GB2203631A

GB2203631A - Cabinets and closures therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2203631A
Application number: GB08708785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denise Bennett; Bruce Robinson
Original assignee: TEMPLESTOCK Ltd
Current assignee: TEMPLESTOCK Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-13
Filing date: 1987-04-13
Publication date: 1988-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-13
Also published as: GB2203631B

Abstract

A cabinet 1 comprises a plurality of tiers 2 stacked one on top of another. Each tier 2 provides accommodation space for filing material 4 to be stored therein. The accommodation space of the cabinet 1 can be varied by the addition or removal of tiers 2. A closure in the form of a roller blind 12 is provided for enabling closure of the tiers of the cabinet 1. The roller blind 12 is contained within a separate housing 17, and the length of the roller blind 12 which can be drawn out of the housing 17 to close the cabinet 1 is variable depending upon the number of tiers within the cabinet. <IMAGE>

Description

CABINETS AND CLOSURES THEREFOR This invention relates to cabinets and closures therefor.

A previously proposed cabinet comprises a plurality of separable box-like tiers stacked one on top of another.

Each box-like tier is provided with a bottom, a back and a pair of end faces, and is dimensioned to accommodate, for example, document files, catalogue binders, tape reels and computer printout. Each tier may further include dividers for enabling the accommodation space of the tier to be subdivided.

Cabinets constructed from a plurality of separable box-like tiers have the advantage that the accommodation space of the cabinet can be varied simply by adding or removing one or more of the box-like tiers.

The tiers may be provided with or without doors.

However, where a degree of security is required with regard to the contents of the cabinet, it is sometimes necessary either to provide lockable doors or to house the cabinet in a restricted access room.

As it is not always practical or convenient to house the cabinet in a restricted access room, each tier can be provided with a separate lockable door, the door being hinged to the lower edge of the tier. However, this system has the disadvantage that a separate lock must be provided for each tier of the cabinet.

Instead of providing a separate lock on each door, it is possible to use a locking bar, similar to the type used to lock sliding drawer-type fi-ling cabinets. Such a locking bar extends from the top to the bottom of the cabinet and locks all of the doors by means of a single lock. However, such locking bars cannot be varied in height and so, once a locking bar is fitted to a particular cabinet, the capacity of the cabinet cannot be varied, by adding or removing box-like tiers.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a cabinet which can be varied in capacity by the addition or removal of tiers, and which can be closed by means of a single closure.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a cabinet, which comprises a plurality of removable tiers, with a single locking mechanism.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cabinet comprising a plurality of tiers stacked one on top of another, wherein each tier provides accommodation space for items to be stored therein, the accommodation space of the cabinet can be varied by the addition or removal of tiers, and a closure in the form of a roller blind is provided for enabling closure of the tiers of the cabinet.

The roller blind is preferably contained within a separate detachable housing which can be stacked on or beneath the tiers.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a closure for a cabinet comprising a plurality of tiers stacked one on top of another, wherein the closure comprises a roller blind contained within a separate housing, the housing is configured so that it can be stacked on or beneath the plurality of tiers. and the length of the roller blind which can be drawn out of the housing to close the cabinet is variable depending upon the number of tiers within the cabinet.

The roller blind may be provided with a lock so that when the roller blind is drawn across the tiers to close the cabinet, the cabinet may be locked.

The roller blind may be of a fabric material or alternatively, may be constructed from interlocking extrusions. The extrusions may be of plastics material.

Biasing means, perhaps in the form of a spring mechanism, may be provided so as to balance the weight of the roller blind.

The housing of the roller blind and the tiers may be manufactured from sheet metal.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that they enable cabinets, which can be adjusted in capacity by the addition or removal of tiers according to requirements, to be closed by means of a single closure. Such a single closure eliminates the cumbersome nature of providing each tier with a separate closure and lock.

In addition, the provision of a single roller blind closure helps to maintain a uniform appearance of the cabinet when closed.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like elements, and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art cabinet having a plurality of separable box-like tiers; Figure lb is a perspective view illustrating a single box-like tier of the cabinet shown in figure la; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a part sectional view of a cabinet embodying the present invention.

Figure la shows a cabinet 1 having six box-like tiers 2 stacked one on top of another. The box-like tier 2 has a door 3 which is shown in an open position. As can be seen from figure la, the accommodation space of the box-like tier 2 houses filing material 4. The top and bottom of the cabinet are provided with top and bottom members 5 and 6 respectively.

