U.S. patent application number 11/302355 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for exterior cabinet doors and drawers.
Invention is credited to Robert F. Hauck.
Application Number | 20060125355 11/302355 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36582982 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060125355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hauck; Robert F. |
June 15, 2006 |
Exterior cabinet doors and drawers
Abstract
An outdoors cabinet includes a door and a drawer which when
closed prevent liquids from windy rain or counter top spills from
entering into the cabinet or drawer. The door includes a frame
having a back-side face which includes a groove at a top thereof.
Similarly, the drawer includes a front-panel having a back-side
which also includes a groove at a top thereof. When the door and/or
drawer is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior surface, the
frame and/or front-panel overlaps the cabinet's exterior surface
about the door, and their respective grooves project through the
cabinet's exterior surface into the cabinet. Configured in this
way, when the door and/or drawer is closed shut against the
cabinet's exterior surface, the door's and/or drawer's grooves
respectively prevent liquids from windy rain or counter top spills
from entering the cabinet or the drawer.
Inventors: |
Hauck; Robert F.; (Morgan
Hill, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DONALD E. SCHREIBER
POST OFFICE BOX 2926
KINGS BEACH
CA
96143-2926
US
|
Family ID: |
36582982 |
Appl. No.: |
11/302355 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60634673 |
Dec 10, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 7/14 20130101; A47B
88/40 20170101; A47B 47/00 20130101; A47B 88/944 20170101; A47B
67/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/100 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00 |
Claims
1. A door adapted for inclusion in a cabinet, the door and the
cabinet being adapted for use outdoors, locatable on a supported
structure, and resembling a conventional interior cabinet; the
cabinet having an exterior surface with which the door becomes
juxtaposed when the door is closed shut, the door comprising: a
center panel; and a frame formed by frame pieces which enclose the
center panel; the frame pieces and the center panel being formed
from a maintenance-free material that needs no painting or
superficial maintenance; and when the door is closed shut against
the exterior surface of the cabinet, the frame: b. overlaps the
exterior surface of the cabinet about the door; and a. has a
back-side face at a top thereof that includes a groove which
projects through the exterior surface of the cabinet into the
cabinet and horizontally across the back-side face whereby the
groove becomes: i. disposed within the cabinet through the exterior
surface thereof: and ii. adapted for preventing liquids from windy
rain or counter top spills from entering into the cabinet when
located outdoors.
2. The door of claim 1 wherein maintenance-free material forming
the frame pieces projects through the exterior surface of the
cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed shut against the
exterior surface of the cabinet, and the groove is carved into
material forming the frame piece.
3. The door of claim 1 wherein a gutter strip secured to the frame
piece provides the groove and projects through the exterior surface
of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed shut
against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
4. The door of claim 1 wherein the maintenance-free material is
predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
5. The door of claim 1 wherein the frame further includes a
vertically oriented groove along a side thereof that is disposed
within the cabinet through the exterior surface thereof when the
door is closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet
thereby adapting the frame for eliminating liquids from windy rain
or counter top spills internally within the cabinet.
6. The door of claim 5 wherein maintenance-free material forming
the frame pieces projects through the exterior surface of the
cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed shut against the
exterior surface of the cabinet, and the grooves are carved into
material forming the frame pieces.
7. The door of claim 5 wherein a gutter strips secured to the frame
piece provides the grooves and project through the exterior surface
of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed shut
against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
8. The door of claim 5 wherein the maintenance-free material is
predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
9. A drawer adapted for inclusion in a cabinet, the drawer and the
cabinet being adapted for use outdoors, locatable on a supported
structure, and resembling a conventional interior cabinet; the
cabinet having an exterior surface with which the drawer becomes
juxtaposed when the drawer is closed shut, the drawer comprising: a
bottom panel; a back; at least a pair of side pieces; and a
front-panel; the back, side pieces and front-panel collectively
surrounding the bottom panel; the back, side pieces, front-panel
and bottom panel being formed from a maintenance-free material that
needs no painting or superficial maintenance; and when the drawer
is closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet, the
front-panel: b. overlaps the exterior surface of the cabinet about
the drawer; and a. has a back-side with a top thereof that includes
a groove which projects through the exterior surface of the cabinet
into the cabinet and horizontally across the back-side whereby the
groove becomes: i. disposed within the cabinet through the exterior
surface thereof: and ii. adapted for preventing liquids from windy
rain or counter top spills from entering into the drawer when
located outdoors.
