GB2293752A

GB2293752A - Shelf-like structure for cabinet top

Info

Publication number: GB2293752A
Application number: GB9420402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin James Childerhouse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-07
Filing date: 1994-10-07
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-07
Also published as: GB2293752B; GB9420402D0

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for forming a shelf-like structure (4) on top of a cabinet (6), the cabinet (6) comprising a flat top (8) and flat sides (10), and the apparatus (2) being such that it is movable between a non-use condition in which the apparatus (2) is folded and flat, and a use condition in which the apparatus (2) is differently folded and forms the shelf-like structure (4). The shelf-like structure (4) is such that it has a base (12) for sitting on the top (8) of the cabinet (6), side walls (14) having parts (18) which extend below the base (12) for engaging the flat sides (10) of the cabinet (6) and parts (20) which extend above the base (12) to define end stops for the shelf-like structure (4), and a rear wall (16) which extends between the parts (20) of the side walls (14) which extend above the base (12). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SHELF-LIKE STRUCTURE ON TOP OF A CABINET This invention relates to apparatus for forming a shelf-like structure on top of a cabinet.

Cabinets such for example as filing cabinets are invariably used such that all sorts of things are placed on top of the cabinets. The result is that the cabinets look untidy and it is often not easily possible to find what is required on top of the cabinets.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for forming a shelf-like structure on the top of a cabinet, the cabinet comprising a flat top and flat sides, and the apparatus being such that it is movable between a non-use condition in which the apparatus is folded and flat and a use condition in which the apparatus is differently folded and forms the shelf-like structure, the shelf-like structure being such that it has a base for sitting on the top of the cabinet, side walls having parts which extend below the base for engaging the flat sides of the cabinet and parts which extend above the base to define end stops for the shelf-like structure, and a rear wall which extends between the parts of the side walls which extend above the base.

The cabinet may be any suitable and appropriate type of cabinet such for example as a filing cabinet, a cabinet containing a television, a cabinet containing hi-fi equipment, and a cabinet containing drawers.

When the apparatus is in its non-use condition, it is folded flat. This is useful for enabling the apparatus to be stored in shops and not to occupy too much space. It is also useful for enabling the apparatus conveniently to be bought by a person and carried home. Still further, when the apparatus is not in use, it can easily be stored in a drawer or other suitable place in its folded flat condition where it will not occupy much space. The apparatus is also advantageous in that it is easily folded to its use condition in which it forms the shelf-like structure.

In particular, the apparatus can be made as a single piece of material requiring no separate parts for enabling the apparatus to be folded from the non-use condition to the use condition.

Preferably, the apparatus is one which has a rectangular shape when it is flat and before it has been folded to the flat non-use condition, and in which the apparatus has first, second and third sections which are such that the first and the second sect ions form the side walls of the shelf-like structure when the apparatus is folded to the use condition, and the third section forms the base and the rear wall when the apparatus is folded to the use condition.

Preferably, the apparatus has first and second fold lines for separating the first and the second sections respectively from the third section, the first and the second sections being such that they are foldable about the first and the second fold lines.

Also preferably, the third section has a third fold line which extends parallel to the first and the second fold lines and which enables the third section to be folded in half when the apparatus is folded flat to the non-use condition. The third fold line enables the third section to be folded in half and thus the size of the apparatus in the folded non-use condition is able to be substantially half of what it would be without the third fold line.

The apparatus of the invention may be one in which the apparatus is a fourth fold line which extends between the first and the second fold lines and which separates the base from the rear wall when the apparatus is folded to the use condition.

Usually, the apparatus will be one in which the first and the second sections are secured to the third section when the apparatus is folded to the use condition. Preferably, the first and the second sections are releasably secured to the third section.

The apparatus may be one in which the first and the second sections each have at least one projecting member for being releaseably secured in at least aperture in each of the first and the second sections.

Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the first and the second sections each has two of the projecting members for being releaseably secured in two of the apertures in each of the first and the second sections.

The projecting members and the apertures may be made in any suitable size and shape. Thus, for example, the projecting members may be T-shaped in cross section.

The apertures may be curved apertures or T-shaped apertures.

The apparatus of the invention may be made in any suitable and appropriate materials including plastics materials, metals and wood. Plastics materials are presently preferred since the various sections of the apparatus can be arranged to fold about the above mentioned fold lines. The fold lines can be formed integrally in the plastics material simply by cutting the plastics material partially through its thickness.

Thus with a suitable and appropriate plastics material, the entire apparatus can be made as a one piece stamping. A presently preferred plastics material is polypropylene but other plastics materials may be employed if desired.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows apparatus of the invention in its use condition on a filing cabinet; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 folded flat but before it has been folded to its flat non-use condition; Figure 3 shows the apparatus of Figure 2 in the process of being folded flat towards its flat non-use condition; Figure 4 shows the apparatus of Figure 2 folded completely flat in its non-use condition; Figure 5 illustrates a first step in folding the apparatus from the condition shown in Figure 2 to the use condition shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a second step in folding the apparatus to the use condition shown in Figure 1; and Figure 7 shows a third step in folding the apparatus to the use condition shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for forming a shelf-like structure 4 on top of a filing cabinet 6. The filing cabinet 6 has a flat top 8 and flat sides 10.

The apparatus 2 is such that it movable between a non-use condition as shown in Figure 4 to a use condition as shown in Figure 1. In the non-use condition shown in Figure 4, the apparatus 2 is folded and is flat. The folded flat non-use condition is achieved by folding the apparatus 2 from the flat condition shown in Figure 2 through the intermediate folded condition shown in Figure 3 to the fully folded flat condition shown in Figure 4.

