Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02461840 2004-03-25
PARTITIONING SYSTEM FOR DRAWER AND FASTENING ARRANGEMENT
THEREFOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to drawer partitioning,
and more particularly to a drawer partitioning system and a
fastening arrangement therefor. The partitioning system and
the fastening arrangement according to the present invention
are particularly useful for modular drawers in a tool cabinet
and for other storage equipment having drawers or trays.
BACKGROUND
Modular and other kinds of drawers are often partitioned
by a system of partitions and dividers for facilitating the
organization of the content to be stored or for other
purposes. One popular type of partitioning system consists of
vertical slots on the peripheral wall of the drawer which can
receive partitions. The partitions are also provided with
slots for receiving dividers possibly made of a mere sheet of
steel which may have longitudinal folds for strengthening
purposes. This type of system is simple and functional but
has various drawbacks. Because of the impacts between the
content and the back of the drawer caused by the repeated
closing of the drawer, the back can bend backwards and the
partitions can then disengage. If the compartments on one
side of a partition are loaded while the compartments on the
other side of the partition are not, the loads may cause the
dividers and the partition to bend and disengage. The
dividers are sometimes made of a steel sheet engaging in the
slots of the separators. As a result, they may vibrate in the
slots of the separators during operation of the drawer and
produce an undesirable noise. Furthermore, the dividers move
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from time to time upwardly in the slots and small articles
may get stuck under the divider and even cross it from one
compartment to another.
Examples of prior art partitioning systems are given in
US patents Nos. 1,523,136 (O'Connor), 1,757,141 (Raster),
1,939,651 (Bales), 1,995,335 (Wilke), 2,145,106 (Anderson),
2,214,042 (Burdick), 2,586,925 (Drengberg), 2,788,912
(Simonsen), 3,954,202 (Petrick), 4,573,731 (Knaack et al.),
4,595,246 (Bross), 5,553,710 (Takama), 5,664,856 (Pacetti),
6,073,794 (Bidot), CH patent No. 644,742, DE patent
No. 3810531, UK patent No. 2,134,884, and FR patent
No. 2,303,722. In general, the partitioning systems are
relatively complex, occupy important space in the drawer,
require special drawer structural arrangements, are difficult
to use, or have elements which may undesirably disengage in
certain circumstances.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a drawer
partitioning system and a fastening arrangement therefor
which are simple, economical and exempt from undesired
disengagements of the partitions.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
drawer partitioning system and a fastening arrangement
therefore which have stronger and more fitting
interconnections.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
drawer partitioning system and a fastening arrangement
therefore which facilitates insertion of the partitions.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
drawer partitioning system and fastening arrangement
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therefore, which have partitions whose length may be more
precise compared to conventional systems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a
fastening arrangement for fastening a partitioning wall
between two support walls in a drawer, comprising:
a pair of elongated blades, each blade being
punched out from the plane of a face of the partitioning wall
along a vertical separation at a corresponding adjacent end
of said face of the partitioning wall, each blade being
contiguous with the partitioning wall along a horizontal
connection, and each blade comprising at a predetermined
height a face parallel to said face of the partitioning wall
and further comprising a lower ramp surface defined between
said horizontal connection and said predetermined height; and
opposite connecting elements respectively
projecting from the support walls at heights matching with
the height of the blades of the partitioning wall when the
partitioning wall is in operative position between the
support walls, the connecting elements having retaining
channels in which the ends of the partitioning wall are
uprightly slideably engageable, the retaining channels having
opposite side locking lips forming guiding slots for passage
of a section of the partitioning wall extending between the
connecting elements, the ramp surfaces of the blades of the
partitioning wall being shapecl and sized for facilitating
insertion of the blades in the retaining channels and for
respectively and progressively press-fitting against inner
sides of said channels behind the locking lips when the
partitioning wall is in the operative position.
According to the present invention, there is also
provided a partitioning system for a drawer with at least a
first and a second opposite support wall, comprising:
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at least a first partitioning wall having a pair of
elongated blades, each blade being punched out frora the plane
of a face of the partitioning wall, along a vertical
separation at a corresponding adjacent end of said face of
the partitioning wall, each blade being contiguous with the
partitioning wall along a horizontal connection, each blade
comprising at a predetermined height a face parallel to said
face of the partitioning wall and further comprising a lower
ramp surface defined between said horizontal connection and
said predetermined height; and
connecting elements respectively projecting from
the support walls at heights matching with the height of the
blades of the partitioning wall when the partitioning wall is
in operative position between the support walls, the
connecting elements having retaining channels in which the
ends of the partitioning wall are uprightly slideably
engageable, the retaining channels having opposite side
locking lips forming guiding slots for passage of a section
of the partitioning wall extending between the connecting
elements, the ramp surfaces of the blades of the partitioning
wall being shaped and sized for facilitating insertion of the
blades in the retaining channels and for respectively and
progressively press-fitting against inner sides of said
channels behind the locking lips when the partitioning wall
is in the operative position.