10. The drawer of claim 9 wherein maintenance-free material forming
the front-panel projects through the exterior surface of the
cabinet into the cabinet when the drawer is closed shut against the
exterior surface of the cabinet, and the groove is carved into
material forming the front-panel.
11. The drawer of claim 9 wherein a gutter strip secured to the
front-panel provides the groove and projects through the exterior
surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed
shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
12. The drawer of claim 9 wherein the maintenance-free material is
predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
13. A cabinet adapted for use outdoors, locatable on a supported
structure, and resembling a conventional interior cabinet; the
cabinet comprising: an exterior surface; and a door which becomes
juxtaposed with the exterior surface when the door is closed shut,
the door including: a center panel; and a frame formed by frame
pieces which enclose the center panel; the frame pieces and the
center panel being formed from a maintenance-free material that
needs no painting or superficial maintenance; and when the door is
closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet, the frame:
b. overlaps the exterior surface of the cabinet about the door; and
a. has a back-side face at a top thereof that includes a groove
which projects through the exterior surface of the cabinet into the
cabinet and horizontally across the back-side face whereby the
groove becomes: i. disposed within the cabinet through the exterior
surface thereof: and ii. adapted for preventing liquids from windy
rain or counter top spills from entering into the cabinet when
located outdoors.
14. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein maintenance-free material
forming frame pieces of the door projects through the exterior
surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed
shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet, and the groove is
carved into material forming the frame piece.
15. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein a gutter strip secured to the
frame piece of the door provides the groove and projects through
the exterior surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door
is closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
16. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein the maintenance-free material
is predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
17. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein the frame of the door further
includes a vertically oriented groove along a side thereof that is
disposed within the cabinet through the exterior surface thereof
when the door is closed shut against the exterior surface of the
cabinet thereby adapting the frame of the door for eliminating
liquids from windy rain or counter top spills internally within the
cabinet.
18. The cabinet of claim 17 wherein maintenance-free material
forming frame pieces of the door projects through the exterior
surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is closed
shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet, and the grooves
are carved into material forming the frame pieces.
19. The cabinet of claim 17 wherein gutter strips secured to frame
pieces of the door provides the grooves and project through the
exterior surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door is
closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
20. The cabinet of claim 17 wherein the maintenance-free material
is predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
21. A cabinet adapted for use outdoors, locatable on a supported
structure, and resembling a conventional interior cabinet; the
cabinet comprising: an exterior surface; and a drawer which becomes
juxtaposed with the exterior surface when the drawer is closed
shut, the drawer including: a bottom panel; a back; at least a pair
of side pieces; and a front-panel; the back, side pieces and
front-panel collectively surrounding the bottom panel; the back,
side pieces, front-panel and bottom panel being formed from a
maintenance-free material that needs no painting or superficial
maintenance; and when the drawer is closed shut against the
exterior surface of the cabinet, the front-panel: b. overlaps the
exterior surface of the cabinet about the drawer; and a. has a
back-side with a top thereof that includes a groove which projects
through the exterior surface of the cabinet into the cabinet and
horizontally across the back-side whereby the groove becomes: i.
disposed within the cabinet through the exterior surface thereof:
and ii. adapted for preventing liquids from windy rain or counter
top spills from entering into the drawer when located outdoors.
22. The cabinet of claim 21 wherein maintenance-free material
forming the front-panel of the drawer projects through the exterior
surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the drawer is closed
shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet, and the groove is
carved into material forming the front-panel.
23. The cabinet of claim 21 wherein a gutter strip secured to the
front-panel of the drawer provides the groove and projects through
the exterior surface of the cabinet into the cabinet when the door
is closed shut against the exterior surface of the cabinet.
24. The cabinet of claim 21 wherein the maintenance-free material
is predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/634,673 filed on Dec. 10, 2004.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates generally to household type
cabinets, and, more particularly, to such cabinets as adapted for
outdoor use.
[0004] 2. Description of Background Art
[0005] There exists a well-established trade for fabricating
kitchen and bathroom cabinets both by custom cabinet-making shops
and highly mechanized standard cabinet fabrication facilities.
Presently, cabinet manufacturers predominantly use natural wood and
wood-derivative products such as plywood, veneered multi-density
fiber board ("MDF") and pressboard for indoor cabinets.
[0006] Conventional interior cabinet designs are not readily
transferable for outdoor use because additional design
considerations must be given to rain diversion and stability in
wind.
