GB2482280A

GB2482280A - Cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2482280A
Application number: GB1010178.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Rex Willis
Original assignee: PARADIGM DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: PARADIGM DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-17
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2012-02-01
Also published as: GB201010178D0

Abstract

A cabinet, suitable for use in dental and/or medical surgeries and related facilities, comprises a carcass 2 including a moulded thermoplastic bottom tray A, at least one side panel E, D and one or more reinforcing means B, C, having fixing points to which the side panels E, D and the bottom tray A may be fixed. The cabinet may further comprise a back panel G, and may further comprise flanges 4, 6 for removeably fixing the back panel G.

Description

CABINET

This invention relates to cabinets. More particularly this invention relates to cabinets useful in dental and/or medical surgeries and related facilities.

Cabinets formed of thermoplastic material are known, US 3,301,622 discloses a cupboard or cabinet with a carcass formed as one piece of thermoplastic material.

Other cabinets, with carcasses formed in thermoplastics are also known. For example, a cabinet known as F-TEC (trade mark) has been marketed. The F-TEC cabinet carcass was injection-moulded as one piece in polypropylene with talc filler.

Unfortunately, known thermoplastic cabinets are expensive to manufacture because the large tooling needed for injection moulding of a is complete cabinet carcass is expensive and different to produce. Furthermore, the prior art cabinets are difficult to transport and install and have little flexibility especially when used in a dental or medical surgery or hospital.

It is an aim of the present invention to address these problems.

The present invention accordingly provides a cabinet comprising a carcass including a moulded thermoplastic base or bottom tray, at least one side panel, and one or more reinforcing means having fixing points to which the at least one panel may be fixed.

Such a cabinet is advantageous because it is durable, strong and easily recycled at the end of its life (since the various components can be disassembled as well as assembled). Furthermore, the moulded base/thermoplastic bottom tray enables easy cleaning and sterilisation which is important in a medical or dental environment. The,.or each side panel (and the optional back panel) furthermore may be easily cleaned. Transport costs are also significantly lower since the carcass may be (when disassembled) transported substantially flat.

Preferably, the cabinet further comprises a back panel and/or at least two side panels. Preferably each of the back and side panel(s) is formed of thermoplastic material, more preferably the same thermoplastic material as used to mould the bottom tray.

Preferably, the bottom tray and/or the panels are vacuum formed. The design of the carcass using a number of panels means that the design of each panel is relatively shallow which is advantageous because it reduces the tendency for the material to thin out during vacuum forming.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises flanges (e.g. on the side panel or panels) for removeably fixing the back panel. Preferably, the back panel may be removed through the front of the carcass (e.g. the fixings for removeably fixing the back panel may be located into the flange(s)). This is advantageous because it enables the back panel to be removed even after the cabinet has been assembled to access services (e.g. power points) at the rear of the cabinet. The back panel is advantageous because it provides additional rigidity to the carcass. Preferably the edge of the back panel (when fixed to is the side panels) is close to a side return of the flange. This advantageously transfers load to the sides of the carcass reducing racking.

Preferably the or each side panel is fixable to the reinforcing means by inserting at least one fixing into the fixing point of the reinforcing means. This is advantageous because it reduces the possibility of screws (e.g. wood screws as in previously produced medium density fibre board or wooden cabinets) pulling out of the carcass with time. Since the panels and/or the bottom tray are made from thermoplastic, they will not significantly swell and distort on exposure to moisture, as commonly occurs with particle or medium density fibre board cabinet carcases.

Preferably, the reinforcing means comprises a framework to support the carcass. The framework may, conveniently, comprise (relatively rigid) side reinforcing panels, and/or one or more reinforcing rails. Each of the reinforcing panels may be connectable to the or each side panel and optionally, the bottom tray and optionally connectable to other parts of the reinforcing means. Reinforcing means are advantageous because they may be manufactured to high tolerances (e.g. by machining especially CNC machinery) and provide an advantageous setting out jig for drilling holes for fitments to the cabinet.

Preferably, the reinforcing means comprises one or more rails of relatively rigid material (e.g. extruded) material.

Usually, the reinforcing means will comprise fitting means for fixing cabinet fittings such as hinges, handles, locks etc. It is preferred if the bottom tray comprises a rim along at least on one side and preferably along three or four sides. Preferably the rim is of substantially regular height. The preferred height of the rim is approximately I to 7 cm (measured from the base of the tray), more preferably 2 to 6 cm and most preferably 2 to 5 cm. This is advantageous because, since the sides are above the base, it enables the bottom tray to be relatively easily cleaned and prevents or reduces liquid or powder spillages seeping into the corner or edge joints in the carcass.

is As discussed above, preferably the or each side panel and optionally the back (and any top panel) are formed from a thermoplastic. The preferred thermoplastic is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate.

However, generally any thermoplastic may be suitable.

The advantage of using ABS or polycarbonate is that these materials are extremely durable (especially when supported by the reinforcing means).

