U.S. patent number 3,700,300 [Application Number 05/076,505] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-24 for modular cabinet construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Schwamb Corporation. Invention is credited to Donald A. Davis, Anthony Galluzzo.
United States Patent |
3,700,300 |
Davis , et al. |
October 24, 1972 |
MODULAR CABINET CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
Modular cabinet construction wherein cabinet components, such as
drawers, interior dividers, shelves, and exterior doors can be
interchanged easily and quickly to convert the cabinet from all
drawer type storage to all cupboard type storage, or to practically
any desired combination of the two. The doors and interior dividers
are mounted on the cabinet by resiliently biased pins or bolts,
retraction of which permits removal of these members for converting
the cabinet as desired. Drawer stop assemblies are provided on
drawer guide members for preventing complete withdrawal of the
drawers from the cabinet, with such assemblies being resiliently
biased and adapted to be cammed out of the way to permit removal of
the drawer for rearrangement thereof in the cabinet or for
converting the cabinet into cupboard type storage.
Inventors: |
Davis; Donald A. (Winchester,
MA), Galluzzo; Anthony (Woburn, MA) |
Assignee: |
The Schwamb Corporation
(Arlington, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
22132441 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/076,505 |
Filed: |
September 29, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/240; 108/61;
312/257.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
57/08 (20130101); A47B 47/04 (20130101); A47B
67/04 (20130101); F16B 12/20 (20130101); A47B
2220/0072 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
57/00 (20060101); A47B 57/08 (20060101); A47B
67/04 (20060101); A47B 47/04 (20060101); A47B
47/00 (20060101); A47B 67/00 (20060101); F16B
12/00 (20060101); F16B 12/20 (20060101); A47b
085/00 (); A47b 043/00 (); A47b 047/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/240,257,348,111
;108/60,61 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Claims
We claim:
1. An assembly of supporting components specifically designed to
receive modular interchangeable components to provide drawer,
shelf, and/or compartment type storage, comprising:
a. a plurality of supporting components interconnected to define a
storage area bounded at top, bottom and opposed sides, said
supporting components cooperating to define a planar access
surface,
b. a plurality of supporting guides mounted in modular relation on
at least two of said supporting components comprising the sides of
said assembly, the supporting guides on one of said supporting
components being appropriately positioned with respect to
corresponding supporting guides on the other of said supporting
components to form pairs of said supporting guides, each
corresponding pair of said supporting guides being adapted to
receive and support either a drawer or shelf, said modular spacing
of said supporting guides permitting the same to receive relatively
deeper drawers having depths in modular relation to the depth of
said first mentioned drawer, said supporting guides being located
with respect to said planar access surface so as to automatically
position the exposed face of said drawers and/or doors flush with
said planar access surface when said drawers are fully inserted or
said doors are closed,
c. releasable stop means on said supporting guides adapted to limit
the withdrawal of such drawers from the enclosure, said stop means
being simply and quickly releasable to permit complete withdrawal
of said drawers for rearrangement thereof or for changing the
arrangement to an alternative storage design,
d. removable and interchangeable door means for enclosing said
storage area mounted on said supporting components in the space
between said planar access surface and said supporting guides,
e. said supporting components being constructed and arranged to
interchangeably receive said door means at either one or both sides
of said assembly, and
f. means carried by said door means for removably pivotally
attaching said door means on said assembly flush with said planar
access surface.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for removably
pivotally attaching said door means on said assembly comprises a
lower pivot pin on said door means adapted to be received in an
opening provided therefor in the supporting component which forms
the bottom of said assembly, and an upper pivot pin on said door
means resiliently biased into an opening formed in the supporting
component which forms the top of said assembly, retraction of said
pin permitting quick dismounting of said door means to condition
said storage area for alternative storage designs.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said upper pivot pin of said
door attaching means comprises a retractable bolt, spring means
biasing said bolt outwardly of the top of said door, said bolt
being formed with a handle portion for retracting said bolt within
the confines of said door, the subsequent alignment of said bolt
with said opening formed in said top wall, and the release of said
bolt handle affecting the upper pivot pin connection.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said door means are rounded on
both interior, side edges thereof, said supporting components which
form the side walls of said assembly likewise being dished adjacent
the area of mounting of said door to facilitate full pivotal
movement thereof without interference, and to permit said doors to
be interchanged to either side of said assembly.
