U.S. patent application number 11/729812 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for steel cabinet and locker.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lyon Workspace Products, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Li Yun Geng.
Application Number | 20080238277 11/729812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39793075 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080238277 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Geng; Li Yun |
October 2, 2008 |
Steel cabinet and locker
Abstract
A storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section
with a first side edge and a second section attached to the first
section and having a second side edge. A first sidewall is attached
to the first side edge and a second sidewall is attached the second
side edge. A top wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls
and rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is attached to
the first and second sidewalls and rear wall at bottom ends
thereof. At least two of the first section, the second section, the
first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first door and the second
door have a uniform size and shape. A plurality of attachment
structures interconnect the first and second sections, the first
and second sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door
and the second door without the use of tools.
Inventors: |
Geng; Li Yun; (Zhejiang,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEYFARTH SHAW LLP
131 S. DEARBORN ST., SUITE 2400
CHICAGO
IL
60603-5803
US
|
Assignee: |
Lyon Workspace Products,
L.L.C.
|
Family ID: |
39793075 |
Appl. No.: |
11/729812 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 47/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/326 |
International
Class: |
A47B 47/02 20060101
A47B047/02 |
Claims
1. A storage cabinet comprising: a rear wall including a first
section having a first side edge and a second section attached to
the first section and having a second side edge; a first sidewall
attached to the first side edge of said rear wall; a second
sidewall attached the second side edge of said rear wall; a top
wall attached to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall
at upper ends thereof; a bottom wall attached to said first and
second sidewalls and said rear wall at bottom ends thereof; a first
door pivotably attached said first sidewall; and a second door
pivotably attached to said second sidewall, said first and second
doors each being movable between an open position and a closed
position; at least two of said first section, said second section,
said first sidewall, said second sidewall, said first door and said
second door having a uniform size and shape; and a plurality of
attachment structures separably interconnecting said first and
second sections, said first and second sidewalls, said top wall,
said bottom wall, said first door and said second door without the
use of tools.
2. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the attachment
structures include a tab on at least one of the first and second
sections and a recess on the other of said first and second
sections for receiving the tab, and wherein the first section and
second section are attached together by inserting said tab into
said recess to secure the first and second sections together.
3. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the
first or second door to be locked in the closed position.
4. The storage cabinet of claim 3, wherein the lock assembly
includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the
handle on the inside surface of the door, each of the lock members
includes an end which is insertable into a corresponding opening
defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.
5. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the attachment
structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on
the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to
secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.
6. The storage cabinet of claim 5, wherein the attachment
structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on
the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to
secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.
7. The storage cabinet of claim 1, which includes a plurality of
shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, wherein at
least one of said first and second sidewalls defines an opening,
and wherein the post is insertable into the opening.
8. A storage cabinet comprising: a rear wall including a first
section having a first side edge and a second section attached to
the first section and having a second side edge, one of said first
and second sections including at least one tab and said other of
said first and second sections including at least one recess, said
tab being adapted to engage said recess to join said first and
second sections together; a first sidewall attached to the first
side edge of said rear wall; a second sidewall attached to the
second side edge of said rear wall; a top wall attached said first
and second sidewalls and said rear wall at upper ends thereof; a
bottom wall attached to said first and second sidewalls and said
rear wall at bottom ends thereof; an adjustable shelf removably
connected to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall; a
first door pivotably connected to said first sidewall; a second
door pivotably connected to said second sidewall and positioned
adjacent to said first door, wherein said first and second doors
each pivot from an open position to a closed position; at least one
of said first and second doors including a lock assembly; and at
least one of said first and second doors including a handle
pull.
9. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein at least one of the
first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables said
first or second door to be locked in position.
10. The storage cabinet of claim 9, wherein the lock assembly
includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the
handle, wherein an end of each of the lock members engages an
opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.
11. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein the attachment
structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on
the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to
secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.
12. The storage cabinet of claim 11, wherein the attachment
structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on
the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to
secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.
13. The storage cabinet of claim 8, which includes a plurality of
shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, wherein at
least one of said first and second sidewalls defines an opening,
and wherein the post is insertable into the opening.
14. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein said handle pull
extends from the top of said first or second door to the bottom of
said first or second door.
15. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein said handle pull
extends from a point beneath the top of said first or second door
to a point above the bottom of said first or second door.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Storage units such as cabinets or lockers are used for many
different purposes and can be used to store a variety of items.
These cabinets come in many different sizes and shapes to
accommodate different sized and shaped items.
[0002] Storage cabinets, such as metal cabinets and lockers, may be
sold and shipped preassembled or disassembled. Preassembled
cabinets require little or no assembly and can be moved directly
from a shipping vehicle to a desired location. However, these
cabinets take up more space in the shipping vehicle and may be more
difficult and cumbersome to move depending on the size and shape of
the preassembled cabinet. Disassembled cabinets can be condensed
into smaller shipping packages than the preassembled cabinets. The
disassembled cabinets therefore take up less space on a shipping
vehicle so that more disassembled cabinets can be shipped per
vehicle than preassembled cabinets. Furthermore, disassembled
cabinets are generally easier to move than the preassembled
cabinets. Disassembled cabinets require assembly after they have
been shipped which could take a significant amount of time. Also,
disassembled cabinets include separate parts, such as screws, bolts
and nuts, which can be easily lost or misplaced during assembly of
the cabinets. In such a case, the cabinets cannot be put together
and must be returned to the shipper as damaged or defective goods.
This adds to the costs of these types of cabinets. Additionally,
tools are needed to fasten or tighten the fasteners. This increases
the time and effort used to assemble the cabinets, especially if
such tools are not readily available.
[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for improved cabinets and
lockers which significantly decrease assembly time and decrease the
costs associated with shipping and assembling storage cabinets.
SUMMARY
[0004] The application is directed to cabinets and more
specifically, to a storage cabinet which is assembled without
threaded or permanent connectors or other connectors which would
require the use of tools, to enable the cabinet to be easily
shipped and assembled by an end user.
[0005] An embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a rear
wall having a first section having a first side edge and a second
section attached to the first section and having a second side
edge. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge of the
rear wall; and a second sidewall is attached the second side edge
of the rear wall. A top wall is attached to the first and second
sidewalls and the rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is
attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at
bottom ends thereof. A first door is pivotably attached the first
sidewall and a second door is pivotably attached to the second
sidewall. The first and second doors each being movable between an
open position and a closed position. At least two of the first
section, the second section, the first sidewall, the second
sidewall, the first door and the second door having a uniform size
and shape. A plurality of attachment structures separably
interconnecting the first and second sections, the first and second
sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door and the
second door without the use of tools.
[0006] In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a tab on
at least one of the first and second sections and a recess on the
other of the first and second sections for receiving the tab. The
first section and second section are attached together by inserting
the tab into the recess to secure the first and second sections
together.
[0007] In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors
includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to
be locked in the closed position.
[0008] In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a
pair of lock members extending from the handle on the inside
surface of the door, each of the lock members includes an end which
is insertable into a corresponding opening defined by the top wall
and the bottom wall.
[0009] In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange
on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with
the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and
the rear wall together.
[0010] In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange
on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable
with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second
sidewall and the rear wall together.
[0011] In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality
of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at
least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and
where the post is insertable into the opening.
[0012] Another embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a
rear wall having a first section having a first side edge and a
second section attached to the first section and having a second
side edge. One of the first and second sections includes at least
one tab and the other of the first and second sections includes at
least one recess. The tab is adapted to engage the recess to join
the first and second sections together. A first sidewall is
attached to the first side edge of the rear wall and a second
sidewall is attached to the second side edge of the rear wall. A
top wall is attached the first and second sidewalls and the rear
wall at upper ends thereof and a bottom wall is attached to the
first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at bottom ends
thereof. An adjustable shelf is removably connected to the first
and second sidewalls and the rear wall. A first door is pivotably
connected to the first sidewall and a second door is pivotably
connected to the second sidewall and positioned adjacent to the
first door, where the first and second doors each pivot from an
open position to a closed position. At least one of the first and
second doors includes a lock assembly and at least one of the first
and second doors includes a handle pull.
