GB2345630A

GB2345630A - Rotary bedroom cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2345630A
Application number: GB0000842A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Mcgraw
Original assignee: PLAN CABINETS Ltd G
Current assignee: PLAN CABINETS Ltd G
Priority date: 1999-01-16
Filing date: 2000-01-17
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Also published as: GB0000842D0

Abstract

A bedroom cabinet 10 is provided, comprising a body 12 rotatably mounted on a base 14. A front 13A of the cabinet 10 provides a vanity unit in an upper section 16 thereof, and a number of drawers (22) in a lower section (18) thereof. A rear 13D of the cabinet 10 provides a full length mirror 24. The cabinet 10 may be rotated about the base 14 in order to present either the front 13A or rear 13D to a user, depending on the desired use of the cabinet 10.

Description

CABINETS The present invention relates to furniture; more specifically, to upright cabinets and wardrobes.

It is very common for bedroom cabinets to incorporate external mirrors, so that a user may, for example, examine their appearance. However, in many cases, it may be that the provision of a mirror in a room, either mounted on a wardrobe, or visible on a wall, may disrupt the aesthetic appeal of a room's decor. For example, the owner/occupant may wish all the bedroom furniture to be of plain wood appearance, rather than having a mirror mounted.

In addition, many cabinets and wardrobes have a number of drawers incorporated into the structure; the need for these will reduce the surface area which may be covered by a mirror, so preventing the use of a full length mirror on such a cabinet.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to alleviate or obviate one or more of these and other disadvantages of conventional cabinet furniture.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bedroom cabinet comprising a cabinet body and a base, the body being rotatably mounted on the base.

Preferably, the body includes a first side and a second side.

Preferably, the first side comprises a front of the cabinet and the second side comprises an opposing rear of the cabinet.

Preferably, the body is rotatable about the base so as to selectively expose either the first or second side to a user.

Thus, preferably, where the first and second sides comprise a front and rear respectively, the body may be rotatable about the base by at least 180 and is preferably free to rotate about 360 .

In a preferred embodiment the first side may include a vanity unit and/or one or more drawers.

In the preferred embodiment the second side may include a mirror, and preferably a full length mirror (i. e. a mirror which allows a user to see substantially their whole self).

It should, however, be appreciated that in a modified embodiment the first and/or second sides may alternatively or additionally include a hanging robe/shoe rack/shelving unit/storage box or the like.

The vanity unit may be concealed by at least one and preferably two doors.

Preferably, the two doors are provided in an upper portion of the body.

Preferably, the two doors are each of an L-shape form and are hinged to the body along third and fourth sides of the body, respectively.

Advantageously, an inner surface of at least one of the doors carries at least one shelf.

Preferably, the body is rotatably movable on the base, such that the body may be rotated through a complete turn relative to the base.

Preferably, the body may present two different aspects of appearance, depending on the degree of rotation relative to the base.

In a preferred embodiment, one side of the body comprises a mirror, while the other side of the body comprises a plain surface. The invention, however, is not limited to the use of a mirrored surface, and the appearance of the cabinet may be altered by rotation to reveal, for example, a picture; a painting; or even further doors and drawers of the cabinet, made from an alternative material to the first side of the cabinet.

Preferably, the body is releasably lockable in position with respect to the base in order to prevent unwanted movement of the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet is substantially square in horizontal cross-section, although other shapes of cabinet may be used.

The body of the cabinet may also comprise an upper and a lower section, the upper comprising a vanity unit, and the lower comprising one or more drawers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bedroom cabinet comprising a front and a rear, the front and rear providing first and second facilities, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment the first facility may include a vanity unit and/or one or more drawers.

In the preferred embodiment the second facility may include a full length mirror.

It should, however, be appreciated that in a modifie embodiment the first and/or second facilities may alternatively include a hanging robe/shoe rack/shelving unit/storage box or the like.

The vanity unit may be concealed by at least one and preferably two doors.

Preferably, the two doors are provided in an upper portion of the body.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention in a first position; Figure 2 shows the cabinet of Figure 1 in a second, rotated position; and Figure 3 shows the cabinet of Figure 1 in a third, opened position.

Referring first to Figure 1, this shows an upright cabinet generally designated 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a body 12 mounted on a base 14 which, in use, stands on a floor 11. Both the body 12 and base 14 are of substantially square horizontal cross-section in this embodiment.

