US3734590A

US3734590A - File

Info

Publication number: US3734590A
Application number: US00136113A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Ormiston; G Wilcox
Original assignee: Steelcase Inc
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc
Priority date: 1971-04-21
Filing date: 1971-04-21
Publication date: 1973-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-22
Also published as: CA955639A

Abstract

The file includes an open top tub having casters on its legs. There are side hangers located at the sidewalls such that hanging files can be hung between the sides, and there are end hangers and a central hanger spaced between the ends such that hanging files can be hung between each end and the central hanger. The end hangers are removably secured in the tub such that they can be removed to facilitate the insertion of an integral door and interior end wall assembly. In the assembly, the door is slidably mounted to the end wall by means of interfitting channels and the end wall can be releasably secured to the tub at the end thereof. The end wall itself includes a hanger flange to serve the function of the removed end hanger.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Ormiston et al.

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

FILE

Inventors:

Robert B. Ormiston,

Grandville;

Gale F. Wilcox, Wayland, both of Mich.

US. Cl. ..312/322, 312/184, 312/109,

Int. Cl. ..A47b 88/00 Field of Search ..312/323, 322, 184,

312/183,109, 138, 7 TV, 324; 62/D1G. 15

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Andersen ..312/322 Levine Turner Furlong 111 3334,59 51 May 22,1973

Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Att0rneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57] ABSTRACT The file includes an open top tub having casters on its legs. There are side hangers located at the sidewalls such that hanging files can be hung between the sides, and there are end hangers and a central hanger spaced between the ends such that hanging files can be hung between each end and the central hanger. The end hangers are removably secured in the tub such that they can be removed to facilitate the insertion of an integral door and interior end wall assembly. In the assembly, the door is slidably mounted to the end wall by means of interfitting channels and the end wall can be releasably secured to the tub at the end thereof. The end wall itself includes a hanger flange to serve the function of the removed end hanger.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures FILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to filing cabinets. More particularly, it relates to open top filing cabinets, sometimes referred to as tub files, which may or may not have doors to effectuate closure of the filing cabinets.

Such filing cabinets are usually mobile and are designed to facilitate flexibility of use. Frequently, they are used under tables to eliminate the need for a desk having a pedestal. The casters which such filing units usually have make them extremely useful for secretaries. A secretary can roll the file from a storage area to her desk and can conveniently sit in her chair and reach down into the open top of the file.

Such filing cabinets may or may not have doors to effectuate closure of the top. If the papers stored in the cabinet are those which must be frequently used and referred to then it is desirable to leave doors off of the cabinet. Indeed, economy dictates that Where doors are necessary, it is best to purchase a filing cabinet without such doors.

On the other hand, there are many situations in oflice environments in which doors are a necessity on such open top filing cabinets. Perhaps their most important function is to keep dust out of the interior of the filing cabinet. In some situations, doors are important since they enable one to lock the filing cabinetand thereby maintain the material stored within the cabinet inviolate.

Accordingly, manufacturers have had to offer two different types of open-top filing cabinets, i.e., those having doors and those not having doors. The necessity of being able to manufacture two different species of such units has a definite tendency to render both species more expensive. Further, it is difficult to serve the changing needs of ones customers, since it is uneconomical for an office to be using one type of file cabinet and suddenly find that it would be better served by the other type. Such a change in needs forces the customer to purchase a completely different filing cabinet.

Thus, while existing open-top filing cabinets are certainly extremely useful, there is room for considerable improvement in their design, with an eye towards improving their flexibility and their ease of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, an integral door and interior end wall is provided which can be readily, releasably secured to the interior of an open-top tub adjacent one of the ends thereof. Thus, the tub itself can be completely free of any tracking means or any means for cooperating with the sliding door. It is only important that there be means either on the interior end wall or within the open-top tub for releasably securing the interior end wall to the inside of the tub. In the door and end wall assembly itself, there is a means for slidably mounting the door to the interior end wall in a plane generally parallel thereto, and there is a means at the top of the end wall for allowing the door to pivot with respect thereto without disengagement therefrom.

