GB2217186A

GB2217186A - Workshop cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2217186A
Application number: GB8905832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Emrys Webber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-19
Filing date: 1989-03-14
Publication date: 1989-10-25
Also published as: GB8905832D0; GB8809187D0

Abstract

A workshop cabinet (110), suitable for use in the storage of tools or the like, comprises a panel (24) movable between a first position, wherein the panel (24) prevents or restricts access to a storage compartment (38) of the cabinet (110), and a second position wherein the panel (24) permits access to said compartment (38) and affords a work surface. The panel (24) may be generally upright in its first position, and generally horizontal in its second position, such as by being mounted for angular movement between said positions. In a preferred embodiment the panel (24) is mounted by way of a slot and slot follower arrangement so as also to be capable of translational movement, and means (G) by which the panel (24) is mounted is also utilised in securing the cabinet against a workshop wall. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Workshop Cabinet" Description of Invention This invention relates to a workshop cabinet.

According to the invention, there is provided a workshop cabinet, suitable for use in the storage of tools or the like, comprising a panel movable between a first position, wherein the panel prevents or restricts access to a storage compartment of the cabinet, and a second position wherein the panel permits access to said compartment and affords a work surface.

Preferably the panel is generally upricht in its first position.

Preferably the pcnel lies generally horizontally in its second position.

Preferably the panel is mounted for at least angular movement between said positions.

Preferably the panel is mounted by way of a siot and slot follower arrangement so as to be capable of translational movement.

Preferably said first and second positions are rcised ana ictverps positions, respective!y, of the pcnei.

Preferably the panel is provided with means, for example a vce fitted to the panel, for holaing a workpiece on which an operation is to be perfcrmec.

Preferably the panel is provided at the front of the cabinet. The death of the cabinet, from front-tc-rear, when the panel 5 in its first position, s preferably only G fraction, preferably not more than about 2 and preferably less than ft of the front-to-rear dimension of the panel, or of the front-torear extent to which the panel protrudes from the cabinet, when the pane! is in its second position.

The cabinet may comprise stays, for example movable stays, fcr supporting the panel in its second position, but preferably the panel in its second position is svpported at least portly cn a fixed part of the cabinet.

Preferably the cabinet is adapted to be secured to c wall, to prevent undesired forward tilting of the cabinet, and preferably the cabinet may be so secured through means by which the panel is or may be mounted.

Alternatively or additionally, the cabinet may comprise support means for engaging the ground to prevent undesired forward tilting of the cabinet.

The cabinet may comprise a further movable panel which, in one position thereof, is capable of maintaining the first-referred-to panel in said first position.

The cabinet may comprise one or more storage shelves adapted to accept tools.

For the scke of security, all movable panels, doors or the like of the cabinet are preferably Icckable.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures I to 5 show a workshop cabinet embodying the invention w:th parts of the cabinet in respective first, second third, fourth and fifth configurations thereof, and in whizz Figures 6 to 11 show an alternative workshop cabinet embodying the invention, and parts thereof.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings. a first worksnop cabinet 10 embodving the invention and suitacie for use n the storage of tools or the like is of generally rectangulcr form, being formed from a plurality of panels each of generally rectangular shape or geometry and ecch formed from sheet metai materiai by suitabie stamping and/or pressing operations.

The cabinet 10 has a main body or frame comprising opposite side panels 12 connected at least by generally horizontal shelves LL, 16, 18. 20 extending therebetween.

A lower portion of the cabinet is provided with 5 pcir of doors 22 hingedly connected, along lateral vertical edges thereof, to respective side panels 12 for movement between closed positions (e.g. Figure 1) to open positions (Figure 5) in which they allow access to the shelves 20.

The cabinet has a main fror.t panel 24 mounted on the mcin bodv or frame of the cabinet. and a further panel in the form of a top lid 26 comprising c top portion and G front portion.

The lid 26 is hingedly connected, along its hor-zortal rear edge to an upper rear member 28 of the cabinet for movement between a closed position (Figure I) and an open position (Figure 2, Figure 4) in which it allows access to a shelf 14 comprising a plurality of desirably differently sized or shaped through apertures 30 adapted to receive respective tools (not shown) for storage thereof. A stay is provided to hold the lid 26 in its open position.

