GB2080677A

GB2080677A - Storage means

Info

Publication number: GB2080677A
Application number: GB8117355A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Whittle Metal Productions F J
Current assignee: Whittle Metal Productions F J
Priority date: 1980-07-30
Filing date: 1981-06-05
Publication date: 1982-02-10

Abstract

A cabinet for storing tools etc. has a number of trays pivoted on a common shaft. Each container has a tube fixed in a corner to act as a hinge knuckle, and the shaft is threaded through the knuckles from the underside of a cabinet so that the method of assembly is hidden to a casual observer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage means This invention relates to storage means, primarily intended for use with tools and other small but relatively heavy articles.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of storage means, and particularly one which is simple to manufacture and assemble.

According to the invention, storage means comprising a series of like containers pivoted about a common axis so as to be capable of individual swinging movement into and out of a carcass structure, are characterised in that the containers are provided with a tube fixed in a corner of each container to act as a hinge knuckle, and a common hinge shaft extends through all of the tubes and is located at its ends in bores in the carcass structure whereby assembly of the containers to the carcass is effected by threading the shaft through the aligned bores of the tubes and carcass.

The carcass may be a cupboard arranged to be free standing or wall mounted for example. However, the invention also contemplates the provision of a skeleton carcass adapted to be installed in an existing space.

The invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a r;;mber of assembled containers; Figure 2 shows a typical cupboard; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the cupboard of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged scale fragmentary section on the line 44 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a similar section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Reference is now made to the Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings which shows the containers and the support shaft. The containers 10 are trays made of metal sheet or plate with welded corners. A length of tube 12 equal to or slightly in excess of the interior depth of each tray is welded into a corner of each tray. Although the trays are all "like" in the sense that they may be of identical shape and dimensions in plan view, they can be made of various depths, to suit articles of different dimensions or other different requirements.

The trays are supported and hinged by a common shaft 26 as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 2-5, the arrangement of Figure 1 is embodied in a cabinet. To this end, each tray 15 provided with a bearing disc or washer 14 on the underside of its base arranged concentric to the tube. The carcass of the cabinet, which may be made of metal sheet or plate welded to provide a completely parallelopiped container 16 having a hinged door 18, is provided with transverse partitions 20, each of which is located between two adjacent trays when the storage means are completely assembled.

The partitions comprise channel section steel members which are hook engaged with brackets (not shown) at each end, the brackets being welded to side members of the cabinet. Each transverse partition carries a roller 22 of any convenient form, and a recirculating ball castor type is preferred, arranged so as to abut the underside of the next adjacent tray located thereabove, and provide support for the tray during the swinging movement. It will be appreciated that for this purpose, the roller or like should be located at a substantial distance from the shaft axis, for example two-thirds of the way along the length of the partition in a normal case.

Each partition is generally T-shaped (Figure 3) with the head 20 of the T lying parallel to the door when the latter is in a closed position, and the stem 24 of the T extending parallel to the side walls of the cabinet and midway therebetween.

The washer on the underside of each container abuts against the top of the corresponding partition, and the bottom of that partition is slightly spaced above the top end of the tube of the container therebelow. Alternatively the said top end of the tube may abut the underside of the partition.

The shaft 26 may be assembled from the underside of the cabinet, so as to pass first through a hole in the base of the cabinet, then through each container and partition and finally seat in a blind bore at the top of the cabinet. The shaft may be held in place against unintentional displacement by a closure plug or for example by one of a number of castors 28 which make the cabinet freely movable. The door 18 of the cabinet has a shallow peripheral skirt 30 which encloses a like flange 32 around the opening in the cabinet for greater strength and security, and the cabinet is preferably provided with at least one lock or locking means (not shown).

The hinges on the door are of the type allowing the door to be lifted off and the door may be provided with a rubber seal to exclude dust and damp. A buf ferstrip, e.g. a rubber strip may be arranged within the cabinet, e.g. on the rear wall to cushion the trays when they are moved to the closed position. Finally, the top of the cabinet is provided with a number of ridges 32, e.g. along three sides thereof to form a storage area or shelf.

The chain dot line of Figure 3 shows a container swung out for access, and the door open.

