US3328102A - Locker cabinets - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 w, STACKHOUSE 3,328,102

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United States Patent 3,328,102 LOCKER CABINETS Wells F. Stack-house, Andover, Mass., assignor to American Locker Company, Inc., Boston, Mass., 21 corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,360 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-108) This invention relates generally to locker cabinets and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved multi-form cabinet structure which may be assembled at the site of installation and which is fabricated from stock components of selected sizes adapted to interlock with one another and with other cabinets.

Conventional locker cabinets are normally fabricated at the factory with a majority of the component parts formed from metal and joined by welding. In practice, a manufacturer will build a line of locker cabinets of several different sizes and with various compartment arrangements. A supply of these cabinets will be kept in stock for immediate delivery on order, in which case the fully assembled cabinets are shipped to the buyer. From time to time a customer may require lockers which are not of a standard size and the manufacturer must custommake the cabinets according to the customers specifications. This involves added engineering services, new drawings, setting up special dies, etc., all of which increase the cost of the cabinet, and, whereas, a stock size cabinet may be delivered immediately, the production requirements of special order cabinets necessarily produce a delay in shipment. Furthermore, the fully assembled cabinet, whether of stock size or custom-made, by reason of its bulk is rather diificult and expensive to ship to the customer and may suffer damage in transit.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide improvements in the construction of locker cabinets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinet fabricated of stock components that may be quickly and easily assembled at the site of installation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinet adapted for interlocking cooperative engagement with other cabinets of similar structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinet fabricated from component parts which permit on site assembly in a wide range of cabinet sizes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved spring closure for a cabinet door.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved hinge for a cabinet door.

More particularly, this invention features a multiform locker cabinet assembled from interchangeable prefabricated components adapted to interlock rigidly with one another in a number of selected arrangements to provide a locker cabinet that may be quickly set up on site. As another feature of this invention, each cabinet unit is provided with vertical channel members which interlock and cooperate with the channel members of adjacent cabinet units of similar structure in providing rigidity to both units and also to define a coin chute and chamber for mounting of coin-controlled locks. Locks of this type control the cabinet doors whereby individual locker compartments may be rented upon the deposit of a coin of proper denomination.

This invention also features a novel automatic door closure device comprising a coil spring which is bent back upon itself rather than tensioned when the door is in an open position.

As still another feature of this invention, there is provided a new and improved hinge of unusual strength and 3,328,1M Patented June 27, 1967 compactness and which is particularly suitable for concealment within the cabinet structure.

But these and other features of the invention, along with further objects and advantages thereof, will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locker cabinet frame made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the locker cabinet shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view in side elevation showing the upper portion of the cabinet frame,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view illustrating the operation of the door closure mechanism,

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a door hinge made according to the invention,

FIG. 8 is a view in front elevation showing a battery of assembled, interconnecting cabinet units,

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing assembly details, and

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of an assembled unit.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a cabinet locker unit having a plurality of individual compartments 12, each with its own door 14 and coin-controlled lock mechanism 16. Each locker unit comprises a front frame section 18 which includes upright frame members 20 and 22, connected across the bottom by means of a base member 24, across their mid-portions by spaced horizontal brackets 26 and across the top by means of a cover plate 28. Shelves 30, side panels 32, a rear panel 33, and a top panel 35 complete the locker unit.

The component parts of the illustrated locker unit are constructed in such a fashion that they may be assembled quickly and easily at the site of the locker installation with the use of a few simple tools and yet produce a locker of a strength and rigidity comparable to that of a welded locker. The various components, while each of a particular configuration, may be made in different lengths and widths whereby from a stock of components a great variety of locker sizes and designs may be assembled at the place of installation.

Referring now more particularly to the individual locker components, it will be seen that the upright frame member 20, typically fabricated from sheet metal, is a single stamping in the form of a channel. Each upright member 20 is formed with a flat side portion 34, a front portion 36 at right angles to the side portion 34, a side flange 38 parallel to the side portion 34 and a marginal lip 40 parallel to the front portion 36. It will be noted that the lower edge of the side portion 34 extends below the remaining portion of the frame member and also is formed with sets of slotted openings 42 and 43. Also formed in spaced vertical alignment in the side portion 34 are T- shaped openings 44 adapted to receive the ends of the cross brackets 26. Rectangular openings 46 are formed in spaced relation in the front portion 36 and each is adapted to accommodate a coin-controlled lock 16.