5. An assembly of supporting components specifically designed to
receive modular interchangeable components to provide drawer,
shelf, and/or compartment type storage, comprising:
a. a plurality of supporting components interconnected to define a
storage area, said supporting components cooperating to define a
planar access surface,
b. a plurality of separate supporting guides mounted in vertically
spaced, modular relation on at least two of said supporting
components forming the sides of said assembly, said supporting
guides extending along substantially the entire depth of said two
supporting components on which they are mounted, said modular
spacing of said supporting guides permitting the same to receive
relatively deeper drawers having depths in modular relation to the
depth of said first mentioned drawer, said supporting guides being
located with respect to said planar access surface so as to
automatically position the exposed face of said drawers and/or
doors flush with said planar access surface when said drawers are
fully inserted or said doors are closed,
c. releasable stop means mounted on each of said supporting guides
for limiting the withdrawal of drawers from said storage area, said
stop means being simply and quickly releasable from the front of
the assembly to permit complete withdrawal of said drawers for
rearrangement thereof or for converting the interior of said
storage area to an alternative storage design,
d. a removable, substantially vertical divider disposed in said
assembly and extending substantially the full depth thereof, said
divider being formed on either side thereof with supporting guides
mounted in vertically spaced modular relation thereon and extending
substantially the full depth of said divider, the guides on each
side of said divider being appropriately positioned with respect to
corresponding supporting guides on the opposed supporting component
to form pairs of supporting guides to interchangeably receive
shelves or drawers,
e. releasable stop means mounted on each of said supporting guides
mounted on said divider for limiting the withdrawal of drawers from
said storage area, said stop means being simply and quickly
releasable from the front of the assembly to permit complete
withdrawal of said drawers for rearrangement thereof or for
converting the interior of said storage area to an alternative
storage design,
the arrangement permitting drawers to be installed in the modularly
desired pattern on either one or both sides of said divider flush
with said planar access surface or, alternatively, a door or doors
installed on one or both sides of said divider flush with said
planar access surface in place of said drawers, or combinations of
drawers and doors, as desired.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said releasable stop means
comprises a stop assembly mounted in said supporting guide, said
stop assembly including a stop flange resiliently biased outwardly
of said supporting guide into abutting engagement with a drawer for
preventing complete removal thereof from the storage area, said
flange being provided with a cam surface by means of which the
flange can be moved inwardly within the confines of the supporting
guide thereby permitting withdrawal of said drawer.
7. The assembly of claim 5 further including means for precisely
positioning said vertical divider in said assembly, comprising a
pair of fixed pins mounted on the bottom of said divider and
insertable in openings provided therefor in the supporting
component which forms the bottom of said storage area, a
retractable bolt assembly carried by the upper end of said divider,
said bolt assembly comprising a bolt resiliently biased outwardly
into engagement with an opening formed in the supporting component
which forms the top of said storage area when said divider is
properly aligned, said bolt assembly further including a bolt
handle accessible at the interior of the storage area for
withdrawing the bolt against said resilient mounting for releasing
the bolt and thus freeing the divider for removal from the storage
area, a generally L-shaped flange mounted on said top of said
storage area, the vertical leg of said flange having mounted
thereon a pin adapted to be received in an opening formed in a
plate attached to said vertical divider adjacent the top thereof,
said flange serving not only to precisely align said divider front
to rear in said storage area, but to transmit loads placed on said
divider through said pin and flange to the top of said storage area
thereby relieving the force on said divider alone.
8. An assembly of supporting components specifically designed to
receive modular interchangeable components to provide drawer,
shelf, and/or compartment type storage, comprising:
a. a plurality of supporting components interconnected to define a
storage area, said supporting components cooperating to define a
planar access surface,
b. a plurality of separate supporting guides mounted in vertically
spaced, modular relation on at least two of said supporting
components forming the sides of said assembly, said supporting
guides extending along substantially the entire depth of said two
supporting components on which they are mounted, said modular
spacing of said supporting guides permitting the same to receive
relatively deeper drawers having depths in modular relation to the
depth of said first mentioned drawer, said supporting guides being
located with respect to said planar access surface so as to
automatically position the exposed face of said drawers and/or
doors flush with said planar access surface when said drawers are
fully inserted or said doors are closed,
c. a removable, substantially vertical divider disposed in said
assembly and extending substantially the full depth thereof, said
divider being formed on either side thereof with supporting guides
mounted in vertically spaced modular relation thereon and extending
substantially the full depth of said divider, the guides on each
side of said divider being appropriately positioned with respect to
corresponding supporting guides on the opposed supporting component
to form pairs of supporting guides to interchangeably receive
shelves or drawers,
d. removable and interchangeable door means mounted on said
supporting components in the space between said planar access
surface and said supporting guides for enclosing at least part of
said storage area,
e. said supporting components being constructed and arranged to
interchangeably receive said door means at either one or both sides
of said assembly, and
f. means carried by said door means for removably pivotally
attaching said door means on said assembly flush with said planar
access surface,
the arrangement permitting drawers to be installed in the modularly
desired pattern on either one or both sides of said divider flush
with said planar access surface or, alternatively, door means
installed on one or both sides of said divider flush with said
planar access surface in place of said drawers, or combinations of
drawers and door means as desired.
