Storage unit

• US 8,113,602 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Mills Company (Bradley Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Mills Company (Bradley Corporation)
• Inventors: Heimler, James R., Thielke, Mark A., Pelt, Thomas E., Dommisse, Jon, Morris, Todd, Perry, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling, Amy J
• Application Number:
  US12/761,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 312/217, 312/216, 312/220, 492/79
• US Class Current: 312/217
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/02 made of metal only
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 61/00 Wardrobes
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/002 locking the handle E05B13/10, E05B47/0657 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0093 Weight arrangements in locks; gravity activated lock parts E05B65/5292, E05B77/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/025 for lockers
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/04 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/06 with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/001 with bolts extending over a considerable extent, e.g. nearly along the whole length of at least one side of the wing movable sealing strips E06B7/18
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned

Abstract

A locker is provided. The locker comprises a base defining a storage space, a door coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position, and a latch bar moveable relative to the door between an extended and a retracted position. The latch bar defines at least one guide slot configured to receive a projection for guiding the movement of the latch bar between the extended position and the retracted position. The at least one guide slot is at least partially non-linear. The latch bar is moved to the extended position to secure the door in the closed position.

Claims

1. A locker comprising:

a base defining a storage space;

a door coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position;

a latch bar supported on the door and moveable relative to the door between an extended and a retracted position, the latch bar being supported on an interior side of the door and defining at least one guide slot having a first end and a second end, the at least one guide slot being at least partially non-linear in a region between the first end and the second end; and

at least one projection configured to engage the at least one guide slot for guiding the movement of the latch bar between the extended position and the retracted position,

wherein the latch bar is moved to the extended position to secure the door in the closed position.

2. The locker of claim 1 wherein the extended position is horizontally and vertically offset from the retracted position.

3. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot is a curved slot.

4. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot extends outward and then upward.

5. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot extends upward and then outward.

6. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot extends upward and then outward and then upward again.

7. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot is a through-slot extending completely through the latch bar.

8. The locker of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide slot includes a plurality of guide slots.

9. The locker of claim 1 wherein the projection is coupled to the door.

10. The locker of claim 1 wherein the latch bar is biased toward the extended position.

11. The locker of claim 10 wherein the latch bar has a weight that biases the latch bar toward the extended position.

12. The locker of claim 1 wherein the latch bar is configured to engage the base to secure the door in the closed position.

13. The locker of claim 12 wherein the latch bar is a one-piece bar having a first portion defining the at least one guide slot and a second portion configured to engage the base to secure the door in the closed position.

14. The locker of claim 1 further comprising a handle accessible from an exterior side of the side.

15. The locker of claim 14 wherein the handle projects outward from the exterior side of the door.

16. The locker of claim 14 wherein manipulation of the handle causes the latch bar to move between the extended position to the retracted position thereby allowing the door to be moved to the open position.

17. The locker of claim 16 wherein the handle is manipulated by moving the handle in a substantially vertical direction.

18. The locker of claim 16 wherein the handle is manipulated by moving the handle in both a vertical and horizontal direction.

19. The locker of claim 16 wherein the handle is manipulated by rotating the handle relative to the door.