Since tub files are most frequently used for vertically hanging file folders, it is important that the open-top tub include intelligence for hanging such file folders either laterally or endwise. Accordingly, it is another aspect of this invention to provide means at each end of the open-top tub defining a hanging ledge for hanging.

such folders. Since the door and interior end wall assembly must also be inserted into the tub at the ends thereof, the hanging ledge defining means is removably secured to the tub. Further, the interior end wall of the door and end wall assembly includes a hanging ledge projecting therefrom such that when the hanging ledge defining means is replaced by the door and end wall assembly, its function is still provided for.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be seen and understood by reference to the written specification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the filing cabinet having doors thereon for effectuating closure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the file with the door and interior end wall assembly being removed and with a hanging member being positioned at each end thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the end hanger;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view looking down into one end of the filing cabinet at the door and interior end wall assembly positioned at one end thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along plane VV of FIG. 1, with the door being approximately half way up the interior end wall in the process of being opened;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of one corner of the door and interior end wall assembly;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the upper corner of the door and interior end wall assembly with the door being raised to its uppermost position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane VIIIVIII of FIG. 7;

FIG.- 9 is a cross section taken along plane IX--IX of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper corner of the interior end wall with the door being slid a portion of the way up.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment, the file 1 consists of an open-top tub 10 which can have a permanently opened top (FIG. 2) or which can be outfitted with an integral door and wall assembly 30 (FIG. 4) such that the top of tub 10 can be closed as shown in FIG. 1. When the permanently opened top version is desired, an end hanger is releasably mounted at each end of tub 10 for cooperation with a center hanger 17 whereby vertically hanging file folders can be hung therebetween (FIG. 2).

If one desires a filing cabinet 1 with facility to effectuate closure of the top, end hangers 80 are removed, and an integral door and wall assembly 30 is positioned at each end of tub 10 and is releasably secured thereto (FIG. 4). Door and wall assembly 30 includes a hanger flange 31 which serves the function of the removed end hanger 80.

Door and wall assembly 30 includes a door 40 which is slidably mounted on wall 60 by means of interfitting channels (FIGS. 4 and 5). Wall 60 is sometimes referred to as interior end wall 60," since it becomes an interior end wall for tub 10. Wall 60 includes a wall guide rail 61 spaced from its face panel 67 in the direction of door 40 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Guide rail 61 extends generally the height of wall 60 at either side thereof. A door guide rail 41, spaced from the face panel 44 of the door 40 in the direction of wall 60, and dowel 43 secured to door 40 at the bottom thereof and spaced from door guide rail 41, cooperate to define a channel embracing wall guide rail 61 (FIG. 6). Similarly, a tab flange 66 is secured to wall 60 at the top thereof and is spaced from wall guide rail 61 for cooperation with wall guide rail 61 to define a channel embracing door guide rail 41 (FIG. 8). Thus, the separate interfitting channels, one at the bottom of door 40 and the other at the top of wall 60, cooperate to insure smooth and stable sliding of door 40 as it is slidably moved along wall 60.

Door guide rail 41 is part of an elongated bracket extending from the top to bottom of door 40 (FIG. It is generally J shaped in cross section and includes door guide rail 41, a spacer wall 42a projecting rearwardly from door guide rail 41, and a back wall 42b which projects laterally from spacer wall 42a and which is secured by spot welding or the like to the face panel 44 of door 40. Face panel 44 is itself bent over at all four of its edges to define an edge wall 45 for door 40 (FIGS. 8 and 10). In order to insure stability of the system, spacer wall 42a is rigidly secured to edge wall 45 by spot welding or the like.

Dowel 43 at the base of door 40 is mounted to door 40 by dowel brackets 46 cooperating with a dowel holder flange 47 (FIG. 5). One dowel mounting bracket 46 is welded to face panel 44 of door 40 near each side thereof and at the base thereof (FIG. 6). Each dowel bracket 46 projects outwardly from panel 44 to define an outwardly projecting wall 46a. The flange then juts laterally to define wall 46b and outwardly to define wall 460. Wall 460 includes a semicircular cut out portion near its top (FIG. 5). Dowel 43 rests on wall 46c within this top cut out portion. Wall 460 is joined to a laterally projecting wall 46d which extends upwardly to block dowel 43 from falling off of its resting place on wall 460 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

Dowel cover flange 47 extends out over dowel 43 and then downwardly to prevent dowel 43 from being lifted out of its resting place in the recess at the top of wall 460 (FIG. 5). Dowel cover flange 47 is mounted to door 40 after dowel 43 is positioned in dowel brackets 46. An anchor flange 49 is welded to door face panel 44 and projects outwardly therefrom. There are appropriate screw holes in dowel cover flange 47 and anchor flange 49 such that dowel cover flange 47 can be bolted to anchor flange 49 by screws 48 (FIG. 5).

