Patent Abstract:
A storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section with a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge and a second sidewall is attached the second side edge. A top wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and rear wall at bottom ends thereof. At least two of the first section, the second section, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first door and the second door have a uniform size and shape. A plurality of attachment structures interconnect the first and second sections, the first and second sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door and the second door without the use of tools.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Storage units such as cabinets or lockers are used for many different purposes and can be used to store a variety of items. These cabinets come in many different sizes and shapes to accommodate different sized and shaped items. 
         [0002]    Storage cabinets, such as metal cabinets and lockers, may be sold and shipped preassembled or disassembled. Preassembled cabinets require little or no assembly and can be moved directly from a shipping vehicle to a desired location. However, these cabinets take up more space in the shipping vehicle and may be more difficult and cumbersome to move depending on the size and shape of the preassembled cabinet. Disassembled cabinets can be condensed into smaller shipping packages than the preassembled cabinets. The disassembled cabinets therefore take up less space on a shipping vehicle so that more disassembled cabinets can be shipped per vehicle than preassembled cabinets. Furthermore, disassembled cabinets are generally easier to move than the preassembled cabinets. Disassembled cabinets require assembly after they have been shipped which could take a significant amount of time. Also, disassembled cabinets include separate parts, such as screws, bolts and nuts, which can be easily lost or misplaced during assembly of the cabinets. In such a case, the cabinets cannot be put together and must be returned to the shipper as damaged or defective goods. This adds to the costs of these types of cabinets. Additionally, tools are needed to fasten or tighten the fasteners. This increases the time and effort used to assemble the cabinets, especially if such tools are not readily available. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, there is a need for improved cabinets and lockers which significantly decrease assembly time and decrease the costs associated with shipping and assembling storage cabinets. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The application is directed to cabinets and more specifically, to a storage cabinet which is assembled without threaded or permanent connectors or other connectors which would require the use of tools, to enable the cabinet to be easily shipped and assembled by an end user. 
         [0005]    An embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge of the rear wall; and a second sidewall is attached the second side edge of the rear wall. A top wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at bottom ends thereof. A first door is pivotably attached the first sidewall and a second door is pivotably attached to the second sidewall. The first and second doors each being movable between an open position and a closed position. At least two of the first section, the second section, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first door and the second door having a uniform size and shape. A plurality of attachment structures separably interconnecting the first and second sections, the first and second sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door and the second door without the use of tools. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a tab on at least one of the first and second sections and a recess on the other of the first and second sections for receiving the tab. The first section and second section are attached together by inserting the tab into the recess to secure the first and second sections together. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to be locked in the closed position. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle on the inside surface of the door, each of the lock members includes an end which is insertable into a corresponding opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and where the post is insertable into the opening. 
         [0012]    Another embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. One of the first and second sections includes at least one tab and the other of the first and second sections includes at least one recess. The tab is adapted to engage the recess to join the first and second sections together. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge of the rear wall and a second sidewall is attached to the second side edge of the rear wall. A top wall is attached the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at upper ends thereof and a bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at bottom ends thereof. An adjustable shelf is removably connected to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall. A first door is pivotably connected to the first sidewall and a second door is pivotably connected to the second sidewall and positioned adjacent to the first door, where the first and second doors each pivot from an open position to a closed position. At least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly and at least one of the first and second doors includes a handle pull. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to be locked in position. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle, where an end of each of the lock members engages an opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and where the post is insertable into the opening. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the handle pull extends from the top of the first or second door to the bottom of the first or second door. 
         [0019]    in an embodiment, the handle pull extends from a point beneath the top of the first or second door to a point above the bottom of the first or second door. 
         [0020]    Accordingly, an advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be easily assembled and disassembled. 
         [0021]    Another advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be assembled without using connectors. 
         [0022]    A further advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be shipped as separate components to save shipping space and easily assembled by an end user. 
         [0023]    Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the storage cabinet where the storage cabinet includes two doors. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a reduced, exploded perspective view of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a reduced, partially exploded perspective view of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1  where one of the doors is detached. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial front perspective view of a tab of one wall section engaged with a recess of another wall section forming the rear wall of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial top perspective view of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1  showing the joined flanges of one of the side walls and the rear wall. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a shelf clip used to support a shelf positioned in the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial perspective view of one of the door pins that secures the ends of the first and second doors of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a partial front perspective view of the lock assembly attached to one of the first and second doors of the storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial perspective view of a key inserted into the lock assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the storage cabinet. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of the storage cabinet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9 , a storage cabinet of the present invention is illustrated where the cabinet  100  includes a bottom wall  102 , side walls  104 , a rear wall  106 , and a top wall  108 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall  102 , the side walls  104 , the wall sections  107  of the rear wall  106  and the top wall  108 , all generally have the same width. This enables these parts of the cabinet to be easily manufactured and packaged for shipping. Specifically, the rear wall  106  is made up of two wall sections  107 . One of the sections includes tabs  103  and the other section includes recesses  105  for receiving the tabs. The wall sections  107  are joined together by inserting the tabs  103  into the corresponding recesses  105 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , between the wall sections to secure the wall sections together and form the rear wall  106 . Once the rear wall  106  is formed, one of the side walls  104  is attached to a side edge of the rear wall  106  and the other side wall attaches to the opposing side edge of the rear wall  106 . Specifically, the side walls  104  engage the rear wall  106  by engaging u-shaped flange  204  with a corresponding L-shaped flange  205  on the rear wall  106  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Similarly, the opposing side wall  104  is attached to the opposing side edge of the rear wall  106  in a similar manner. The joining of the wall sections  107  to form the rear wall  106  and the joining of the side walls  104  with the rear wall  106  do not require separate connectors, such as screw-type connectors. This enables the rear wall and side walls to be quickly and easily joined together without the need for tools or other devices and without separate connecting pieces to keep track of. 
