US3650586A

US3650586A - Laboratory bench or table

Info

Publication number: US3650586A
Application number: US25145A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Leslie Nightingale; Garnet H Quigley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-02
Filing date: 1970-04-02
Publication date: 1972-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-21

Abstract

A modular laboratory bench apparatus adapted to support one or more storage units under the bench, and comprising: a pair of rigid end frame units; a top bench member having front and rear edges and side edges; front and rear channel bars attached to said top member at said front and rear edges; and connecting means for independently interconnecting each end of said channel bars to its respective adjacent end frame unit at the upper portion thereof.

Description

United States Patent Nightingale et al.

[151 3,650,586 [451' Mar.21, 1972 [54] LABORATORY BENCH OR TABLE [72] lnventors: Paul Leslie Nightingale, 51 Hurlingham Crescent, Don Mills, Ontario; Garnet H. Quigley, 82 Bideford Road, Downsview, Ontario, both of Canada 22 Filed: Apr.2, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 25,145

[52] U.S.Cl ..3l2/195,312/209,312/lll [51] Int. Cl ..A47b 47/00, A47 b 47/04 [58] FieldofSearch ..312/194, 195,209,231, 111,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,775 2/1958 Sitler ..312/1 11 2,876,046 3/1959 Owen ..108/153 X 2,915,351 12/1959 Shinn ..312/195 2,972,506 2/1961 Haag 108/153 2,987,356 6/1961 Simpson, Jr. 312/111 3,197,265 7/1965 Rand 312/257 R X 3,327,657 6/1967 Hauville .,...3l2/257 R X 3,346,311 10/1967 Bears ..312/195 3,425,762 2/1969 Walls .312/1 1 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-George A. Rolston [57] ABSTRACT A modular laboratory bench apparatus adapted to support one or more storage units under the bench, and comprising: a pair of rigid end frame units; a top bench member having front and rear edges and side edges, front and rear channel bars attached to said top member at said front and rear edges; and connecting means for independently interconnecting each end of said channel bars to its respective adjacent end frame unit at the upper portion thereof.

11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1972 3,650,586

2 Sheets-Shoot '1 Inventors PAUL L. NIGH'HNGALE GARNET H. QUIGLEY by: 9%; M. M.

Patented March 21, 1972 3,650,586

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors PAUL L, NlGHTlNGALE GARNET H. QUIGLEY LABORATORY BENCH R TABLE This invention relates to a laboratory bench assembly of prefabricated interchangeable elements.

Benches having a frame structure and mass produced standard cupboard or shelf units of a shape consistent with their function are well known in the art. The known benches are often assembled and the shelf units are permanently attached to the bench at the factory because the elements must be joined together in such a manner as to obtain the desired amount of stability and rigidity. The bench is then shipped as a unit to the purchaser. The benches are difficult to handle as they have a great weight and often two or three men are necessary to move the benches around. Also great care must be exercised by the movers when bringing the benches into a build ing or laboratory. The benches or woodwork are often scratched and minor repairs must be done to fix the scratches. If the purchaser later decides that different shelf units are desirable he must purchase a new bench with the desired shelf units and have the other bench moved out or returned to the store to make room for the new bench.

This invention provides a laboratory bench consisting of a supporting frame made up of prefabricated interchangeable elements. This permits the bench to be shipped disassembled in boxes which can be easily handled by the movers. Also the bench has receiving and locking means for any of a number of shelf units which can be shipped easily with the disassembled bench and secured to the frame at the site. The supporting frame is easily assembled with only a few fasteners necessary to join the various elements together to obtain the desired amount of stability and rigidity. The shelf units are interchangeable so if the purchaser wishes to substitute new shelf units for the ones he has purchased, he can do so easily by merely ordering the specific shelf unit he desires and having it substituted for. the one presently there. Also, if it is desirable to have leg space beneath the laboratory bench at some time during the use ofthe bench. the shelf unit can easily be removed from beneath the supporting frame and stored until needed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a laboratory bench consisting of a supporting frame and various simple,

easily assembled storage units adapted to fit rapidly and easily with the supporting frame.