9. An assembly of supporting components specifically designed to
receive modular interchangeable components to provide drawer,
shelf, and/or compartment type storage, comprising:
a. a plurality of supporting components interconnected to define a
storage area, said supporting components cooperating to define a
planar access surface,
b. a plurality of supporting guides mounted in modular relation on
at least two of said supporting components, said modular spacing of
said supporting guides permitting the same to receive relatively
deeper drawers having depths in modular relation to the depth of
said first mentioned drawer, said supporting guides being located
with respect to said planar access surface so as to automatically
position the exposed face of said drawers and/or doors flush with
said planar access surface when said drawers are fully inserted or
said doors are closed,
c. releasable stop means mounted on each of said supporting guides
for limiting the withdrawal of drawers from said storage area, said
stop means being simply and quickly releasable from the front of
the assembly to permit complete withdrawal of said drawers for
rearrangement thereof or for converting the interior of said
storage area to an alternative storage design,
d. a removable horizontal divider removably disposed in said
assembly for partitioning said storage areas vertically into first
and second storage compartments,
e. at least one removable vertical divider disposed in said
assembly between said horizontal divider and a further one of said
supporting components to divide the area bounded by said further
component and said horizontal divider into relatively smaller
storage compartments on either side of said vertical divider, said
vertical divider being formed on either side thereof with
supporting guides mounted in modular relation thereon, the guides
on each side of said divider being appropriately spaced from
corresponding supporting guides on the opposed supporting component
to form pairs of supporting guides to interchangeably receive
either shelves or drawers, and
f. releasable stop means mounted on each of said supporting guides
mounted on said vertical divider for limiting the withdrawal of
drawers from said storage area, said stop means being simply and
quickly releasable from the front of the assembly to permit
complete withdrawal of said drawers for rearrangement thereof or
for converting the interior of said storage area to an alternative
storage design,
the arrangement permitting full width drawers or shelves to be
installed flush with said planar access surface in the storage
compartment in which said vertical divider is not positioned, and
permitting drawers to be installed in a modularly desired pattern
on either one or both sides of said vertical divider flush with
said planar access surface or, alternatively, a door or doors
installed in place of said drawers or shelves on one or both sides
of said vertical divider flush with said planar access surface and
extending either the full height of said assembly or coextensively
with the storage compartments bounded by said vertical and
horizontal dividers, or combinations of drawers, shelves and doors,
as desired.
10. The assembly of claim 9 further including means releasably
mounting said horizontal divider in said storage area, said
releasable means comprising a retractable bolt assembly provided in
at least one end of said horizontal divider, said bolt assembly
comprising a retractable bolt, resilient means for urging said bolt
outwardly of said horizontal divider into an opening provided
therefor in the supporting component which forms the side wall of
said storage area, and a bolt handle for retracting said bolt
against the bias of said resilient means until said bolt has been
aligned with said opening, the release of said handle following the
alignment of said bolt and opening affecting movement of said bolt
into said opening thereby to provide a rigid, releasable
connection.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates as indicated to modular cabinet construction,
and more particularly to a new and uniquely constructed cabinet in
which the component parts can be quickly and easily interchanged to
provide an interior storage arrangement of almost infinite variety.
Such flexibility is accomplished without sacrificing either the
esthetic qualities of the cabinet or the quality of materials which
necessarily must be provided in view of the contemplated area or
areas of use. Although the cabinet construction of the present
invention permits generally universal use, the cabinet finds
particularly advantageous use in scientific laboratories and the
like. The term "cabinet" is used herein in its broadest sense and
is intended to cover any enclosure, facility or equipment adaptable
to the concepts of the invention.
Furniture intended to be used in such environment should possess
certain characteristics. First, the exposed cabinet surfaces must
be completely resistent to chemical reagents which are likely to be
associated on or near the cabinets. This requirement has in recent
years resulted in the increased use of metal furniture or wood
furniture covered where necessary with plastic laminate
material.
Secondly, the cabinet construction should have both the necessary
strength and the durability so as not to require early replacement.
Such characteristics should not be inimical to the desired esthetic
qualities of the cabinet, and the materials employed should not
detract from the exterior appearance of the cabinet.