As can be seen by reference to FIG. 6, dowel brackets 46 come out a sufficient distance from face panel 44 of door 40 that dowel 43 is spaced a short distance from guide rail flange 41, away from face panel 44. In this manner, dowel 43 and guide rail 41 define a channel at the bottom of door 40 embracing wall guide rail 61.

Wall guide rail 61 is part of an L-shaped flange which comprises wall guide rail 61 and a leg 61a projecting rearwardly therefrom (FIG. 8). The face panel 67 of wall 60 is bent over at its edges to define a pair of side edge walls 68. Leg 61a is secured to side leg edge wall 68 by means of welding or the like. Leg 61a is sufficiently long that guide rail 61 is spaced from face panel 67 in the direction of door 40..

Tab flange 66, which cooperates with wall guide rail 61 to define a channel embracing door guide rail 41, is spaced from wall guide rail 61 by means of a stop flange 63 being interposed therebetween (FIGS. 5 and 8). Stop flange 63 includes a leg portion 65 and a hook portion 64 which bends outwardly and downwardly from the top of leg 65 (FIG. 5). Leg 65 is secured to wall guide rail 61 by welding or the like, and tab flange 66 is in turn secured to leg 65.

Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that stop flange 63 is off set laterally with respect to wall guide rail 61 and with respect to stop flange 66 such that a channel is defined between the latter two members and is not blocked by leg 65 of stop flange 63. In this manner, tab

flange 66 and wall guide rail 61 define a channel at the top of wall 60 for embracing door guide flange 41.

The means whereby door 40 is slidably guided along wall 60 also includes intelligence for allowing door 40 to be pivoted with respect to wall 60. Essentially, this is made possible by providing wall guide rail 61 with a bent over, laterally extending top portion 62 (FIG. 9). As door 40 is moved towards the top of wall 60, dowel 43 eventually comes into abutment with the bottom surface of lateral guide 62. At this point, door 40 can be pivoted with respect to wall 60 since door guide rail 41 extends downwardly only approximately as far as the position of dowel 43. Thus, when door 40 is pivoted over, the base of door guide rail 41 does not abut against tab flange 66. The fact that wall guide rail 61 is bent over to define lateral guide portion 62 insures that the channel defined by dowel 43 and door guide rail 41 will always be embracing a continuous guide means, even when it is pivoted with respect to wall 60. it can be seen by referring to FIG. 9 that when door 40 is again pivoted to a vertical position for sliding downwardly with respect to wall 60, the channel defined by dowel 43 and door guide rail 41 will merely follow lateral guide 62 around the corner to the vertically extending portion of wall guide rail 61.

When door 40 is in its uppermost position, stop flange 63 insures that door 40 will not slide off the end of lateral guide portion 62 of wall guide rail 61. The outwardly and downwardly projecting hook portion 64 of stop flange 63 effectively blocks dowel 43 and thereby prevents it from sliding past the end of lateral guide portion 62 (FIG. 9).

Door 40 also includes bumpers 52 welded to its inside face at the top and either side thereof (FIG. 4). When door 40 is slid downwardly, these come to rest against the top of stop flanges 63 to limit downward movement of door 40. Preferably, they include a soft pad to deaden sound when the bumpers 52 abut the stop flanges 63.

Tub 10 is generally conventional in construction, having a bottom 11, upwardly extending sidewalls 12 and upwardly projecting outer end walls 13 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Extending around the top perimeter of tub 10 is a boarder 14 which defines a smooth top surface for the upper edges of sidewalls l2 and end walls 13. It also provides the entire file 1 with an attractive and trim appearance. The piece of sheet metal which defines boarder 14 is bent over downwardly to define a downwardly projecting step down wall 14a (FIG. 4). A laterally projecting side ledge 15 then projects inwardly from step down wall 14a. When door and wall assemblies 30 are mounted at each end of tube 10, the doors 40 rest on side ledges 15 when they are closed (compare FIGS. 1 and 2).

