US2632684A - Cabinet and bracket therefor - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1953 J. w. ANDERSON CABINET AND BRACKET THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. l, 1947 f INVENToR.

JoHN W ANDERSON .JATOENEY March 24, 1.953

J. w. ANDERSON l2,632,684

CABINET AND BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Oct. l, 1947 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN VVANDERsoN BY MJ @fd March 24, v1953 J. w. ANDERSON CABINET AND BRACKET THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet-5 Filed OCb. l, 11.947`

75L- `-V INVENToR. JOHN W. ANDERSON Patented Mar. 24, 1953 CABINET AND BRACKET THEREFOR John W. Anderson, Gary, Ind., assignor to Prol ductve Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application October 1V, 1947, Serial No. 777,216 i (Cl. S12-245) 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the construction of portable cabinets including improved means for' supporting the same.

More particularly the subject invention has been designed and constructed whereby the service oiered by attendants or operators at gasoline stations may be improved and expedited and merchandise, such as windshield wiper blades and arms, is made readily available.

Some stations provide a cabinet or other container divided into compartments; for example, one compartment for clean paper towels for cleaning the windshield and other surfaces, and another within which to dispose of the towels after Since such cabinets do not carry any merchandise for sale, one Yof the principal objects of the invention is to provide an auxiliary cabinet containing merchandise which may be readilyrdetachably connected or hooked onto a towel cabi- 'net and appropriately displayed t0 supplement or complement the facilities offered by the towel cabinet, the construction and arrangement also being such that the use of one cabinet does not in any way interfere with the use of the other.

An important object Vof the invention is to provide improved bracket means whereby the cabinet containing the merchandise for salemay be readily attached to some mounting other than a towel cabinet. More specifically in this connection, the object is to provide a cabinet with a pairfcf brackets Awhich when assembled provide means for attaching the cabinetto a mounting,

such as a pillar or stanchion, and when disassem' bled, one of the brackets may be employed to the exclusion of the other to support the cabinet with respect to a different mounting or mountings. In other words, both brackets may be Yused for one installation while only one bracket is required for another installation. With y this arrangement operators or attendantsk may select the type of Amounting or supportfmost suitable for their respective station setups.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the subject cabinet is supported in a substantial or stable position, including means for maintaining the back Wall of such cabinet in spaced relation to the front wall of another cabinet or support so as to prevent damage or marring of such front wall or support and any indicia :appearing thereon.

An additional object of the invention is to profvid'e a member which is designed and constructed :to serve a plurality of uses such as a bracket for .supporting a cabinet, amounting for a closure member, and an eaves trough to receive rain running down the cover of the towel cabinet or other adjacent surfaces of a support for discharge exteriorly of the subject cabinet.

A further object of the invention is to provide the cabinet with means cooperative with the detachable bracket for `holding or mounting the cabinet in a predetermined position and an arrangement by which such cooperative means and a divider in the cabinet are secured together by the same fastening, means.

A still further object of the invention is .to provide a cabinet with a receptacle or pan for water and means for detachably holding such receptacle within a compartment provided therefor adjacent the lower extremity of the cabinet,

Other objects ,and advantages of the invention will become apparent yafter reading the description hereinafter set forth in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings,

Figurel illustrates a front view in elevation of the cabinet embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the cabinet;

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of the cabinet illustrated in Figures 1 to3 attached to a particular type of mounting, such as another cabinet;

Figure 5 is -a transverse section taken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 1 illustrating details of construction; .4

Figure 6 is la transverse section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure `1 showing other details of construction;

Figure '7 is a `front view in elevation of an auxiliary bracket which is adapted for detachable association with a bracket normally carried by the cabinet;

Figure 8 is a side View in elevation of the cabinet, portions of which are shown in section to illustrate Icertain details of construction, including the particular mode in which the bracket exemplied in Figure 7 is associated with the cabinet, and a different type of support to which such bracket is adapted to be connected;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View, showing a different way in which the auxiliary bracket exemplified in Figure 7 `may be detachably connected to a support such as a pillar or stanchion; and

Figure l0 is a front view in elevation of the lower part of the cabinet depicting a door member which may be employed to close the opening leading to the compartment for the water receptacle when the setup is such that the compartment and/ or receptacle is not be used.

