Filing cabinet

• US 3,872,802 A
• Filed: 01/08/1973
• Issued: 03/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas Scheerhorn, Robert C Van Gessel
• Original Assignee: Douglas Scheerhorn, Robert C Van Gessel
• Inventors: Scheerhorn, Douglas, Van Gessel, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US05/321,561
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 108/60,61,107,109,110 211/184,135
• US Class Current: 108/61
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/58 with means for adjusting partitions horizontally book-ends A47B65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/202 Cable lay-outs

Abstract

A cabinet, desk or the like having vertical double-walled space dividers on its shelves. Each divider includes a pair of tabs projecting downwardly therefrom for seating in slots on a lower shelf. It also includes a spring wire disposed between its walls which defines an upwardly projecting detent for releasably engaging a slot in an upper shelf. The actuator for the detent is accessible through an open window extending completely through both walls of the divider. For supporting small shelves between adjacent dividers, each wall of the divider includes an outwardly projecting vertical rib having a plurality of horizontal slots therein. Each slot is sufficiently wide that the shelves can be oriented horizontally or cocked at an angle. A wiring channel disposed in the end wall of the cabinet is covered by a hingedly mounted, spring-biased door. Where the channel passes a shelf, the shelf is notched to allow one to open the door and thereby pass wiring into the channel. A looped and barbed leaf spring arrangement provides both the hinging mechanism and the spring-biasing means.

Claims

1. In a cabinet having at least one horizontal shelf and at least one vertical divider including a movabLe detent for releasably cooperating with a keeper in said shelf to thereby releasably hold said divider in position, the improvement comprising:

said detent being positioned within said divider and including a portion extending therebeyond;

an actuator being positioned within said divider and being operably connected to said detent;

an access aperture extending completely through said divider, said actuator extending into said access aperture whereby it is readily accessible from either side of said divider and can be operated to facilitate retraction or extension of said detent member with respect both to said divider and to said keeper with which it releasably cooperates.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 including spring means biasing said detent to a position normally projecting from said divider and into engagement with said keeper.

3. The cabinet of claim 2 in which said detent and said actuator comprise a single spring wire, anchored at one end and bent to define said detent and said actuator.

4. The cabinet of claim 3 in which said access aperture and said actuator are located generally at the top of said divider.

5. In a cabinet having at least one horizontal shelf and at least one releasably mounted vertical divider thereon, said shelf including a keeper for cooperation with said divider, the improvement comprising:

said divider including two spaced walls;

an aperture in each wall, said apertures being aligned to define a single access window; and

a spring wire anchored between said walls and being formed to define an interconnected detent and actuator, said detent extending out from between said walls for engagement with said keeper;

said actuator extending into said access window whereby one can operate said actuator to retract said detent into a position between said walls to thereby disengage said detent and said keeper.

6. The cabinet of claim 5 in which said spring wire is anchored at one end between said walls and extends from said anchor end a sufficient distance to define a leaf spring portion;

said wire being bent at the end of said spring portion so as to project outwardly from between said walls, then being bent back so as to extend back into position between said walls and then being bent laterally so as to extend into said access window.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 in which spacers are mounted between said walls, said spacers having a thickness which allows said spring wire to move between said walls, but prevents any degree of lateral movement of said spring wire.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 in which said spaced walls are depressed inwardly towards one another around said anchored end of said spring wire to thereby hold said spring wire in place.

9. The cabinet of claim 8 in which there is a slot in each of the inwardly depressed portions of said walls, said anchor end of said spring wire extending into said slot, said spring wire being deflected laterally on either side of said inwardly depressed areas of said wall to thereby prevent sliding movement of said spring wire within said slot.

10. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said inwardly depressed areas of said walls are spot welded together both above and below said slot.

11. The cabinet of claim 8 in which said inwardly depressed areas of said walls are spot welded together both above and below said slot.

12. The cabinet of claim 6 in which said spaced walls are depressed inwardly towards one another around said anchored end of said spring wire to thereby hold said spring wire in place.

13. The cabinet of claim 12 in which there is a slot in each of the inwardly depressed portions of said walls, said anchor end of said spring wire extending into said slot, said spring wire being deflected laterally on either side of said inwardly depressed areas of said wall to thereby prevent sliding movement of said spring wire within said slot.

14. The cabinet of claim 13 in which said inwardly depressed areas of said walls are spot welded together both above and below said slot.

15. The cabinet of claim 13 in which said access window is located generally at the top of said divider so as to be less conspicuous to the casual observer.

16. The cabinet of claim 13 in which each of said walls of said divider are deformed outwardly away from one another along the same spaced front and rear vertical lines to define spaced front and rear vertical ribs;

each of said ribs being generally continuous, but including a plurality of generally horizontal slots therein;

said slots being sufficiently wide that a supplemental shelf can be supported horizontally between adjacent ones of said dividers in said front and rear slots either on the same level or on an angle in front and rear slots which are on different levels.

17. The cabinet of claim 8 in which each of said walls of said divider are deformed outwardly away from one another along the same spaced front and rear vertical lines to define spaced front and rear vertical ribs;

each of said ribs being generally continuous, but including a plurality of generally horizontal slots therein;

said slots being sufficiently wide that a supplemental shelf can be supported horizontally between adjacent ones of said dividers in said front and rear slots either on the same level or on an angle in front and rear slots which are on different levels.