The hanging intelligence at each side of tub 14 is provided by a trough of generally U-shaped cross section projecting downwardly and outwardly from each side ledge 15 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The trough is defined by a step-down wall 15a which projects downwardly from side ledge 15 (FIG. 4), by inwardly and laterally projecting bite portion 16a, and by an upwardly projecting hanger flange 16. The trough is sufficiently deep that the hanger hooks on the sides of the vertically hanging file folders hook over hanger flange 16 and hang on the top edge thereof.

Vertically hanging folders can also be hung lengthwise in tub 10. A center hanger bracket 1'7 spans the width of tub at approximately the center thereof. Hanger bracket 17 is connected at each end to hanger flange 16 and is generally U-shaped in cross section, having a bite portion 17a and a pair of upwardly projecting, spaced leg portions 17b (FIG. 4). The hanging intelligence at each end is provided in the permanently open top version of filing cabinet 1 by end hanger 80 (FIGS. 2 and 3). End hanger 80 includes a forwardly projecting deck 81 which provides the decorative surface which is visible when one looks downwardly onto file 1 as in FIG. 2. A vertical wall 82 depends downwardly from deck 81. Projecting outwardly and upwardly from wall 82 is hook-shaped hanger flange 83 which defines the means whereby files can be hung on hanger flange 80.

Hanger flange 80 is secured to tub 10 by means of mounting tabs 86 which project forwardly from the side edges of vertical wall 82. Vertical wall 82 is sufficiently long that each mounting tab 86 fits in behind step-down wall a. Each mounting tab 86 is relatively close to step-down wall 15a such that a screw 87 can be passed through mating holes in step-down wall 15a and in mounting tab 86 (FIG. 2). It should also be noted that hook-shaped hanger flange 83 is narrower in width than vertical wall 82 by a distance approximately equal to the width of the lateral wall 16a joining step-down wall 15a to side hanger flange 16. It can also be seen that deck plate 81 is slightly wider than vertical wall 82 such that it spans the entire distance between first stepdown walls 14a at each side of tub 10.

When it is desired to remove end hanger 80 from tub 10, the screws 87 are unscrewed and end hanger 80 is removed. The same holes in step-down walls 15a are used to aid in mounting interior end wall 60 of door and wall assembly 30. Referring to FIG. 10, it can be seen that the edge wall 68 of wall 60 and the leg portion 61a of the flange defining wall guide rail 61 both include matching apertures therein to define a screw hole 69 therethrough. Screw hole 69 corresponds to the screw hole 85 in mounting tab 86 of hanger 80 (FIG. 3). Face panel 67 of wall 60 is just slightly wider than the distance between step-down walls 15a at each side of tub 10. Thus, forwardly projecting edge walls 68 of wall 60 are positioned closely to step-down wall 150, and behind it, such that screws 87 can be passed through the mating apertures of step-down wall 15a and edge wall 68 and leg 61a to thereby bolt wall 60 in place.

Wall 60 is also held in place by means of downwardly projecting tab flanges 66 at the base thereof (FIG. 5) which cooperate with small slots 21 in the bottom 11 of tub 10 (FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, the lower left-hand corner of interior end wall 60 is broken away to leave slot 21 visible. in FIG. 5, tab 66 can be seen projecting through bottom 11 of tub 10. Tab 66 is actually merely a downward extension of leg 61a. It could also be a downwardly projecting extension of edge wall 68. In this manner, interior end wall 60 is held in place by tabs 66 at the bottom and by screws 87 at the top (FIG. 5).

Another important feature of the invention is a reinforcing flange 56 mounted at the bottom of each door 40 and projecting first laterally therefrom and then parallel thereto (FIGS. 5 and 7). Reinforcing flange 50 is welded to or in some other manner secured to dowel cover flange 47. Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that when door 40 is pulled upwardly, reinforcing flange 50 is clearly visible above the upper edge of face panel 67 of wall 60. When door 40 is pivoted over into a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, that portion of reinforcing flange 50 which extends parallel to the plane of door face panel 44 will be positioned directly above and fairly close to the top edge of face panel 67 of wall 60. If a person were to carelessly sit on the edge of file 1, reinforcing flange 50 would abut the top edge of panel 67 and thereby prevent door 40 from being bent or buckled.

