EP0310518B1 - Filing cabinet with rotating compartments - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage box with pivoting storage compartments, comprising a frame supporting at least two superimposed rows of storage modules mounted on the frame so as to be able to pivot simultaneously by means of at least one connecting rod around parallel horizontal axes to assume a simultaneously open or closed position, each storage module being delimited by front and rear walls, two end side walls and a bottom, the front walls of the storage modules forming in the closed position a continuous plane, the plane defined by the upper rear edges of the storage modules and the plane defined by the lower front edges of the storage modules being parallel and such that the distance between these two planes is less than or equal to the distance between the axes of rotation of the modules , the upper edge of the rear wall of a module being located at a level lower than that of the lower edge of the front wall of the upper adjacent module and all of the superimposed storage modules with the exception of the upper part of the upper storage module being completely closed by themselves independently of the frame in the closed position.

Already known from US-A-1 883 776 storage furniture comprising a set of superimposed storage compartments and constituted by buckets pivoting around parallel horizontal axes, the control of the opening and closing of the buckets can be performed simultaneously by means of a rod. Such a type of cupboard storage unit with circular cross-section proves however not very functional in practice because the storage volume and the opening angle of the buckets are limited. The overall height of the cabinet is also relatively large, and the objects placed in the buckets can easily escape from the rear in the closed position of the latter.

Patent EP-A-129 484 describes a storage box with multiple storage compartments which remedies some of the drawbacks of the piece of furniture described in document US-A-1 883 776 insofar as it makes it possible to have, within a compact piece of furniture, a set of pivoting buckets which define a large storage volume in perfectly closed containers in the closed position and having increased accessibility in the open position. Such a storage box, despite its convenience of use, however has drawbacks insofar as it remains relatively difficult to manufacture, the various buckets having a shape which makes them difficult to produce by molding, and the means for actuating the opening and closing of the pivoting buckets comprising a control and stop mechanism constituted by a linkage and relatively complex stop means.

The document FR-A-674 936 describes a piece of furniture intended in particular to contain phonograph records. This piece of furniture has two superimposed tilting drawers secured by links and can be opened or closed simultaneously using a handle. These tilting drawers clearly define closed spaces for objects in the closed position. However, in the open position there is a large free space between the upper wall of the lower drawer and the lower wall of the upper drawer. This discontinuity has drawbacks because when objects are placed in the drawers or when they are removed, certain objects can escape into the free space between the two superimposed drawers. Furthermore, in the open position, the drawers project rearward over a significant distance relative to the rear vertical face of the storage unit, which increases the bulk and in particular prevents easily hanging such a unit against a vertical wall.

Furthermore, patent FR-A-1 117 777 discloses a filing cabinet for office articles which comprises a set of superimposed compartments pivoting around horizontal axes and each having parallel front and rear faces. Besides the fact that it is not designed to make it possible to define, in the closed position, fully enclosed compartments, such a type of storage unit comprises pivoting compartments, the opening of which is individual and which cooperate with relatively complex abutment means produced on the frame at the level of each compartment. Consequently, such a piece of furniture which is neither designed to ensure complete closure of the storage compartments in the closed position, nor to allow rapid and simultaneous opening of all of the compartments, involves complex, long and costly manufacture with a large number of parts to assemble.

The document CH-A-97236 likewise presents a storage unit with pivoting compartments which, in their closed position are not entirely closed on themselves and which only define within the unit a small useful volume of storage.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a storage box with pivoting storage compartments of increased reliability, the use of which is convenient and allows simultaneous access to all of the storage compartments, which offers a storage volume. important in containers having excellent visibility and accessibility in the open position and which can be perfectly closed in the closed position if necessary and which consists of a reduced number of elementary parts whose manufacture and assembly are easy to produce.

