AU2018100200A4 - A drawer chest - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawer chest (10) comprising: a pair of side panels (20); and a foldable back panel (40) pivotally connected to the side panels (20); wherein the pair of side panels (20) are pivotally movable from a first position to a second position relative to each other, and the back panel (40) is in a folded position when the pair of side panels (20) are in the first position, and the back panel (40) is an unfolded position when the pair of side panels (20) are in the second position. Fig. 3 w 0-

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a drawer chest.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Assembly flat pack furniture can be difficult and require a significant physical effort for some customers and time-consuming. Sometimes assembly requires the use of tools such as an Allen key or Phillips head screwdriver. For complex furniture items, at least two people may be required to perform assembly of such furniture items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] The inventive concept arises from a recognition that reducing the time to assemble large flat pack furniture items, for example, a drawer chest, is beneficial for users. The packaging of flat pack furniture items should remain as compact as possible to facilitate easy and convenient transport of items from a retail store to the user’s premises. Avoiding the use of tools for fastening fasteners to connect components of the furniture item together also saves time and prevents frustration if users do not possess such tools or when such tools are not provided with the packaging of the flat pack furniture item.

[0004] The present invention, in one aspect, comprises a drawer chest comprising a pair of side panels. The drawer chest also comprises a foldable back panel pivotally connected to the side panels. The pair of side panels are movable from a first position to a second position relative to each other. The back panel is in a folded position when the pair of side panels are in the first position. The back panel is an unfolded position when the pair of side panels are in the second position.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0005] The foldable back panel may comprise a first panel member pivotally connected to a second panel member.

[0006] The first panel member may be pivotally connected to the second panel member by spaced apart hinges.

[0007] The first panel member may be pivotally connected to a first side panel of the pair of side panels by spaced apart hinges, and the second panel member is pivotally connected to a second side panel of the pair of side panels by spaced apart hinges.

[0008] The drawer chest may further comprise a front lower span including a comer bracket and dowels to secure the front lower span to the side panels, wherein holes of the corner bracket engage with exposed portions of fasteners inserted into the side panels.

[0009] The drawer chest may further comprise a locking piece configured to slide over the exposed portions of fasteners to secure the corner bracket to the side panels.

[0010] The drawer chest may further comprise at least one rear span having a longitudinal recess for receiving an edge of the back panel.

[0011] The drawer chest may further comprise push pin fasteners to secure the at least one rear span to the back panel.

[0012] Other advantages and features according to the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill upon reading this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0013] Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numbers denote like elements and in which:

[0014] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a drawer chest of the present invention prior to partial assembly by a manufacturer;

[0015] Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the drawer chest in a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention prior to partial assembly by a manufacturer when side panels are in an extended position and hinges are about to be attached;

[0016] Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 2 in partial assembled form by the manufacturer depicting the back panel in a partially folded position;

[0017] Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 2 in partial assembled form depicting the side panels in a compact position and the back panel is in the folded position;

[0018] Fig. 5 is a front perspective view ofthe drawer chest of Fig. 2 depicting the engagement of upper and lower front spans to the side panels by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0019] Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the upper front span;

[0020] Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the lower front span;

[0021] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower front span about to engage with a side panel by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0022] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower front span engaged with a side panel before locking pieces are mounted by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0023] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lower front span secured to a side panel with the locking pieces mounted;

[0024] Fig. 11 is a front perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 1 depicting the mounting of the upper and lower rear spans onto the upper and lower edge of the back panel, respectively, by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0025] Fig. 12 is a rear perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 1 depicting the securement of the upper and lower rear spans to the back panel using four push pin fasteners by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0026] Fig. 13 is a zoomed in rear perspective view of a corner of the drawer chest of Fig. 1 depicting the securement of upper rear span to the back panel by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0027] Fig. 14 is a front perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 1 depicting the placement of the top panel onto the side panels by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0028] Fig. 15 is a bottom perspective view of the top panel of Fig. 14 depicting the engagement of corner pieces used to secure the top panel with the side panels, by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

[0029] Fig. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the top panel of Fig. 14 about to be secured to the side panels by a user for full assembly of the drawer chest;

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0030] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 2 prior to the mounting of drawers; and [0031] Fig.18 is a perspective view of the drawer chest of Fig. 2 with drawers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0032] A preferred drawer chest according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 17 and shown generally at reference numeral 10.

[0033] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the drawer chest 10 is depicted in a form prior to partial assembly by a manufacturer and before provision to a user. The drawer chest 10 comprises a pair of side panels 20. The drawer chest 10 also comprises a foldable back panel 40 pivotally connected to the side panels 20.

The pair of side panels 20 are movable from a first position to a second position relative to each other. The back panel 40 is in a folded position when the pair of side panels 20 are in the first position. The back panel 40 is an unfolded position when the pair of side panels 20 are in the second position.

