[0001] The invention relates to a shutter for a cabinet, more particularly to a modular
shutter with a plurality of juxtaposed slats which have transparent slat parts through
which an object behind the shutter can be viewed.
[0002] U.S. Patent No. 5,236,260 discloses a drawable shutter for closing an entrance of
a cabinet, such as one for receiving compact discs, cassette tapes and the like, therein.
Each of the slats has front and rear sides and includes longitudinal upper and lower
portions, a longitudinal intermediate portion between the upper and lower portions,
a longitudinal rib projecting from the rear side at the intermediate portion, and
a pin-and-eye assembly with a pin member provided on the rear side at the upper portion
and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rib and an eye member provided
on the rear side at the lower portion. The pin member of one of the slats engages
the eye member of an adjacent one of the slats so as to connect pivotally the same.
When the shutter is installed, no clearance is formed between adjacent slats to prevent
dust from entering into the cabinet.
[0003] It is noted that the slats are made of an opaque material and have no transparent
parts to permit viewing of objects behind the shutter, thereby making it difficult
to identify the objects kept in the cabinet.
[0004] Although it is possible to form the slats of the above described shutter entirely
from a transparent material, such slats are incapable of magnifying the objects behind
the shutter. In addition, the aesthetic appeal of the cabinet is diminished when a
shutter with slats that are formed entirely from a transparent material is installed.
[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a shutter with juxtaposed
slats for a cabinet, the slats being partially transparent and permitting magnified
viewing of objects kept behind the shutter so as to facilitate identification of the
objects while enhancing aesthetic appeal of the cabinet.
[0006] Accordingly, the shutter of the present invention is to be installed in a cabinet
and comprises a plurality of juxtaposed slats with front and rear sides. Each of the
slats has longitudinal first and second portions, a longitudinal intermediate portion
between the first and second portions, and a pin-and-eye assembly provided on the
rear side at the first and second portions for connecting pivotally adjacent ones
of the slats. Each of the slats further has a transparent part. The intermediate portion
of the transparent part has a convex surface.
[0007] Preferably, the transparent parts of adjacent ones of the slats are aligned with
one another, and the convex surface is at the front side of the slat.
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, each of the slats includes at least two longitudinally
aligned slat parts with front and rear sides. Each of the slat parts has longitudinal
first and second portions, a longitudinal intermediate portion between the first and
second portions, a pin-and-eye assembly provided on the rear side at the first and
second portions for connecting pivotally adjacent ones of the slats, and complementary
first and second connectors formed at two end portions for connecting adjacent ones
of the slat parts of one slat. At least one of the slat parts of each of the slats
is transparent, and the intermediate portion of the transparent slat part has a convex
surface.
[0009] The pin-and-eye assembly includes a pin member provided at the first portion and
extending in a longitudinal direction of the slat part and an eye member provided
at the second portion. The pin member of one of the slat parts of one of the slats
engages the eye member of one of the slat parts of an adjacent one of the slats to
connect pivotally the slats.
[0010] The first connector includes a hook member which extends in a longitudinal direction
of the slat part from one of the end portions, and the second connector includes a
hook seat which is formed at the other one of the end portions and which engages the
hook member of an adjacent one of the slat parts of the slat.
[0011] The first connector further includes a tenon which extends in the longitudinal direction
from one of the end portions, and the second connector further includes a mortise
which is formed in the other one of the end portions and which engages the tenon of
the adjacent one of the slat parts of the slat.
[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a rear perspective view illustrating a part of the preferred embodiment
of a shutter according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partly exploded, rear perspective view illustrating how a slat of the
preferred embodiment is assembled;
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a slat part of the slat shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the slat part, taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3;
and
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view illustrating how two slats of the preferred embodiment
are connected pivotally.
[0013] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a shutter (S) according
to the present invention is shown to comprise a plurality of juxtaposed slats (S1)
(only two slats are shown in Figure 1). Each of the slats (S1) comprises a plurality
of slat parts 1 with front and rear sides, 102 and 101. Each of the slat parts 1 has
longitudinal first and second portions, 103 and 104, a longitudinal intermediate portion
105 between the first and second portions, 103 and 104, and a pin-and-eye assembly
11 provided on the rear side 101 at the first and second portions, 103 and 104, for
connecting pivotally adjacent slats (S1). The pin-and-eye assembly 11 includes a pin
member 110 provided at the first portion 103 and extending in a longitudinal direction
of the slat part 1 and an eye member 111 provided at the second portion 104. The pin
member 110 of one of the slat parts 1 engages the eye member 111 of the slat part
1 of an adjacent one of the slats (S1) so as to connect pivotally the slats (S1),
as shown in Figure 5.
[0014] Each of the slat parts 1 further has a connecting unit 12 formed at two end portions
for connecting adjacent slat parts 1 of one slat (S1). The connecting unit 12 includes
complementary first and second connectors, 121 and 122. The first connector 121 includes
a hook member 123 and a tenon 124 which extend in a longitudinal direction of the
slat part 1 from one of the end portions. The second connector 122 includes a hook
seat 128 and a mortise 127 formed at the other one of the end portions. The hook member
123 has a barbed end 125. The hook seat 128 projects from the rear side 101 of the
slat part 1 and has a distal face which is formed with an engaging groove 126 that
extends along the longitudinal direction of the slat part 1 and that is confined by
a spaced pair of walls 129.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, there are two kinds of slat parts 1 employed in each
slat (S1). Referring to Figure 2, each of the slats (S1) comprises two transparent
slat parts (1A) and three opaque slat parts (1B). The first connector 121 of each
of the transparent slat parts (1A) engages the second connector 122 of one of the
opaque slat parts (1B), while the second connector 122 of each of the transparent
slat parts (1A) engages the first connector 121 of another one of the opaque slat
parts (1B). Preferably, the transparent slat parts (1A) of adjacent slats (S1) are
aligned with one another, as shown in Figure 1. In this way, viewing of objects kept
behind the shutter of the present invention is permitted so as to facilitate identification
of the objects.