Another front panel 32 of the cabinet, lying below the main panel 24, may be hinged downwardly from its closed position (e.g. Figure I) to an open position permitting access to the shelf 18 and to two stays 34 (Figure 2) mounted on the main body/frame, which stays 34 may then be pivoted outwardly about vertical axes from their stowed positions to the positions shown in Figure 3 in which they automatically lock, whereupon hinged/folding length-ad3ustsb;e support legs 36 may be deployed downwardly from the stays 34 which carry the legs 36, so as to engage the ground. A stay is provided to hold the panel 32 in its open position.

In its closed position, the lid 26 cooperctes with the main pcnel 24 to prevent movement of the panel 24, but when the lid 26 has been raised, it is possible to move the panel 24 from its first. raised and generally upright, position in which it prevents, or at least restricts. access to tool storage compartment 38 of the cabinet, to a second. lowered and generally horizontal position thereof (Figure 4; in which it permits access to the compartment 38, including the shelf 16, and lies on the extended stays 34, supported by the stays 34. so as to afford a work surfcce.

The panei 24 is movable annularly between said positions. being hingedly pivotally connected, along its lower (as viewed in said first position) edge to the main body or frame of the cabinet 10.

The panel 24 is provided with means namely a vice 40 fitted thereto (Figure 4), for holding a workpiece on which an operation is to be performed.

In the example illustrated, the depth of the side panels 12, from front to rear, is a fraction, in this example approximately 2 of the front-to-rear dimension of the panel 24 when the panel 24 is in its lowered position.

(in alternative cabinets in accordance with the invention said fraction is preferably not more than about 1, and may advantageously be less than about . The depth of the side panels from front to rear is typically about i5 cm to about 20 cm.) Thus the cabinet 10, with the panel 24 lowered. may act as a workstation with a conveniently large generally hor;zontai worn surface or work top afforded by the panel 24, and yet the cabinet 10 with the panel 24 in its raised position may be sufficiently compact, in terms of its front-to-recr depth, for it to be installed in relatively confined spaces such as small workshops or domestic garages.

Whilst sufficiently stability against undesired forward tilting e.g. due to downward pressure on the work surface, may be provided by the legs 36 below the front edge of the lowered pcnel 24 and/or by the weight of the main body or frame, alternatively or additionally such stability may be acheived by bolting of the cabinet to a wall of a building, using bolts such as expanding-sleeve anchor bolts for example, and formations (not shown) to accept such bolts are provided in rear surfaces of the cabinet 10.

For the sake of security against thieves or intruders, all movable panels, aoors, ot the like are locoble. However only three locks (not shown) are required, nameiy a first lock for locking the lid 26 in its closed position (this also serving to lock the panel 24 which, in its first position, is effectively trapped by the closed lid), a second lock for locking the panel 32, and a third lock capable of s.multaneously locking the two doors 22 ir their closed position.

Referring to Figures 6 to I I of the drawings. there s illustrate an alternative workshop cabinet ;10 embocying the invention parts corresponding functiona51y to pcrts of the cabinet 10 be;ng correspondingly numbered. The cabinet I 10 importantly embodies G new manner of support for the panel 24 which, in use, affords the work surface. and psrts corresponding to the parts 32 34, 36 and 18 of the cabinet iO are nct present in the cabinet 110. A revised movable lid 26 is provided, as illustrated.

The pcnel 24 of the cabinet 110, instead of being mounted solely for pivotal movement on the mcin body of the cabinet, hcs dowels (or the like) C protruding laterally from its opposite side edges, which dowels are received in respective guide slots D in plates C (of metal such as mild steel) provided at opposite sides of the cabinet, so that the panel 24 is capable not only cf pivotal movement about an axis defined by the dowels C, but alse of translational movement corresPonding to slot-following movement of the dowels C along the respective slots 5. The width of each slot D is uniform, and may for example lie between about 6 mm and about 13 mm.

Figures 7 to 9 are fragmentary cross-sectional views on a plane lying intermediate the left-hand side wall 12 (as seen in Figure 6) and the plate C secured thereto.