[0007] Outdoor kitchens heretofore have been built using
stainless-steel doors and drawers, and are designed to be set into
heavy masonry. These steel cabinets are expensive and bulky.
Furthermore, they consume much more space than would be required by
more conventional cabinet designs. The weight characteristics of
stainless steel cabinets alone preclude their use for outdoor
kitchens located on supported structures such as second-story
decks.
[0008] There also presently exist cabinets that are made from
injection-molded plastic, but they are hollow in structure and have
rounded edges and corners due to constraints imposed by injection
molding. Such cabinets are being sold only for storage cabinets
because they just lack an appearance that mimics interior cabinet
designs. Such cabinets also lack exposed drawers.
[0009] There. also exist cabinet doors made mainly from wood
fiber-board that is clad with a thin veneer of polyethylene ("PEI")
plastic using a vacuum process. The problem with such cabinet doors
is that if the veneer is punctured, the fiberboard swells with
moisture and the door becomes permanently damaged and primarily
non-functional in its intended environment. Hinge recesses and
hinge mounting screws require puncturing the backside of fiberboard
doors, and these holes invite imminent failure. Some fiberboard
doors only possess a plastic veneer on the front side leaving the
interior exposed to moisture in a damp environment.
[0010] With the introduction of high-density polyethylene ("HDPE")
plastics in standard board sizes, kitchen cabinets fabricated from
such materials are presently experiencing strong reception for
application to outdoor uses, such as outdoor BBQs and exterior
kitchens. Such solid plastic, wood-alternative material made from
predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic obtained from soda
bottles, detergent bottles, and milk containers is available from a
number of different manufacturers. This solid plastic,
wood-alternative material is strong, impact resistant, and
"wood-like" in appearance. Furthermore, this material is
maintenance-free, and needs no painting or superficial maintenance.
Similar to wood, the solid plastic, wood-alternative material can
be cut, drilled, mitered, routered, and sanded with conventional
woodworking tools.
[0011] One characteristic of the solid plastic, wood-alternative
material, in comparison with most types of natural wood used in
fabricating outdoor architectural structures is that it has
slightly less mechanical rigidity. However, because in many
instances mechanical requirements of structures are moderate or may
be accommodated by an appropriate design or hidden structural
supports, the solid plastic, wood-alternative material's lesser
mechanical rigidity does not prevent its use in such
structures.
[0012] Using such solid plastic, wood-alternative materials,
fabricating comparatively light weight kitchen base and wall
cabinets for outdoor use which in appearance resemble conventional
interior cabinets is a new development. Fabricating the doors and
drawers for outdoor cabinets from solid-plastic presents a problem
for preventing liquids from windy rain or counter top spills from
penetrating the cabinets' interior when the doors and drawers are
closed shut.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinet
that is adapted for use outdoors locatable on a supported
structure, and that resembles a conventional interior cabinet.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a door
that is adapted for use outdoors, and that resembles a conventional
interior cabinet which when closed shut against a cabinet is
adapted for preventing liquids from windy rain or counter top
spills from entering into the cabinet.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
drawer that is adapted for use outdoors, and that resembles a
conventional interior cabinet which when closed shut against a
cabinet is adapted for preventing liquids from windy rain or
counter top spills from entering into the drawer.
[0016] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide
an easily manufactured cabinet including a door and/or drawer that
is adapted for use outdoors locatable on a supported structure, and
that resembles a conventional interior cabinet.
[0017] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
durable cabinet including a door and/or drawer that is adapted for
use outdoors locatable on a supported structure, and that resembles
a conventional interior cabinet.
[0018] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
cost effective cabinet including a door and/or drawer that is
adapted for use outdoors locatable on a supported structure, and
that resembles a conventional interior cabinet.
[0019] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide
an easily maintained cabinet including a door and/or drawer that is
adapted for use outdoors locatable on a supported structure, and
that resembles a conventional interior cabinet.
[0020] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide
an economically manufactured cabinet including a door and/or drawer
that is adapted for use outdoors locatable on a supported
structure, and that resembles a conventional interior cabinet which
is.
[0021] Briefly, disclosed herein is a cabinet which is adapted for
use outdoors and locatable on a supported structure, and resembles
a conventional interior cabinet. The disclosure also includes a
door and a drawer for the cabinet which when closed shut are
adapted for preventing liquids from windy rain or counter top
spills from entering into the cabinet or the drawer.