A further desired characteristic of laboratory furniture, which is
found totally lacking in present commercially available furniture
of this type, is that of flexibility. By flexibility is meant the
capability of being converted from one general use, such as
cupboard storage, to a different use, for example, drawer storage
in order to provide the most efficient utilization of the furniture
for a particular purpose or function. With the ever-increasing
mobility of scientific personnel, the rearrangement of storage
areas within a scientific laboratory is becoming more frequent, and
flexibility as provided by the present invention eliminates total
replacement of cabinetry, which so often happens with existing
cabinet construction.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide cabinet construction in which the cabinet can be quickly
and easily converted from total or partial drawer storage to total
or partial cupboard storage, or to variations of each, as
desired.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet
in which the drawer guides are constructed and arranged for modular
interchangeability of all drawers. The drawers are dimensioned so
as to be either a basic unit or a multiple of a basic unit. Thus,
the drawers can be arranged from top to bottom in the cabinet as
desired, and can be provided in two lengths, to extend the entire
width of the cabinet, or approximately half the width of the
cabinet, as will be described.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet
which is highly rigid and yet esthetically pleasing in external
appearance. The materials employed and construction techniques
followed provide the desired rigidity, as well as durability
thereby permitting long and rugged use of the equipment.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide means
for releasably stopping the cabinet drawers in their outermost
position. Such stop means is uniquely constructed and adapted to be
released by simple tool manipulation for permitting withdrawal of
the drawer completely from the cabinet.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet
wherein the front door is mounted on the cabinet by means of a
fixed pivot and a releasable pivot so as to permit quick and easy
installation or removal of the door when convertibility to drawer
storage is desired.
A further aspect of the invention comprises the releasable pin
retention of all the major internal partitions or dividers in the
cabinet, for the same purpose of permitting quick removal or
replacement thereof.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent as the
description proceeds in particular reference to the application
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet of FIG. 1, with
the door and drawers removed;
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional line taken on line 4--4 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1,
showing the releasable mounting of the front door;
FIG. 7 is a sectional line taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing,
however, an alternative arrangement in the interior of the cabinet,
with a horizontal divider extending the entire width of the
cabinet, and a partial vertical divider separating the area above
the horizontal divider into two sections;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 10--10 of FIG.
8;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken through one side of a
drawer and the associated drawer guide;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13--13 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing a
modified form of cabinet and drawer guide construction,
FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing a
modified form of releasable pin mounting for the door, and
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on line 16--16 of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein like parts
are indicated by like reference numerals, and initially to FIG. 1,
there is shown therein a cabinet constructed in accordance with the
present invention. From the exterior of the cabinet, the cabinet
appears to be conventional, comprising side walls 2 and 4, a top
wall 6, and a bottom wall 8, FIG. 2. The front faces of the several
walls form a planar access surface which is adapted to be flush
with either drawers or doors, or a combination of each. A base
plate 10 is provided at the bottom, front end of the cabinet, with
the side wall 2 and 4 being recessed as commonly indicated at 12 to
provide an open bottom area. Although the side walls 2 and 4 are
shown extending completely to the bottom of the cabinet for
supporting the same in such regions, it will be understood that a
completely separate base section can alternatively be provided,
with the cabinet, including the side walls 2 and 4 being rigidly
mounted thereon.
The cabinet shown in FIG. 1 includes a door 14 which is mounted for
pivotal swinging movement about a vertical axis adjacent the right
edge thereof as will be explained in detail hereinbelow when
particular reference is made to FIG. 6. Mounted in the left side of
the cabinet are three relatively shallow drawers commonly
designated at 16, an intermediate, relatively deeper drawer 18, and
a deep bottom drawer 20. As above indicated, the provision of
modular construction is one of the primary objects of the present
invention, and in accordance therewith, the height of the drawer 18
is approximately twice the heighth of the drawers 16, and the
height of the drawer 20 is approximately three times the height of
the drawers 16. The drawer sections are completely interchangeable,
with the interior of the cabinet being constructed and arranged to
receive these drawers in any desired pattern. For example, the
deepest drawer 20 could be positioned on the top, and the
relatively shallow drawers 16 on the bottom, or the drawers 16
could be positioned between the relatively deeper drawers 18 and
20. In addition, drawers could also be located on the right side of
the cabinet, and the door 14 removed. Still further arrangements
provide for drawers to extend the entire width of the cabinet, or
for a pair of doors 14 to be used, with this latter arrangement
being preferred when cupboard storage exclusively is desired.
The drawers 16-20 and door 14 can be provided with any suitable
handles, with generally cup shaped handles designated at 22 being
illustratively shown. These are of conventional construction, and
inset in the front surfaces of the drawers and door. Any suitable
handle construction can be used, with the material preferably being
resistant to the environment to which the cabinet is likely to be
subjected. For example, the handles 22 are preferably made of
plastic or a coated metal substantially completely resistant to
chemical reagents. Likewise, the top 6 of the cabinet is covered
with a resistant surface, preferably in the form of a commercially
available plastic laminate 24, shown in FIGS. 3-6. Such laminated
plastic is commercially available from numerous sources in a highly
resistant laboratory grade. Such laboratory grade plastic forms the
working surface of the cabinet and is normally rigidly attached to
a plastic laminate backing sheet which is in turn mounted on a wood
core, which normally comprises plywood or particle board. It will
be understood that said laminate can be used on other exposed
surfaces where necessary or desired.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cabinet is constructed as a
shell completely open at the front. In addition to the top, bottom
and side walls above described, the cabinet is enclosed at the back
thereof by means of a rectangular wood frame member 26, FIG. 3, to
which is mounted a member 28 which can be constructed of tempered
hard board or the like, and which is secured to the frame member 26
by screw fasteners 30.