Opposite support elements may respectively project from
the support walls at another height with respect to the
connecting elements, the support elements respectively having
guiding slots in which the ends of the partitioning wall are
slideably engageable, the gu=ding slots of the support
elements being aligned with the guiding slots of the
retaining channels of the connecting elements.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of a preferred embodiment will be
given herein below with refererice to the following drawings,
in which like numbers refer to like elements:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partitioning system
and fastening arrangement according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective partial view of a partitioning
wall in operative position with a support wall according to
the present invention.
Figure 3 is a perspective partial view of a support wall
according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a side view of a support wall according to
the present invention.
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CA 02461840 2004-03-25
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a partitioning wall
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a drawer 2 having
peripheral and bottom walls 4, 6. The drawer 2 is provided
with a partitioning wall 8 having ends inserted in slots in
bulging members 5 extending along the side peripheral walls
4, which act as support walls for the partitioning wall 8.
Another partitioning wall 10 attachable to the partitioning
wall 8 is provided. The partitioning wall 8 then also acts
as a support wall for the partitioning wall 10. Normally, the
partitioning wall 10 will be mounted between two support
walls, for example the partitioning wall 8 and a similar
partitioning wall (not shown) extending between the side
peripheral walls 4, or the partitioning wall 8 and one of the
front and rear peripheral walls 4.
Referring to Figure 2, according to the disclosed
fastening arrangement, a pair of elongated blades 12 punched
in the partitioning wall 10 project sideways from adjacent
ends 14 of it at a predetermined height. The blades 12 may
extend directly at the ends 14, as in the illustrated case.
But they may also extend not exactly at the ends 14, e.g. at
a given distance from the ends 14.
Referring to Figure 3, also according to the disclosed
fastening arrangement, the support walls, as the partitioning
wall 8 in the illustrated case, have opposite connecting
elements 16. These connecting elements 16 respectively
project at heights matching with the height of the blades 12
of the partitioning wall 10 when it is in operative position,
i.e. fastened to two of the support walls. The connecting
elements 16 have retaining channels 18 in which the ends 14
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of the partitioning wall 10 (shown in Figure 2) are uprightly
slideably engageable. The retaining channels 18 have opposite
side locking lips 20 forming guiding slots 22 for passage of
a section of the partitioning wall 10 extending between the
connecting elements 16. The blades 12 of the partitioning
wall 10 are adapted to respectively press-fit against inner
sides of the channels 18 behind the locking lips 20 when the
partitioning wall 10 is in the operative position. The
lateral projection of the blades 12 with respect to the
general plane of the partitioning wall 10 and the width of
the channels 18 should thus be adjusted for this purpose when
manufacturing the pieces. Preferably, the retaining channels
18 are wide enough and symmetric to slideably receive any end
14 of the partitioning wall 10, thus allowing use of the
partitioning wall 10 in turned back position as well.
The support walls (as the partitioning wall 8 in the
illustrated case) also have opposite support elements 24
respectively projecting at another height with respect to the
connecting elements 16. In the illustrated case, the support
elements 24 are located below the connecting elements 16,
closer to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2. The support
elements 24 respectively have guiding slots 26 in which the
ends 14 of the partitioning wall 10 are slideably engageable.
The guiding slots 26 of the support elements 24 should be
aligned with the guiding slots 22 of the retaining channels
18 of the connecting elements 16. The support elements 24
could instead be located above the connecting elements 16 if
necessary, but this would require additional manipulation of
the dividing wall 10 when mounting it due to the presence of
the blades 12. The connecting and support elements 16, 24
should preferably be spaced from each other so as to provide
firm support to the partitioning wall 10.
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It should be noted that the presence of the support
elements 24 is mainly intended to increase the stability of
the partitioning wall 10, and they may be omitted if desired.
In drawers having reduced height, it may be difficult,
undesirable or even impossible to provide support elements 24
and they will not be required. Thus, the drawers may be
provided with only connecting elements 16 if desired.
Referring to Figure 4, the connecting and support
elements 16, 24 may conveniently be provided in the form of
longitudinal extrusions 28, 31 made in the support walls
(e.g. the partitioning wall 8) by means of a punching or
other appropriate process. The extrusions 28, 31 project on a
side of the support walls and may have rounded upper and
lower surfaces 30, 32 joining the support walls. The
retaining channels 18 of the connecting elements 16 and the
guiding slots 26 of the support elements 24 are then made in
the extrusions 28, 31, so as to extend crosswise to the
extrusions 28, 31.
The support walls may conveniently have additional
connecting elements 16' projecting at a height matching with
the height of the blades 12 of the partitioning wall 10 when
the partitioning wall 10 is in the operative position between
the support walls, and an additional support element 24'
projecting from the support walls at another height with
respect to the additional connecting element 16'. The
additional connecting and support elements 16', 24' are
respectively like the connecting and support elements 16, 24
already made in the support walls, but they project on a side
of the support walls opposite to a side on which the
connecting and support elements 16, 24 already made in the
support walls project. The connecting elements 16, 16' of the
support walls may extend successively one above the other,
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while the support elements 24, 24' of the support walls may
extend successively one above the other.
