallel to each other and level with each other. Braces  109  reinforce the supports  101  and connect at a diagonal to both the supports  101  and the side-unit frame  107 . A flange  106  is located at the end of each support  101 . The flange  106  acts as a stop to prevent the support  101  from being overextended. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows a socket  201 . The socket  201  is connected to an underside of the countertop  203 . The socket  201  includes a c-channel  2011 . The c-channel  2011  is shaped to receive a support  101 . A spine  2012  reinforces the c-channel  2011 . A base  2013  is included to fasten the socket  201  to the underside of the countertop  203 . The c-channel  2011  preferably opens facing the rear wall of the stall. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a closing bracket  202  and how it works in conjunction with the socket  201 . The closing bracket  202  is formed by a mounting plate  2023  connected to a cantilever  2021 . The mounting plate  2023  has holes  2022  preformed therein. Screws, which are not shown, are inserted through the holes  2022  to fasten the closing bracket  202  to the underside of the countertop  203 . The cantilever  2021  is used to close the opening of the c-channel  2011  after the support  101  is installed in the c-channel  2011 . So, the closing bracket  202  is installed after the support  101  has been installed in the c-channel  2011 . A bolt  2024  with a tip  2026  is threaded through the cantilever  2021 . The bolt  2024  has a socket  2025 , which is preferably hexagonal for receiving an Allen wrench. The bolt  2024  is tightened so that the tip  2026  forms a firm abutment with the support  101 . The bolt  2024  prevents the support  101  from wiggling within the c-channel  2011 .  FIG. 7  shows the supports  101  installed in brackets  101  with a closing bracket  202  installed. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate an initial step in the installation of the adjustable width vanity. In the first step, each side unit  100  is connected to a respective lateral wall in a stall. The stall is not shown. When installing the side units  100 , normal carpentry techniques are used to align and level the side units to each other at the same height and distance (preferably abutting) from the rear wall of the stall. 
         [0045]    In the next step, the main body  200 , and in particular the countertop  203 , is rested on the supports  101 . The main body  200  is then pushed towards the rear of the stall. The c-channels  2011  of the sockets  201  become engaged with supports  101  as the main body  203  is moved rearward. The closing bracket  202  is then installed at least on the front supports  101  to secure the main body  200  to the side units  100 . The final installed position can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0046]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4