IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CUPBOARD CARCASSES

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cupboard carcass (10) comprising a moulded plastics open fronted enclosure having a plurality of integral external flanges (18, 20) extending along the sides (13, 14), bottom (12) and optionally back (15) of the enclosure in spaced planes extending normally to the open front of the enclosure through or adjacent one or more of which the enclosure may be split to provide a number of carcass modules. Each module so formed has an encirling flange portion around each line of split and the modules may be used to form lager carcasses supplemented by modules from other carcasses or smaller carcasses from a reduced number of modules with the flange portions of adjacent modules forming a joint between the modules.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CUPBOARD CARCASSES This invention relates to cupboard carcasses and is particularly, although not exclusively applicable to cupboard carcasses formed from one piece plastics mouldings. This invention provides a cupboard carcass comprising a moulded plastics open fronted enclosure having a plurality of integral external flanges lying in spaced planes extending normally to the open front of the enclosure through or adjacent one or more of which the enclosure may be split to provide a number of carcass modules from which larger carcasses can be assembled supplemented by modules from other carcasses or smaller carcasses from a reduced number of modules with the flange portions of adjacent modules forming a joint between the modules. In one embodiment of the invention the flanges may extend in vertical planes along at least the top/bottom walls of the enclosure to enable the carcass to be extended/reduced in the horizontal direction. In a further embodiment of the invention the flanges may extend in horizontal planes along at least the side walls of the enclosure to enable the carcass to be extended/reduced in the vertical direction. In yet a further embodiment the enclosure may have two sets of encircling flanges one extending in horizontal planes and the other in vertical planes whereby the carcass can be extended/reduced either vertically or horizontally respectively. Preferably the parallel planes in which the external flanges are formed are equi-spaced from one another. In the case where vertical flanges are provided, the flanges may be spaced apart equi-distantly between the side walls of the enclosure. In the case where horizontal flanges are provided, the enclosure may be formed with integral internal ribs on the inner faces of the enclosure opposite the locations where said external flanges are formed to provide shelf supports within the enclosure. The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a cupboard carcass adapted to be severable into individual modules to permit a range of sizes of carcasses to be assembled; Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II on Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III on Figure 1; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are scrap sections showing the assembly of a number of modules to form an enlarged carcass; and Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a modified construction. Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a moulded plastics cupboard carcass indicated generally at 10 and of rectangular box form having an open top 11, a bottom wall 12, side walls 13, 14, a back wall 15 and an open front 16. The open front of the moulded plastics carcass is formed with an integral external return in the form of an L section flange 17 to stiffen the opening to the carcass. The moulded plastics carcass is formed with a plurality of integral external flanges 18 extending in vertical planes along the bottom walls and optionally the back wall of the carcass from the top opening 12 to the bottom of the front opening 16. The flanges lie in vertical planes extending normal to the plane containing the front opening 16 to the carcass with the planes spaced equi-distant from one another and from the side walls 13, 14 of the carcass. The carcass may be split in one or more planes extending along the centre-lines of the flanges to form a plurality of end/intermediate carcass modules each with a flange portion encircling the or each line of split as described below. The carcass is also formed with a plurality of integral external flanges 20 extending around the side/back walls of the carcass and optionally across the back wall. The flanges 20 lie in horizontal planes extending normal to the front opening and to the planes containing the flanges 21. The flanges 21 are spaced apart equidistantly from one another and from the bottom wall of the carcass over the greaer part of the height of the carcass with the spacing increased for the uppermost flange 21a. Again the carcass may be split in one or more planes through the flanges 20 to create bottom/intermediate carcass modules. The carcass is also formed with internal ribs 21, 22 opposite at least the lower of the external flanges 20 to provide integral shelf supports with the carcass. As indicated above, the carcass may be split in one or more planes through the encircling flanges 18 encircling the top/back/bottom walls of the carcass or through the flanges 20 to form a plurality of carcass modules. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the assembly of side wall modules 30 and intermediate modules 31 to form a laterally extended carcass. The modules are split along the centre lines of one or more of the flanges 18 to form a flange portion 35 on a side wall module and 36 on the intermediate module. A plurality of carcass modules is assembled as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 and the abutting flange portions 35, 36 are secured together by a suitable adhesive, welding or other fastening means to create a laterally enlarged carcass. By way of example, the standard carcass module illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 may be 900mm wide with flanges 18 encircling the carcass at 300mm centres. On splitting the carcass into three equal portions, side wall modules and an intermediate module each of 300mm is formed and the resulting modules can be used to create wider carcasses with two or more intermediate modules or a narrow carcass with no intermediate module. Similarly, the carcass may be split through one or more of the flanges 20 encircling the side/back walls of the carcass to enable the carcass to be split in horizontal planes to form separate modules to which a further intermediate module or modules may be added to create a taller carcass or from which an intermediate module/modules can be omitted to reduce the carcass height. It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the carcasses may be split immediately adjacent the flanges rather than centrally through the flanges and larger or smaller carcasses are then assembled from the resulting flanged portions, the remainder being scrapped. Figures 7 and 8 show a further construction in which the encircling flanges 18 are of deep hollow section rib form to provide extended mating surfaces between ribs to be joined with the hollow between the ribs providing a space for a key of adhesive to bond the ribs together.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A cupboard carcass comprising a moulded plastics open fronted enclosure having a plurality of integral external flanges lying in spaced planes extending normally to the open front of the enclosure through or adjacent one or more of which the enclosure may be split to provide a number of carcass modules from which larger carcasses can be assembled supplemented by modules from other carcasses or smaller carcasses from a reduced number of modules with the flange portions of adjacent modules forming a joint between the modules. - 2. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 1, adapted to be split through the centre lines of the flanges. 3. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the flanges are of hollow section rib form to create extended abutment faces when split for mating with corresponding ribs of adjacent carcass portions. 4. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the carcass is adapted to be split immediately adjacent to the flanges. 5. A cupboard carcass as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the flanges extend in vertical planes along at least the bottom wall of the enclosure to enable the carcass to be extended/reduced in the horizontal direction. 6. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the flanges also extend down the back wall of the enclosure. 7. A cupboard carcass as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the flanges extend in horizontal planes along the side walls of the enclosure to enable the carcass to be extended/reduced in the vertical direction. 8. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the flanges also extend across the back wall of the enclosure. 9. A cupboard carcass as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the enclosure has two sets of flanges one extending in horizontal planes and the other in vertical planes whereby the carcass can be extended/reduced either vertically or horizontally respectively. 10. A cupboard carcass as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the parallel planes in which the external flanges are formed are equi-spaced from one another. 11. A cupboard carcass as claimed in Claim 10, and in the case where vertical flanges are provided, wherein the flanges are formed are spaced apart equi-distantly between the side walls of the enclosure. 12. A cupboard carcass as claimed in any of the preceding claims and in the case where horizontal flanges are provided, wherein the enclosure is formed with integral internal ribs on the inner faces of the enclosure opposite the locations where said external flanges are formed to provide shelf supports within the enclosure.

Inventors: WILLIS GAVIN REX, WILLIS, GAVIN, REX
Applicants: FURNITURE TECH SYST, FURNITURE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47B47
IPC codes: A47B47