US1812360A - Metal furniture - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1931. I HQMORIN 1,812,360

METAL FURNITURE Filed June 30. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l a? I 5.4 i 46 :l-g; 47 4 i," 47 1 u a l I z 1 i V a 5 Ill iii 53 M 47 v 6 is; 48 .6

.54 if 3 {Hr 4 52 v ii 53 .54 {I 47 I: 6 in m I Jig- INVENTOR. am-4 1 A TTORNEY June 30, 1931. MORlN 1,812,360

METAL FURNITURE Filed June so, 1927 s SheetS-Sheet-Z v .flw: Z9 0 I 3.9

a 19 X 17 Z1 11 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1931 I Louis H. MORIN, on NEW PATENT OFFICE YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T'O DOEHLER DIE-CASTTNG 00., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METAL FURNITURE Application filed June 30,

- My invention has particular reference to metal furniture, one of the objects being to make it possible to construct a particularly handsome, ornate, rugged, ornamental piece offurnituregvhich is adapted to be knocked down or disassembled to provide for the more convenient shipment thereof, and for thefurther provision, whereby, through standardization of parts,'a marred or injured part may be readily replaced by a new part.

The more common practice amongmanufacturers of metal furniture at the present time is'to assemble the articles of furniture in completeform at the factory, ready for use by the purchaser, by such means as welding or riveting in order that permanent fastening may be obtained'and in order that a sufliciently solidanddurable pieceof furniture may beproduced. Such constructions have been difficult to fabricate, expensive and unsatisfactory because of the impossibility of replacing a damaged or injured part.

Difficulty has, moreover, been experienced in providing satisfactory fastening means he- 5 tween the various parts. Bolts or rivets in V the sheet metal for'the direct support of strains are unsatisfactory because of the fact that they soon become loose. lVelding is unsatisfactory because of the defacing of the surfaces at the points where the welding occurs. Likewise'in the case of welded or riveted members, it is not possible to remove an injured, marred or damaged member for replacement by another Without extensive and elaborate rebuilding and refinishing of the article. I

In accordance with my invention, and as a means for overcoming these and other disadvantages, I have produced a new and useful system of construction for articles of metal furniture. By thisconstruction I am enabled to produce'articles having the utmost rigidity, a rigidity'equal to or superior than that produced in any other type of furniture construction, Whether inwood or in metal, and

1927. Serial No. 202,617.

a construction which at the same time allows of ready dismantling These advantages I obtain in an article comprising sheet metal parts by a new and useful construction of the joints, corners and angles of the article of my invention. The construction of my invention is particularly adapted to the production not only of extremely firm, solid, joints between members, for the simultaneous stiffening and strengthening of the article of furniture as a whole, but for the production of a. sightly, handsome article. The device of my construction utilizes sheet metal members for the panels of the article of furniture, and further utilizes upright members adapted to be firmly united to the panel members by a combined clamping and locking action, whereby the upright member, while readily detachable at need, makes an extremely firm, stiff,unio'n with the panel members. The upright members are also adapted to ready modification according to the period or style of the furniture to be produced. My invention further provides drawer members of maximum beauty and efiiciency, by means which render inconspicuous the unavoidable cracks between successive drawers, and the construction is further adapted to the smooth and easy sliding of the drawers, and to the convenient finishing of the surfaces by a baked enamel.

The nonresonant qualities of the top and other members are obtained without sacrifice of'the ease of application of the baked enam el. A substantial portion of the strength of the article is obtained by interlocking of the top member with the uprights and side panels, and a further substantial portion by the attachment of the bottom panel underneath the drawers, combined with top and bottom front-rails.

I I shall now describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims, from which, and the preceding and following description, other objects of my invention will appear, as well as'the structural details.

. same embodiment Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the fronts of a plurality of drawers of the same embodiment, and

Fig. .7 is a horizontal view in section of the front rail member of'the same embodiment.