The connecting and support elements 16', 241 may be
provided in the form of longitudinal extrusions 29, 33 made
in the support walls. The extrusions 29, 33 may be
complementary to the extrusions 28, 31 but on the other side
of the partitioning wall 8.
The connecting and support elements 16 (16'), 24 (24')
may be made otherwise, for example by welding them on the
support walls. They may be combined into a single piece
affixable to the corresponding support wall. They may be
formed of a number of separate connecting or support elements
arranged next to one another to provide respectively the
channels 18 and the slots 26.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 5, the blades 12 of the
partitioning wall 10 may be provided with lower ramp-like
surfaces 34 facilitating insertion of the blades 12 in the
retaining channels 18.
The blades 12 may project perpendicularly to the
partitioning wall 10 or at another angle so that the
partitioning wall 10 may be mounted also at an angle between
the support walls provided that its length is adapted for
this purpose, e.g. shorter or longer than for straight
mounting between support walls. Likewise, the retaining
channels 18 may be adapted to be compatible with such a
configuration for example by having smaller locking lips 20.
The ends 14 of the partitioning wall 10 may also be folded
with respect to the major body of the partitioning wall 10
for mounting it at an angle without requiring changes to the
channels 16 and slots 26 and blades 12.
As best shown in Figure 1, the partitioning wall 8 may
be provided with a seating flange 36 projecting from its
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bottom end and extending laterally from the partitioning wall
8. The seating flange 36 may have screw fitting holes 40 for
fastening the partitioning wall 8 to the bottom wall 6 of the
drawer 2 using e.g. tapping screws (not shown) engageable in
holes 42 in the bottom wall 6. Such a fastening of the flange
36 to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2 may strengthen the
drawer 2 and prevent the bottom wall 6 from bending under the
weight of articles stored in the drawer 2, thereby providing
the drawer 2 with a longer lifetime.
As best shown in Figure 5, the partitioning wall 10 may
also be provided with a seating flange 36 and therefore may
be fastened to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2. Such a
fastening of the partitioning wall 10 to the bottom wall 6 of
the drawer 2 may be achieved for the purpose of preventing
articles from passing under the partitioning wall 10 and to
further strengthen the bottom of the drawer 2 and the global
structure of the partitioning system.
The press-fitting assembly between the partitioning
wall 10 and the support walls, combined to the retaining
action of the lips 20, prevents undesired disengagement of
the partitioning wall 10 and provides steady fastening of the
partitioning wall 10 between the support walls. Consequently,
no noise is produced by the possible vibrations of the
drawer 2 when it is opened or closed. Since the partitioning
wall 10 is firmly hold in place, it is not prone to move up
and it is thus unnecessary to screw it to the bottom of the
drawer 2 to prevent articles to pass or get stuck under it.
The flange 36 of the partitioning wall 10 may be screwed to
the bottom 6 of the drawer 2 when used in more harsh
conditions wherein the pieces might be highly solicited,
thereby increasing the structural strength of the whole
partitioning systems. The disclosed partitioning arrangement
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is economical to produce and the precision of the length of
the partitioning walls is better than with conventional end
folds. Due to the geometry of the blades 12, the insertion
of the partitioning wall 10 is easier as the ramp-like
section 34 guides it and produces a progressive press-fitting
in the channel 18.
The partitioning wall 10 (and the support walls) may be
provided with a label holding flange 44 if desired. The label
holding flange 44 is preferably slantingly projecting, for
example at 45 , from a top end 46 of the partitioning wall
10. The flange 44 may be used to hold on identification label
(not shown) for the articles stored in the drawer 2. The
label holding flange 44 should preferably project above the
upper edge of the partitioning wall 10 to remain visible even
when the compartment is full.
It is worth noting that in the embodiment described
above, as well as other embodiments, the partitioning wall 10
may also have connecting and support elements 16, 16', 24,
24' like those of the support walls 8, therefore forming a
support wall 8 for another partitioning wall 10.
Alternatively, a partitioning wall like the partitioning wall
8 may be used instead of the partitioning wall 10 if desired,
thereby leaving the geometry of the partitioning wall 10 to
its simplest expression.
While an embodiment of this invention has been
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above,
it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes
and modifications may be made therein without departing from
the essence of this invention. It should be noted that the
disclosed fastening arrangement may be applied also between
the partitioning wall 8 and the peripheral walls 4 of the
drawer 2, and between additional partitioning walls (not
CA 02461840 2004-03-25
shown) and the partitioning wall 10 (then acting as a support
wall) in which case the partitioning wall 10 would then be
provided with connecting elements like those on the
partitioning wall 8 while the additional partitioning walls
would be provided with blades like those on the partitioning
wall 10.
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