Patent Abstract:
A cabinet includes a pair of side walls; a rear wall connected to the pair of side walls; a top wall connected to the pair of side walls and the rear wall; and a slidable tray which slides between the pair of side walls. The tray includes a front wall, a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a bottom wall connecting the front wall, the pair of side walls, and the rear wall. A first reinforcement member extends across the front wall. The reinforcement member includes a raised wall extending from the front wall.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/353,011 filed on Jun. 9, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/310,009 filed on Mar. 3, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure generally relates to slidable drawers or shelves in metal cabinets or storage bins. Alternatively, the disclosure may also relate to non-sliding shelves in metal cabinets. More particularly, the disclosure relates to reinforcement members or ribs for shelves or drawers of metal cabinets. 
     Metal cabinets are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture available. Metal cabinets can be hung in work areas such as metal or woodworking shops, garages, as well as many other places. Metal cabinets can also provide storage in vehicles such as trucks and vans. In addition to the versatility provided by metal cabinets regarding the location and placement of the cabinets, metal cabinets also provide versatility in what they store. Metal cabinets have been used to store threaded rod, wire, brake line, welding rods, as well as more common items such as tools and fasteners. Metal cabinets also include slidably or fixedly mounted shelves and drawers, which add to the versatility of the cabinets. 
     The present disclosure relates generally to storage cabinets and the like, and more particularly to reinforcement ribs for a shelf or a drawer of a storage cabinet which receives sliding drawers, trays or shelves. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , it is generally known to provide a cabinet structure A into which one or more sliding drawers or shelves B are received. The cabinet has a top wall  1  and parallel side walls  2 ,  3 , which form an enclosure into which the drawers or shelves extend. In certain applications, the drawers are compartmentalized or otherwise configured to hold screws, nuts, bolts, and other articles. For example, a compartmentalized storage box may be adapted to rest on a cabinet drawer B. The storage of such articles in this manner oftentimes leads to the drawers B being heavily loaded. The drawer or shelf may become bowed or bent due to excess loading which may make it difficult to slide the drawer. As such, the drawers and the cabinet structure, including a conventional slide rack mounted to side wall via mounting structure, must be sufficiently strong to withstand the weight. Of course, the cabinet must also be affordable and preferably relatively easy to move about. Another problem with existing drawers or shelves is that if they become overloaded, they may “oil can” or bend, crease or bow under load stresses. 
     Thus, there has been found a need for a cabinet shelving structure which provides reinforcement of the drawers or shelves that overcomes the above-noted deficiencies and others while also providing a low-cost and easily assembled structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a cabinet structure A includes slide rack panels which can be positioned respectively on opposite left and right lateral sides of the cabinet. Drawer support rails are connected to the left and right side panels. Each of the rails is positioned in support rail receiving notches or openings within the panels and generally horizontally extends from a cabinet front region to a cabinet rear region when installed. A drawer or shelf B is then movably or slidably connected to the drawer support rails and moves or slides between an open position extending from the cabinet and a closed position within said cabinet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a cabinet includes a pair of side walls; a rear wall connected to the pair of side walls; a top wall connected to the pair of side walls and the rear wall; a slidable tray which slides between the pair of side walls; the tray including a front wall, a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a bottom wall including the front wall, the pair of side walls, and the rear wall. 
     The front wall includes a first reinforcement member extending across the front wall. The first reinforcement member includes a raised wall extending from the front wall. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a tray for use in a metal cabinet includes a front wall; a rear wall extending parallel to the front wall; and a pair of side walls extending between the front and rear walls. The side walls are parallel to each other. A bottom wall extends between the front wall and the rear wall. 
     A reinforcement rib is formed on an outer surface of the front wall. 
     The rib includes at least one wall protruding outwardly from the outer surface of the front wall. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the drawer B has one or more reinforcement ribs C formed or embossed in a front or rear wall of the drawer or shelf. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is the ribs can be elongated and/or angled. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a rib which has rounded edges, angled or tapered edges or flat or square shaped edges. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is ribs which are curved or semi-circular in shape along the longitudinal length of the ribs. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is ribs which are angled or triangular in shape across the longitudinal length of the ribs. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is ribs which are square in shape across the longitudinal length of the ribs. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a front wall which has ears or extensions formed on opposite ends for additional reinforcement. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a reinforcement rib which has dimples formed therein. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is ribs which are formed on a front wall and a bottom wall for additional reinforcement. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is that the shelves are easily manufactured and cost-effective. 