Positioned on the inside of each of the side walls 2 and 4 are
upper and lower drawer guide panels commonly designated at 32 and
34, respectively. These panels are generally coextensive in depth
with the side walls 4 and collectively extend between the bottom
wall 8 and the top wall 6, with the panels on each wall being
separated as shown at 36 to permit placement in the cabinet of a
horizontal divider, as will be hereinafter described when
particular reference is made to the internal arrangement shown in
FIG. 8. The panels 32 and 34 can be secured to the side walls in
any suitable manner, for example, by adhesive, by metal fasteners,
or both.
Mounted in vertically spaced relation on each of the panels 32 and
34 are drawer guides commonly designated at 38. The guides 38 are
rigidly mounted in openings 40 in the panels and are uniformly,
vertically spaced on the side walls 2 and 4. This permits the above
described interchangeability of the drawers, with drawers of
integral or fractional modular height, thereby achieving the
modular construction which distinguishes the present invention from
prior cabinet constructions of this general type.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, each drawer guide 38 extends inwardly
of the cabinet interior beyond the panel 32 and is adapted to
receive the side 42 of a drawer 16, with the latter being provided
with a longitudinal groove 44 somewhat deeper and wider than the
exposed portion of the drawer guide to permit free movement of the
drawer thereover. The drawer further includes a bottom section 46
and an opposed side portion similarly suspended by means of a
drawer guide mounted on the opposed side wall of the cabinet, or
positioned longitudinally midway of the cabinet, as shown in FIG.
8.
Each of the drawer guides 38 is adapted to receive a drawer stop
assembly generally indicated at 50. The assembly 50 includes an
outer, hollow casing 52 the exterior dimensions of which correspond
to the dimensions of an opening 54 formed in the drawer guide 38.
The casing may be press-fit in such opening or secured therein by
adhesive, fasteners or the like. The stop assembly can
alternatively be mounted on the drawer or on any member adjacent to
the drawer.
Mounted within the casing 52 is a generally cup shaped stop member
56 which is biased toward the outer face of the casing by coil
springs commonly designated at 58. Integrally formed with the stop
member 56 is a stop flange 60 which extends outwardly of the casing
through opening 62 formed in the front wall thereof under the bias
of springs 58. The stop flange 60 is generally elongated and formed
with a front cam surface 64 for a purpose to be presently
described.
The side wall 42 of the drawer 16 is formed with a longitudinally
extending groove 66 which communicates with the recess 44, with the
groove extending substantially the entire length of the side wall.
The end of the groove 66 is defined by a shoulder 68 relatively
adjacent the back wall 70 of the drawer. During normal movement of
the drawer, the groove 66 receives the stop flange 60 and no
interference results. The withdrawal of the drawer 16 is limited to
the point where the shoulder 68 contacts the stop flange 60.
If it is desired to remove the drawer 16 for any reason, the stop
flange 60 can be cammed inwardly against the bias of the springs 58
until the shoulder 68 clears the flange. A suitable tool extendable
along the groove 66 can be provided for this purpose. When the
drawer is replaced, the vertical rear face 72 of the side wall 42
cams the stop flange 60 inwardly permitting the drawer to be moved
inwardly on the drawer guides 38. As the drawer moves inwardly, the
stop flange 60 will again be received in the groove 66 to prevent
subsequent, inadvertent withdrawal of the door completely from the
cabinet.
Each of the drawer guides 38 is preferably provided with a drawer
stop assembly 50 of the type just described whereby each of the
single drawers 16 can be disposed vertically along any pair of
spaced drawer guides. The double drawer 18 and triple drawer 20
illustrated in FIG. 1 are likewise provided with the necessary
groove formations 44 and 66 to receive each of the stop
assemblies.
As perhaps best shown in FIG. 10, the drawer or supporting guides
38 are inwardly offset from the vertical front face of the
assembly, which front face can be alternatively referred to as a
"planar access surface," a term used in the claims appended hereto.
In FIG. 10, the front exposed face of the panel 32 serves to
interrupt the rearward movement of drawers inserted in the
assembly, with such panel face serving to position the front face
of the drawer flush with the planar access surface formed by the
assembly walls. Likewise, when a door or doors are mounted on the
assembly in place of drawers, the front face of the panel 32 serves
to position the same so that the exterior face of the door is flush
with the planar access surface of the assembly. Where the drawer
supporting guide is mounted directly on the side walls of the
assembly, as shown in FIG. 14, it will be understood that the front
edge of such guides are positioned relative to the planar access
surface so as to automatically position either the drawers or doors
so as to maintain the same flush with such planar access
surface.