As best shown in FIG. 9 the upright member 20 is also formed with a series of spaced notches 48 extending horizontally across the lip 40 and into the side flange 38. The function of the notches is to accommodate the forward edge of the cross bracket 26 when two adjacent locker units are interlocked as will presently appear. Mounted to the inner side of the front portion 36 and behind each opening 46 is a baffie 50 having a rearwardly inclined upper portion 52 with a vertical depending lower portion 54. The baffles serve to deflect coins released by one lock 16 away from another lock located below and to direct all coins into a common vertical coin chute to be described more fully below. As a final structural feature of each upright member 20 a number of rectangular slots 56 are formed adjacent the forward edge of the side portion 34 to accommodate hinges for the cabinet doors 14.

Each of the cross brackets 26 is a single sheet metal stamping having upper and lower horizontal flange portions 58 and 68 connected by vertical shoulder portions 62 and 64 extending right anigularly from a narrow shelf portion 66 formed by folding the sheet metal back upon itself. Extending from each end of each shoulder portion 62 and 64 and from each end of the shelf portion 66 are locking tabs 68 and 70 arranged in a T formation. It will be understood that the tabs on the left hand end of the bracket 26 are adapted to be inserted in the T shaped opening 44 of the upright member 28 while the tabs on the right hand end are adapted to be inserted in an aligned T-shaped opening 72 formed in the upright frame member 22. Formed near the left hand end of the lower shoulder portion 64 of the bracket 26 is a rectangular opening 74 adapted to accommodate a door closure arm 76 to be described more fully below.

The upright frame member 22 is a single sheet metal stamping having a flat side portion 78 in which are formed the T-shaped openings 72, a rear wal portion 80 extending at a right angle from the side portion 78 and a flange 82 extending rearwardly at a right angle from the wall 80. As best shown in FIG. the lower end of the side portion 78 terminates above the lower ends of the wall 80 and flange 82 with a pair of slots 84 formed near the lower margin of the side portion 78. Finally, a number of spaced holes 85 are formed along the flange 82 to accommodate nut and bolt connectors used in assembling the unit.

The cover plate 28, which is mounted on top of the uprgiht frame members and 22, is a single sheet metal stamping having a flat upper panel 86, a relatively narrow front section 88 at a right angle to the upper panel 86, a rearwardly extending mid section 91) in parallel spaced relation to the upper panel 86, a vertical shoulder section 92 at a right angle to the mid-section 90 and a rearwardly extending flange portion 94 at a right angle to the shoulder section 92. Tabs 96 and 98 are formed at either end of the flange 94 and the mid-section 90 and are adatped to be inserted in slots 100 and 102 formed near the upper portions of the upright frame members 20 and 22, the slots in one upright frame member being in register with the slots of the other upright frame member.

The base member 24, typically formed from sheet metal, has a flat bottom wall 104 and an upright front panel section 106 perpendicular to the bottom wall and having a rectangular opening 110 formed in the right hand side thereof. An intermediate shelf portion 112 extends rearwardly from the front panel with an upright shoulder section 114 extending from its rearward edge. A horizontal flange 116 extends rearwardly from the upper edge of the shoulder section and is formed at either end with locking tabs 118. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the right hand ends of the flange 116 and shoulder section 114 are recessed from the ends of the shelf 112, the front wall 106 and the bottom wall 184 to define a rectangular opening 120 (see FIG. 10) when the locker unit is assembled.

As may be seen in FIG. 10 the right hand locking tabs 118 are adapted to be inserted in the slots 84 which are formed at the lower edge of the side portions 78 of the upright frame member 22. The left hand locking tabs, as indicated in FIG. 1, are adapted to be inserted in the openings 43 formed in the lower end of the upright frame member 20. As shown in FIG. 2 the bottom wall 104 and its left hand edge is formed with a short upright lip 122 from which extends a pair of locking tabs 124 adapted to be inserted in the slots 42 of the upright frame member 20.

The rectangular opening 118, which is formed in the front panel 106, is adapted to accommodate a cash box 126. A plate 128 is detachably connected within the opening by means of a key operated lock 134) to permit the cash box to be removed by an operator only. It will be noted in FIG. 10 that the open top cash box has a portion in communication with the opening so that coins dropped from coin-operated locks located above the cash box will fall into the box. As shown in FIG. 6, a vertical coin chute 132 is formed in the rear portion of the boxed enclosure defined by interlocking an upright frame member 20 and upright frame member 22. This coin chute is located to the rearward portion of the rectangular chamber with the front portion thereof being occupied by coin-controlled locks 16 each protected by a baflle 58.

