Abstract:
A hinge mounted cabinet ( 1 ) that can be assembled from one or more sections ( 22 ) using a plurality of internal support channels ( 15 ) that are locked together using splines ( 23 ) and caps ( 31, 32 ) to form a main body ( 2 ) of the cabinet. An exterior support channel ( 39 ) allows hinge hanging brackets ( 40 ) to be easily positioned to accommodate various sized door and hinge configurations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to storage devices and more particularly to a cabinet that is mountable to one or more existing hinges and hinge pins of a door. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Additional storage has always been a desirable commodity in homes and other structures where space is at a premium. One overlooked area in the past has been the space located behind doors. Storage devices have been developed in the past that hang over the upper edge of doors on hooks and/or attach directly to a rear surface of a door with screws, bolts and/or adhesives. However, these devices may damage the door&#39;s finish, damage the structural integrity of the door and/or make it difficult for the door to close by interfering with the door jam. 
     An additional problem with conventional door mounted cabinets is the size and weight of the devices, which make shipping and transportation expensive and add unnecessary weight to the door when installed thereon. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a hinge mounted cabinet that that is mountable to one or more existing hinges and hinge pins of a door wherein the weight of the cabinet is supported by the existing hinges, not the door, and a hinge mounted cabinet that is preferably light, modular and easy to install on any configuration of hinges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet that that is mountable to one or more existing hinges and hinge pins of a door wherein the weight of the cabinet is supported by the existing door hinges and not the door and a hinge mounted cabinet that is preferably light, modular and easy to install on any configuration of hinges. 
     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a cabinet that can be assembled from one or more sections using a plurality of internal support channels that are locked together using splines and caps to form a main body of the cabinet. An exterior support channel allows hinge hanging brackets to be easily positioned to accommodate various sized doors and hinge configurations. The use of internal support channels and external support channels eliminates the need for apertures in the main body of the cabinet. Therefore, the cabinet and sections thereof are ideally manufactured using plastic extrusion. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective interior view of a cabinet from the interior side of the cabinet; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective interior view of a cabinet from the exterior side of the cabinet; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified view of line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of right-slotted cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of left-slotted cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of a hinge hanging bracket of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a hinge hanging bracket of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of a partially exploded hinge hanging bracket being installed on a cabinet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective side view of a hinge hanging bracket installed on a cabinet of the present invention and a hinge; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of a hinge mounted cabinet of the present invention having an insert secured to the rear panel; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  1.  
                 cabinet, generally  
               
               
                   
                  2.  
                 main body  
               
               
                   
                  3. 
                 interior surface of main body  
               
               
                   
                  4.  
                 exterior surface of main body  
               
               
                   
                  5.  
                 interior side panel of main body  
               
               
                   
                  6. 
                 interior surface of interior side panel  
               
               
                   
                  7.  
                 exterior surface of interior side panel  
               
               
                   
                  8.  
                 exterior side panel of main body  
               
               
                   
                  9.  
                 interior surface of exterior side panel  
               
               
                   
                 10.  
                 exterior surface of exterior side panel  
               
               
                   
                 11. 
                 rear panel of main body  
               
               
                   
                 12. 
                 interior surface of rear panel  
               
               
                   
                 13.  
                 exterior surface of main body  
               
               
                   
                 14.  
                 shelf  
               
               
                   
                 15.  
                 interior support channel  
               
               
                   
                 16.  
                 recessed groove  
               
               
                   
                 17.  
                 flange  
               
               
                   
                 18.  
                 slot  
               
               
                   
                 19.  
                 support post  
               
               
                   
                 20.  
                 threaded portion of support post  
               
               
                   
                 21.  
                 nut  
               
               
                   
                 22.  
                 section of the main body  
               
               
                   
                 23.  
                 spline  
               
               
                   
                 24.  
                 bolt  
               
               
                   
                 25.  
                 threaded aperture  
               
               
                   
                 26.  
                 joint line trim  
               
               
                   
                 27.  
                 handle  
               
               
                   
                 28.  
                 magnet  
               
               
                   
                 29.  
                 right slotted cap  
               
               
                   
                 30.  
                 left slotted cap  
               
               
                   
                 31.  
                 top of main body  
               
               
                   
                 32.  
                 bottom of main body  
               
               
                   
                 33.  
                 front edge of cap  
               
               
                   
