Supports: cabinet structure – Accessible from plural sides – Top and vertical side
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-07-03
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Accessible from plural sides
Top and vertical side
C312S244000, C312S313000, C206S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254208
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to storage chests, and more particularly to metal storage chests with internal shelves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Large storage chests often used in the construction industry are typically formed of steel sheet. The floor and walls of the chest can be formed either from a single sheet of steel that is bent at intersecting edges of the walls and floor to form a box or from multiple pieces of sheet steel that are welded together into a box. Tools can then be stored within the cavity of the box. Typical sizes for such a chest can range from 2 ft
3
to 8 ft
3
or even larger.
Because it is often desirable for the chest to be at least somewhat portable, the walls may include pivoting carrying handles, which may be mounted to a straight wall or fold within a recess formed in the wall. Chests with recesses for the handles often include a shelf that is mounted upon the upper surfaces of the recess. Typically such a shelf is mounted to the rear wall as well as the recesses and extends forwardly a significant distance toward the front wall of the chest. One such chest is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,134 to Weger, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As described in Weger, a shelf welded directly onto the recess not only provides storage space for the chest, but also reinforces and “rigidities” the walls of the chest.
Of course, this configuration has at least two potential shortcomings. First, the permanent presence of the shelf precludes the storage of items in the rear portion of the chest that are taller than the distance between the floor of the chest and the shelf. Second, items that are stored beneath the shelf can be somewhat difficult to access, particularly if the shelf is at a height equal to or lower than the height of the front wall. As a result of these shortcomings, the usefulness of the storage space beneath the shelf can be somewhat limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage chest having an internal shelf that allows the storage of large items, and particularly items that are taller than the height of the shelf.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a storage chest with an internal shelf wherein items stored below the shelf can be accessed easily.
These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which is directed to a storage chest having a pivoting shelf. More specifically, the storage chest of the present invention comprises: opposing front and rear walls; opposing side walls connecting the front and rear walls, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a recess having upper and lower horizontal surfaces and a vertical panel extending therebetween; and a shelf including a main panel. The shelf is pivotally attached to at least one of the rear wall, front wall and side walls and is movable between a raised position, in which the main panel is generally upright, with a front edge of the main panel being located above the rear edge, and a lowered position, in which the main panel is generally horizontally disposed and the shelf rests upon the upper horizontal surfaces of the side wall recesses. In this configuration, the shelf can be moved to the raised position so that the lower rear portion of the cavity defined by the front, rear and side walls can be easily accessed and can be used to store items that may not fit beneath a permanently mounted shelf.
In a preferred embodiment, handles are mounted within the recesses of the chest. This configuration enables the shelf to capitalize on this already-present feature of storage chests without requiring additional structure to support the shelf in its lowered position. It is also preferred that the chest include a retaining unit, such as a retaining arm, that retains the shelf in the raised position as desired.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2819908 (1958-01-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 3875871 (1975-04-01), Thornton et al.
patent: 3981552 (1976-09-01), Karashima
patent: 4288134 (1981-09-01), Knaack et al.
patent: 4383721 (1983-05-01), Knaack et al.
patent: 6039419 (2000-03-01), Brown et al.
Knaack Catalog; No. K878.
Delta Consolidated Industries
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Wilkens Janet M.
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