Another subject of the invention is a storage box which can be adapted both for the storage of loose objects and for the storage of objects of predetermined shape stacked in the storage compartments and which guarantees that the storage compartments are not jammed. or objects stored during opening or closing operations.

où y est l'entraxe des axes de rotation des modules concernés et B est l'angle de rotation de ces modules, et en ce que les parois avant et arrière des modules de rangement sont planes, parallèles et réalisées de façon telle que l'arête supérieure de la paroi plane arrière d'un module de rangement inférieur vienne, dans le mouvement simultané d'ouverture, buter en bout sur l'arête inférieure de la paroi plane avant du module de rangement adjacent supérieur de façon à stopper avec précision la rotation des modules de rangement et assurer dans la position ouverte le raccordement et la continuité de la paroi plane arrière du module de rangement inférieur avec la paroi plane avant du module de rangement adjacent supérieur de façon que les deux parois se trouvent alors parallèles et sensiblement alignées, de telle sorte qu'en position ouverte la section totale utile du volume de rangement défini par chaque module de rangement apparaît visible et accessible.These goals are achieved by means of a storage box of the type defined at the head of the description, characterized in that the opening-closing rotation angle of the storage modules is calculated as a function of the center distance y of the axes of rotation and of said distance x according to the relation sinβ = x / y, in that the difference between the levels of said lower edge and said upper edge is calculated according to the relation $\text{z = y (1 - cosβ)}$

where y is the center distance of the axes of rotation of the modules concerned and B is the angle of rotation of these modules, and in that the front and rear walls of the storage modules are plane, parallel and produced in such a way that the upper edge of the rear flat wall of a lower storage module comes, in the simultaneous opening movement, to butt against the lower edge of the flat front wall of the upper adjacent storage module so as to precisely stop the rotation of the storage modules and ensure in the open position the connection and continuity of the rear flat wall of the lower storage module with the front flat wall of the upper adjacent storage module so that the two walls are then parallel and substantially aligned , so that in the open position the total useful section of the storage volume defined by each storage module appears visible and accessible.

The end side walls of two adjacent storage modules can overlap at least in part according to complementary cutouts so as to close the storage modules at the lateral ends in the closed position independently of the frame.

Intermediate partitions parallel to the side walls of the storage modules can be provided to determine in the closed position of the storage modules, closed compartments by being connected to the bottom of the adjacent upper module of complementary shape or to a rib of complementary shape adjoining the bottom of the upper adjacent storage module and for the upper end module by being connected to a partition of complementary shape secured to the frame.

According to a first advantageous embodiment, the centers of rotation of the storage modules are located behind the plane defined by the upper rear stop edges of the storage modules.

According to another preferred embodiment, the centers of rotation of the storage modules are located below and in an intermediate position relative to the centers of gravity of the modules corresponding respectively to a closed position and to an open position, so to allow the modules to switch naturally into their two closed and open positions.

The box according to the invention can be adapted for storing essentially rectangular solid articles extending over practically the entire height of the storage modules, such as boxes for audio or video cassettes or compact discs.

In this case, the bottom wall of the storage modules is in the form of steps, and the side walls of the modules are terminated at their upper part by edges also in the form of steps and located at a certain distance below the upper edges of the front and rear walls of the storage modules.

The present invention essentially relates to a storage box defining a storage volume of essentially parallelepiped shape in which are arranged a set of n superimposed rows of storage modules mounted so as to be able to pivot simultaneously (with n ≧ 2).

More particularly, according to the present invention, the storage modules are produced in a specific manner such that by the play of a simultaneous rotation, the n storage modules have the property of alternately taking a first position in which the modules are completely closed by themselves (with the only exception of the upper part of the upper module which must cooperate with the frame) and a second position in which the modules are open over their entire section ensuring the continuity of the rear bottom, the wall rear of a given module (except again for the upper module) abutting in continuity on the front wall of the module located immediately above said given module.

Thus, in the storage box according to the present invention, there is in the closed position a perfect seal of the storage modules which prevents objects, in particular small objects, from escaping from their storage compartment, including when the box is in the inverted position.

Thanks to the specific configuration of the storage box, due to the particular relative dimensions of the various constituent elements, during the simultaneous rotation movement of the storage modules from their open position to their closed position, there is indeed an exhaust of the lower part of each of the modules with respect to the upper part of the immediately lower module, so that the modules cannot be caught between them although the seal is kept permanently.

Furthermore, at the end of the opening operation of the storage modules, the rotation of the modules is stopped in a precise manner and prevents jamming due to the abutment at the end against each other. from the front wall of an upper adjacent module and from the rear wall of the immediately lower storage module.