The complete cabinet assembly embodying the invention is preferably elongated in cross section and, among other things, includes an upper compartment I for merchandise, a lower compartment 2 for a pan or receptacle 3 adapted to contain water or other fluid, a bracket 4 normally associated with the cabinet for supporting the cabinet with respect to a mounting such as another cabinet, and an auxiliary bracket 5 adapted for assembly with the bracket 4 whereby the cabinet may be connected to a different type or kind of mounting, all of which will be described more in I detail subsequently.

The frame of the cabinet comprises a Vertical front wall 6, side walls I integral with the front wall, and a substantially planar back wall 8 secured against the inner faces of the overlapping rear flange portions of the side walls by rivets S, as illustrated` in Figures 5 and ,6. It is -to be understood that, if found desirable, the various parts or portions hereinafter referred toas being secured by rivets may be attached together by `other means, such as -by spot-welding. The lower extremity of .the back wall of .the ,cabinet is preferably provided with an integral forwardly extending .continuation which constitutes an inclined bottom wall t of the cabinet. This bottom wall is provided with an upturned portion II which is secured against 4the inner surface Aof the front Vend wall by rivets I2. The upper end of the back wall is preferably provided with a ,forwardly extending inclined upper or top wall portion I3.

A partition I4 provides `a bottom supporting wall for merchandise, such as assorted Windshield wiper blades and arms. This partition is provided with depending side flanges ,I and a rear iiange IE which are Arespectively secured against the inner surfaces of the side walls and back wall .of the cabinet by rivets .I'I. The forward portion of the partition is preferably supported on a rearwardly extending ange I8 integral with the front wall f6 of the cabinet. This partition is preferably inclined in order `that any water or foreign matter vinadvertently entering the upper compartment may pass downwardly into the receptacle 3 through suitable openings I9 provided therefor in the partition.

A generally channel-shaped divider 2D `is Varranged in the upper compartment in spaced relation to the partition and secured to the back wall 8 of the cabinet by rivets 2;I. It will `be noted that although not essential, the divider is slightly offset with respect to the medial line of the cabinet to divide the upper compartment vinto three cells of unequal size in order Vto accommodate the packaged arms and blades in a desired manner. Attention is directed to the fact that a holding member 22 is secured to the back wall of the cabinet by certain of the rivets 2| which secure the divider to suchV Wall. This holding member is formed with an upturned portion 23 spaced from the back wall to provide a channel for receiving the lower extremity of the auxiliary bracket 5 above referred to, the purpose of which will be described more in detail subsequently.

The unique bracket means 4 and 5 employed for supporting the cabinet as mentioned above will now be described. The bracket 4, among other things, includes an inclined base portion 24 which is secured by rivets 25 to the inclined upper for wardly extending top wall portion I3 of the cabinet. These rivets also extend through the leaf 2E of a hinge 21 for securing the latter to the base. The base is provided with downturned ears 28 adjacent its extremities which are secured against the outer surfaces of the side walls of the cabinet by rivets 29. 'I'he rear wall 30 of a cover or lid 3i is preferably secured to the other leaf 32 of the hinge by spot-welding. The cover, base, and hinge are preferably .constructed and arranged so that the cover when closing off the upper compartment, will assume an inclined pcvsition, as illustrated in Figure 2, to assist in shedding water. kAttention is directed to the fact that the depending front and side walls of the cover are preferably spaced with respect to the front and side walls of the cabinet in order to deiiect water away from `the latter. The front depending Wall portion of the cover may be provided with an out-turned lip portion 33 which may be manually engaged to manipulate the cover. In order to further assist -in preventing water and any foreign matter from enteringthe upper compartment of the cabinet, the base portion 24 of thebracket is preferably provided with an upturned fiange 34, disposed forwardly of the hinge, and with its upper longitudinal marginal edge lo cated above the lower marginal edge of the rear Wall 3Q of the cover.

The bracket 4 'is further provided with an integral vertical portion 35 arranged substantially in the same plane as the back wall of the cabinet, a rearwardly extending substantially horizontal portion 36, an upright portion 31 arranged substantially parallel to the vertical portion, a top rearwardly extending wall portion 38 arranged substantially parallel to the horizontal portion, and a depending holding `portion 39 arranged substantially parallel to the vertical and upright walls just referred to. The top rearwardly extending portion 3'8 of the bracket is preferably provided with a pair of slots 4U, the purpose of which will be described subsequently. The vertical portion v35 may serve asa stop for the cover when the latter is tilted as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. It will be noted that the holding portion 39 extends downwardly an appreciable distance in substantially spaced apart parallel relation to the back Wall '8 of the cabinet and that its lower marginal edge is preferably rounded as at 4 I.