.For the; purpose'ofillustration, I-liave shown my invention'as embodied ina piece of metal furniture of the type known as a chiffonier, or chest of drawers. The article is designed to include a plurality of drawers, and maybe surmounted by a finishing rail at .thebackas indicated, or may be surmounted by a mirror of. any suitable pattern. The article of my invention may be considered as composed of two main elements, the frame, or cabinet, and the groupof drawers. For purposes of convenience, I shall describe the frame first, then the drawers, and thereafter the'assembled combination.

The frame of thearticle of my invention consists of upright members, and attached panel members, formed of metal, and appropriately lacquered or painted. Broadly these portions'consist of four stiff, metal, cornerupright members, side panels, a back panel, a bottom panel, and a top. 4 I 7 Referring to the drawings, 1 provide a pair of front upright members 1 and a pair of back upright members 2. Between the respective right hand and left hand members of each pair are attached the side panel members?) formed of sheet metal, and fastened by means to be later described. Between the back upright members 2 is provided a back panelmember '4 similarly attached to the upright members 2. A bottom panel member 5 is provided and appropriately attached to the upright members and the panel members 3 and 4. A top member 6 is likewise provided and suitably attached tothe upright members and the side and back members.

The back upright members 2 are desirably formed of substantial strips of metal-which may desirably'have the section indicated in Fig. 4. These members may be made of rolled steel, or may be made of cast metal of anysuitable type. They are desirably drilled and tapped at suitably frequent intervals for the reception of clamping screws 7 as indicated. A clamping member 8 is provided having a shape as indicated in Fig. 4, and drilled for register with the holes in the member 2 for the passage of the clamping screws 7. The side edges of the panel members 3 and 4 are bent at 9, as indicated, at an angle of approximately 45 and are thereby adapted to cooperate with the inner surface of the member 2 for contact therewith, and with the surface of the member 8, which by means of the screw 7 is clamped firmly against them and provides a very stout, du-

rable, substantial fasteningbetween the'side and back panel members and the main upright member. 1

The upright members 2 are further provided with leg members 11. These members may takeany desired form, simple or ornate,

of any desired architectural school, according to the'periodof design which it is desiredto follow in the article of furniture. These leg members are desirably equipped with casters 12, they may be formed of cast metal or of other suitably worked material,

and they are desirably attached to the mem-' her 2 by rivets 14 as indicated. This construction provides a plurality of stout structural members which give ample strength for .e'.

the piece of furniture.

The front upright members 1 are in general similar to the back uprights 2 but are slightly modified from the design thereof since the side panels 3 only are clamped thereto. front of the article of furniture is provided by the drawer fronts, and itis found convenient to dispense with a ladder for separation between the, drawers. Accordingly thefront upright members are attached to the panel members 3 by a clamping provision similar to that provided for the back member's 2. This construction is shown in Fig.

7 in which the upright members 1 are shown in top end View and a clampingmember 15 is provided and held in place by screws 16 passing therethrough andthreaded intotap ped openings in the member 1. Front leg members 11 with casters 12 are similarly provided and riveted to the upright members 1 in a manner similar to the leg-members 11 attached to-the members 2. These'leg-members 11 may be similar to the leg members attached to the back uprights, or they may, if desired, be of a different pattern or more on nate according to the requirements of the period of design followed. This'assemblage of members provides back, sides, legs and uprights in a very stout construction.

The bottom edges of the- panels 3 and 4 are reversely bent an indicated in section in Figs. 1, 2' and .5. A portion 17 is bent inwardly at the lower edge :of the respective panels. A further. portion 18 is bent upwardly, and a still further portion 12 is again bent in- The f any. Bananas resettin chan- I nel and ledge are formed at the bottom of the three respective panels. The bottom panel member is formed at on this panel. ",The truss portion 21] is adaptedto enter the channel formed by the membersl7 and 18, and may fit with a friction fit therein. Perforations may be provided at 22 as indicated, and suitable bolts 23 maybe inserted'therein. By this means an extremely stout, rugged, durable, attachment is'provided betweenthe metal of the back and side panel members, and the metal of the bottom panel member 5.. A bottom front rail 24 is provided, around; which the metal of the bottom panel 5 is bent as indicated in'Fig. 2.

