CABINET
A cabinet may include a top surface and a front side allowing access to an interior of the cabinet. The cabinet may also include a front panel, which may have a flat surface that is larger than the top surface. The front panel may be pivotable between a first configuration, in which the front panel is a vertical panel closing the front side, and a second configuration, in which the front panel forms a horizontal table top.
1 . A cabinet, comprising:
a top surface and a front side allowing access to an interior of the cabinet; and
a front panel having a flat surface that is larger than the top surface; and
wherein the front panel is pivotable between a first configuration, in which the front panel is a vertical panel closing the front side, and a second configuration, in which the front panel forms a horizontal table top.
2 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising two outer side panels, wherein the front panel is attached to the two outer side panels via a rotatable connection mechanism.
3 . The cabinet according to claim 2 , wherein:
the front panel includes two side walls each extending externally of and in parallel with the two outer side panels; and
each of the two outer side panels is connected to one of the two side walls by via the rotatable connection mechanism, respectively.
4 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein the front panel includes an engagement mechanism configured to engage a mating connecting a mechanism disposed on the base.
5 . The cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein:
the base includes two outer side panels;
the mating connecting mechanism is disposed on at least one of the two outer side panels;
at least one internal surface of the front panel includes the engagement mechanism; and
the engagement mechanism is further configured to engage the mating connecting mechanism when the front panel is in the second configuration.
6 . The cabinet according to claim 2 , wherein the rotatable connection mechanism includes an integrated damper.
7 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising a back surface and a base, wherein;
a horizontal rotational axis extends along the back surface; and
a pivot point is arranged in a rear half of a depth of the base.
8 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising two pivot points.
9 . The cabinet according to claim 2 , further comprising a bottom surface, wherein:
the bottom surface has a depth greater than a depth of the two outer side panels and the top surface; and
the bottom surface includes a chamfer arranged along a front edge of the bottom surface.
10 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
at least one internal horizontal shelf; and
a vertical dividing panel.
11 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of legs extending vertically from the bottom surface.
12 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein, when the front panel is in the second configuration, the front panel is arranged vertically above the top surface.
13 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein, when the front panel is in the second configuration, a front edge of the front panel is arranged horizontally in front of a front edge of the top surface.
14 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the front panel is pivotable to a third configuration in which the front panel forms a horizontal table top at a vertical position that is higher than a vertical position of the table top formed when the front panel is in the second configuration.
15 . The cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein, when the front panel is in the second configuration, a gap is defined between the top surface and the horizontal table top.
16 . The cabinet according to claim 2 , wherein;
the front panel includes two side walls; and
the rotatable connection mechanism includes a first arm and a second arm each rotatably connected to one of the two outer side panels and one of the two side walls.
17 . The cabinet according to claim 16 , wherein the first arm includes an extendable member.
18 . The cabinet according to claim 17 , wherein:
the extendable member includes a sleeve configured to hold in a non-extended configuration an elongated pin; and
the elongated pin is at least partly withdrawn from the sleeve when the front panel is in the second configuration.
19 . The cabinet according to claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is an integrated damper.
20 . The cabinet according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the second arm and the first arm abuts a supporting pin extending outwardly from one of the two side panels when the front panel is in the second configuration.
21 . A method for forming a table from a cabinet, comprising:
providing the cabinet according to claim 1 ; and
lifting the front panel upwardly in a vertical direction to pivot the front panel from the first configuration to the second configuration and form the horizontal table top.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , further comprising connecting an engagement provided mechanism disposed on an internal surface of the front panel with a mating connecting mechanism arranged on an outer side panel of a base of the cabinet.