US2576750A

US2576750A - Collapsible cabinet

Info

Publication number: US2576750A
Application number: US137184A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willie V Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-01-06
Filing date: 1950-01-06
Publication date: 1951-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-11-27

Description

Nov. 27, 1951 w. v. CLARK COLLAPSIBLE CABINET 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1950 m R w mm. MN m 5 v. m I F "W m QM W w M 1951 w. v. CLARK COLLAPSIBLE CABINET 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1950 Willie V. Clark INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CABINET Willie V. Clark, Washington, D. C.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,184

I Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cabinets and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet including a pair of adjacent walls having spaced sleeves along their edges and with the material of one of the wall between the sleeves bent at 90 to form supporting brackets for shelves.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet composed of a plurality of parts that are quickly and readily assembled or disassembled in a convenient manner and which may be utilized as a screen as well as a cabinet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible cabinet having shelves mounted therein and embodying novel and improved means for partitioning the space between adjacent shelves.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cabinet of relatively low gauge metal so constructed as to provide a large storage space and a strong joint between adjacent walls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible cabinet wherein the end walls are formed with hinge sleeves and shelf supporting brackets in a single operation to reduce to a minimum the time and labor required for constructing the cabinet and to utilize material, for bracketing, that is ordinarily discarded.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a collapsible cabinet that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, extremely inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the present cabinet assembled for use;

, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the cabinet is collapsed;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cabinet collapsed; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-5 of Figure '5 Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line l--'! of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the end walls to show the manner in which the hinge sleeves and shelf brackets are formed;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which the rear wall sections are joined;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the cabinet and showing the means for supporting auxiliary or unused shelves;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the partition means applied between adjacent shelves;

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line l3l3 of Figure 6; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line l4-l4 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cabinet is constructed from sheet metal and is designated generally by the numeral ill and includes end walls l2 and I4, a pair of upper wall sections l6 and I8, a pair of

lower wall sections

20 and 22, a pair of

forward wall sections

24 and 26, and a pair of

rear wall sections

28 and 30.

The upper and lower edges of the end walls 12 and [4 are folded inwardly to provide upper and lower

horizontal flanges

32 and 34. The inner edge of the upper wall section [6 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced sleeves 36 that are interdigitated with further longitudinally spaced sleeves 38 at the inner edge of the upper wall section 18. A suitable hinge pin is extended through the interdigitated sleeves 36 .and 38. T

Attaching

strips

40 and 42 overlie the upper horizontal flanges 32 of the end walls l2 and M. The attaching

strips

40 and 42 are detachably secured to the flanges 32 through the medium of tongues 44 that are struck from the

strips

40 and 42 and which enter slots or openings 46 formed in the flanges 32. The tongues 44 yieldingly bear against the undersurface of the flanges 32 as shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Longitudinally spaced

sleeves

48 and 50 are provided at'the outer side edges of the upper wall sections and i8. These sleeves (48, '50) are interdigitated with further longitudinally spaced

sleeves

52 and 54'. formed at the inner side edges of the attaching

strips

40 and 42. Suitable hinge pins are extended through the

sleeves

48, 52 and 59, 5d.

The inner edges of the

lower wall sections

26 and 22 are provided with longitudinally spaced sleeves 55 and '58 respectively. The sleeves 55 are interdigitated with the sleeves 518 and a hinge pin is extended through the

sleeves

56 and 58. The outer side edges or" the lower wall sections and 22 are also provided with longitudinally spaced sleeves -89 and 82 that are interdieitated with longitudinally spaced

sleeves

64 and 66 at the inner edges of lower attaching strips 68 and iii. Additionally hinge pins areextendedthrough the sleeves 69, 64 and S2, 66.

The lower attaching strips 68 and 1!! underlie the lower flanges 34 and tongues 12 struck from the attaching strips; 6'8 and ill enter. slots or openings bi provided in the lower flanges 34. The tongues l2 yieldingly bear against, the inner or upper faces of the. flanges. 3.4- in. order to retain the. end wall sections, 2(1 and 22 detachably secured to the end walls l2 and M The forward and rear vertical edges of the; end walls t2 and it are provided with vertically spaced horizontal slits. that are equally spaced. to define groups of tongues or arms 16. Alternate tongues, 18', of the groups of tongues 16 are bent inwardly at: 90? to form shelf supports whereas the outer edges of the tongues 76 are rolled upon themselves to providesleeves 80.

Forward and rear pairs of

hinge strips

82 and 84 are associated with the end walls l2 and i i. 'Eongi tudi-nally' spaced sleeves. 86- and 88 are provided at the outer edges of the hinge strips 32 and 8E. Hinge pins are extended into the

sleeves

30, 86 and 86 8% to connect the hinge strips. 82 and its to the end walls. Longitudinally spaced sleeves 9d and 92 are also provided at the inner edges of the hinge strips 82- and 84-. These latest sleeves (99, 9-2) are. interdi'gitated with longitudinally spaced sleeves 94 and 9d at the outer edges of the forward and rear wall sections 26, and 2 8, 30. Hinge pins areextended into the sleeves $0, 94' and $2, 96 to retain the forward and rearwall sections 24, Z5 and- 2-8, 36 relative tothe end Walls l2- and M.

The inner verticaledge of the forward wall section 2 6 is provided with an ofiset 9.8 that will overlie the inner vertical edge of the forward wall section 2 4 when the forward wall sections are moved to their closed position. The forward wall sections are retained closed and locked together by a suitable latch ['00.