         [0036]    The top wall  108  fits over the side walls  104  and rear wall  106  to frictionally attach the top wall to the side walls  104  and rear wall  106 . Specifically, depending flanges  206  and  208  of the top wall  108  (see  FIG. 2 ) frictionally engage the top edges of the side walls and rear wall. 
         [0037]    Similarly, the bottom wall  102  is attached to the lower or bottom edges of the side walls  104  and rear wall  106  by inserting the bottom wall  102  into channels  209  formed on each of the side walls  104  and rear wall  106 . The channels  209  hold the bottom wall  102  in position. 
         [0038]    After the bottom wall  102 , side walls  104 , rear wall  106  and top wall  108 , are assembled, a u-shaped support or bracket  110  is attached to the front end of the locker as shown in  FIG. 2 . The u-shaped bracket  110  is secured in place by using non-screw type push pins  111 . The push pins  111  are inserted into corresponding holes  112  on the u-shaped bracket  110  and bottom portions of the side walls  104  as shown in  FIG. 2 , using a friction fit. Once the u-shaped bracket  110  is secured in place, a face plate  114  is attached to the bracket  110 . The front face plate  114  may be held onto the bracket by using a friction fit or by using a combination of a friction fit and push pins  111 , which are inserted through corresponding holes formed in the top of the face plate  114  and the u-shaped bracket  110 . The main, central or storage portion of the cabinet  100  is now assembled. 
         [0039]    In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet  100  includes two doors  116  and more specifically, a left door  116   a  and a right door  116   b . The left door  116   a  includes two pin assemblies  117  each including a door bracket  118  attached to the inside of the door respectively at the top end and at the bottom end. Each bracket  118  defines a hole  120  for receiving a L-shaped pin  122 , as described below. Additionally, the top and bottom edges of the doors  112  define openings for receiving the L-shaped pins  122 . Specifically, an L-shaped pin  122  is inserted upwardly through the opening in the bracket  118  and through the top of the door and into a corresponding opening  124  defined by the top wall  108 . The pin  122  is held in place by a curved support member  121  of the bracket. The bottom of the door also defines a hole  121  in the bottom wall of the cabinet. The lower L-shaped pin  122  is inserted through the opening  120  in the door bracket  118 , through the bottom of the door  116  and into the opening or hole  124  defined by the bottom wall of the cabinet. As should be noted, the pins  122  do not require any type of fasteners or connectors to hold them in place nor do they require the use of tools, which makes inserting and/or removing the pins and/or the doors very quick and easy for a user. The pins also establish a pivot point on the top and bottom edges of each door which enables the doors  116   a  and  116   b  to pivot between a primarily open position to a closed position that closes the front of the cabinet  100 . The other door  116   b  is inserted and attached to the cabinet in the same manner. 
         [0040]    One or both cabinet doors  116   a  and  116   b  include a handle pull or handle  126 , which can be separately made and connected to one or both doors, or pre-made and preassembled on the doors  116 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle pull  126  extends the length of each door (i.e., from the bottom to the top of each door). It should be appreciated that the handle pull may extend from the top of the door to an intermediate point between the top and bottoms of the doors, extend from the bottom of the door to a point intermediate to the top and bottoms of the doors, or be limited to some intermediate portion of the door. It should also be appreciated that one door or both doors may include a handle pull  126 . It should further be appreciated that the doors may have a handle pull, a door knob or any other suitable door handle. The door pull provides a gripping surface for a user&#39;s hand that enables the user to move the door between a substantially open position and a closed position. 
