Supports: cabinet structure – Arrangements of plural cabinets – Relatively movable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2002-07-09
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Arrangements of plural cabinets
Relatively movable
C312S199000, C403S256000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06416143
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to storage systems, and more particularly to a high density storage arrangement in which a series of storage cabinets are mounted side-by-side, without aisles between adjacent cabinets, and in which the storage cabinets can be moved between an extended, access position and a retracted, storage position.
Conventional storage or shelving systems employ a number of storage cabinets which are placed onto a supporting surface such as a floor, with an aisle between adjacent cabinets so as to provide access to the front of each cabinet. This type of an arrangement is suitable for low density applications, since significant floor space is required for the aisles between adjacent cabinets.
High density storage systems place adjacent cabinets close together and eliminate the aisles between cabinets. In one type of system, the cabinets are movable on lateral tracks mounted in the supporting surface, so as to separate adjacent cabinets to form an aisle so as to provide access to the front of a desired one of the cabinets. Systems of this type typically utilize a number of carriages which are movably mounted to the tracks, and a number of storage cabinets are mounted to each carriage. This type of system greatly increases the efficiency of a given amount of storage space by eliminating the aisles between adjacent storage cabinets.
The above-described type of high density storage system is very suitable in situations where the storage space can accommodate a number of rows of storage cabinets, with each row being made up of a number of storage cabinets. In some applications, however, high density storage is required in spaces which cannot accommodate several cabinets in a row, or in spaces in which a large number of single cabinets are placed in a side-by-side relationship. To provide high density storage in such spaces, it is known to mount a storage cabinet to a structure which allows the cabinet to be moved between a retracted, storage position and an extended, access position. The storage cabinets are placed in a closely packed, side-by-side arrangement such that there is very little space between adjacent cabinets. To gain access to items stored on one of the cabinets, the cabinet is moved to its extended, access position in which the cabinet is moved outwardly relative to the adjacent cabinets, to provide access to the front of the cabinet. Movement of the cabinet between its retracted, storage position and its extended, access position is typically accomplished by applying a manual pull-out or push-in force to the desired cabinet.
Various arrangements are known to provide movement of the storage cabinets in systems of this type between the extended, access position and the retracted, storage position. Known systems incorporate a cantilever system in which the cabinet is suspended above the floor or other supporting surface as it is moved between its extended and retracted positions. These types of systems are satisfactory for storage areas which are carpeted, since maintaining the storage cabinet above the floor prevents damage to the floor covering when the cabinet is moved between its extended and retracted positions. While systems of this type are operable to move a storage cabinet between an extended and retracted position, they require a significant amount of structural strength and rigidity to support the cabinet in its extended position. Accordingly, the support components and the extension and retraction mechanism entail significant material and component costs.
In some applications, it is not necessary to maintain the storage cabinet off the floor when the cabinet is moved to its extended position, such as in environments where the floor is hard and uncovered, e.g. concrete or heavy duty tile, such as is found in archives, warehouses, storage rooms or other similar spaces. It is often desired to use a large number of extendible and retractable storage cabinets in areas of this type, and accordingly the expense of a cantilever type system is unnecessary since there is no floor covering involved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage assembly which is movable between an extended and retracted position and which is supported on the floor or other supporting surface during such movement so as to eliminate the cost and complexity associated with cantilever-type extension and retraction mechanisms. It is another object of the invention to provide such a system which is relatively simple in its construction and components, and relatively easy to install. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a system which adapts existing technology in order to simplify the components and cost involved in the manufacture and assembly of the system. A still further object of the invention is to provide such as a system which is capable of accommodating unevenness in the floor or other supporting surface as the cabinet is moved between its extended and retracted positions. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a system which incorporates a unique and simple arrangement for mounting a storage cabinet to an extendible and retractable base. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a system in which the storage cabinet is releasably retained in either the extended or retracted position so as to prevent inadvertent movement of the cabinet.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a storage assembly adapted for movement relative to a supporting surface between first and second positions includes a storage member and a guide assembly for guiding movement of the storage member between the first and second positions. The storage member includes a base at its lower end, and the base has a set of rotatable wheels for engagement with the supporting surface to provide movement of the storage member thereon. The guide assembly includes a mounting member adapted to be secured to the supporting surface, and an extendible and retractable guide mechanism interposed between the mounting member and the storage member base for guiding movement of the storage member. The storage member is preferably in the form of a cabinet releasably engaged with the base. The base preferably includes an upper wall and a pair of dependent side walls extending downwardly from the upper wall. The upper wall and side walls define an interior, and the set of rotatable wheels are in the form of at least one pair of spaced wheels, with each wheel being rotatably mounted to wheel mounting structure which is secured to an underside defined by the top wall of the base and located within the interior of the base. The extendible and retractable guide mechanism is preferably in the form of a telescoping slide arrangement interposed between the mounting member and the base. A mounting rail is secured to the mounting member and is engageable with the supporting surface, and the telescoping slide arrangement is preferably mounted to the mounting rail. The storage member and the base extend along a horizontal longitudinal axis, and the guide assembly is constructed and arranged to provide movement of the storage member and the base along the horizontal longitudinal axis of the storage member. The storage member is preferably in the form of a cabinet which opens in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis. In this manner, the cabinet can be pulled out on the supporting surface to an extended position in which the front of the cabinet is accessible, and can then be pushed back to a storage position between a pair of adjacent cabinets when access to the cabinet is no longer required.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a storage member having a base located at its lower end is interconnected with a guide assembly for guiding movement of the storage member between first and second positions. The guide assembly includes an inner mounting member adapted to be secured to the supporting surface, and an axially telescoping slide assembly interposed between the inner mounting member and the storage m
Boyle, Frederickson, Newholm, Steine & Gratz S
Cuomo Peter M.
Spacesaver Corporation
Tran Hanh V.
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