. bysc rews 251as indicated, and the bent over ends" desirably rest uponledges formed in the 'frontleg-members 11. By this means the front legs are fastened together and very stout support for the edges of the panel member 5 is provided.

, The top, member 6 desirably consists of two sheets of metal 26 and 27 with deadening maarmies positioned between. The edges of thels'heets are desirably bent to simulate the customary beveling or beading of a board top, and to provide the appearance of the customary thickness, as well as additional strength. A'front rail member 29 is provided, formed as. shown in Fig. 7, and adapted to be attached to the front upright members 1 by screws '31 as indicated. The lowersheet member 271s desirably bentat its front edge asshown in Fig. 3, to provide a ledg'e'32, and portions 33 surrounding the top rail 29 and contacting with the inner surface of the sheet. By this means the sheet 27 is firmly attached to the'front rai129. The

,dicated at 34 in Fig. 1.

side edges are desirably bent downward as in- The top sheet 26 is desirably formed with the beading 35 around the front and sides, and with a downwardly bent portion 36. A further portion 37 is bent inwardly, cooperating at the front'with the ledge 32, and at the sides withthe downwardly bentfportion of the sheet 27. The cooperation of the members 37 with the appropriate portion of the sheet 27 produces an interlocked top memberiof great strength. The, filler mem-- her or deadening material 28, may desirably ward and under the member 27, and thence downward on the back panel 4, as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby locking the respective members firmly together and completely enclosing the deadening material 28.

A back rail member 39, desirably formed of angle bar, in iron or other suitable material, is provided and the ends formed and bent as indicated in Fig. 3. The cross rail 39 is desirably attached to the tops of the uprights '2 by screws 41 as indicated, and the back panel member 4 is desirably attached at its upper edges by additional screw members 42,

which also hold in place the edge portion 38 of the top sheet 26. By means of the attachment of the front rail 29 and the back rail 39, the top member 6 is firmly held to the'panels and uprights, and an extremely stout, durable, rigid frame member is produced.

A back ornament 43 may be attached as desired at the rear edge of the top member 6. This maytake theform of the simple member indicated, or may be any suitable form of mirror or othersuitable ornamental construction'as desired; It. may be held in place by screws 44 passing through the back rail 39 and the top member 6. The screws serve the additional purpose of attaching the back member 6 firmly to the back rail 39 and provide additional strength.

Drawer slides45 are likewise provided. For ease of movement and silence, the drawer slides 45 are preferably formed in Wood and are desirably adapted "to be insertedafter the substantial completion of the article. 'Accordingly metal'clip members 46 are provided and attached to the interior of the side members. The members 46 may be attached directly to the side panels 3 by appropriate means, or they may preferably be attached to the clamping members 8. They may be an integral part therewith or may be welded thereto or otherwise attached as desired. A suiiicient number of drawer slides 45 are provided and positioned at appropriate heights for the cooperation with the grooves in the drawers.

The drawer members 47, comprising the second main portion of my invention are also desirably formed of sheet metal. The fronts 48 of the drawers may be formed of separate sheets of metal suitably embossed to provide the usual panel, appearance. The upper edges of the drawer front members are desirably bent inwardly to provide ledges 49 to simulate thev appearance of thickness associated with the customary wooden drawers, and for the further provision of greater strength in the construction. The bottom edges are desirably formed with a head or rib 51, which may extend further forward than the bead or yrib 52 formed as a part of the ledge 49. From the bottom of this rib 51 there is a rearwardupwardly inclined extension having a flat marginal edge underlying the sheet metal bottom of the drawer,-there 'by providing a clearance ridge for this bottom, aswell as a corner reinforcement. This vconstruction is shown in greater detail in Fig. 6.

This construction is particularly desirable because of thefact thatthe substantial bead 51 casts a shadow upon the smaller bead 52,

and obscures the crack which necessarily is vided so that the upper edge of the drawer simulates the appearance of the ladder con- I structio'n whichis common to the usual pattern of such article of furniture.

tom, sides and back of the drawers 47 are also desirably formed of sheet metal and may be attached to the fronts 48 in any desired way as by riveting, folding or other means well known to those skilled in the art of the working of sheet metal. Gnideways 54 are desirab-lyformed in the sides of the drawers'as indicated, for cooperation with the guiderails 45, to carrythe weight of the drawers.

