U.S. patent application number 10/796922 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for lazy susan.
Invention is credited to Searer, Floyd A..
Application Number | 20050199159 10/796922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34919951 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050199159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Searer, Floyd A. |
September 15, 2005 |
Lazy Susan
Abstract
A turntable, such as one use for a Lazy Susan or for a carousel,
comprises a plywood shelf and corresponding plywood rim
construction where the rim is formed. Additionally, the rim of the
present invention is segmented so as to be installable onto the
plywood shelf of the turntable in pieces and form up a completed
rim around the perimeter of the turntable shelf. The rim height may
also be selected for use in specific applications. The combination
of the rim and shelf components for a turntable of the present
invention are compatibly packageable as separate components thereby
reducing storage and shipping resource requirements.
Inventors: |
Searer, Floyd A.; (Elkhart,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Christopher D. Harrington
447 Ada Drive
Ada
MI
49301
US
|
Family ID: |
34919951 |
Appl. No.: |
10/796922 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 49/004
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/094 |
International
Class: |
A47B 057/00; A47B
088/00; A47B 095/00 |
Claims
1. A turntable for the storage of items, comprising: A shelf
suitable for holding a plurality of items thereon, said shelf
further including a rim portion generally disposed
circumferentially thereon; A supporting means for rotatably
supporting said shelf in an application; and, Wherein said shelf
and rim portion are comprised of laminated wood.
2. The turntable of claim Number 1, wherein said rim portion is
pre-formed from laminated wood and is mountable onto said
shelf.
3. The turntable of claim Number 1, wherein said rim portion is
formed from pre-formed segments of laminated wood which segments
are mountable onto said shelf.
4. The turntable of claim Number 3, wherein said segments are
compatibly sized to be efficiently packaged for shipment and for
storage.
5. The turntable of claim Number 3, wherein said segments are
mountable to the shelf using a number of dowels that fit into
aligned holes on the shelf and the rim portion and which fasten the
rim portion to the shelf.
6. The turntable of claim Number 1, wherein said shelf has a kidney
shape and where said rim portion circumferentially conforms to the
kidney shape.
7. The turntable of claim Number 3, wherein said rim portion is
mountable to the shelf using screw fasteners.
8. The turntable of claim Number 3, wherein said rim portion is
mountable to the shelf using glue.
9. The turntable of claim Number 8, wherein said rim portion is
mountable in side-joint fashion to the shelf.
10. A turntable for the storage of items, comprising: A shelf
suitable for holding a plurality of items thereon, said shelf
further including a rim portion generally disposed
circumferentially thereon; A supporting means for rotatably
supporting said shelf in an application; and, Wherein said rim
portion is comprised of laminated wood.
11. The turntable of claim Number 10, wherein said rim portion is
pre-formed from laminated wood and is mountable onto said
shelf.
12. The turntable of claim Number 10, wherein said rim portion is
formed from pre-formed segments of laminated wood which segments
are mountable onto said shelf.
13. The turntable of claim Number 12, wherein said segments are
compatibly sized to be efficiently packaged for shipment and for
storage.
14. The turntable of claim Number 12, wherein said segments are
mountable to the shelf using a number of dowels that fit into
aligned holes on the shelf and the rim portion and which fasten the
rim portion to the shelf.
15. The turntable of claim Number 10, wherein said shelf is a
kidney shape and where said rim portion circumferentially conforms
to the kidney shape.
16. The turntable of claim Number 12, wherein said rim portion is
mountable to the shelf using screw fasteners.
17. The turntable of claim Number 12, wherein said rim portion is
mountable to the shelf using glue.
18. A lazy susan apparatus with one or more shelf(s) for the
storage of a plurality of items, with a supporting mechanism for
the rotatable retention of the shelf within a cabinet or on a
surface, the improvement therein comprising: A shelf with a rim
portion where said rim portion is fabricated from a pre-formed wood
laminate and is mountable onto the shelf.
19. The lazy susan apparatus of claim Number 18, where said rim
portion is made from pre-formed segments of wood laminate.
20. The lazy susan apparatus of claim Number 18, where said shelf
is made from a wood laminate.
21. The lazy susan apparatus of claim Number 19, wherein said
segments are mountable to the shelf using a number of dowels that
fit into aligned holes on the shelf and the rim portion and which
fasten the rim portion to the shelf.