Figure lb shows the box-like tier 2 in greater detail.

The box-like tier 2 is provided with dividers 7 which are used to subdivide the accommodation space. Each box-like tier 2 has a pair of end walls 8,9 a back wall 10 and a base 11. In the case where the box-like tier is at the top of the cabinet 1-, the top member 5 fits directly on top of the box-like tier 2. When the box-like tier 2 is at the bottom of the cabinet 1, the bottom member 6 supports the box-like tier 2 on the.

ground.

As can be seen from the prior art cabinet shown in figures la and lb, each box-like tier 2 comprises a separate door 3. Each door 3 must have a separate lock (not shown) if it is desired to lock the filing material 4 away within the cabinet 1.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the cabinet is provided with five box-like tiers 2 for accommodating filing material, except that the box-like tiers do not have doors. The cabinet of figure 2 has a closure in the form of a roller blind 12 which provides for closure of the box-like tiers 2. The roller blind 12 is connected at one end to a balanced, spring loaded roller 13. The spring loaded roller 13 is such as to counter balance the weight of the roller blind 12 in order to prevent the roller blind from slamming shut. The roller blind 12 passes, from the roller 13 over an idle roller 14 into a vertical drop in front of the box-like tiers 2.

The roller blind 12 is preferably provided with a pair of recessed handles (not shown) midway along its length, and a main grip handle 15 on the lower end of the roller blind 12. A lock, for example, a 1800 cam-lock 16, is preferably fitted to the lower end of the roller blind 12 to engage with a corresponding flange (not shown) situated on the base member 6.

The roller blind 12, and the rollers 13 and 14 are supported on a frame 16 which is mounted within a housing 17. The frame 16 and the housing 17 may be constructed from folded sheet steel, the frame 16 being riveted to the housing 17 by means of rivets 18.

The top and bottom members 5.6 and each of the tiers 2 may be secured to one another by means of rivets or pins 19. These pins 19 are such as to enable the respective tiers 2 to be laterally located with respect to one another. The pins 19 are removable to permit addition or removal of the tiers according to requirements.

The length of the roller blind 12 is such that the maximum number of tiers 2, which are likely to be desired within a single cabinet 1, can be closed. It is clear from the illustrated embodiment that provision of the roller blind 12 in a separate detachable housing 17 enables closure of the entire cabinet by means of a single closure device without prejudicing the flexibility of the cabinet with regard to the number of tiers 2 contained therein.

The roller blind 12 is made up of horizontal interlocking, high-impact, PVC extrusions which can wrap around the spring roller 13. Preferably, the roller blind is guided, in the vertical drop region, by means\ of extruded channels 20 fixed to the front of the tiers.

The particular constructional details of the roller blind as such, and the spring roller 13 as such, are known in the art and it is envisaged that various types of spring biasing mechanisms could be used to counterbalance the roller blind 13.

Modifications may be made to the particular embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. for example, the roller blind may be made from extruded aluminium. Conceivably, the roller blind housing could be situated beneath the cabinet 1.

In this case, the roller blind would be drawn upwards to close the cabinet instead of downwards.

Claims

1. A cabinet comprising a plurality of tiers stacked one on top of another. wherein each tier provides accommodation space for items to be stored therein, the accommodation space of the cabinet can be varied by the addition or removal of tiers, and a closure in the form of a roller blind is provided for enabling closure of the tiers of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1. wherein the roller blind is contained within a separate detachable housing which can be stacked on or beneath the tiers.

3. A closure for a cabinet comprising a plurality of tiers stacked one on top of another, wherein the closure comprises a roller blind contained within a separate housing, the housing is configured so that it can be stacked on or beneath the plurality of tiers, and the length of the roller blind which can be drawn out of the housing to close the cabinet is variable depending upon the number of tiers within the cabinet.

4. A closure for a cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the roller blind is provided with a lock so that when the roller blind is drawn across the tiers to close the cabinet, the cabinet can be locked.

5. A closure for a cabinet according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the roller blind is a fabric material or is constructed from interlocking extrusions.

6. A closure for a cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the extrusions are of a plastics material.

7. A closure for a cabinet according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the biasing means is provided for balancing the weight of the roller blind.

8. A closure for a cabinet, according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the housing of the roller blind is manufactured from sheet metal.

9. A cabinet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A closure for a cabinet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.