Patent Publication Number: US-2022220787-A1

Title: Access door for a storage unit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an access door that provides access to an interior containment space of a storage unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Storage units, such as, for example, toolboxes and cabinets, commonly include access doors to provide access to interior containment spaces. Access doors are typically coupled to the storage units using a hinge, which allows the door to be selectively disposed in either one of opened and closed positions. However, when disposed in the opened position, thereby providing access to the interior containment space, the door may unintentionally be moved to the closed position, such as if inadvertently jarred by an operator and/or due to the storage unit being disposed on an uneven surface. Also, if the access door is moved into the opened position with too great a force, the access door, storage unit, and/or hinge could be damaged. Additionally, access doors are typically maintained in the closed position utilizing a magnet(s). However, the magnetic force can be strong, thus making it difficult for the operator to overcome the magnetic force to move the access door into the opened position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to an access door that provides access to an interior containment space of a storage unit, such as, for example, toolboxes and cabinets. The access door is coupled to the storage unit via a hinge and is adapted to be selectively disposed in either one of opened and closed states. When in the opened state, the access door allows access to the interior containment space. When in the closed state, the access door disallows access to the interior containment space. The access door includes a latch adapted to maintain the access door in the closed position. The access door also includes a biasing member, such as, for example, a compression spring or gas strut, adapted to assist in moving the access door to either of the opened and/or closed positions, and/or to maintain the access door in the opened position. The biasing member is releasably coupled to the storage unit by a quick disconnect mechanism that disengages the biasing member from the storage unit when the access door is overextended and/or opened with too great a force. By releasably coupling the biasing member to the storage unit using a quick disconnect mechanism, the possibility of damage to the access door, storage unit, and/or hinge due to over-extending the door while opening is lessened, compared to current solutions. Also, by using a latch to maintain the access door in the closed position, less force is required to open the access door compared to current solutions. 
     In an embodiment, the present invention broadly comprises a storage unit having an interior containment space. The storage unit includes a connection member, a bracket having an attachment feature, an access door adapted to cover at least a portion of the interior containment space, and a biasing member having opposing first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the attachment feature, and the second end is releasably coupled to the connection member. The second end is adapted to be released from the connection member when the access door is over-extended while being opened, or otherwise opened with too great a force. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention broadly comprises an access door adapted to be coupled to a storage unit and cover at least a portion of an interior containment space of the storage unit. The access door includes a biasing member having opposing first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the access door, and the second end is adapted to be releasably coupled to a connection member disposed on the storage unit. The second end is adapted to be released from the connection member when the access door is over-extended while being opened, or otherwise opened with too great a force. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplar storage unit, such as a tool storage cabinet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of an exemplar biasing member coupled to an exemplar access door and storage unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of a quick disconnect mechanism releasably coupling an exemplar biasing member to an exemplar storage unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the quick disconnect mechanism of  FIG. 3  disengaged from the biasing member. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an exemplar latch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of the latch assembly of  FIG. 5  disposed on an exemplar access door, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a detail view of the latch assembly of  FIG. 5  disposed on an exemplar access door that is in an opened position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a clip, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is instead used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only. 
     The present invention broadly includes an access door to an interior containment space of a storage unit, such as, for example, toolboxes and roll cabinets. The access door is adapted to be selectively disposed in either one of opened and closed states. The access door includes a latch assembly adapted to selectively maintain the access door in the closed position. The access door also includes a biasing member, such as, for example, a compression spring or gas strut, adapted to assist in moving the access door between the opened and/or closed positions, and/or maintain the access door in the opened position. The biasing member is releasably coupled to the storage unit by a quick disconnect connection that disengages the biasing member from the storage unit when the door is over-extended while being opened, and/or opened with too great a force. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , a storage unit  100 , such as, for example, roll cabs, toolboxes, cabinets, etc., according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes an access door  102  that covers at least a portion of an interior containment space  104  of the storage unit  100 , drawers  106 , or similar sub-enclosures, adapted to move into and out of the storage unit  100 , wheels  108 , and first  110  and second  112  fascia plates. In an embodiment, the interior containment space  104  includes drawers and/or shelves  114  adapted to move into and out of the interior containment space  104 . However, the storage unit  100  is not limited as such and may include other features, such as, for example, hangers, brackets, emblems, shelves, etc. 