It is another object of this invention to provide a laboratory bench which can be shipped disassembled in boxes which can be handled easily.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a laboratory bench to which additional super structures can be easily attached.

Briefly, laboratory benches constructed according to the present invention comprise a supporting frame having a top member, a pair of rigid end units attachable to the top member and a horizontal support bar connected between the lower portions of each end unit at the rear of the top member. Shelf units are adapted to snugly fit between the end units and interlock with the elements of the bench. The top member and horizontal support bar are so constructed that additional super structures may be attached to the laboratory bench easily providing additional shelving if desired.

The bench is simple in construction, lightweight, is easily assembled and requires no particular skill to assemble or disassemble.

The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent from the following description ofthe preferred embodiment of the inventionwhich is here given by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereof through various view and diagrams in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a bench module partly in section according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view showing a storage unit positioned on a dolly under the bench;

FIG. 3 is an end view showing the storage unit in position under the bench lifted away from the dolly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view ofa back leg ofthe bench;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back leg of the bench with a caster thereon;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a locking means connecting the legs of two adjacent benches together;

FIG. 7 is a section view along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an upper perspective fragmentary view of-one of the securing means on the top of the storage unit;

FIG. 9 is an end view in section showing the securing means connected to the bench to hold the storage unit attached to the bench;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the bottom portion ofa rear leg ofthe bench;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the rear corner of the bench showing how the legs are attached to the top member of the branch; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the upper front corner of the bench showing how the legs are attached to the top member of the bench.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a laboratory bench generally indicated as 20. The bench 20 has a supporting frame comprising a top member 21 preferably rectangular in shape with parallel top and bottom walls 22 and 23 (shown in FIG. 9) joined together by two

parallel side edges

24 and 25 and two

parallel end edges

26 and 27. A rectangular opening 28 is shown in FIG. 1 through the top member 21 adjacent the end edge 27. It should be noted that the openingz28 is optional and not required in all top members 21. The top member 21 is supported at the four corners by four legs 29 to 32 which are secured to the top member 21 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Horizontal support bars

33 and 34 are welded between the upper and lower portion of the

vertical legs

29 and 32.

Horizontal support bars

35 and 36 are welded between the upper and lower portions of the

vertical legs

30 and 31. A horizontal support bar 37 is supported between the lower portions of the

legs

29 and 30, as shown in FIG. 10. Two

horizontal channel members

38 and 39 are attached at the

side edges

24 and 25 to the bottom wall 23 of the top member 21 by suitable securing means. When the bench 20 is assembled, the free ends of the horizontal channel member 38 are in contact with upper portions of the front

vertical legs

31 and 32. Also the free ends of the horizontal channel member 39 are in contact with the upper portions of the back

vertical legs

29 and 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the

horizontal channel members

38 and 39 are approximately in the same horizontal plane as the

horizontal support bars

33 and 34.

Two

shelf units

40 and 41 are shown in FIG. 1 beneath the top member 21. The shelf unit 40 has two

upper drawers

42 and 43 and a bottom portion with two outwardly swinging

doors

44 and 45 which are open from the center and are hinged at the outer edges thereof. The shelf unit 41 has a lower hinged door 46 hinged at one side to allow the door 46 to open permitting access to the interior ofthe storage unit 41. Each unit 40 or4l is built separately and assembled before being brought to the bench 20 and attached to the bench 20 in a novel manner which will be described hereinafter. The shelf unit 40 comprises two parallel

rectangular side walls

47 and 48 joined at the bottom edges by a bottom wall 49 and at the side edges by a back wall 50. Adjacent thechannel member 38 and between the upper edges of the

sidewalls

47 and 48 is a channel support bar 51 secured therebetween. The

front doors

44 and 45 of the storage unit 40 are hinged at the

side walls

47 and 48 respectively to permit the doors to open from the center to gain access to the interior of the storage unit 40. The shelf units are of such a height that when the bottom wall 49 of each shelf unit is placed on the upper edge of the lower channel support 37 between the

legs

29 and 30, and the back wall 50 of the shelf unit will appear to go beyond the upper channel member 39. The shelf units have a width sufficient to permit the

shelf units

40 and 41 to be placed under the top member 21 at the same time if desired. It should be noted that the two shelf units shown in FIG. 1 are not the only shelf units available to be placed under the bench 20 but for ease of description no other shelf units will be described.

