GB2171080A - Storage assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage assembly includes a plurality of drawers (10). Each drawer (10) has an open top and is open on one side. Within each drawer (10) there is located a block (22) of high resilient foam provided with a channel (24) which extends vertically downwardly to communicate at its lower end in an enlarged cut-out (30). The channel (24) and the cut-out (30) are designed to receive a large heavy tool in a friction fit. Recesses (32) are formed on respective sides of the channel (24) to enable manual access to a part of the tool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage assembly This invention relates to a storage assembly and particularly a drawer assembly adapted for storage of tools or the like of the type which are heavy and/or bulky and consequently difficult to store in a readiiy accessible manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage assembly comprising means housing a plurality of drawers, each of which is movable between a closed position within the housing means and an open position extending therefrom, being supported in the housing means on its base and at one side and having the opposite side substantially open, and each drawer locating holding means for a tool or the like, whereby the tool can be retained in the drawer in a substantially vertical plane and can be moved into and out of the drawer from said opposite side when the drawer is in its open position.

Preferably each drawer has a height greater than its width and desirably the drawers are arranged side by side longitudinally of the housing means.

Preferably also the holding means comprises a base part at a lower end of the drawer for receiving one end of a tool or the like.

Preferably also the holding means comprises a head part towards the top end of the drawer for receiving an upper part of the tool or the like. The head is preferably formed to function as a spring clip, whereby to retain the upper part of the tool or the like in position, but be capable of releasing the tool on the application of manual pressure. The head may be formed by a piece of resiliently deformable material in which is formed a recess for receiving the upper part of the tool, and an entry to the recess which is resiliently deformed on passage of the upper part of the tool therethrough. The material of the head may be a high resilient foam, for example in the form of a block of polystyrene.

The base may also have a recess into which can be inserted said one end of the tool and may be formed from a resiliently deformable material. The material is preferably in the form of high resilient foam, for example polystyrene foam. The blocks forming the base and the head may be spaced apart, whereby an intermediate part of the tool can be handled to remove the tool from the drawer, or alternatively the head and base may be formed as an integral block provided with a recess part enabling manual access to a part of the tool.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing part of a drawer of an assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of a tool holding arrangement adapted to locate in the drawer; and Fig. 3 shows a modification of the tool holding arrangement.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a storage assembly comprises a free-standing cabinet within which is housed a plurality of drawers 10 for movement between a closed position within the cabinet and an open position extending outwardly therefrom. Each drawer 10 has a height substantially greater than its width and is substantially equivalent to a conventional drawer turned through 90" onto one side. Each drawer 10 is provided with a front to back runner 12 on an external bottom face 11 and two parallel, vertically spaced front to back runners 14 on the external face of one side 16. Each drawer 10 has an open top and is open on the side opposite the side 16, except for a lower wall part 13 on which is provided a front to back runner 15. The runners 12,14 and 15 co-operating with guides in the cabinet.A plurality of the drawers 10 are arranged side by side along the length of the cabinet, and on a front 18 of each drawer 10 there is provided a handle 20 for opening of the drawer. A lock of any suitable design may be incorporated in the drawer handle.

Within each drawer 10 there is located a block 22 of a resiliently deformable material such as high resilient foam, the external dimensions of the block 22 being substantially complementary to the internal dimensions of the drawer 10. The block 22 is provided with a channel 24 which opens onto a top 26 of the block 22 and an outwardly facing side 28 of the block 22. The channel 24 is substantially central of the front to back dimension of the block 22 and extends vertically downwardly to communicate at its lower end short of the lower end of the block 22 in an enlarged cut-out 30. The channel 24 and cut-out 30 are designed to receive in a friction fit, by resilient deformation of the block material, a large heavy tool such as a sledgehammer (not shown) with the head of the hammer in the cut-out 30 and the handle of the hanner in the channel 24.In this way, the hammer is conveniently stored in a substantially vertical plane.

When not in use the drawer is closed and the hammer is conveniently stored, while the hammer can be easily accessible when the drawer is open. To assist in removing the hammer from the block 24, recesses 32 are formed on respective sides of the channel 24 so that, when stored, the handle of the hammer can be easily gripped at the location of the recesses 32 by the hand.

In a modification as shown in Fig. 3, the tool is held by a base block 34 secured at the lower end of the drawer 10 and a head block 36 secured at the upper end of the drawer 10. The blocks 34 and 36 are again prefera bly formed of a resiliently deformable material such as high resilient foam.