Door 40 also includes a handle 51 near the top thereof (FIG. 1). Handle 51 is preferably of the recessed type comprising an aperture in panel 44 which is covered on the back side of panel 44 by means of a cover plate 52 (FIG. 4). The top edge of panel 67 of wall 60 includes a downwardly deviating portion such that a person who inadvertently stuck his hand down beneath cover plate 52 for handle 51 would not jam his fingers against the top edge of panel 67.

Finally, the entire tub 10 is mounted on downwardly projecting legs 18 which are fitted with casters 19 to render the entire file 1 mobile. The end walls 13 of tub 10 are themselves bent to define handles 20 whereby the file 1 can readily be handled and moved from place to place (FIGS. 1 and 5).

Thus, file 1 comprises a highly movable and versatile filing cabinet, which can readily be converted from one type of file having doors to a type of file without doors, and vice versa. End hangers can readily be removed from tub 10 and door and wall assemblies 30 substituted therefor at each end of tub 10. The hanger flange 31 on wall 60 of door and wall assembly 30 serves the same file hanging function as was previously served by end hanger 80.

The door 40 of door and wall assembly 30 is slidably mounted to wall 60 only, such that tub 10 need not be equipped with any intelligence to facilitate the sliding of door 40. The door guide rail 41 and wall guide rail 61 are in slidable abutment with one another. During the sliding movement, door 40 is stabilized both at the top of wall 60 and at the bottom of door 40.

Dowel 43 mounted at the bottom of door 40 cooperates with door guide rail 41 to define a channel embracing wall guide rail 61. Similarly, tab flange 66 at the top and at each side of wall 60 cooperates with wall guide rail 61 to define a channel embracing door guide rail 40. These interfitting channels assure stability of door 411 as it is slidably moved along wall 60.

Door 40 can be readily pivoted with respect to wall 60 once it is pulled to the top thereof due to the fact that wall guide rail 61 is bent over at its top to define a lateral guide 62. Thus, the channel defined by dowel 43 and door guide rail 41 embraces a continuous guide rail extending up the height of wall 60 and laterally at the top of wall 60.

Finally, the seat flange 50 on each door 40 provides the unique structural reinforcing member which abuts against the top edge of wall 60 in the event that a person sits on top of door 40 at the edge thereof.

Of course, it will be understood that the above is merelya preferred embodiment of the invention and that many changes and alterations can be made of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. A cabinet comprising: an open tub including a bottom, end walls, sidewalls, and an open top; an integral door and wall assembly for insertion into said tub at at least one end thereof to provide a means for closing said open top of said tub; said integral door and wall assembly including, an interior end wall and a door; means for slidably mounting said door on said interior end wall in a plane generally parallel to said interior end wall; means at the top of said interior end wall for allowing said door to pivot with respect thereto, without disengaging therefrom; means for releasably securing said interior end wall in said tub, adjacent at least one end wall thereof, with said door positioned between said interior end wall and said end wall of said tub.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 in which: said interior end wall includes at least one locating tab projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof; said bottom of said tub including a slot therein for receiving said downwardly depending tab whereby said interior end wall is firmly fixed in said tub at the bottom thereof.

3. The cabinet of claim 2 in which said interior end wall of said door and wall assembly includes a forwardly projecting edge wall at each side thereof; said tub including a first flange projecting outwardly from the top edge of each of said sidewalls and a second flange projecting downwardly in a plane spaced from said sidewalls, said second flange being operably connected to said first flange; the width of said interior end wall being slightly greater than the distance between said downwardly projecting second flanges at each side of said tub whereby said edge walls of said interior end wall fit snuggly in behind said downwardly projecting second flanges; said edge walls and said downwardly projecting second flanges including means cooperating to facilitate the securance of said interior end wall to said tub at the top thereof.

4. The cabinet of claim 1 in which said door includes a reinforcing member projecting laterally therefrom in .the direction of said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being located on said door at a point which puts it in direct alignment with the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is pivoted to a position at approximately 90 with respect to said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being sufficiently close to the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is in said 90 degree position that it abuts the top edge of said interior end wall in the event that a substantial weight is placed on said door at the edge of said cabinet.

5. The cabinet of claim 1 in which said door includes a handle at the top thereof being defined by a handle cover plate which is recessed from one face thereof in the direction of said interior end wall; said interior end wall including a downwardly extending deviation at the top edge thereof to allow clearance for said cover plate and for a persons fingers in the event that a person inadvertently lifts said door by grasping the underside of said cover plate.

