GB2247397A - Locker unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit of lockers having at least several separate compartments positioned one above the other and lockable by individual doors (6) with ventilation apertures (8a, 8b) provided at least in the doors, these ventilation apertures being arranged in two groups of holes or slots which extend along the upper and lower edge along the entire door width. This arrangement of the ventilation apertures represents the most effective solution for a free, i.e. unrestricted circulation of air while at the same time enhancing appearance. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCKERS This invention relates to a unit of lockers, especially made of metal, having at least several separate compartments positioned one above the other and lockable by individual doors, with ventilation apertures being provided at least in the doors. Units of lockers of this kind for keeping a day's food and personal'belongings are used in firms to an increasing extent because modern regulations regarding breaks at work stipulates that such units should be erected in the vicinity of the workplace.

If a unit of lockers of the above kind. is provided with punched ventilation slots approximately in the centre of a door these slots neither ensure effective ventilation nor do they provide a satisfactory visual solution.

According to the present invention there is provided a unit of lockers having at least several separate compartments positioned one above the other and lockable by individual doors with ventilation apertures provided at least in the doors, these ventilation apertures being arranged in two groups of holes or slots which extend along the upper and lower edge along the entire door width. Such a unit is advantageous for having food stored therein as the individual compartments are securely separate from each other whilst ventilation is maximised and yet the unit is advantageous from a visual point of view. The arrangement of the ventilation apertures in two groups of holes or slots which extend along the upper and lower edge along the entire door width represents the most effective solution for a free, i.e. unrestricted circulation of air while at the same time enhancing appearance.

In a preferred embodiment, the ventilation apertures each consist of a band of horizontal individual slots extending parallel to one another. There are preferably three to five rows of slots whose dimensions are approximately 2 by 25mm and which, with standard door sizes, offer a good appearance.

With free-standing units ventilation may be improved in that further ventilation apertures are provided in the rear wall of each compartment that extend along the entire width of the compartment, in this case especially in the upper region of each compartment for air exit.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of a unit of lockers, Figure 2 is a front view of the unit of lockers of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a detail view on a larger scale showing part of a group of slots.

The unit of lockers shown in the Figures has a body 1 with a top panel 2, a rear wall 3, a bottom panel 4 and upright walls 5 consisting of two outer side walls and a central divider. The unit also has a base 7 and three intermediate horizontal dividers 9 which, positioned one above the other, form two columns of four compartments closed by individual doors 6. Each door 6 has rows of upper and lower ventilation apertures 8a,8b. The resulting flow conditions are indicated in an idealised way by arrows in Figure 1. From Figure 2 it can be seen that the ventilation slots 8a,8b are distributed across the entire width of each door and that there are two columns of four doors each.

Figure 3 shows part of the ventilation slots which continue in the same way in the form of horizontal band of individual slots extending parallel to one another.

It can be seen that the individual slots are rounded at their ends, with the web width between them corresponding to approximately double the slot width and with four slots forming an approximately square area. The distance from the next group of four slots corresponds to approximately one third of the slot length.

In a modification, not shown, further ventilation apertures for air exit are provided in the rear wall of each compartment that extend along the entire width of the compartment.

Claims (5)

1. A unit of lockers having at least several separate compartments positioned one above the other and lockable by individual doors with ventilation apertures provided at least in the doors, these ventilation apertures being arranged in two groups of holes or slots which extend along the upper and lower edge along the entire door width.

2. A unit of lockers as claimed in claim 1, wherein each group of ventilation apertures consists of a band of horizontal individual slots extending parallel to one another.

3. A unit of lockers as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein further ventilation apertures for air exit are provided in the rear wall of each compartment that extend along the entire width of the compartment.

4. A unit of lockers as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the unit is made of metal.

5. A unit of lockers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.