Decorative Space-saving Vanity

Abstract

A casing is provided with front and back sections, the latter of which is adapted to be fixed to a wall while the front section is hinged at the bottom thereof to the bottom of the back section to swing downwardly to a horizontal position to form a vanity table. The front of the back section is provided with a mirror, exposed with the front section in lower position, and the mirror is provided at the sides thereof with soft light bulbs recessed into the back section and adapted to be illuminated when the front section is in its lower position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In houses having very small bedrooms, and in such structures as mobile homes, there is little room for furniture, particularly including vanities for use by girls and women. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing an attractive vanity adapted to be folded into close proximity to a wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device comprises two casing sections, namely front and rear portions, the latter of which is adapted to be secured against a wall. The front section is normally vertically arranged and latched at its top to the back section and the bottoms of the sections are hinged together so that the front section may be swung downwardly to provide a top horizontal surface to serve as a vanity table. The base of the front section, when closed, may be provided with a bulletin board or with a picture or any other suitable decoration to enhance the appearance of the device.

Means is provided for limiting downward movement of the front section to operative position and when moved to such position, it exposes a mirror on the front face of the rear section, and recesses at opposite sides of the mirror are provided with soft light bulbs to illuminate the person sitting before the vanity table. Cooperating switch elements are arranged between the adjacent faces of the sections, when closed, to cut off the circuit to the light bulbs when the device is closed and to automatically light the bulbs when the front section is in lower position.

The front section is provided in the top thereof with doors normally closing compartments, one of which may be used to receive curlers and other devices relating to the hair, while two smaller compartments may serve as compartments for cosmetics, manicure supplies, etc. The doors of the compartments are normally latched in closed position so that they will not fall open when the vanity case is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a face view of the device with the front section closed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the front section shown in operative position in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a face view similar to FIG. 1 with the front section in lower or operative position; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front section in operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the numeral 10 designates the vanity as a whole comprising front and rear sections 12 and 14, respectively, hinged together at their lower adjacent edges as at 16 so that the front section 12 may swing downwardly to the operative position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The tops of the sections are provided with cooperating latch devices 18 to hold the vanity sections in closed position, as shown in FIG. 2. Means is provided for limiting the downward movement of the front section to a horizontal operative position and this usually will be done by using at opposite sides of the device flexible elements which may be chains 20.

The face of the front section, when closed, is provided with a blank space 22 which may be used for any utilitarian or decorative purpose. For example, the space may be used for a bulletin board or for a picture of any desired type which will enhance the attractive appearance of the device. The front face of the rear section 14 is provided with a mirror 24 (FIG. 3) at opposite sides of which the rear section 14 is recessed as at 26 to receive a plurality of soft light bulbs 28. The circuits for these bulbs will be conventional and they are controlled by cooperative switch devices 30 (FIG. 1) and 32 (FIG. 3) which operate to cut off the circuits for the light bulbs when the device is closed and to release the switch element 32 to illuminate the bulbs when the front section is lowered to its horizontal operative position.

The bottom section is formed of side and back walls 34 and a dividing partition 36 extending preferably from front to back of the bottom section. At one side of the bottom section, a transverse wall 38 is provided so that the bottom section is thus formed with a relatively long compartment 40 and relatively smaller compartments 42, the latter of which are closed by covers 44 hinged to the adjacent wall 34 as at 46. The larger compartment 40 is closed by a cover 48 preferably hinged to the wall 34 opposite the hinges 46, as at 50. These covers 44 and 48 are provided with spring latches 52 to hold them in closed position when the front section is swung upwardly to closed position so that the articles in the several compartments will not fall out.

The appearance of the device is improved and its utilitarian nature increased by the provision above the device of a shelf 54 which may be supported as at 56 relative to the rear section 14. This shelf may be used to support any desired articles which cannot be housed within the several compartments.

OPERATION

When the device is closed, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the space 22 may be provided with an attractive picture and the surrounding portions of the front section may serve as a frame for such picture. With the device closed, the light circuits will be broken and the device appears as an ornamental attachment on the wall. When the vanity is to be used, the latch mechanism 18 will be released and the front section 12 lowered to horizontal position as shown in dotted line in FIG. 2. Whatever articles may be desired to be used may be removed from the compartments 40 or 42 and the door or doors thereof closed, whereupon the top surfaces of the doors, walls 34 and division walls 36 and 38, all of which are flush with each other, may be used as a vanity table.

The lowering of the front section releases the switch element 52 whereupon the lights 28 will be illuminated and will cast a soft light on the face of the user so that her face will show up clearly in the mirror 24. When a person has finished using the device, the toilet or other articles which have been used will be replaced in the compartments, and the front section 12 will swing upwardly to closed position and will be held in such position by the latch device 18. Any articles which cannot be housed in the compartments may be placed on the shelf 54, or this shelf may be used for knickknacks, such as decorative ornaments or the like.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved decorative space-saving vanity which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vanity comprising separate front and rear sections each having relatively large vertical and horizontal dimensions and relatively shallow but substantially equal depth, and arranged normally in face to face relation, said rear section being adapted for attachment to a wall, said front section hingedly connected to the lower edge of said rear section and adapted to swing a maximum of 90.degree. to a horizontal position, said rear section having a centrally positioned mirror, a recess opening into said rear section adjacent each side of said mirror, a light source arranged in said recesses, said front section being hollow and partitioned into a plurality of compartments, a hinged and latched cover for each of said compartments forming a table top when in closed position with said front section in horizontal position, and switch means for said light source arranged between said front and rear sections to extinguish said light source when said front section is in closed position and to illuminate said light source when said front section is in horizontal position.