U.S. patent number 3,752,547 [Application Number 05/128,250] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-14 for stackable drawer and cover.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.. Invention is credited to James O. Kelley, Robert L. Propst.
United States Patent |
3,752,547 |
Propst , et al. |
August 14, 1973 |
STACKABLE DRAWER AND COVER
Abstract
A drawer includes a stacking recess around its top perimeter
into which another similar drawer can be placed in order to stack
the drawers one on top of the other. The drawer includes a cover
which is thinner in cross section than the depth of the stacking
recess in order that the cover can be positioned on the drawer
without interfering the stacking of one drawer on top of another.
The cover includes outwardly biased, resilient ribs which extend
below the stacking recess when the cover is in place and which
press against the drawer walls to insure a tight fit. The drawer is
supported in a structure having opposite sides with inwardly
projecting guide flanges for embracing glide flanges projecting
outwardly from the drawer. The stacking recess is formed in the
drawer glide flanges and the cover rests on the glide flanges such
that it is also embraced by the guide flanges of the support and
cannot be removed from the drawer when the drawer is closed.
Inventors: |
Propst; Robert L. (Ann Arbor,
MI), Kelley; James O. (Spring Lake, MI) |
Assignee: |
Herman Miller, Inc. (Zeeland,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22434389 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/128,250 |
Filed: |
March 26, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/107;
312/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
88/906 (20170101); A47B 87/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/02 (20060101); A47B 87/00 (20060101); A47B
88/00 (20060101); A47b 077/00 (); A47b
087/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/107,270,271,308
;220/42B,42C,6R,23.6,97F,97R ;211/126 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A drawer and cover therefor, comprising: a bottom, side walls
extending vertically from opposite sides of said bottom, front and
rear walls extending vertically from said bottom and joined with
the edges of said side walls to form a generally rectangular
drawer; said side walls and rear wall including a horizontal,
outwardly extending glide flange integrally formed therewith and
including a vertical lip extending to the top of said walls to
define an interior stacking recess along three sides of said
drawer, as well as an exterior drawer glide along the exterior of
said sides of said drawer for supporting said drawer in a cabinet;
said front wall extending above the horizontal level of said flange
of the remaining walls whereby one of said drawers can be stacked
on top of another when the drawer is uncovered such that the bottom
of said one of said drawers rests upon the stacking recess of said
another of said drawers without shifting laterally or
longitudinally of the lower drawer; and a cover for said drawer
having dimensions such that it also fits within said stacking
recess and rests upon said horizontal glide flange thereof and is
adapted to move with said glide flange within a drawer guide; said
cover being thinner than the depth of said recess whereby one
drawer can be stacked on top of another when said cover is in place
on the lower drawer and said vertical lip and the top edge of said
front wall prevents longitudinal and lateral shifting of covered
drawers when stacked.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which said drawer cover includes
an outwardly biased, resilient rib, near at least two sides thereof
projecting downwardly into said drawer and engaging the walls
thereof whereby said cover fits snugly on said drawer.
3. The combination of claim 2 in which said rib is defined by a
downwardly projecting groove in said cover whose outer wall is
resiliently biased outwardly away from its inner wall; said cover
including a generally horizontal peripheral flange extending
outwardly from said outer wall of said groove for resting on said
stacking recess.
4. The combination of claim 1 in which: said cover includes a
flange at the front edge thereof projecting upwardly for a height
greater than the depth of said recess and then outwardly over the
front of said drawer to define a handle for said cover; the bottom
of said drawer having a width such that it will rest on said
stacking recess of a lower drawer and having a length less than the
distance between said top portion of said rear wall and said top
portion of said front wall by an amount equal to the thickness of
said upwardly extending flange of said cover such that one of said
drawers will stack within said recess of a lower one of said
drawers even with said cover in place on said lower drawer.
5. The combination of claim 4 in which said drawer cover includes
an outwardly biased, resilient rib, near at least two sides thereof
projecting downwardly into said drawer and engaging the walls
thereof whereby said cover fits snugly on said drawer.
6. The combination of claim 5 in which said rib is defined by a
downwardly projecting groove in said cover whose outer wall is
resiliently biased outwardly away from its inner wall; said cover
including a generally horizontal peripheral flange extending
outwardly from said outer wall of said groove for resting on said
stacking recess; said groove existing around said cover near the
peripheral edge thereof; the said outer wall of said groove at the
front edge of said drawer being defined by said upwardly projecting
flange at the front edge thereof.