22. The lazy susan apparatus of claim 19, wherein said segments are
compatibly sized to be efficiently packaged for shipment and for
storage.
23. The lazy susan apparatus of claim Number 18, wherein said shelf
has a kidney shape and where said rim portion circumferentially
conforms to the kidney shape.
24. The lazy susan apparatus of claim Number 19, where said shelf
and said rim portion and said segments are configured for a pie-cut
application.
25. A turntable for the storage of items, comprising: A shelf
suitable for holding a plurality of items thereon, said shelf
including a rim portion generally disposed circumferentially
thereon, where said rim portion is comprised of segments of
pre-formed laminated wood, said segments being mountable onto said
shelf and being compatibly sized to be efficiently packaged for
shipment and for storage; and, A supporting means for rotatably
supporting said shelf in an application.
26. The turntable of claim Number 25, where said shelf is made from
a wood laminate.
27. The turntable of claim Number 25, where said segments are of
approximate equal lengths.
28. The turntable of claim Number 25 where said shelf is formed in
a kidney shape and said rim portion circumferentially conforms to
said kidney shape.
29. A turntable for the storage of items, comprising: A shelf
suitable for holding a plurality of items thereon, said shelf
including a rim portion generally disposed circumferentially
thereon; Segments of pre-formed laminated wood comprising the rim
portion, said segments being mountable onto said shelf and being
compatibly sized to be efficiently packaged for shipment and for
storage; A supporting means for rotatably supporting said shelf in
an application; and, Where said segments may be of non-uniform
height.
30. The turntable of claim Number 29, where said shelf is made of a
wood laminate.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to Lazy Susan and carousel
type storage devices. More specifically, the present invention
relates to Lazy Susan and carousel type storage devices made from
wood.
[0004] Lazy Susans and carousels have been known in the prior art
for decades, and turntables of one kind or another have probably
existed for centuries. More recently, Lazy Susan and carousel type
products have seen increased use in applications like kitchen
cabinets. This trend results, in part, from improvements in the
manufacture and design of these products that has focused mainly on
the ease of installation and the functionality of the shelves for
holding stored goods.
[0005] To differentiate, both Lazy Susans and carousels are
turntable type products, with Lazy Susans typically known for
having a shelf area that is suitable for holding a number of sundry
items. It may be installed within a cabinet thus allowing goods
that are located towards the rear of the Lazy Susan shelf to be
rotatable to the front area of the cabinet so that they may be
accessed by a user. Lazy Susans may comprise single shelves or
multiple shelves. The mounting of the Lazy Susan assembly may be as
simple as placement on the interior shelf of the cabinet, or in
other installations, the Lazy Susan shelves may be mounted singly
or in multiples onto a pole, the pole then being mountable within
the cabinet.
[0006] Further, Lazy Susans may also include other characteristics,
where some products have shelves that turn with the pole, or where
the shelves may turn independent of the pole. In any event, the
main functionality of the Lazy Susan is to provide ease in the
storage and accessing of the small and medium sized items that are
typically found in a kitchen or a bathroom, the usual, although not
exclusive, places where Lazy Susan products are installed. The
shelves are formed or made in a way to accommodate the storage
function by providing an outer rim that extends above the flat
surface area of the shelf. In this way, the items stored on the
shelf are retained thereon and will not slide off the shelf while
it is being rotated.
[0007] In contrast, carousels are turntable type products that may
be very similar to Lazy Susans, but at times they may be directed
towards very specific applications. For instance, carousels have
been used for the storage of numbers of fasteners such as screws or
bolts, or they have been employed for holding various types of
spices. In these types of applications, the carousel is provided
with customized containers that may or may not be attached directly
to the base of the carousel. Functionally, the carousel works in
the same way as the Lazy Susan in that it is rotatable so that the
items being stored can be presented in an efficient way to the
user.
[0008] Carousels have many applications and can be found in the
kitchen and bath areas like the Lazy Susans, but they can also be
employed in other areas such as outdoor patios, garages, retail
stores, offices, schools, basically just about anywhere there is a
need for the storage of a number of small items.