     The access door  102  includes a latch assembly  116  and a locking rod  118  and is coupled to the storage unit  100  via a hinge  120 . The locking rod  118  is adapted to put the access door  102  in a locked state via a lock (not shown) to prevent the access door  102  from being opened in a well-known manner. Although shown in a vertical orientation, the invention is not limited as such, and the access door  102  may be disposed in other orientations, such as, for example, a horizontal orientation. In an embodiment, the access door  102  includes a bracket  122  having attachment features  124 , such as, for example, apertures. 
     The latch assembly  116  is adapted to selectively maintain the access door  102  in the closed position. The latch assembly  116  includes a handle  126  that is flexibly coupled to the access door  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a cap  128 , and a latch  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In an embodiment, the handle  126  is coupled to the access door  102  at a crimped portion  132 . The handle  126  also includes a joint  134 , a branch  136 , and a grip portion  138 . The joint  134  and the branch  136  cooperatively allow the grip portion  138  to be moved in a preferred direction to allow the handle  126  to actuate the latch  130 . The latch  130  engages a notch or detent  142  in the first  110  and/or second  112  fascia plates to selectively retain the access door  102  in a closed position. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the grip portion  138  is further coupled to the access door  102  via a biasing member  140 , such as, for example, a spring, to enable the grip portion  138  to return to a neutral position defined by the branch  136 . 
     The access door  102  is also connected to the storage unit  100  via a biasing member  144 , such as, for example, a compression spring or gas strut, that is adapted to assist in moving the access door  102  between the opened and/or closed positions, and/or maintain the access door  102  in the opened position. The biasing member  144  includes opposing first  146  and second  148  ends. The first end  146  of the biasing member  144  is coupled to the bracket  122  disposed on the access door  102  at one of the attachment features  124 . The multiple attachment features  124  enable the biasing member  144  to be coupled at different locations along the bracket  122 , thereby allowing adjustment of the opening angle of the access door  102  with respect to the storage unit  100 . The second end  148  (i.e., quick disconnect end) of the biasing member  144  is adapted to releasably couple to the storage unit  100  via a connection member  152 , such as, for example, a stud. The connection member  152  is disposed on the first  110  and/or second  112  fascia plates. The second end  148  is adapted to be released from the connection member  152  when the access door  102  is overextended and/or opened with too great a force, thereby restricting damage to one or more of the access door  102 , storage unit  100 , hinge  120 , and/or an operator. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the second end  148  of the biasing member  144  includes a ball  150 . In an embodiment, the connection member  152  includes an opening  154  adapted to receive the ball  150 . The opening  154  is smaller than the ball  150 , thereby “trapping” the ball  150 . The opening  154  can be sized to provide enough retention force to retain the ball  150  therein, while also allowing the ball  150  to disengage if the access door  102  is overextended and/or opened with too great a force. In another embodiment (not shown), the ball is releasably coupled to the opening  154  of the connection member  152  using a retaining member, such as, for example, a spring clip, thereby allowing retention force to be adjusted to allow the biasing member  144  to disengage from the connection member  152  if the access door  102  is overextended and/or opened with too great a force. 
     In an another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second end  148  of the biasing member  144  is coupled to a clip  256  having an aperture  258 . The second end  148  can be press fit or threadably coupled to the aperture  258 . The clip  256  further includes a clip opening  260  and a hemisphere section  262  adapted to receive the connection member  152 . The clip opening  260  is smaller than the diameter of the hemisphere section  262 . The diameter of the hemisphere section  262  corresponds with the diameter of the connection member  152 . The clip  256  also includes a cut section  264  adapted to allow the clip opening  260  and hemisphere section  262  to expand to receive and releasably couple to the connection member  152 , similar to a clamping action. If the access door  102  is overextended and/or opened with too great a force, the opening  263  and hemisphere section  262  are adapted to expand, via the cut section  264 , to allow disengagement of the biasing member  144  from the connection member  152 . 
     In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the bracket  122  can be disposed on the storage unit  100 , and the connection member  152  is disposed on the access door  102 . 
     As used herein, the term “coupled” can mean any physical, electrical, magnetic, or other connection, either direct or indirect, between two parties. The term “coupled” is not limited to a fixed direct coupling between two entities. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.