The shelves 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, are flat panels having marginal depending flanges 134 along both sides and the rear thereof. Each of the flanges is formed with a series of spaced holes 136 adapted to register with holes 138 formed in the side panels 32 and the rear panel 33 to receive nuts and bolts for assembling the locker unit. The rear corners of each shelf are out out at 148 to accommodate vertical frame members (not shown). The two forward corners of the shelf are also cut out to fit around the upright frame members 2t) and 22. In FIG. 4 it will be seen that the forward edge of each shelf is offset slightly at 142 to fit under the flange portion 58 of the cross bracket 26 and to form therewith a flush surface. A flange 144 extends downwardly from the offset portion 142 to fit within the rear channel portion of the bracket 26 with the lower edge of the flange 144 resting along the flange 60. The top, rear and side panels typically are of sheet metal formed with appropriate holes for connecting bolts and dimensioned to close the top, side and rear portions of the cabinet.

It will be appreciated that cabinet unit of this construction may be readily set up by merely inserting the locking tabs of the various components into their appropriate slot openings and bending back the tabs so as to lock the parts in position. This may be done with a hand tool such as a hammer or plier or the like. Conventional nuts and bolts may be employed to attach the sheet panel members to complete the structure. In practice, when a bank of locker units is to be installed, each unit is cooperatively interlocked with an adjacent locker unit to provide an integrated, rigid structure. FIG. 8 shows a bank of interlocking units 10 and it will be noted that an upright frame member 20 interlocks with an upright frame member 22 whereby a coin controlled lock 16 mounted in one upright frame member 20 serves to control the cabinet door 14 for an adjacent locker unit. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 the interlocking connection for two locker units is made by first assembling the two units separately and then snapping the upright frame member 20 of one unit over the upright frame member 22 of an adjacent unit with the side flange 38 overlapping the side portion 78. The lip 40 of the member 20 will butt against the shoulder 62 of the bracket 26 to position the members in precise relation. It will be understood that the portion 66 of the bracket 26 at its right hand end will be received within the notches 48 formed in the member 20'. This arrangement produces a very rugged assembly and permits any number of locker units to be assembled in side by side interlocking relation. At each end of the bank of locker units, blank frame members may be provided in place of the usual frame members in order to present a smooth, finished appearance.

Each of the cabinet doors 14 is a rectangular panel formed with marginal boxed flanges 146 and is mounted on its left hand side by means of a pair of hinges 148 attached to an upright frame member 28. Each hinge 148 comprises a double leaf fixed part 150 which is formed from a continuous single piece of heavy gauge sheet steel folded about a pin 152 and returning to form a double thickness hinge unit. The hinge part 150 has a rectangular section 154 which is attached to the side wall 34 with integral sectors 155 defining spaced rectangular openings 156. The other hinge part 158 is likewise of full loop, double leaf construction which encloses the pin 152 and is also formed with rectangular openings 160 to accommodate the sectors 155 of the hinge section 150. The hinge part 158 has a U-shaped configuration in cross-section with the free leg thereof bent inwardly in excess of 90 degrees in order to match the angle of the boxed door flange 146 to which it is attached. It will be noted that the rectangular openings 160 extend approximately half way across the hinge part 158 whereby, when the cabinet door 14 is moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 6, the inner portion of the hinge part 158 may swing from one side of the hinge part 150 to the other side thereof. As shown, the boxed flange 146 is formed with an opening 162 in register with the opening 56 through which the hinge part 158 swings. The construction of the hinge is extremely rugged and compact and permits the movable portion thereof to swing back and forth through the fixed portion whereby the hinge is completely hidden when the door is in the close-d position.

Referring again to FIG. 6 there is shown a novel door closing mechanism which includes the arm 76 having its outer end attached to the top portion of the boxed flange 146 for the door and extending through the opening 74. The inner end of the arm 76 carries a plate 164 to which is attached one end of a coil spring 166. The inner end of the spring 166 is connected to a block 168 attached to the bracket 26. When the door is in the closed position of FIG. 6, the spring 166 assumes an almost straight but slightly curved condition whereas when the door is moved into the open position, the spring is bent back upon itself as indicated by the dotted outline in FIG. 6. This arrangement provides for improved door operation insofar as the spring exerts a greater pressure when the door is fully open and the spring is bent back upon itself than when the door is almost closed and the spring almost straight. This permits closing the door lightly with less force than with the customary spring which exerts a steady pull throughout its arc. Thus, the door, when unlocked, is kept closed under a moderate pressure and yet may be opened easily and will close quickly. In operation, the door closing pressure tends to decrease slightly as the door approaches a fully closed position. This substantially eliminates the banging noises which normally accompany spring loaded doors and also protects fingers which may be caught inadvertently between the door and the cabinet frame. A series of rubber bumpers 170 is attached to the side portion 78 of the frame member 22 by means of brackets 172 welded thereto. The forward end of each bumper extends through an opening 174 formed through the lip 40 of the frame member 20. These bumpers serve to cushion the door and eliminate any objectionable banging noise when the door is closed by a patron.