The

legs

29, 30, 31 and 32 are hollow and rectangular or square in shape. The outer surfaces of the upper portion of each leg can be aligned with the respective side and end edges of the corner of the top member 21 or placed inward therefrom if desired. The opening in the lower portion of each leg receives a rectangular bar 52 having dimensions to slidably fit within the opening. A plurality of holes 53 are drilled in one side edge of the bar 52 which faces inwards towards the adjacent lower support bar. Attached to the underside of the support bars 34 and 36 preferably at the ends adjacent the legs of the bench are U-shaped support members 54 having an L-shaped pin 55 passing through openings 56 in the parallel side walls 57. A compressible spring 58 is positioned between the side walls 57 and attached to the pin 55 such that when the pin 55 is drawn in a direction shown by an arrow 59, the spring means 58 is compressed The pin 55 has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the holes 53 in the bars 52. The support member 54 is positioned in such a manner that the pin 55 will engage one of the holes 53 in the bar 52. The bar 52 thus permits the adjustment of the height of the legs at the front and back of the top member 21 of the bench 20. The support means 54 is attached to the under surface of the support bar 34 in such a manner so that no edge projects past the outer side surface of the support bar 34 preferably. As shown in Fig. 5, levelling feet or casters 60 may be attached to the bottom of the bar 52 for ease of movement of the bench 20.

The end of the bench 20 which comprises the outer surfaces of the end unit of the

legs

29, 32 and support bars 33 and 34 are preferably in the same plane as the end edge 26 of the top member 21. This provides a smooth end surface which can be pushed against the other surface of the end unit of an adjacent bench 20. The other end of the bench 20 comprises the outer surfaces of the legs and 31 and the support bars and 36. The outer surfaces are in the same plane as the end edge 27 of the top member 21 to present a smooth end surface preferably.

As shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7 the support bar 34 of one bench 20 and the support bar 36 ofthe next adjacent bench 20 each have aligned

holes

61 and 62 drilled through their upper walls in the same plane parallel to the central axis. A hole 63 is drilled through the bottom wall of the support bar 34 aligned with the upper hole 61 and stem 64 of a .I-shaped pin 65 is passed through the

holes

61 and 63. The

holes

61 and 62 are positioned apart the distance of a hook portion 66 of the J- shaped pin 65 so that when not used, free end 67 can be placed in the hole 62 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The pin 65 is threaded at the opposite end 68 to receive a nut and washer 69 or other fastening means thereon. A compressible spring 70 is placed between the bottom wall of the support bar 34 and the nut and washer 69. When the spring 70 is compressed by a force in a direction shown by an arrow 71, the free end 67 will be free of the hole 62 and the pin 65 may be turned in any direction. The top wall of the support bars 34 and 36 will have a width sufficient to permit the free end 67 to enter the hole 61 in the support bar 36 when adjacent benches 20 are aligned to secure the adjacent benches together as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. It should be noted that it is possible to align the holes 62 of the bar 36 with the hole 62 of the bar 34 to permit the pin 65 associated with the bar 36 to be connected to the bar 34.

As shown best in FIG. 10, the support channel 37 is channel-shaped with

parallel side walls

72, 72a, and 72b. The

walls

72 and 72a are joined at one end by a vertical wall 73 and the walls 720 and 72b are joined by a vertical wall 730 The

vertical walls

73 and 73a are parallel and are joined to side wall 72a to form a support step for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. The free ends of the

side walls

72 and 72b have inwardly directed retaining

flanges

74 and 75 spaced apart by a slot 76. The ends 77 of the bar 37 are fitted on pins 78 secured to the lower support bars 34 and 36. The pin 78 is rectangular in shape and fits snugly between the inner surface of the

side walls

72 and 72a and has holes 79 therethrough in an upper surface, and if desired a hole 80in a side surface of the pin 52.