The body 12 includes a first side 13A and a second side 13B. The first side 13A comprises a front of the cabinet 12 and the second side 13B comprises an opposing rear of the cabinet 12.

The body 12 of the cabinet 10 comprises an upper section 16 and a lower section 18, the upper section 16 on the front having two doors 20, and the lower section 18 on the front having a number of drawers 22.

The two doors 20 are each of an L-shape form and are hinged to the body 12 along third and fourth sides 13C and 13D of the body 12, respectively.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the body 12 of the cabinet 10 is capable of free rotation on the base 14 on a substantially horizontal plane (see arrow A). In this embodiment the base 14 and the body 12 are each of substantially square horizontal cross-section. Further, the body 14 is mounted substantially concentrically to the base 12, eg by an interconnecting spindle and recess arrangement or by interconnecting raceways formed on the facing surfaces of the body 12 and base 14. Thus, in use, the body 14 is capable of being rotated about an axis if passing substantially centrally therethrough, and extending substantially vertically from the substantially horizontal base 12 resting on the floor 11.

Figure 2 shows the body 12 partially rotated, and presenting the rear of the cabinet 10. The rear includes a full-length mirror 24 mounted on the opposite side of the body 12 from the doors 20 and drawers 22. As mentioned above, in other embodiments of the invention the mirror 24 may be replaced by a painting, a picture, or another set of doors and drawers of different facing material to the other side.

Referring now to Figure 3, this shows the cabinet 10 of Figure 1 in a third position, with the doors 20 of the upper section 16 of the body 12 opened. This shows that, in this particular embodiment of the invention, the upper section 16 forms a vanity unit, with a number of shelves 26 on the inside of the doors 20 and on the inside of the vanity unit. The interior of the vanity unit is also provided with a smaller mirror 28, and an internal light 30.

In use, the cabinet 10 may be placed in a bedroom, eg. across a corner of the bedroom. In normal use the cabinet 10 may be in the first position shown in Fig. 1. However, when a user wishes to use the cabinet 10 for dressing the user may open the doors 20 so as to employ the vanity unit as shown in Fig. 2. Further the user may rotate the body 12 so as to expose the mirror 24.

It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiment is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and improvements may be contemplated, such as the provision of a locking mechanism on the cabinet, in order to prevent unwanted rotation of the body on the base.

Further, the cabinet itself is not limited to a vanity unit in conjunction with drawers; many types of furniture may benefit from the present invention. Yet further means may be provided to lock the doors in the position shown in Fig.

1, and further means may be provided to lock the doors in the positions shown in Fig. 3.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bedroom cabinet comprising a cabinet body and a base, the body being rotatably mounted on the base.
2. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a first side and a second side.
3. A cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the first side comprises a front of the cabinet, and the second side comprises an opposing rear of the cabinet.
4. A cabinet according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the body is rotatable about the base so as to selectively expose either the first or second side to a user.
5. A cabinet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the body is rotatable about the base by at least 180
6. A cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the body is rotatable about the base by at least 360 .
7. A cabinet according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first side includes a vanity unit and/or one or more drawers.
8. A cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the second side includes a mirror.
9. A cabinet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mirror is a full length mirror.
10. A cabinet as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the first and/or second sides include a hanging robe/shoe rack/shelfing unit/storage box or the like.
11. A cabinet according to claim 7, wherein the vanity unit is selectively concealed by at least one door.
12. A cabinet according to claim 11, wherein the vanity unit is selectively concealed by two doors.
13. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the two doors are provided in an upper portion of the body.
14. A cabinet according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the two doors are each of an L-shaped form, and are hinged to the body along third and fourth sides of the body, respectively.
15. A cabinet according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein an inner surface of at least one of the doors carries at least one shelf.
16. A cabinet according to any one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the body is rotatable through a complete turn relative to the base.
17. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the body presents two different aspects of appearance, depending on the degree of rotation relative to the base.
18. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is releasably lockable in position with respect to the base.
19. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the cabinet is substantially square in horizontal cross section.
20. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises an upper and a lower section.
21. A cabinet according to claim 20, wherein the upper section comprises a vanity unit, and the lower section comprises one or more drawers.
22. A bedroom cabinet comprising a front and a rear, the front and rear providing first and second facilities, respectively.
23. A cabinet according to claim 22, wherein the first facility includes a vanity unit and/or one or more drawers.
24. A cabinet according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the second facility includes a full length mirror.
25. A cabinet substantially as herein described, and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.