6. The cabinet of claim 1 in which a first guide rail is operably connected to said interior end wall and is spaced therefrom in thedirection of said door; said first guide rail extending generally the height of said interior end wall; a second guide rail operably connected to said door and being spaced therefrom in the direction of said first guide rail; said second guide rail extending generally the height of said door; a first channel at the bottom of said door embracing said first guide rail and a second channel at the top of said wall embracing said second guide rail whereby said door is guided by said cooperating guide rails and channels as it is slidably moved along said interior end wall.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 in which said first channel at the bottom of said door is defined by said second guide rail and by a dowel operably connected to the bottom of said door, spaced from said first guide rail in the direction of said interior end wall and extending generally the width of said door; said second channel being defined by said first guide rail and by a tab flange operably connected to said interior end wall at a point spaced from said first guide rail in the direction of said door.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 in which said first guide rail is bent over at the top whereby said door can be pivoted with respect to said wall without said first channel becoming disengaged from said first guide rail; said interior end wall including stop flanges projecting upwardly therefrom to prevent said first channel from being slid off the end of said first guide rail.

9. A cabinet comprising: an open tub, including a bottom, end wall, sidewalls, and an open top; means defining a hanging ledge for hanging file folders and the like, being releasably secured to said tub generally at the top of each end wall thereof; an integral door and wall assembly for insertion into said tub at at least one end thereof when said hanging ledge defining means is removed from said tub; said integral door and wall assembly including an interior end wall and a door; means for slidably mounting said door on said interior end wall in a plane generally parallel to said interior end wall; means at the top of said interior end wall for allowing said door to pivot with respect thereto without disengaging therefrom; means for releasably securing said interior end wall in said tub, adjacent at least one end wall thereof, with said door positioned between said interior end wall and said end wall of said tub; a hanging ledge projecting laterally and upwardly from the face of said interior end wall, opposite the face of said interior end wall which is adjacent said door, whereby the function of said hanging ledge defining means is fulfilled by said hanging ledge of said door and wall assembly.

10. The cabinet of claim 9 in which: said interior end wall includes at least one locating tab projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof; said bottom of said tub including a slot therein for receiving said downwardly depending tab whereby said interior end wall is firmly fixed in said tub at the bottom thereof.

1 l. The cabinet of claim 10 in which said interior end wall of said door and wall assembly includes a forwardly projecting edge wall at each side thereof; said tub including a first flange projecting outwardly from the top edge of each of said sidewalls and a second flange projecting downwardly in a plane spaced from said sidewalls, said second flange being operably connected to said first flange; the width of said interior end wall being slightly greater than the distance between said downwardly projecting second flanges at each side of said tub whereby said edge walls of said interior end wall fit snuggly in behind said downwardly projecting second flanges; said edge walls and said downwardly projecting second flanges including means cooperating to facilitate the securance of said interior end wall to said tub at the top thereof; said hanging ledge defining means comprising a bracket having mounting tabs at either end thereof; said bracket having a width slightly greater than the distance between said downwardly projecting second flange at each side of said tub whereby said mounting tabs fit snuggly in behind said downwardly projecting second flanges; said mounting tabs and said downwardly projecting second flanges including means cooperating to facilitate the securance of said bracket to said tub.

12. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said door includes a reinforcing member projecting laterally therefrom in the direction of said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being located on said door at a point which puts it in direct alignment with the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is pivoted to a position at approximately 90 with respect to said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being sufficiently close to the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is in said 90 degree position that it abuts the top edge of said interior end wall in the event that a substantial weight is placed on said door at the edge of said cabinet.

13. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said door includes a handle at the top thereof being defined by a handle cover plate which is recessed from one face thereof in the direction of said interior end wall; said interior end wall including a downwardly extending deviation at the top edge thereof to allow clearance for said cover plate and for a persons fingers in the event that a person inadvertently lifts said door by grasping the underside of said cover plate.

14. The cabinet of claim 9 in which a first guide rail is operably connected to said interior end wall and is spaced therefrom in the direction of said door; said first guide rail extending generally the height of said interior end wall; a second guide rail operably connected to said door and being spaced therefrom in the direction of said first guide rail; said second guide rail extending generally the height of said door; a first channel at the bottom of said door embracing said first guide rail and a second channel at the top of said wall embracing said second guide rail whereby said door is guided by said cooperating guide rails and channels as it is slidably moved along said interior end wall.

15. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said first channel at the bottom of said door is defined by said second guide rail and by a dowel operably connected to the bottom of said door, spaced from said second guide rail in the direction of said interior end wall and extending generally the width of said door; said second channel being defined by said first guide rail and by a tab flange operably connected to said interior end wall at a point spaced from said first guide rail in the direction of said door.

16. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said first guide rail is bent over at the top whereby said door can be pivoted with respect to said wall without said first channel becoming disengaged from said first guide rail; said interior end wall including stop flanges projecting upwardly therefrom to prevent said first channel from being slid off the end of said first guide rail.

Claims

4. The cabinet of claim 1 in which said door includes a reinforcing member projecting laterally therefrom in the direction of said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being located on said door at a point which puts it in direct alignment with the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is pivoted to a position at approximately 90* with respect to said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being sufficiently close to the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is in said 90 degree position that it abuts the top edge of said interior end wall in the event that a substantial weight is placed on said door at the edge of said cabinet.

5. The cabinet of claim 1 in which said door includes a handle at the top thereof being defined by a handle cover plate which is recessed from one face thereof in the direction of said interior end wall; said interior end wall including a downwardly extending deviation at the top edge thereof to allow clearance for said cover plate and for a person''s fingers in the event that a person inadvertently lifts said door by grasping the underside of said cover plate.

6. The cabinet of claim 1 in which a first guide rail is operably connected to said interior end wall and is spaced therefrom in the direction of said door; said first guide rail extending generally the height of said interior end wall; a second guide rail operably connected to said door and being spaced therefrom in the direction of said first guide rail; said second guide rail extending generally the height of said door; a first channel at the bottom of said door embracing said first guide rail and a second channel at the top of said wall embracing said second guide rail whereby said door is guided by said cooperating guide rails and channels as it is slidably moved along said interior end wall.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 in which said first guide rail is bent over at the top whereby said door can be pivoted 90* with respect to said wall without said first channel becoming disengaged from said first guide rail; said interior end wall including stop flanges projecting upwardly therefrom to prevent said first channel from being slid off the end of said first guide rail.

11. The cabinet of claim 10 in which said interior end wall of said door and wall assembly includes a forwardly projecting edge wall at each side thereof; said tub including a first flange projecting outwardly from the top edge of each of said sidewalls and a second flange projecting downwardly in a plane spaced from said sidewalls, said second flange being operably connected to said first flange; the width of said interior end wall being slightly greater than the distance between said downwardly projecting second flanges at each side of said tub whereby said edge walls of said interior end wall fit snuggly in behind said downwardly projecting second flanges; said edge walls and said downwardly projecting second flanges including means cooperating to facilitate the securance of said interior end wall to said tub at the top thereof; said hanging ledge defining means comprising a bracket having mounting tabs at either end thereof; said bracket having a width slightly greater than the distance between said downwardly projecting second flange at each side of said tub whereby said mounting tabs fit snuggly in behind said downwardly projecting second flanges; said mounting tabs and said downwardly projecting second flanges including means cooperating to facilitate the securance of said bracket to said tub.

12. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said door includes a reinforcing member projecting laterally therefrom in the direction of said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being located on said door at a point which puts it in direct alignment with the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is pivoted to a position at approximately 90* with respect to said interior end wall; said reinforcing member being sufficiently close to the top edge of said interior end wall when said door is in said 90 degree position that it abuts the top edge of said interior end wall in the event that a substantial weight is placed on said door at the edge of said cabinet.

13. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said door includes a handle at the top thereof being defined by a handle cover plate which is recessed from one face thereof in the direction of said interior end wall; said interior end wall including a downwardly extending deviation at the top edge thereof to allow clearance for said cover plate and for a person''s fingers in the event that a person inadvertently lifts said door by grasping the underside of said cover plate.

16. The cabinet of claim 9 in which said first guide rail is bent over at the top whereby said door can be pivoted 90* with respect to said wall without said first channel becoming disengaged from said first guide rail; said interior end wall including stop flanges projecting upwardly therefrom to prevent said first channel from being slid off the end of said first guide rail.