Additional strengthening means 55 are desirably provided at the centers of the bottoms of the drawers 47. These may take the form of 'U-shaped metal truss members appropriately attached, or may have a W shape as desired, according to the amount of strength required. They are desirably made of such height as to pass above the ledge 49 of the drawer beneath.

The construction of the drawers is suitable tothe application of such methods of forming asthe ordinary bending operations in metal working, or to the forming by stamping in dies, also of the usual pattern. vThe drawer members may desirably be constructed according to the usual dimensions and methods for'the ordinary type of metal drawer, certain of the inventive features, being formed in'the particular arrangement of parts'in the fronts of thedrawers and in the strengthening truss underneath.

, By this construction of the article of my invention, thevarious members may conveniently be formed and prepared for assembling by appropriate bendingof the sheet metal parts, as well as appropriate manufacturing operations upon the heavier metal parts. Any article-of furniture is desirably finished by the application of a coat of paint, lacquer, or enamel, and in the case of metal furniture the finish is desirably one which imitates the graining of wood. I The article of my inven tion maybe finished before or after assembly, by the application to the surfaces, of an appropriate coating of finish, which may desirably imitate wood grain. It has been found desirable to apply a baked enamel for the finish, because of the greater durability and more handsome appearance of a baked finish, as [compared to the usual air dried finish, as

The bot-.

well as the muchgreater speed with which the finish can be completed and hardened. Ac-

cordingly the baked finish may be applied to the various parts in the usual way. When so applied, the wooden drawer slides 45 are to be left out of the clips 46, in order that they may not be affected by the heat of the baking oven. In' this way the drawers,and the side back and bottom panel members, may be lacquered and baked without difliculty since they consist entirely of .metal parts. Likewise,

the top member 6, may be grained, enameled, and baked without in ury because of the heat resistingcharacterof the fillermaterial 28. By this construction the article of my invention is particularly adapted to the application thereto of a baked enamel finish, and likewise to the incorporation therein of means for the deadening of resonance, and means forthe smooth, easy, quiet sliding of the drawers, since the wooden drawer slides may conveniently be inserted after the finishing of the article. I f i The article of my invention is assembled by meansof well protected clamping devices, held in placeby concealed screws and bolts.

Accordingly there are no welds to deface the surfaces of the article, and the smooth, handsome appearance of the various members is preserved. Likewise, the various members are attached by clamping means which may readily be disassembled bysimple tools. Thus in the event that a-panel or part is damaged in the course of the service or life of the article, it may readily beremoved, by disassembling the article. The parts are made to accurate dimensions and accordingly a new part is readily assembled with the other parts, to replace a damaged part, thereby restoring the article to its original condition of serviceability. Either the upright members, the panel members. the drawer members or other parts are readily replaced by simple operations, within the skill of the ordinary person. V

The article asherein disclosed is constructed with drawers of the same size, and accordingly the article is not adapted to be packed for shipment in the minimumspace. Alternatively, however, the drawers may be. adapted to nesting, as disclosed in the application of Antoine Vericel, Serial No. 191,610, filed May 16th, 1927, thereby adapting the article to shipment in a disassembled state, in a minimum bulk of package. Thus the arti- 1 cle may be erected as hereinbefore disclosed, for shipment to the user, whereby the article ,is ready for immediate use after unpacking.

insertion of the bolts and-screws, whereafter the drawers may be positioned upon the slides.