[0022] The disclosed door includes a frame formed by frame pieces
which enclose a center panel. The frame pieces and the center panel
are formed from a maintenance-free material that needs no painting
or superficial maintenance. When the door is closed shut against
the cabinet's exterior surface, the frame overlaps the exterior
surface of the cabinet about the door. Also, the door has a
back-side face at a top thereof that includes a groove which, when
the door is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior surface,
projects through the exterior surface into the cabinet and extends
horizontally across the door's back-side face. Configured in this
way, when the door is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior
surface, the door's groove becomes adapted for preventing liquids
from windy rain or counter top spills from entering into the
cabinet.
[0023] The disclosed drawer includes a bottom panel, a back, at
least a pair of side pieces; and a front-panel. The back, side
pieces and front-panel collectively surround the bottom panel. The
back, side pieces, front-panel and bottom panel are formed from a
maintenance-free material that needs no painting or superficial
maintenance. When the drawer is closed shut against the exterior
surface of the cabinet, the front-panel overlaps the exterior
surface of the cabinet about the drawer. Also, the drawer has a
back-side with a top thereof that includes a groove which, when the
drawer is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior surface,
projects through the exterior surface into the cabinet and extends
horizontally across the back-side of the drawer. Configured in this
way, when the drawer is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior
surface, the drawer's groove becomes adapted for preventing liquids
from windy rain or counter top spills from entering into the
drawer.
[0024] These and other features, objects and advantages will be
understood or apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as
illustrated in the various drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, plan view of a grooved door
frame piece and a portion of a mating center panel both in
accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a drawer in accordance with
the present invention having a grooved front-panel;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the door
frame and mating door panel of FIG. 1 showing preferred dimensions
thereof which are fabricated with complementary rotating cutter
knives for forming opposite edges of the door frame and the
drawer's front-panel;
[0028] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a pair of complementary
rotating cuter knives used for forming interior edges of the door
frame and ends of door frame pieces mating therewith;
[0029] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a rotating cuter knife used
for forming exterior edges of the door frame, and also an upper
edge of the drawer's front-panel;
[0030] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment
door;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a top view of the alternative embodiment door
taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
[0032] FIG. 8A is a plan view depicting a gutter strip used for
grooves of the alternative embodiment door depicted in FIGS. 6 and
7;
[0033] FIGS. 8B and 8C are elevational views depicting gutter
strips, having alternative shapes to that of the gutter strip
depicted in FIG. 8A, that may also be used for grooves of the
alternative embodiment door depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7; and
[0034] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevational view of an
alternative embodiment drawer taken along the line 9-9 in FIG.
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] Doors:
[0036] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a portion of a door, referred to by
the general reference character 10, adapted for use in an outdoor
cabinet. The door 10 is preferably constructed using 1 .times. 1 2
- inch ##EQU1## thick 3 .times. 1 2 - inch ##EQU2## wide solid
all-plastic frame pieces 12 that enclose a 5/8-inch thick solid
all-plastic center panel 16. A back-side face 18 of each frame
piece 12 projects 1/2-inch into a cabinet's door opening with a
5/8-inch flange 22 overlapping the cabinet's exterior surface
around the cabinet's door opening. When the door 10 is fully
closed, the flanges 22 of the frame pieces 12 enclosing the center
panel 16 become juxtaposed with the cabinet's exterior surface, not
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0037] A curved rain-catching groove 24 is carved at the top and
along both sides of the door 10 into penetrating back-side faces 18
of frame pieces 12 which surround the center panel 16. The
rain-catching groove 24 prevents liquids from windy rain or counter
top spills from penetrating the cabinets'interior, deflects liquids
to the sides for elimination internally within the cabinet down
side gutters provided by rain-catching grooves 24, and is the
subject of this disclosure.
[0038] A key element for shielding door hinges from exposure to the
elements outdoors is the use of European-style hidden hinges.
European hinges are composed of two pre-assembled components: an
"arm" and a "base". For any door 10 having both a 1/2-inch recess
and a 5/8-inch flange, a 9 mm base must be used with a 135.degree.
arm. Two (2) European-style hinges available in the United States
of America from Grass Hinge Co. can accommodate the 5/8-inch
overlap of the cabinet's frame by the flange 22.