[0013] In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors
includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to
be locked in position.
[0014] In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a
pair of lock members extending from the handle, where an end of
each of the lock members engages an opening defined by the top wall
and the bottom wall.
[0015] In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange
on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with
the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and
the rear wall together.
[0016] In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange
on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable
with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second
sidewall and the rear wall together.
[0017] In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality
of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at
least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and
where the post is insertable into the opening.
[0018] In an embodiment, the handle pull extends from the top of
the first or second door to the bottom of the first or second
door.
[0019] in an embodiment, the handle pull extends from a point
beneath the top of the first or second door to a point above the
bottom of the first or second door.
[0020] Accordingly, an advantage is to provide a cabinet that can
be easily assembled and disassembled.
[0021] Another advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be
assembled without using connectors.
[0022] A further advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be
shipped as separate components to save shipping space and easily
assembled by an end user.
[0023] Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from
the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to
like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
storage cabinet where the storage cabinet includes two doors.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a reduced, exploded perspective view of the
storage cabinet of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a reduced, partially exploded perspective view of
the storage cabinet of FIG. 1 where one of the doors is
detached.
[0027] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front perspective view of a
tab of one wall section engaged with a recess of another wall
section forming the rear wall of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of the
storage cabinet of FIG. 1 showing the joined flanges of one of the
side walls and the rear wall.
[0029] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a
shelf clip used to support a shelf positioned in the storage
cabinet of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of one of the
door pins that secures the ends of the first and second doors of
the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a partial front perspective view of the lock
assembly attached to one of the first and second doors of the
storage cabinet of FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a key
inserted into the lock assembly of FIG. 8.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of
the storage cabinet.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment
of the storage cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, a storage cabinet of the present
invention is illustrated where the cabinet 100 includes a bottom
wall 102, side walls 104, a rear wall 106, and a top wall 108. In
the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 102, the side walls
104, the wall sections 107 of the rear wall 106 and the top wall
108, all generally have the same width. This enables these parts of
the cabinet to be easily manufactured and packaged for shipping.
Specifically, the rear wall 106 is made up of two wall sections
107. One of the sections includes tabs 103 and the other section
includes recesses 105 for receiving the tabs. The wall sections 107
are joined together by inserting the tabs 103 into the
corresponding recesses 105, as shown in FIG. 4, between the wall
sections to secure the wall sections together and form the rear
wall 106. Once the rear wall 106 is formed, one of the side walls
104 is attached to a side edge of the rear wall 106 and the other
side wall attaches to the opposing side edge of the rear wall 106.
Specifically, the side walls 104 engage the rear wall 106 by
engaging u-shaped flange 204 with a corresponding L-shaped flange
205 on the rear wall 106 as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, the
opposing side wall 104 is attached to the opposing side edge of the
rear wall 106 in a similar manner. The joining of the wall sections
107 to form the rear wall 106 and the joining of the side walls 104
with the rear wall 106 do not require separate connectors, such as
screw-type connectors. This enables the rear wall and side walls to
be quickly and easily joined together without the need for tools or
other devices and without separate connecting pieces to keep track
of.
[0036] The top wall 108 fits over the side walls 104 and rear wall
106 to frictionally attach the top wall to the side walls 104 and
rear wall 106. Specifically, depending flanges 206 and 208 of the
top wall 108 (see FIG. 2) frictionally engage the top edges of the
side walls and rear wall.
[0037] Similarly, the bottom wall 102 is attached to the lower or
bottom edges of the side walls 104 and rear wall 106 by inserting
the bottom wall 102 into channels 209 formed on each of the side
walls 104 and rear wall 106. The channels 209 hold the bottom wall
102 in position.