Holes 81 are drilled in the

side Walls

72 and 72a of the bars 37 to be aligned with the holes 79 in the pin 78. Also a hole 82 is drilled in the vertical wall 73 of the bar 37 to be aligned with the hole in the pin 78. The

hole

81 and 82 have been countersunk to receive flat headed screws 83 respectively in such a manner that the

side walls

72a and 73 present a smooth surface with no protruding parts therefrom. The screws 83 are passed through the walls of the bar 37 and through the pin 78 as shown in FIG. 10 and are engaged at their free ends by washers 84 and nuts 85. The horizontal screw 83 also has a nut (not shown) within the bar 37 which fits on the free end to secure the bar 37 from lateral movement. The other end 77 of the support bar 37 is attached to the leg 30 and the support bar 36 in a similar manner.

The support bar 33 connected between the upper portion of the

legs

29 and 32 is channelshaped with

parallel side walls

86 and 87 joined at one end by a base 88. The other end has retaining

flanges

89 and 90 which are directed inwards towards one another from the

side walls

86 and 87 of the support bar 33 forming an opening 91 therebetween which has a width sufficient to receive the diameter ofa threaded portion 92 ofa bolt 93. Between the base 88 of the support bar 33 and the retaining

flanges

89 and 90 are positioned spring means 94 acting against a nut 95 with a threaded hole 96 therein to receive the threaded portion 92 of the bolt 93. The support bar 35 and

channel members

38 and 39 have identical parts to bar 33.

The

channel members

38 and 39 are shorter than the side edges .24 and 25 of the top member 21 to permit the support bars 33 and 35 to be positioned beneath the top member 21 and have their outer edges in the same plane as the end edges 26 and 27 of the top member 21. Channel member 38 faces inwards as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12' with the base 88 adjacent the side edge 24. Channel member 39 faces outward as shown in FIG. 11 with retaining flanges 89 to 90 in the same plane as the side edge 25. A triangular connecting means 97 is secured to the top member 21 and the channel member 39. The connecting means 97 is used to connect the support bars 33 and 35 to the top member 21 at the rear corners.

Side walls

98 and 99 extend outwards from and are perpendicular to the plane of the connecting means 97 in such a manner that theside

walls

98 and 99 join together at the apex 100 of the triangular connecting means 97. The side wall 98 is butt-welded at two locations to the base 88 of the channel member 39 and two holes 101 are drilled through the side wall 99 to permit two bolts 93 to be passed therethrough to engage the threaded nuts 95. The triangular connecting means 97 preferably is secured to the top member 21 by screws (not shown). Spaced in from the end edges 26 and 27 the width of the side wall 86 of the

bars

33 and 35 at the front corners of the top member 21, are a pair of triangular connecting means 97. The

side walls

98 and 99 both have a pair of holes 101 drilled therethrough. The

side walls

98 and 99 are not joined at the apex 100 and each side wall has outwardly turned lugs 102 formed thereon which fit in the opening 91 of the channel member 38 and support bars 33 and 35. Bolts 93 are passed through the hole 101 and through the threaded hole 96 in the plate 95 which is held in position by the spring means 94. It should be noted that other forms of fastening means could be used here, such as butt welding the side wall 97 to the

flanges

89 and 90 of the channel 33 to obtain the desired stability and rigidity for the benches. At the other end 27 of the top member 21, the

legs

30 and 31 are connected to the top member 21 in the same manner as described above with the triangular connecting means 97.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the front portion of each

storage unit

40 or 41 has two U-shaped members 103 affixed to support bar 51 adjacent each end near the

sidewalls

47 and 48. An L-shaped slide lock bolt 104 passes through holes 105 in the side walls 106 of the support member 103. A securing pin 107 traverses the bolt 104 near the rear side wall 106 to prevent the bolts 104 from coming out of the holes 105. The bolt 104 has a diameter sufficient to permit the bolt 104 to be inserted in the opening 91 between the retaining

flanges

89 and 90 of the channel member 38 connected to the bottom surface 23 of the top member 21 to engage the unit to the bench 20. Connected to the supp ort bar 51 adjacent each slide lock bolt 104 is a U-shaped member 108 with parallel side walls 109 joined by a base 110. A diverging surface 111 facing outwards towards the door of the unit extends upwards and inwards from a point just above the base 110 to the top of the side wall 109. The U-shaped member 108 is positioned to engage the lower side wall 87 of the channel member 38 as will be described hereinafter.

