US3446544A - Storage device - Google Patents

Description

A. SERWER May 27, 19 69 STORAGE DEVICE Sheet Filed March 1, 1966 INVENTOR ARTHUR SERWER jZQMQ/KM ATTORNEY May 27, 1969 A. SERWER 3,446,544

STORAGE DEVICE Filed March 1. 1966 Sheet 3 of 2 5404 lob 9 9a" F|G.5 FIGJO INVENTQR ARTHUR SERWER BY ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 312-111 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of individual storage units, each having at least one metal band disposed thereabout, are interconnected into a storage device through the intermediary of a plurality of identically formed clips adapted for disposition in straps formed from the material of the band proximate the corners thereof. Each clip includes apair of flat arms extending in opposite directions-and in the same plane from a central portion from which there also extends a pair of wings, one on each side of said central portion; said wings both lie in a plane which is spaced from and parallel to the plane of the arms. The wings each have formed therein a slot to enable the wings of one clip to be interconnected with the wings of another clip' when the two are positionally reversed. The central section of each clip has formed therein a protuberance with the protuberances of the interlocked clips coacting one with the other to facilitate the interlocking operation.

Background of invention The present invention relates to storage devices and more particularly to storage devices formed from a plurality of interconnected individual storage units.

Modern living and more particularly modernbusiness requires the storage of many items (such as parts, supplies, inventory, records, etc.). Such items may be stored in open shelves or bins, but are quite often stored in closed cabinets having one or more drawers, like a file cabinet.

For those items such as parts and inventory required for every day use, or records required for day to day access, the cabinets are usually formed of sturdy stock easily operated and in predetermined sizes (2 drawer, 4 drawer, 5 drawer, etc.). However, for items which are rarely used, or records which need not be referred to often but must be stored for predetermined periods of time, economics dictates against sturdy construction, easy operation, and predetermined sizes.

It has therefore become quite common to provide storage cabinets in the form of individual units made from inexpensive materials (such as paperboard) and adapted to be stacked in close proximity one to the other. Because the height, width, and rigidity of the stack depend upon the manner in which the individual units fit in juxtaposition to each other, various and sundry schemes have been developed to interfit and interconnect said individual units. The great majority of such schemes require complex and expensive elements which seriously restrict the use thereof because they are difiicult to use and/or economically unfeasible for the type of storage desired.

Summary of invention It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved storage device formed from a plurality of individual storage units interconnected by one or more simple, easy to use, and inexpensive elements.

Another object is to provide an improved storage device utilizing a plurality of individual open ended case-like elements formed from inexpensive material, such as paper- 3,446,544 Patented May 27, 1969 board, each adapted to receive a drawer, also formed of an inexpensive material and which are interconnected to each other in vertically an-d/ or horizontally aligned stacks through the use of simple, inexpensive, and easy to use clips and bands.

A more specific object is to provide novel clip means which cooperates with rigidity imparting members or bands to secure the case-like elements in the aforenoted aligned positions.

Another and yet more specific object is to provide a clip of such design that all of the clips used in aligning and securing the cases are identical.

This invention involves storage devices formed from a plurality of individual storage units each storage unit carrying straps near the corners thereof which are adapted to receive clip-like elements to interconnect two-storage units into a pair; with a pair of such clips each connecting two such units into a pair and formed to coact with each other to interconnect the pairs of storage units. Each clip is formed with a pair of arms located in a first plane and a pair of wings disposed in a second plane parallel to said first plane and spaced therefrom, such that the wings of one clip will interlock with the wings of another clip when they are positionally reversed. The clips further each have formed thereon an abutment adapted to coact one with the other to facilitate the interconnection of the wings of the clips.

In carrying out the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, the storage units are formed from paperboard, or the like, and include a casing open at the front and adapted to receive a drawer of the type commonly used for filing papers, letters, etc. The front of the casing has disposed thereabout a metallic reinforcing strap having formed from the material thereof, proximate the corners, pairs of spaced straps. The combination further includes a clip having a pair of oppositely extending arms located in the same plane and extending from a central portion from which there also extends a pair of wing like elements disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the arms and spaced therefrom. The wings each include slots and the central portions of the clips each include an abutment such that when one clip is reversed with respect to the other clip the wings may be interconnected; with the abutments facilitating such interconnection. The individual storage units are interconnected into a storage device by placing one arm of a first clip in the straps on one storage unit and the other arm of said first clip in the straps of another storage unit so that the storage units are vertically aligned. By doing likewise with a second clip but with the wings thereof positionally reversed with respect to the wings of said first clip the two pairs of storage units vertically aligned may be slid together and through the facility of the abutments the wings of the first clip interlocked with the wings of the second clip. Other individual units may be added in the same way and additional bands may be provided around other portions of the cabinets (particularly near the rear portion thereof) to facilitate a stronger interconnection. It should of course be realized that the cabinets, bands, and straps may be formed of other material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be implicit in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a plurality of storage units in the form of filing cabinets joined together in a horizontally and vertically stacked arrangement by the new invention;

' FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing two of the storage units of FIG. I joined together by a clip which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front detail view of the clip of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the clip of FIG. 3;

FIG.- is a sectional view-taken along line 5-5 of-- FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a pair of clips, schematically disposed on a pair of storage units and in position to be joined together;

FIG. 7 is a view of a pair of clips, in partial section and partially joined together;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the clips shown in FIG. 7, but joined further than in FIG. 7, and cut away in part to better show the details thereof;

FIG. 9 is a View showing the clips of FIG. 8 fully joined and schematically showing four drawers joined together;

FIG. is an enlarged plan view showing the clips of FIG. 8 fully joined together; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section taken on line 1111 of FIG. 10.

A storage device, constructed in accordance with the devices of the invention, comprises a plurality of case units 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) each of which is adapted to receive a sliding drawer 5. Each case unit I is a boxlike structure open at its front end for reception of drawer 5 and includes rectangular top, bottom and sidewalls 2 of paperboard or the like. Each case unit 1 also includes a rear wall of paperboard (not shown). Means for fabricating and processing the paper to form the walls of the unit is well known and does not concern the invention.

A metal band 3 embraces walls 2 of each case unit 1 at the open front end thereof to impart rigidity thereto. Each band 3 includes a continuous outer strip 3a and four inner strips 312, integral at their fronts with outer strip 3a and turned inwardly therefrom towards the rear of case unit 1 to form pockets for receiving the front edges of walls 2 of case unit 1. Tabs 30 are stamped inwardly from one or more strips 3a to bite into paperboard walls 2 and prevent retraction thereof from band 3 when the front edges of case unit 1 are inserted into the pockets formed by the outer strip 3a and inner strips 312 of band 3.

A pair of horizontal straps 3d are located adjacent the tops and bottoms of each side strip 3a. Straps 3d are adapted to cooperate with clip means, later described, in aligning and securing case units .1 together, and may be formed by punch and die means which displace sections of strip 3a outwardly to thus form openings 3e for the insertion of the clip means.

A reinforcing band 4 embraces walls 2 of each case unit 1 at the rear thereof. As shown (FIGS. 1 and 2) band 4 includes a single strip engaging the outer surfaces of walls 2. It will be understood, however, that band 4 may be of a construction similar to band 3 and include straps 3d for cooperation in like manner with the clip means or that band 4 may be eliminated altogether.

The clip means comprises a plurality of identical clips 6 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 9) of unitary sheet metal structure. Each clip 6 includes a pair of like flat arms 7 and of equal length and width, extending in opposite directions in the same plane, and merging with a central section 9 also in the same plane and of the same width.

A pair of like opposed wings 10 extend outwardly from central section 9. Each wing 10 includes an inner wing section 10a inclined outwardly from central section 9 and an outer wing section 1017 extending from inner wing sections 10a and offset in a plane parallel to the plane of central section 9 and arms 7 and 8.

The boundary between each inner wing section 10a and each outer wing section 1017 is cut away to form an open end slot 11 parallel to arms 7, 8, extending from one edge of wing 10 substantially midway to the opposite edge thereof and terminating at 11a (FIGS. 6 and 8). It will 'be noted that slot 11, along the greater part of its length, is just wide enough to permit entry of inner wing section 10a of another clip 6. in an interlocking operation later deschibed.

To facilitate an interlocking operation between two clips 6, slots 11 flare inwardly and o tward y a their open ends-Furthermore the tips of outer wing sections 1012, formed by slots 11, are turned slightly away from the plane of said sections. Additional means to facilitate the interlocking operation comprises a protuberance 9a in the surface of central section 9 of each clip 6.

With reference to FIG. 6, a pair of clips 6 is shown in position just prior to movement to interlocked position as required to secure and align two case units 1 in horizontal adjoining position.

Before the interlocking operation, arm 8 of a clip 6 is inserted downwardly through straps 3d adjacent the top on the right side of band 3 of case l-A, with outer wing sections 10b offset to the right. Accordingly, the points of outer wing section 1012 will be down, with clip 6' arrested from further downward movement by engagement of the lower edges 10c of inner wing sections 10a with the upper strap 3d.

Clip 6 for case unit 1-B must be reversed with respect to clip 6 of case unit 1A (described above).'Therefore, arm 7 of a clip 6is inserted downwardly through the pair ofstraps 3d adjacent the top on the left side of band 30f case unit 1+B, with wing sections 10b offset to the left. Accordingly, the points of wings 10b will be up with clip 6 arrested from further downward movement by engagement of the lower edges 10d (FIGS. 3 and 6) of wing sections 10a with the upper strap 3d. It will be noted that arms 7, 8 pass quite snugly through straps 3d to preclude the possibility of displacement during the following interlocking operation.

