US3120410A - Prayer cabinets - Google Patents

Description

E. BERG PRAYER CABINETS Feb. 4, 1964 Filed Nov. l5, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,120,410 PRAYER CABINETS Elaine Berg, 4319 N. Greenview Ave., Chicago, lll. Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,478 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-33) The present invention relates to prayer cabinets, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved prayer cabinet assembly adapted for universal use.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved prayer cabinet which is equipped with a bench for kneeling7 that is peculiarly adapted to make it easier for anyone to kneel or rise from the bench by using the hands on the upwardly extending sides of the kneeling bench to aid in supporting the weight and steadying the user during the placing of the knees on the bench.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a prayer bench assembly in which the kneeling bench is adapted to be nested in the lower part of the cabinet and in which a plurality of kneeling benches may be provided for persons of different size and age.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayer cabinet construction which is simple, sturdy, which has a minimum number of parts, and which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayer cabinet construction which includes everything necessary for its use and has provision for storing kneeling benches, religious books, and religious objects.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayer cabinet construction and kneeling bench which is comfortable and in which the parts are adapted to fit together when nested for convenient storage and transportation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying this specification,

FIG. l is a view in perspective of the prayer cabinet assembly with the parts arranged in position for use, also illustrating in dotted lines the use of the kneeling bench in achieving kneeling position with a minimum amount of effort or discomfort;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the prayer cabinet assembly with the component parts nested together;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing the two types of kneeling benches adapted to nest together;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 2 of a modification.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, 1t) indicates in its entirety one of the prayer cabinets embodying the invention shown in FIG. 1 in connection with a kneeling bench 11.

The prayer cabinet 10 comprises a pair of side wall members 12, 13 joined at the top by a rectangular top wall 14 and at the bottom by a rectangular bottom wall 15. The side walls may also be joined by an intermediate partition or wall 16 and a second partition or wall 17 spaced from the top a sufcient distance to provide a compartment for receiving the sliding drawer 18 having suitable drawer pulls 19.

All of the parts of the cabinet may be made of suitable wood, such as laminated plywood, which may be provided with veneer of ornamental wood; and the cabinet may also be made of solid boards of any type of high grade lumber adapted to be provided with a suitable finish.

The second compartment from the top above the partition 16 provides a space 2@ for supporting the Bible or other religious books, indicated at 21.

The back of the cabinet may be provided with a suitable plywood covering 22 secured by screws or other fastening members 23. The cabinet is preferably provided with an upwardly extending back board 24, which may have a transparent facing 25 of plastic, thereby providing a space for insertion of a card or sheet 26 bearing a suitable religious design or text, such as the Lords Prayer.

The back board may be secured by the same securing members 23; and the cabinet is provided on its back with a plurality of U shaped stirrups 27 for receiving and frictionally holding the shaft 28 of a crucifix or other religious article.

Referring to FIG. 6, this is a front elevational view showing the relative sizes and construction of a pair of kneeling benches 11 for adults and 35D for children.

Each kneeling bench may comprise a pair of side walls 31, 32 of thick plywood, rectangular in shape, and provided with inner grooves 33 for receiving the intermediate partition 34 serving as a bench. The bench 11 is provided with a suitable fabric covered pad 35 of resilient felt, foam rubber, or other suitable material covering the partition or shelf 34 and adapted to support the knees with comfort.

Each side wall 31, 32 has the lower plane supporting end surface 36, 36; and each side wall 31, 32 extends upward above the pad 35 so that the side walls 31, 32 may be used by the person employing the bench to support the hands, as shown in FIG. l, in the act of kneeling with a minimum amount of effort or discomfort.

The side walls 31, 32 have hat upper surfaces 37 provided with pads 33 which may be of the same material as the pad 35, and which extend over the top surfaces 37 and downward on the inside and outside of the walls 31, 32, forming a convenient handle which may be grasped by the fingers in lifting or placing the kneeling bench.

The pads 38 also serve to engage the inside of the cornpartment 39 of the cabinet, in which the kneeling bench 11 may be nested; and the other smaller bench 30 for children is adapted to be received in the upper compartment Ztl, as shown in FIG. 7.

41B indicates a fabric covering for the top of the cabinet, which is removable to be cleaned.

The smaller kneeling bench 3i) may be of similar construction on a smaller scale and may be used by children when kneeling and placing their hands on the partition 16. In either case the handle pads 3S may be grasped by both hands of the user to enable the arms to assist the user in rising from the bench.

The present kneeling bench is very advantageous for use by elderly people who may have some difficulty in reaching a kneeling position.

FIG. 7 shows a modification in which the benches are nested, one above the other, in separate compartments, while in FIG. 2 the smaller bench 30 is nested in the space below the larger bench 11.

The proportions of the parts may be such, as shown in FIG. 2, that the handle pads 38 engage inside the side walls 12 and 13; and the handle pads 41 on the smaller bench engage below the wall 3d of the larger bench so that all of the parts lit together with the pads preventing any rattling or movement of the component parts during shipment.

The modication of FIG. 7 also shows a different type of back board 42 which is arcuate in shape, and which may be provided with a stained glass or plastic facing having any suitable ornamentation appropriate for a religious article.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a prayer cabinet assembly which is adapted to facilitate the use of its component parts in prayer with maximum physical comfort, and with which the elderly, as well as the young, may assume the proper position without likelihood of injury to the spine.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and l do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A prayer cabinet assembly comprising a kneeling bench having a pair of vertical side walls each having a stable lower edge for supporting the bench on the floor or on a lower partition, the side walls being grooved between their ends horizontally to receive an intermediate supporting partition secured thereto and having a thickly cushioned pad thereon, each of said side walls being capped by a rolled cushion extending from front to back and projecting inwardly and outwardly of said side walls and adapted to engage the inside of a cabinet when nested Itherein, said bench being nested in a lower recess in said cabinet and said bench also receiving a second kneeler bench for children under said partition and provided with rolled padded upper edges and a cushion, and engaging below said partition, said benches being of the same depth from front to back as a recess in said prayer cabinet, and said cabinet having a pair of vertical side walls and a back wall and bottom wall and top wall secured thereto, and an intermediate partition carried by the side walls and forming the front open recess above referred to, and housing the kneeling benches, the said cabinet also having a shelf above said recess and an upper drawer mounted slidably in said cabinet, said bench fitting in said recess having a height at its upper rolled cushions that is suitable for grip by an adult and the cushion thereon being of a suitable height for the user to lower his knees to the cushion while gripping the rolled cushions, which also are used with the hands to rise from the kneeler.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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