Cabinet

<td> April 11, 1950</td><td> E. J. SMAYDA, JR 2,503,599 CABINET</td>

<td> Filed Sept. 20, 1948</td><td> 2 Sheets-Sheet 1</td>

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April 11, 1950

Filed Sept. 20, 1948

E. J. SMAYDA, JR

CABINET

2,503,599

Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR.

// f ,

Patented Apr. 11, 1950

2,503,599

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,503,599

CABINET

Eugene J. Smayda, Jr., University Heights, Ohio Application September 20; 1948, Serial No. 50,025

Claims. (Cl. 312—187)

My invention relates to cabinets, compartments and racks for supporting and accommodating a plurality of trays and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved cabinet for accommodating a plurality of trays and the like, the cabinet being economical In manufacture and efficient in use.

Another object is to provide a cabinet for a plurality of trays arranged in a vertical row and supported in position one above the other by the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a novel structure in a cabinet for accommodating a plurality of trays and having a minimum of structural elements embodied therein.

Another object is to provide a cabinet for enclosing a plurality of trays supported by the cabinet without an auxiliary framework for the support and rigidity of the cabinet walls.

Another object is to provide for an improved shipping or storage cabinet for enclosing and supporting a plurality of trays slidably inserted in the cabinet, the cabinet structure having a minimum of weight, bulk and material for the required purpose.

Another object is to provide a cabinet structure formed to have strong and rigid walls braced in position without the requirement for an external framework or other bracing means.

Another object is to provide a cabinet formed with side walls arranged to function both for support of a plurality of trays and for strengthening and making rigid the cabinet walls.

Another object is to provide for a cabinet having sheet metal walls so made and assembled that the sheet metal walls in themselves afford rigidity, strength and bracing to the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a sheet metal cabinet wherein the sheet metal walls in themselves form framing members for the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a shipping and storage cabinet particularly adapted for enclosing and supporting a plurality of trays in vertical row arrangement in a convenient and useful manner.

Another object is the provision for accommodating a plurality of trays and the like in a minimum of space and with a maximum of support and enclosure for the material used in fabricating the cabinet.

Another object is the provision of a cabinet and the like particularly adapted for accommodating trays, such as pans used in the bakery business, and for the use of such a cabinet in the shipping of baked goods on such pans in a sanitary and safe manner.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the follow5 ing description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a cabinet embodying the preferred form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of my cabinet looking ¹⁰ in the direction of the arrows 2—2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of my cabinet taken through the line 3—3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of my cabinet taken through the line 4—4 of Figure 2;

¹⁵ Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of the construction of the rear vertical corners of the cabinet;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail the form of the side walls of the cabinet. ²⁰ and the disposition of a tray or pan supported in one of the grooves or recesses of the side wall members; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail the assembly and disposition of a side ²⁵ wall member and vertical frame member.

The present description will be made in reference to the use of the cabinet as a storage and shipping cabinet for baked goods carried on a plurality of trays or pans, although it is to be un;-₍₁ derstood that my cabinet is adapted for other and analogous purposes. In referring to a tray, it is to be understood that this includes pans or other devices used for supporting or holding articles. In the preferred form of my invention, all of the 35 enclosing walls are made of sheet metal. This metal may be steel or other suitable metal, and for reducing the weight I prefer to use sheet aluminum or other lightweight metal. The metal used is suitable for forming into the required 40 shape and for being joined by welding as herein described.

The preferred form of my cabinet is comprised of two vertically positioned, spaced and parallel side wall members II, a top wall member 12, a 45 rear wall member 13, a bottom wall member 14 and an enclosing door IT. These members together provide an enclosed Compartment providing a sanitary and safe enclosure for shipping and storage of baked goods and the like. The bottom 50 wall member 14 provides the base of the cabinet, the bottom wall member 14 being formed of a horizontally disposed piece of sheet metal having downwardly extending flanges 14—b around its periphery. Adjacent the peripheral edges of 55 wall member 14 there is a portion 14—a running around the base member and forming a ledge extending a short distance out from the side walls, rear walls and door of the cabinet. This peripheral edge portion 14—a and flange 14—b provides ' a bumper on the four sides of the cabinet to protect the walls of the cabinet against being dented, scraped or injured during shipment or otherwise as might occur from the cabinet being moved against the wall or against another cabinet.

Carried by, and extending vertically upward : from the bottom wall member 14 on the two sides of the cabinet, are two side wall members II. The side wall members II are vertically positioned, spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other. The side wall members 11 ot metal 1 are formed to be recurrently bent back upon themselves at right angle bends, or they may be said to be corrugated in a broad sense of the word. As so formed each side wall member II has formed therein a plurality of grooves, chan- 5 nels or longitudinal recesses 11—a. These grooves 11—a are disposed in a horizontal plane, parallel to each other and spaced apart in respect to each of the wall members. The recesses II—a open inwardly of the cabinet, and oppo- ί site recesses 11—a of the two wall members face each other to provide pairs of grooves or channels in horizontal planes adapted to accommodate the tray or pan, such as pan 21. As each pair of opposite grooves 11—a accommodates a J pan 21, as many pans 21 as there are opposite pairs of grooves provided in the side wall members may be accommodated in the cabinet.