In the use condition shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 2 is differently folded from when it is in the flat folded condition shown in Figure 4. In the use condition, the formed shelf-like structure 4 has a base 12, side walls 14 and a rear wall 16. The base 12 is for sitting on the top 8 of the filing cabinet 6. Each of the side walls 14 has a part 18 which extends below the base 12 for engaging one of the flat sides 10 of the filing cabinet 6, and a part 20 which extends above the base 12 to define end stops for the shelf-like structure 4 as will be appreciated from Figure 1. The rear wall 16 extends between the parts 18, 20 as shown.Thus the parts 18, 20 and the rear wall 16 together form a closed shelf-like structure which is able to act as a container for articles such for example as books, magazines and papers which would normally have been left lying loose in a jumbled fashion on the top 8 of the filing cabinet 6.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the apparatus 2 has a generally rectangular shape when it is flat and before it has been folded to the flat non-use condition shown in Figure 4. The apparatus 2 has a first section 22, a second section 24 and a third section 26. The first and the second sections 22, 24 form the side walls 14 of the shelf-like structure 4 when the apparatus 2 is folded to the use condition shown in Figure 1. The third section forms the base 12 and the rear wall 16 when the apparatus 2 is folded to the use condition shown in Figure 1.

As can also best be seen from Figure 2, the apparatus 2 has a first fold line 28 and a second fold line 30. The first and the second fold lines 28, 30 separate the first and the second sections 22, 24 respectively from the third section 26. The first and the second sections 22, 24 are such that they are foldable about the first and the second fold lines 28, 30.

The third section 26 has a third fold line 32 which extends parallel to the first and the second fold lines 28, 30 and which enables the third section 26 to be folded in half when the apparatus 2 is folded flat to the non-use condition. The folding of the third section 26 in half is best appreciated from Figure 3.

The apparatus 2 has a fourth fold line 34 which extends between the first and the second fold lines 28, 30 as again is best seen from Figure 2. The fourth fold line 34 separates the base 12 from the rear wall 16 when the apparatus is folded to the use condition shown in Figure 1.

The first and the second sections 22, 24 are releaseably secured to the third section 26 when the apparatus is folded to the use condition shown in Figure 1. This is achieved by providing each of the first and the second sections 22, 24 with two projecting members 36 which extend through apertures 38 and which are releaseably secured in the apertures 38 by a nipping/locking action. As can best be appreciated from Figure 5, the apertures 38 are not horizontally in line.

The projecting members 36 are engaged in the apertures 38 by pushing the base 12 slightly beyond its vertical position as shown in Figure 7 and then pulling the base 12 back to its vertical position. With such an arrangement, the projecting members 36 are easily located in the apertures 38, and, when the base 12 is on the top 8 of the filing cabinet 10 as shown in Figure 1, then the projecting members 36 are at the bottom of the apertures 38 and the entire apparatus 2 is rigid and able to receive a wide variety of articles. The apparatus 2 can easily be unfolded from the use condition shown in Figure 1 whereupon it can then be folded to the non-use condition shown in Figure 4 and stored away.

The apparatus 2 shown in Figure 1 is preferably made from a plastics material. In this case, the fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34 can be formed as cuts extending partially through the thickness of the plastics material. This in turn means that the apparatus 2 can be produced as a one piece stamping in the form shown in Figure 2. Cut out portions 40 enable the projecting members 36 to be formed. If desired, one or more of the fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34 could be replaced by separate hinges. Although Figure 1 shows the use of the apparatus 2 on a filing cabinet 6, the apparatus 2 can be used on any other suitable and appropriate types of cabinet. Thus the apparatus 2 has wide use possibilities in homes, offices and factories.

If desired, the projecting members 36 as shown in Figure 2 can be staggered from each other so that, for example, if two or more filing cabinets were next to each other and were each provided with the apparatus of the invention, then the projecting members would not clash. The shape of the projecting members 36 and the apertures 38 can be varied from the shapes shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a shelf-like structure on top of a cabinet, the cabinet comprising a flat top and flat sides, and the apparatus being such that it is movable between a non-use condition in which the apparatus is folded and flat and a use condition in which the apparatus is differently folded and forms the shelf-like structure, the shelf-like structure being such that it has a base for sitting on the top of the cabinet, side walls having parts which extend below the base for engaging the flat sides of the cabinet and parts which extend above the base to define end stops for the shelflike structure, and a rear wall which extends between the parts of the side walls which extend above the base.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and which has a rectangular shape when it is flat and before it has been folded to the flat non-use condition, and in which the apparatus has first, second and third sections which are such that the first and tRe second sections form the side walls of the shelf-like structure when the apparatus is folded to the use condition, and the third section forms the base and the rear wall when the apparatus is folded to the use condition.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and which has first and second fold lines for separating the first and the second sections respectively from the third section, the first and the second sections being such that they are foldable about the first and the second fold lines.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the third section has a third fold line which extends parallel to the first and the second fold lines and which enables the third section to be folded in half when the apparatus is folded flat to the non-use condition.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and including a fourth fold line which extends between the first and the second fold lines and which separates the base from the rear wall when the apparatus is folded to the use condition.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2-5 in which the first and the second sect ions are secured to the third section when the apparatus is folded to the use condition.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the first and the second sections are releasably secured to the third section.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2-7 in which the first and the second sections each have at least one projecting member for being releasably secured in at least one aperture in each of the first and the second sections.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the first and the second sections each has two of the projecting members for being releasably secured in two of the apertures in each of the first and the second sections.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the projecting members are T-shaped in cross section, and in which the apertures are curved apertures or T-shaped apertures.

11. Apparatus for forming a shelf-like structure on top of a cabinet, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.