Cabinet structures coupled to adjacent cabinet structures and to rectangular frame elements, and equipped with anti-tilt mechanisms and rolling and sliding bases

• US 5,486,041 A
• Filed: 05/26/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
• Inventors: Sykes, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/249,606
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 312/108, 312/111, 312/198, 312/263, 312/265.5, 108/64, 108/65, 248/188.4
• US Class Current: 312/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/007 Linkable independent elements with the same or similar cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0284 Cabinet systems consisting of stacked-and-linked uniform casings, each being a cabinet or drawer-holder, e.g. lockers, mail/file boxing systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/005 Support bases
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/46 Non-metal corner connections

Abstract

Cabinet structure has interconnected side, top and back panels, and base structure connected to the side panels, all with interengaging bevelled edge surfaces. A recess is formed in one bevelled surface and extends outwardly to define an opening on an outer corner edge of the cabinet structure. A coupling member has a rectangular tab inserted in the opening for coupling to auxiliary structure. The base structure is a channel rail receiving a plate sliding longitudinally of the rail from a retracted position to an extended position for engaging in the rail of said similar structure. Sliding drawer suspensions have anti-tilt mechanisms interconnected by an actuating bar which passes through the top panel of the lower of two stacked cabinet structures. The bar is releasably connected to each anti-tilt mechanism to allow assembly and disassembly of the stack. A rectangular base has rollers and a jacking member to raise the base from a lower position in which it rolls freely on the rollers to an upper position in which the rollers disengage from the ground.

Claims

1. Cabinet structure coupling to a superadjacent similar cabinet structure, each such cabinet structure comprising interconnected side, top and back panels, and base structure comprising a downwardly facing channel connected at least to the side panels, the side and top panels having interengaging bevelled edge surfaces, and at least one channel section recess formed in at least one of said bevelled edge surfaces and extending outwardly to define an opening on an outer corner edge of the cabinet structure, and, in combination therewith, a coupling member connecting to the base structure of said superadjacent cabinet structure and having a rectangular tab portion inserted in said opening and an elongated web portion seating in said downwardly facing channel of said superadjacent similar cabinet structure and said tab portion inclining generally longitudinally away from one end of said web portion generally toward an opposite end thereof.

2. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base structure comprises at least one channel section rail extending transversely between said side panels.

3. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said channel section rail has bevelled end surfaces interengaging bevelled edge surfaces of the side panels and each end of said rail is connected to the adjacent side panel by an angle bracket connector having one portion inserted in a slot formed in the bevelled edge of said adjacent side panel and another portion inserted in a channel of said rail.

4. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 2 including a plate sliding longitudinally in said rail from a retracted position to an extended position for engagement in a rail of an adjacent similar structure.

5. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 4 including a fastener for locating the plate in the rail in the extended position.

6. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling member comprises a limb extending from said opposite end of said web portion generally toward said tab portion for engaging a top panel of the cabinet structure.

7. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1 including a mechanical fastener adapted to locate said coupling member relative to said base structure.

8. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said downwardly facing channel extends laterally between the side panels and receives a plate sliding longitudinally of the channel from a retracted position to an extended position engaging in the channel of a similar adjacent cabinet structure.

9. Cabinet structure as claimed in claim 8 including a fastener for locating the plate in the channel in the extended position.

10. Modular sliding drawer cabinet structure comprising at least an upper and a lower modular cabinets adapted to be stacked vertically with said upper on said lower cabinet, each cabinet having two sides, a back, a top and base structure, each side having an inner face, and a front connected to a sliding drawer suspension connected to each of said inner faces, an anti-tilt mechanism associated with at least one sliding drawer suspension of each cabinet, and an actuating bar interconnecting the anti-tilt mechanism and disallowing extension of the suspension of one of said cabinets when the suspension of the other of said cabinets is extended, and wherein the top of at least the lower cabinet has an opening through which the bar passes and each end of the bar is adapted to couple releasably to each anti-tilt mechanism.

11. In combination, rectangular cabinet structure and a rectangular base supporting the structure and provided with roller members normally engaging the ground beneath the base for rolling motion, and associated with each roller member a jacking mechanism actuatable to elevate the base sufficiently to disengage each roller member from the ground wherein the base has a periphery defined by a rectangular frame comprising a pair of parallel end members and a pair of side members at right angles to the end members, and said roller members comprise a pair of cylindrical rollers extending horizontally parallel to and adjacent said pair of end members, respectively, each roller member having a length substantially the length of the adjacent end member and journalled at its opposite ends on said side members, respectively.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein each jacking mechanism comprises a bolt threadedly engaging the base and extendable downwardly.

13. Cabinet structure coupling to a rectangular frame element having a channel section member, said cabinet structure comprising interconnected side, top and back panels, and base structure connected at least to the side panels, the side and top panels having interengaging bevelled edge surfaces, and at least one channel section recess formed in at least one of said bevelled edge surfaces and extending outwardly to define an opening on an outer corner edge of the cabinet structure, and, in combination therewith, a coupling member comprising a rectangular tab portion inserted in said opening and an elongated rectangular member to be secured longitudinally within the channel of said channel section member, said rectangular tab portion inclining longitudinally away from said rectangular member.

14. Cabinet structure coupling to a rectangular frame element having a channel section member, said cabinet structure comprising interconnected side, top and back panels, and base structure connected at least to the side panels, the side and top panels having interengaging bevelled edge surfaces, and at least one channel section recess formed in at least one of said bevelled edge surfaces and extending outwardly to define an opening on an outer corner edge of the cabinet structure, and, in combination therewith, a coupling member comprising a rectangular tab portion inserted in said opening and a channel section portion secured laterally within the channel of said channel section member, and said rectangular tab portion inclining laterally from said channel section portion.