[0038] After the bottom wall 102, side walls 104, rear wall 106 and
top wall 108, are assembled, a u-shaped support or bracket 110 is
attached to the front end of the locker as shown in FIG. 2. The
u-shaped bracket 110 is secured in place by using non-screw type
push pins 111. The push pins 111 are inserted into corresponding
holes 112 on the u-shaped bracket 110 and bottom portions of the
side walls 104 as shown in FIG. 2, using a friction fit. Once the
u-shaped bracket 110 is secured in place, a face plate 114 is
attached to the bracket 110. The front face plate 114 may be held
onto the bracket by using a friction fit or by using a combination
of a friction fit and push pins 111, which are inserted through
corresponding holes formed in the top of the face plate 114 and the
u-shaped bracket 110. The main, central or storage portion of the
cabinet 100 is now assembled.
[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes two
doors 116 and more specifically, a left door 116a and a right door
116b. The left door 116a includes two pin assemblies 117 each
including a door bracket 118 attached to the inside of the door
respectively at the top end and at the bottom end. Each bracket 118
defines a hole 120 for receiving a L-shaped pin 122, as described
below. Additionally, the top and bottom edges of the doors 112
define openings for receiving the L-shaped pins 122. Specifically,
an L-shaped pin 122 is inserted upwardly through the opening in the
bracket 118 and through the top of the door and into a
corresponding opening 124 defined by the top wall 108. The pin 122
is held in place by a curved support member 121 of the bracket. The
bottom of the door also defines a hole 121 in the bottom wall of
the cabinet. The lower L-shaped pin 122 is inserted through the
opening 120 in the door bracket 118, through the bottom of the door
116 and into the opening or hole 124 defined by the bottom wall of
the cabinet. As should be noted, the pins 122 do not require any
type of fasteners or connectors to hold them in place nor do they
require the use of tools, which makes inserting and/or removing the
pins and/or the doors very quick and easy for a user. The pins also
establish a pivot point on the top and bottom edges of each door
which enables the doors 116a and 116b to pivot between a primarily
open position to a closed position that closes the front of the
cabinet 100. The other door 116b is inserted and attached to the
cabinet in the same manner.
[0040] One or both cabinet doors 116a and 116b include a handle
pull or handle 126, which can be separately made and connected to
one or both doors, or pre-made and preassembled on the doors 116.
As shown in FIG. 1, the handle pull 126 extends the length of each
door (i.e., from the bottom to the top of each door). It should be
appreciated that the handle pull may extend from the top of the
door to an intermediate point between the top and bottoms of the
doors, extend from the bottom of the door to a point intermediate
to the top and bottoms of the doors, or be limited to some
intermediate portion of the door. It should also be appreciated
that one door or both doors may include a handle pull 126. It
should further be appreciated that the doors may have a handle
pull, a door knob or any other suitable door handle. The door pull
provides a gripping surface for a user's hand that enables the user
to move the door between a substantially open position and a closed
position.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the doors 116
and, more specifically, door 116b includes a lock assembly 216. The
lock assembly 216 includes a handle (not shown) on a front surface
of the door 116b, lock members 220 which extend along the rear
surface of the door from the top of the door to the bottom of the
door, and a lock rotator 222 attached to the back of the handle.
The top lock member 220a and bottom lock 220b member are elongated
rods that are attached to the lock rotator 222. One end of the top
lock member 220a is attached to the lock rotator 222 and an
opposite end is insertable into an opening defined by the top
member. Similarly, one end of the bottom lock member 220b is
attached to the lock rotator 222 and the opposite end is insertable
into an opening defined by the bottom member. When the handle is
rotated in a clockwise direction, the top lock member 220a moves
downwardly and the bottom lock member 220b moves upwardly to
respectively release or disengage the ends of the top and bottom
lock members 220a and 220b from the openings. When the lock rotator
222 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the top lock
member 220a moves upward and the bottom lock member 220b moves
downward to respectively cause the ends of the top and bottom lock
members 220a and 220b to be at least partially inserted into the
openings.
[0042] Specifically, when door 116b is in a closed position, a user
turns or rotates the handle or key 128 in a clockwise direction to
cause the ends of the top and bottom lock members 220a, 220b to be
respectively inserted into openings on the top and bottom walls 108
and 102. After the ends of the bottom and top lock members 102 108
are inserted into the openings on the top and bottom wall, the door
220b is secured in the closed position and cannot be moved
outwardly away from the cabinet. In an embodiment, the handle
includes a lock which enables a user to insert a key 226 or similar
device into the lock to secure or lock the handle and prevent the
door or doors 116 from being opened.