                 34.  
                 side interior edge of cap  
               
               
                   
                 35.  
                 side exterior edge of cap  
               
               
                   
                 36.  
                 rear edge of cap  
               
               
                   
                 37.  
                 top surface of cap  
               
               
                   
                 38.  
                 bottom surface of cap  
               
               
                   
                 39.  
                 exterior support channel  
               
               
                   
                 40.  
                 hinge hanging bracket  
               
               
                   
                 41. 
                 door hinge  
               
               
                   
                 42. 
                 insert  
               
               
                   
                 43. 
                 rectangular-shaped plate  
               
               
                   
                 44.  
                 top of rectangular-shaped plate  
               
               
                   
                 45.  
                 bottom of rectangular-shaped plate  
               
               
                   
                 46.  
                 side of rectangular-shaped plate  
               
               
                   
                 47.  
                 aperture on rectangular-shaped plate  
               
               
                   
                 48.  
                 arm  
               
               
                   
                 49.  
                 proximal end of arm  
               
               
                   
                 50.  
                 distal end of arm  
               
               
                   
                 51.  
                 ring  
               
               
                   
                 52. 
                 ring aperture  
               
               
                   
                 53. 
                 diameter of ring  
               
               
                   
                 54. 
                 width of arm  
               
               
                   
                 55. 
                 internal mounting plate  
               
               
                   
                 56. 
                 aperture on internal mounting plate  
               
               
                   
                 57. 
                 nut  
               
               
                   
                 58. 
                 bolt  
               
               
                   
                 59. 
                 hinge pin  
               
               
                   
                 60. 
                 retaining channels  
               
               
                   
                 61. 
                 side edge of rear panel  
               
               
                   
                 62. 
                 side edge of insert  
               
               
                   
