Foldable cabinet

Abstract

A luggage cabinet provides efficient storage space for luggage when opened while also providing a thin profile when closed through a unique arrangement of pivotable shelves In an embodiment of the invention, a foldable cabinet comprises a structural frame having a depth, a plurality of shelves, pivot means to pivotally mount the plurality of shelves within said structural frame and to enable said plurality of shelves to pivot between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, and stop means to support the shelves when they are in the substantially horizontal position, wherein each of said shelf is pivotally mounted within said frame, along said depth, at a relative offset position so as to overlap the shelves when the shelves are in the substantially vertical position.

1 . A foldable cabinet comprising:
 a structural frame comprising a top wall and two integral side walls, said structural frame having a depth;   a plurality of shelves, wherein each of said shelves comprising a bottom surface which accommodates the shelf underneath it when said shelves are placed in a substantially vertical position;   pivot means to pivotally mount the plurality of shelves within said structural frame and to enable said plurality of shelves to pivot between a substantially horizontal position and said substantially vertical position; and   stop means to support the shelves when they are in the substantially horizontal position;   wherein each of said shelf is pivotally mounted to said integral side walls, along said depth, at a relative offset position so as to provide a nestable configuration of the shelves when the cabinet is folded.   
   
   
       2 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein each shelf further comprises a pair of telescoping shelf slides. 
   
   
       3 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the pivot means further comprises:
 two pairs of pivot disks for each of said plurality of shelves, where each of the pair of pivot disks comprises a first pivot disk connected to the shelf and a second pivot disk connected to the integral side wall of the cabinet.   
   
   
       4 . The cabinet of  claim 3  wherein the stop means further comprises:
 a first lobe projecting from the first pivot disk; and   a second lobe projecting from the second pivot disk.   
   
   
       5 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising at least one door mounted along a front face of the structural frame. 
   
   
       6 . The cabinet of  claim 5  further comprising a mirror mounted to the inside of said at least one door. 
   
   
       7 . The cabinet of  claim 5  further comprising a bulletin board mounted to the inside of said at least one door. 
   
   
       8 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the depth is in the range of 6 inches to 12 inches. 
   
   
       9 . A foldable cabinet comprising:
 a structural frame having a depth;   a plurality of shelves;   pivot means to pivotally mount the plurality of shelves within said structural frame and to enable said plurality of shelves to pivot between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position; and   stop means to support the shelves when they are in the substantially horizontal position;   wherein each of said shelf is pivotally mounted within said frame, along said depth, at a relative offset position so as to overlap the shelves when the shelves are in the substantially vertical position.   
   
   
       10 . The cabinet of  claim 9  wherein the sum of each of the plurality of shelves' depth is greater than the height of the cabinet. 
   
   
       11 . The cabinet of  claim 9  wherein each shelf further comprises a pair of telescoping shelf slides. 
   
   
       12 . The cabinet of  claim 9  wherein the pivot means further comprises:
 two pairs of pivot disks for each of said plurality of shelves, where each of the pair of pivot disks comprises a first pivot disk connected to the shelf and a second pivot disk connected to the integral side wall of the cabinet.   
   
   
       13 . The cabinet of  claim 12  wherein the stop means further comprises:
 a first lobe projecting from the first pivot disk; and   a second lobe projecting from the second pivot disk.   
   
   
       14 . The cabinet of  claim 9  further comprising at least one door mounted along a front face of the structural frame. 
   
   
       15 . The cabinet of  claim 14  further comprising a mirror mounted to the inside of said at least one door. 
   
   
       16 . The cabinet of  claim 14  further comprising a bulletin board mounted to the inside of said at least one door. 
   
   
       17 . The cabinet of  claim 9  wherein the depth is in the range of 6 inches to 12 inches.