[0009] Both the Lazy Susans and the carousels can be fabricated
from metal, plastic or wood components. The selection is typically
based on factors such as costs, intricacies of the final design,
and the market or end-user to which the product is being directed.
In most cases, wood is viewed as being a premium selection since it
usually requires more work to form it and finish into the desired
end product, sometimes with an inefficient use of the raw
materials.
[0010] Wooden Lazy Susan and carousel products are known in the
prior art. These products are generally, as suggested above,
premium products where the appearance of the wood is quite often
considered an important feature of the finished item. Obviously
such products are priced in accordance with the quality that is
presented, and also in accordance with the costs associated with
the raw materials and fabrication process.
[0011] One drawback to the wooden Lazy Susans and carousels of the
prior art is that many times these are actually formed from one
piece of solid wood. This is done by cutting out a round blank from
a larger piece of wood stock necessitating in some cases the usage
of a very significantly sized piece of flat lumber. Additionally,
the thickness of the wood stock has to be substantial enough to
allow for the routing out of the interior portion of the Lazy Susan
or carousel to provide the rim. There is one product known in the
prior art where the solid wood blank is left essentially flat and a
rim is fabricated from pieces of the same wood material. While this
method does indeed achieve some economies with respect to the
conservation of the raw material, it necessarily requires a great
deal of additional handling and working to get to the final
result.
[0012] In another example of the prior art, Lazy Susans or
carousels are made from wood stock that is formed by gluing
together pieces of compatible wood members in order to make up a
suitably sized blank that can be used to form the product as
described above. Sometimes these may be termed "butcher block" type
products.
[0013] In the prior art, the usage of a solid blank in the form of
solid wood stock or the "butcher block" type stock is predicated
upon the need to have some wood to work so as to achieve a rim and
any other features, such as divided sections on the shelf, or a hub
rim around a centered through-hole. The usage of a wood stock other
than these types has not been known in the prior art ostensibly
because of the impossibility, for instance, in using something like
a plywood for this purpose. As one might appreciate, routing a
plywood blank would result in a totally unacceptable end product.
Breaking down the outer laminations of the plywood would reveal the
interior construction of the laminated plywood. While similar to
the "butcher block" type stock in that both are laminates, the
plywood interior is comprised of inferior woods and touting would
not produce an acceptable or usable surface for a Lazy Susan or
carousel shelf.
[0014] The applicant also notes his pending application that
relates to wooden Lazy Susan type products. In this instance, the
wooden Lazy Susan may be fabricated from the solid wood blanks or
the "butcher block" blanks, however the rim is actually a metal
fence, with aluminum strips, that is affixed close to the outer
edge of the shelf. The fence takes the place of, or it may augment,
the rim formed from the wood blank and it may include wood veneer
strips that are "woven" into the fence to suggest the continuation
of the wood look.
[0015] Therefore, there has remained the longstanding problem of
inefficiencies in the formation of wood Lazy Susans and carousel
products. The usage of a wooden blank that must be routed out to
form a feature that comprises a relatively small part of the
overall product requires the wastage of a great deal of wood
material. This waste not only increases the cost of the taw
materials consumed but it also requites the usage of a great deal
of labor to achieve the desired result. Lastly, another aspect of
the prior art is the inefficiencies associated with the need to
transport a great deal of bulk when dealing with a fully formed
Lazy Susan or carousel. When prepared in the manner of the prior
art, such products consume a lot of empty space in packaging and in
shipment by virtue of the space that is allotted between the
surface of the shelf and the top of the rim. In some cases, nearly
twice as much volume is required for packaging and shipping
purposes as would be the case if the thickness of the shelf alone
was involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A turntable in accordance with the present invention is
comprised of plywood construction. More particularly, the shelf of
the turntable comprises a plywood stock that has been cut into a
desired diameter blank. A rim is formed from plywood strips that
have been bent in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, and which are sized compatibly for installation onto the
plywood blank. Installation is completed by affixing the aforesaid
rims to the plywood blank.
[0017] It is also a part of the present invention to provide for
plywood rims that are segmented and that can be shipped separately
from the plywood blank. In accordance therefore, the rims may be
preformed into the appropriate arc shape which may comprise a
segment of the total perimeter of the plywood blank, a complement
of such rim parts being provided so as to complete the rim for the
turntable.
