U.S. patent application number 10/623619 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for water-shedding indoor wall mounted cabinet.
Invention is credited to Mistry, Mahesh Balu, Pedoeem, Albert, Roccoberton, Todd.
Application Number | 20050017610 10/623619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34079826 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050017610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mistry, Mahesh Balu ; et
al. |
January 27, 2005 |
Water-shedding indoor wall mounted cabinet
Abstract
A wall-mounted cabinet has two components. The first, a back
portion, is fixedly connected to a wall, and the second, a cover
portion, is pivotally and detachably connected to the second. A
vent is formed in the top of the cover portion, but in a manner
that does not permit water to enter but does permit heated air
generated from with the cabinet to exit. In order to accomplish
this, a water-diverting plate is provided on the back portion. The
plate is oriented to extend across the width of the vent at an
angle, so that water entering the vent is directed towards a gap
formed between the wall and the outer surface of the back
portion.
Inventors: |
Mistry, Mahesh Balu;
(Parsippany, NJ) ; Roccoberton, Todd; (Franklin
Lakes, NJ) ; Pedoeem, Albert; (West Orange,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SWIDLER BERLIN SHEREFF FRIEDMAN, LLP
3000 K STREET, NW
BOX IP
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Family ID: |
34079826 |
Appl. No.: |
10/623619 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/245 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02B 1/40 20130101; H04Q
1/021 20130101; H02B 1/28 20130101; H04Q 2201/08 20130101; H04Q
2201/06 20130101; H05K 5/0213 20130101; H04Q 1/035 20130101; H04Q
1/114 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/245 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wall-mounted cabinet comprising: a first component adapted to
be fixedly mounted on a vertical interior wall; a second component
detachably and pivotally connected to the first component, and
being pivotally movable between a first, closed position and a
second, detached position; an interior space formed by the first
and second components when disposed in the first, closed position;
venting means for venting air from the interior space; diverting
means, disposed in spaced relation to the venting means, for
diverting water passing through the venting means away from the
interior space.
2. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the first
component includes a back wall having an upper end and a lower end,
a bottom wall provided at the lower end of the back wall, and
spacer means formed in the back wall to maintain the back wall of
the first component in spaced relation to the vertical interior
wall.
3. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the second
component includes a front wall, two opposite side walls and a top
wall, wherein the top wall has a rearward longitudinal edge, and
wherein the vent means is a gap formed between the rearward
longitudinal edge of the top wall and the upper end of the back
wall of the first component.
4. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the
diverter means is an angled plate formed along the upper end of the
back wall of the first component, and extending substantially the
length of the gap.
5. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 4, wherein the angled
plate includes a proximal longitudinal edge connected to the upper
end of the back wall of the first component, and a distal
longitudinal edge extending upwardly relative to the upper end of
the back plate at an angle.
6. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the spacer
means comprises a plurality of protrusions formed in the back wall
of the first component, each having an opening for receiving
fastener means adapted to be anchored in the vertical interior
wall, the protrusions forming a space between the vertical interior
wall and the back wall of the first component.
7. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 6, wherein the angle
of the angled plate is selected to cause water entering the gap to
flow by gravity towards the space between the back wall of the
first component and the back wall of the vertical interior
wall.
8. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising
a latch adapted to hold the first and second components in the
closed position.
9. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising
a detachable pivot structure having a first portion disposed in
either of the first and second components, and a second
complementary portion disposed in the other of the first and second
components.
10. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the first
portion is a pair of mounting brackets disposed at an upper portion
of the first component, and the second portion is a pair of pivot
pins disposed at an upper portion of the second component.
11. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 10, wherein each
mounting bracket includes a horizontally disposed upper edge and a
notch formed in each upper edge, wherein the pivot pins are
received in the notches of corresponding mounting brackets.
12. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 11, wherein the
second component includes a front wall, opposite side walls and a
top wall, the top wall having a rearward edge, and wherein the
venting means comprises a gap formed between the rearward edge of
the top wall and a surface of the interior wall, and the second
component is pivotal about a first axis associated with the pivot
pins, about a second axis corresponding to a point of contact
between the rearward edge of the top wall and the upper edges of
the mounting brackets, and is translatable after pivotal motion
about the second axis.
13. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 12, wherein each
mounting bracket includes a cut-away corner which forms an angled
edge.
14. A cabinet comprising: a back portion fixedly connectable to a
wall; a cover portion cooperating with the back portion to form an
interior space and being detachably connected to the back portion;
a hinge structure having a first component connected to one of the
back portion and the cover portion and a second, complementary
component connected to the other of the back portion and the cover
portion; a vent formed in the cover portion; and a water-diverting
plate juxtaposed the vent and being disposed on the back
portion.
15. A cabinet according to claim 14, wherein the hinge structure
includes a pair of mounting brackets formed on opposite sides of
the back portion, and a pivot pin engaging each of the mounting
brackets.
16. A cabinet according to claim 15, wherein each mounting bracket
includes a horizontally disposed upper edge, and a notch formed in
each corresponding upper edge, and wherein each pivot pin is
engaged by the notch of each corresponding mounting bracket.
17. A cabinet according to claim 15, wherein the vent comprises a
gap formed between the cover portion and the wall.
18. A cabinet according to claim 17, wherein the water-diverting
plate is formed on the back portion and extends upwardly across a
width of the gap.
19. A cabinet according to claim 15, further comprising a spacer
system for maintaining the back portion in a position spaced from
the wall.
20. A cabinet according to claim 19, wherein the spacer system
includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from a rear
surface of the back portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to indoor wall
mounted cabinets, and more particularly, to cabinets that have
ventilation and water shedding features. Such features are
particularly appropriate for use in housing sensitive electrical
and/or electro-mechanical components, such as those frequently
found in the telecommunications field.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] In many office buildings today it is common for a business
entity to have a room where sensitive network hardware, computers,
telephone lines and switches are located. These rooms are usually
windowless and located in less desirable locations of a floor plan.
They can also contain fuse or breaker boxes and transformers
providing electrical service to the building, floor of the
building, or portion of a floor. Such rooms are generally kept
locked to thus deny access to the general workforce.
[0003] For rooms which contain principally or exclusively
telecommunications equipment, access may be restricted to
technicians employed by the company providing telecommunications
services to the business. These are often the Regional Bell
Operating Companies (RBOCs) but could be any number of non-Bell
telecommunications providers. However, any given room may be
accessed by computer technicians working for one or more computer
service companies, telecommunications technicians working for one
or more telecommunications service providers, and/or
electricians.
[0004] The ambient conditions in these rooms can vary, but in
general, conditions range from heated and air conditioned, to
non-heated and non-air conditioned. Thus, while many of these
"equipment" rooms may approximate the temperature and humidity
levels of the worker workspace of the building, it is also possible
that the temperature and humidity levels can vary approximately
with outdoor ambient conditions. In any event, variations of
temperature within the room, and differential temperatures between
equipment, flooring, and the air, can produce condensation which,
if allowed to be in contact with the equipment, could cause
electrical shorts and/or other equipment failure.
[0005] It is generally known to provide wall-mounted cabinets to
house electrical, computer and/or telecommunications equipment. The
known cabinets can serve many purposes. For example a locked
cabinet, or breaker box, can keep non-authorized personnel from
accessing electrical equipment, thus avoiding accidental electrical
shock. Breaker boxes typically have piano-type, vertically oriented
hinges supporting a door and no upper ventilation holes (although
punch-outs used to admit wiring through the top will inherently
provide some ventilation).
[0006] Telecommunications equipment, such as optical communications
gear, will generate heat which needs to be ventilated simply and
cost effectively. The most cost effective and simple way to vent
heat is to provide perforations in the upper surface of the cabinet
so that heat rising naturally via convection escapes through the
upper surface perforations. However, while allowing expulsion of
heat, the perforations can also provide an entrance for water, for
example, from a dripping fire sprinkler system, a leaking roof, or
condensation forming above the cabinet. Water admitted from such
sources could cause adverse effects on the optical communications
equipment.
[0007] Equipment rooms may have limited space within which
technicians can work, and thus, hinged doors or housings which are
fully coupled to a main cabinet box may create problems of space.
For example, a piano-hinged door may be opened to gain access to a
cabinet, but the hinged door may swing into contact with other
electrical equipment or connections, thus creating a health risk to
the technician.