The storage volume in the whole of the storage box is optimized and the accessibility to the objects as well as the visibility of these in the open position of the modules are also brought to their maximum degree, the whole useful storage section being accessible. The guiding of the objects towards the output of the modules is also ensured also at the upper part of the modules due to the continuity of the walls.

Finally, the manufacture of the storage box according to the invention is particularly easy and lends itself (in the absence of undercuts) to a manufacture by molding.

Particular embodiments of the invention are indicated in claims 3 and 7.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perpective d'un exemple de coffret de rangement selon l'invention, les différents modules de rangement étant en position fermée,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective analogue à la figure 1, mais les modules de rangement étant en position ouverte formant présentoir,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe verticale selon la ligne III-III de la figure 4 montrant la forme et l'agencement des modules de rangement selon un premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe horizontale du mode de réalisation de la figure 3 prise selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3.
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique montrant le principe d'agencement relatif de deux modules de rangement superposés,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique analogue à la vue de la figure 5 mais montrant un mode particulier de réalisation différent avec des axes de pivotement des modules de rangement situés à l'arrière de la paroi arrière de ces modules de rangement,
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe verticale analogue à celle de la figure 3, mais correspondant à un mode de réalisation différent et ne faisant pas apparaître le bâti,
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe verticale correspondant à une variante du mode de réalisation de la figure 7, et
• la figure 9 est une vue de côté d'un coffret de rangement présentant un bâti en forme de simple cadre et comprenant quatre rangées de modules de rangement analogues aux modules de la figure 7.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows on from specific embodiments of the invention given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a storage box according to the invention, the various storage modules being in the closed position,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but the storage modules being in the open position forming a display,
• FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section along the line III-III of FIG. 4 showing the shape and the arrangement of the storage modules according to a first embodiment,
• FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section of the embodiment of FIG. 3 taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the principle of relative arrangement of two superimposed storage modules,
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view similar to the view in FIG. 5 but showing a particular different embodiment with pivot axes of the storage modules situated at the rear of the rear wall of these storage modules,
• FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, but corresponding to a different embodiment and not showing the frame,
• FIG. 8 is a view in vertical section corresponding to a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 7, and
• FIG. 9 is a side view of a storage box having a frame in the form of a simple frame and comprising four rows of storage modules similar to the modules of FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 3 and 5 to 9, the storage modules 100, 200, 300, 400 are shown in solid lines in their closed position and in broken lines these same storage modules as they appear in the position of opening. Furthermore, to facilitate understanding of the drawings, the various components of the storage modules or associated mobile elements have been designated by a reference number not assigned the premium sign when shown in the closed position of the storage modules and by the same reference number but assigned the premium sign when shown in the open position of the storage modules. Except in special cases, the various elements will be described below, being essentially designated by their basic reference number not assigned the premium sign.

According to a first embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4, the storage box comprises a frame 10 essentially comprising a base 1, an upper wall 2 and two side walls 3, 4 including the end portion 31, 41 at the front of the box can be slightly set back from the front face formed by the union of the front faces 115, 215 of the various storage modules 100, 200 supported by the frame 10, when these modules are in the closed position (Figure 1). This makes it easier to grip the articles 5 arranged at the bottom of the compartments of the storage modules 100, 200 when the modules are in the open position (FIG. 2)). A recessed portion 21 may be formed in the upper wall 2 of the frame 10 to release a member 22 for operating the storage modules 100, 200 which may be constituted by a simple tongue extending the front face 115 of the upper module 100 in its part central.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 3 which allows a better understanding of the structure constituted by the storage modules 100, 200 and the cooperation between the storage modules 100, 200 and the frame 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the base 1 of the frame 10 may include vertical reinforcing ribs 15, 16, 17 which surmount the plate forming the base 1 proper. Similarly, vertical ribs 24, 26 directed towards the inside of the box can serve as means of stiffening the upper wall 2, with the recessed portion 21, and the free front end 25 which serves as a stop for the tongue 22 in closed position of modules 100, 200.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, only two pivoting storage modules have been shown, namely an upper module 100 and a lower module 200. However, it is possible to choose a larger number of stacked modules, for example a series of three, four or five stacked modules. In this case, the intermediate modules between the upper module and the lower module have an upper part completely similar to the upper part of the module 200 and a lower part completely similar to the lower part of the module 100.

