GB2131290A - Grip-bar - Google Patents

Abstract

At the front of a grip-bar (1) an arm (2) is provided for accommodating one or more name-plates (4). Such name- plates lie at an angle of approximately 45 DEG relative to the vertical. The bar (1) is provided with grooves (15) and may be attached, by means of such grooves (15), to the front panel (13) of a drawer (14) without any tools being necessary. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION "Grip-bar" The present invention relates to a grip-bar for drawers and doors, more especially for drawers made of sheet steel, having a name-plate mounted on the bar.

Grip-bars are known which generally comprise a profile member made from aluminium or plastics material which is cut to length in accordance with the width of the drawer and is secured to the front of the drawer by conventional securing means (rivets, screws). Grip-bars are also known which are directly incorporated into the front of the drawer or form part thereof. Grooves for the lateral insertion of a nameplate are provided in the front end of such grip-bars, the front end usually extending parallel to the front of the drawer, i.e. extending vertically. Attached or screw-connected end-pieces prevent the strip-like name-plate and the cover from sliding out of the grip-bar.

These known grip-bars do in fact achieve their particular purpose, but they have numerous disadvantages with regard to assembly, safety and legibility of the name-plate.

If the bars are not provided with end-pieces which have been machined and assembled very neatly, it is possible that articles of clothing may become caught thereon. The screw-connected or riveted bar profiles leave the upper edge of the front of the drawer uncovered and form, with such edge, an untidy closure which is liable to become dirty and, in addition, often has sharp edges.

In the case of known grip-bars, it is difficult to insert the name-plates, from the side, into the long grooves which extend over the total width of the drawer. If end-pieces are provided, they must each be removed beforehand and then repositioned when a name-plate is changed. If such end-pieces are not provided, then there is a danger that the name-plates will slide out laterally and become damaged.

The present invention now seeks to provide a grip-bar which eliminates the disadvantages of the known arrangements.

In particular, the bar should both permit the drawer to be easily pulled out and cover the edges of the front of the drawer since such edges leave the factory in an unattractive state and some of them may also be sharp.

In addition to achieving these operational tasks, the bar according to the invention should also solve organizational problems in connection with labell ing. In particular, a grip-bar should be provided with a label which can also be read from above, i.e. by a person standing directly in front of the drawer. In addition, the label should, in fact, preferably refer to the way in which the interior of the drawer is sub-divided and should be capable of indicating such sub-division. Moreover, the labels should be easy to exchange and amend.

According to the invention there is provided a grip-bar for drawers and doors of cabinets having an interchangeable name-plate, wherein the bar com prises: an arm, which is inclinedly disposed relative to the front panel of a drawer to which it is to be attached in use for accommodating one or more name-plates; and an arm which abuts against the front panel, in use, to cover the upper edge of the front panel and is securable thereto, the surfaces of the two arms forming a gripping area so that the bar can be gripped.

A particularly distinguishing feature of the bar according to the invention is the simplicity of design of the individual parts which contain the grooves for securing the bar to the drawer, a gripping area which is shaped to the hand, and one or more name-plates which are accessible from the front and are easy to read.

The way in which the upper and lateral edges of the front of the drawer interconnect proves to be very advantageous, not only from a visual point of view, but also from a manufacturing point of view. It therefore eliminates all operations for producing smooth edges and bending operations for accommodating and positioning the bars, and securing holes do not need to be punched out.

The grip-bar can quickly be mounted without the use of tools because it is easily pushed onto the front of a drawer or door.

Further, because the name-plates are inclinedly disposed, they can be read both from the front and from above. Moreover, when the drawer is closed, the name-plates can be inserted from the front or interchanged. By the division or sub-division into two or more sections, different coloured covers may also be provided to label the main and sub-classes of the contents in the drawer.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a grip-bar provided with a name-plate and a transparent cover; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the grip-bar; and Figure 3 illustrates a cabinet provided with gripbars.

The cross-sectional view of a grip-bar 1, hereinafter referred to as bar 1, illustrates the configurations of the basic component parts (Figure 1). An arm 2, the front end of which extends at an angle of 45" + 15 , preferably 45 , relative to the vertical, is provided with a recess 3 for accommodating a nameplate 4 and a transparent cover 5. The cover 5 preferably has lateral lugs orflanges 6 which engage in grooves 7 suitably provided in the recess 3. The grooves 7 may extend perpendicularly to the front end of the arm 2, but they are preferably provided so that they extend vertically.

The bottom edge of the arm 2, as shown in Figure 1, has a bead-like thickened portion 8 provided with grooves, notches or other recesses to form a rough surface 9 which is easy to grip.

A vertically extending arm 10 is connected to the inclinedly disposed arm 2 and forms, with the arm 2, the gripping area 11. The surface of the arm 10 remote from the gripping area 11 has a plane contact surface 12 and rests on the unprofiled front panel 13 of a drawer 14 (shown by dash-dot lines). At the top of its rear end, the arm 10 extends over the front panel 13 ofthe drawer 14to provide a groove 15.

This groove 15 is adapted so that it can accommodate the front panel 13. A pin 17may also be provided in the surface 12, such a pin 17 engaging in a bore or slot 18 provided in the front panel 13 and preventing the bar 1 from sliding off. The groove 15 is provided along the entire length of the bar 1 and extends vertically downwardly into lateral endpieces 19 (Figure 2) of the bar 1.

The recess 3 on the inclinedly disposed arm 2 may extend substantially over the entire length of the bar or be divided into a plurality of partial sections for enabling different name plates 4 to be provided.

In addition to the three bars 1 provided on drawers 14, there is illustrated in Figure 3 an additional bar 1 which is vertically secured to a cabinet door 20 or a cabinet 21. The recesses 3 and the name-plates 4 may also be provided or attached, respectively, here in accordance with divisions made in the cabinet 21.

Plastics material is the most suitable material with which to make the bars 1. Wood may, of course, also be used but, it it is used, the economic advantages of a bar 1 produced by an injection moulding process cannot be achieved.

Claims (12)

1. A grip-bar for drawers and doors of cabinets having an interchangeable name-plate, wherein the bar (1) comprises: an arm (2) which is inclinedly disposed relative to the front panel (13) of a drawer (14) to which it is to be attached in use for accommodating one or more name-plates (4); and an arm (10) which abuts against the front panel (13), in use, to cover the upper edge (16) of the front panel (13) and is securable thereto, the surfaces of the two arms (2, 10) forming a gripping area (11) so that the bar (1) can be gripped.

2. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 1, in which a groove (15) is provided in the upper region and on the lateral edges of the arm (10) to accommodate the edges (16, 19) of the front panel (13) in use.

3. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms (2, 10) are interconnected at their ends by means of end portions (19) which form lateral closure means for closing the gripping area (11).

4. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 1, in which the inclined arm (2) has a bead-like thickened portion (8) on its lower edge in the gripping area.

5. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 4, in which the thickened portion (8) is provided with a roughened surface to facilitate gripping.

6. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm (2) has a flat recess (3) formed therein to accommodate the name-plate (4) and a transparent cover (5) which protects the name-plate, a longitudinally extending groove (7) being provided in the recess (3) to secure the cover (5).

7. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 6, in which the recess (3) provided in the arm (2) is composed of two or more sections which are independent of one another.

8. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 7, in which the individual sections of the recess (3) have different coloured covers (5).

9. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 1, in which the bar (1) is made from a single piece of plastics material produced by an injection moulding process

10. A grip-bar as claimed in claim 9, in which the surface of the bar (1) has a wood-like structure.

11. A grip-bar as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a drawer or door.

12. A grip-bar substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.