IE20010530A1 - A storage wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular storage wall(1) comprises a wooden cabinet (2) mounted about a metal support frame (3) which carries shelves (4) within the cabinet (2). A front of the cabinet (2) is closed by hinged doors (5,6). The cabinet (2) has a rectangular base panel (10) with upstanding side panels (11,12) at each side of the base panel (10), a rear panel (51) at a rear of the base panel (10) and a top panel interconnecting the upper ends of the side panels (11,12). The frame (3) nests between the side panels (11,12) at a rear of the side panels (11,12). An inner back panel(56) is engaged with a front of the support frame (3) in a manner which allows through passage of cabling. <Figure 1>

Description

OPEN TO PUBLIC iN^CHON Introduction This invention relates to a modular storage wall.

UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL No. (5^0 OF Ο4|ο Statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided a storage wall comprising a rectangular cabinet shell having a rectangular base panel with upstanding side panels at each side of the base panel and a top panel interconnecting upper ends of the side panels, a metal support frame mounted at an inner end of the cabinet shell, the support frame comprising a pair of uprights interconnected by spaced-apart bracing members, each upright having a slotted front face for reception of a shelf mounting bracket, a rear panel mounted between inner ends of the side panels and extending between the top and bottom panels to close a rear inner end of the cabinet shell, and closure means mounted at an outer end of the side panels to close a front outer end of the cabinet shell.

In one embodiment of the invention the side panels are deeper than the top panel and the bottom panel and project rearwardly of the top panel and the bottom panel to define a recess at the back of the cabinet within which the support frame rests.

In a preferred embodiment, the bracing members comprise a pair of bracing frames, namely, a lower bracing frame mounted between lower ends of the uprights and an upper bracing frame mounted between upper ends of the uprights, each bracing frame being of rectangular configuration having a top, a bottom and substantially vertical sides extending between the top and the bottom, the sides engaging and being secured to the uprights. Preferably, the bracing frames are constructed of box 0 section tubular steel material.

Conveniently, one or more cable management trays may be mounted between the uprights for routing cabling through the support frame. To this end also, holes may be provided in the uprights for through passage of cables. ΙΕΟ 1 05 3 0 - 2 In a preferred embodiment, a sound insulation panel is mounted in front of the rear panel of the cabinet shell. Typically, the insulation panel will be mounted between the rear panel and the support frame and may be adhesively secured to the rear panel.

In a further embodiment, the rear panel has stepped side edges for co-operation and snug engagement with inner side edges of the uprights.

If desired, an inner back panel may be mounted in front of the support frame within the cabinet. Such inner back panel is engaged with a front of the support frame. Preferably, the inner back panel has rebates along each side edge for co-operation with the inner edges of the support frame uprights. Conveniently, a foam or flexible rubber strip is mounted within the rebate to allow through passage of cabling between the inner back panel and the uprights during use.

In a preferred embodiment the inner back panel is secured to the support frame uprights by means of a number retaining clips, each retaining clip having a circular head with an outwardly extending shank, at least one mounting slot being provided in the shank intermediate the ends of the shank, said shank engaging within slots in a front face of the support frame uprights, the slot in the shank cooperation with a periphery of the slot in the support frame upright and the head of the retaining clip engaging with an outer face of the inner back panel to retain the inner back panel against the support frame uprights.

If desired, the inner back panel may be provided in a number of sections with one section adjacent the cable management tray forming a demountable or hinged access panel for access to the cable management tray. Openings may be provided in such an access panel for through passage of the cabling.

In another embodiment, the cabinet shell is supported on a plinth upon which the base panel is seated.

Any suitable shelving may be provided for mounting within the cabinet on the uprights of the support frame. Typically, the shelving will comprise a shelving panel having shelf mounting brackets at each end which are engagable with the slots in the uprights of the support frame to position the shelves at any desired height within the cabinet.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a storage wall according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet shell portion of the storage wall; Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the cabinet shell and a metal support frame of the storage wall; Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the storage wall partially assembled; Fig. 5 is a partially exploded, partially assembled view of the storage wall; Fig. 6 is a partially exploded, partially assembled view of the storage wall; Fig. 7 is a partially exploded, partially assembled view of the storage wall; Fig. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the storage wall; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a panel retaining clip; and Fig. 10 shows detail sectional plan views of portion of the storage wall.

IE 0 1 Ο 5 3 9 - 4 Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a storage wall according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The storage wall 1 is shown assembled in Fig. 8 and comprises a wooden cabinet 2 mounted about a metal support frame 3 which also carries shelves 4 within the cabinet 2. A front of the cabinet 2 is closed by a pair of hinged doors 5, 6.

The storage wall 1 is of modular construction and the assembly of each module is shown in steps in Fig. 2 - Fig. 7. The storage wall 1 has a rectangular wooden cabinet shell comprising a rectangular base panel 10 with upstanding side panels 11, 12 at each side of the base panel 10 and a top panel 13 interconnecting the upper ends of the side panels 11,12. It will be noted that front edges 14, 15 of the base panel 10 and top panel 13 respectively are flush with front edges 16, 17 of the side panels 11, 12. However, the base panel 10 and top panel 13 are not as deep as the side panels 11,12 thus leaving, at the inner end ofthe side panels 11,12 a recesses 20 (Fig. 3) for reception of the frame 3 which nests between the side panels 11,12 at a rear of the side panels 11,12.