7. A drawer and a cover therefor comprising: a drawer having four
walls and including a recessed interior cover receiving seat
extending around at least three of said walls near the top thereof;
a cover for said drawer having an outwardly biased, resilient rib,
near at least two sides thereof projecting downwardly into said
drawer below said seat and engaging the walls thereof whereby said
cover fits snugly onto said drawer; said cover being slightly bowed
between said resilient ribs when not in place over said drawer;
said cover including a horizontal outwardly extending flange
extending outwardly from each said resilient rib, integrally formed
on said at least two sides of said cover and dimensioned to rest
upon said seat of said drawer when said cover is positioned
thereon.
8. The combination of claim 7 in which said rib is defined by a
downwardly projecting groove in said cover whose outer wall is
resiliently biased outwardly away from said inner wall; said cover
including a generally horizontal peripheral flange extending
outwardly from said outer wall of said groove for engaging the top
of said drawer to prevent said cover from being accidentally pushed
into said drawer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to drawers and drawer supporting structures.
Specifically, it relates to an improvement in the system disclosed
and claimed in U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 79,890. That
application discloses a drawer which can be stacked with other
similar drawers. The drawers stacked can be of varying depths. The
drawer is supported in a frame having sides with inwardly
projecting guide flanges for embracing glide flanges which project
outwardly from the drawers. The drawer system therein disclosed is
particularly adaptable for use in hospital environments since it
offers features of versatility, cleanliness, and economy of
manufacture and use.
While the invention as disclosed in the earlier application has a
number of desirable features, one problem which is posed is that
during storage of the drawers, it is possible for dust to enter the
interior of the drawer. Indeed, this is even possible when a drawer
is in use, as when a drawer is supported in a C-shaped supporting
frame (see FIG. 1). Because of the nature of the supporting frame,
it is readily possible for dust to enter the interior of the
drawer.
Another problem which is posed is that there is no means for
keeping people out of the drawer when it is supported in a frame as
shown in FIG. 1. No locking means is provided for the drawer, and
even if it were, one would still be able to reach directly into the
top of the drawer if it were arranged in a manner, for example, as
shown in FIG. 1.
In keeping with the goals set forth in the above-cited patent
application, the present invention contemplates the provision of a
cover for the drawers to keep their interiors dust free during use
and storage. However, to our knowledge, no prior art drawer system
teaches providing covers for drawers, which covers would not
interfere with the stackability of the drawers. Indeed, to our
knowledge, there are no prior art drawer systems which utilize
covers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates a drawer and a cover therefor
which does not interfere with the stackability of one of the
drawers on top of another. The drawer includes a stacking recess at
the top of the drawer within which another drawer can be rested.
The drawer cover has dimensions such that it also rests within the
recess. But, the cover is thinner than the depth of the stacking
recess whereby one drawer can be stacked on top of another even
with a cover in place on the lower drawer.
The cover has a first flange at one end thereof extending upwardly
beyond the top of the drawer and then extending outwardly from the
top of the first flange out over one of the end walls to define a
handle for handling the cover. To minimize the possibility of
foreign matter entering the drawer when it is in storage, the
drawer includes means for resiliently engaging the drawer walls
whereby the cover is held firmly in place on the drawer.
The cover for the drawer also acts in combination with the drawer
supporting frame to provide a means for preventing an unauthorized
person from obtaining access to the drawer's contents. The drawer
has outwardly projecting glide flanges. The support for the drawer
comprises two spaced sides, each having at least one pair of
vertically spaced, inwardly projecting guide flanges for embracing
the glide flanges of the drawer. The cover for the drawer comprises
a panel of sufficient width that it rests on the drawer glide
flanges and hence is itself embraced at either side of the drawer
by the guide flanges of the support. The front wall of the drawer
extends above the level of the panel as it rests on the glide
flanges and the cover includes a flange projecting upwardly and
outwardly from the panel, out over the top edge of the front wall
of the drawer to provide a handle for handling the cover. The guide
flanges extend sufficiently far forward and are sufficiently close
together that the top guide flange, in cooperation with the front
wall of the drawer, prevents the removal of the drawer cover when
the drawer is in a closed position in the drawer support. By
locking the drawer in a closed position, it becomes impossible to
remove the drawer cover. Thus, access to the contents of a drawer
is restricted even when there is an open space above the drawer as
there is in the combination shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be
seen and understood by reference to the written specification and
appended drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drawer being supported in the
drawer supporting frame;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the drawer;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drawer;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drawer cover;
FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along plane V--V of FIG. 2 with the
drawer cover being shown on the drawer, and with a second cover
shown above the drawer to demonstrate the biased condition at its
edges;
FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along plane VI--VI of FIG. 3, with
the drawer cover being shown in place on the drawer, and with a
second cover shown above the drawer to demonstrate the biased
condition at its edges;
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of several drawers stacked one on
top of the other with drawer covers in place;
FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along plane V--V of FIG. 2 and
additionally showing a drawer cover in place on a drawer and a
subsequent drawer stacked on top thereof;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a drawer having a tray insert in
the stacking recess;
FIG. 10 is a cross section taken along plane X--X of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a corner of the drawer having a
lock therein;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the front portions of
interconnected guide flanges on the drawer supporting frame;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, plan view of the front corner of a drawer
having a lock therein and of the front portion of one of the side
walls of the drawer supporting frame;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing a drawer and
drawer cover in position in the drawer support; and
FIG. 15 is a front, fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing the
drawer and drawer cover in position between a pair of spaced guide
flanges.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a drawer 1 supported in a drawer supporting frame 2.