As clearly exemplied in Figure 4 of the drawing, the cabinet just described is adapted to be supported with respect to a cabinet 42. This is accomplished by raising a cover or lid 43 of the cabinet 42 then adjusting the subject-cabinet to a position whereby the top wall 38 of the bracket `4 will rest on the upper marginal edge of the front wall 44 of cabinet 42 with the upright portion '31 and the depending portion 39 of the bracket disposed on opposite sides of the front wall 44. The depending portion 3.9 ofthe bracket may be easily piloted into the cabinet 42 dueto the provision of the rounded marginal edges 4I. The portions 3S through 39 of the bracket are preferably so constructed and arranged that they will not interfere with the use of cabinet 42 or the operation of its cover 43. It will be noted that the downturned front wall portion 45 of the cover 43 overhangs the upper extremity of the bracket 4 so that when viewing Vthe vtwo cabinets together from the front they will appear as one. This front wall also serves Ato exclude rain from inadvertently entering the supporting cabinet 42. If desired, suitable openings 46 may be provided adjacent the junction between the base wall 24 and vertical wall 35 of the bracket so that rain -acaacs4 .caught inthe. trough formed by the bracket may In order to protect the front wall 44 of .the sup.- porting cabinet or other mounting against damage, the back wall 8 of the subject cabinetis preferably provided with a pair of resilientbumpers 41 which are adapted to engage the walll44, the size of the bumpers and the width of the wall'31 ofthe bracket being such that the subject cabinet isv maintained in a substantially parallel relation to the supporting cabinet Aor some other desirable mounting.

The auxiliary bracket exemplified in Figures '1, 8, and 9, as stated above, ;is adapted for detachable association with bracket 4 so that the subjectcabinet may be mounted on a support Asuch as a wall or pillar. Bracket5 may be constructed as desired, but is preferably madesubstantially flat and generally rectangular in shape `and includes a-central base portion 4B, an upper portion 49 offset Yforwardly with respect to the base,l and a lower portion 50 offset toa slightly greater extent than the upper portion. rlhe upper portion is provided with a pair of rounded projections` 5| f and the central portion with' a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 52 for the reception o f Ascrews 53 or otherfastening means. The central portion is lalso-providedwith two pairs of slots 54, a pair of slots being associated with each aperture, for receiving one or more straps 55. The overall length of the bracket is made slightly less than the distance from the top wall 38 of the bracket 4 and the base of the channel formed by the holding member 22 to provide suffi- .cient clearance for entry of the bracket 5 sideways between the bracket 4 and holding member to a position whereby the rounded projections 5| will be received in the slots 49 and so that the said top wall will rest upon the upper marginal edge of the bracket as clearly illustrated in Figure 8. Attention is directed to the fact that the upper portion 49 of bracket 5, is preferably oiset a suicient distance to allow for the positioning of the depending holding wall 39 of bracket 4 between such offset portion and the outer surface of a supporting wall 56 of a mounting, and that the upturned portion 23 of the holding member 22 is of a sufficient height to maintain the lower portion 50 of bracket 5 between portion 23 and the back wall 8 of the cabinet. The bracket 5 is substantially rigid in character and the cabinet is held in a stable upstanding position when associated therewith. More specifically in this respect, the cabinet is held against sidewise movement by reason of the projections 5l which extend into the slots 40. The depending flange portion 39 and holding member 22 also assist to prevent tilting and outward movement of the cabinet relative to its mounting. The bumpers 41 may serve to engage the outer face of the supporting wall 4B to further assist in stabilizing the cabinet.` With this arrangement the cabinet may be readily assembled and disassembled with respect to the auxiliary bracket 5.

As exemplified in Figure 9, straps 55 are adapted to be threaded through the slots 54 so that the auxiliary bracket may be detachably secured with respect to another type of support such as a pillar or stanchion 51. A bolt or bolts 58 may be employed for securing the straps to the pillar.

