Cabinet assembly and cabinet system

Abstract

A cabinet assembly is provided with a cabinet body sized to be received under a stationary countertop. A plurality of wheels is mounted to the cabinet body for transportation of the cabinet body. A countertop panel is mounted upon the cabinet body. At least one countertop leaf is provided for generally coplanar extension of the countertop panel when disconnected from the stationary countertop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cabinet assembly comprising:
 a cabinet body sized to be received under a stationary countertop;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the cabinet body for transportation of the cabinet body;   a countertop panel mounted upon the cabinet body; and   at least one countertop leaf for generally coplanar extension of the countertop panel when disconnected from the stationary countertop.   
     
     
         2 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the countertop panel is mounted for translation upon the cabinet body for a centered position and an offset position; and
 wherein the at least one countertop leaf is pivotally connected to the countertop panel for a stacked position with the countertop panel in the centered position of the countertop panel and for a coplanar extension position in the offset position of the countertop panel. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the countertop panel comprises a pair of panels each mounted for translation upon the cabinet body for an abutting position, and a spaced apart position with a gap therebetween; and
 wherein the at least one countertop leaf is sized to placed within the gap. 
 
     
     
         4 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 3  wherein an aperture is formed within the cabinet body for receipt and storage of the at least one countertop leaf. 
     
     
         5 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a serving tray sized to be received within the gap. 
     
     
         6 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cabinet body has at least one drawer aperture formed through opposed sides of the cabinet body;
 wherein the cabinet assembly further comprises:
 a bidirectional slide mounted to the cabinet body in the at least one drawer aperture, and 
 a drawer mounted to the bidirectional slide and oriented within the at least one drawer aperture for translation relative to the cabinet body out of either of the opposed sides of the cabinet body. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . A cabinet system comprising:
 a stationary cabinet body;   a countertop mounted upon the stationary cabinet body, the countertop extending laterally beyond the stationary cabinet body; and   a cabinet assembly according to  claim 6  oriented beneath the countertop, wherein the cabinet assembly comprises an exposed surface when oriented beneath the countertop that has an ornamental appearance similar to an exposed surface of the stationary cabinet body.   
     
     
         8 . A cabinet system comprising:
 a stationary cabinet body adapted to be mounted to an underlying support surface;   a countertop mounted upon the stationary cabinet body, the countertop extending laterally beyond the stationary cabinet body;   a longitudinal guide adapted to be mounted to at least one of the stationary cabinet body, the countertop and the underlying support surface; and   a cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the cabinet body of the cabinet assembly comprises a mobile cabinet body sized to be received under the countertop;   wherein at least one of the mobile cabinet body and the plurality of wheels cooperates with the longitudinal track for guiding of the mobile cabinet body during docking and removal of the mobile cabinet body underneath the countertop, and wherein the cooperation with the longitudinal guide disengages upon removal of the mobile cabinet body relative to the countertop.   
     
     
         9 . The cabinet system of  claim 8  wherein the mobile cabinet body comprises a drawer mounted for translation to the mobile cabinet body; and
 wherein the longitudinal guide provides a reaction force to the mobile cabinet body upon removal, wherein the reaction force is greater than a predetermined force required to translate the drawer relative to the mobile cabinet body. 
 
     
     
         10 . The cabinet system of  claim 8  wherein the longitudinal guide comprises at least a pair of side rollers sized to engage opposed lateral sides of the cabinet body; and
 wherein a pair of detents are formed in the opposed lateral sides of the mobile cabinet body corresponding to a docked position of the mobile cabinet body. 
 
     
     
         11 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a front ornamental fascia mounted to the cabinet body and extending laterally beyond the cabinet body;
 wherein the countertop panel extends laterally beyond the cabinet body; and 
 wherein the at least one countertop leaf comprises a pair of countertop leaves each pivotally connected to the cabinet body for generally coplanar extension of the countertop panel in extended positions, and for being concealed beneath the countertop panel and behind the fascia in retracted positions. 
 
     
     
         12 . A cabinet system comprising:
 a stationary cabinet body adapted to be mounted to an underlying support surface;   a countertop mounted upon the stationary cabinet body, the countertop extending laterally beyond the stationary cabinet body;   at least one door pivotally connected relative to the countertop to cover an open region under the countertop;   an inward offset extension of the door to create a visual appearance of a toe-kick so that the at least one door and inward offset extension collectively create a visual appearance of another stationary cabinet body; and   a cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  oriented within the open region.   
     
     
         13 . The cabinet system of  claim 12  further comprising
 a mobile cabinet body sized to be received under the countertop; and 
 a plurality of wheels mounted to the mobile cabinet body for transportation of the cabinet body, wherein at least one of the mobile cabinet body and the plurality of wheels cooperates with the longitudinal track for guiding of the mobile cabinet body during docking and removal of the mobile cabinet body underneath the countertop, and wherein the cooperation with the longitudinal guide disengages upon removal of the mobile cabinet body relative to the countertop. 
 
     
     
         14 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cabinet body has at least one externally concealed handle. 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 14  wherein the handle is formed in an underside of the countertop panel. 
     
     
         16 . The cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cabinet body has at least one recess sized to provide clearance for plumbing. 
     
     
         17 . A cabinet system comprising:
 a stationary cabinet body adapted to be mounted to an underlying support surface;   a countertop mounted upon the stationary cabinet body, the countertop extending laterally beyond the stationary cabinet body;   a mobile table sized to be received under the countertop;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the mobile table for transportation of the mobile table; and   a cabinet assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet assembly is sized to be received under the mobile table.   
     
     
         18 . A cabinet system comprising:
 a stationary cabinet body adapted to be mounted to an underlying support surface;   a countertop mounted upon the stationary cabinet body, the countertop extending laterally beyond the stationary cabinet body;   a cabinet assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet assembly is sized to be received under the countertop; and   a foam tray adapted to be installed under the countertop to provide resistance to the wheels.   
     
     
         19 . A cabinet assembly comprising:
 a cabinet body sized to be received under a stationary countertop;   at least one of a drawer and a door mounted for movement relative to the cabinet body;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the cabinet body for transportation of the cabinet body;   a locking mechanism connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels and the at least one of the drawer and the door; and   at least one actuatable handle mounted to the cabinet body in cooperation with the locking mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . A cabinet assembly comprising:
 a cabinet body sized to be received under a stationary countertop;   a power storage device supported by the cabinet body;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the cabinet body for transportation of the cabinet body; and   an electrical connector provided on the cabinet body in electrical connection with the power storage device.