A four wheel dolly 112 is used to position the

storage units

40 and 41 under the bench 20. The four wheel dolly 112 has an upper portion shaped to receive the front end of the

storage unit

40 or 41 therein. The dolly 112 has a handle 113 which is pivotally supported at its lower end and has an extension arm 114 which is positioned to lie under the front portion of the

storage units

40 or 41.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows; the purchaser of the bench has a selection of the different styles of

shelf units

40 or 41 to go with the bench 20. The supplier ships the support frame disassembled to the buyer. The top member 21 has horizontal channel bars 38 and 39 and the triangular connecting means 88 attached to the bottom wall. This unit being generally rectangular in shape, is shipped in its own container. Also each end unit consisting of the vertical legs and the horizontal support bars can be shipped in single containers or both in one container. Also, the shelf units are rectangular in shape and can be placed in their own containers. The horizontal support bar 37 can be inserted in the same container as the top member 21. The fastening means required in assembling the bench 20 can be placed in one of the containers where they can be easily found. Thus, the disassembled bench 20 can be packed and shipped without too much difficulty.

Each end unit comprises two

vertical legs

29 and 32 or 30 and 31 with the support bars 33 and 34 or 35 and 36 welded to the adjacent legs. The height adjusting bar 52 may be posi' tioned in the bottom end of each hollow leg to complete the end unit. Upon receipt, the buyer removes the disassembled bench 20 from the containers and attaches the horizontal support bar 37 onto pins 78 attached to each end unit. The apertures 81 on the side wall 720 are aligned with the apertures79 in the pin 78 and the flat head screws or bolts 83 are passed through the aligned apertures and the washers 84 and the nut 85 are positioned on the other end of the bolts. Then the bolts 83 are tightened to secure the horizontal support bar 76 to the pins 78. The wall 720 should preferably be free of any obstructions thereon.

With the horizontal support bar 37 secured to the two end units, the frame is now ready to receive the top member 21. Before the top member 21 is placed on the top of the end units, it may be desirable to adjust the height of the legs. The pin is drawn in the direction shown by the arrow 59 to permit the rectangular bar 52 to be inserted in the hollow leg. The holes 53 are aligned with the pin 55 and the pin 55 is released and the spring 58 forces the free end of the pin 55 into the holes 53 to set the height of the legs. Also, the aperture 82 in the vertical wall 73 of the support bar 37 is aligned with the aperture 80 in the support pin 78 and the screw 83 is passed therethrough and secured by a nut 85.

The top member 21 has the

channel members

38 and 39 and triangular connecting means 97 attached to the bottom wall 23, by proper securing means. As shown in FIG. 11, the

triangular connecting means 97 may be butt welded to the channel member 39 at each end for ease of alignment of the end units with the top member 21. When the top member 21 is placed on the end units, the steel nuts 95 positioned against the

flanges

89 and 90 in the support bars 33 and 35 are aligned with the holes 101 in the side wall 99. The springs 94 hold the nuts 95 in the desired location. Then the bolts 93 are screwed into the nuts 95 to secure the top member 21 to the end units at the rear. At the front corners, the connecting member 97 is placed into position by the buyer and the lugs 102 are fitted into the openings 91 on the support bar 33 and channel member 38, and again the holes 101 are aligned with the threaded holes 96 in the spring loaded nuts on the support bar 33 and the channel member 38. Then the screws 93 are screwed into the nuts 95 to secure the channel member 38 and the front end of the top member 21 to the end units. The assembled bench 20 is now ready for use. If the purchaser selected bench 20 with the top member 21 having the opening 28 therethrough, he may desire to connect in a sink (not shown) in the opening 28.

