CA1056431A - Recessed pull for movable panels - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A recessed pill is provided for movable panels, e.g. the front panel of a file cabinet, desk drawer or the like in which the front panel has an aperture intermediate its sides.
A unitary trim piece is provided for surrounding the aperture, having grooves along its upper and lower edges adapted to accommodate the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture.
Yielding edge means are provided intermediately disposed integrally on the trim piece and comprising an intermediately extending beveled portion along at least one of the edges of the trim piece and defining the corresponding portion of the groove thereat for enabling the trim piece to be deformed locally thereat in a direction substantially crosswise of the normal plane of the beveled portion under pressure laterally there against and to return to its original shape upon the release of the pressure, whereby the trim piece may be pressed thereat against an adjacent edge portion of the panel around the aperture and into self-supporting position into the aperture with the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture accommodated in the grooves along the upper and lower edges of the trim piece upon the release of the pressure and return of the trim piece to its original shape for snap-locking the unitary trim piece into the panel aperture. A cover member is provided having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member engageable in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece. Weight means are provided for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain the flange in the groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece.
By such construction, the possibilities of damage to the hand of the user or engagement with the clothing of a passerby who might come into inadvertent contact which relatively sharp edges are minimized. Also, inadvertent buckling of the panel or drawer front under certain conditions is minimized.

Description

~ L~J

'j ~056431 i ..
~ This invention relates to recessed pulls for movable panels.
1. I There have been many proposals for providing recessed pul.ls for movable panels such as the front panel of a file cabinet desk drawer or the like in place of the unattractive, I costLy and difficult to assemble outwardly extending pulls.
5. Many proposals have been offered including those in which an aperture is cut into the front panel which aperture is concealed by a yielda'ole spring mem~er as shown in U.S. ~e~ters Patent No. 3,098,6~6. Ot~er and later proposals have been made for providing an aperture in the aforesaid front panels for file 10. cabinets and des1~ drawers and for concealing the file or drawer behind said aperture b~ various means. One such proposal has been the provision of a box-like element carried at the rear of . the aperture by a mutualty supportable frictional engagement with a trim piece surrounding the inner and outer edges of the .
15. aperture as shown in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,742,554. In this ¦ construction the trim piece and t'ne box-lil;e element slidably ¦ engage each other.
¦~ The foregoing structures in some instances presented a ¦

~ reasonably neat and attractive edging around the aperture in the 20. ¦I face of the panel or drawer fronL. However, t~ey are relatiYely ~j dif~icu~t to assemble and costly to construct ~ecause, for il exa~ple, of the necessity for providing the box-likc ele~ent w~th1 i, r~ils of 2 par~cul~r dimension and shape to slide onto th~ tr~cl;s 'i in Lhe intereng~gin~ ~rim piece. Fu,th~r~ore, the proposed 25. . ~tructu~es necess~rily presented an outwardl~r e~tendin~r trim Il piece which was not flusb with the surface of Lhe ~a~el sur-. rouncling the aperLure so tha~ a led~e or rid~e was or~ed around 105643~
.
the aperture. Consequently, there were possibilities of damage to t:he hand of the user or engagement with the clothing of a passerby who might come into inadvertent contact with the relatively sharp edges of the trim member. In addition, in such recessed pull structure no means were provided to prevent inaclvertent buckling of the panel or drawer front under certain conditions.
The present invention provides in one of its broad aspects a recessed pull for files and drawers or the like which presents an attractive trim assembly around the aperture of the front panel without the requirement for any interlocking sliding engagement with a supporting rear box-like member.
In addition, the recessed pull assembly is such that the outer surface of the pull is substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel itself. Furthermore, the construction accommodates a stiffener element which inhibits the buckling of the front panel. r By one broad aspect of this invention, a pull is provided for a movable panel having an aperture comprising:
a unitary trim piece for surrounding the aperture having grooves along its upper and lower edges adapted to accommodate the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture; yielding edge means intermediately disposed integrally on the trim piece and comprising an intermediately extending beveled portion along at least one of the edges of the trim piece and defining the corresponding portion of the groove thereat for enabling the , trim piece to be deformed locally thereat in a direction substantially crosswise of the normal plane of the beveled ` portion under pressure laterally thereagainst and to return to its original shape upon the release of the pressure whereby

2-~ . ., . _ _ .. : :. .. :: : . .
: ~ : : :