The metal support frame 3 comprises a pair of uprights 21, 22 of box-section construction. A front face 23, 24 of each upright 21, 22 has an array of vertically spaced-apart slots 25, 26 for reception of a shelf mounting bracket as will be described later. The uprights 21, 22 are interconnected by a pair of bracing frames 28, 29. These comprise a lower bracing frame 28 of rectangular construction mounted between lower ends of the uprights 21, 22 and a similar rectangular upper bracing frame 29 is mounted between upper ends of the uprights 21, 22. Each bracing frame 28,29 is formed of box section tubular metal material and comprises a top 70, a bottom 71 and substantially vertical sides 72, 73 extending between the top 70 and the bottom 71, the sides 72, 73 engaging and secured to inner faces of the uprights 21, 22 by any suitable fastener means such as screws, bolts or rivets.

A cable management tray 32 is also mounted between the uprights 21, 22 and comprises a pair of troughs or channels 33, 34 mounted between end plates 35, 36 provided with through holes 38 in line with the channels 33, 34. These through holes 38 align with corresponding holes 40 in the uprights 21, 22 to allow through passage of cabling. The frame 3 is mounted within the recesses 20 between the side panels ΠΕΞ 0 1 05 3 0 - 5 11,12 keeping the frame 3 flush with the top panel 13 and base panel 10.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cabinet shell 2 reinforced by the frame 3 is mounted on a plinth 45. The plinth has an inner member 46 on which the cabinet 2 sits to raise the cabinet 2 for door clearance. An outer sleeve 47 fits about the inner member 46 and may conveniently be cut to accommodate uneven flooring on which the storage wall 1 is mounted.

Referring to Fig. 5, a sound insulating panel 50 is bonded to an inside face 51 of a rear panel 52 which is then fixed at a rear of the cabinet. It will be noted that rebates 53, 54 are provided along each side of the panel 52 so that the panel 52 snugly engages with the rear inner edge of the frame 3. The rear panel 52 can be secured to the bracing frames 28, 29 by screws which engage with pre-drilled holes in the bracing frames 28,29.

Fig. 6 shows the mounting of an inner back panel 56 on the frame 3 within the cabinet. It will be noted that the inner back panel 56 has rebates 57, 58 along its side edges for engagement with inner front edges of the uprights 21, 22. The inner back panel 56 engages the uprights 21, 22 whilst leaving the shelf mounting slots 25, 26 open and accessible for mounting shelves thereon. A strip 62 (Fig. 10) of foam or flexible rubber material is mounted along each rebate 57, 58 to allow through passage of cables between the inner back panel 56 and the uprights 21, 22 in use, the foam strip 62 deforming to accommodate the cable.

The inner back panel 56 is retained in position against the uprights 21, 22 of the support frame 3 by retaining clips 65 (Fig. 9). Each retaining clip 65 has a circular head 66 with an outwardly extending shank 67 with a pair of spaced-apart slots 68 in a lower edge of the shank 67. The shank is simply pushed into the slots 25, 26 in the uprights 21, 22 until the head 66 abuts a front face of the inner back panel 56 and then it is slid downwardly to engage one of the slots 68 with the front wall of the upright 21, 22 retaining the clip 65 in engagement with the upright 21, 22. A pair of the slots 68 are provided to accommodate inner back panels 56 of different thickness.

Doors 5, 6 are then mounted at a front of the side panels 11, 12 by means of hinges. Εθ 1 05 3 0 - 6 The shelves 4 comprise rectangular shelf panels 59 which have mounting brackets 60 at each end which are engagable with the slots 25, 26 in the uprights 21, 22 to position the shelves 4 within the cabinet 2.

In use, a number of the storage wall units 1 can be assembled as described and mounted side-by-side in a row to form a dividing wall between rooms in an office space or the like.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be 10 varied in construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A storage wall comprising a rectangular cabinet shell having a rectangular base panel with upstanding side panels at each side of the base panel and a top panel interconnecting upper ends of the side panels, a metal support frame mounted at an inner end of the cabinet shell, the support frame comprising a pair of uprights interconnected by spaced-apart bracing members, each upright having a slotted front face for reception of a shelf mounting bracket, a rear panel mounted between inner ends of the side panels and extending between the top and bottom panels to close a rear inner end of the cabinet shell, and closure means mounted at an outer end of the side panels to close a front outer end of the cabinet shell.

2. A storage wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side panels are deeper than the top panel and the bottom panel and project rearwardly of the top panel and the bottom panel to define a recess at the back of the cabinet within which the support frame rests.

3. A storage wall as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bracing members comprise a pair of bracing frames, namely a lower bracing frame mounted between lower ends of the uprights, and an upper bracing frame mounted between upper ends of the uprights, each bracing frame being of rectangular configuration having a top, a bottom and substantially vertical sides extending between the top and the bottom, the sides engaging and being secured to the uprights.

4. A storage wall as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an inner back panel is mounted in front of the support frame within the cabinet, said inner back panel being engaged with a front of the support frame, the inner back panel having rebates along each side edge for co-operation with the inner edges of the support frame uprights, a flexible strip being mounted within the rebate to allow through passage of cabling between the inner back panel and the uprights during use.

5. A storage wall as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner back panels is secured to the support frame uprights by means of a number retaining clips, each retaining clip having a circular head with an outwardly extending shank, at least one mounting slot being provided in the shank intermediate the ends of the shank, said shank engaging within slots in a front face of the support frame uprights, the slot in the shank cooperation with a periphery of the slot in the support frame upright and the head of the retaining clip engaging with an outer face of the inner back panel to retain the inner back panel against the support frame uprights.

6. A storage wall as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more cable management trays is mounted between the uprights for routing cabling through the support frame.

7. A storage wall as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a sound insulation panel is mounted in front of the rear panel of the cabinet shell, the insulation panel being mounted between the rear panel and the support frame and being adhesively secured to the rear panel, and preferably the rear panel has stepped side edges for co-operation and snug engagement with inner side edges of the uprights.

8. A storage wall substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.