The drawer itself includes a recess 30 along three sides of the top
perimeter of the drawer body 10 (FIGS. 2, 3 & 9). A cover 50 is
placed on top of drawer 1 within the recess 30 (FIGS. 5 & 6).
Cover 50 is thinner than the depth of recess 30 such that one
drawer 1 can be stacked on top of another drawer 1 and will still
be nested within recess 30 (FIG. 8). A tray insert 100 can also be
nested within stacking recess 30 (FIG. 9) and also has a cross
section at its sides which is thinner than the depth of recess 30
(FIG. 10).
Recess 30 is defined at the side walls 13 of drawer 1 by a pair of
outwardly projecting glide flanges 31 (FIGS. 2 & 6). Each of
these glide flanges 31 fits between a pair of spaced guide flanges,
i.e. a top guide flange 61 and a bottom guide flange 64, projecting
inwardly from the side 66 of support frame 2 (FIGS. 1 & 15).
Cover 50 rests on glide flanges 31 and accordingly is held down on
drawer 1 by top guide flange 61 (FIG.15). A lock 70 (FIGS. 11 &
13) is preferably included in drawer 1 to provide a means for
locking it in position in support 2 and for thereby preventing
removal of cover 50.
Drawer body 10 of drawer 1 comprises a bottom 12, upstanding side
walls 13, upstanding front wall 14 and an upstanding rear wall 15
(FIGS. 1 & 2). Front wall 14 and rear wall 15 are perfectly
vertical (FIG. 5) in order to facilitate the stacking of drawers
having different depths without allowing one drawer to actually
nest within another lower drawer (FIG. 7). This feature of the
invention has been explained in previous application Ser. No.
79,890. Front wall 14 of drawer body 10 extends beyond the side
walls 13 at either side of drawer body 10 in order to provide a
stacking rib 16 at either side of drawer body 10 (FIGS. 2 & 7).
This feature has similarly been previously described. A pair of
spaced feet 17 depend downwardly from the bottom 12 of drawer body
10 (FIG. 2) and a handle 18 is formed by a flange projecting
outwardly and downwardly from the top of front wall 14 (FIG.
5).
Recess 30 extends along the top perimeter of side walls 13 and rear
wall 15 (FIGS. 3 & 9). At the top of each side wall 13, recess
30 is formed by an outwardly projecting glide flange 31 (FIG. 2). A
side shoulder 33 then projects upwardly from the edge of glide
flange 31 and is continuous therewith to define the depth of recess
30 (FIG. 2). Similarly, a rear flange 32 projects rearwardly from
the top of rear wall 15 and a rear shoulder 34 projects upwardly
from the outside edge of rear flange 32 to define the rear portion
of recess 30. In effect, the glide flanges 31 and rear flange 32
define a stacking ledge upon which subsequent drawers can be
stacked and upon which cover 50 can be placed (FIGS. 5, 6 & 8).
Side shoulders 33 and rear shoulder 34 then provide a means for
preventing lateral and rearward shifting of cover 50 and of a
drawer 1 stacked thereon.
Front wall 14 is taller than side walls 13 such that its top edge
is generally continuous with the top edges of side shoulders 33 and
rear shoulder 34 (FIGS. 1 & 3). Thus, it also acts, in a sense,
to define a recess, although it does not include a stacking ledge.
It does act as a stop to prevent one from removing cover 50 by
sliding it straight forwardly (FIG. 5) and similarly prevents one
from sliding a stacked drawer 1 straight forwardly (FIG. 8).
