GB2318276A

GB2318276A - Security cabinet assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2318276A
Application number: GB9621439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vivienne Olive Aldridge; Terence Patrick Aldridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-15
Filing date: 1996-10-15
Publication date: 1998-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-15
Also published as: GB9621439D0; GB2318276B

Abstract

A security cabinet assembly comprises an outer cabinet 10 housing an inner cabinet 20 which can be slid outwards, pivoted on a vertical axis when withdrawn whereby its open end faces either outwardly or inwardly relative to the inner cabinet, and then slid back in. The mechanism includes bearing plates 24 on the inner cabinet and extension plates (14, Fig 3) which slide in corresponding grooves (12, Fig 2) in the top and bottom walls of the outer cabinet, and pins (26, Fig 3) which are received in elongated slots in the extension plates and allow both sliding and pivoting of the inner cabinet. Both cabinets may have lockable doors.

Description

Cabinet Assembly The present invention relates to a cabinet assembly which provides improved security.

There are many occasions in which a cabinet is used to store valuable articles or documents, yet unauthorised access is all to easily obtained by breaking the lock to the cabinet door.

We have now devised a cabinet assembly which provides a substantially increased degree of security.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cabinet assembly which comprises an outer cabinet, an inner cabinet, and means for mounting the inner cabinet within the outer cabinet such that the inner cabinet can be slid forwardly through the front of the outer cabinet, turned around on a vertical axis and then slid back into the outer cabinet.

In this assembly, the inner cabinet can be reversed so that its front is made inaccessible at the rear of the outer cabinet. Accordingly, the interior of the inner cabinet is inaccessible even after the front of the outer cabinet is broken open: indeed, it is not necessary for the outer cabinet to have a closure for its front.

Preferably a lock is provided for locking the inner cabinet in its reversed position within the outer cabinet.

Preferably the door or other closure to the front of the inner cabinet is provided with a lock. Preferably also the door or other closure (where provided) to the front of the outer cabinet is provided with a lock.

Preferably the inner cabinet is mounted to the outer cabinet by means of a pair of extension members which slide forwardly and rearwardly on the top and bottom panels of the outer cabinet, the inner cabinet being further slidable on these extension members. The extension members preferably comprise elongate plates which slide in grooves which extend rearwardly from the front edge of the top and bottom panels of the outer cabinet. Preferably the inner cabinet is slidable on the extension members by means of pins projecting from its top and bottom into respective longitudinal slots in the extension members: these pins also provide the vertical axis around which the inner cabinet can be turned.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a cabinet assembly in accordance with the invention, showing the inner cabinet removed from the outer cabinet; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the base panel of the outer cabinet, to show the groove which receives the sliding extension plate; and FIGURE 3 is a view of the sliding extension plate, its retaining strips and of the locating pin for interconnecting the sliding extension plate with the inner cabinet.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a cabinet assembly which comprises an outer cabinet 10 and an inner cabinet 20, each having opposite side panels and top, bottom and rear panels and an open front. The open front of cabinet 10 is arranged for receiving the inner cabinet 20: the outer cabinet is optionally provided with a d r for closing its open front, this door being lockable, but the door is omitted from the drawings. The inner cabinet 20 also has an open front, provided with a lockable door 22 (shown removed).

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, a groove 12 is formed in the upperside of the base panel of the outer cabinet, and extending rearwardly from the front: the opposite edges of the groove 12 are formed to a reduced depth. An elongate extension plate 14 (Figure 3) is received in the central, deeper portion of the groove 12, and is retained by a pair of retaining strips 16 which are fixed into the respective reduced-depth edge portions of the groove 12. The plate 14 is able to slide lengthwise of the groove 12, i.e. forwardly and rearwardly of the outer cabinet 10, but has a projecting pin 13 engaged in a longitudinal slot 15 in the bottom of the groove 12, to limit its forward movement.

The underside of the top panel of the outer cabinet 10 is formed with a groove corresponding to the groove 12 of the base panel, and having a plate and retainer arrangement corresponding to the plate 14 and retainer strips 16.

The inner cabinet 20 has a bearing plate 24 fixed to the underside of the base panel of the inner cabinet 20, and a corresponding plate fixed to the upperside of its top panel.

The bearing plates 24 of the inner cabinet seat on the respective extension plates 14 of the outer cabinet, with each of the bearing plates 24 being located between the respective pair of retaining strips 16. Further, a locating pin 26 (Figure 3) is fitted into a socket 28 at the centre of each bearing plate 26 and projects into a longitudinal slot 18 in the respective extension plate 14.

It will be appreciated that the inner cabinet 20 is able to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to the outer cabinet, firstly by means of the locating pins 26 sliding along the slots 18 in the extension plates 14, and segóndly by means of the extension plates 14 sliding along the grooves 12 in the top and bottom panels of the outer cabinet. Moreover, when the inner cabinet 20 is pulled forwardly to its maximum extent, it will be free of the outer cabinet 10 and can then be turned around, on the locating pins 26, and then slid back into the outer cabinet 10.

Thus, for security, the door 22 of the inner cabinet 20 can be closed, then the inner cabinet 20 turned round so that its door 22 faces rearwardly, then the inner cabinet can be slid back into the outer cabinet: preferably a lock is provided to lock the inner cabinet in this position. Finally, the door to the outer cabinet is closed and locked.

Claims

1) A cabinet assembly comprising an outer cabinet, an inner cabinet, and means for mounting said inner cabinet within said outer cabinet such that said inner cabinet can be slid forwardly through the front of said outer cabinet, turned around on a vertical axis and then slid back into said outer cabinet.

2) A cabinet assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said inner cabinet is reversible to render its front inaccessible at the rear of said outer cabinet.

3) A cabinet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a lock is provided for locking said inner cabinet in its reversed position within said outer cabinet.

4) A cabinet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said inner cabinet comprises a door or other closure to its front, which door or other closure is provided with a lock.

5) A cabinet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said outer cabinet comprises a door or other closure to its front, which door or other closure is provided with a lock.

6) A cabinet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said inner cabinet is mounted to said outer cabinet by means of a pair of extension members which slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to the top and bottom panels of said outer cabinet, said inner cabinet being further slidable on said extension members.

7) A cabinet assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said extension members comprise elongate plates which slide in grooves which extend rearwardly from the front edge of the top and bottom panels of said outer cabinet.

8) A cabinet assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein said inner cabinet is slidable on said extension members by means of pins projecting from its top and bottom into respective longitudinal slots in said extension members, said pins providing the vertical axis around which said inner cabinet can be turned.

9) A cabinet assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.