Improvements in or relating to cabinets

Abstract

The cabinet has a mirror 20 fixed in position with a storage unit 21 displaceable to overlie or expose the mirror to a greater or lesser extent such that the mirror is at times behind and obscured by

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates to cabinets and, more specifically, to mirrored cabinets typically found in bathrooms and often referred to as vanity or cosmetic cabinets. Background to the Invention Vanity or cosmetic cabinets are found in wide use and combine storage for cosmetics, toiletries and similar bathroom-based products, with a mirrored surface. A feature of existing cabinets is that the mirrored surface is typically moveable and provided as an outer surface of the storage space. As a result, a user does not have simultaneous access both to the mirror and to products that are located in the storage space and that may be needed. The consequence of this is that products must be removed in advance of use and supported on surrounding furniture. This can be cumbersome at the least and can often result in containers being knocked over and product spilt. In addition, when mirrors are provided across two adjacent doors, a split line extends down the mirror image and the image may be distorted if the two doors are not completely co-planar. Still further, the mirrored surface, when in use, typically projects a significant distance from the wall surface and this may lead to interference as a user dips their head to use a basin positioned below the cabinet. It is an object of the invention to provide a cabinet that will go at least some way in addressing the drawbacks mentioned above; or which will at least provide a novel and useful alternative. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the invention provides a cabinet comprising a mirrored surface and at least one storage unit, wherein, in use, the mirrored surface is fixed in position and the at least one storage unit is displaceable with respect to the mirrored surface to, in use, overlie or expose the mirrored surface to a greater or lesser extent. Preferably said mirrored surface is substantially rectangular in form and wherein said at least one storage unit is pivotally mounted along or adjacent to an edge of said mirrored surface. Preferably the cabinet comprises a single storage unit displaceable between a first position in which the storage unit at least partly overlies the mirrored surface, and a second position in which the mirrored surface is substantially totally exposed. Preferably said single storage unit is sized to overlie substantially half the mirrored surface when in the first position. Alternatively, the cabinet comprises two storage units wherein the two storage units are mounted along or adjacent to opposed edges of said mirrored surface and wherein the two storage units combine to at least partly overlie the mirrored surface in first positions while leaving the mirrored surface substantially uncovered in second positions. Preferably said two storage units are of substantially the same width. Preferably, when in the first positions, said storage units combine to overlie substantially all of the mirrored surface. Alternatively, said mirrored surface has a width of 3x, and wherein each of said storage units has a width of substantially x such that, when the storage units are in the first positions, a section of the mirrored surface of width of substantially x remains exposed. Preferably said storage unit or storage units are mounted to pivot about substantially vertical axes when the cabinet is in a mounted position. Preferably said mirrored surface is substantially planar. Preferably said vertical axes are substantially in the plane of the mirrored surface. Alternatively said vertical axes are spaced from the plane of mirrored surface. Preferably said storage unit or units are configured so that closure(s) therefor are provided by said mirrored surface. Preferably each said storage unit has an entrance plane and wherein, when each said storage unit is overlying said mirrored surface, said entrance plane is juxtaposed to said mirrored surface. Preferably said cabinet includes stop means configured to define a limit of pivotal movement of a said storage unit relative to the mirrored surface. Preferably said stop means is incorporated in an edge of said storage unit. Preferably said stop means is provided by an edge surface of said storage unit extending obliquely from a plane of the mirrored surface when said storage unit is in a position overlying said mirrored surface. Preferably the cabinet further includes lighting means mounted within a storage unit, said lighting means being configured to provide ambient lighting when said storage unit(s) is in the first position and to provide task lighting when said storage unit(s) is in the second position. Preferably the task lighting includes projecting light into the interior of said storage unit and projecting light in the direction of a user. The task lighting may be further configured to project light on to the mirrored surface. Preferably said at least one storage unit has a first edge about which the storage unit pivots, and a second edge opposed to said first edge, and wherein said lighting means is mounted on or comprises said second edge. Preferably said lighting means comprises a strip lighting extending along said second edge. In an alternative said at least one storage unit is slidable with respect to said mirrored surface. Preferably the mirrored surface is provided with task and / or ambient illumination. Preferably said at least one storage unit includes at least one shelf and wherein, when said cabinet is in a mounted position, said at least one shelf slopes downwardly away from said entrance plane. Many variations in the way the invention may be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art, upon reading the following description. The descriptions that follow should not be regarded as limiting but rather as illustrations, only, of one or ways of performing the invention. Within the limits of the appended claims where appropriate any element or component should be taken as including any or all equivalents thereof whether or not specifically mentioned. Furthermore, the invention may comprise any novel combination of features, elements or components described in one but not necessarily all of the following examples and is not to be confined to any particular combination described. Brief Description of the Drawings Three examples of working embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of cabinet according to the invention, in a first configuration; Figure 2: shows an isometric view of the cabinet of Figure 1 in a second configuration; Figure 3: shows a view from above of that which is shown in Figure 2 Figure 4: shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of cabinet according to the invention, in a first configuration; Figure 5: shows an isometric view of the cabinet of Figure 4 in a second configuration; Figure 6: shows a view from above of that which is shown in Figure 5 Figure 7: shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of cabinet according to the invention, in a first configuration; Figure 8: shows an isometric view of the cabinet of Figure 7 in a second configuration; and Figure 9: shows a view from above of that which is shown in Figure 8 Detailed Description of Working Embodiment The accompanying drawings show three embodiments of cabinet having commonality in that all combine a fixed mirrored surface with storage that is displaceable to overlie the mirrored surface to a greater or lesser extent. While specific combinations of mirrored surface, storage unit, shelving and lighting are described below, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all features of the described combinations are not essential and that variants of different embodiments may be combined in a novel manner without limiting the scope of the invention and / or constituting added matter. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of cabinet is shown comprising a mirrored surface 10 and a storage unit 11, the storage unit being displaceable with respect to the mirrored surface to, in use, overlie the mirrored surface to a greater or lesser extent. In Figure 1 the storage unit is shown in a first or closed position in which it overlies part, approximately half, of the mirrored surface while in Figures 2 &3, the storage unit is shown in a second or open position to completely expose the entire mirrored surface. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the extent to which the storage unit overlies the mirrored surface is not an essential feature of the invention, the only essential element being that the storage unit overlies the mirrored surface to at least some extent when in the first or closed position. In this embodiment the storage unit pivots with respect to the mirrored surface but this is not essential and the storage unit could, for example, slide with respect to the surface 10. As shown the mirrored surface is substantially rectangular and the storage unit is pivotally mounted on an edge of the mirrored surface which is vertical when the cabinet is in a conventional mounted position, and so as to pivot about axis 12 which is preferably substantially in the plane of the surface 10 as can be seen in Figure 3. A suitable mount 13 may be provided on the rear of the mirrored surface enabling the cabinet to be mounted on a wall surface. The form of the mounting 13 plays no part in the invention to be covered herein. The storage unit 11 includes an entrance plane 14 through which the interior volume of the storage unit is accessed. It will be noted from Figure 1 that, when the storage unit is in the first or closed position, the entrance plane 14 is juxtaposed to the mirrored surface and the latter acts as a closure for the storage unit. The interior of the storage unit 11 may be configured however desired, precise arrangements not forming part of the invention. In this embodiment the storage unit is provided with one or more shelves 15 some of which may be provided with a retaining strap 16 to aid in retaining products in the storage unit as the same is moved. In addition, or in place of the security provided by retaining strip 16, one or more of the shelves 15 may be configured or mounted to slope downwards away from the entrance plane 14 so as to hold products, within the storage unit, more securely. The cabinet may also include lighting means particularly, though not essentially, lighting means configured to provide ambient and decorative effects when the storage unit is in the first position yet provide task lighting when the storage unit is in the second position. To this end, in the described embodiment, edge 17 of the storage unit is preferably provided with a lighting arrangement that, when the storage unit is in the closed position, emits lighting from the edge 17 which can also project from the upper and lower edges of the edge 17. When the storage unit is displaced into the second or open position, such as shown in Figures 2 &3, a user benefits from the lighting adopting a task or functional nature in which the light from the edge 17 projects inwardly illuminating the interior of the storage unit and thus products retained within the cabinet. In the second position light is also projected toward a user and toward the mirrored surface. These benefits can be realised using one or more lighting sources which are included in, or define, the edge 17, for example an LED panel and, more preferably, a frosted LED panel. Lighting from the storage unit may be supplemented by lighting on the mirrored surface. To this end, the mirrored surface 10 may be provided with illumination by, for example, providing strip or tube lighting around one or more edges of the mirrored surface. In the example shown, a defined border 18 is provided about the mirrored surface which can contribute task and / or ambient lighting. In one embodiment the border 18 may be effected by treating the back of the mirrored surface to provide a frosted effect. This can be achieved by, for example, shot blasting a border of the mirrored surface. In addition to the frosted effect, suitable strip lighting such as LED strip lighting may be suitably positioned on the rear of the mirrored surface which, when illuminated, not only projects light through the frosted area, assisting illumination of the mirrored surface to provide task lighting, but also projects light against the mounting wall to provide ambient backlighting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, even if the frosted areas are not present, lighting on the rear of the mirrored surface may still project against the mounting wall to provide ambient lighting about one or more edges of the cabinet. To enhance the benefits of the lighting arrangements described, stop means is preferably provided to limit the displacement of the storage unit and thus define the second position. This facility is preferably included in that edge of the storage unit that includes pivot 12 and is more preferably provided by configuring edge 19 so that it projects obliquely from the plane of the surface 10 when the storage unit is in the first or closed position. Thus, when the storage unit is opened out, the edge 19 engages a wall surface to which the cabinet is mounted, preventing further outward displacement of the storage unit. Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, a second embodiment of cabinet is shown comprising a mirrored surface 20 and two storage units 21, the storage units being displaceable with respect to the mirrored surface to, in use, overlie the mirrored surface to a greater or lesser extent. In Figure 4 the storage units are shown in a first or closed positions in which each overlies part, preferably approximately half, of the mirrored surface while in Figures 5 &6, the storage units 21 are shown in second or open positions to completely expose the entire mirrored surface 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the extent to which each storage unit overlies the mirrored surface is not an essential feature of the invention, the only essential element being that the storage units overlie the mirrored surface to at least some extent when in the first or closed positions. As with the previous embodiment the storage units preferably pivot with respect to the mirrored surface but this is not essential and the storage units could, for example, slide with respect to the surface 20. As shown the mirrored surface is substantially rectangular and the storage units are pivotally mounted on opposite edges of the mirrored surface which are vertical when the cabinet is in a conventional mounted position, and so as to pivot about axes 22 which are preferably substantially in the plane of the surface 20. A suitable mount 23 may be provided on the rear of the mirrored surface whereby the cabinet can be mounted to a wall surface, but the form of the mount plays no part in the definition of this invention. Each of the shown storage units 21 includes an entrance plane 24 through which the interior volume of the storage unit is accessed. It will be noted from Figure 4 that, when the storage units are in the first position, the entrance planes 24 are not only co-planar but are juxtaposed to the mirrored surface so that the latter acts as a closure for the storage units. The interiors of the storage units 21 may be configured however desired, precise arrangements not forming part of the invention. As with the embodiment described above, in this embodiment the storage units are provided with one or more shelves 25, the configurations of which are not significant other than one or more of the shelves 25 may be configured or mounted to slope downwards away from the entrance planes 24 for the reasons described above. This embodiment of cabinet may also include lighting means, preferably configured to provide ambient and decorative effects when the storage unit is in the first position yet provide task lighting when the storage unit is in the second position. To this end, in the described embodiment, one or both of edges 27 of the storage units, being the edges opposite to the pivot edges and which are closely adjacent to one another when the storage units are in the closed positions, are preferably provided with a lighting arrangement that, when the storage units are in the closed position, emit ambient lighting in the form of a vertical strip of light between the storage units but, when the interiors of the storage units are exposed such as shown in Figures 5 &6, the interiors of the storage units benefit from light also projected internally which illuminates products retained within the cabinet. Light is also projected towards a user and towards the mirrored surface 20. As with the previous embodiment these benefits can be realised using one or more lighting sources which are included in, or define, the edges 27, for example LED panels and, more preferably, frosted LED panels. Further, the mirrored surface 20 may be provided with task and / or ambient lighting in the manner described above. To enhance the benefits of the lighting arrangements described, stop means is preferably provided to limit the displacement of the storage units and thus define the second positions. This facility is preferably included in those edges of the storage units that include pivots 22, and is more preferably provided by configuring edges 29 so that they project obliquely from the plane of the surface 20 when the storage units are in the first or closed position. Thus, when the storage units are opened out, the edges 29 engage a surface to which the cabinet is mounted, preventing further outward displacement of the storage units. This arrangement is also beneficial in that a user is exposed to gentle light from the edges 27 whilst not experiencing glare from the mirrored surface, thus enhancing the vanity experience. Referring now to Figures 7 to 9, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functional aspects of this embodiment are the same as previous two embodiments in that storage units 31 are displaceable with respect to fixed mirrored surface 30. The storage units preferably pivot about axes 32, may include shelves 35 and lit edges 37, and have entrance planes 34 that displace to positions juxtaposed to the mirrored surface 30. The difference in this embodiment is that the mirrored surface is only partly overlaid by the storage units when in the first positions so that, when the storage units 31 are closed against the mirrored surface as shown in Figure 7, a central section 40 of mirrored surface remains exposed. This arrangement is particularly beneficial to users when the cabinet is mounted centrally over a basin such that the user can make use of the mirror and then, without needing to re-configure the cabinet, can bend forward to use the basin without impacting the cabinet. In the non-limiting example shown in Figures 7 to 9, the widths of the storage units 31 are preferably each substantially one third (x) of the total width (3x) of the cabinet, the remaining exposed section 40 of the mirrored surface also being substantially x in width. Many departures are possible from the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example only, the storage units need not be pivoted in the plane of the mirrored surface. The pivots may be offset from the plane of the mirrored surface, particularly if larger volume storage units are required. Also, while the mirrored surfaces of the described embodiments are shown as being rectangular, this is by no means essential.