After the above-described insertion of the pair of clips 6, case units 1-A and 1-B are moved together, as shown in FIG. 9, with the case unit 1A raised to locate wings 10 of its clip 6 above wings 10 of clip 6 of case unit 1B. With the parts in the above position, outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 on case unit 1A are offset to the right from main body -(7, 8, 9) of clip 6 and corresponding outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 on case unit 1-B are offset to the left thereof. This will locate outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 of case unit 1A to the right of outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 of case unit 1-B and vice versa.

The interlocking operation is performed by moving case unit 1A downwardly to the level of case unit 1-B. When this is done outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 of case unit 1A will pass downwardly to the right of outer wing sections 10b of clip 6 of case unit 1B. During this movement protuberances 9a of clips 6 will engage (FIG. 8) to cam clips 6 outwardly from one another and bring outer wing sections 101; of clips 6 into sliding engagement one with the other. In addition inner wing sections 10a of clip 6 on case unit 1-A will enter slots 11 of clip 6 on case unit 1-B while corresponding inner wing sections 10a of clip 6 on case unit 1-B will enter slots 11 of clip 6 on case unit 1-A. The interlocking operation will be completed when the movement is arrested by engagement of bottoms 11a of slots 11 of clips 6.

It will be noted that the flared openings of slots 11, protuberances 9a, and the turned tips of outer wing sections 10b facilitate the interlocking operation by camming action to bring the parts into proper interlocked position. It should be understood, however, that the interlock ing operation may be effected by proper manipulation without the aid of these facilitating features.

With a pair of case units 1 interlocked in horizontal aligned position, as described above, arm 7 of the clip 6 on case unit 1-A and arm 8 of clip 6 on case unit 1-B respectively will extend upwardly above the pair of case units 1. A case unit 1-C (FIGS. 2 and 9) may now be placed atop the case unit 1-A with arm 7 of case unit 1-A passed through lower straps 3d on the right side of such case unit 1-C thereby securing and aligning unit 1C with case unitl-A (case unit 1-B is not shown in FIG. 2 for purposes of clarity). Likewise a case unit 1-D (FIG. 9)

may be secured and aligned atop case unit 1-B by using arm 8 thereof. Accordingly, any desired number of case units 1 may be secured and aligned in adjoining vertical and horizontal stacks by clips 6.

It may be desired to interlock a single horizontal row of cases. In this instance, arms 7 or 8 of clips 6 would be inserted in upper straps 3d with wings 10 and the opposed arms below straps 3d. Then there would be no projecting arms above the case units 1.

The clip means of the invention has been disclosed as aligning and securing drawer holding cases constructed in a particular manner and constructed of a particular material. Obviously the clip means is equally applicable to perform its function regardless of the material from which the cases are constructed.

The invention therefore is to be restricted only as necessitated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A storage device; comprising a plurality of individual storage units each provided with straps means;

a pair of substantially identical clips adapted to be moved into an interlocked relationship one with the other, and to be respectively secured to said storage units to interconnect said storage units in aligned pairs;

each of said clips including a pair of opposed arms adapted for disposition in the strap means of said storage units;

each of said clips further including an interlocking portion intermediate said arms;

said arms being in a single plane; and

said interlocking portion including a pair of opposed outwardly extending winglike members having outer portions offset from said arms;

said outer portions of said clips respectively being disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said arms;

the interlocking portion of one of said clips coacting with the interlocking portion of another one of said clips to interlock two aligned pairs of storage units.

2. The storage device of claim 1; wherein each of said winglike members has formed therein a slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof towards the other edge thereof and adapted to receive the winglike members of another one of said clips to facilitate the interlocking of said clips one with the other.

3. The storage device of claim 2; wherein said interlocking portions each include a protuberance adapted to coact respectively with the protuberance on another one of said clips to provide a camming action therebetween to facilitate the movement of the winglike members of one of said clips into the slots of another one of said clips.

4. A clip; comprising a pair of flat arrns extending in opposite directions in the same plane and connected by a central section;

a pair of opposed-like wings extending outwardly from said central section and each having an outer portion offset into a plane removed from and parallel with the plane of said arms.

5. The clip of claim 4; wherein said central section is flat and is in the same plane as said arms; each of said wings includes an inclined portion connecting said outer portion with said central section; and

each of said wings has an open end slot parallel with said arms, extending from one edge thereof towards the opposite edge thereof, and adapted to receive a Wing of another clip.

6. The clip of claim 5; wherein said central section includes a camming surface adapted to coact with the camming surface of another one of the clips to facilitate movement of the wings of one of the clips into the slots of another of the clips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,370,883 3/1921 Crosby 24-81 2,186,410 1/1940 Freysinger 24-81 2,245,026 6/ 1941 Zalkind 312-111 2,277,155 3/1942 Scheinman 312-111 2,746,109 5/ 1956 Budai.

2,930,665 3/1960 Budai 312-111 2,990,083 6/1961 Strayer 312-111 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

I. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 24-81; 312-198

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