There is an outer wall 11—b opposite each internal recess or groove 11—a. The recurrently 3 occurring outer wall surfaces 11—b are disposed in one vertical plane as shown in the drawing. There is a connecting portion It—c extending between each of the recesses or grooves II—a. This connecting portion (I—c is disposed in an- 4 other vertical plane parallel to the vertical plane passing through outer wall II—b. Preferably, the connecting portions ί I—c are of greater longitudinal dimension than the wall 11—b forming the back of each recess 11—a. Each recess or 4 groove 11—a has a bottom wall 11—d forming a supporting ledge for the support of trays or pans 21. Also, each recess or groove 11—a has a top wall II—e. The connecting portion II—c extends vertically between top wall II—e of each 5 recess II—a to the bottom wall II—d of the next recess above it. The bottom ledge or wall It—d is somewhat chamfered at the junction with connecting portion II—c as indicated at 11—f in Figure 6 of the drawing. The wall of 5 the recess is chamfered at 11—f for the purpose of better accommodating the type of tray or pan 21 illustrated in the drawing and often used in the bakery business for accommodating baked goods. The pan or tray 21 has a rim 21—a at eits peripheral edges and which rests upon the ledge II—d. The pan or tray 21 also has a sunken or depressed bottom 21—b, the walls of the tray or pan sloping down at an angle from the rim 21—a to the bottom 21—b. The cham- β fered edge II—f better accommodates pans or trays of this construction. Each pan or tray 21 is adapted to be slid into the cabinet with opposite rims 21—a positioned in the opposite recesses or grooves 11—a. A plurality of trays or 71 pans 21 may be accommodated in the cabinet, each pan or tray being positioned in one of the pair of recesses 11—a. Thus a plurality of trays arranged in a vertical row may be supported one above another in the cabinet, and each tray may 71

9,008,699 be independently slid into or slid out of the cabinet.

The bottom horizontally disposed wall portions of each side wall member 11 rest upon and engage the top surface of bottom wall member 14. The abutting surfaces of bottom wall 14 and side wall members 11 are welded together, preferably by resistance welding so that the side wall members 11 are firmly secured to the bottom wall member 14 and the junctures along the meeting surfaces are substantially sealed or closed.

The rear wall member II, also preferably made of sheet metal, is disposed in a vertical plane and extends between the vertical rear edges of the side wall members 11 to dose the rear of the cabinet. Reinforced corner portions are provided at the rear corners of the cabinet by bending or folding the vertical opposite edges of rear wall member II in a manner disclosed in Figures 4 and 5. The sheet metal of the rear wall member it is folded back upon itself to form a folded portion 11—c. The first folded portion is again bent at right angles to the rear wall of the cabinet to form a flange 11—a reinforced with the folded portion II—b shown in detail in Figure 5. Thus at each vertical edge of rear wall member 11, there is provided a reinforced corner portion or flange extending at right angles to the rear wall of the cabinet. The flange of rear wall member II composed of portions II—a and 11—b, is disposed next adjacent to wall 11—b of the two side wall members il. Inasmuch as wall II—b and wall 11—c of each side wall member are in two spaced and parallel vertical planes, the flanged portion of rear wall member II can be disposed next adjacent to only one of these walls, as the flanged portion composed of II—a and II—b is straight in a vertical direction. The flanged edge portions of rear wall II—a are joined to the several wall portions 11—b of the respective wall members II, preferably being joined by resistance welding at a location indicated by reference character 22 in Figure 5. The welding of flanges II—a of rear wall member 11 to side wall members 11 is done at recurring intervals along the length of the side wall members, these intervals being determined by the irregular configuration or corrugation of the side wall members. It is preferable to have all of the channel walls 11—b welded to the adjacent flanges of the rear wall member so that every one of the wall portions 11—b are welded or otherwise suitably joined to the flanged corner portion. However, in practice a relatively few of the wall portions 11—b may be 5 skipped in the welding operation so that substantially all of the wall portions II—b are welded or otherwise suitably joined to the flanged corner portions of rear wall members it.

At the front vertical edges of side wall members 11, there are two vertical frame members il and II extending the height of the cabinet and longitudinally of the side wall members. These frame members II and IS are made of metal and may be made in a suitable structural form for strength and rigidity, such as the channel members II and IS illustrated in the drawing. The respective frame members are positioned at or adjacent the front edge portions of side wall members 11 and are disposed next adjacent the wall portions It—b of the respective side wall members. The webs of the respective frame members II and It are welded, preferably by resistance welding, to the wall portions II—b of the side wall members. The resistance welding is preferably done at interengaged surfaces, such

9,503,089 β

as locations Indicated by the reference character 23 in Figure 7. Preferably all of the wall portions I I—b of each side wall member are welded or otherwise suitably joined to the adjacent vertical frame member. However, in practice a few of the wall portions 11—b of each side wall member may be skipped so that substantially all of the wall portions I i—b are welded or otherwise suitably joined to the respective frame members.