[0016] Referring to Figure 4, the intermediate portion 105 of the slat parts 1 has a convex
surface at the front side 102. Thus, the intermediate portion 105 of the transparent
slat part (1A) can serve to magnify the object behind the same to facilitate viewing
of the object.
[0017] It has thus been shown that the shutter of the present invention permits magnified
viewing of objects kept behind the shutter so as to facilitate identification of the
objects. In addition, since the shutter is only partially transparent, the aesthetic
appeal of the cabinet which is installed with the shutter of the present invention
can be enhanced.
1. A shutter (S) for a cabinet including a plurality of juxtaposed slats (S1) with front
and rear sides (102, 101), each of said slats (S1) having longitudinal first, and
second portions (103, 104), a longitudinal intermediate portion (105) between said
first and second portions (103, 104), and a pin-and-eye assembly (11) provided on
said rear side (101) at said first and second portions (103, 104) for connecting pivotally
adjacent ones of said slats (S1), characterized by each of said slats (S1) further
having a transparent part (1A), said intermediate portion (105) of said transparent
part (1A) having a convex surface.
2. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said transparent parts
(1A) of adjacent ones of said slats (S1) are aligned with one another.
3. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that said convex surface
is at said front side (102) of said slat (S1).
4. A shutter (S) for a cabinet including a plurality of juxtaposed slats (S1), characterized
by each of said slats (S1) including at least two longitudinally aligned slat parts
(1) with front and rear sides (102, 101), each of said slat parts (1) having longitudinal
first and second portions (103, 104), a longitudinal intermediate portion (105) between
said first and second portions (103, 104), a pin-and-eye assembly (11) provided on
said rear side (101) at said first and second portions (103, 104) for connecting pivotally
adjacent ones of said slats (S1), and complementary first and second connectors (121,
122) formed at two end portions for connecting adjacent ones of said slat parts (1)
of one said slat (S1), at least one (1A) of said slat parts (1) of each of said slats
(S1) being transparent, said intermediate portion (105) of said transparent slat pact
(1A) having a convex surface.
5. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said transparent slat
parts (1A) of adjacent ones of said slats (S1) are aligned with one another.
6. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 5, further characterized in that said convex surface
is at said front side (102) of said slat (S1).
7. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said pin-and-eye assembly
(11) includes a pin member (110) provided at said first portion (103) and extending
in a longitudinal direction of said slat part (1) and an eye member (111) provided
at said second portion (104), said pin member (110) of one of said slat parts (1)
of one of said slats (S1) engaging said eye member (111) of one of said slat parts
(1) of an adjacent one of said slats (S1) to connect pivotally said slats (S1).
8. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said first connector
(121) includes a hook member (123) which extends in a longitudinal direction of said
slat part (1) from one of said end portions, and said second connector (122) includes
a hook seat (128) which is formed at the other one of said end, portions and which
engages said hook member (123) of an adjacent one of said slat parts (1) of said slat
(S1).
9. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 8, further characterized in that said hook member
(123) has a barbed distal end (125).
10. The shutter (S) as claimed in claim 8, further characterized in that one of said first
and second connectors (121, 122) further includes a tenon (124) which extends in the
longitudinal direction from one of said end portions, and the other one of said first
and second connectors (121, 122) further includes a mortise (127) which is formed
in the other one of said end portions and which engages said tenon (124) of the adjacent
one of said slat parts (1) of said slat (S1).
11. A transparent slat part (1A) characterized by front and rear sides (102, 101), longitudinal
first and second portions (103, 104), a longitudinal intermediate portion (105) between
said first and second portions (103, 104) and that has a convex surface, a pin-and-eye
assembly (11) provided on said rear side (101) at said first and second portions (103,
104), and complementary first and second connectors (121, 122) formed respectively
at two end portions of said slat part.
12. The transparent slat part (1A) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said
convex surface is at said front side (102) of said slat part (1A).
13. The transparent slat part (1A) as claimed in claim 11, further characterized in that
said pin-and-eye assembly (11) includes a pin member (110) provided at said first
portion (103) and extending in a longitudinal direction of said slat part (1A) and
an eye member (111) provided at said second portion (104).
14. The transparent slat part (1A) as claimed in claim 11, further characterized in that
said first connector (121) includes a hook member (123) which extends in a longitudinal
direction of said slat part (1A) from one of said end portions, and said second connector
(122) includes a hook seat (128) which is formed at the other one of said end portions.
15. The transparent slat part (1A) as claimed in claim 14, further characterized in that
said hook member (123) has a barbed distal end (125).
16. The transparent slat part (1A) as claimed in claim 14, further characterized in that
one of said first and second connectors (121, 122) further includes a tenon (124)
which extends in the longitudinal direction from one of said end portions and the
other one of said first and second connectors (121, 122) further includes a mortise
(127) which is formed in the other one of said end portions.