The base block 34 has a channel 38 opening onto a top face 40 and a side face 42, and extending downwardly from a central location to communicate with an enlarged cutout 44. The head block 36 has a channel 46 extending between upper and lower faces, the channel 46 having an entry part 48 narrower in width than the main body 50 of the channel.

When a tool such as a sledgehammer is to be stored in a drawer, the head of the hammer is located in the cutout 44 with the handle in the channel 38. The other end of the handle locates in the channel 46 but the entry 48 of the latter is designed to be of lesser width than the width of the handle of the hammer whereby the hammer has to resiliently deform the material at the entry 48 before entering the main body. The head part 36 therefore functions as a spring clip and retains the hammer in its stored position. This modification reduces the amount of foam required and thus the costs involved in manufacture, and also facilitates removal of the tool, as an intermediate part of the handle is readily accessible to the user.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example a base may be provided having a well arranged centrally and opening only onto the upper face of the base block to receive the head of a tool. It will be appreciated that the block or blocks for holding the tools may be formed with channels and cut-outs of any desired configuration for holding different types of tools or other components and the invention is not restricted to blocks such as described and shown. Further, the blocks may be formed of any other suitable material. The cabinet may be provided with rollers or the like to facilitate movement to different working locations.

If desired the drawer assembly may be provided with a locking arrangement of the type described and shown in our co-pending Application entitled "Improvements in or Relating to Drawer Assemblies" whereby only one drawer can be opened at any particular time.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (23)

1. A storage assembly comprising means housing a plurality of drawers, each of which is movable between a closed position within the housing means and an open position extending therefrom, each drawer being supported in the housing means on its base and at one side and having the opposite side substantially open, and each drawer locating holding means for a tool or the like, whereby the tool can be retained in the drawer in a substantially vertical plane and can be moved into and out of the drawer from said opposite side when the drawer is in its open position.

2. A storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein each drawer has a height greater than its width.

3. A storage assembly according to claim 1 or 2, in which the drawers are arranged side by side longitudinally of the housing means.

4. A storage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the holding means includes a head part towards a top end of the drawer for receiving an upper part of the tool.

5. A storage assembly according to claim 4, in which the head part is formed to function as a spring clip, whereby to retain the upper part of the tool in position, but be capable of releasing the tool on application of manual pressure.

6. A storage assembly according to claim 4 or 5, in which the head part is formed of a resiliently deformable material in which is formed a recess for receiving the upper part of the tool.

7. A storage assembly according to claim 6, when dependent on claim 5, in which an entry to the recess in the head part is resiliently deformed on passage of the upper part of the tool therethrough whereby to function as the spring clip.

8. A storage assembly according to claims 6 or 7, in which the material of the head part is a high resilient foam.

9. A storage assembly according to claim 8, in which the head part is formed of polystyrene.

10. A storage assembly according to any of the preceding claims in which the holding means includes a base part at a lower end of the drawer for receiving one end of the tool.

11. A storage assembly according to claim 10, in which the base part has a recess into which can be inserted said one end of the tool.

12. A storage assembly according to claim 10 or 11, in which the base part is formed of a resiliently deformable material.

13. A storage assembly according to claim 12, in which the base part is formed of a block of a high resilient foam.

14. A storage assembly according to claim 13, in which the base part is formed of polystyrene foam.

15. A storage assembly according to any of claims 10 to 14, when dependent on any of claims 4 to 9, in which the base and head parts are spaced apart, whereby an intermediate part of the tool can be handled to remove the tool from the drawer.

16. A storage assembly according to any of claims 10 to 14, when dependent on any of claims 4 to 9, in which the head and base parts are formed integrally as a body provided with a further recess enabling manual access to an intermediate part of the tool.

17. A storage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which each drawer is provided with a front to back runner on at least one external face of the base, which runner co-operates with a guide on the cabinet.

18. A storage assembly according to claim 17, in which each drawer is provided with parallel, vertically spaced, front to back runners on an external face of said one side, the runners co-operating with guides in the cabinet.

19. A storage assembly according to claim 17, in which each drawer is provided with a front to back runner on an external face of a wall part of said opposite side.

20. A storage assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a handle is provided on the front of each drawer.

21. A storage assembly according to claim 19, in which a lock is incorporated in the drawer handle.

22. A storage assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.