Abstract:
A container bin construction comprises the combination of molded plastic bins fitted through frame openings in a molded plastic housing attached to the front side of a sheet metal drawer. The bins are configured to enable their partial removal and cantilevered support by the molded plastic frame or to permit complete removal of the bins through the frame opening. The construction enables manufacture of the drawer for a work chest comprised of the metal drawer in combination with plastic storage bins that are removable from or supported by the drawer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a bin construction and, more particularly, to a bin construction comprised of one or more bins in combination with the drawer of a work chest or cabinet.  
           [0002]    The use of open top bins to store small articles such as nails, screws, bolts, nuts and the like is often a desirable feature in a storage chest or work cabinet. Incorporation of bins in a work cabinet or work chest or a drawer in a cabinet or chest generally requires that the bins are designed to permit easy access, easy removal from the storage chest or cabinet and permit replacement thereof easily and quickly. Further, it is desirable to provide a system wherein multiple bins may be incorporated with a single, sliding drawer.  
           [0003]    Heretofore bins for the storage of small objects have typically been included in single purpose storage chests or cabinets and have been designed to be incorporated only with a cabinet solely holding the bins. The use of bins in combination with drawers of a work chest or cabinet is not commonly found. Often bins are constructed from a plastic material, whereas a work chest or a cabinet is typically constructed from a sheet metal material. Thus combining molded plastic bins with sheet metal cabinetry may be difficult and not commonly found. As a result, there has developed the need for a storage cabinet or storage chest or work chest which will accommodate multiple small storage bins that are removable and which may be incorporated in or with a drawer of the cabinet or chest.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly the present invention comprises a bin container or bin construction wherein a bin is formed with a back side or panel, a front side or panel, parallel to and spaced from the back side, and connecting lateral sides or panels extending between the front side and back side. The connecting lateral sides have a reduced height relative to the front side and the back side. A bottom side also connects the front side, back side and lateral sides and is curved or angled at the front side and back side to facilitate tilting and easy removal of the bin from a drawer or storage cabinet. The top of the bin is open for access to the contents in the bin.  
           [0005]    The back side includes molded hooks which enable placement or storage of the bin on a rack or other support. The bottom side includes at least one and preferably two detent slots cooperative with a frame of a housing incorporated in and attached to the front of a drawer to hold the bin in a partially withdrawn or partially open position in the drawer or a fully open position. Thus, the bin includes a back side which extends upwardly above the lateral sides or walls and engages against the top of drawer front housing of the drawer and, in combination with the detent slot on the bottom side which engages a rib incorporated in the bottom of the drawer front housing of the bin, holds the bin in cantilever fashion in a desired open condition.  
           [0006]    The front side of the bin includes a molded handle which facilitates gripping and removal of the bin from a drawer of a cabinet and provides additional functions in combination with the front housing frame of the drawer into which the bin is inserted or placed. That is, the bins are designed to be cooperative with a frame construction or housing incorporated in a drawer. The frame construction or housing is preferably molded from a plastic material such as polystyrene just as the bins are preferably molded from a plastic material such as polypropylene. The housing includes an upper frame cross member and a lower frame cross member as well as vertical side members. The upper frame member cooperates with the back side of the bin and the lower frame member cooperates with the bottom side of the bin to hold the bin cantilevered in a fixed open or partially open position.  
           [0007]    The upper frame member further includes a pocket for receipt of the molded handle on the front side of the bin thereby enabling the molded handle of the bin to engage the pocket and serve as the handle for the entire drawer when the bin is positioned or moved to a fully closed position in the drawer.  
           [0008]    The bottom surface of the bin or the bottom side of the bin is preferably, at least in part, flat so that the bin, upon removal from a drawer, may be placed on a surface such as a table top without tilting or tipping over and thereby discharging the contents thereof. Further, the bottom side or bottom surface includes an arcuate section connecting the bottom side to the front panel or front side. The arcuate section is designed to permit tilting of the bin to facilitate removal thereof from the drawer through the front housing frame.  