:,: :- ,. - . -- . . . ... ... . :

lOS6431 - ~he trim piece ~.ly l~e l)L`eS~e~ tilereat again~t ~n ~cljacent edge portion of the panel around the aperture and into self-supporting position into the aperture with the upper and lower edge, of the panel around the aperture accommodated in the grooves along -the upper and lower edges of the trim piece upon the release of the pressure and return of the trim piece to its original shape for snap-locking the unitary trim piece into the panel aperture; a cover member having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member engageable in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece, and weight means for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain the flange in the groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece.
By one variant, the weight means comprise a plate downwardly extending from the bottom wall of the cover member and adapted to extend adjacent the rear face of the movable panel, and a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the r downwardly extending plate, and a stiffening element is carried within the channel member and adapted to extend along the rear of - the movable panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive forces.
By ano-ther aspect of this invention, a movable front panel is provided for a file cabinet or the like having an aperture in the panel; a trim piece having grooves extending between the front and rear surfaces of the trim piece along the upper and lower edges thereof, the grooves engaging the upper and lower edges around the aperture in the panel; the edges of the panel around the aperture being rearwardly offset whereby the front surface of the trim piece is flush with the surface of the panel adjacent to such offset edges; a cover member having rear, b ~ -2a-.~ , . ...
.' ~: ,.

~ 056431 .-toP al~d ~)ottom wa~ls a~d d tlarlg(~ clownwardly ext:ellding from the to~ wal.l of the cover m~m~er allcl engaged i.n ~he groove along the upper ecige of t:lle trim piece, and weight means in engagement Withl the cover member ~or exerti.ng downward pressure on the llalllge of the cover member to maintain the flange in the groove i.n the tr.im piece -to inhibit inadvertent disengagement oE the cover member from the trim piece.
By one variant thereof, the weight means comprise a plate downwardly extending from the bottom wa].1 of -the cover member and e~tending adjacent the rear face of the movable panel, and a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the downwardly extending plate, th~ plate and channel member being integral with the rear, top and bottom walls of the cover : member, and a stiffening element is carried within the channel member and extends along the rear of the movable panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive forces.
By yet another variant, a unitary trim piece is provided surrounding the aperture and having grooves extending between the front and rear surfaces of such trim piece along ; 20 the upper and lower edges thereof, the grooves engaging the upper and lower edges in the panel around the aperture; the edges of the panel around the aperture being rearwardly offset whereby - the front surface of the trim piece is flush with the surface of the panel adjacent to such offset edges; yielding rear edge means intermediately disposed integrally on the -trim piece and comprising an intermediately extending beveled rear wall portion along one of the edges of the trim piece and defining the corresponding : portion of the groove thereat for enabling the trim piece to be deformed locally therea-t in a direction substantially crosswise of the normal plane of the beveled portion under pressure laterally thereagainst and to return to its original shape upon ~ J ~ -2b-: ' ' . ' ' . ~

~ :

lOS643~

t~l~ r~el~cl~ o~ Ll~ .;ur~ w~lc~r~ y ~}~ n ~ c l~r~e~s thereat again~t the adjacent edge portion of the front face of the panel around the aperture is diposed into self-supporting posi.tion in the apel-ture with the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aper-ture accommoda-ted in the grooves along the upper and lower edges of the trim piece upon release of the pressure and return of the trim piece to its ori.ginal shape and thereby placed in snap-locking relation with the panel aper~ure; a cover member having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member and engaged in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece rearwardly ofthe rear face of the panel; a plate downwardly extending from the ~ttom wall of the cover member and extending adjacent the rear face of the panel for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain the flange in the groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece; a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the downwardly extending plate, and a stiffening element carried within the channel member and extending along the rçar of the panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive.forces.
Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an aperture of any desirable dimension is first cut out of the front panel of a file cabinet or desk drawer or the like. A trim piece is inserted into this panel in a simple snap-fit fastening arrangement, -To accomplish this result, the outer perimeter of the aperture serves as the means which interlock with the trim piece by engaging in a slot extending intermediate the upper and lower edges of the trim piece. The trim piece is so constructed that it may be easily --~c--_ _ .
: . :

