Water-shedding indoor wall mounted cabinet

Abstract

A wall-mounted cabinet has two components. The first, a back portion, is fixedly connected to a wall, and the second, a cover portion, is pivotally and detachably connected to the second. A vent is formed in the top of the cover portion, but in a manner that does not permit water to enter but does permit heated air generated from with the cabinet to exit. In order to accomplish this, a water-diverting plate is provided on the back portion. The plate is oriented to extend across the width of the vent at an angle, so that water entering the vent is directed towards a gap formed between the wall and the outer surface of the back portion.

1 . A wall-mounted cabinet comprising: 
 a first component adapted to be fixedly mounted on a vertical interior wall;    a second component detachably and pivotally connected to the first component, and being pivotally movable between a first, closed position and a second, detached position;    an interior space formed by the first and second components when disposed in the first, closed position;    venting means for venting air from the interior space;    diverting means, disposed in spaced relation to the venting means, for diverting water passing through the venting means away from the interior space.    
   
   
       2 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component includes a back wall having an upper end and a lower end, a bottom wall provided at the lower end of the back wall, and spacer means formed in the back wall to maintain the back wall of the first component in spaced relation to the vertical interior wall.  
   
   
       3 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 2 , wherein the second component includes a front wall, two opposite side walls and a top wall, wherein the top wall has a rearward longitudinal edge, and wherein the vent means is a gap formed between the rearward longitudinal edge of the top wall and the upper end of the back wall of the first component.  
   
   
       4 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 3 , wherein the diverter means is an angled plate formed along the upper end of the back wall of the first component, and extending substantially the length of the gap.  
   
   
       5 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 4 , wherein the angled plate includes a proximal longitudinal edge connected to the upper end of the back wall of the first component, and a distal longitudinal edge extending upwardly relative to the upper end of the back plate at an angle.  
   
   
       6 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 5 , wherein the spacer means comprises a plurality of protrusions formed in the back wall of the first component, each having an opening for receiving fastener means adapted to be anchored in the vertical interior wall, the protrusions forming a space between the vertical interior wall and the back wall of the first component.  
   
   
       7 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 6 , wherein the angle of the angled plate is selected to cause water entering the gap to flow by gravity towards the space between the back wall of the first component and the back wall of the vertical interior wall.  
   
   
       8 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 1 , further comprising a latch adapted to hold the first and second components in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable pivot structure having a first portion disposed in either of the first and second components, and a second complementary portion disposed in the other of the first and second components.  
   
   
       10 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 9 , wherein the first portion is a pair of mounting brackets disposed at an upper portion of the first component, and the second portion is a pair of pivot pins disposed at an upper portion of the second component.  
   
   
       11 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 10 , wherein each mounting bracket includes a horizontally disposed upper edge and a notch formed in each upper edge, wherein the pivot pins are received in the notches of corresponding mounting brackets.  
   
   
       12 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 11 , wherein the second component includes a front wall, opposite side walls and a top wall, the top wall having a rearward edge, and wherein the venting means comprises a gap formed between the rearward edge of the top wall and a surface of the interior wall, and the second component is pivotal about a first axis associated with the pivot pins, about a second axis corresponding to a point of contact between the rearward edge of the top wall and the upper edges of the mounting brackets, and is translatable after pivotal motion about the second axis.  
   
   
       13 . A wall-mounted cabinet according to  claim 12 , wherein each mounting bracket includes a cut-away corner which forms an angled edge.  
   
   
       14 . A cabinet comprising: 
 a back portion fixedly connectable to a wall;    a cover portion cooperating with the back portion to form an interior space and being detachably connected to the back portion;    a hinge structure having a first component connected to one of the back portion and the cover portion and a second, complementary component connected to the other of the back portion and the cover portion;    a vent formed in the cover portion; and    a water-diverting plate juxtaposed the vent and being disposed on the back portion.    
   
   
       15 . A cabinet according to  claim 14 , wherein the hinge structure includes a pair of mounting brackets formed on opposite sides of the back portion, and a pivot pin engaging each of the mounting brackets.  
   
   
       16 . A cabinet according to  claim 15 , wherein each mounting bracket includes a horizontally disposed upper edge, and a notch formed in each corresponding upper edge, and wherein each pivot pin is engaged by the notch of each corresponding mounting bracket.  
   
   
       17 . A cabinet according to  claim 15 , wherein the vent comprises a gap formed between the cover portion and the wall.  
   
   
       18 . A cabinet according to  claim 17 , wherein the water-diverting plate is formed on the back portion and extends upwardly across a width of the gap.  
   
   
       19 . A cabinet according to  claim 15 , further comprising a spacer system for maintaining the back portion in a position spaced from the wall.  
   
   
       20 . A cabinet according to  claim 19 , wherein the spacer system includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from a rear surface of the back portion.