         [0041]    In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the doors  116  and, more specifically, door  116   b  includes a lock assembly  216 . The lock assembly  216  includes a handle (not shown) on a front surface of the door  116   b , lock members  220  which extend along the rear surface of the door from the top of the door to the bottom of the door, and a lock rotator  222  attached to the back of the handle. The top lock member  220   a  and bottom lock  220   b  member are elongated rods that are attached to the lock rotator  222 . One end of the top lock member  220   a  is attached to the lock rotator  222  and an opposite end is insertable into an opening defined by the top member. Similarly, one end of the bottom lock member  220   b  is attached to the lock rotator  222  and the opposite end is insertable into an opening defined by the bottom member. When the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction, the top lock member  220   a  moves downwardly and the bottom lock member  220   b  moves upwardly to respectively release or disengage the ends of the top and bottom lock members  220   a  and  220   b  from the openings. When the lock rotator  222  is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the top lock member  220   a  moves upward and the bottom lock member  220   b  moves downward to respectively cause the ends of the top and bottom lock members  220   a  and  220   b  to be at least partially inserted into the openings. 
         [0042]    Specifically, when door  116   b  is in a closed position, a user turns or rotates the handle or key  128  in a clockwise direction to cause the ends of the top and bottom lock members  220   a ,  220   b  to be respectively inserted into openings on the top and bottom walls  108  and  102 . After the ends of the bottom and top lock members  102   108  are inserted into the openings on the top and bottom wall, the door  220   b  is secured in the closed position and cannot be moved outwardly away from the cabinet. In an embodiment, the handle includes a lock which enables a user to insert a key  226  or similar device into the lock to secure or lock the handle and prevent the door or doors  116  from being opened. 
         [0043]    In the illustrated embodiment, the left door  116   a  (i.e., the door without the lock assembly  216 ) is closed first. The right door  116   b  or the door including the lock assembly  216 , includes the handle pull  126  which extends outwardly over at least a portion of the first door  116   a  when the doors are in the closed position. This helps hold both doors in place and enables the user to lock the lock assembly  216  to secure the doors  116  in place. 
         [0044]    In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet  100  includes at least one shelf  130  ( FIG. 3 ) which is adjustable to different heights or positions within the cabinet. For example in the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet  100  includes a plurality of shelves  130  which are positioned at different heights within the cabinet. The shelves  130  are all the same size and shape. It should be appreciated that the shelves may be any suitable size or shape. To install or insert a shelf  130  in the cabinet, four shelf clips  210  are positioned or inserted in corresponding holes  211  in the cabinet. Specifically, one shelf clip  210  is inserted in holes  211  at the same height on one side of the cabinet and then two other shelf clips are inserted at the same height on the opposing side of the cabinet. The shelf  130  is then positioned or laid upon the inserted shelf clips  210  to hold the shelf at that height or position. In an embodiment, each shelf clip  210  includes an opening or hole  212  which enables a push pin  111  to be inserted through the shelf clip  210  and into the shelf  130  to secure the shelf in place and prevent the shelf from moving with respect to the shelf clips  210 . Alternatively, flanges (not shown) may be preassembled on the inside surfaces of the sidewalls  104  at a predetermined height to enable the shelf  130  to be placed upon the flanges for support on each side wall. It should be appreciated that the flanges could be formed at any suitable height or position for supporting one or more shelves in the cabinet. It will be appreciated that the tabs  103 , the recesses  105 , flanges  204 - 206  and  208 , channels  209 , push pins  111 , pin assemblies  117  and shelf clips  210  are different types of attachment structures which do not require the use of tools. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , in an alternative embodiment, a storage cabinet, such as a single door locker  300  (i.e., a school locker), is preassembled without using screw-type fasteners. Each locker  300  has a bottom wall  302 , a pair of side walls  304  and a top wall  306  which are joined together as described above to form the main portion of the locker. A shelf or shelves (similar to shelf  130 ) may be inserted and secured in the locker  300  as described above. Additionally, at least one door  308  is attached to the locker as described above using the L-shaped pins  122 . The locker door  308  moves or pivots from a substantially open position to a closed position. The locker  300  may include a lock assembly  310  which enables a user to lock the door in the closed position. It should be appreciated that the locker may be any suitable size and shape. 
         [0046]    In another alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , a divided version of the single locker described above is shown where the divided locker  400  is divided to have two separate storage compartments and two separate doors  408   a  and  408   b . The locker  400  includes a bottom wall  402 , side walls  404  and a top wall  406 . The divided lockers individually have less storage space. However, more lockers can be installed at a location using the divided locker  400  such as at busy locations (i.e., malls). The locker  400  thereby efficiently uses the space at a particular location. 
         [0047]    In the above embodiments, the components of the cabinets are made of metal and more preferably of a steel, such as stainless steel. Steel provides strength and rigidity to the cabinets to ensure that the cabinets will last for a long period of time. It should be appreciated that other suitable material or materials may be used to form the cabinets. 
         [0048]    Although the above embodiments show cabinets of a particular size and shape, it should be appreciated that the cabinets may be manufactured to be any suitable size and shape. The above cabinets enable users to easily and quickly assemble the cabinets and lockers and thereby save significant time and money during assembly. The cabinets also maximize shipping space as they are shipped in broken down manageable parts which can be efficiently stacked in a shipping vehicle and then easily assembled by an end user. 
         [0049]    The embodiments 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 applicants&#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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0