In View of the foregoing it will Ibe manifest cabinet provides means wherebythe cabinetl may be readily connectedand disconnected, without the aid of tools, to one typeof mounting or support such as another cabinet 4and that such cabinet may also be supported with respect to another type or types of mountingsby the use of the auxiliary bracket 5. ...The lower compartment of the cabinet and 'appurtenances will now be described. The vertical front wall S of the cabinet is preferably provided with a generally rectangular vopening 59 of a size to permit easy access to the, compartment,'particularly to the contents of the pan 3. A door 60 is adapted to be resilientlysecured in the opening in such a way that the outer face of the door is disposed substantially flush with the outerface of the front wall of the cabinet, as illustrated in Figure 8 ofthe drawing.V The front wall of the 'preferably upturned as illustrated in Figure 8 to assist in preventing rain'from running over the topV ofthe door 69 into the compartment 2; The lower portion of the door is arranged to engage the front wall of the cabinet, as clearly illustrated in Figure 8, and may be provided with a lip portion 56 which may be manually engaged to assist in opening and closing the door to the compartment when the pan is not used. When the pan or receptacle is to be used the door will be detached from the cabinet.

The receptacle 3 is preferably detachably secured in the compartment 2 by a resilient latch 61. This latch is secured at one end to the back wall of the cabinet by a rivet 68 and its other end is provided with a stop portion 59 which is adapted to engage the outer surface of the back wall to predetermine a holding portion 10 of the latch in engagement with the beaded rear edge that the bracket 4 normally associated with the 75 of the pan to detachably secure the pan in place, the arrangement being such that the pan normally assumes a tilted position so as to facilitate access to its contents, such as a water absorbent cleaning pad illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. It will be noted that a portion of the latch is movable through a clearance aperture 1l provided in the back wall. To remove the pan it is merely necessary to press the latch rearwardly.

If found desirable, the bottom wall I9 of the cabinet may be pro-vided with a plurality of slots 12 so that any water splashing over the rim of the receptacle or any rain or foreign matter inadvertently entering the compartment 2 will be directed forwardly and pass downwardly andv outwardly through these slots.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that 'various modications may be made in lthe same without -departingfrom the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts herein shown and described.'

I claim:

1. A bracket and cover assembly for a cabinet, said bracket comprising a base wall, a cover for the cabinet hingedly connected to said wall, an upstanding wall integral with said base wall providing :a stop Afor-the. cover, a top wall integral Ywith said upstanding'wall Vfor supportingthe to a support.

2. A cabinet having a back wall, a member carried by the cabinet, said member having a top wall, apertures provided in the top wall of the member, holding means carried by the back wall having a rearwardly extending portion and a holding portion spaced substantially parallel to the back Walla bracket having an upper portion provided with lugs projecting beyond the upper marginal edge of the upper portion and located in the apertures, said bracket also having a lower portion located in the space between the said holding portion and back Wall, the overall length of the bracket being less than the distance between the top wall of the member and the rearwardly extending portion of the holding means so that the cabinet and member as a unit can be shifted to release the lugs from the apertures and thereby permit removal of the unit from the bracket. f"

3. A cabinet having a top wall and a back wall, a channel member carried by the top wall, apertures provided in the base wall of the channel, holding means carried by the back wall having a rearwardly extending portion and a holding portion spaced substantially parallel to the back wall, a bracket having 'an upper portion provided withlugs projecting beyond vthe-upper marginal edge of the upper portion and located in the apertures, said bracket also having a lower portion located in the space between the said yholding portion and back Wall, the overall length of the bracket being less than the distance between the base Wall of the channel and the rearwardly extending portion of the holding means so that the cabinet and channel as a unit can be raised to release the lugs from the apertures and thereby permit removal of the unit from the bracket.

JOHN W. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 849.656 Brennan Apr. 9, 1907 y1,016,982 Carpenter Feb. 13, 1912 1,313,498 Nason Aug. 19, 1919 Y 1,790,977 De Boer Feb. 3, 1931 1,887,159 Knight Nov. 8, 1932 1,916,509 Hammer July 4, 1933 1,969,580 Robertson Aug. 7, 1934 1,981,674 Solomon Nov. 20, 1934 2,316,833 Baron Apr. 20, 1943 2,376,411 Ahrndt May 22, 1945 2,521,572 Eckel Sept. 5, 1950.

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