U.S. patent application number 10/804985 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for suspendable locker.
This patent application is currently assigned to Snap-on Incorporated. Invention is credited to Landree, John J, Parise, Jack A.
Application Number | 20050035696 10/804985 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34134618 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050035696 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parise, Jack A ; et
al. |
February 17, 2005 |
Suspendable Locker
Abstract
The suspendable locker has a plurality of side walls and a top
wall interconnected to define an interior space. The suspendable
locker has an open bottom leaving the interior space exposed from
below. A door is hingedly connected to a side wall to provide an
access opening into the interior space along a side at the bottom
so a cart can be rolled into and from the interior space. An
attachment structure for suspending the locker from a storage
cabinet is connected to a side wall. The attachment structure
includes a pair of L-shaped flanges connected to an exterior
surface of a side wall. The L-shaped flanges engage a lip on a tool
storage cabinet, enabling the suspendable locker to be cantilevered
from the storage cabinet.
Inventors: |
Parise, Jack A; (Kenosha,
WI) ; Landree, John J; (Kenosha, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEYFARTH SHAW
55 EAST MONROE STREET
SUITE 4200
CHICAGO
IL
60603-5803
|
Assignee: |
Snap-on Incorporated
10801 Corporate Drive
Kenosha
WI
53140
|
Family ID: |
34134618 |
Appl. No.: |
10/804985 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10804985 |
Mar 22, 2004 |
|
|
|
09/750,976 |
Jan 2, 2001 |
|
|
|
6719384 |
Apr 13, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/249.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/00 20130101; A47B
81/06 20130101; A47B 31/00 20130101; A47B 87/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/249.9 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/00; A47B
043/00 |
Claims
What is Claimed is:
1. A method of securing tools removed form a lockable cabinet and
placed on a rolling cart without removing the tools from the cart,
comprising: Providing on an outside of the cabinet an open-bottom
locker with a side-access doorway at a bottom thereof closable by a
lockable door, Opening the door, Rolling the cart with the tools
thereon into the locker through the doorway, and Closing and
locking the door.
2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising opening the door
and removing the cart with the tools thereon so that work can be
resumed with the tools undisturbed.
3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising providing rollers
on the cabinet and moving the cabinet when the cart is in the
locker so that the cart follows the cabinet.
4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising providing a
retractable shelf in the cabinet and a storing device on the shelf
and retracting the shelf with the device thereon when the door is
open.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes
attaching the locker to a support.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the support is a cabinet.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the attaching includes suspending
the locker on the support by means of a hook-like flange and
securing the locker to the support by extending fasteners through
openings in a wall of the locker.
8. A method of securing tools removed from a lockable cabinet and
placed on a rolling cart without removing the tools from the cart
comprising: Providing on an outside of the cabinet an open-bottom
locker with side walls and a side-access doorway at a bottom
thereof closable by a lockable door, wherein each side wall has at
least one reinforcing structural support, Guarding the structural
supports by providing structure coupled thereto and projecting
laterally inwardly therefrom, Attaching the locker to the cabinet
by means of a hook-like flange and fasteners extending through
openings in a wall of the cabinet, Opening the door, Rolling the
cart with the tools thereon into the locker through the doorway,
and Closing and locking the door.
9. A method of providing a tool at a job site, the method
comprising the steps of: Providing a tool cabinet for securing a
tool, and a locker connected with the tool cabinet having an
interior space, an open bottom to facilitate movement of an object
into and out of the interior space, and an opening providing access
to the interior space; Associating a tool with the object; and
Moving the object into and out of the interior space.
10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the object is a cart,
the method comprising the steps of: Placing a tool on the cart;
Moving the cart and the tool about the job site; and Placing the
cart and the tool in the interior space.
11. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the locker includes a
door having a lock and movable to a closed position covering the
opening, the method further comprising the steps of: Locking the
lock when the door is in its closed position; and Unlocking the
lock when the door is in its closed position.
Description
Detailed Description of the Invention
Background
[0001] This is a division of U.S. patent application serial no.
09/750,976, filed January 2, 2001, entitled "Suspendable
Locker."
[0002] The subject matter of this application relates to storage
devices. More particularly, this application relates to a
suspendable locker adapted to be coupled to a wall of a storage
cabinet.
[0003] Large rolling tool cabinets are often used to secure tools
which are kept at a job site. These tool cabinets may be placed at
a central location in order to be easily accessible to those who
use the tools. These tool cabinets are often heavily laden with
tools, or other work articles, so it is often impractical to roll
them to a particular work site. Consequently, small rolling carts
are often employed to transport articles to the work site and back.
At the end of the workday, the articles are removed from the
rolling cart and placed back into the tool cabinet and secured.
