Cabinet door securement system for a face frame cabinet

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/181,434 filed Oct. 28, 1998. This application is based on and claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/129,100, filed Apr. 13, 1999.

[0003] This invention relates to a hidden hinge construction employed in a face frame cabinet.

[0004] Hinges for connecting cabinet doors to cabinets per se are a well known and common expedient. Many hinge arrangements have been devised over the years, including hinge constructions employed with face frame cabinets.

[0005] The following patents and materials are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art in this field: U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,200, issued Nov. 26, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,539, issued Nov. 3, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,287, issued Apr. 30, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,290, issued Jan. 24, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,141, issued Aug. 15, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,616, issued Jul. 12, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,297, issued Dec. 27, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,165, issued Apr. 28, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. RE. 36,213, issued Jun. 1, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. RE. 30,717, issued Aug. 25, 1981, U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,077, issued Oct. 1, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,072, issued Oct. 7, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,706, issued May 21, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,877, issued Oct. 13, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,493, issued Feb. 28, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,296, issued Nov. 26, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,532, issued Apr. 14, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,766, issued Nov. 10, 1987, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,006, issued Dec. 11, 1990. A frameless cabinet door hinge is closed in German Offenlegungsschrift DE 4405349A1. Other hinges of some degree of relevance are shown in pages 93 and 112-114 of the 1998 Charles McMurray Catalog.

[0006] The above-identified prior art does not disclose or suggest the combination of structural elements disclosed and claimed herein.

[0007] The present invention relates to a hinge system utilized to apply cabinet doors to face frame cabinets. More particularly, the hinge employed is a hidden hinge, i.e., a hinge not observable from the outside when the cabinet door is closed. The structure of the present invention is characterized by the fact that it can be readily and quickly installed. Furthermore, a strong interconnection is established between the frame member and the door, resisting structural failure resulting from application of external forces to the door. The installation also provides a pleasing appearance when the door is open.

[0008] The invention is employed in a face frame cabinet including a cabinet wall and a frame member attached to the cabinet wall and projecting over a portion of the interior of the cabinet. The frame member has a frame member front, a frame member back and a frame member side disposed between the frame member front and the frame member back.

[0009] The frame member side has a T-shaped opening formed therein having a vertical opening segment and an intersecting horizontal opening segment. The vertical opening segment communicates with a recess in the frame member located between the frame member front and frame member back and the horizontal opening segment communicates with a slot formed in the frame member back communicating with the recess. The slot has a vertical dimension less than a vertical dimension of the recess.

[0010] A hinge is included in the combination, the hinge having a first hinge member attached to a cabinet door and a second hinge member pivotally connected to the first hinge member.

[0011] The combination also includes a mounting bracket having a first bracket plate attached to the second hinge member and projecting therefrom. A second bracket plate is attached to the first bracket plate and extends substantially orthogonally thereto, the second bracket plate having a plate opening formed therein.

[0012] The first bracket plate is disposed parallel and adjacent to the frame member side and covers the T-shaped opening. The second bracket plate is disposed parallel and adjacent to the frame member back and at least partially covers the slot.

[0013] Mechanical fastener means fastens the mounting bracket and the hinge to the frame member. The fastener means comprises a bolt extending through the plate opening and into the slot and a fastener member disposed in the recess and threadedly engaged with the bolt. A portion of the frame member defining the slot is clampingly engaged between the second bracket plate and the fastener member.

[0014] Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hinge having a mounting jacket attached thereto, the components being shown in the relative positions assumed thereby when a cabinet door associated therewith (not shown) is open;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the relative positions assumed by the components when a cabinet door associated therewith (not shown) is closed;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention installed on a frame member of a face frame cabinet, portions of the frame member and a cabinet door shown in cross-section and the hinge members illustrated in solid line in relative positions corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 and in dash line when in relative positions corresponding to those in FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the hinge and mounting bracket when in the configuration shown in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of a fastener member incorporated in the invention;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6—6 of FIG. 7;

[0021] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, front, elevational view of the fastener member;

[0022] FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating installation of mechanical components of the apparatus on a frame member of a face frame cabinet;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hinge utilized in an alternative embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a top plan view illustrating a portion of a frame member of a face frame cabinet in cross-section with components of the alternative form of the invention installed thereon;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket employed in the alternative form of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the hinge shown in FIG. 9; and

[0027] FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating installation of the alternative form of the invention.