1. Storage means comprising a series of like containers pivoted about a common axis so as to be capable of individual swinging movement into and out of a carcass structure, and characterised in that the containers are provided with a tube fixed in a corner of each container to act as a hinge knuckle, and a common hinge shaft extends through all af the tubes and is located at its ends in bores in the carcass structure, whereby assembly of the containers to the carcass is effected by threading the shaft through the aligned bores of the tubes and carcass.

2. Storage means as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the shaft is threaded through the carcass from the underside of the latter, and is held in place by a closure plug or like.

3. Storage means as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the carcass includes a partition between each two adjacent containers, and each partition car

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Storage means This invention relates to storage means, primarily intended for use with tools and other small but relatively heavy articles. The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of storage means, and particularly one which is simple to manufacture and assemble. According to the invention, storage means comprising a series of like containers pivoted about a common axis so as to be capable of individual swinging movement into and out of a carcass structure, are characterised in that the containers are provided with a tube fixed in a corner of each container to act as a hinge knuckle, and a common hinge shaft extends through all of the tubes and is located at its ends in bores in the carcass structure whereby assembly of the containers to the carcass is effected by threading the shaft through the aligned bores of the tubes and carcass. The carcass may be a cupboard arranged to be free standing or wall mounted for example. However, the invention also contemplates the provision of a skeleton carcass adapted to be installed in an existing space. The invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a r;;mber of assembled containers; Figure 2 shows a typical cupboard; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the cupboard of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged scale fragmentary section on the line 44 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a similar section on the line 55 of Figure 3. Reference is now made to the Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings which shows the containers and the support shaft. The containers 10 are trays made of metal sheet or plate with welded corners. A length of tube 12 equal to or slightly in excess of the interior depth of each tray is welded into a corner of each tray. Although the trays are all "like" in the sense that they may be of identical shape and dimensions in plan view, they can be made of various depths, to suit articles of different dimensions or other different requirements. The trays are supported and hinged by a common shaft 26 as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 2-5, the arrangement of Figure 1 is embodied in a cabinet. To this end, each tray 15 provided with a bearing disc or washer 14 on the underside of its base arranged concentric to the tube. The carcass of the cabinet, which may be made of metal sheet or plate welded to provide a completely parallelopiped container 16 having a hinged door 18, is provided with transverse partitions 20, each of which is located between two adjacent trays when the storage means are completely assembled. The partitions comprise channel section steel members which are hook engaged with brackets (not shown) at each end, the brackets being welded to side members of the cabinet. Each transverse partition carries a roller 22 of any convenient form, and a recirculating ball castor type is preferred, arranged so as to abut the underside of the next adjacent tray located thereabove, and provide support for the tray during the swinging movement. It will be appreciated that for this purpose, the roller or like should be located at a substantial distance from the shaft axis, for example two-thirds of the way along the length of the partition in a normal case. Each partition is generally T-shaped (Figure 3) with the head 20 of the T lying parallel to the door when the latter is in a closed position, and the stem 24 of the T extending parallel to the side walls of the cabinet and midway therebetween. The washer on the underside of each container abuts against the top of the corresponding partition, and the bottom of that partition is slightly spaced above the top end of the tube of the container therebelow. Alternatively the said top end of the tube may abut the underside of the partition. The shaft 26 may be assembled from the underside of the cabinet, so as to pass first through a hole in the base of the cabinet, then through each container and partition and finally seat in a blind bore at the top of the cabinet. The shaft may be held in place against unintentional displacement by a closure plug or for example by one of a number of castors 28 which make the cabinet freely movable. The door 18 of the cabinet has a shallow peripheral skirt 30 which encloses a like flange 32 around the opening in the cabinet for greater strength and security, and the cabinet is preferably provided with at least one lock or locking means (not shown). The hinges on the door are of the type allowing the door to be lifted off and the door may be provided with a rubber seal to exclude dust and damp. A buf ferstrip, e.g. a rubber strip may be arranged within the cabinet, e.g. on the rear wall to cushion the trays when they are moved to the closed position. Finally, the top of the cabinet is provided with a number of ridges 32, e.g. along three sides thereof to form a storage area or shelf. The chain dot line of Figure 3 shows a container swung out for access, and the door open. CLAIMS

3. Storage means as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the carcass includes a partition between each two adjacent containers, and each partition car ries a roller or like spaced from the shaft axis and engaging the underside of the containerthereabove.

4. Storage means substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.