     Still another aspect of the present disclosure is that the reinforcement ribs add rigidity and strength to the drawer or shelf walls to prevent “oil canning” or bending, creasing or bowing of the shelf or drawer. 
     Still other benefits and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, an embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an existing cabinet having slidable drawers or shelves therein; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a slidable drawer or shelf having an elongated reinforcement rib formed on a front wall thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the drawer of  FIG. 2  having spaced apart reinforcement ribs on a front wall in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side elevational view of a rib of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a drawer with angled reinforcement ribs on a front wall in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a drawer with a short elongated reinforcement rib on a front wall in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a drawer with angled ribs and an elongated rib on a front wall in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of a drawer with a long elongated rib on a front wall in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of a drawer with a long elongated rib with angled end portions on a front wall in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure with a second reinforcement rib formed on the bottom wall of the tray; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure having a second reinforcement rib formed on a bottom wall of the tray; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the drawer having an angled reinforcement rib on a front wall and bottom wall of the drawer; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the shelf with angled reinforcement ribs; 
         FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tray having a square-shaped reinforcement rib on a front wall and bottom wall of the tray; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the tray with square-shaped reinforcement ribs; 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of a tray with angled or tapered opposite ends; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a tray with a front wall with an elongated rib formed thereon and without ears in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 21  is a front view of a rib with dimples formed therein in accordance with another alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a metal shelf, tray or drawer B is shown. The drawer has a front wall  10 , a rear wall  12  parallel to the front wall, and two side walls  14 ,  16  parallel to each other and perpendicular to the front and rear walls. A substantially flat bottom wall  18  extends between the front, rear and side walls. 
     Front wall  10  can have raised end portions or ears  20 ,  22  on opposite ends. The ears  20 ,  22  serve an aesthetic purpose to hide the roller racks and also provide additional rigidity to the front wall. Alternatively, the ears are not provided on the front wall. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Several impressions or beads or ribs  30  are formed or embossed in the material of the shelf or drawer front wall  10 . The beads are approximately equally spaced apart and are about ⅛-inch wide and about ⅛-inch deep; although other dimensions and spacings are contemplated by the disclosure. The ribs serve to add strength, stiffness and rigidity to the front wall, as well as the entire drawer. The ribs aid the drawer in withstanding load or bending stresses. Drawers are subjected to bending or creasing or bowing or “oil canning.” The ribs help minimize the effects of these stresses. 
     As seen in  FIG. 3A , the bead or rib  30  can have a smooth radius which extends from a bottom end  19  of the front wall  10  to an outer end  21  of the bottom wall  18 . Alternatively, the rib can have a rough or dimpled configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a pair of angled ribs  32 ,  34  are formed in the ears  20 ,  22  of the front wall  10  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. Rib  32  has a horizontal portion  33  and an angled or radiused portion  35  extending therefrom. Similarly, rib  34  has a horizontal portion  37  and an angled or radiused portion  39  extending therefrom. Portions  35 ,  39  extend in opposite directions on face  11  of the front wall. The ribs are embossed in the ears  20 ,  22  and are about ⅛-inch deep and about ⅛-inch wide or thick, and have various lengths and angles, such as 45 degrees or so. These ribs also serve to prevent or minimize bending or bowing of the front wall. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a single elongated bead or rib  40  is centrally positioned on front wall  10  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. The rib is shown to be of a short length, and is also about ⅛-inch deep and about ⅛-inch thick or wide. Rib  40  can also be embossed or impressed in rear wall  12  as well. Rib  40  can extend about one-third or more of the longitudinal length of the wall  10 . Rib  40  is also centered between top and bottom ends  15 ,  17  of wall  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, the single rib or bead  40  of  FIG. 5  is shown with two additional angled or radiused ribs  32 ,  34 , such as previously shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a single long length elongated rib or bead  50  extends along substantially the entire longitudinal length of the front wall  10 . Rib  50  is also about ⅛-inch deep by about ⅛-inch thick or wide but can be other dimensions as well. Rib  50  can also be embossed or impressed in the rear wall  12  as well. Rib  50  has a curved or semi-circular conformation along its longitudinal length and also has curved opposite ends  52 ,  54  which are formed in ears  20 ,  22 . The rib wall has a radius of about ⅛ inches. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a single elongated bead  60  extends along substantially the entire longitudinal length of front wall  10 . Bead  60  has two angled or radiused portions  62 ,  64  (at an angle of about 45 degrees or so) extending from opposite ends of the rib which are formed on ears  20 ,  22 . Rib  60  is also about ⅛-inch deep by about ⅛-inch thick or wide. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pair of reinforcement ribs  70 ,  72  are shown with front rib  70  positioned on the front wall  10  and second rib  72  formed on bottom wall  18 . Each rib  70 ,  72  has a rounded or curved conformation along their longitudinal length as clearly shown in  FIG. 11 . Ribs  70 ,  72  are substantially parallel to each other along their longitudinal length and are roughly the same longitudinal length, width and depth. Rib  72  serves to add additional rigidity to the bottom wall of the tray. 