[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a portion of a face frame cabinet including a cabinet wall 10 and a frame member 12 attached to the cabinet wall is illustrated (FIGS. 3 and 8). FIG. 3 shows a portion of a cabinet door 14 hingedly connected to the frame member in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0029] The apparatus of the present invention includes a hinge having a first hinge member 16 and a second hinge member 18 pivotally connected to the first hinge member. The illustrated hinge includes a first hinge member of a cup-like configuration well known in the prior art which is received in a recess formed in a cabinet door as shown in FIG. 3 and secured thereto by screws (not shown). The screws pass through rectangular openings 15 formed in the first hinge member. The rectangular openings are in the form of squares with rounded corners and are bigger than the screw shafts to allow for adjustment of the hinge relative to the door before tightening the screws.

[0030] The first and second hinge members are movable between the relative positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the position of the first hinge member 16 in FIG. 1 being that when the hinge door is open, with the position of FIG. 2 corresponding to that when the cabinet door is closed. FIG. 3 shows the two positions, respectively, in solid and dash lines.

[0031] A mounting bracket 20 includes a first bracket plate 22 and a second bracket plate 24 extending orthogonal thereto, the mounting bracket being of integral construction in this embodiment.

[0032] Second hinge member 18 is rigidly secured to first bracket plate 22, an abutment 26 projecting outwardly from the second hinge member 18 at the location of attachment with first bracket plate 22.

[0033] Second hinge member 18 is curved at the end thereof spaced from the first hinge member, the curved end forming an outwardly projecting arch 30 adjacent to the first bracket plate.

[0034] Frame member 12 has a frame member front 32, a frame member back 34 and a frame member side 36 disposed between the frame member front and the frame member back.

[0035] The frame member side has a T-shaped opening 40 formed therein having a vertical opening segment and an intersecting horizontal opening segment. The vertical opening segment communicates with a recess 42 in the frame member located between the frame member front and frame member back. The horizontal opening segment communicates with a slot 44 formed in the frame member back and communicating with the recess. The slot has a vertical dimension less than the vertical dimension of the recess.

[0036] When the mounting bracket is in position on the frame member 12 the first bracket plate 22 is disposed parallel and adjacent to the frame member side and covers the T-shaped opening. The second bracket plate 24 is disposed parallel and adjacent to the frame member back and at least partially covers the slot 44. An opening in the form of an elongated mounting slot 46 is formed in second bracket plate 24.

[0037] A mechanical fastener is employed to secure the mounting bracket and the hinge to frame member 12. The fastener includes a threaded bolt 50 which projects through plate opening 46 and into slot 44 of the frame member 12. The slot or opening 46 of the plate allows the mounting bracket to be adjustably positioned relative to the frame member at the time of installation.

[0038] The other component of the fastener is a fastener plate 52 disposed in recess 42. A boss 54 projects from the fastener plate into slot 44. Internal threads are formed in the boss and fastener plate as shown in FIG. 6. A circular rib 56 is formed on the fastener plate and surrounds the boss. After the structural components are properly positioned the bolt and fastener plate/boss combination are tightened together, urging the fastener plate 52 in the direction of second bracket plate 24 so that the portion of the frame member 12 defining slot 44 is clamped between the plate 52 and the second bracket plate 24. The rib 56 will bite into the material of the frame member to further effect securement.

[0039] FIGS. 9-13 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention, like components utilizing the same reference numerals as the components of the FIG. 1-8 embodiment. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is in the nature of the interconnection between the second hinge member and the first bracket plate. In this second embodiment the second hinge member 16A defines an open ended hinge member slot 60 which receives a threaded bolt 64, the bolt 64 being threadedly engaged with an internally threaded first bracket plate 22A of mounting bracket 20A. This allows adjustment between the mounting bracket and the hinge at the time of installation. The abutment 26, as is the case with respect to the first embodiment, defines a recess with second bracket plate 24 receiving frame member side 36. The recess size corresponds to the distance between the frame member front and the frame member back, providing additional stability.