Claims

1. A cabinet comprising a mirrored surface and at least one storage unit, wherein, in use, the mirrored surface is fixed in position and the at least one storage unit is displaceable with respect to the mirrored surface to, in use, overlie or expose the mirrored surface to a greater or lesser extent.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mirrored surface is substantially rectangular in form and wherein said at least one storage unit is pivotally mounted along or adjacent to an edge of said mirrored surface.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a single storage unit displaceable between a first position in which the storage unit at least partly overlies the mirrored surface, and a second position in which the mirrored surface is substantially totally exposed.

4. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said single storage unit is sized to overlie substantially half the mirrored surface when in the first position.

5. A cabinet as claimed in any one of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising two storage units wherein the two storage units are mounted along or adjacent to opposed edges of said mirrored surface and wherein the two storage units combine to at least partly overlie the mirrored surface in first positions while leaving the mirrored surface substantially uncovered in second positions.

6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5 wherein said two storage units are of substantially the same width.

7. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, in the first positions, said storage units combine to overlie substantially all of the mirrored surface.

8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said mirrored surface has a width of 3x, and wherein each of said storage units has a width of substantially x such that, when the storage units are in the first positions, a section of the mirrored surface of width substantially x remains exposed.

9. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said storage unit or storage units are mounted to pivot about substantially vertical axes when the cabinet is in a mounted position.

10. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said mirrored surface is substantially planar.

11. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9 wherein said vertical axes are substantially in the plane of the mirrored surface.

12. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9 wherein said vertical axes are spaced from the plane of mirrored surface.

13. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said storage unit or units are configured so that closure(s) therefor are provided by said mirrored surface.

14. A cabinet as claimed in claim 13 wherein each said storage unit has an entrance plane and wherein, when each said storage unit is overlying said mirrored surface, said entrance plane is juxtaposed to said mirrored surface.

15. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, or any claim dependent on claim 2, including stop means configured to define a limit of pivotal movement of a said storage unit relative to the mirrored surface.

16. A cabinet as claimed in claim 15 wherein said stop means is incorporated in an edge of said storage unit.

17. A cabinet as claimed in claim 16 wherein said stop means is provided by an edge surface of said storage unit extending obliquely from a plane of the mirrored surface when said storage unit is in a position overlying said mirrored surface.

18. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including lighting means mounted within a storage unit, said lighting means being configured to provide ambient lighting when said storage unit(s) is in the first position and to provide task lighting when said storage unit(s) is in the second position.

19. A cabinet as claimed in claim 18 wherein the task lighting includes projecting light into the interior of said storage unit and projecting light in the direction of a user. The task lighting may be further configured to project light on to the mirrored surface.

20. A cabinet as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein said storage unit has a first edge about which the storage unit pivots, and a second edge opposed to said first edge, and wherein said lighting means comprises or is mounted on said second edge.

21. A cabinet as claimed in claim 20 wherein said lighting means comprises a strip lighting extending along said second edge.

22. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one storage unit is slidable with respect to said mirrored surface.

23. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the mirrored surface includes task and / or ambient illumination.

24. A cabinet as claimed in claim 13 and any claim dependent on claim 13 wherein said at least one storage unit includes at least one shelf and wherein, when said cabinet is in a mounted position, said at least one shelf slopes downwardly away from said entrance plane.

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