[0008] A need exists for an equipment cabinet that allows the
interior of the cabinet to ventilate heat while at the same time
keeping water from entering the interior. A solution that fulfills
this need will naturally be constrained by the important goal of
maintaining the relatively inexpensive nature of equipment cabinets
that follows from a desire for simplicity in design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by
providing a wall-mounted cabinet having a front surface, at least
two side surfaces and a top surface collectively defining an
interior space, means for fixedly mounting the cabinet in a
position on but spaced from a wall, a vent located at an upper
portion of the cabinet, and a water-deflecting plate located in
proximity to the vent, and being adapted to prevent ingress of
water into the interior of the cabinet while permitting egress of
heat from the interior of the cabinet.
[0010] The cabinet is preferably of rectangular shape and includes
a front wall, two opposite side walls, a bottom wall, and a top
wall. The walls are preferably planar, define an interior space for
housing electrical components, such as telecommunications
equipment. The walls are preferably solid sheet metal panels of the
type that can be readily stamped, bent or otherwise shaped as
desired. Other materials and forming methods can be employed to
construct the cabinet.
[0011] As will be described in greater detail below, the bottom
wall is preferably associated with a stationary, wall mounting
component of the cabinet, while the other walls are associated with
a pivotally movable cover component. The top wall has no
perforations and thus prevents water from dripping into the
interior of the cabinet.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
wall-mounted cabinet having a first component adapted to be fixedly
mounted on a vertical interior wall, a second component detachably
and pivotally connected to the first component, and being pivotally
movable between a first, closed position and a second, detached
position, an interior space formed by the first and second
components when disposed in the first, closed position, venting
means for venting air from the interior space, and diverting means,
disposed in spaced relation to the venting means, for diverting
water passing through the venting means away from the interior
space.
[0013] Preferably, the first component includes a back wall having
an upper end and a lower end, a bottom wall provided at the lower
end of the back wall, and spacer means formed in the back wall to
maintain the back wall of the first component in spaced relation to
the vertical interior wall. The second component preferably
includes a front wall, two opposite side walls and a top wall,
wherein the top wall has a rearward longitudinal edge, and wherein
the vent means is a gap formed between the rearward longitudinal
edge of the top wall and the upper end of the back wall of the
first component.
[0014] In one embodiment, the diverter means is an angled plate
formed along the upper end of the back wall of the first component,
and extending substantially the length of the gap, the angled
plate. The angled plate may include a proximal longitudinal edge
connected to the upper end of the back wall of the first component,
and a distal longitudinal edge extending upwardly relative to the
upper end of the back plate at an angle.
[0015] The spacer means preferably includes a plurality of
protrusions formed in the back wall of the first component, each
having an opening for receiving fastener means adapted to be
anchored in the vertical interior wall. When mounted on the
interior vertical wall, the protrusions form a space between the
vertical interior wall and the back wall of the first component.
The space is open at the top, bottom and sides, so that if water
enters the ventilation gap, the water is diverted towards the space
and may flow by gravity downwardly along the surface of the back
plate facing the opposing surface of the vertical interior wall.
The angle of the angled plate is preferably selected to cause or
facilitate the flow of water entering the gap towards the space
between the back wall of the first component and the back wall of
the vertical interior wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall mounted cabinet
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown
mounted on a wall;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the wall mounted
cabinet of FIG. 1, showing details of the preferred two-part
construction of the cabinet;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first component of the
wall mounted cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing details of the
mounting brackets and water diversion plate;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the wall mounted
cabinet of the previous figures, and showing directional movement
of air and water relative to the cabinet interior, as well as
details of the cooperative connection between the pivot pins of the
second component and the mounting brackets of the first component;
and
[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the connection of the two
components shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a wall mounted cabinet 10 is mounted on
a wall 12. The wall 12 is preferably an interior wall within a room
that is may be designated as an equipment room to contain
electrical, telecommunications, and/or computer equipment. While
the cabinet 10 is preferably located in such a room, it is also
possible that the cabinet is mounted on a wall of other interior
spaces that are less confined and perhaps designated for multiple
uses. It is also possible that the cabinet could be located on a
wall that is semi-enclosed but covered. Thus, the term "interior"
could encompass building structures that are not confined by four
walls, a ceiling and a floor. The term "interior" denotes a space
that is not directly exposed to the elements, although the
preferred location of the cabinet 10 is in an interior space
defined in the traditional sense.