Generally, the storage modules 100, 200 pivotally mounted around horizontal axes 01, 02 located in the same vertical plane have a flat front wall 115, 215 which is vertical in the closed position of the modules, a rear wall 116, 216 which is also essentially flat and parallel to the front wall 115, 215, and a bottom wall 111, 211 which, seen in vertical section, can be planar, partially or totally curved or even formed by a line broken. The embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 corresponds to the latter case with a bottom wall 111, 211 stepped in steps with an average slope inclined downward at the rear of the modules.

The storage modules 100, 200 are interconnected by simple connecting rods 33, 34 (FIGS. 3 and 4) articulated on the lateral faces 113, 213 respectively, 114, 214 of the modules 100, 200 around horizontal axes 91, 92 located in the same vertical plane. The pivot axes 01, 02 revolve in bearings 43, 44 respectively 53, 54 supported by the lateral faces 3 respectively 4 of the frame 10 and constitute the only connection between the storage modules 100, 200 and the frame 10, outside of the cooperation between the upper part of the module 100 and the upper wall 2 of the frame. There is thus great freedom in the design of the frame 10 and it could even be reduced to a simple support frame for the axes of rotation 01, 02 as shown in FIG. 9 in relation to another embodiment. To avoid falling objects stored in the storage modules, even if the side walls, 3,4 of the frame 10 are narrower than the distance between the front walls 115, 215 and rear 116, 216 of the storage modules, the modules of storage 100, 200 are provided with end side walls 113, 213 and 114, 124. Central ribs 71 for reinforcing the side walls or retaining for calibrated objects of predetermined shape, for example parallelepipedic can be formed inwardly compartments defined by the storage modules 100, 200 from side walls 113, 213 and 114, 214 or from partitions or partitions 119 internal to the modules 100, 200 to define several storage compartments in each module.

We will now refer to the diagram in FIG. 5 which makes it possible to better understand the cooperation between two adjacent superimposed storage modules 100, 200.

The upper edges of the front 115 and rear walls 116 have been designated for the upper module 100 by the references D1 and B1 respectively, and the lower edges of these same front walls 115 and rear 116 by the references A1 and C1. Similarly, for the lower module 200, the references D2 and B2 designating the upper edges of the front 215 and rear walls 216 and the references A2 and C2 designating the lower edges of these same front walls 215 and rear 216 respectively. Furthermore, the axes 01, 02 for tilting the modules 100, 200 have also been shown in the diagram in FIG. 5.

In the closed position of the modules 100, 200, the upper front edge D2 of the module 200 is immediately below the front lower edge A1 of the module 100 and the rear upper edge B2 of the module 200 is also immediately below the lower edge rear C1 of module 100 (Figures 3 and 5). The front walls 115, 215 then define a continuous plane, and the rear walls 116, 216 are themselves essentially plane and located in the same plane.

After a rotation of an angle β around the pivot axes 01, 02, the modules 100, 200 come simultaneously in a tilting position towards the front such that the upper edge B2 of the rear wall 216 of the lower storage module 200 abuts on the lower edge A1 of the wall before 115 of the upper storage module 100 (see in Figures 3 and 5 the positions A′₁ and B′₂ of the edges A1 and B2 after tilting).

The stop of the upper edge B2 on the lower edge A1 makes it possible to precisely stop the rotation of the modules 100 and 200 without it being necessary to provide other stops on the frame 10. In addition, in position d opening of the modules 100, 200, a continuity is created between the rear wall 216 of the lower storage module 200 and the front wall of the upper storage module 100 and the two walls 115, 216 in their open position 115 ′, 216 ′ are parallel and substantially aligned. Consequently, in the open position, the total section of the storage module 200, like that of the module 100, appears visible and accessible.

As shown in FIG. 5, preferably the plane defined by the upper rear stop edges B1, B2 of the modules 100, 200 and the plane defined by the lower front stop edges A1, A2 of the storage modules 100, 200 are parallel and such that the distance x between these two planes is less than or equal to the center distance y of the axes of rotation 01, 02 of the modules 100, 200. The angle of rotation β giving the opening angle of the modules 100, 200 is essentially defined by the following relation

$\text{sin β = x / y (1)}$

ou y et β correspondent aux définitions données précédemment.As can be seen in the drawings, in the closed position of the storage modules, the upper edge B2 of the rear wall 216 of the lower module 200 is located at a level lower than that of the lower edge A1 of the front wall 215 of the upper module 100, in order to allow a rotational movement of the modules without jamming. Considering FIG. 5, we see that the difference z between the levels of the lower edge A1 and the upper edge B2 is defined by the following relation:

$\text{z = y (1 - cosβ) (2)}$

where y and β correspond to the definitions given above.