The assembled bench 20 has open leg space beneath the top member 21 and if desired,

preassembled shelf units

40 and 41 may be inserted in the open leg space beneath the bench 20. The shelf unit is placed on the upper portion of the dolly 102 and the dolly is pushed beneath the top member 21 until the back wall 50 of the unit makes contact with the vertical wall 73a of the horizontal bar 37. The bottom wall 39 rests on the side wall 72a. The operator then moves the handle 113 in a direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 and raises the front portion of the shelf unit into position by the extension portion 114 of the handle 113. The back wall 50 of the unit 40 hits against the vertical wall 73a and rests on the side wall 72a of the channel member 37. The operator then opens the

doors

44 and 45 of the unit 40 to gain access to the interior of the shelf unit and pushes the bolts 104 forward to engage in the opening 91 of the channel member 38 to secure the upper front portion of the shelf unit to the top member 21. The dolly 112 is then removed and if desired, the other shelf unit 41 can be inserted in the open leg space left under the top member 21 by the same procedure as stated hereinabove.

It will, of course, be appreciated and is clearly shown in the drawings, that the shelf or other form of

rectangular storage units

40, 41 etc., are constructed according to modular dimensions, adapted to fit in predetermined spacings defined beneath the bench 20. Thus the modules may be made up to provide for the location of three such shelf or storage units, or more or less if desired, although three such units as shown in FIG. 1 is found to provide a pleasing appearance, and is generally to be preferred. It will, of course, be understood that in order for such storage or shelf units to be moved about and supported on the dolly 112, and to be raised into position by the operation of the lever member 114, that the height dimensions of the storage units must be such that, when raised into and fastened in position, underneath the bench 20, they define a predetermined spacing above the floor so as to permit the dolly 112 to be wheeled in and out. For the same reasons, it will be noted that the spacing defined beneath the bench 20, at least at the front of the bench 20, is completely open between the two

side legs

31 and 32 so as to permit the dolly 112 to be wheeled in and out freely without obstruction.

Furthermore, while the preferred form of the invention, as described above; envisages the supporting of the storage unit, by means of the rearward support rail 72, and the forward support bar 51, it will be appreciated that other forms of attachment or suspension of the storage units beneath the bench 20, may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the storage units could be supported entirely from above, or supported entirely from behind, the only restriction being that access to the space beneath each of the storage units should remain at all times free for the dolly 112 to be wheeled in and out.

It may be desirable to have some super structure attached to the bench 20, such as shelves above the top wall 22 of the top member 21. Vertical support bars (shown in dotted lines in HO. 1) can be attached by suitable securing means (not shown) to the channel member 39 and] the horizontal support bar 37. Shelves (not shown) or some other super structure, can then be attached to the vertical support bars.

It should be noted that the end units described in this application have two vertical legs joined together by two spaced apart horizontal support bars. 11'' the laboratory bench 20 is to be placed against a wall or the like with a vertical flat surface,

it is possible to remove the rear legs and the lower support bars of the end units, The horizontal support bars 37 are then secured to the vertical wall.

While a preferred, specific embodiment of the invention has been hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction dimensions and designs illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the apended claims.

We claim:

1. A modular laboratory bench supporting one or more storage units such as shelving units, cupboard units and the like, beneath the bench, and raised above the floor, so as to permit such storage units to be readily moved in and out, on any suitable wheeled support means, and comprising:

a substantially flat rectangular bench top panel, having fron and rear edges and side edges;

side support members, fastened along each of said side edges of said top panel, and extending downwardly therefrom normal thereto and adapted to support said top panel at a predetermined height above the floor and defining a predetermined modular spacing therebetween for reception of one or more of said storage units;

at least one modular storage unit of rectangular shape having sides, a back, a front, and a bottom panel, said cabinet being dimensioned to fit beneath said bench, and when in position, defining an access space beneath said bottom panel ofsaid storage unit and the floor;

storage cabinet support means located beneath said top panel ofsaid bench; and

storage unit attachment means including releasable bolt means attached to the top of said storage unit, and oriented and adapted to interengage with said storage unit support bar means on said bench, whereby to support said storage unit in predetermined position relative to said bench and spaced above the floor upon which said bench is standing.

2. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 1, including:

a pair of rigid end frame units forming part of said side support members;

front and rear channel bars attached to said top panel at said front and rear edges; and

connecting means for independently interconnecting each end of said channel bars to its respective adjacent end frame unit at the upper portion thereof.

3. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end frame units comprise vertical front and rear legs and horizontal support members rigidly interconnected between upper and lower portions of said legs,

4. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 2, including vertically adjustable means in said support members adapted to permit height adjustment of said top panel; and lock means associated with each ofsaid vertically adjustable means.

5. A laboratory bench as described in claim 1 including a horizontal support bar connected between lower portions of said side support members below said rear edge of said top panel.

6. A laboratory bench as described in claim 5, wherein said storage cabinet support means includes rectangular storage unit support ledge means extending along said horizontal support bar; and

support bar means extending along said front edge of said top panel for securing said storage unit to said bench.

7. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 1, including handle means for operation of said releasable bolt accessible within said storage unit.

8. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, including guide means attached to the top of said storage unit adjacent said bolt means being ofgenerally wedge-shaped construction, being oriented and dimensioned to engage said front channel bar with a wedging action and force said storage unit into its most rearward position beneath said bench. I

9. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, wherein said storage unit is of generally boxlike construction having an open top, access means arranged at the front of said storage unit, and transverse support bar means extending from side to side of said storage unit adjacent the front thereof, partially closing a portion of said open top, said bolt means being attached thereto.

10. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rear horizontal support bar consists of a hollow channel member, a stepped portion formed in one side of said channel member to define said support ledge means and an open mouth on said channel member oriented rearwardly of said bench.

11. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rear channel bar member consists of a hollow channel member having an open mouth oriented rearwardly of said bench, said rear channel bar, and said horizontal .support member together providing spaced apart upper and lower attachment means for erection of a supporting framework thereon at the rear of said bench.

Claims

1. A modular laboratory bench supporting one or more storage units such as shelving units, cupboard units and the like, beneath the bench, and raised above the floor, so as to permit such storage units to be readily moved in and out, on any suitable wheeled support means, and comprising: a substantiallY flat rectangular bench top panel, having front and rear edges and side edges; side support members, fastened along each of said side edges of said top panel, and extending downwardly therefrom normal thereto and adapted to support said top panel at a predetermined height above the floor and defining a predetermined modular spacing therebetween for reception of one or more of said storage units; at least one modular storage unit of rectangular shape having sides, a back, a front, and a bottom panel, said cabinet being dimensioned to fit beneath said bench, and when in position, defining an access space beneath said bottom panel of said storage unit and the floor; storage cabinet support means located beneath said top panel of said bench; and storage unit attachment means including releasable bolt means attached to the top of said storage unit, and oriented and adapted to interengage with said storage unit support bar means on said bench, whereby to support said storage unit in predetermined position relative to said bench and spaced above the floor upon which said bench is standing.

2. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 1, including: a pair of rigid end frame units forming part of said side support members; front and rear channel bars attached to said top panel at said front and rear edges; and connecting means for independently interconnecting each end of said channel bars to its respective adjacent end frame unit at the upper portion thereof.

3. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end frame units comprise vertical front and rear legs and horizontal support members rigidly interconnected between upper and lower portions of said legs.

4. A laboratory bench as claimed in claim 2, including vertically adjustable means in said support members adapted to permit height adjustment of said top panel; and lock means associated with each of said vertically adjustable means.

6. A laboratory bench as described in claim 5, wherein said storage cabinet support means includes rectangular storage unit support ledge means extending along said horizontal support bar; and support bar means extending along said front edge of said top panel for securing said storage unit to said bench.

8. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, including guide means attached to the top of said storage unit adjacent said bolt means being of generally wedge-shaped construction, being oriented and dimensioned to engage said front channel bar with a wedging action and force said storage unit into its most rearward position beneath said bench.

11. The laboratory bench as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rear channel bar member consists of a hollow channel member having an open mouth oriented rearwardly of said bench, said rear channel bar, and said horizontal support member together providing spaced apart upper and lower attachment means for erection of a supporting framework thereon at the rear of said bench.