[0018] The present invention also comprises a plywood rim that is
attached to the top of the plywood blank, or in alternate
embodiments, to the side of the plywood blanks.
[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a low
cost turntable that can be manufactured easily and from materials
not usually associated with turntables of the type discussed
herein.
[0020] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
turntable that can be shipped mote efficiently than the prior
art.
[0021] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
turntable that can be assembled in the field.
[0022] These and other features and objects of the present
invention are discussed in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a full round turntable of
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of the turntable of
FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a kidney shaped turntable of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a side cross-sectional view of the turntable of
FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a turntable of the present
invention, specifically an embodiment in which the rim is attached
to the edge of the plywood blank.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a portion of a turntable of the present
invention, specifically another embodiment in which the rim is
attached to the edge of the plywood blank.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a portion of a turntable of the present
invention, specifically an embodiment in which the rim is attached
to the top of the plywood blank.
[0030] FIG. 8 shows a portion of the turntable of FIG. 7 employing
a wood dowel for fastening the rim to the plywood blank.
[0031] FIG. 9 shows a portion of the turntable of FIG. 7 employing
a screw for fastening the rim to the plywood blank.
[0032] FIG. 10 shows a portion of the turntable of FIG. 7, in
particular, an alternate means for joining segments of the rim
together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] A turntable shelf of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 where a full round version of a turntable shelf 10 includes
a rim 12 and center hole 14 in the middle of shelf 16. The rim 12
further includes rim joint(s) 18.
[0034] Another version of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3
and 4 where the pie-cut turntable shelf 20 includes rim 22 and a
center hole in the middle of shelf 26. Again, the rim is segmented
as indicated by rim joint(s) 28. In this version, however, there is
a pie-cut portion 30 that is a trapezoidal shaped section that has
been removed from what would otherwise be a full round version of a
turntable shelf.
[0035] As may be appreciated, the two versions described above
relate to shelves that may be used in carousel type applications or
in Lazy Susan applications. The way the shelf is mounted differs
between the two applications, however this distinction is not
important to the practice of the present invention that relates to
the construction of the shelf itself. For this reason, the shelves
are not shown as mounted in any particular way.
[0036] Additionally, the two versions described display the most
common of the types of turntable shelves. The full round may be
used in settings where it is surface mounted on a table or a
counter, and it also may do service where it is completely enclosed
within a cabinet. In contrast, the kidney shaped turntable shelf is
typically used within a cabinet, and specifically a corner cabinet,
where it is sectioned as shown so as to conform to the
ninety-degree angle that is found in a corner cabinet application.
In some cases, the turntable shelf may sit on similarly shaped
shelves within the cabinet or it might be simultaneously attached
to the backside of the cabinet door and mounted onto a pole for a
Lazy Susan type installation. In either event, the versions are
meant to be illustrative of the various applications to which the
present invention may be directed and are not meant to be limiting
in any way. Other applications of the turntable shelves of the
present invention certainly exist beyond those shown as
examples.
[0037] Turning now to FIG. 5, a portion of a turntable is shown
where the rim and the shelf meet and are affixed together. The
method of fastening will be discussed in further detail below.
Specifically, the drawing shows the turntable portion 40 with rim
portion 42 and shelf portion 44. In this drawing, the junction of
the rim portion and the shelf portion is shown as the side joint
46. In this embodiment, the sections of the two portions that meet
at the side joint 46 are glued and this is the means for fastening
the rim portion to the shelf portion.
[0038] Similarly in FIG. 6, the rim portion 42(a) and the shelf
portion 44(a) of turntable portion 40(a) ate shown as meeting
together at side joint 46(a). Again, the sections of the two
portions that meet at the side joint 46(a) are glued together. In
this instance though, the two portions rare shaped to increase the
amount of the surface area contact at the side joint 46(a) and
gives the glued joint additional mechanical advantage.
[0039] Turning now to FIG. 7, the turntable portion 40(b) is shown
with rim portion 42(b) and shelf portion 44(b). In this instance,
the top joint 46(b) is formed when the bottom of the rim portion
42(b) meets a top section of shelf portion 44(b). This top mounted
orientation of the present invention is the preferred embodiment
for the turntable.
