Patent Publication Number: US-7722141-B2

Title: Suspendable locker

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/804,985 filed Mar. 22, 2004 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/750,976 filed on Jan. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,384, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
   This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/750,976, filed Jan. 2, 2001, entitled “Suspendable Locker.” 

   BACKGROUND 
   The subject matter of this application relates to storage devices. More particularly, this application relates to a suspendable locker adapted to be coupled to a wall of a storage cabinet. 
   Large rolling tool cabinets are often used to secure tools which are kept at a job site. These tool cabinets may be placed at a central location in order to be easily accessible to those who use the tools. These tool cabinets are often heavily laden with tools, or other work articles, so it is often impractical to roll them to a particular work site. Consequently, small rolling carts are often employed to transport articles to the work site and back. At the end of the workday, the articles are removed from the rolling cart and placed back into the tool cabinet and secured. 
   Often it is desirable for mechanics and workmen to leave work pieces, equipment, or tools on a rolling cart undisturbed at the end of a work period, so that they may more easily continue their work where they left off the next period. Also, loading and unloading tools and other articles onto and off of the rolling cart can be quite time consuming, and sometimes objects will not readily fit into a tool cabinet. As a result, equipment and tools are often left on rolling carts unsecured. 
   Tool cabinets also usually cannot adequately store and secure computers, and are often too dirty an environment to keep paperwork. It is sometimes beneficial to have a computer and paperwork near a tool cabinet. Workmen and mechanics sometimes utilize computers to assist them at their jobs, and they almost always have paperwork to fill out and store. Since tool cabinets are not particularly adapted to store them, computers and paperwork are commonly stored elsewhere, sometimes making them less accessible. 
   SUMMARY 
   Generally, this application relates to a suspendable locker adapted to be coupled to a wall of a storage cabinet, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art while affording additional structural and operational advantages. 
   An important feature is the provision of a locker which is capable of being suspended from a side wall of a storage cabinet. 
   Another important feature is the provision of a locker which can secure a rolling cart. 
   Another important feature is the provision of a suspendable locker capable of storing a computer and/or paperwork. 
   In connection with the foregoing features, yet another feature is the provision of a method for the storage of tools and other articles. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment 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 a suspendable locker attached to a tool cabinet. 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary front elevational view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  with the locker door open to reveal underlying structure therein. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 2  with the retractable shelf retracted and cart partially withdrawn from the locker. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the suspendable locker, referred to generally by the numeral  10 , is shown suspended from a tool cabinet  20  with a rolling cart  21  stored in the locker. The suspendable locker  10  is cantilevered above a floor, enabling it to be rolled around with the tool cabinet  20 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the suspendable locker  10  has a plurality of side walls  11  and a top wall  13  interconnected to define an open-bottom interior space. A door  12  is hingedly connected to a side wall to provide an access opening into the interior space along a side. An attachment structure for suspending the locker from a storage cabinet is connected to a side wall  11 . 
   The suspendable locker  10  has an open bottom leaving the interior space exposed from below. The absence of a bottom enables the suspendable locker  10  to secure therein the rolling cart  21  or other objects which rest on the floor and are not removable through the open bottom. 
   In an embodiment of the suspendable locker  10 , the attachment structure includes a pair of L-shaped flanges  19 . Each L-shaped flange  19  is connected to an exterior surface of a side wall  11  and engages a lip on the tool storage cabinet  20 , enabling the suspendable locker  10  to be cantilevered from the storage cabinet  20 . The L-shaped flanges  19  are one means for suspending the suspendable locker  10  from a tool storage cabinet  20 , and are not meant to be construed as a limitation thereof. There are other means available which can be utilized instead of the L-shaped flange  19  to suspend the suspendable locker  10  from the tool cabinet  20 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the attachment structure can also include fasteners  18  extending through corresponding apertures in the side wall  11  and the tool storage cabinet  20 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , at least one shelf  14  is suspended within the interior space, connected to the side walls  11 . The shelves can be vertically or horizontally aligned depending on the application. In one embodiment, a shelf  15  is retractable, enabling the shelf to extend outwardly from within the interior space. It is contemplated that a computer and keyboard is placed on the retractable shelf  15 , enabling such device to be accessible to a user when the shelf is fully extended, but still securable within the suspendable locker  10  when the shelf is retracted. 
   Reinforcing channels  16 , extend across interior lower surfaces of the side walls  11 , providing additional structural support to the side walls. A plurality of bumper guards  24  can be mounted on the reinforcing channels to protect the side walls from damage. 
   It is contemplated that the suspendable locker  10  is coupled to a rolling tool cabinet  20 , and is transported with the rolling tool cabinet  20 . The suspendable locker  10  would provide a place in which to store paperwork, a computer, and a rolling cart  21 . One of the major benefits of the suspendable locker  10  is that the rolling cart  21  can be easily secured with tools, equipment, and other articles stored thereon. The rolling cart  21  is secured simply by rolling it through the doorway of the suspendable locker  10  into the interior space, and locking the door behind it. Prior to the suspendable locker  10 , tools or equipment were either left unsecured on the rolling cart  21  with the tools and articles thereon, or else they were removed from the rolling cart  21  and stored overnight in the tool cabinet  20  and placed back onto the rolling cart the next day. 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While an embodiment has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without deporting from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought in intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.