By the construction of my invention I have thus produced a handsome, stout, rugged,

article of furniture produced'mainly from metal parts, of the greatest simplicity, adapted to production at aminimum cost and of assembling into afinished article with ease Vment 0f-the device of my invention in the accompanying drawings and description, 1t

is capable of various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and it is desired therefore that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are required by the prior art or indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my 1nvent1on: 1. In a cabinet as an article of furniture comprising panels and a corner reinforcement at the oint between ad acent panels,

the combination of an internally channeled metal-frame part forminga rigid outer cor ner piece for the cabinet having a single inwardly openinginner channel defined and formed by lateral wings with their inner surfaces along their edges disposed at a. fiaring angle relatively to each other, adjacent sheetmetal panels in planes at an angle to each other in line With the innerfiaring surfaces formed by the wings of the channel along the edges of these wings and having adjacent bent edge margins shaped to conform to the contour of the channel in the corner piece andfitting into this channel in contiguous relation with one another, and securing means carried by the corner piece and engaging with the said bent edge margins to cooperate with thefiaring wing portions of the channel for-firmly holding these bent edge margins in the channel for thereby j oining thepanels together and reinforcing them at the corner joint.

2. In a cabinet as an article of furniture comprising panels and a corner reinforce ment at the joint between adjacent panels, the combination'of aninternally channeled metal frame part forming a rigid outer corner piece for the cabinet having a single inwardly opening inner channel defined and formed by lateral wings with their inner surfaces along their edges disposed at a flaring angle relatively to each other, adjacent sheet metal panels in planes at an angle to each other in line with the inner flaring surfaces formed by the wings of the channel along the edges of these wings and having adjacentbent edge margins shaped to conform to 'thecontour of the channel in the cor- "nerpi'ece and fitting in the channel with their edges in, abutting relation along the bottom of the channel, a clamp member fitting against the inner sides of the abutting bent edge margins of the panels, and a. securing stud carried by the corner piece projecting inwardly from the bottom of its channel between the edges of the panels through the clamping member and having a head which presses the clamping member tightly against the bent edge margins of the panels to co- 0 erate with the flarin win s of the channel so that thereby the panels are firmly secured to the corner piece by their bent edge margins. I 3. In a cabinet as an article of furniture comprising panels and a corner reinforcement at the joint between adjacent panels, the combination of an outer metal corner piece forming a rigid frame part having a single inwardly opening inner channel with a flat bottom and fiat flaring wing portions at right angles to each other and joining with the flat bottom at a re-entrant angle of 45 so that thereby this channel is formed be-,

tween and by means of these fiat flaring wing portions, sheet metal panels in planes at right angles to each other in line with the respectiie inner flat surfaces of the wing portions of the channel and having 45 bends in adjacent marginal edge portions providing flat angular margins which enter the channel and conform respectively to the 45 angles therein formed by its respective wing portions, and securing means carried by the corner piece in the flat bottom of its channel and engaging with the adjacent angular edge margins of the panels to cooperate with the flat flaring wing portions of the channel for connecting the panels together and reinforcing the corner joint. 7

4. In a cabinet as an article of furniture comprising panels and a corner reinforcement at the joint between adjacent panels, the combination of an outer metal corner piece forming a rigid frame part having a 7 ing surfaces formed by the respective wing portions of the channel and having 45 bends in adjacent marginal edge portions provlding flat angular margins which conform to and fit into the channel with their edges in abutting relation along its fiat bottom, a clamping strip having a flat surface fitting against the flat inner faces of the angular edge margins of the panels and fitting into their re-entrant angles, and a series of securing studs carried by the corner piece projecting inward from the flat bottom of its channel between the edges of the abutting edge (ill margins .of the panels through the clamping strip and having heads which press the flat surface .of the clamping strip tightly against the inner flat surfacesof the bent ai-igular -m'argins of the panels to cooperate with the flat flaring wing portions of the channel so that thereby the clamping of these angular margins in the angles of the channel firmly secures both panels to the corner piece.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which :the clamping side of the said clamping strip has fiat wing portions providing a clamping face formed with 45 salient angles which fit into the 45 bends of the margins of :the clamped panels so that thereby the mar gin 'of eac'h panel will beclamped at its angular bend and will also be clamped between flat surfaces at opposite sides of this angular bend.