It will be noted that the choice of the location of the axes of rotation 01, 02 of the storage modules 100, 200 is very wide. Thus, FIG. 6 shows schematically an arrangement in which the axes of rotation 01, 02 are located behind the vertical plane defined by the upper rear stop edges B1, B2 of the modules 100, 200. This contributes to reduce the travel and the rear bulk when opening. With such a position of the axes of rotation, behind the centers of gravity of the modules 100, 200, the storage modules can tilt naturally towards their open position.

According to another possible arrangement which corresponds to the example of FIG. 3, the centers of rotation 01, 02 of the storage modules 100, 200 are located below and in an intermediate position relative to the centers of gravity G, G ′ of the modules corresponding respectively to a closed position and an open position, so as to allow the modules to switch naturally into their two closed and open positions.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the rear walls 116, 216 of the storage modules 100, 200 which, in FIG. 5 have been shown to be perfectly flat, can, while remaining essentially flat and aligned, present at their upper ends a slight offset 121, 221 towards the outside which makes it possible to increase the opening angle and to better release the grip of articles 5, such as boxes of audio video cassettes or of discs compact (CD) for example. This offset 121, 221 can be constituted by an angled part or by a slightly curved part.

The rear wall 116 of the upper module 100 is extended at its lower part by a remote portion 222 making an angle with the flat central part of the wall 116 so that the lower edge C1 of the rear wall 116 is located immediately near the upper edge B2 of the rear wall 216 of the lower module 200, in the closed position of the modules 100, 200. Furthermore, the upper edge B1 of the upper module 100 abuts on the rear wall 26 of the frame or a appendage 27 integral with this wall 26.

The formulas indicated with reference to FIG. 5 apply completely to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 if we consider the plane passing through the edges B1, C1, B2 and not the main plane of the rear walls 116 , 216 of the modules 100, 200. The end side walls 113, 213, 114, 214 of the modules 100, 200 can be cut so as to release in the open position the upper part of the objects 5 contained in the compartments of the modules, in order to facilitate the gripping of objects. In the case of calibrated parallelepipedic objects such as cassette cases, the bottom wall 111, 211 of the modules 100, 200 is advantageously in the form of steps and the side walls 113, 114, 213, 214 of the modules 100, 200 are terminated at their upper part by edges 112, 212 also in the form of steps situated at a certain distance below the upper edges D1, B1, D2, B2 of the front and rear walls of the modules 100, 200.

If reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4, the end lateral walls 113, 114 of the module 100 have portions 118 which extend beyond the bottom wall 111 so as to overlap according to cutouts complementary to those of the upper part 212 of the side walls 213, 214 of the lower module 200, so as to close at the lateral ends the storage modules 100, 200 in the closed position independently of the frame.

Figures 7 to 9 relate to other possible embodiments of the present invention in which the storage modules 100, 200 have a bottom wall 111, 211 which is at least partially curved and is thus better suited for the storage of loose objects. The embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 also present storage modules 100, 200 which, in the closed position, are entirely closed by themselves independently of the frame, with the exception of the upper part of the upper storage module 100 This makes it possible to produce a frame 10a which, in addition to a base base 11, may comprise only a simple frame 13 integral with the base 11, which may include a handle 14 at its upper part, and supporting the axes 01, 02, 03, 04 of rotation of the storage modules 100, 200, 300, 400 (FIG. 9), and an upper plate 12 for closing the upper part of the module upper storage 100 when the latter is in the closed position. In Figure 9 there is shown by way of example a storage box with four superimposed storage modules 100, 200, 300, 400 fully closed in the closed position and able to pivot simultaneously thanks to at least one connecting rod 33 articulated on horizontal axes 91, 92, 93, 94 mounted on the different modules 100, 200, 300, 400 and placed in the same vertical plane. In the case of FIG. 9, all the modules 100, 200, 300, 400 may be identical to each other. Alternatively, the upper edge 112 of the side walls 113, 114 of the upper module 100, which cooperates with the fixed plate 12 of the frame, may have a shape slightly different from that of the upper edges such as 212 of the side walls of the others. modules, and can be convex. The plate 12 and the upper edge 112, however, themselves have complementary shapes.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the rear walls such as 116, 216 of the set of storage modules and the front walls such as 115, 215 are perfectly aligned in the closed position of the modules and define two continuous parallel planes . In the module open position, the upper edges of the modules 200, 300, 400 such as B2 of the rear walls such as 216 come into abutment against the lower edge such as A1 of the front wall such that 115 of the immediately upper module such as 100, as already explained with reference to the other figures of the drawing. The upper end 22 of the front wall 115 of the upper module 100 serves both as an operating tab for the simultaneous opening or closing of the modules 100, 200, 300, 400 and serves as a stop against the plate 12 according to the stopper in the closed position.