[0034] The first position for the pair of side panels 20 is a compact position where the side panels 20 are brought together. The second position for the pair of side panels 20 is an extended position where the side panels 20 are spaced as far apart from each other in the final position when the drawer chest 10 is assembled.

[0035] The foldable back panel 40 comprises a first panel member 40A pivotally connected to a second panel member 40B. The first panel member 40A may be pivotally connected to the second panel member 40B by vertically spaced apart hinges 42. In one embodiment, there are two hinges 42 pivotally connecting the two panel members 40A, 40B together.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0036] The first panel member 40A is pivotally connected to a first side panel 20 of the pair of side panels 20 by spaced apart hinges 44 and the second panel member 40B is pivotally connected to a second side panel 20 of the pair of side panels 20 by spaced apart hinges 44.

[0037] Each side panel 20 comprises a frame and a planar board 25. The frame includes a front leg 21, rear leg 22, upper span 23 and lower span 24. The planar board 25 engages with the top surface of the lower span 24 and bottom surface of the upper span 23 via matching tongue and groove. Recesses are provided on the inner surface of the front and rear legs 21, 22 at the upper and lower ends to enable end protrusions of the upper and lower spans 23, 24 to engage. A dowel 26 is partially inserted into a hole provided at the upper surface of the front leg 21. The two dowels 26 are inserted into holes on the bottom surface of the top panel 80 to secure and fix the position of the top panel 80 relative to the side panels 20. A pair of holes 29 are provided at an inner side surface of the front leg 21. Three pairs of drawer slides 30 or drawer runners are fastened to the inner surface of the planar board 25 to engage with three drawers. 90. The drawer slides 30 are fastened to the planar board 25 by push pins 31 that frictionally engage with pre-drilled holes in the planar board 25. A pair of fasteners 28 are inserted into a pair of holes 27 at a front portion of the lower span 24.

[0038] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a partially assembled drawer chest 10 that is partially assembled by the manufacturer is provided to the user in the packaging. The partially assembled drawer chest 10 comprises the first panel member 40A pivotally connected to a second panel member 40B by hinges 42, the panel members 40A, 40B pivotally connected to the side panels 20 by hinges 44, partially inserted dowels 26 into hole provided at the upper surface of the front legs 21, and drawer slides 30 mounted to the inner surface of the side panels 20. The user expands the partially assembled drawer chest 10 by moving the side panels 20 apart causing the back panel 40 to unfold.

[0039] Referring to Fig. 5, an upper front span 50 and a lower front span 52 connects the side panels 20 together.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0040] Referring to Fig. 6, on each end of the upper front span 50 has a pair of holes to receive the partial insertion of a pair of dowels 51. The exposed part of the dowels 51 are then positioned and inserted into corresponding holes 29 located at an upper region of the front legs 21 of the side panels 20.

[0041] Referring to Fig. 7, the lower front span 52 has a pair of pre-drilled holes on an inner surface. Two right angle brackets 53 are mounted to the inner surface of the lower front span 52 near its ends. The right angle brackets 53 have a pair of holes that are required to be aligned with the pre-drilled holes on the lower front span 52. A pair of fasteners pass through the holes of the right angle brackets 53 and into the holes of the lower front span 52 to secure the right angle brackets 53 to the lower front span 52. In a preferred embodiment, the right angle brackets are pre-assembled on the lower front span 52 (i.e. not assembled on by the user). Another pair of pre-drilled holes are provided at the ends of the lower front span 52 for partial insertion of dowels 54.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 8, the user aligns and clips on the right angle brackets 53 to the exposed portion of the fasteners 28 that are already inserted into a pair of holes 27 at the front portion of the lower span 24. The pair fasteners 28 pass through corresponding holes in the right angle bracket 53. The exposed portion of the dowels 54 also are inserted into the pair of holes 29 are provided at an inner side surface of the front leg 21 of the side panel 20 No tools are required to secure the lower front span 52 to the side panel 20.

[0043] Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, a locking piece 60 with a centrally located slot that partially extends to the centre of the locking piece 60 is slid over the remaining exposed portion of the fasteners 28 to prevent the right angle bracket 53 detaching from the fastener 28. The locking piece 60 is a type of collar. The blind end of the slot is slightly larger than the width of the slot. The locking piece 60 has a rectangular shape and is sized such that one edge abuts against the surface of the right angle bracket 53 to prevent rotation of the locking piece 60.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0044] With the upper front span 50 and lower front span 52 assembled the structural rigidity of the drawer chest 10 is enhanced and also prevents any further movement of the side panels 20 relative to one another.

[0045] Referring to Figs. 11 to 13, an upper rear span 70 with a longitudinal groove 72 and two holes 71 is positioned over a top edge of the back panel 40. The top edge of the back panel 40 is seated within the longitudinal groove 72.