[0022] Moreover, the cabinet 10 of the present invention is
intended to be mounted on a vertical wall, rather than horizontal
or sloping walls. This requirement is to orient the air venting and
water deflecting structures that form a part of the present
invention, the details of which will be more fully described
below.
[0023] The cabinet 10 is preferably rectangular in shape, and
includes a front wall 14, two opposite side walls 16 and 18, a
bottom wall 20, and a top wall 22. The walls are preferably solid
planar panels which define an interior space for housing electrical
components, such as telecommunications equipment. The walls are
preferably solid sheet metal panels of the type that can be readily
stamped, bent or otherwise shaped as desired. Other materials and
forming methods can be employed to construct the cabinet. Moreover,
other shapes can be used, such as curved, rather than planar,
surfaces as would be the case if the side walls were rounded or
curved to blend into the front wall. The depth of the cabinet,
defined by the width of the side walls, top wall and bottom wall,
can vary according to the intended end use of the cabinet; however,
the depth of the illustrated embodiment is intended to accommodate
certain optical telecommunications equipment manufactured by the
assignee herein, and sold under the trademark FLASHWAVE. This
equipment includes heat generating, sensitive electronic components
that mandate that the interior space of the cabinet should be
ventilated (to exhaust heated air) but sheltered to prevent
exposure to water and/or debris, and accidental or inadvertent
disturbance by unauthorized technicians.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the wall-mounted cabinet is preferably
an assembly of two components. The first component 24 is adapted to
be fixedly mounted on a vertical interior wall, such as wall 12
shown in FIG. 1. The first component 24 preferably includes a back
wall 26 having an upper end and a lower end. The bottom wall 20 of
the cabinet is formed at a right angle to the back wall 26, and may
be integrally formed therewith. Thus, the bottom wall 20 and the
back wall 26 may be formed by bending, stamping, or otherwise
shaping a single sheet of metal.
[0025] The upper end of back wall 26 includes a pair of mounting
brackets 28 and 30 formed, connected or otherwise disposed at
opposite sides of the back wall 26. The mounting brackets 28 and 30
may be the upper end portions of thin side panels 32 and 34,
respectively, which may be integrally formed with the back wall
26.
[0026] Other features of the first component may include structures
such as mounting brackets 36, 38 and 40 which can be used to secure
equipment within the cabinet. Also, in a preferred embodiment of
the invention, the back wall is slightly spaced from the interior
vertical wall. In order to provide this spacing, the back wall 26
can be provided with a plurality of protrusions42, 44, 46 and 48,
preferably spaced around the periphery of the back wall 26. The
protrusions extend outwardly from a rear surface of the back wall
26, and may be provided with a central bore for receiving fastening
means.
[0027] When the back wall 26 is made of sheet metal, the
protrusions can be easily formed by stamping. The stamping will
form an indentation on the inside surface of the back wall 26 and a
correspondingly shaped protrusion on the opposite surface of the
back wall 26.
[0028] The fastening means may include threaded fasteners 50 (only
one for protrusion 44 being illustrated) with or without washers
52. Each fastener 50 passes through the central bore of each
corresponding protrusion and engages the wall 12 either by means of
threads engaging the wall, or by a nut or other cooperative
fastener device threadedly engaging the distal end of the fastener
50. Other fasteners and fastener means, and spacer means can be
used, including nails, screws, bolts, rivets, or virtually any
other means that can fixedly couple the first component 24 to the
vertical interior wall of the room with a space formed
therebetween. The space, formed by the outer surface of the
vertical interior wall and the outer surface of the back wall 26,
is open at least at the top and bottom, so that water can enter the
space at the top and exit the space at the bottom, without entering
the interior of the cabinet.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 3, the first component has a plate 58 formed
at the upper end of the back wall 26. The plate 58 functions to
divert water entering the top of the cabinet to the vertical wall,
to thus flow by gravity down the wall and away from the interior of
the cabinet. The plate 58 extends outwardly relative to the back
wall 26 and upwardly relative to the vertical interior wall. The
preferred angle of the plate 58 can be selected to encourage
gravity flow of water along its outer surface. As illustrated, the
angle is approximately 45 degrees.