[0040] Additionally, two different fastening methods are disclosed
in FIGS. 8 and 9 that may be used independently from the glued
versions discussed above or in conjunction with them. For instance,
in FIG. 8 the turntable portion 40(c) is shown with rim portion
42(c) and shelf portion 44(c). At the top joint 46(c) there is a
dowel 48 that extends from the rim portion 42(c) into the shelf
portion 44(c). This is the preferred fastening method for the
product. While the use of wood doweling is well known in the field
of wood manufacturing as a method for fastening furniture parts
together, it is believed that this is the first time that the
technique has been applied to the fastening of a rim to a blank for
a turntable type product.
[0041] FIG. 9 teaches a similar approach where the turntable
portion 40(d) again includes the rim portion 42(d) and shelf
portion 44(d) and they meet at top joint 46(d) in the top mount
orientation. In this instance, however, wood screw 50 is provided
and secures the rim portion 42(d) to the shelf portion 44(d).
[0042] FIG. 10 shows another variation in the way that rim portion
may be joined. In this instance, the segments of the rim portion
42(e) meet at a lap type Joint 46(e) which adds to the integrity of
joining the segments. This method will also prevent the segments
from separating, however slightly, as might be the case when they
are butted together. To fix the segments in this position, they are
secured by screws 52.
[0043] In the preferred embodiment, the rim is top mounted to the
shelf and the two are wood doweled together, typically with some
glue as added fastening advantage. In this mode, the presentation
of the plywood surfaces generally show the veneer layers of the
plywood laminates. Where the plywood has been cut, such as on the
edges of the blank that forms the shelf, or on the top and bottom
edges of the rim, the lamination layers are exposed. However, by
sanding these surfaces and finishing them with the same treatments
as the rest of the wood surfaces, the laminated appearance is muted
somewhat and tends to blend into the overall cosmetics of the
turntable. While it is true that the side jointed versions of the
turntable embodiment mask the overt appearance of the laminations
on the edge of the shelf, and these approaches are recommended when
this result is desired, the methods for fabricating the turntable
product in this fashion are less desired than the methodology
employed for the top joint version(s). Generally, the side joint
versions and the top joint versions will be considered to apply
equally with respect to the following discussions relating to the
manufacturing and assembly of the turntable itself.
[0044] As noted in the drawings, the rim(s) are segmented, meaning
that they are supplied as a number of component pieces and
assembled to make up the completed rim in the completed turntable.
Segmented rims are the preferred embodiment for the practice of the
present invention, although it is understood that one skilled in
the art could construct one-piece rims and use these instead. Doing
so would impair some, but not all of the benefits of the invention
as will be set forth below. The rim segments are, in the case of
the full round turntable embodiment, preferentially made to
approximate 120.degree. sections of the perimeter or circumference
of the shelf. In this fashion, three pieces can be installed onto
the shelf to form up a 360.degree. rim. It is possible to use
shorter rim segments without detracting from the essential features
of the teachings herein.
[0045] In the case of the kidney shaped turntable, the rim is again
segmented however depending on the architecture of the pie-cut
section, the segments may vary from the preferred 120.degree.
approximate sizing. In addition, the rim segment that is formed up
to match the shape of the perimeter of the pie-cut section will out
of necessity vary from the typical length of a 120.degree.
segment.
[0046] No matter which approach is taken with respect to the sizing
and shaping of the rim segments, the usage of segments allows the
rim components to be packaged much more efficiently than would be
the case if one-piece rims were used for the various embodiments.
This is an important consideration since unlike the prior art, the
usage of a flat blank to form the shelf, and then the usage of
segmented rims that can be assembled onto the shelf rather than to
be require to form the rims there from, allows the component parts
to be packaged and shipped in a very compact manner as compared to
the prior art turntable products. Depending on the design of the
prior art turntable, close to 50% of the volume for shipment and
storage purposes can be eliminated this way.
[0047] In addition to the foregoing, the methods for fastening the
rims to the shelf are not out of the range of abilities for the
professional cabinet installer or woodworker, or perhaps even, the
average home handyperson. This allows the products to be sold as
RTA (ready-to-assemble) items, further reducing the costs of
assembly and freight and providing an alternative to competing
high-priced wooden turntables at the distributor and retail sales
level.
