Patent Application
20100253192
This invention relates to drawer assemblies of the type typically found in cabinets. The invention is more specially directed to drawers for use in cabinets adapted for use in storing articles such as tools, and other articles which are relatively heavy.
Conventional drawer fitted cabinets typically include a cabinet frame which defines a plurality of recesses. Each recess is configured and dimensioned to receive and retain a respective drawer. A common configuration defines a recess having a quadrilateral cross section which is generally constant over the length of the recess. A drawer, constructed to be received in such a recess, generally includes a planar floor element. A common floor element is rectangular in shape having a planar upper as well as lower surface. The floor element defines two side perimeters, positioned opposite from one another. These side perimeters are linear in construction. The floor element also defines a front perimeter and a rear perimeter. The front and rear perimeters are positioned opposite from one another, each of these latter perimeters are also linear in configuration. The side perimeters each intersect the front perimeter and their rear perimeter at right angles.
Four upstanding sidewalls are positioned about the perimeter of the floor element. Each of the sidewalls may be formed by a planar panel having a generally rectangular shape. Each of the ends of a sidewall is coupled with the end of an adjacently positioned sidewall, typically forming a right angle. The sidewalls extend vertically upright thereby forming a quadrilaterally configured frame which extends upwardly from the horizontally positioned floor element. The drawer may be fitted with a guidance structure adapted to retain the drawer in a preselected travel path as the drawer is pulled outwardly from the recess or pushed back into the recess.
When drawers of the conventional construction are utilized in environments wherein the articles being stored within the drawers are relatively heavy, for example industrial tools, the construction of the drawer oftentimes fails under the increased weight demands imposed by these articles. The floor element typically separates from its connection with the sidewalls in this event, resulting in the contents of the drawer being scattered as the floor disassociates from the remainder of the drawer assembly. It follows that in industrial cabinets, of the type traditionally found in automobile service shops, industrial trucks fitted with storage cabinets, and other service related environments, there exists a need for storage drawers which have the ability to provide enhanced resistance to the loads exerted by relatively heavy articles being stored within such cabinets and specifically the drawers of such cabinets.
A drawer assembly of the invention includes a floor element having at least one outwardly extending tab disposed along a perimeter of the floor element. A plurality of upstanding sidewalls are disposed about the floor element to extend upwardly therefrom. At least one of the sidewalls defines an elongate slot therein dimensioned to receive the tab. The tab is inserted into the slot thereby forming a support for the floor element. The tab may extend through the slot. The sidewall may further include a laterally extending shelf, configured near its lower edge, which extends below the floor element sufficient to form a support upon which the floor element may rest. In a further embodiment of the invention the ends of the sidewall may be configured to form mounting surfaces for securement with adjacently positioned sidewalls to provide further enhancement of the connection of the sidewalls to the floor element of the drawer.
As shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment of the invention, the tabs 52 are formed integrally with the floor surface 12. In other constructions, the tabs 52 may be separate elements which are secured to the floor element by suitable securement means, e.g. welding.
Alternatively, other securement means such as adhesives, or mechanical connectors may be utilized. The drawer may be fabricated of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as steel or other metal or alternatively, plastic, fiberglass or other rigid or semi-rigid material.
The front sidewall of the drawer 20 may be fitted with a handle and locking mechanism of the type shown in
The second support 30 defines an elongate slot therein 34 which slidably receives a blot 38. The bolt 38, in turn, is secured within a mounting 36 which is secured in the front sidewall 20. Due to its sliding securement with the bolt 38, the second support 30 is permitted to be displaced laterally toward and away from the bracket 25 fitted on the left end of the front sidewall 20. The end of the second support 30 is bent generally at an angle of ninety degrees to form a handle 32 which may be grasped by the user to apply a laterally directed force to the latch member 25 through intermediation of the second support 30 and support 26. As the handle 32 is pulled to the right, the latch member 25 is withdrawn into the passageway defined within the bracket 22 thereby disengaging itself with the frame of the cabinet which is typically positioned adjacent to the upright edge of the front face of the front sidewall 20.
The right side of the front sidewall 20 is likewise fitted with a bracket 24 which corresponds structure wise with the bracket 22 previously described. A support 27 is secured to a latching member which is housed within the bracket 24. The bracket is secured to the front sidewall 20 by securement members 31 which may be rivets which pass through the bracket and into the front sidewall 20. A secondary support 40 is secured to the support 27 by a rivet 29. This secondary support 40 is slidably secured to the front sidewall 20 by a bolt 48 which passes through an elongate slot 44 defined within the support 40. This securement permits a lateral sliding displacement of the secondary support 40 along the face of the front sidewall 20. The bolt 48 is secured to the front sidewall by a mounting bracket 46. The secondary support 40 is fitted with a generally “U” shaped handle 42 which provides the user with a means of grasping the secondary support and displacing that support to the left. The orientation of the handles 32 and 42 permit a user to grasp both handles with a single hand and upon urging the two handles toward one another cause the latching members located on the ends of supports 26 and 27 to be disengaged from their engagements with the cabinet side frame.
As shown to advantage in
In another embodiment of the invention, the rear sidewall 18 may be further secured to the floor element by the provision of a mounting surface which corresponds to that of mounting surface 54 of sidewall 16. In this instance, the sidewall 18 would be bent proximate its lower edge in a manner similar to that of sidewall 16 to approximately ninety degrees to form a mounting surface having the general configuration of mounting surface 54 of sidewall 16. In this particular instance, the ends of the mounting surface may be cut back in order to avoid any overlap with the mounting surface 54 of sidewall 16 and sidewall 14 proximate the ends of sidewall 18. In this alternative construction, the rear sidewall 18 would be also be configured to define one or more elongate slots 50 each being dimensioned and oriented to receive a respective tab 52 carried by floor element 12. Similarly, the floor element 12 may be fitted with tabs 52 which extend rearwardly which would then facilitate a similar connection of the rear sidewall 18 in a manner similar to that previously described with reference to sidewall 16 with floor element 12.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention a connection of the floor element with the front sidewall 20 utilizing a tab 52 and corresponding slot arrangement 50 may be constructed together with a suitable shelf construction fabricated by bending the front sidewall proximate its lower region ninety degrees to define a shelf corresponding generally to that of shelf 54 of sidewall 16.
It follows that consistent with the provisions of the instant invention, a drawer may be constructed to include one or more strengthened connections between an upstanding sidewall of the drawer and the underlying floor element by positioning tabs extending outwardly from the floor element sized to be received with appropriately sized slots defined within the sidewall. The sidewall may also include a laterally extending shelf defined proximate the lower region of that element which is dimensioned and sized to extend below the floor element to provide a support structure upon which the floor element may rest. The connection may be supplemented by support members defined on or more of the ends of the sidewall which wrap around an adjoining sidewall, positioned proximate the end of the sidewall and are secured to that adjoining sidewall by suitable securement members.
It should be appreciated that the above description of the instant invention is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention which is solely determined by the claims which are appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61141634 | Dec 2008 | US |