In FIG. 7, each module 100, 200 has a flat front face 115, 215, a bottom 111, 211 which is connected by a curved part at the front face 115, 215, which curved part is extended by a straight part inclined downwards at the rear of the modules and is connected at an acute angle to the flat rear face 116, 216. The lower part of the flat front wall 115, 215 which defines the edge A1, A2 forms a small heel relative to the bottom wall 111, 211 to allow the upper edge such as B2 of the rear wall of the lower module to come into stop in module open position.

In addition, FIG. 7 shows vertical ribs 81 formed on the internal face of the front and rear walls 115, 116 and 215, 216 of the modules 100, 200, facing each other to retain separating partitions 119, 219 can be removable which are parallel to the side faces of the modules and have the same shape as these, to define several compartments inside the same storage module. Insofar as the upper edge such as 212 of a partition 219 has a shape complementary to that of the bottom wall 111 of the module immediately above, in the closed position of the modules, each compartment is itself completely closed.

FIG. 8 shows a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 9. In the case of FIG. 8, the bottom wall 111, 211 has in vertical section a curved shape which is connected to the front walls 115, 215 and rear 116, 216 at a certain distance above the lower edges A1, C1; A2, C2 of the front and rear walls 115, 116, 215, 216. In this case, plates or ribs 120, 220 are formed under the bottom wall 111, 211 of the modules 100, 200, in the plane of a partition separator 119, 219 or of a side wall, and extend to the level of the upper edge 212 of the partition 219 or of the side wall of the immediately lower adjacent module, by presenting a lower edge of shape complementary to that of said upper edge 212. In this way, each module, and inside each module, each compartment is completely closed in the closed position of the modules (similarly to the case of the mode of realization of Figures 3 and 4). In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9, axes of rotation 01, 02 have been considered arranged as in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, but an arrangement in accordance with the diagram of FIG. 6 is naturally possible.

Due to the presence of rectilinear front and rear walls, without undercuts, the storage modules 100, 200 can be made easily, for example of plastics material, since demolding can be carried out without difficulty, and, in the open position , the visibility and accessibility to the content of the modules is total.

The enclosure system and the configuration of the modules are such that the storage volume delimited by the substantially parallel front and rear walls can be used from 90 to 100% in storage volume.

The manufacture of the storage boxes according to the invention can be carried out quickly and at low cost because the number of constituent elements can be very reduced and due to the self-locking of the different modules one by the other in position d opening, the frame can itself be produced very simply without the need to add to it individual stop or linkage systems, since it essentially serves to support the axes of rotation and only participates quite incidentally at the end of the storage spaces.

The continuity of the front 115 ′ and rear 216 ′ walls in the module open position, with for each module, except the upper module 100, a ceiling formed by the front wall 115 ′ of the immediately upper adjacent module 100 makes it easier to guide objects and prevents jamming of these objects between the different modules 100, 200.