[0030] The plate 58 can be easily formed by bending the upper end
of the back plate at the desired angle, thus forming a plate that
is integrally formed with the back wall. However, the plate 58
could be separately formed and attached to the upper end of the
back wall 26.
[0031] As further seen in FIG. 3, each of the mounting brackets 28
and 30 includes a flat upper, horizontally oriented upper edge 60
and 62, respectively, and each upper edge has a notch 64 and 66
respectively formed therein. The notches and upper surfaces of the
brackets play an important role in forming the detachable, pivotal
connection between the first component and the second
component.
[0032] A second component 54 is pivotally and detachably connected
to the first component 24, and includes the front wall 14 of the
cabinet, the side walls 16 (not visible in FIG. 2) and 18, and the
top wall 22. These walls, in the preferred embodiment, are flat
metal panels that are bent, shaped or otherwise formed of sheet
metal. However, they could be formed by connecting individual
panels to each other. In general, the first component 54 forms a
cover that includes a substantially horizontally oriented top wall
22 that has no perforations for venting heated air from an interior
space within the cabinet.
[0033] The brackets 28 and 30 are used to form a pivotal and
detachable connection between the first component 24 and the second
component 54, as will be described in more detail below. In
general, the second component 54 is detachably and pivotally
connected to the first component, and is pivotally movable between
a first, closed position and a second, detached position. A feature
of the invention is that the cover or second component is lifted by
a technician and caused to rotate upwardly through a limited range
of angular motion. Afterwards, the pivotal connection is released
and the cover is separated from the first component, and can be
conveniently placed in an out-of-the-way location, such as on the
floor below the cabinet resting against the interior wall of the
room.
[0034] When the first and second components are in the closed
position, as seen in FIG. 1, an interior space is formed by, and
between, the first and second components. This interior space is
preferably ventilated to expel heat but the ventilation means does
not allow entry of water. This is accomplished according to the
present invention using venting means for venting air from the
interior space, and diverting means, disposed in spaced relation to
the venting means, for diverting water passing through the venting
means away from the interior space.
[0035] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet may include louvers 56
which provide a venting function, but the louvers are optional, and
are not intended to form part of the present invention. Indeed,
because of the venting features of the present invention,
conventional louver-type vents can be avoided. The conventional
louver 56 consists of a slot-like opening having a dome or
protrusion above the opening to keep water from entering. When
using stamped metal parts, the louvers 56 can be integrally formed
with the panels on which they are formed, such as the front wall 14
and the side walls 16 and 18.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 4, the cabinet 12 is seen mounted on
the wall 10, which is preferably vertically oriented and within a
room or space of a building designated for electrical, computer or
telecommunications equipment. The cover component 54 includes a
pair of pivot pins 68, one mounted on the interior of each of the
side walls 16 and 18 in an upper portion thereof, near the top wall
22. Each pin mates respectively with notches 64 and 66 so that in
the closed position, the weight of the cabinet cover, or second
component 54, is supported by the mounting brackets 28 and 30.
[0037] In the closed position, a gap 70 is formed between the outer
surface of the wall 10 and an inner, longitudinal edge of the top
wall 22. The width of the gap 70, shown by the broken lines in FIG.
4, is thus the distance between the surface of wall 12 and the edge
of the top wall 22. The length of the gap 70 corresponds to the
length of the top wall 22, which is the same as the bottom wall and
the front wall. The width of the gap 70 also corresponds to the
difference between the width of the side walls 16 and 18 and the
width of the top wall 22.
[0038] As shown by directional arrow "A" heated air created by
heat-generating components (not shown) to be mounted in the cabinet
rises and passes through the gap 70. The gap thus has an advantage
over louvers in that the gap 70 is an opening above, and thus, in
more direct fluid communication with, the heat sources.
[0039] While the gap 70 provides the advantages noted above, there
would otherwise be a tendency for water to enter from above into
the interior of the cabinet. The plate 58 thus prevents water from
entering the cabinet 12 by extending from the back wall 26 upwardly
and outwardly, across the width of the gap 70 to deflect any water
from entering the gap 70 to flow along the outer surface of the
plate 58, towards the gap 72 formed between the outer surface of
the wall 12 and the outer, opposing surface of the back wall 26.