[0039] Another aspect of frame pieces 12 is a 1/2-inch
outside-corner 45.degree. bevel 28 around an exterior surface of
the door's frame pieces 12. The bevel 28 along the hinged side of
the door 10 allows the door 10 to rest snugly up against the
cabinet's exterior frame when the door 10 is in its fully-open
135.degree. position (135.degree.-90.degree.=45.degree.)
[0040] Drawers:
[0041] Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a drawer referred to by the general
reference character 30. The drawer 30 is preferably constructed
with a 1 .times. 1 2 - inch ##EQU3## thick, solid-face, one-piece
all-plastic front-panel 32. Side pieces 34 and a back 36 of the
drawer 30 are 5/8-inch thick solid-plastic boards that preferably
have a dovetail interlock at their rear corners (not necessary but
convenient for off-site assembly). Front edges of the side pieces
34 of the drawer 30 insert into 3/4-inch recesses 38 carved into a
back-side 42 of the front-panel 32. The side pieces 34, back 36 and
front-panel 32 collectively surround and frame-in a 1/4-inch thick
plastic bottom panel 44.
[0042] The illustration of FIG. 2 also includes a cross-sectional
view of a frame 52 of the cabinet which encloses the drawer 30. The
frame 52 includes an upper horizontal piece 54 above the drawer 30,
and a lower horizontal piece 56 below the drawer 30. Two side
pieces 58 of the frame 52, only one of which is depicted in FIG. 2,
span between the horizontal pieces 54, 56 along opposite side
pieces 34 of the drawer 30. Configured in this way, the horizontal
pieces 54, 56 and the side pieces 58 establish an exterior surface
62 for the cabinet. The horizontal pieces 54, 56 are preferably a
composite structure with the outer portion thereof forming the
exterior surface 62 being made from solid plastic, wood-alternative
material, and with the inner portion thereof being wood, preferably
cedar. The exterior surface 62 becomes juxtaposed with the
front-panel 32 when the drawer 30 is fully disposed within the
cabinet. All the preceding aspects of the construction of the
drawer 30 and of the cabinet are conventional cabinet making.
[0043] The present invention further provides a 1/2-inch extension
at the back-side 42 of the front-panel 32 that, when the drawer 30
is fully disposed within the cabinet, recesses into the cabinet's
opening with 5/8-inch flanges 72 overlapping the exterior surface
62 around the drawer 30. When the drawer 32 is closed shut, the
back-side 42 becomes recessed 1/2-inch into the cabinet's opening.
The recessed portion of the front-panel 32 includes a rain-catch
groove 76 carved along the top of the back-side 42. The rain-catch
groove 76 extends horizontally across the entire top edge of the
front-panel 32 to terminate openly beyond the side pieces 34 of the
drawer 30. When the drawer 32 is closed shut, the back-side 42
together with the rain-catch groove 76 projects into the cabinet.
The rain-catch groove 76 carries any liquid that enters the cabinet
from above past the front-panel 32 to beyond the side pieces 34 of
the drawer 30 where the liquid falls to the top of the next lower
drawer 30, or to the bottom of the cabinet. In this way, this
construction prevents liquids from entering the interior of the
drawer 30.
Material:
[0044] For use outdoors, the preferred material for the door's
frame pieces 12 and the center panel 16, for the drawer's
front-panel 32, the side pieces 34, the back 36 and bottom panel
44, and for the cabinet itself is solid plastic, wood-alternative
materials made from predominantly recycled polyethylene plastic.
The solid plastic, wood-alternative material is preferred because
it is:
[0045] 1. resembles natural wood materials;
[0046] 2. impervious to the elements; and
[0047] 3. homogeneous, i.e. lacks any grain along which it may
possibly split.
[0048] Furthermore, should such solid plastic, wood-alternative
materials become available in suitable widths and thicknesses, then
the door 10, rather than being assembled by joining individual
frame pieces 12 about the center panel 16, could be carved from a
single piece of the material.
[0049] Carving Method:
[0050] Opposite sides of the grooved door frame pieces 12 are
preferably formed by milling edges of 1 .times. 1 2 - inch ##EQU4##
thick plastic boards on a shaper using a pair of custom rotating
cutter knives. FIG. 3 provides detailed dimensional specifications
for various preferred shapes formed by the rotating cutter knives.
FIG. 4 illustrates a pair of complementary rotating cutter knives
82, 84. The cutter knife 82 illustrated at the top of FIG. 4 is
used for forming interior edges of door frame pieces 12. The cutter
knife 84 illustrated at the bottom of FIG. 4 is used for forming
ends of door frame pieces 12, e.g. sides of frame pieces 12, which
mate with the interior edges of door frame pieces 12 formed using
the cutter knife 82, e.g. top and bottom of frame pieces 12.