entrant angle of the channel and against its flat surfaces, a clamping strip having a clamping face with a salient angle and flat surfaces fitting into the angle of the bent edge portionof the panel and against its flat surfaces-and a series of beaded studs carried by the corner piece at its inner side for firmly holding the clamping strip against 7 the angu larly bent-edge portion of the panel to cooperate with the angular channel for thereby firmly securing the latter to the corner piece. a

7. Ina cabinet as an article of furniture comprising sheet metal panels in planes at right angles to each other connected together at their adjacentedges, the combination of a tubular reinforcement along the outer side of a margin of one of the panels formed in the same piece therewith, a reinforcing channel formedon the inner side of ail-outwardly extended margin of the other panel in the same piece therewith with one side of the channel in line with. the panel and into which channel :the said tubular reinforcement on the first-named panel fits for connecting the panels together, an inturned flange on the said reinforcement extending along the adjacent surface of its panel away from the margin thereof, a ledge formed on the edge of :the channel of the other panel and superposedon the saidfiange, and securing means firm 'ly' attaching together the said ledge and the said flange and the body portion of the panel having :the vsaid flange on its tubular reinforcement.

v8; In an article of furniture having a drawer, a sheet metal drawer front of which the upper-edge has a margin turned rearward horizontally and thence turned downward and extending forward towards the inner sideof the drawer front at a lower level forming an inner hollow horizontal reinforcing ledge on the upper edge of the drawer front, and of which the lower edge of the drawer front has a margin extending below the drawer bottom and thence turned rearward and upward below the lower side of the drawer bottom so as to form a hollow clearance ridge below the front portion of the drawer bottom as well as a reinforcement for the lower front corner of the drawer.

9. Inan article of furniture having a drawer, a sheet metal drawer front having in combination therewith a top edge reinforcement formed in the same piece therewith comp-rising an'outer rib and an inner hollow ledge thetop wall-of which extends rearward horizontally from the top of the rib and the lower wall of which extends forwardly at a downward inclination towards and with its edge substantially adjacent the inner shoulder formed by -the rib, whereby a substantially triangular hollow stiffening rail is provided along the top edge of the sheet metal drawer front. 7

10. In an article :of furniture having a drawer, a sheet metal drawer front having in combination" therewith a lower front corner reinforcement formed "in thesame piece with the front comprising a;mar=gina l extension of the front below the drawer bottom which is formed into a lower front rib and at the bottom of this rib has a rearwardly extending-upwardly inclined :fiange iportion below the lower side of the drawer bottom, whereby a hollow reinforcing and clearance-providing ridge is formed below the drawer bottom at the front.

11. In combination with the invention =defined in claim 1, the sa1d securing means including a series of securing studs carried by the corner piece projecting inwardly-from the bottom of its channel and having securing 7 heads upon their inner ends. 7

12. In combination with the invention defined 1n Clitlll'l '3, .the said securing means including a seriesof securing studsicarried-by the corner piece promoting inwardly from the flat bottom of its channel and having securing heads upon their .inner ends.

13. In an articleiof furniture, the combination of an "outer rigid corner framepiece formed of metal, this frame piece forming a channel which has a flat bottom portion and V a pair of flat lateral wing portions each of which joins with the flat bottom at a reentrant angle-of substantially 45, a pair of sheet. metal panels each having a flat marginal lflange projecting at an angle of sub .the panel, this latter portion fittingagainst stanti'ally 45 from a, flat marginal portion-of i 30 the flat wings of the channel respectively with the salient angle of the panel fitting into the re-entrant angle of the channel and with the flange of the panel fitting against the flat bottom of the channel with the edges of the two flanges contiguous to each other, a combined clamping and holding strip having a fiat surface along its middle to fit against the flat flanges of both of the panels and having a pair of flat marginal surfaces at a salient angle of substantially 45 to its middle flat surface with these fiat angular marginal portions of such strip fitting against the flat surfaces of the marginal portions ofthe panels respectively and with the salient angles of this strip fitting into the re-entrant angles formed by the panel flanges respectively, and a series of headed screws passing through the said strip between the contiguous edges of the panel flanges and screwing into the corner piece frame part, whereby the margins of the two panels will be firmly but detachably secured to the corner frame piece.