Claims (9)

1. Storage cabinet with pivoting storage compartments, comprising a frame (10, 10a) supporting at least two superimposed rows of storage modules (100, 200, 300, 400) mounted on the frame (10, 10a) so as to be able to pivot simultaneously by means of at least one connecting rod (33, 34) around parallel horizontal axes (0₁, 0₂, 0₃, 0₄) in order to assume a simultaneously open or closed position, each storage module (100, 200) being delimited by front walls (115, 215) and rear walls (116, 216), two lateral end walls (113, 114; 213, 214) and a bottom (111, 211), the front walls (115, 215) of the storage modules forming in the closed position a continuous plane, the plane defined by the upper rear edges (B1, B2) of the storage modules (100, 200) and the plane defined by the lower front edges (A1, A2) of the storage modules (100, 200) being parallel and such that the distance (x) between these two planes is less than or equal to the center distance (y) of the axes of rotation (0₁, 0₂) of the modules (100, 200), the upper edge (B2) of the rear wall (216) of a module (200) being situated at a level lower than that of the lower edge (A1) of the front wall (215) of the upper adjacent module (100) and all the superimposed storage modules, except for the upper part of the upper storage module (100), being fully closed by themselves, independently of the frame in the closed position,
   characterized in that the closing-opening angle of rotation (β) of the storage modules (100, 200) is calculated according to the center distance y of the axes of rotation (0₁, 0₂) and of said distance (x) according to the equation $\text{sin β = x/y,}$

   

   

   in that the difference (z) between the levels of said lower edge (A1) and of said upper edge (B2) is calculated according to the equation $\text{z = y (1 - cosβ)}$

   

   where y is the center distance of the axes of rotation (0₁, 0₂) of the modules in question (100, 200) and β is the angle of rotation of these modules, and in that the front walls (115, 215) and rear walls (116, 216) of the storage modules (100, 200) are plane, parallel and embodied in such a way that the upper edge (B2) of the rear plane wall (216) of a lower storage module (200) comes in the simultaneous opening movement to stop at the final point on the lower edge (A1) of the front plane wall (115) of the upper adjacent storage module (100) so as to precisely stop rotation of the storage modules and ensure in the open position the connection and continuity of the rear plane wall (216) of the lower storage module (200) with the front plane wall (115) of the upper adjacent storage module (100) in such a way that the two walls (216, 115) are then parallel and approximately aligned so that in the open position the total useful section of the storage volume defined by each storage module (100, 200) appears visible and accessible.
2. Cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral end walls (113, 118, 213; 114, 118, 214) of two adjacent storage modules (100, 200) overlap at least partly along complementary cuts so as to close, at the lateral extremities, the storage modules (100, 200) in the closed position, independently of the frame (10, 10a).
3. Cabinet according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the frame (10a) includes a simple framing (11, 13) for supporting the axes of rotation (0₁, 0₂, 0₃, 0₄) of the storage modules and a plate (12) for sealing the upper part of the upper storage module (100).
4. Cabinet according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that intermediate partitions (119, 219) parallel to the lateral walls (113, 213; 114, 214) of the storage modules (100, 200) are provided so as to determine in the closed position of the storage modules, compartments closed by being connected to the bottom of the upper adjacent module (111) of a complementary form, or to a rib (120) of a complementary form adjacent to the bottom of the upper adjacent storage module (100) and, for the upper end module (100), by being connected to a partition (12) of complementary form integral with the frame (10a).
5. Cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the centers of rotation (0₁, 0₂) of the storage modules (100, 200) are situated at the rear of the plane defined by the upper rear stop edges (B1, B2) of the storage modules (100, 200).
6. Cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the centers of rotation (0₁, 0₂) of the storage modules (100, 200) are situated below and in an intermediate position with respect to the centers of gravity (G, G') of the modules corresponding respectively to one closing position and to one opening position so as to enable the modules to tilt naturally inside their two closing and opening positions.
7. Cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rear walls (116, 216) of the storage modules (100, 200) are essentially plane and aligned, but have at least at their upper part (117, 217; 121, 221) one partly curved or angled part offset towards the exterior so as to increase the opening angle of the modules (100, 200).
8. Cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is intended to store essentially parallelepiped solid objects extending over almost the entire height of the storage modules, such as boxes of audio or video cassettes or boxes of compact disks.
9. Cabinet according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottom wall (111, 211) of the storage modules (100, 200) is in the form of steps, and in that the lateral walls (113, 114; 213, 214) of the modules (100, 200) are ended at their upper part by edges (112, 212) also in the form of steps and situated at a certain distance below the upper edges (D1, B1; D2, B2) of the front and rear walls (115, 116; 215, 216) of the storage modules (100, 200).

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