[0048] In an alternate version of the present invention, the usage
of pre-formed wood laminates for the rim portion allows wood rims
to be applied to solid wood shelves in much the same fashion as
discussed above. In this circumstance though, the benefit to the
solid wood construction for the shelf is the avoidance of having to
tout out much of the inner area of a solid wood blank to provide
for a sufficient rim. This is one of the disadvantages of the prior
art that the present invention seeks to avoid, thus the usage of
cosmetically compatible pre-formed wood laminates for the trim
portion results in some economy and certainly reduces the labor and
working necessary to form a turntable shelf.
[0049] The advantages gained in the way the present invention is
employed, relate to the ability to manufacture shaped or formed rim
segments. The methods for the bending of wood laminates, such as
plywood, are well known and have been used to form components for
chairs, tables, and even fuselage ribs for aircraft. One method
employed, a so-called "wet" method that was promoted extensively by
such pioneering designers as Charles and Ray Eames, uses a mold or
fixture that allows a thin veneer to be placed in it where it is
allowed to conform to the selected shape dictated by the mold.
Additional layers are added sequentially, each one being laid up in
conformity with the desired shape and with each one being supplied
with the adhesive used to make the laminate product, until a
completed laminate structure is formed of the desired thickness. In
the usual case, the width or length of the molded laminate is
extended such that the individually sized segments of product are
cut, thus producing the rim segments of the present invention. This
process is not the only such method employed to form laminates,
there are so-called "dry" methods for the forming and shaping of
wood laminates and methods employing steam and pressure to achieve
similar, if not the same type of results. The actual method
employed is not considered a specific feature of the present
invention, although the wet method is the preferred method for
forming the segmented rims.
[0050] Variations on the construction of a plywood turntable may be
made without necessarily departing from the scope of the present
invention. Previously, it has been believed that the usage of
plywood for a turntable application would result in an inferior
result since the usage of a formed rim had not been investigated
and tested, much less a turntable with a segmented plywood rim. The
veneers associated with plywood allow for a greater range of
appearances in the turntable product as well. The selection of a
specific wood for cosmetic purposes is made much more easily with
the methods for fabrication of the present invention, including the
mimicking of the appearance of a "butcher block" type construction.
This liberality was previously impossible to achieve without
requiring a highly customized approach.
[0051] The liberality in the design approaches possible with the
present invention is not limited to the selection of different wood
veneers. The height of the rim has been limited in the past by
practical aspects such as the cost of solid wood blanks from which
the complete shelf and rim product would have to be formed, or the
wastage of a great deal of storage and shipping space for products
with taller rims that enclose a great deal of "air" within the
confines of the finished turntable. The ability to set and select
taller rims would certainly be a factor in applications where tall
items are to be stored on the turntable. Even the ability to define
differing rim heights between segments is an advancement that would
see use in situations where different sized items are being stored
on the same turntable, or where there might be cosmetic needs to
provide a rim that shields the contents of the turntable from view
at times. As may be understood from the specification, where such
changes occur in the requirements for the rim, the method for
fastening the rim to the shelf can be modified accordingly so as to
provide a secure attachment. All of these variations on the present
invention may be realized without departing from the teachings
herein.
[0052] Aside from the styles of turntable shelves discussed
generally above, it is recognized that some applications have
different requirements that can still be improved with the use of
the present invention. For instance, a type of Lazy Susan is used
in corner cabinets found in the kitchen. In this type of
installation the cabinet door is affixed directly to the Lazy Susan
shelf and rotates with the whole assembly. This so-called "pie-cut"
Lazy Susan is well known and is a very popular style of this
product. The usage of a shelf that is made from a wood laminate,
i.e., plywood, can be made in an installation of this kind,
although the rim does not run along the complete perimeter of the
shelf. It is a feature though of the rim component that it can be
made to conform to differing configuration and the segments may be
tailored compatibly for the pie-cut shape, or for other Lazy Susan
shapes for that matter, such as the kidney shape which is not
always associated with corner cabinet installations.
[0053] It is understood that the illustrations of the various
embodiments for a plywood turntable as disclosed above are meant to
be illustrative of the spirit of the invention and do not in any
way represent limitations on the scope of the concept or the
applications in which it may be used.
* * * * *