Cover 50 comprises a large flat panel 51 (FIG. 4) having a flange
52 projecting upwardly from the front edge thereof. A second flange
53 projects outwardly from the top edge of flange 52. The upwardly
projecting flange 52 and the outwardly projecting flange 53 thus
provide a handle whereby cover 50 can be conveniently removed from
drawer 1, even though the panel 51 of cover 50 is recessed within
stacking recess 30 below the top edge of front wall 14 (FIG. 5).
When cover 50 is seated in place on drawer 1, flange 53 is spaced
slightly above handle 18 and the top edge of drawer 14 due to the
height of flange 52. Similarly, it projects outwardly over handle
18 such that it can be conveniently gripped to provide a convenient
means for removing cover 50 from drawer 1.
Cover 50 is thinner in cross section than the height of side
shoulder 33 and rear shoulder 34 (FIGS. 5 & 6). In other words,
cover 50 is thinner than the depth of stacking recess 30.
Consequently, a drawer 1 can be stacked on top of another drawer 1
even though a cover 30 is in place on the lower drawer 1. It should
also be noted that the distance between rear shoulder 34 and front
wall 14 is sufficiently great that the upper drawer 1 will fit
within recess 30, even though a cover 50 is in place and its
upwardly projecting flange 52 is disposed between the bottom of a
drawer 1 and front wall 14 (FIG. 8). When the drawers 1 are stacked
one on top of the other with the covers 50 in place, they have the
appearance shown in FIG. 7.
To accomodate the feet 17 of drawer 1, panel 51 of cover 50 is
recessed near its side edges to define foot recesses 59 (FIGS. 4, 5
& 6). Foot recesses 59 are approximately as deep as the height
of feet 17 such that the engagement of feet 17 with cover 50 does
not prevent drawer 1 from nesting properly within the stacking
recess 30 of a lower drawer 1.
In order to minimize the possibility of cover 50 from being
accidentally knocked ajar or removed when it is in place on drawer
1, a resilient rib 54 depends downwardly from panel 50 and extends
around the perimeter thereof (FIGS. 4, 5 &6). It is a grooved
deformation in panel 50 forming an inner wall 56 joined to an outer
wall 55 at the base of the groove (FIGS. 5 & 6). At the front
of cover 50, the outer wall of rib 54 is defined by flange 52,
which also forms a portion of the handle for cover 50.
The outer walls 55 of rib 54, and flange 52 at the front of cover
50, are biased outwardly as can be seen by reference to FIGS. 5
& 6. Thus when cover 50 is inserted onto a drawer 1, these
outer walls 55 and flange 52 must be forced inwardly. As a result,
they forcibly engage the walls 13, 14 and 15 of drawer 1.
Consequently, cover 50 is held snugly in place on drawer 1.
Finally, a generally horizontal peripheral flange 57 extends along
the sides and rear of cover 50 (FIGS. 4, 5 & 6). It is flange
57 which rests on the stacking ledge defined by glide flanges 31
and rear flanges 32 of drawer 1.
The glide flanges 31 not only act to provide a stacking ledge and a
ledge upon which cover 50 can be rested, but also they provide a
means for hanging drawer 1 in drawer supporting structure 2 (FIG.
1). Drawer supporting structure 2 comprises a rear wall 67 and a
pair of forwardly projecting, spaced vertical side walls 66. Guides
60 are provided for embracing glide flanges 31 to thereby support
drawer 1. The guides 60 are defined by a pair of spaced, inwardly
projecting guide flanges. These include a top guide flange 61 and a
bottom guide flange 64. Glide flanges 31 are then embraced by guide
flanges 61 and 64 (FIG. 5).
Bottom guide flange 64 is generally straight and flat, extending
from the rear wall 67 almost to the front of side wall 66 (FIG. 1).
It includes an upwardly projecting deviation 65 near the front
thereof which acts as a stop for drawer 1 in the manner which has
heretofore been described in Ser. No. 79,890.
Top guide flange 61 begins about one-third to one-half the distance
from rear wall 67 and extends forwardly to an inclined portion 62.
The inclined portion 62 slopes uwpardly to a raised front portion
63 which then extends as far forwardly as bottom guide flange 64
(FIG. 14). As has been heretofore described in application Ser. No.
79,890, the raised front portion 63 facilitates removal of drawer 1
from drawer supporting frame 2. However, it also allows clearance
for the handle on cover 50, which handle is defined by upwardly
projecting flange 52 and outwardly projecting flange 53 (FIG. 14).