Alternatively, ends of frame pieces 12 may be mitered thereby
dispensing with any need for the cutter knife 84. FIG. 5
illustrates a cutter knife 88 used for forming exterior edges of
door frame pieces 12, and also an upper edge of the drawer's
front-panel 32. Preferably, each of the cutter knives 82, 84 and
the cutter knife 88 are wider than the thickness of the plastic
boards so during milling the cutter knife 82, 84 or 88 extends at
least 1/8-inch beyond both sides of the board.
[0051] Alternative Embodiment:
[0052] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an alternative embodiment for the door
10, FIGS. 8A-8C depict various shapes for rain-catching grooves 24
and 76, and FIG. 9 depicts an alternative embodiment for the drawer
30. Those elements depicted in FIGS. 7, 8A-8C and 9 that are common
to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 carry the same
reference numeral distinguished by a prime ("'") designation.
[0053] The back-side faces 18' of the frame pieces 12' of the
alternative embodiment door 10' illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7
overlap the cabinet's exterior surface 62' around the cabinet's
door opening when the door 10' is closed shut against the exterior
surface 62'. However, the frame pieces 12' don't project into a
cabinet's door opening. Instead, the frame pieces 12' and the
front-panel 32' of the door 10' remain outside the cabinet's
exterior surface 62' when the door 10' is closed shut against the
exterior surface 62'. To provide the rain-catching grooves 24' for
the door 10', which when the door 10' is closed shut against the
exterior surface 62' of the cabinet become disposed within the
cabinet through its exterior surface 62', metallic or polyvinyl
chloride plastic ("PVC") gutter strips 92 having grooved shapes are
secured to back-side faces 18' of the frame pieces 12'.
[0054] FIGS. 8A-8C depict alternative shapes for the gutter strips
92 together with fasteners 94 that respectively secure the
differently shaped gutter strips 92 to the frame piece 12'. In the
illustration of FIG. 8A, the rain-catching groove 24' of the gutter
strip 92 is trapezoidally-shaped. FIG. 8B illustrates a gutter
strip 92 which has a V-shaped rain-catching groove 24', while the
rain-catching groove 24' depicted in FIG. 8C is arcuately-shaped.
The gutter strips 92 and the fasteners 94 are preferably made from
stainless steel, or alternatively from extruded PVC.
[0055] FIG. 9 depicts the back-side 42' of an alternative
embodiment drawer 30' viewed from within the interior thereof. The
flanges 72' of the front-panel 32' overlap the cabinet's exterior
surface 62' around the cabinet's door opening when the drawer 30'
is closed shut against the exterior surface 62'. However, the
back-side 42' doesn't project into a cabinet's door opening.
Instead, the back-side 42' and the flanges 72' of the front-panel
32' remain outside the cabinet's exterior surface 62' when the
drawer 30' is closed shut against the exterior surface 62'. To
provide the rain-catch groove 76' for the drawer 30', which becomes
disposed within the cabinet through its exterior surface 62' when
the drawer 30' is closed shut against the cabinet's exterior
surface 62', a gutter strip 92 of any of the types depicted in
FIGS. 8A-8C is secured to the back-side 42' of the front-panel 32'.
Similar to the rain-catch groove 76, the gutter strip 92 extends
horizontally across the entire top edge of the front-panel 32' to
terminate openly beyond the side pieces 34' of the drawer 30'.
[0056] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted
as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and
scope of the disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and/or
alternative applications will, no doubt, be suggested to those
skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure.
Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be
interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or
alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of the disclosure including equivalents thereof. In effecting the
preceding intent, the following claims shall:
[0057] 1. not invoke paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112 as it
exists on the date of filing hereof unless the phrase "means for"
appears expressly in the claim's text;
[0058] 2. omit all elements, steps, or functions not expressly
appearing therein unless the element, step or function is expressly
described as "essential" or "critical;"
[0059] 3. not be limited by any other aspect of the present
disclosure which does not appear explicitly in the claim's text
unless the element, step or function is expressly described as
"essential" or "critical;" and
[0060] 4. when including the transition word "comprises" or
"comprising" or any variation thereof, encompass a non-exclusive
inclusion, such that a claim which encompasses a process, method,
article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements
includes not only those steps or elements but may include other
steps or elements not expressly or inherently included in the
claim's text.
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