The holes 71 of the upper rear span 70 align with holes 41 in the back panel 40. Push pin fasteners 73 are inserted through the holes 41, 71 to secure the upper rear span 70 to the back panel 40. A lower rear span 72 similarly is positioned over a bottom edge of the back panel 40 and secured. The rear spans 70, 72 prevent the panel members 40A, 40B of the back panel 40 from pivoting. No tools are required to secure the rear spans 70, 72 to the back panel 40.

[0046] Referring to Figs. 14 to 16, the top panel 80 has two pre-drilled holes 83 located near its front edge. The holes 83 must be aligned with the exposed portions of the dowels 26 inserted in the front leg 21 when the top panel 80 is lowered onto the side panels 20. Four corner pieces 81 are secured to the bottom surface of the top panel 80. The corner pieces 81 have a pair of vertical through holes to enable a pair of push pins 82 to secure the corner pieces 81 to the top panel 80. The corner pieces 81 have a horizontal through hole to enable a push pin fastener 84 to secure the top panel 80 with the upper span 23 of the side panel 20. No tools are required to secure the top panel 80 to the side panels 20.

[0047] Referring to Fig. 18, in the illustrated embodiment, the drawer chest 10 has three drawers 90. The three drawers 90 engage with the three pairs of drawer slides 30 or drawer runners which enables them to easily slide in and out.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the drawer chest 10 is packaged and provided to a user in a pre-assembled form as depicted in Fig. 4. The user performs the subsequent assembly steps generally depicted in Figs. 3, 5, 8 to 14 and 16. The user moves the side panels 40 apart (Fig. 3) and until the back panel

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 is a completely unfolded position so that the upper front span 50 and lower front span 52 can be connected to the side panels 20 (Figs. 5 and 8). The locking pieces 60 are slid over by the user to secure the lower front span 52 to the side panels 20 (Figs. 9 and 10). The rear spans 70, 72 are connected to the back panel 40 (Figs. 11 to 13) and secured using push pin fasteners 73. The top panel 80 is aligned and lowered onto the side panels (Fig. 14) and the top panel 80 is secured to the side panels 20 using push pin fasteners 81 (Fig. 16).

[0049] The drawer chest 10 can be assembled by 1 person and is likely to take 20 to 30 minutes. In contrast, a traditional flat pack 3-drawer drawer chest is likely to take 2 hours and require at least 2 people. Also, the drawer chest 10 does not require the use of tools and therefore requires less physical effort compared to assembly of a traditional flat pack 3-drawer drawer chest.

[0050] Unless specified to the contrary, any and all components herein described are understood to be capable of being manufactured and, as such, may be manufactured together or separately.

[0051] Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest reasonable manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

[0052] The subject headings used in the detailed description are included only for the ease of reference of the reader and should not be used to limit the subject matter found throughout the disclosure or the claims. The subject headings should not be used in construing the scope of the claims or the claim limitations.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018 [0053] Although the technology herein has been described with reference to particular examples, it is to be understood that these examples are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the technology. In some instances, the terminology and symbols may imply specific details that are not required to practice the technology. For example, although the terms “first” and “second” may be used, unless otherwise specified, they are not intended to indicate any order but may be utilised to distinguish between distinct elements.

[0054] It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative examples and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology.

2018100200 14 Feb 2018

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A drawer chest comprising:

   a pair of side panels; and a foldable back panel pivotally connected to the side panels;

   wherein the pair of side panels are pivotally movable from a first position to a second position relative to each other, and the back panel is in a folded position when the pair of side panels are in the first position, and the back panel is an unfolded position when the pair of side panels are in the second position.
2. 2. The drawer chest according to claim 1, wherein the foldable back panel comprises a first panel member pivotally connected to a second panel member.
3. 3. The drawer chest according to claim 2, wherein the first panel member is pivotally connected to the second panel member by spaced apart hinges.
4. 4. The drawer chest according to claim 2, wherein the first panel member is pivotally connected to a first side panel of the pair of side panels by spaced apart hinges, and the second panel member is pivotally connected to a second side panel of the pair of side panels by spaced apart hinges.
5. 5. The drawer chest according to claim 1, further comprising a front lower span including a corner bracket and dowels to secure the front lower span to the side panels, wherein holes of the corner bracket engage with exposed portions of fasteners inserted into the side panels.

   2018100200 14 Feb 2018
6. 6. The drawer chest according to claim 5, further comprising a locking piece configured to slide over the exposed portions of fasteners to secure the corner bracket to the side panels.
7. 7. The drawer chest according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rear span having a longitudinal recess for receiving an edge of the back panel.
8. 8. The drawer chest according to claim 8, further comprising push pin fasteners to secure the at least one rear span to the back panel.

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