           [0009]    In a preferred embodiment multiple bins are positioned in the molded front housing frame side by side. Thus the molded housing, comprised of a series of frames, defines the front side of a drawer and one bin fits through the front side of each one of the molded frames to provide for storage within the bin and also to provide a handle member for opening and closing the drawer as well as a handle member for moving the bin into and out of the drawer. The molded housing includes various surfaces and sections which promote the ease of accessibility and movement of the bins from the drawer or into the drawer.  
           [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, the detent associated with the bottom surface or bottom side of a bin permits placement of the bin in a fully extended position supported by the housing frame or in a partially extended position supported by the housing frame. If the drawer is fully closed, but accessible from the topside thereof, the bins may also be removed upwardly through the topside of the drawer. However it is preferable that the bins be removed from the drawer through the frame associated with the housing on the front side of the drawer.  
           [0011]    Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bin construction for use in combination with drawers of a work chest or work cabinet or the like.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a design for an open top bin which may be partially withdrawn from a drawer or fully withdrawn into a full open position from a drawer or entirely removed from a drawer for access to the contents thereof.  
           [0013]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bin construction which may be manufactured from a molded plastic material such as polystyrene and which is rugged, durable, easy to manufacture and easy to assemble in a cabinet or chest without fasteners.  
           [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a bin construction wherein the bin includes a handle on its front side which may be utilized for movement and removal of the bin from a drawer or alternatively may be utilized as a handle for movement of the drawer into which the bin is placed.  
           [0015]    A further object of the invention is to provide a molded plastic housing having a frame which may be utilized in combination with one or more bins and which may be incorporated in a sheet metal cabinet drawer.  
           [0016]    Another object of the invention is to provide a bin which when fitted into cabinet drawer is designed to engage a panel within the drawer that limits the position of the bin in the drawer and separates the bin from the remainder of the drawer.  
           [0017]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0018]    In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised the following figures:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the bin construction of the invention in combination with a drawer of a work chest or storage cabinet;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a drawer of the type incorporated in the storage chest or cabinet of FIG. 1  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the combination of a drawer and a series of the removable bins viewed from the front side of a drawer;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a bin as viewed from the top side thereof and incorporating the features of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the bin of FIG. 4 as viewed from a lateral side thereof;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the bin of FIG. 4 as viewed from the back side thereof;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the molded plastic front of frame assembly or housing incorporated with a sheet metal drawer;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric back side view of the housing of FIG. 7;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of FIG. 8 taken along the line  9 - 9 ;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the bin and drawer construction taken along the line  10 - 11  and in FIG. 2;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 wherein a bin has been partially removed from a drawer; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 wherein a bin has been further removed to a fully open position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    Referring to FIGS. 1,2 and  3 , there is illustrated a cabinet  8  having a drawer  10  which includes removable bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  and thereby illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. More specifically, drawer  10  may be formed from sheet metal with a molded plastic front housing  22 , for example, and includes a series of five separate molded plastic bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . The bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  fit through frame openings, e.g. frame  24  in FIG. 7, in molded plastic housing  22  affixed to the front side of the drawer  10 . Each of the bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , is substantially identical and thus the description of one of the bins,  12  will be applicable to each and every bin  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . In addition, the housing  22  is adapted to receive and cooperate with five bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . However each separate bin  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  fits through a separate frame  24  (to be described hereinafter) incorporated of the housing  22 . Thus the following description focuses on a single bin  12 , and a single frame  24  associated with the housing  22 .  
         [0032]    The number of frames  24  as well as the number of bins  12  associated with a housing  22  may be varied. In the embodiment depicted there are five bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  associated with five frames  24 , and five frames  24  are incorporated into a single housing  22 .  
         [0033]    The drawer  10  is preferably made from a sheet metal material and includes a base plate or bottom  32  having two upwardly extending lateral sides  32  and  34 , a back side  36  and an intermediate vertical panel  38  generally parallel to and spaced from the back side or panel  36 . The vertical panel  38  extends between the lateral sides and  32  and  34  and defines an internal stop or wall against which bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  may rest upon insertion into the drawer  10  through the frames  24  in the housing  22 .  