The top wall member 12 is a horizontally disposed and rectangular piece of sheet metal formed with downwardly extending flanges 12—a at its four peripheral edges. Two of the flanges 12—a overlap and are disposed adjacent the side wall members It and provide a closing of the cabinet at the juncture of top wall member 12 and side wall members 11. Preferably the opposite flanges 12—a adjacent the side wall members it are welded or otherwise suitably joined to the upper edge portions of side wall members 11, preference being given to resistance welding of adjacent surfaces. The flange 12—a at the rear of the cabinet overlaps the rear wall member 13 and is also preferably joined thereto by resistance welding. The top wall member 12 acts to enclose the top of the cabinet and also acts to tie together the three walls and to brace them in their vertical position. The front flange 12—a of top wall member 12 extends between the side wall members 11 at the front of the cabinet and aids to provide a brace and strengthening element for rigidity of the cabinet at the front thereof. The front flange 12—a extends down at the front face of the cabinet only a short distance and does not obstruct the front of the cabinet for the ready insertion and withdrawal of trays in and out of the pairs of grooves or recesses.

The door IT is adapted to close the front of the cabinet so that the interior is entirely closed. The door 17 is preferably made of sheet metal formed to have a front wall and an inner wall 17—a, thereby giving strength and rigidity to the door and also providing the protection. of a double-walled door. Three hinges 20 suitably spaced apart are carried by the vertical frame member 16, the fixed portion of each hinge being secured by welding or other suitable means to the flange of frame member 16. The hanging of doors i 7 on the cabinet is such that the door may be swung on its hinges to open the cabinet or swung to a closed position to close the front of the cabinet. A suitable latch or catch mechanism is carried by the vertical frame member 15, and this mechanism is adapted to secure the door 17 in closed position. A suitable closing mechanism is provided by a hinged bracket 24 carried by the frame member 15. The hinged bracket 24 may be secured to the frame member 15 by welding or other suitable means. The hinged bracket 24 carries with it two latches or catches 25 spaced apart and interconnected by a handle 26. The arrangement is such that the latches 25 may be moved out of the path of the door by swinging the handle 26 upwardly on the hinged bracket 24, and such that the latches 25 may be swung down in front of the free edge of the door to lock or secure the door in closed position. The frame member 15 provides a suitable anchor for securing the locking mechanism, and provides a firm abutment for the vertical edge of the door adjacent thereto. The frame member 16 provides a suitable anchor for the hinges 20 and a firm abutment for the vertical edge of the door adjacent thereto.

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It is to be noted that the form of side wall members 11 is such that a lateral rigidity is provided to each side wall member. The angularly disposed sides defining each recess or groove prevents or limits bending or distortion of the side wall members laterally of each side wall member. They thus provide framing or bracing elements for the side wall members embodied within the sheet metal of the side wall members them- „ selves. Also the corner flanged portions 13—a welded to the several wall portions II—b along the length of the side wall, members, provide rigidity longitudinally of the respective side wall members. The reinforced corner portions welding the rear wall member to the side wall members, provide strength and rigidity to the side wall members and rear wall member throughout the height of the cabinet. The frame members 15 and 16 provide rigidity to the side wall members at the front vertical edge portions thereof to provide rigidity to the side wall members longitudinally thereof in the vicinity of the front of the cabinet. The wall portions 11—b welded at intervals along the length of the frame members, provide a bracing or framing action for the cabinet. It is therefore seen that by the construction of the side wall members, sheet metal forming the side wall members forms the dual purpose of providing grooves or channels for receiving the trays and also for providing transverse frame elements for the side wall members. The entire assembly, construction and fabrication of the cabinet is such that the use of an external or auxiliary frame for providing strength and rigidity to the wall is largely eliminated. Only a minimum of material is required for the amount of strength, rigidity and enclosure required for a cabinet to meet desired service specifications. My cabinet is strong, durable and economical in construction, and at the same time provides a large degree of universal use in service. The frame members 15 and 16, besides providing strength and rigidity at the open front end of the cabinet, also provide mounting means for the door and a reinforcement of the side wall members where the trays are first inserted into the cabinet and where distortion or spreading apart of the side walls is most likely to occur.

To provide for ready transport and moving of the cabinet, suitable casters may be mounted to the bottom of the cabinet. Four caster brackets 18 are secured by welding or other suitable means to the bottom of the bottom wall 14 in such a manner as to permit swiveling of the casters. Caster wheels 19 rotatably mounted on the brackets, provide for the rolling of the cabinet across a floor or other surface. The casters are of the swiveling type so that the cabinet may be readily moved in a plurality of directions.

While in the preferred form of my invention it is desired that resistance welding may be utilized for ease of fabrication, it is also to be understood that spot welding or other suitable joining of the adjacent metallic wall portions may be utilized. In some instances, it may be desired to connect the parts together by other means other than by welding, such as, for example, securing the caster brackets 18 to the bottom wall 14 by nuts and bolts. However, for efficiency in fabrication and for obtaining the best results in a neat, strong and well-inclosed cabinet, I prefer to use welding as a means for joining the parts together.

The description contained in the appended

8,603,5©© claims is included in the present disclosure and made a part of this description by reference thereto.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.