~~ 1056~3~

1. Ilmanually or mechanically inserted into the aperture wi~h the ¦ outer perimeter or face of the trim piece covering thç outside o~
¦,the aperture and the slots accommodating and engaging with the l¦upper and low2r edges of the panel around the aperture to provide 5. Il a friction fit therebet~een.
ll The trim piece is inserted into ~he aperture by a ¦¦simple pressing manipulation ~hich ever so slightly compresses ¦¦the horizontal edges of the trim piece to thereby locate the upper and lower edges of the panel surroùnding the aperture in 10. ¦the slots in the trim piece. When so located, the trim piece automatically returns to its original shape and is loc~ed in position Thus, a snap-lock arrangement is accomplished to facilitate the original assembly of the trim piece around the aperture in the front panel of the file or drawer.
15. A covering member having rear, top, bottom and side walls and an open front is then placed rear~ardly of the aperture to form a cavity. A lip or flange extends downwardly f~om the front portion of the upper wall of the covering member and is located in the slot along the upper portion of the trim piece.
20. The construction of the assembly is such that the flange is dis-¦posed in said slot between the rear wall of the panel surroundingthe aperture and the rear edge of the trim piece adjacent to the ¦jslot. Thus, the covering member is carried, somewhat frictionall ¦land the aperture in the panel is thereby covered by the rear, top 25. Iland side walls of the covering member to form an attractive re-,, ,1 ,, - 3 -' ! ~

Il .
cessed pull.
jl Depending from the bottom wall of the covering member !i is an L-shaped plate ~hich may be formed integral with the ¦Icovering member in any simple machine forming operation. The 5. Ildownwardly extending portion of the L-shaped section is preferably ¦disposed adjacent to the rear wall of the front panel of the file jcabinet or'drawer below the aperture. The base of the L-shaped member is formed into an inwardly extending shelf which terminates ,lin an upwardly extending flange portion to provide a channel.
10. , A stiffening element is frictionally carried by and supported in this aforesaid channel. The stiener, which may be relatively elongate, can comprise a solid b,loc~ of material or a simple , U-shaped element and extends substantially the length of the channel. The stiffener serves to maintain the downwardly de-, 15. pending portion of the L-shaped member against the rear of,the front panel of the file or drawer. The aforesaid construction , and arrangement of the stiffener also serves to inhibit any , buckling o~ the panel as mig'nt occur under abusive use. In addition, the sLiffener as~ists in maintaining the cov~ring 20. l member in position at the rear of the aperture with the flange or lip depending from the upper wall of the covering member firmly engaged within the slot on the upper portion of the trim piece.
As a con~equence, a positive lock is obtained which preven.s the covering member from inadvertent movement.

!l ~ ' !1 ~056431 1 1! As an added advant~ge the foregoin~ structure permits ',an interfitting and interlocking arrangement ~ith an embossed or ~offset portion of the panel surrounding the aperture. When the Ipanel is so embossed or offset, the trim piece n~y be accommodated~
5. lin such fashion that its front surface is flush with the surface of the panel itself with the resultant extremely attractive appearance and safe non-damaging arrangement.

In the accompanying drawings J ' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front paneL of a 0. file cablnet or the like with the recessed pull of an aspect of ~he present ¦invention in position and showing, in dotted lines, various ele-¦ ments of the recessed pull disposed to the rear of the panel.
~ig. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view separately show- i ; 15. ing the cover member, trim piece and stiffener.
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the trim piece of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is ~ sectional v-ew showing the interengaging ¦relation between the trim piece, the -Eront panel o-E the file and ~20. ¦I the cover member.

i ' t rh~ followin& cle~ril)tion of nll aspect of the present invention S provide.l in some detail to facilita~c a complete understanding thereof.
As is sho~l in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the front panel 10 of a file cabinet or desk drawer or the like is provided with an aperture 11. The aperture is pre~erably rectangular in shape in accordance with r pr~sent day practicP; however, the specific shape may vary. Also, as illustrated, the edge of the front panel 12 surrounding the aperture 11 is preferably embossed or rearwardly offset for the purposes hereinafter degcribed. r A trim piece 13 is provided of substantially the same size and shape as the aperture 11. The trim piece may comprise a metal casting which is provided with slots 14 and 14a intermediate the front and rear surfaces of the upper and lower edges of the trim piece casting. While the trim piece has been described as a metal casting, it may, of course, r be o~ any suitable material having the desired properties such as, for example, plastic or the like. The trim piece 13 is relatively rigid but nevertheless with a modicum of resiliency enabling it to flex slightly and being possessed of a "memory" sufficient to return the piece to the original shape without any permanent deformity whatsoever. The slots or grooves 14 and 14a (see Figure 5) divide the trim piece 13 into a front surface 15 and rear surface 16. The upper or lower rear surface 16 is provided near each side edge with bevelled portions 17 and 17a (see Fig-ure 4) which materially aid in the flexing and return to original shape of the trim piece as is hereinafter described in connection with the assembly of thë members. As shown, slots are not required in the side edges walls 1~ and 18a of the trim pie~e altllougll, as shown, the front surface 15 of the trim piece 13 is of a wider dimension tllan the afore- _ said side walls in order to cover and completely surround the edge of the aperture ll. As aforesaid, the trim piece is preferably relatively narrow, streamlined and of an attractive dimension which blends into the front of the file cabinet and adds greatly to the attractiveness thereof In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a cover member l9 ', '~