Furthermore, ABS has no post production emission of urealformaldehyde which is associated with MDF or other particle board cabinets. ABS is also very easy to clean and sterilise.

The reinforcing means will usual comprise a metal preferably steel.

The cabinet carcass will usually be completed., in use, by the fixing of doors, drawer fronts, and/or shelving portions within the cabinet. Typically, such doors and draw fronts will be provided in ABS or, preferably, acrylic plastics. Whichever material is chosen for the door and/or drawer fronts, it is preferred if they are not laminated materials and are not veneered so as to reduce the chances of delamination after exposure to moisture (as is usual in dental or medical surgeries).

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of the components of the cabinet carcass.

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the carcass after assembly of the bottom tray and side panels.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the carcass after assembly of the back panel and reinforcing rail.

Figure 4 illustrates the assembled carcass.

Figure 5 illustrates the carcass in plan view with a detail of the removable fixing means of the back panel.

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded cabinet carcass according to the invention.

A cabinet carcass 2 comprises side panels E,D constructed of a is suitable mouldable thermopolymer (for example ABS). The carcass 2 also comprises a base or bottom tray A also moulded of thermoplastic, preferably ABS. The bottom tray A has a raised rim 8 around the side and back edges of the tray A. The raised rim 8 (typically raised about 2.5 cm above the base of the bottom tray A) is advantageous because it reduces or prevents liquid or powder spillages seeping into the corner or edge joints in the carcass in use and makes for easy cleaning of the base of the cabinet after spillages.

Each side panel E,D is fixable to a respective reinforcing panel B,C using fixing points (not shown) on the reinforcing panels B,C. The fixings to fix the reinforcing side panel B,C and the thermoplastic side panels E,D together may be, for example, bolts passing into threaded fixings through the reinforcing panel B,C and into (but preferably not through) the side panel E,D.

To the rear, the cabinet carcass 2 has a thermoplastic back panel G again, preferably, constructed of ABS.

Each of the thermoplastic side panels E,D have shelf supports 18 (shown in Figure 5) which are raised profiles on which shelves (not shown) can be placed.

Each side panel E,D has elongate flanges 6,4 extending along the rear edge of the panel for removeably fixing the back panel G. This is advantageous because it enables the back panel G to be removed through the front of the cabinet, even after the cabinet is assembled, for access to s services at the rear. Reinforcing rail F is for reinforcing the top part of the carcass.

The (steel) reinforcing means comprises side reinforcing panels B,C each with a bottom flange 12,10. Two feet (not shown) are on each bottom flange 12,10.

Each side panel E,D comprises rear flanges 6, 4 for removeably fixing the back panel C and front flanges 16, 15 to aid fitting of the side panel to the base A and improving the structural integrity of the carcass, once assembled.

Assembly of the components of the cabinet carcass is illustrated in Figure 2 to 4. Each side panel E,D is placed upon the rim 8 of the bottom tray A neatly, minirnising the chance of fluid ingress at the place where the bottom tray A and the side panel E,D meet.

The reinforcing rail F is fixed to the side panels across the front of the carcass 2 to provide support during and after assembly. The back panel G is fixed, using the flanges 6, 4 to the side panels E,D.

Finally, the reinforcing panels B,C are moved against the side panels E,D with the bottom flanges 12, 10 of the reinforcing panels E,D under the bottom tray A and the reinforcing panels B,C are fixed (fixing not shown) to the side panels E,D respectively.

It is preferred if the fittings and fixings are such that the thermoplastic side panels E,D have no breaks in their inner surfaces. This may be achieved by using threaded inserts in the reinforcing panels B,C and threaded fixing points in the side panels E,D which do not pass completely through the thickness of the side panel E,D.

Figure 5 illustrates the removable fixing of the back panel G to flanges 4, 6 of side panels D, E respectively. The detail of Figure 5 illustrates flange 4 which has a "Z" shape double return.

The edge 22 of the back panel G abuts against the side return 20 of the flange 4 to help transfer load to the sides of the carcass and reduce racking. Fixing bolt 24 passes through the back panel 3 near its edge 22 and locates into the flange 4. This enables the fixing to be removed (from the front) even when the carcass is installed to allow access to services (e.g. power points) behind the carcass.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cabinet comprising a carcass including a moulded thermoplastic bottom tray, at least one side panel, and one or more reinforcing means having fixing points to which the at least one panel and, optionally, the bottom tray may be fixed.
2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a back panel.
3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, further comprising flanges for removeably fixing the back panel.
4. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or is each side panel is fixable to the reinforcing means by passing at least one fixing means into the fixing point of the reinforcing means.
5. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing means comprises a framework to support the carcass.
6. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the reinforcing means comprises fittings fixing means for fixing cabinet fittings.
7. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom tray comprises a rim of substantially regular height, preferably I to 7 cm high.
8. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom tray and/or each side panel and, optionally the back and any top panel, are vacuum formed from a thermoplastic.
9. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the thermoplastic is selected from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate.s
10. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing means comprises a metal, preferably steel.