     In  FIG. 11 , the raised portion of rib  72  extends above a top surface  74  of bottom wall  18  and the raised portion of rib  70  extends outwardly of front wall  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, ribs  70  and  72  extend into wall  10  and below the top surface  74  of bottom wall  18 . However, different combinations of the ribs of  FIGS. 11 and 12  are also contemplated by the disclosure. 
     Rib  72  can also be formed or embossed in bottom wall  18  extending diagonally between front wall  10  and rear wall  12  to further reduce or prevent “oil canning” or bowing of the drawer. Also, the ribs are shown to be embossed or formed in the walls of the drawer or shelf; however, the ribs are contemplated to alternatively be welded or otherwise secured to the walls as well. Thicknesses, widths, depths and lengths can vary from those shown in the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an angled or tapered rib  80  is formed along the longitudinal length of front wall  10 . Angled rib  80  has a triangular shape or appearance formed by walls  82 ,  84  clearly shown in  FIG. 14 . Rib  80  extends outwardly of wall  10 . A second rib  86 , substantially parallel to the front rib  80 , can also be formed in bottom wall  18  and have a triangular shape or appearance formed by walls  87 ,  88 . In  FIG. 14 , the angled rib  86  extends above top surface  89  of bottom wall  18 . Each angled wall is formed at about a 45 degree angle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, rib  86  can extend below the top surface  89  of bottom wall  18 , and rib  80  extends inwardly with respect to wall  10 . Any combination of the ribs  80 ,  86  shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  is contemplated by the disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a reinforcement rib  90  is formed on front wall  10  which has straight or flat opposite edges  92 ,  94 . The rib itself can be rounded as shown in  FIG. 7 , angled as shown in  FIG. 13  or square-shaped as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , rib  90  has a square-shaped cross-section formed by walls  91 ,  93 ,  95 . Horizontal walls  91  and  93  extend along the longitudinal length of the front wall and are substantially parallel to each other. Vertical wall  95  extends between walls  91  and  93  and is substantially parallel to front wall  10 . Rib  90  extends outwardly of front wall  10 . 
     A second reinforcement rib  110  may be formed in bottom wall  18 . Rib  110  is substantially parallel to rib  90 . As seen in  FIG. 17 , rib  110  includes horizontal wall  112  which is substantially parallel to bottom wall  18  and vertical parallel walls  114 ,  116  which are formed on opposite ends of wall  112 . Walls  114 ,  116  extend along a longitudinal length of wall  18 . In  FIG. 17 , the rib  110  extends above upper surface  118  of bottom wall  18 . 
     An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIG. 18 . In  FIG. 18 , walls  91 ,  93  and  95  extend inwardly with respect to front wall  10 , and walls  112 ,  114 ,  116  extend below the upper surface  118  of wall  18 . Any combination of ribs shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  are contemplated by the disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a rib  96  is formed on front wall  10  and has angled or tapered opposite edges  98 ,  100 . Rib  96  can be rounded as shown in  FIG. 7  or angled in appearance as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 20 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a curved or angled reinforcement rib  102  is formed on a front wall  104  which does not have ears such as ears  20 ,  22  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 21 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a reinforcement rib  106  can have a plurality of depressions or dimples  108  formed along a longitudinal length of the rib. Again, rib  106  can be curved as shown in  FIG. 7  or tapered as shown in  FIG. 13  or square-shaped as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the above description and appended claims or the equivalent thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0