Patent Publication Number: US-5524322-A

Title: Retaining device for casters and slides

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a retaining system for casters and slides the system including at least one retaining device which can be attached to the bottom of cabinet-like receptacles. 
     Cabinet-like--or chest-like--receptacles provided with casters or slides are those which, among other things, have a solid bottom panel, for example rolling containers, office containers, cabinets or devices. In many cases the bottom panel is exclusively used for stabilization and does not have a function as a pigeon hole or dust protector, particularly in those cases where there are drawers directly above the bottom panel. If required, casters or slides are fastened on this bottom panel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to fasten casters or slides in special retaining devices, which then, in turn, are fixed by bolting, inserting, welding or gluing to the bottom panel of a cabinet-like receptacle, as a rule respectively one at each of the four corners of the bottom panel. This results in an elaborate construction and a time-consuming work process. 
     It is thus an object of the invention to provide a retaining device for casters and slide which obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, a retaining device for casters and slides fulfills a stabilizing function for a cabinet-like receptacle by being configured to serve as the bottom panel of the cabinet-like receptacle. 
     Thus, in the present the invention, the retaining device is attached directly to the cabinet-like receptacle, which is open at its bottom, instead of being attached to a bottom panel of the receptacle first, as has been customary up to now. Because the retaining device simultaneously takes over the function of a bottom panel, a reduction of the structural components and simplification of assembly of the system are achieved. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail below. Shown respectively on a reduced scale are in: 
     FIG. 1, a perspective view of front and rear retaining devices mounted on side walls of a cabinet open at its bottom; 
     FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of a retaining device having a caster fastened thereto with a dowel and bolt connection as the fastening means; 
     FIG. 3A, a front elevational view of the retaining device with an additional dust cover and with a device for receiving a decorative panel; 
     FIG. 3B, a front elevational view of the device for receiving a decorative panel shown in FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 4A, a cross sectional of a retaining device having a caster fastened thereto with reinforcing pins as the fastening for thin side walls; 
     FIG. 4B, a cross sectional view of the reinforcing pin of FIG. 4A fastened to a thin side wall; 
     FIG. 5, a view corresponding to FIG. 1, a single retaining device occupying the entire bottom of the cabinet; 
     FIG. 6A, a top plan view of a single retaining device for application in a corner of a cabinet-like receptacle; 
     FIG. 6B, a side elevational view of the single retaining device of FIG. 6A; 
     FIG. 6C, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the single retaining device of FIG. 6A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Each one of the retaining devices selected as an exemplary embodiment has a plastic bracket 1. The plastic bracket 1 is embodied in the conventional manner as an injection-molded part with reinforcement ribs, bars or the like. The plastic bracket has a plate 11 in the area of its front/corners. A metal plate 2 has be embedded into the plastic bracket 1 in the area of the plate 11, or it may be injected into the plastic bracket during injection molding. The metal plate 2 is provided with a pin 21. Each pin 21 receives a caster 3 or a slide, not shown. The pins 21 for the casters 3 are suitably attached in such a way that the latter partially project into the plastic bracket 1. This makes possible a lesser bottom clearance 22 than with conventional retaining devices. Dowels 12 and a bar 13 are formed on the front and/or side walls of the plastic bracket 1. The dowels 12, which are arranged in one plane are used, together with the bar 13, for fastening the plastic bracket 1 on respectively one side wall 41 of a cabinet-like receptacle 4, open at the bottom, the remainder of which is not illustrated. 
     If cabinet-like receptacles with a bottom surface having an invariable length and width are equipped with the retaining system, an embodiment in accordance with FIG. 5 is recommended according to that embodiment, two plastic brackets 1, which form the actual retaining system, are connected by means of a reinforced intermediate plate 17. As in the exemplary embodiment, the retaining system can have include the metal plates 2 with the pin 21 for receiving the casters 3 at all four corners of the cabinet-like receptacle or on two corners which are part of the same side wall and at the center of the opposite side wall. 
     If cabinet-like receptacles with a bottom surface having an invariable width but a variable length are to be provided with a retaining system, the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 is recommended, according to that embodiment two plastic brackets 1 which are identical are used, one of which is used as the front and the other as the rear retaining device of the retaining system. Each one of these plastic brackets is then fastened in the area of the front or the rear side wall at the bottom of the cabinet-like receptacle. 
     If cabinet-like receptacles having a variable length as well as a variable width are equipped with the retaining system, the use of the plastic bracket in accordance with FIG. 6 is recommended according to this embodiment one of the plastic brackets 1 is fastened on the bottom surface at each corner of the cabinet-like receptacle. For reasons of stabilization it is possible to connect all adjoining plastic brackets, or respectively two plastic brackets 1 disposed on the same side, with the aid of a profiled section 5, which can be changed in length. The profiled section 5 suitably is a metal profiled section which is pushed on a projection 18 formed on the plastic bracket 1. 
     The dowels 12 provided on the plastic bracket 1 are embedded in wood or particle board panels which form the side walls 41--FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6--. The plastic bracket 1 is then additionally bolted to the side wall 41 with the aid of a bolt, not shown--FIG. 2--. If the cabinet-like receptacle 4 has thin side walls 42, a reinforcing pin 14, which extends vertically to the bar 13, is used for fastening. A U-shaped fastening part 43, connected with the side wall 42 and having free ends projecting in the manner of a flange, is placed over the wedge-like reinforcing pin 14 and bolted --FIGS. 4A and 4B--. 
     If the cabinet-like receptacle is to receive an additional dust cover 44, a bolting tongue 15, which is provided with a bore for a bolt to pass through, is formed on the inside of the plastic bracket 1. The dust cover 44 is placed on the bolting tongue 15 and is bolted. 
     If additional decorative panels, not shown, of the cabinet-like receptacle 4 are to be fastened, fasteners 16 for such decorative panels are formed on the plastic bracket 1--FIGS. 3A and 3B--. 
     The invention can be utilized with all cabinet-like receptacles which are initially open on the underside and are then provided with a bottom, for example rolling containers, office containers, cabinets or devices.