In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, a full
heighth vertical divider 80 is mounted in the cabinet midway
between the side walls 2 and 4. The divider has mounted on both
faces thereof drawer guides 38 of identical construction to those
previously described above and illustrated in detail in FIGS. 12
and 13. The divider is positioned relatively precisely in the
interior of the cabinet both with respect to longitudinal position
and the position of the divider front to rear in the cabinet,
thereby accurately aligning each cooperating pair of drawer guides
38 and stop assemblies 50.
The bottom of the vertical divider 80 is provided with at least two
pins 82 which extend outwardly from the bottom face of the divider.
Cooperating socket member 84 are imbedded in the bottom wall 8 for
receiving the pins thereby precisely aligning the bottom of the
divider. The specific construction of the pin and socket is
identical to the pin and socket shown in FIG. 6 and will be
described below when particular reference is made to this
figure.
The upper end of the divider 80 is releasably retained in the top
wall 6 of the cabinet in a manner specifically shown in FIGS. 3-5
of the drawings. A metal plate 86 is mounted on one side of the
divider 80 adjacent the top thereof, and is retained by screws 88.
As shown in FIG. 5, an opening 90 is drilled through the metal
plate and the divider for receiving a pin 92 integrally formed with
or secured to a generally L-shaped bracket 94 secured to the top
wall 6 of the cabinet by a screw fastener 96. When the divider 80
is swung into vertical position for mounting the same in the
cabinet the pin 92 is received in the opening 90. It will thus be
seen that forces acting downwardly on the divider 80, for example
when the drawers are placed in the cabinet, are transferred through
the bracket 94 to the top wall 6 and thus to the entire cabinet
shell to provide a rigid construction. Such transfer of force is
effected, however, without a permanent connection between the
divider 80 and top wall 6 so as to permit easy removal of the
divider 80 as will be presently described.
A longitudinal opening 98 is bored inwardly from the top surface
100 of the divider 80, and a retractable bolt assembly generally
indicated at 102 is mounted therein. The bolt assembly comprises a
cylindrical casing 104 which can be press-fit in the opening 98,
and a piston-like bolt 106 freely movable within the casing 104.
The bolt 106 has a reduced diameter stem 108 around which is
positioned a coil spring 110. The end of the coil spring remote
from the bolt seats on a reduced diameter lower section of the
casing 104 thereby biasing the bolt 106 outwardly of the casing as
shown in FIG. 4.
Connected to the bolt stem 108 is a handle 112 having a round knob
portion 114. When the handle is pulled downwardly it will be
apparent that the bolt can be withdrawn within the casing 104
against the bias of the spring 110. Access for bolt manipulation is
provided by a cylindrical opening 116 formed in the adjacent drawer
guide 38, with the same shaped opening likewise being formed as
indicated at 118 in the divider 80.
An opening 120 is provided in the top wall 6 of the cabinet for
receiving the bolt 106 when the same is released.
To mount the divider in the cabinet, the bottom pins 82 are aligned
with the sockets 84 formed in the bottom wall 8, with such
alignment being normally effected when the divider is positioned in
an inclined orientation. As the divider is then moved toward
vertical, the bolt handle 112, or handles 112 if more than one bolt
assembly are provided, is grasped and the bolt retracted within the
top surface 100 of the divider. With the bolt retracted, the pin 92
is aligned with the hole 90 in the divider, and the divider moved
until the plate 86 contacts the vertical leg of the bracket 94.
With the divider 80 now in a vertical position, the bolt handle 112
is released and the bolt 106 extends into the opening 120.
When the full vertical divider 80 is desired to be removed from the
interior of the cabinet, the bolt handle 112 is pulled downwardly
thereby releasing the bolt 106 from the opening 120. The divider is
then moved away from the bracket 94 thereby disengaging the pin 92
from the opening 90. Continued movement of the divider provides
head room for lifting of the same to disengage the pins 82 in the
bottom of the divider from the sockets 84 thereby permitting the
divider to be removed.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the front door 14 shown in FIG. 1
is likewise mounted for quick installation and removal if the
cabinet is desired to be converted, for example, to an all drawer
arrangement.
The door 14 is provided adjacent the bottom of the pivot end
thereof with a pin 130, which can be press-fit or otherwise rigidly
retained in opening 132 provided therefor in the bottom of the
door. The pin 132 is formed with a reduced diameter, bullet shaped
end portion 134 which is adapted to be received in a cylindrical
socket 136 mounted in opening 138 formed in the bottom wall 8 of
the cabinet.