         [0034]    The housing  22  includes a transverse, horizontal top frame member  40  and a generally parallel, transverse horizontal bottom frame member  42  with a series of vertical lateral side frame members, such as frame members  44  and  46 , joining the top frame member  40  with the bottom frame member  42  to thereby define generally rectangular openings or frames  24  for insertion of a bin, for example, the bin  12 . The vertical side frame members at the opposite ends of housing  22 , such as frame member  46 , include a laterally or horizontally extending stud or post  48  with a central opening  50  for receipt of a retention fastener  52 . The stud or post  48  fits through an opening in the lateral side  34  of the drawer  10  and is retained therein by the fastener  52  to secure the housing  22  to the drawer  10 . Of course, retention studs or posts, such as post  48 , are provided to attach the opposite sides of the housing  22  with the opposite lateral sides  32  and  34  of the drawer  10 .  
         [0035]    Each of the bins  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  has a substantially identical construction in the embodiment of the invention disclosed. However the bins may be of various sizes provided they are compatible with the appropriate frame opening of housing  22 . The construction of the bins is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 . The construction of the housing  22  is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, and  9 . Referring therefore to the construction of the bin, for example bin  12 , reference is directed to FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 .  
         [0036]    The bin  12  includes a generally flat bottom side wall or panel  50 , a first lateral side wall or panel  52 , a second lateral side wall or panel  54  generally parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side wall  52  by the bottom wall  50  and by a back side wall or panel  56  and a front side wall or panel  58 . The front side wall  58  joins with the bottom wall  50  by means of an arcuate or curved wall section  60 . The bottom side wall  50  joins to the back side wall  56  by means of an inclined, generally flat planar wall section  62 . A detent slot  64  is formed at the junction of the inclined back side wall  62  and the bottom wall  50 . The slot or detent  64  comprises a recess on the outside of the bin  12  extending transversely between the lateral side walls  52  and  54  generally perpendicular to the side walls  52 ,  54 .  
         [0037]    The front side wall  58  is connected to and integrally formed with a handle  66 . The handle  66  comprises a folded over, molded forwardly inclined section or plate  67  shaped for easy manual gripping. The handle section or handle  66  extends outwardly and downwardly from the top of the front side wall  58 . The front side wall  58  and the handle section  67  are thus joined together by means of an arcuate curved wall section  70 .  
         [0038]    The back side wall  56  and the front side wall  58  are generally parallel to one another as are the lateral side walls  52  and  54 . Together the front side wall  58 , the back side wall  56 , and the lateral side walls  52  and  54  define an enclosure in combination with the bottom side wall  50 , the inclined bottom wall  52  and the arcuate forward wall  60 . The enclosure has an open top for access to the contents of the bin  12 . The back side wall  56  includes a top edge  72  which extends above top edge  74  of side wall  52  and top edge  76  of side wall  54 . The top edge  72  of the back wall  52  is substantially at the same vertical height or extent from the bottom side wall  50  as the vertical height of frame opening  24 . The side edges  74 ,  76  are spaced vertically from bottom side  50  approximately two times distance of the junction  59  of the front wall  58  and the arcuate wall  60  from bottom wall  50 . The back wall  56  further includes first and second support tabs or hooks  80  and  82  molded in the top edge  72 . These tabs or hooks facilitate hanging of the bin  12  on a board or panel separate and apart from drawer  10 ; the front bin handle  66  can also perform this hanging function.  
         [0039]    The bin  12 , as more particularly shown in FIG. 6, also includes a second detent assembly comprised of first and second projecting wings or tabs  90  and  92  extending from the sloped back side wall  62 . The tabs  90  and  92  are generally parallel to one another. Each tab  90 ,  92  includes a notch  94  and  96 , respectively, which together define a second detent  52  extending transversely from side to side of the bin  12  between the lateral sides  52  and  54 . Thus the bottom side  50  of the bin  12  has associated therewith a first detent construction (groove or slot  64 ) and the second detent  52  comprising the notches  94  and  96 .  
         [0040]    Referring next to FIGS.  7 - 11 , there is depicted the housing  22  with the top horizontal frame cross member  40  and the bottom horizontal frame cross member  42 . Vertical frame members  44  and  46  define rectangular frame  24  into which the bin  12  may be inserted. The housing  22  and, more particularly, the top frame member  40  includes a molded pocket  102  defined by a front lip or flange  104  and a back brace member  106 . The pocket  102  is sized to receive the handle  66  formed on the front wall  58  of the bin  12 . In this manner when the bin  12  is inserted through the housing  22  into frame  24  between the frame members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 , the bin  12  may be utilized as a handle to pull the drawer  10  or push the drawer  10  into and out of a cabinet.  