In practice, the upright frame members may be provided in various lengths to permit the assembling of the locker cabinets of different heights. Also, the cross members, such as the top plate, cross brackets and base member, as well as the doors, may be provided in various dimensions so that locker cabinets of selected widths may be assembled. Thus, from a supply of a relatively few stock components, locker cabinets in a rather wide range of sizes may be assembled.

Cabinets made from these components may be readily assembled at the site of installation thereby reducing shipping costs and delays as well as substantially eliminating the risk of damage in transit. Special order locker cabinets may be quickly and easily assembled to the customers specifications thereby avoiding the delay and extra expense normally involved with custom-made units. No

special training is required to assemble one or a number of locker units since a few simple instructions will sufiice. As a further advantage storage requirements are substantially reduced since the component parts will normally be stored in a disassembled condition so that parts for a relatively large number of cabinets may be stored in a relatively small area.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Also, it will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A locker cabinet, comprising a pair of upright side frame members, a top frame member, a bottom frame member and at least one cross bracket connecting said side frame members, top side and rear walls connected to said frame members and at least one shelf connected to said bracket to define a compartmented structure, a door hinged to one of said side frame members for closing each compartment, said side frame members being formed with slotted openings, said top and bottom frame members and said brackets being formed with end tabs adapted to be inserted in selected side frame openings and bent back against said side frames in locking relation, one of said side frame members having at least a pair of vertical wall portions right angularly disposed to one another to define two upright walls of a closed vertical passage, the other of said side frame members having a pair of right angularly disposed cooperating vertical wall portions defining two other upright walls in a vertical passage adapted to interlock with the wall portions of said one frame member for an adjacent locker cabinet to unite said cabinets and to from thereby a vertical passage between the upright frame members for adjacent locker cabinets, and means for mounting a coin-controlled lock to one of said side frame members and within said passage, said lock being adapted to control a compartment door.

2. A locker cabinet, comprising a pair of upright side frame members, a top frame member, a bottom frame member and at least one cross bracket connecting said side frame members, top side and rear walls connected to said frame members and a shelf connected to each of said brackets to define a compartmented structure, a door hinged to one of said side frame members for closing each compartment, each of said side frame members being formed with a plurality of slotted openings, said top and bottom frame members and said brackets being formed with end tabs adapted to be inserted in selected side frame openings and bent back against said side frames in looking relation, one of said side frame members having vertical wall portions substantially perpendicular to one another, the other of said side frame members having walls defining a vertical channel portion adapted to interlock with the wall portions of said one frame member for an adjacent locker cabinet to unite said cabinets and to form thereby a vertical passage of generally rectangular cross-section and means for mounting a lock to one of said upright frame members and within said passage, said lock being adapted to control a compartment door.

3. A locker cabinet according to claim 2 wherein said top and bottom frame members and said bracket are formed with shoulder portions for cooperating engagement with said doors when in closed positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,622 10/1888 Ryfenburgh 19451 716,863 12/1902 Cammann 194--51 1,050,675 1/1913 Miller 312-35 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Vincent 312-107 Lachaine 312-108 Mills 194-59 Kaser 312-108 Elvers 312-107 Goulooze 16-128 Stochl 16-85 Weiner 16-128 Travis 16-85 0 0 2,808,918 10/1957 Shepard 312-35 X 3,133,772 5/1964 Brandes 312-108 FOREIGN PATENTS 138,487 2/ 1920 Great Britain. 876,875 8/ 1942 France.

JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

A. FMNKEL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A LOCKER CABINET, COMPRISING A PAIR OF UPRIGHT SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A TOP FRAME MEMBER, A BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER AND AT LEAST ONE CROSS BRACKET CONNECTING SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, TOP SIDE AND REAR WALLS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND AT LEAST ONE SHELF CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKET TO DEFINE A COMPARTMENTED STRUCTURE, A DOOR HINGED TO ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS FOR CLOSING EACH COMPARTMENT, SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS BEING FORMED WITH SLOTTED OPENINGS, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERS AND SAID BRACKETS BEING FORMED WITH END TABS ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN SELECTED SIDE FRAME OPENINGS AND BENT BACK AGAINST SAID SIDE FRAMES IN LOCKING RELATION, ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF VERTICAL WALL PORTIONS RIGHT ANGULARLY DISPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE TWO UPRIGHT WALLS OF A CLOSED VERTICAL PASSAGE, THE OTHER OF

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