                 63.  
                 clip 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the cabinet  1  of the present invention comprises a main body  2  having an interior surface  3  and an exterior surface  4 , an interior side panel  5  having an interior surface  6  and an exterior surface  7 , an exterior side panel  8  having an interior surface  9  and an exterior surface  10  and a rear panel  11  having an interior surface  12  and an exterior surface  13 . The main body  2  houses an open storage area for placing one or more shelves  14  that extend across the cabinet  1  from the interior side panel  5  to the exterior side panel  8 . The rear panel  11  may be flat or curved as illustrated herein. 
     Interior support channels  15  are preferably located on the interior surface  3  of the main body  2 . The interior support channels  15  preferably run vertically along the interior surfaces  6 ,  9  and  12  of the interior side panel  5 , the exterior side panel  8  and the rear panel  11 . The interior support channels  15  comprise a recessed groove  16  partially covered by two flanges  17  that extend inward a predetermined distance over the recessed groove  16  to form a slot  18  that allows access to the recessed groove  16  through which various attachment means may be inserted and secured. Support posts  19  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) comprising a threaded portion  20  and nut  21  may be inserted into the interior support channel  15  and locked into desired positions to adjust heights of one or more shelves  14  within the main body  2 . The support posts  19  are locked into position by rotating the threaded portion  20  of the support post  19  in relation to the nut  21  located within a recessed groove  16  of the interior support channel  15 , thereby creating a pressure fit between the support post  19 , nut  21  and the flanges  17  of the interior support channel  15 . 
     The main body  2  of the cabinet  1  may be a modular unit wherein the main body  2  comprises one or more sections  22  that may be attached to each other to make a taller cabinet  1 . The sections  22  are preferably secured together using one or more splines  23  that are inserted into the interior support channels  15  located on the interior surface  3  of the main body  2  and, thus, the sections  22  thereof. The splines  23  are secured using threaded bolts  24  that engage threaded apertures  25  located on the splines  23 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A joint line  26  located between the sections  22  may be covered using a piece of trim  27  that attaches to the exterior surface  4  of the main body  2 . 
     A handle  27 , which may be recessed, is preferably located on the exterior surface  10  of the exterior side panel  8  to allow a user to open and close the cabinet  1 . A magnet  28  located on the cabinet  1  keeps the cabinet  1  in a closed position against the door by engaging a corresponding magnet  28  that may be installed on the door. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a perspective top view of a right slotted cap  29  and a perspective top view of a left slotted cap  30 , respectively, are illustrated. The caps  29 ,  30  attach to a top  31  and bottom  32  of the main body  2 . Each cap  29 ,  30  comprises a front edge  33 , side interior edge  34 , side exterior edge  35 , rear edge  36 , top surface  37  and bottom surface  38 . Exterior support channels  39  are located on the side interior edges  34  of both the right slotted cap  29  and the left slotted cap  30  in locations that align with the exterior support channel  39  located on the interior side panel  3  of the main body  2 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . This configuration allows the cabinet  1  to be installed on any door regardless of whether the door opens to the right or the left simply by flipping the cabinet  1  upside down so the interior side panel  3  faces the side of the door where hinges are installed so the exterior support channel  39  cannot be seen from the door knob side of the door. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a perspective side view of a hinge hanging bracket  40  of the present invention and a perspective top view of a hinge hanging bracket  40  of the present invention, respectively, are illustrated. The hinge hanging bracket  40  comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped plate  43  having a top  44 , bottom  45 , and sides  46 . At least one aperture  47  is located on the substantially rectangular-shaped plate  43 . An arm  48  having a proximal end  49  and distal end  50  extends from the top of the substantially rectangular-shaped plate  43 . A ring  51  and aperture  52  are located on the distal end  50  of the arm  48 . An additional feature of the hinge hanging bracket  40 , is that the arm  48  has a width  53  that is less than a diameter  54  of ring  51  and the distal end  50  of the arm  48 . The width  53  of the arm  48  provides clearance from obstructions, such as hinge plates, molding and so forth, so the hinge hanging bracket  40  can be swung back and forth a full 180 degrees in relation to a closed door and a parallel wall. The hinge hanging bracket  40  may also be used with a wall hanging bracket instead of a door hinge. The wall hanging bracket is an L-shaped bracket that attaches to a flat surface, such as a wall or a door, using screws and/or bolts. A stud or cylindrical projection extends from one end of the L-shaped bracket to engage the ring  51  and the distal end  50  of the arm  48   
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a perspective side view of a partially exploded hinge hanging bracket  40  being installed on a cabinet  1  of the present invention and a perspective side view of a hinge hanging bracket  40  installed on a cabinet  1  and hinge  58 , respectively, are illustrated. Exterior support channels  39  are located on the side interior edges  34  of both the right slotted cap  29  and the left slotted cap  30 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in locations that align with the exterior support channel  39  located on the interior side panel  3  of the main body  2 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The exterior support channels  39  comprise a recessed groove  16  partially covered by two flanges  17  that extend inward a predetermined distance over the recessed groove  16  to form a slot  18  that allows access to the recessed groove  16 . One or more hinge hanging brackets  40  may be secured to the interior side panel  3  by inserting an internal mounting plate  55  comprising at least one aperture  56  into the exterior support channel  39 . The internal mounting plate  55  is secured to the hinge hanging bracket  40  by one or more nuts  57  and bolts  58  that allow the internal mounting plate  55  and hinge hanging bracket  40  to be tightened together, thereby sandwiching the flanges  17  of the exterior support channel  39  between the internal mounting plate  55  and hinge hanging bracket  40 . 
     The hinge hanging bracket  40  may be installed on a conventional door hinge  41  by removing a hinge pin  59  from a the door hinge  41  and then placing the hinge pin  59  through the aperture  52  located on the distal end  50  of the arm  48  and back into the door hinge  41 . The hinge hanging bracket  40  may then be rotated on the door hinge  41  and hinge pin  59 , thereby allowing the cabinet  1  to be opened and closed. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a rear perspective view of a hinge mounted cabinet  1  of the present invention having an insert  42  secured to the rear panel  11  and a sectional view along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 , respectively, are illustrated. The insert  42  is preferably a rectangular-shaped piece of material, such as mirror, dry erase board, chalk board, cork board, peg board and so forth, that is attached to the rear panel  11  via an attachment means, such as adhesive, clips and so forth. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the insert  42  is attached to the cabinet  1  using retaining channels  60  located on side edges  61  of the rear panel  11 . The retaining channels  60  are formed by clips  63  that extend outward from the rear panel  11  a predetermined distance and hold side edges  62  of the insert  42  against the rear panel  11 , thereby sandwiching the side edges  62  of the insert  42  between the clips  63  and the rear panel  11 . The retaining channels  60  and clips  63  may also be located on the caps  29 ,  30  to secure upper and lower edges of the insert  42 . 
     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.