Mounted in the top of the door 14 immediately above the pin 130 is
a retractable bolt assembly generally indicated at 140 which can be
of the same construction as the bolt assembly 102 illustrated in
FIG. 4. Thus, the assembly includes a retractable bolt 142, a
casing 144 which is mounted in an opening 146 formed in the door,
and a bolt handle 148. As previously illustrated, a spring (not
shown in FIG. 6) biases the bolt 142 outwardly into an opening 150
formed in the top wall 6 of the cabinet. An access opening 152 is
formed in the inside face of the door communicating with the bolt
handle 148 to permit retraction thereof.
To mount the door, the pin end 134 is placed in the socket 136 and
the door moved toward a position wherein the same is generally
perpendicular to the side wall 4. During such movement, the bolt
handle 148 is pulled downwardly thereby retracting the bolt 142 to
or inwardly of the top surface of the door. The door is then moved
to a position wherein the front face thereof is generally aligned
with the front faces of the top and bottom walls 6 and 8,
respectively, of the cabinet and the bolt handle 148 released
whereby the spring biases the bolt 142 into the opening 150. The
door 14 is thereby mounted for pivotal movement about an axis
through the bolt 142 and the pin 130.
To dismount the door, the same is swung open for access to the bolt
handle 148, and the latter pulled downwardly until the bolt 142
clears the opening 150. The door 14 is then leaned outwardly
sufficiently for the top of the door to clear the top wall 6
whereupon the door can be lifted to withdraw the pin 130 from the
socket 136 thereby freeing the door.
It will be noted in FIG. 7 that the inner wall of the door at the
pivot side thereof is curved as shown at 160. The edge band 162
which is dove-tailed to the side wall 4 is formed with a curved
inner wall 164 generally similar in curvature to the curved wall
160 of the door. The opposite end of the door is likewise formed
with a curved wall portion similar to that shown at 160 whereby the
door is conditioned for mounting at either side of the cabinet.
Although not shown, it will be understood that the door can be
maintained in a closed position by any frictional release type
catch, such as, for example, by a bullet catch.
There is shown in FIG. 8 an alternative arrangement for the cabinet
interior. Rather than having a single vertical divider, such as
divider 8 shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the cabinet illustrated
in FIG. 8 comprises a horizontal divider 170 the opposed ends of
which are received in the openings 36 which space the adjacent ends
of the guide panels 32 and 34 at each end of the cabinet.
As with the vertical divider, the horizontal divider 170 is
provided with a releasable, yet rigid mounting on the side walls 2
and 4. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the divider 170 is provided
with a retractable locking bolt assembly generally indicated at
172. Although one such assembly is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it
will be understood that two or more assemblies could likewise be
provided, at one or both ends of the divider.
Each bolt assembly 172 is constructed as the assemblies previously
described, comprising a retractable bolt 174, a bolt handle 176 and
a coil spring (not shown) within casing 178 which normally biases
the bolt 174 into an opening 180 provided therefor in the side wall
2. An access opening 182 is formed in the divider 170 communicating
with the handle 176 for permitting manipulation of the same. To
position the divider 170, the same is aligned with the openings 36
and moved rearwardly in the cabinet, with the bolts 174 retracted.
When the front surface of the divider is generally aligned with the
front edge of the guide panels 32 and 34, the bolts 174 and
openings 180 are aligned, the bolt handle or handles are released
thereby biasing the bolts into the openings and rigidly holding the
divider in place.
To remove the divider, the procedure is just reversed. The bolts
174 are retracted by the handles 176, and the divider pulled
outwardly along the openings 36 toward the front of the cabinet,
with such movement continuing until the divider has been removed
from the cabinet. One bolt assembly is preferably provided at each
end of the divider thereby permitting a single person with both
hands to remove the divider from the cabinet.
The interior of the cabinet as arranged in FIG. 8 further includes
a partial vertical divider 190 which extends between the top wall
of the cabinet 6 and the horizontal divider 170. The partial
divider 190 is preferably mounted in the cabinet in a manner
similar to the full divider 80, being provided with downwardly
extending pins 192 adapted to be received in sockets 194, FIG. 9,
formed in the partition 170, with the upper releasable connection
being identical to the releasable connection of the full divider as
shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. These details have been left out
of FIG. 8, although it will be understood that the installation and
removal of the partial vertical divider 190 corresponds to that of
the full divider. The partial divider 190 can thus be placed in
position or removed in a matter of seconds thereby to permit
conversion of the cabinet to a functionally different use.