~ 1056431 iS l~rovicled. T~e c~overl member comprises a rear wall 21, a top wall 21 and a bo-ttom wall 21a. I`he top wall 21 is provided with a lip or flange 22 depending from the forward edge of the top wall 21. Furthermore, the cover member has side walls 23 and 23a which, as illustrated, completely enclose the rear of -the aperture 11 in ~he Sront panel 10. As shown, the front of the cover member 19 is open so that the aperture is in no way blocked from access by persons using the file.
The cover member 19 provided for use in accordance 10 with an aspect of theEresent invention is preferably provided with an extension which depends from the forward edge of the bottom wall 21a. The extension comprises a plate-like member or plate 25 and extends along the rear side of the front panel.
Near one extremity of the plate 25, it is bent upon itself to form the base or ledge portion 26, the end of which is bent upwardly to forrn a flange 27, as shown. The depending extension is thus substantially L-shaped forming a channel 28 between the bottom of the plate 25 and the flange 27. r A stiffening element 29 is provided of a sufficient 20 dimension to be accommodated within the channel 28. As shown, the stiffening element 29 is a U-shaped member although it may comprise a solid block or bar or any other construction fitting within the channel for the purposes hereinafter set forth.
In assembling the recessed pull of an aspect of the present invention, it is preliminarily only necessary to provide a suitable aperture 11 in the front panel of the filing cabinet or desk drawer. A trim piece 13 is then inserted into the aperture with the rear surface 16 having the bevelled edge portions 17 and 17a extending into the file cabinet and the rear 30 of -the front panel. The trim piece 13 is so constructed that a modest amount of pressure will cause the upper or lower surface ...... .
. .

:~ .

h~ g the bevell,ed edge portion to flex inwardly, i.e., in a direc-tion substantially crosswis~ of its normal plane, so that it will pass through -the upper and lower edges of the aperture 11 and will return to normal shape and form when the edges of the aperture engage ;,n the grooves or slots 1l~ and 14a. The trim piece is then in position wi-th the front surface 15 surrounding the entire edge 12 of the aperture 11.
As illustrated, the edge 12 may be embossed or offset to an extent whereby the front surface 15 of the trim piece 13 surrounding the embossed edge 12 is flush with the remainder of the front of the panel. This construction provides a highly desirable and attractice outer appearance for the front panel itself and substantially eliminates the presenting of any exposed edges around the front of the trim piece 13.
Thereafter, the cover member 19 is placed with its open front face adjacent to the rear of the aperture 11 in the front panel member 10. The lip or flange 22 depending from the front edge of the top wall 21 of -the cover member is inserted , into the upper groove or slot 14 in the top of the trim piece 13. Thus, a recessed pull is formed by this structure which may be secured together without any intersl,iding or other type of frictional ergagement in which prior structure -ach piece of the recessed pull is maintained in position solely by its contact with another element of the recessed pull. As shown, the present invention in its broad aspect provide a trim piece 13 which is self-supporting and s,urrounds the edge without any further assistance because of its unique constructions and the consequent ability to insert into position and maintain it without reliance upon any other means. The cover is then placed in position depending from and supported in the slot 14 n the trim piece 13.

' ~056431 'I`he recessed pul~. of an aspect of the present invellti.orl is, in add;tion, providecl with a unique feature having a dudl function. As illustra-ted, an extension 24 comprising plat:e 25 depends from the forward edge of the bo-ttom wall 21a e~tendir)g downwardly along the rear side of the front panel.
'I'he end of -the plate 25 has a channel 28 which may be accomplished by bending -the pl.ate upon itself, as shown. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a stiffening element 29 of any suitable construction having some weight is placed within the channel and, as one of its functions, urges the cover member downwardly, thereby pressing the lip or flange 22 into locking engagement wi-thin:the slot 14 in the top of -8a-.... _ _ :' :,, , ~ '' ~' ---` 1056431 the trim plece 13. In addition, the stiffen~ng element 29 functions as the means for preventing buckling of the thin metal material which may comprise the front panel 10. In the absence of this stiffening element 29, buckling can occur under any inadvertent pressurej e.g. an attempt to open the front panel when it is locked in position by any usual locking means (not shown). The stiffening element 29 adds to the strength of the front panel and tends to prevent any such inadvertent damage.
A~ a result of the unique structure presented by the combina-tion of elements of the recessed pull, an attractive, easy to assemble and relatively inexpensive arrangement is provided. There are no unnecessarily exposed edges around the trim piece which is flush with the remainder of the panel surrounding the aperture intermediate the edges of the panel.