14. In an articleof furniture, the combination of an outer metal corner piece forming a rigidfram-e part having in its inner side a channel with flat surfaces forming a reentrant angle of substantially a sheet metal panel having an angularly bent edge portion providing flat surfaces at an angle fitting into the re-entrant angle of the channel and against its flat surfaces, a combined clamping and holding strip having a clamping face with a salient angle and flat surfaces fitting into the angle of the bent edge portion of the panel and against its flat surfaces, and a series of headed screws passing through the clamping strip free from the edge of the panel and screwing into the corner piece at its inner side for firmly holding the clamping strip against the angularly bent edge portion of the panel to cooperate with the angular channel for thereby firmly but detachably securing the latter to the corner frame'piece.

15. In an article of furniture having a series of immediately adjacent superposed 7 drawers, a sheet metal drawer front having in combination therewith a hollow top edge reinforcement formed in the same piece therewith to include an outer top rib in the form of a bead and an inner top ledge wider inwardly than the outward depth of the rib and which together with the rib constitutes a hollow stiffening rail, along the top edge of the drawer front, and a hollow combined clearance ridge and lower front corner reinforcement for the drawer formed in the same piece with the drawer front on a marfinal extension thereof below the bottom of the drawer to include a lower corner front rib in the form of a bead and a terminal reinforcing flange portion which extends rearwardly and upwardly below the lower side of the drawer bottom.

16. The invention defined in claim 15, in

which the said bead formed by the said lower front corner rib projects forwardly to the outside to a greater extent than does the said head formed by the said upper rib at the top edge of the drawer front so as thereby to overhang the latter on the front ofv a drawer next below.

17. In an article of'furniture, the combination of a rigid metal frame bar forming a horizontal front rail of the frame of such article,v and a horizontal sheet metal panel which at its forward margin is bent around the said frame bar rail thereby firmly to se cure the panel to this rail; p

18. In an article of furniture, the combination of a rigid flat metal bar extending horizontally on edge with its flat sides vertical to form a front rail part of the frame of such article, and a horizontal sheet metal panel in alignment with the upper edge of the said frame bar rail to extend rearwardly therefrom and having its front margin bent downwardly at the front of this rail and thence rearwardly and upwardly around the rail and terminating in a rearwardly extending flange beneath the said panel thereby to provide a firm support for this panel at the front as well as also to enclose and cover the said frame part rail.

19. A drawer having a sheet metal side wall bent to form a supporting channel at its outer side in the upper portion thereof, and a hollow reinforcement along the upper edge of the wall formed by bending the upper edge portion of the wall in such manner that the lower side of the said hollow reinforcement constitutes the upper side of the said channel.

20. A drawer having a sheet metal side wall bent inwardly to form a supporting channel at the outer side in the upper por tion thereof, and a hollow reinforcement formed along the upper edge of the wall by an upward continuation of the bottom of the channel with this upward continuation bent outward and thence downward and thence inward so that thereby the lower side of the said hollow reinforcement constitutes the upper side of the said channel.

21. A drawer having a sheet metal side wall bent inwardly to form a supporting channel at the outer side in the upper portion thereof, and a hollow reinforcement formed along the upper edge of the wall by an upward continuation of the bottom of the channel with this upward continuation bent first outward and thence downward and thence inward and thence again downward along the bottom of the said channel so that thereby the lower side of the said hollow reinforcement constitutes the upper side of the said channel with the downwardly bent extension from the lower side of such reinforcement lying against the bottom of the channe '22. In an article of furniture, .the combi-- nation of is rigid metallic corner upright having its inner face longitudinally channel-ed, a sheet metailipane l having an edge portionentering thechanne'l face alndsha-ped and detztchab'ly secured thereto, vand a leg member underneath the upright and having a portion supporting the upright and an up- Ward extension from said portion {fitting into "the channel face of the upright below said portion of the panel and permanently-secured tosa'id face. v

In witness whereof, 1 hereunto subscribe my signature. 7

LOUIS MORIN.

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