         [0041]    The housing  22  further includes bottom frame member  42  having an inclined inside face section  108  and a detent bar member  110  extending between the lateral sides  44  and  46 . The detent bar section or rib  110  is designed to be cooperative with either of the detents, i.e. groove  64  or the notches  94  and  96  of the bin  12 . The detent bar  110  is spaced from the cross brace  106  by a distance which is less than the distance between the detents  64  or notches  94 ,  96  and the top edge  72  of the back side  56 . Thus, when the bin  12  is positioned with, for example, groove or notch  64  engaging cross bar  110 , the top portion or edge  72  of the back wall or back side  56  will engage against the cross brace  106  thereby supporting the bin  12  in cantilever fashion as depicted in FIG. 12. Similarly when the notches  94 ,  96  are engaged with the cross brace member  110 , the bin  12  will be supported in cantilever fashion as depicted in FIG. 11. The top edge  72  of the back side wall  56  in combination with the notch  64  or the notches  94 ,  96  serve to support the bin  12  in one of two cantilevered positions. Each of those positions provides for partial or substantially fully opened access to the bin  12  from outside the front of drawer  10  as illustrated in FIG. 1 which depicts bins  12 ,  14  in closed position, bin  18  in a partially open tilted downward position as in FIG. 12, and bin  16  in a fully open, untilted position as shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0042]    The top edges  74 ,  76  of the lateral side walls  52 ,  54  being lower than the top edge  72  of the back side wall  56  enables maneuvering of the bin  12  between the cantilevered positions and between a position of being totally inserted into the housing  22  or removed from the housing  22 . That is, the bin  12  may be horizontally moved and vertically lifted and tilted to move the bin  12  into and out of the housing  22  as illustrated by the arrows in the figures.  
         [0043]    In sum, the bin  12  may act or be utilized as a handle for the drawer  10  by virtue of the handle  66  being engaged with the pocket  102  as shown in FIG. 10. The bin  12  may be moved to a partially exposed or open position and retained therein in cantilever fashion as depicted in FIG. 12 and FIG. 1. The bin  12  may be moved to a second cantilever position as depicted in FIG. 11 and FIG. 1. Finally, the bin  12  may be entirely removed from the drawer  10  and supported on its flat bottom side  50  for access to the contents thereof.  
         [0044]    With the construction of the present invention, the plastic housing  22  may be assembled with a sheet metal drawer  10  by fastening the parts together in the manner described. Thus a hybrid drawer construction comprised of molded plastic components, such as the polystyrene molded plastic bin  12  and housing  22 , may be used in combination with a sheet metal drawer  10 . The bin, such as bin  12 , can be accessed through the open top when the drawer  10  is in the open condition. The bin  12  can removed with the drawer  10  in the open or closed condition in a cabinet. The bin  12  may be separately hung from a plate or bar by virtue of the hooks or tabs  80 ,  82 . The metal divider or wall  38  will separate the bin  12  from a larger storage area within the drawer  10 . The bin  12  can be positioned in one or two or more cantilevered positions depending upon the number and position of notches at the bottom side  50  of the bin  12 . When fully inserted in drawer  10 , the bin  12  is nested within the housing  22  and, more particularly, within the frame members particularly the lower frame member  42  which has an inclined surface  108  sloping downwardly and inwardly into the drawer  10  to thereby function to retain the bin  12  unless and until it is moved vertically upward and outward from the drawer  10 . Dimensions and dimensional relationship as depicted in the figures, particularly FIGS.  10 - 12 , illustrate the relative sizes, heights and extent of the various bin  12  and housing  22  parts.  
         [0045]    Various features of the invention may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the relative dimensional relationships of the walls may be varied while the functions thereof are retained. The shape of the handle, for example handle  66  and pocket  102 , may be varied. The support hooks  80 ,  82  and their configuration, number and size may be varied. The angle of inclination and orientation of the bottom wall  50 , and inclined bottom wall  56 , as well as front curved wall  60  may be varied. Numerous other features of the construction may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention therefore is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.