_ 9 _

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A pull for a movable panel having an aperture comprising:
a unitary trim piece for surrounding said aperture having grooves along its upper and lower edges adapted to accommodate the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture;
yielding edge means intermediately disposed integrally on the trim piece and comprising an intermediately extending beveled portion along at least one of the said edges of the trim piece and defining the corresponding portion of the groove thereat for enabling the trim piece to be deformed locally thereat in a direction substantially crosswise of the normal plane of said beveled portion under pressure laterally thereagainst and to return to its original shape upon the release of said pressure whereby the trim piece may be pressed thereat against an adjacent edge portion of the panel around the aperture and into self-supporting position into the aperture with the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture accommodated in the grooves along the upper and lower edges of the trim piece upon the release of said pressure and return of the trim piece to its original shape for snap-locking the unitary trim piece into the panel aperture;
a cover member having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member engageable in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece, and weight means for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain said flange in said groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece.

2. A pull according to claim 1 wherein the weight means comprise a plate downwardly extending from the bottom wall of the cover member and adapted to extend adjacent the rear face of the movable panel, and a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the downwardly extending plate, and a stiffening element is carried within said channel member and adapted to extend along the rear of the movable panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive forces.

3. A movable front panel for a file cabinet or the like having an aperture in said panel;
a trim piece having grooves extending between the front and rear surfaces of said trim piece along the upper and lower edges thereof, said grooves engaging the upper and lower edges around the aperture in said panel;
said edges of the panel around said aperture being rearwardly offset whereby the front surface of the trim piece is flush with the surface of the panel adjacent to such offset edges;
a cover member having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member and engaged in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece, and weight means in engagement with the cover member for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain said flange in said groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece.

4. A movable front panel according to claim 3 wherein, the weight means comprise a plate downwardly extending from the bottom wall of the cover member and extending adjacent the rear face of the movable panel, and a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the downwardly extending plate, said plate and channel member being integral with said rear, top and bottom walls of the cover member, and a stiffening element is carried within said channel member and extends along the rear of the movable panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive forces.

5. A movable front panel according to claim 3 for a file cabinet or the like having an aperture in said panel;
a unitary trim piece surrounding said aperture and having grooves extending between the front and rear surfaces of such trim piece along the upper and lower edges thereof, said grooves engaging the upper and lower edges in said panel around the aperture;
said edges of the panel around said aperture being rearwardly offset whereby the front surface of the trim piece is flush with the surface of the panel adjacent to such offset edges;
yielding rear edge means intermediately disposed integrally on the trim piece and comprising an intermediately extending beveled rear wall portion along one of said edges of the trim piece and defining the corresponding portion of the groove thereat for enabling the trim piece to be deformed locally thereat in a direction substantially crosswise of the normal plane of said beveled portion under pressure laterally thereagainst and to return to its original shape upon the release of said pressure whereby the trim piece presses thereat against the adjacent edge portion of the front face of the panel around the aperture is disposed into self-supporting position in the aperture with the upper and lower edges of the panel around the aperture accommodated in the grooves along the upper and lower edges of the trim piece upon release of said pressure and return of the trim piece to its original shape and thereby placed in snap-locking relation with the panel aperture;
a cover member having rear, top and bottom walls and a flange downwardly extending from the top wall of the cover member and engaged in the groove along the upper edge of the trim piece rearwardly of the rear face of the panel;
a plate downwardly extending from the bottom wall of the cover member and extending adjacent the rear face of the panel for exerting downward pressure on the flange of the cover member to maintain said flange in said groove in the trim piece to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the cover member from the trim piece;
a channel member formed at the lower end portion of the downwardly extending plate, and a stiffening element carried within said channel member and extending along the rear of the panel to inhibit buckling of such panel under exertive forces.