US1513429A - Side-wall construction for filing cabinets - Google Patents

Description

@(Et. 23', 1924 I 1,513,429

F. A. SCHMITZ SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING CABINETS Filed May 25. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet i S'YVUQI L'r O'l MrA/E6$Es: Somwig,

1, w, l I I Get. 28 1924.

F. A. SCHMITZ SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING CABINETS s sheets-sheet. 2

Filed May 25.

get, 28, 1924. 2,513,429 F. A. SCHMITZ SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING CABINETS Filed May 25. 192] 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 2 8, 1924.

rrao FRED A. SOHMITZ, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL FIREPROOF- ING COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, 0310, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SIDE-WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING CABINETS.

Application filed May 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED A. SoHMrrz, citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning e and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Side-Wall Constructions for Filing Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in metal office furniture, more particularly of the filing cabinet type for use in storing papers, letters, files and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a light, durable and strong cabinet 1 of simplified construction, thereby materially reducing the cost of production while at the same time maintaining the structural features and characteristics necessary to provide a cabinet of maximum servicea bility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel side wall structure adapted to carry the drawer guides in a substantial and practical manner and having a maximum stiffness. That is to say, it is proposed to provide a side wall sheet havin stifi'ening portions performing the dual function of reinforcing the side walls and affording a base or support for the attachment of the drawer guides.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel corner construction for the side walls which gives stability in effect as well as in appearance. This construction 85 may therefore be advantageously used to strengthen the sides of the cabinet where the drawers enter, while atthe same time providin a finished edge or frame at the exposed face of the cabinet.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,-

the same consists in the novel construction,

combination and arrangements of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet embodying the present features of improvement.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view.

Serial No. 472,541.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to utilize a minimum amount of metal and arrange the same in such a way as to produce great stiflness and rigidity, at the same time omitting complicated joints and other parts which as a rule prevent facile assembly and frequently become sprung or loosened.

Accordingly, the invention contemplates the use of a pair of novel side wall units A, a base B, back wall O, and atop or cap D,

the front edges of the side wall units A being connected by the cross bars E which divide the front end of the cabinet into.

openings for receiving the drawers F which slide upon the drawer guides G. The front end of the cabinet may also be provided at the bottom with a suitable apron or panel H, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

One of the novel and distinctive features of the invention is the provision of means on the side walls A for supporting the drawer guides G. This means is preferably of such a character as to also stiffen or reinforce the side wall and in the embodiment shown may consist of the inwardly offset ribs 1 formed from the sheet material of the side wall. These ribs may be formed at suitable intervals in the side wall and present the channels 2 at the outside of the sheet thereby avoiding the exterior projections and permitting the cabinets to be readily placed side by side and also materially increasing the vertical stiifness of the sheet. In Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that one of the ribs is located at the middle of the sheet while the others are located adjacent the edges thereof to obtain a satisfactory distribution of the reinforcing effect without unduly multiplying the number of ribs, although it will of course be understood that the ribs may be used in any desired number and may extend in any desired direction, either vertically, horizontally or obliquely, and may be located at any desired interval according to the specifications and requirements of the different cabinets.

g; I nsraeae The said vertical stiffening ribs 1 may be formed in any cross sectional shape, but as shown in the present embodiment, they preferably consist of the fiat supporting wall portion 3 and the inclined sides 4 which avoid the formation of abrupt angles while giving the desired reinforcing efi'ect.

- As will be observed from the drawings, the drawer guides G for receiving the drawer carriages are preferably of the channeled type and extend throughout the width of the side walls A, and for the purpose of rigidly holding the drawer guides in position the same are preferably welded, or otherwise rigidly secured, to the flat supporting face 3 of the stifiening ribs, as indicated at it. When the drawer guides are welded to the stiffening ribs at the points where they cross the ribs, it will be apparent that the side walls are reinforced against horizontal bending stresses in a thoroughly practical and efi'ective manner. In other words, by reason of the channeled drawer guides Gr being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the inwardly oflset ribs at different levels throughout the height of the side walls, the latter will be materially reinforced and braced while at the same time the drawer guides will be efi'ectivel held in position to support the usual sli ing drawers F.

The formation of the vertical ribs 1 in the sheet of metal forming the side wall A is therefore of much practical importance since it not only gives the side wall vertical st1fl'- ness and reinforcement, but at the same time afiords a convenient support for the drawer guides, which by reason of their own stifi ness give the necessary reinforcement to the side sheet to enable the same to withstand horizontal twisting strains, without the necessity of adding additional reinforcing means between the top and bottom horizontal edges of the cabinet to provide the desired intermediate stifiness.

A further and important feature of the invention resides in the novel formation of the-vertical edges of the side walls A to provide a hollowbr tubular front corner post which maintains the desired lightness and economy of material while at the same time giving the required strength and reinforcement to the sides of the cabinet, as for example adjacent the drawer panels. As will be observed from Figure 4c the front edge portion 5 of the sheet forming the side wall A is bent at right angles, as indicated at 6, to provide the front edge of the side wall and then the remaining portion of the sheet is bent back parallel to the plane of the side wall, as indicated at 7 and formed with an angular attaching flange portion 8 which preferably contacts with the interior face of the wall 3 of the inwardly offset rib 1 adjacent the front edge of the cabinet. The said flange 8 may be welded or otherwise secured to the rib l to make the hollow corner post or frame entirely stable and rigid to withstand the shock and jar incident to the manipulation of the drawers F.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the side walls 8 have several distinctly novel features which are an important part of the present invention. And, to recapitulate these features reside in the provision of the inwardly offset portions forming supports for the drawer guides, the said inwardly ofi'set portions being preferably in the form of vertical ribs to give vertical stiffness to the side walls. Also, the formation at the front edge of the sheets provides a stable front corner position construction.

The side walls A having the novel features referred to are preferably united at their rear edges with a back wall C by flanges 9, and the top edges of the said walls receive the cap D having the depending back and side flanges l0, and the depending front flange 11, which is inwardly ofi'set as at 12 to provide a finished top panel section. The front edges of the sections A are laterally braced through the attachment of the cross bars E for the drawers, while the bottom edges of the side walls A surround the vertical side wall portions 13 of the hollow base member 3 whose rear vertical side wall M is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the back C. To provide the desired finish for the bottom of the front portion of the cabinet, the panel or apron H may be placed between the inner side portion 7 of the corner post, as shown in Figures 3 and a of the drawings. To make a finished edge for the bottom portion of the base 13, the walls 13 and 14 previously referred to, may be formed with the horizontal flange portions 15, clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5.

Without further description it is thought that the many features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

ll claim:

1. A cabinet construction including a sheet metal side wall having vertically dis posed pressed-in channel portions arranged at spaced intervals, and combined reinforcing and drawer guide members paralleling the side wall and secured to the inner faces of said channels.

2. A cabinet construction including a sheet metal side wall having relativel wide vertically disposed pressed-in sti ening secured to the inner faces of said channels, of said channels.

guide menihers paralleling the side wall and the side wall and secured to the inner faces 10 3. A cabinet construction including a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my a sheet niftal'gide waall havingdrelativel wide signature in the presence of two witnesses. vertica y 'spose presse -in sti ening channel ortions arranged adjacent the front v FRED and read edges and also at the middle of Witnesses: said wall, and combined reinforcin and W. C. ConxnLL, drawer guide members arranged parfilel to I :i W. Porn.

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