Starting from the first, cabinet-closed position shown in Figure 7, in order to move the panel 24 to its second, work surface providing position (Figure 9), the panel 24 of cabinet 110 is first lifted upwards and inclined outwards, until the dowels C reach the top of their travel (Figure 8) ir the generally vertical portions of the slots D, whereupon the panel 24 is pivoted further outwardly (i.e. lowered) and slid towards the back of the cabinet under guidance of the dowels C along the inclined portions of the slots D, until the generally horizontal position shown in Figure 9 is reached.In the Figure 9 position, the panel 24 and any load thereon, are maintained in equilibrium by resting of the panel 24 on at least the front edge of a fixed shelf E of the cabinet, which shelf E acts as a becrer, and by the fact that the dowels C, by virtue of their presence in the slots D, prevent the rear edge of the panel 24 from moving vertically upwardly or downwardly when n the Figure 9 position.

The above procedure is reversed in order to return the panel 24 to its closed position.

Importantly, the plates G with the slots D for the dowels C also afford respective fixing brackets for the cabinet, being provided with holes H I through which screws (not shown) are passed in order to secure them to the sides 12 of the cabinet I 10 (the cabinet 1!0 being holiow-bccred) and hotes H2 which in use receive masonry bolts cr the ;'.ike bv which the brackets 5, and hence the cabinet 110, may be secured against a workshop waii.

Importantly, this means that substantial forces due to the weight of the panel 24, and any load thereon, in the Figure 9 position, are borne ny the wor4shop wall.

The panels of the cabinet 110 are made from MDF (medium cr multidensity fibre board, which is a high quality chipbocrd) rather than metal.

Preferabiy channel or right-angle cross-section metal edging strips (not shown) such as of iron, are fitted over and along side edges of panel 9't, for strengthening purposes.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or c class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combinat;on of such features, be utilised for reciising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. A workshop cabinet, suitable for use in the storage of tools or the like, comprising a panel movable between a first position, wherein the panel prevents or restricts access to a storage compartment of the cabinet, and a second position wherein the panel permits access to said compartment and affords a work surface.
2. A workshop cabinet according to Claim I wherein the panel is nenercily upright in its first position.
3. A workshop cabinet according to Claim I cr Claim 2 wherein the panel lies generally horizontally in its second position.
4. A workshop cabinet according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the pane! is mounted for at least angular movement between said positions.
5. A workshop cabinet according to any one cf C aims I to 4 wherein the panel is mounted by way of a siot and siot follower arrangement so as to be capable of transfationcl movement.
6. A workshop cabinet according to any one of Claims I to 5 wherein said first and second positions are raised and lowered positions, respectively, of the panel.
7. A workshop cabinet according to any one of Claims I to 6 wherein the panel is provided with means for holding a workpiece on which an operation is to be performed.
8. A workshop cabinet according to Claim 7 wherein said means comprises a vice fitted to the panel.
9. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel is provided at the front of the cabinet.
10. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the depth of the cabinet, from front-to-rear, when the panel is in its first position, is only a fraction, preferably not more than about w and preferably less than , of the front-to-rear dimension of the panel, or of the front-to-rear extent to which the panel protrudes from the cabinet, when the pcnel is in its second position.
II. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more stays for supporting the panel in its second position.
12. A workshop cabinet according to Claim II wherein said stays are movable stcys.
13. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding clams wherein the panel in its second position is supported at least ncrtly on a fixed part of the cabinet.
14. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims adapted to be secured to c wall, to prevent undesired forward tilting of the cabinet.
15. A workshop cabinet according to Claim 14 wherein the cabinet may be so secured through means by which the panel is or may be mounted.
16. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims comprising support means for engaging the ground to prevent undesired forward tilting of the cabinet.
17. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a further movable panel which, in one position thereof. is capable of maintaining the first-referred-to pcne! in said first pos:'ton.
18. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more storage shelves adapted to accept tools.
19. A workshop cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more movable panels, doors or the like of the cabinet is or are lockable.
20. A workshop cabinet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
21. Any novei feature or nove! combination of features described herein andjor illustated in the accompanying drawings.