GB2132075A - Storage cabinet for parallelpipedic articles of different sizes - Google Patents

Abstract

A cabinet has one or more shelves (24) each of which has a number of parallel ribs (22) extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet to locate a predetermined larger sized parallel- piped in a vertical attitude, and also has vertical partitions, (24) each of which is provided with a vertical rib (26) which is spaced from the front of the cabinet a depth equal to the depth of a predetermined smaller sized parallelpiped such that they can be stacked in the cabinet in a horizontal attitude, the ribs (26) restricting their insertion so that their front edges are generally flush with the front of the cabinet. The larger articles can also be stored in the cabinet on top or below the smaller articles, their depth being substantially equal to the depth of the cabinet so that the front faces of both articles are generally flush. Preferably the larger articles are video casettes and the smaller articles are audio casettes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage cabinet The present invention relates to storage cabinets.

Now that video cassette recorders are becoming more popular a number of video cassette storage cabinets have appeared on the market. However, such cabinets primarily are adapted to store video cassettes only. Those cabinets which are adapted to store both audio and video tape cassettes are provided with a fixed storage space for each. Such storage cabinets, therefore, appeal only to the minority of people who own both audio cassette players and video cassette players. In addition, a user who has an excess of video cassettes and only a small number of audio cassettes or vice versa, requires two or more storage cabinets none of which will be completely filled. There is, therefore, a considerable waste of space.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cabinet for storing regularly shaped objects of two or more different sizes, the cabinet having partition members for converting a compartment of the storage cabinet adapted to receive objects of a first regular shape to enable the said compartment to receive objects of a second, different regular shape.

A storage cabinet according to the present invention is primarily intended for use with audio and video cassettes and has the advantage that the whole of the storage space can be used for either audio or video cassettes or can be partitioned into two or more compartments, each of which is adapted to receive both audio cassettes and video cassettes. The sizes of the compartments can be adjusted to cater for the varying numbers of audio and video cassettes which a user might possess.

The present invention is further described hereinafter by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a storage cabinet according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of storage cabinet according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a storage cabinet 10 specifically for storing audio and video tape cassettes. The cabinet has two side walls 12, 14 top and bottom walls 16, 18 and a backing wall 20. The front of the cabinet is opened for easy access although it may conveniently be provided with a decorative, hinged door, preferably of clear of smoked plastics. The door may also be lockable as a security aid.

The bottom wall 18 is provided with a number of upstanding, parallel ribs 22 which are spaced apart the width of a video cassette, the ribs serving to locate stored cassettes. A shelf 24 is spaced mid-way between the top and bottom walls 16, 18 and is also provided with unstanding ribs 22. As described, the whole of the storage space of the storage cabinet is adapted to receive video cassettes.

Part or all of the storage space can be adapted to receive audio cassettes by the addition of vertical detachable partitions 24. Since the depth of a video cassette is considerably greater than that of an audio cassette the partitions 24 are provided with vertical ribs 26 to limit the depth to which the audio cassettes can be inserted into the cabinet. In use, whereas the video cassettes are arranged vertically, the audio cassettes are arranged horizontally, the lowermost cassette in each partitioned storage space resting on the ribs 22. The side walls 12 and 14 are also provided with vertical ribs 26 to compliment the corresponding ribs on the facing side of an adjacent partition 24. The ribs 26 do not interfere with the storage of video cassettes so that the partitions 24 can, in fact, be permanently secured in the cabinet.

Each of the storage spaces formed by the partitions 24 can therefore be used to store both video and audio cassettes, the latter being laid horizontally on top of or beneath the vertically arranged video cassettes.

Locating holes 28 are provided in the rear wall 20 to enable the cabinet to be wall mounted.

Although the storage cabinet has been described with reference to the storage of video and audio cassettes it will be appreciated that the cabinet can be used to store other objects of a regular shape.

In addition, the audio cassettes can be stored both horizontally and vertically in each storage compartment in any suitable arrangement.

In Figure 2 two cabinets 10 such as are shown in Figure 1 are arranged back to back and supported on a stand which allows the cabinets to be rotated together. The two cabinets are secured back to back by two horizontally arranged channel members 30 of U-shaped cross-section which are vertically spaced.

The cabinets are secured, to the members 30 through locating holes 28 in the cabinets. Any other suitable form of connecting the cabinets may, of course, be used.

The cabinets are supported in a stand 32 which comprises a base 34 having conveniently four radially extending horizontal legs 36 at right angles to one another and a vertical support rod 38 upstanding from the junction of the legs. Again, any suitable form of base may be provided. Part way up the rod 38 a stop 40 is secured. A base plate 42 on which the cabinets rest or are secured rests on this top such that the base plate and thus the cabinets can be rotated about the rod, the stop 40 serving as a bearing. The rod 38 passes through holes in the members 30 to provide stability.

A canopy 44 is located on top of the cabinet and can carry advertising or other literature. One or more clear plastics security lenses or doors 46 is hinged to either or both cabinets and can be mounted with a vertical or horizontal hinge. The doors can be provided with locks, if desired, for security. Finally, side plates 48 are provided to cover the gap between the cabinets, the side plates being secured to the sides of the cabinets.

The above-described rotating cabinet unit may be used as a counter or floor standing unit. The vertical position of the cabinet of the rod 38 is conveniently adjustable for example, by repositioning of the stop 40.

The single cabinet shown in Figure 1 can also be provided with a stand to enable to cabinet to be rotated.

Claims (6)

1. A cabinet for storing regular shaped objects of two or more different sizes, the cabinet having partition members for converting a compartment of the storage cabinet adapted to receive objects of a first regular shape to enable the said compartment to receive objects of a second, different regular shape.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cabinet, when adapted, is capable of receiving objects of both said first and second shapes.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second shaped objects are of different depths and said cabinet of smaller depth to a preselected position.

4. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said preselected position is substantially equal to the depth of said smaller depth objects.

5. A cabinet for storing regularly shaped objects, the cabinet having means for enabling a compartment of the storage cabinet adapted to receive simultaneously objects of a first regular shape and of a second, different regular shape.

6. A cabinet for storing regularly shaped objects, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.