In the invention described, the flexibility of the present
invention will be readily apparent. Numerous arrangements of
components, in addition to those shown, can be made, with very
quick conversion, to provide the desired storage. For example, it
will be seen that in the FIGS. 1 and 2 arrangements, the door 14
could be mounted on the left of the cabinet, and the drawers 16, 18
and 20 on the right. Alternatively, the full vertical divider 80
could be removed entirely and drawers similar to drawers 16-20 but
extending the full width of the cabinet provided. In this
arrangement, the door 14 would of course not be required. A still
further alternative is to place shelves in the cabinet rather than
drawers, in which event a pair of doors are provided for enclosing
the cabinet front. Referring to FIG. 8, the partial vertical
divider can be positioned below the horizontal divider 170 rather
than above, as shown. The invention also contemplates the use of
two or more vertical dividers to provide a cabinet having more than
two vertical rows of drawers. Similarly, two or more vertically
spaced doors can be provided rather than the single door shown at
either or both sides of the cabinet.
Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown therein an alternative
drawer guide construction. The drawer guide is generally indicated
at 200 and comprises a tongue portion 202 which is securedly
mounted in a groove 204 formed in the side wall 4. The drawer guide
200 is formed with upper and lower corner recesses 206 and 208
which receive the associated portions of the drawer 16 for sliding
support of the door along the guide. The drawer guide 200 is
similarly provided with a retractable stop assembly generally
indicated at 210 identical with the assembly 50 shown in detail in
FIG. 13. By mounting the drawer guides 200 directly on the side
walls 4, the need for the guide panels 32 and 34 is eliminated.
Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is illustrated therein an
alternative form of a releasable, pivotal mounting for the cabinet
door, which is shown at 16'. The pivotal mounting of the bottom of
the door is similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, and
corresponding parts have been shown by the same reference numerals
with an attached prime. A retractable, resiliently biased pin forms
the upper pivot for the door.
The top of the door is formed with an elongated opening 220 in
which a flat metal plate 222 is supported by longitudinally spaced
wood screws 224 and 226. The heads of the screws 224 and 226 are
bevelled in conventional manner, and the plate 222 is provided with
openings 228 and 230, with the side walls of such openings having
bevelled surfaces corresponding to the bevelled surfaces of the
screws whereby the plate effectively seats on the heads of the
screws. The screws are rigidly fastened in the bottom wall 232 of
the opening 220, with the degree of penetration being such as to
dispose the top surfaces of the screws at approximately the same
heighth as the top of the door 14'.
Coil springs commonly designated at 234 are disposed around the
shanks of screws 224 and 226, with the opposed ends thereof
engaging the bottom of the plate 222 and the bottom wall 232
thereby biasing the plate upwardly until the same is seated in its
FIG. 16 position. The plate 222 carries a pin 236 adjacent one end
thereof which is adapted to extend upwardly into a sleeve or socket
238 formed in the top wall 6'.
When it is desired to mount the door 14', the plate is depressed
downwardly, either by finger manipulation or by a simple tool such
as screwdriver or the like, until the pin 236 is withdrawn below
the bottom surface of the top wall 6' and sleeve 238. The pin 130 '
is then inserted into the socket 136' and the pin 236 aligned with
the sleeve 238. The pressure on pin 236 is then released and the
pin is biased by springs 234 into the sleeve 238 to effect the
pivotal connection. To remove the door, the reverse procedure is
followed.
It will be noted that the plate 222 can be depressed uniformly by
application of force at approximately its longitudinal mid-point.
When force is applied to either side of such mid-point, the
relatively distant screw serves as a fulcrum about which the plate
222 pivots. For example, if force is applied relatively adjacent
the pin 236, the plate 222 will be pivoted downwardly about a
horizontal axis through the head of the screw 226. In this regard,
the neck portion of the openings 228 and 230 is of sufficient
diameter to permit such relative movement without encountering
binding of the plate on either of the screw fasteners.
The cabinet construction of the present invention may further
include the provision of a drawer-contained writing surface. The
only writing surface available in present laboratory cabinetry of
this time is the top surface of the cabinet, which has obvious
drawbacks. In accordance with the present invention, referring to
FIG. 14, a drawer 16 is rabbeted on at least the top inner edge of
each side wall thereof, as illustrated at 240, for receiving a flat
desk top 242, which is thus fully supported by the drawer. The
rabbeted drawer can be placed at the desired height in the cabinet
to provide the desired desk height. The drawer area below the desk
top can be fully utilized for storage, and the top is provided with
a flat handle or the like (not shown) for facilitating lifting of
the top.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the invention have been
realized. The components of the cabinet can be arranged in almost
infinite variety to satisfy a particular desire or needed function.
Full or partial horizontal and vertical dividers can be provided to
compartmentalize the cabinet interior to provide the storage
pattern preferred, with the doors, drawers and shelves being
completely interchangeable. The doors and interior components are
constructed and arranged for quick and easy placement or removal,
thereby permitting conversion from one storage design to another
very readily. If, in such conversion, additional components are
needed, these can be supplied without difficulty or great cost in
view of the standardization of the cabinet interior and the
components adapted to be assembled therein.
* * * * *