The gap 72 is open at the top and bottom so that water passing
through the gap by gravity can exit the gap at the bottom and not
accumulate anywhere in the vicinity of the cabinet. Water flow is
generally indicated by the directional arrows of FIG. 4 pointed in
the downward direction.
[0040] A latch 74 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 14
to secure the second component 54 in the closed position shown in
FIG. 4. The latch is preferably provided with a lock to prevent
unauthorized or accidental access to the interior of the
cabinet.
[0041] The detachable and pivotal connection between the two
components will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. Pivot
pins 68 extends radially inwardly from the inner surfaces of
respective side walls 16 and 18, and may be fixedly connected to
these surfaces via any suitable means, including interference fit
within a corresponding mounting hole, riveting, welding, or other
boding means. Alternatively, there could be a single pivot rod that
extends from one side wall to the other, each opposite end being
secured to the side walls. The pins 68 (or rod) rest in the notches
64 and 66 as described previously to permit rotation or pivoting
motion about an axis "X".; The axis X is substantially horizontally
oriented, parallel to the front and back walls, and perpendicular
to the side walls 16 and 18. In the closed position, the top wall
22 is substantially parallel to the upper edges 60 and 62 of the
mounting brackets 28 and 30. Each mounting bracket, such as bracket
30 (FIG. 5) has a cut-away corner defined by an angled edge 76
which extends between the top wall 22 and the rearward edge 78 of
the side wall 18. In the closed position, the inward, longitudinal
edge 80 of the top wall 22 is spaced from the upper edge 62 of the
mounting bracket 30.
[0042] Someone seeking access to the interior of the cabinet would
first unlock the latch 74, and then pull the second component
outwardly from the wall 12. This pulling force will cause the
second component 54 to pivot through an angle "P" until the
longitudinal edge 80 of the top wall 22 abuts the upper edge 62 of
the mounting bracket 30. At this point, further pulling force
causes the second component to pivot about a new pivot axis,
defined as the point where the longitudinal edge 80 abuts the upper
edge 62. As the second component 54 pivots about this new pivot
axis, the pivot pins 68 begin to slide upwardly along the angled
surface 68A of the respective notches 64 and 66. When the pins
reach the upper edges 60 and 62, they separate from the notches and
the second component can be lifted away from the first component.
Once separated, the second component can be place on the floor, out
of the way of the service technician, engineer or other authorized
personnel who need access to the interior of the cabinet.
[0043] The initial angular motion, manifest by rotation about axis
X, is necessary to separate the latch 74 from its complementary
components mounted on the bottom wall 20, or simply to separate the
bottom wall from the front wall. Moreover, features of the side
walls 16, 18 at their lower ends may cooperate with features of the
side panels 32 and 34 at their lower ends, or the bottom wall 20,
to provide a snug fit when the two components 24 and 54 are in the
closed position. The initial rotation or pivotal movement allows
separation of these features.
[0044] To reassemble the two components, the cover component
(second component 54) is positioned with the lower end portion held
outwardly at a slight angle from the wall as the pins 68 are place
in the notches 64, 66. Once the pins engage the notches, the lower
end of the cover component can be rotated towards the wall 12 until
the latch 74 is engaged.
[0045] It can thus be seen that in the closed position, the plate
58 is positioned to deflect any water entering the gap 70 towards
the gap 72 and away from the interior of the cabinet. The hinge
arrangement described herein is intended to allow opening of a
cabinet partially by pivotal movement and partially by
translational movement, the latter occurring as the cover is lifted
away once the pivot pins separate from the notches. It is also
within the scope of the invention to provide detachable connection
that does not interfere with a heat emitting gap or vent and a
water deflecting plate which is disposed in proximity to the vent.
This is accomplished by providing the aforementioned compound
motion: first pivotal movement about a first pivot axis, second
pivotal movement about a second pivot axis and then translational
movement once the complementary pivotal structures, i.e., the
notches 64, 66 and the pivot pins 68, separate from each other.
[0046] From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the
pertinent art will recognize that while the invention has been
described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof,
numerous modifications, changes and substitution of equivalents may
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this
invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing
descriptions of a preferred embodiment except as may appear from
the following claims.
* * * * *