V The inner vertical edge of the rear wall section 2.8- is bent to form a vertical channel I021 The inner vertical edge of 'the rear wall section 38 is folded upon itself to form a double thickness edge I06 that isfri'ctionally fitted into the channel N32 to retain the rear wall sections locked together; By pressing inwardly and forwardly upon the inner joined edges of the rear wall secticns, the edge l04- will snap outof the channel H32 as shown best in Figure 10 of the drawings. Atention is directed to Figure 8 wherein there is disclosed the preferred method for reinforcing the connection between the rear Wall sections and the bottom wall sections. The rear edges of the bottom wall sections are turned upwardly to provide vertical flanges I06. Channels I08 are pressed in the flanges Hi6 and yieldingly receive 'ribs. I10. pressed from the. rear wall sections.

Flanges H2 at the lower ends of the rear wall sections ride upon the bottom wall sections as the rear wall sections are folded inwardly and forwardly.

A plurality of horizontally disposed panels or shelves l 5-4 are positioned within the cabinet and these shelves are supported on certain of the tongues 78 as shown in Figure 5. The shelves may be spaced from each other a predetermined distance, depending upon the type article or articles that are to be disposed between adjacent shelves.

Means is provided for dividing the space between adjacent partitions into two areas. This means consists of a base strip I it that is disposed transversely of one of the shelves. The reduced end portions, of the base strip H6 are bent to form hooks or channels H8 that slidably receive the side edges of one shelf. Longitudinally spaced sleeves I28 depend from one edge of the base strip it. and are. interdigitated with spaced sleeves its at; the unner ed e. of; an pp r n rdtion member tar. A hin e pin I26 is extended into. the sleeves 3.28; and; i 2.2.

The side. edges of the upper partition member in. are folded inwardly to provide channels. I28. Slots. its are. formed the channels [.28 and slida'olyreceive lugs 1.32 at. the side edges of a lower partition member I.

The, end portions; of a half-round hollow rubaredetachably and. slidabl-y secured to ine. of a. sheli and the lower edge,- of h partition member :34 is forced against; the; rubber to be yieldinsly" retained thereto as: t a; rather is depressed at its longitudinal center to receive the lower edge of. the. lower partition member i:34..

The tongues E8, in addition to: their iuzneztion a 'shelving supports, will also limit the inward s swinging movement. of the.- strips $2 and 8A.. These tongues 7:3 function as. stops. as well as supports. 7 7 Since one the outstanding features of the present invention is to provide. a. cabinet structure that is convenient to manufacture. at low cost and which may be sold to. the purchasing public at a low price, it. is: observed that the walls [:2 and it are bent and. rolled; to form the flanges. 3'2 and 3 the tongues 13:, arms 16 and sleeves in a single operation with conventional type of machinery familiar to. the sheet metal industry;

One or both or the end walls l2 and M supportv upper and lower brackets or channels 140 and M2 on their outer faces for receiving and holding additional shelving or shelving not being used within thecabi net.

Closuremem-bcrs hit are hinged to the-strips 8-2 and are retained in juxtaposition to the walls #2 and P4, to guardand shield the shelving supported by thebrackets M1! and M2", by suitable spring clips M 6 mounted onthe strips 64.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cabinet. including a pair of hingedly connected walls. one of said walls having a plurality' of spaced parallel slits therein to define a. plurality of tongues between adjacent s its; the outer edges of alternate tongues being bent upon themselves to provide hinge sleeves, and the. remaining tongues being bent perpendicularly to said one of said GIIdJQWStHS, to. form shelf. supports. 7

2.. A cabinetwali comprising an elongatedsheet side edges having a plurality of spaced parallel slits therein to define a plurality of tongues between adjacent slits, certain of said tongues being bent perpendicular to said elongated sheet of material to form shelf support means and the outer edges of further of said tongues being bent upon themselves to provide hinge sleeves.

3. A collapsible cabinet comprising a pair of hingedly connected upper wall sections, a pair of hingedly connected lower wall sections, a pair of end walls, means detachably and hingedly securing the upper wall sections to the end walls, further means deta'chably and hingedly securing the lower wall sections to the end walls, a pair of forward wall sections, said end walls having for- -=:.'ard and rear edges and a plurality of spaced parallel slits extending inwardly through said edges to define a plurality of tongues between adjacent slits, the outer edges of alternate tongues being bent upon themselves to provide hinge sleeves, and the remaining tongues being bent perpendicular to the end walls to form supports, means pivotally securing the forward wall sections to the hinge sleeve at the forward edges of said end walls, a pair of rear Wall sections, means pivotally securing the rear wall sections is to the hinge sleeves at the rear edges of the end walls, and shelves supported on said supportforming tongues.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said first mentioned means includes attaching strips hinged to said upper wall sections, flanges at the upper ends of said end walls, said strips overlying said flanges, and interconnecting means between said flanges and said strips.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said interconnecting means includes resilient tongues on said strips, said flanges having openings receiving said tongues, said tongues yieldingly bearing against said flanges and retaining said flanges between said tongues and said strips.

WILLIE V. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 491,495 R-idell Feb. 7, 1893 1,342,269 Stewart June 1, 1920 1,696,123 Packer Dec. 18, 1928 1,822,448 Morin Sept. 8, 1931