The spacing of raised front portion 63 allows flange 53 to be
spaced a slight distance above handle 18 on drawer 1 to thereby
make flange 53 easier to grasp.
Cover 50, since it rests on glide flange 31 of drawer 1, is also
embraced by the guide flanges 61 and 64 of support 2 (FIG. 15). It
should be noted that upper guide flange 61, including inclined
portion 62 and raised front portion 63, project forwardly a
sufficient distance that they act to block the removal of cover 50
when drawer 1 is in its closed position. (FIG. 14). Thus, cover 50
cannot be raised because flange 53 will bump into the raised front
portion 63 of top guide flange 61 (FIG. 14). Similarly, cover 50
cannot be removed by pulling it straight forwardly, since it sits
down within recess 30 and front wall 14 of drawer body 10 extends
upwardly a sufficient distance to block the removal of cover 50 by
sliding it forwardly (FIG. 14). Thus, when drawer 1 is in its
closed position, cover 50 cannot be removed therefrom.
Lock 70, which is optional on drawer 1, makes it possible to lock
drawer 1 in place in support 2 (FIG. 13). Lock 70 is a cam-type
lock having a body 71 (FIG. 3) and a lock pin 72 which can be
projected from or retracted into lock body 71 (FIGS. 11 & 13).
Lock body 71 is mounted with its front projecting through a hole in
front wall 14 and with its lock pin 72 extending through a hole in
side wall 13 (FIG. 11). Lock 70 acts to lock drawer 1 in place by
cooperating with a blocking flange 68 projecting inwardly from side
66 of support 2 (FIGS. 1 & 12). Blocking flange 68 extends from
the bottom guide flange 64 of one pair of spaced guide flanges to
the top guide flange 61 of the next lower pair of spaced guide
flanges (FIG. 1). Specifically, blocking flange 68 extends from the
stop portion 65 of bottom guide flange 64 to the raised front
portion 63 of the next lower top guide flange 61 (FIG. 12).
The stop pin 72 of lock 70 has been indicated in phantom in FIG. 12
to show the manner in which it cooperates with blocking flange 68
to lock a drawer 1 in place. This cooperation can similarly be seen
in the fragmentary plan view, FIG. 13. Similarly in FIG. 14 the
upper corner wall portion of wall 13 of drawer 1 has been cut away
to show stop lock pin 72 in abutting relationship with blocking
flange 68.
Lock 70 is encased on the inside of drawer 1 by means of a plastic
encasement 73 which is adhered to the interior of drawer body 10 by
means of glue or the like. Normally, such lock structures are
either exposed on the interior of the drawer, or they are hidden by
some type of double walled drawer structure. The use of a simple
member encasement membe 73 greatly simplifies the construction of
drawer 1 and yet provides surfaces which can be readily cleaned and
which do not gather dust. It also keeps any grease or oil in the
lock mechanism from getting on the inside of drawer 1.
Tray insert 100 provides additional storage space for drawer 1 and
it also rests on guide flanges 31 by means of supporting flanges
101 (FIG. 10). Tray 100 is specifically provided with a thin cross
section such that its supporting flanges 101 are thinner than the
depth of recess 30. In this manner, tray 100 does not interfere
with the stackability of one drawer on top of another. Further, a
drawer, bearing tray 100 could still be provided with a cover 50
when placed in support 2. This is because tray 100 and cover 50 are
both thinner in cross section, at least at their edges, than the
depth of recess 30. Accordingly, there is room for both within
recess 30.
In operation, a drawer 1 can be filled at a remote location and
provided with a cover 50 for storage. The cover 50 will not
interfere with stacking and fits snugly to prevent accidental
removal. Covered drawers 1 can be stacked one on top of another in
the same manner as drawer stacking is contemplated by U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 79,890 (FIG. 7).
When it is desired to use a filled drawer 1, it can be placed into
a drawer supporting frame 2 which in turn can be supported at any
desired location. Cover 50 can still be used to provide a means for
keeping dust out of the interior of drawer 1. It can also provide a
means for sealing the contents of drawer 1 from intruders. When
drawer 1 is closed in frame 2 cover 50 cannot be removed therefrom
because it is blocked by the front wall 14 of drawer body 10 and by
top guide flange 61 of support 2. Lock 70 can be locked to thereby
prevent both the removal of drawer 1 from support 2 and the removal
of cover 50 from drawer 1.
It is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of
this invention and that many changes and alterations can be made
thereof without departing from its spirit and broader aspects.
* * * * *