[0004] Often it is desirable for mechanics and workmen to leave
work pieces, equipment, or tools on a rolling cart undisturbed at
the end of a work period, so that they may more easily continue
their work where they left off the next period. Also, loading and
unloading tools and other articles onto and off of the rolling cart
can be quite time consuming, and sometimes objects will not readily
fit into a tool cabinet. As a result, equipment and tools are often
left on rolling carts unsecured.
[0005] Tool cabinets also usually cannot adequately store and
secure computers, and are often too dirty an environment to keep
paperwork. It is sometimes beneficial to have a computer and
paperwork near a tool cabinet. Workmen and mechanics sometimes
utilize computers to assist them at their jobs, and they almost
always have paperwork to fill out and store. Since tool cabinets
are not particularly adapted to store them, computers and paperwork
are commonly stored elsewhere, sometimes making them less
accessible.
Summary
[0006] Generally, this application relates to a suspendable locker
adapted to be coupled to a wall of a storage cabinet, which avoids
the disadvantages of the prior art while affording additional
structural and operational advantages.
[0007] An important feature is the provision of a locker which is
capable of being suspended from a side wall of a storage
cabinet.
[0008] Another important feature is the provision of a locker which
can secure a rolling cart.
[0009] Another important feature is the provision of a suspendable
locker capable of storing a computer and/or paperwork.
[0010] In connection with the foregoing features, yet another
feature is the provision of a method for the storage of tools and
other articles.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the
subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of
which, when considered in connection with the following
description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its
construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be
readily understood and appreciated.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspendable locker
attached to a tool cabinet.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the
embodiment in FIG. 1 with the locker door open to reveal underlying
structure therein.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment in
FIG. 2 with the retractable shelf retracted and cart partially
withdrawn from the locker.
Detailed Description
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the suspendable
locker, referred to generally by the numeral 10, is shown suspended
from a tool cabinet 20 with a rolling cart 21 stored in the locker.
The suspendable locker 10 is cantilevered above a floor, enabling
it to be rolled around with the tool cabinet 20.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the suspendable locker 10 has a
plurality of side walls 11 and a top wall 13 interconnected to
define an open-bottom interior space. A door 12 is hingedly
connected to a side wall to provide an access opening into the
interior space along a side. An attachment structure for suspending
the locker from a storage cabinet is connected to a side wall
11.
[0017] The suspendable locker 10 has an open bottom leaving the
interior space exposed from below. The absence of a bottom enables
the suspendable locker 10 to secure therein the rolling cart 21 or
other objects which rest on the floor and are not removable through
the open bottom.
[0018] In an embodiment of the suspendable locker 10, the
attachment structure includes a pair of L-shaped flanges 19. Each
L-shaped flange 19 is connected to an exterior surface of a side
wall 11 and engages a lip on the tool storage cabinet 20, enabling
the suspendable locker 10 to be cantilevered from the storage
cabinet 20. The L-shaped flanges 19 are one means for suspending
the suspendable locker 10 from a tool storage cabinet 20, and are
not meant to be construed as a limitation thereof. There are other
means available which can be utilized instead of the L-shaped
flange 19 to suspend the suspendable locker 10 from the tool
cabinet 20. Referring to FIG. 2, the attachment structure can also
include fasteners 18 extending through corresponding apertures in
the side wall 11 and the tool storage cabinet 20.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one shelf 14 is
suspended within the interior space, connected to the side walls
11. The shelves can be vertically or horizontally aligned depending
on the application. In one embodiment, a shelf 15 is retractable,
enabling the shelf to extend outwardly from within the interior
space. It is contemplated that a computer and keyboard is placed on
the retractable shelf 15, enabling such device to be accessible to
a user when the shelf is fully extended, but still securable within
the suspendable locker 10 when the shelf is retracted.
[0020] Reinforcing channels 16, extend across interior lower
surfaces of the side walls 11, providing additional structural
support to the side walls. A plurality of bumper guards 24 can be
mounted on the reinforcing channels to protect the side walls from
damage.
[0021] It is contemplated that the suspendable locker 10 is coupled
to a rolling tool cabinet 20, and is transported with the rolling
tool cabinet 20. The suspendable locker 10 would provide a place in
which to store paperwork, a computer, and a rolling cart 21. One of
the major benefits of the suspendable locker 10 is that the rolling
cart 21 can be easily secured with tools, equipment, and other
articles stored thereon. The rolling cart 21 is secured simply by
rolling it through the doorway of the suspendable locker 10 into
the interior space, and locking the door behind it. Prior to the
suspendable locker 10, tools or equipment were either left
unsecured on the rolling cart 21 with the tools and articles
thereon, or else they were removed from the rolling cart 21 and
stored overnight in the tool cabinet 20 and placed back onto the
rolling cart the next day.
[0022] The matter set forth in the foregoing description and
accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and
not as a limitation. While an embodiment has been shown and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without deporting from the
broader aspects of applicants` contribution. The actual scope of
the protection sought in intended to be defined in the following
claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior
art.
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