[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the left door 116a (i.e., the
door without the lock assembly 216) is closed first. The right door
116b or the door including the lock assembly 216, includes the
handle pull 126 which extends outwardly over at least a portion of
the first door 116a when the doors are in the closed position. This
helps hold both doors in place and enables the user to lock the
lock assembly 216 to secure the doors 116 in place.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes at
least one shelf 130 (FIG. 3) which is adjustable to different
heights or positions within the cabinet. For example in the
illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes a plurality of
shelves 130 which are positioned at different heights within the
cabinet. The shelves 130 are all the same size and shape. It should
be appreciated that the shelves may be any suitable size or shape.
To install or insert a shelf 130 in the cabinet, four shelf clips
210 are positioned or inserted in corresponding holes 211 in the
cabinet. Specifically, one shelf clip 210 is inserted in holes 211
at the same height on one side of the cabinet and then two other
shelf clips are inserted at the same height on the opposing side of
the cabinet. The shelf 130 is then positioned or laid upon the
inserted shelf clips 210 to hold the shelf at that height or
position. In an embodiment, each shelf clip 210 includes an opening
or hole 212 which enables a push pin 111 to be inserted through the
shelf clip 210 and into the shelf 130 to secure the shelf in place
and prevent the shelf from moving with respect to the shelf clips
210. Alternatively, flanges (not shown) may be preassembled on the
inside surfaces of the sidewalls 104 at a predetermined height to
enable the shelf 130 to be placed upon the flanges for support on
each side wall. It should be appreciated that the flanges could be
formed at any suitable height or position for supporting one or
more shelves in the cabinet. It will be appreciated that the tabs
103, the recesses 105, flanges 204-206 and 208, channels 209, push
pins 111, pin assemblies 117 and shelf clips 210 are different
types of attachment structures which do not require the use of
tools.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 10, in an alternative embodiment, a
storage cabinet, such as a single door locker 300 (i.e., a school
locker), is preassembled without using screw-type fasteners. Each
locker 300 has a bottom wall 302, a pair of side walls 304 and a
top wall 306 which are joined together as described above to form
the main portion of the locker. A shelf or shelves (similar to
shelf 130) may be inserted and secured in the locker 300 as
described above. Additionally, at least one door 308 is attached to
the locker as described above using the L-shaped pins 122. The
locker door 308 moves or pivots from a substantially open position
to a closed position. The locker 300 may include a lock assembly
310 which enables a user to lock the door in the closed position.
It should be appreciated that the locker may be any suitable size
and shape.
[0046] In another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a
divided version of the single locker described above is shown where
the divided locker 400 is divided to have two separate storage
compartments and two separate doors 408a and 408b. The locker 400
includes a bottom wall 402, side walls 404 and a top wall 406. The
divided lockers individually have less storage space. However, more
lockers can be installed at a location using the divided locker 400
such as at busy locations (i.e., malls). The locker 400 thereby
efficiently uses the space at a particular location.
[0047] In the above embodiments, the components of the cabinets are
made of metal and more preferably of a steel, such as stainless
steel. Steel provides strength and rigidity to the cabinets to
ensure that the cabinets will last for a long period of time. It
should be appreciated that other suitable material or materials may
be used to form the cabinets.
[0048] Although the above embodiments show cabinets of a particular
size and shape, it should be appreciated that the cabinets may be
manufactured to be any suitable size and shape. The above cabinets
enable users to easily and quickly assemble the cabinets and
lockers and thereby save significant time and money during
assembly. The cabinets also maximize shipping space as they are
shipped in broken down manageable parts which can be efficiently
stacked in a shipping vehicle and then easily assembled by an end
user.
[0049] The embodiments set forth in the foregoing description and
accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and
not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown
and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of
the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following
claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior
art.
* * * * *