Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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STACKABLE DIVIDED DRAWER PARTITION
Backqround of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for organizing
the contents of drawers. The invention particularly relates
to a drawer partition system including insertable,
integrally formed drawer partitions for dividing a drawer
into a plurality of compartments.
Description of the Prior Art
It is often desirable that drawers in storage chests,
such as tool chests, be capable of subdivision into a
plurality of compartments for segrega~ing various articles
stored therein. Many systems have been devised for this
purpose, including systems utilizing insertable, elongated,
channel-shaped trays. Typically, such trays are produced in
a variety of heights or depths for use with different-depth
drawers. This requires a large inventory of parts. Also,
prior partition trays have typically been provided in
lengths to match the front-to-back length of a specific
drawer. This also requires a large inventory of partition
lengths to accommodate different-length drawers.
It is known to provide such partition trays with
removable divider panels for subdividing each partition tray
into sub- compartments. In many such arrangements, the
divider panels simply drop into slots or grooves and can
easily be dislodged in use. Arrangements have been provided
for locking such divider panels in place, but they have
heretofore generally involved the use of additional discrete
locking elements or complex locking arrangements requiring
locking to both horizontal and vertical surfaces in the
partition tray.
Summary of the Invention
It is a general object of the present invention to
provide an improved drawer partition which avoids the
disadvantages of prior partitions while affording additional
structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the feature of
a drawer partition which is readily stackable to afford
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layered partitioning in different-depth drawers.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a
drawer partition with removable dividers which are firmly
and yet simply latched in place.
Still another feature of the invention is the provision
of a drawer partition which can be nested end-to-end with
other like partitions.
A still further feature of the invention is the
provision of a drawer partition of the type set forth, which
is of simple and economical construction.
These and other features of the invention are attained
by providing a divided drawer partition comprising: a tray
including a rectangular base wall and opposed upstanding
side walls each terminating at an upper edge, each of the
side walls having at least one groove therein substantially
dovetail-shaped in transverse cross section and extending
downwardly from the upper edge of the side wall, the base
wall having at least one aperture therethrough, and an
elongated divider having tongues respectively disposed at
opposite ends thereof and a resilient latch structure
projecting therefrom along a bottom edge thereof, the
tongues being shaped for mateable sliding engagement
respectively in the grooves and the latch structure being
shaped and dimensioned to be resiliently snap-fitted in the
aperture, the divider being shaped and dimensioned so as to
be receivable in the tray in a use position extending
between the side walls with the tongues respectively
receive in the grooves and with the latch structure snap-
fitted in the aperture for dividing the tray into two
compartments respectively disposed on opposite sides of said
divider.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a
combination of parts hereinafter fully described,
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly
pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that
various changes in the details may be made without departing
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from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the
present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the
invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings
a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which,
when considered in connection with the following
description, the invention, its construction and operation,
and many of its advantages should be readily understood and
appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tool
chest illustrating an open drawer containing a number of
drawer partitions constructed in accordance with and
embodying the features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a enlarged perspective view of one of the
drawer partitions illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged top plan view of the
drawer partition of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section taken along the
line 4-4 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG.
4 showing two of the drawer partitions of FIG. 4 in end-to-
end nested relationship;
FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken along the
line 6-6 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section taken along the
line 7-7 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a view in vertical section taken along the
line 8-8 in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 9 is a further enlarged, fragmentary, sectional
view of two of the drawer partitions of FIG. 2 in stacked
relationship.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a tool chest,
generally designated by the numeral 10, which may be of the
type used by mechanics in automotive service stations and
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the like. The tool chest 10 has a plurality of drawers lS,
each of which has a rectangular bottom wall (not shown) and
an upstanding front wall 16, opposed upstanding side walls
17, an upstanding rear wall (not shown) and a drawer pull 18
fixed to the front wall 16 and projecting forwardly
therefrom, all in a known manner. Each of the drawers 15 is
illustrated as being a laterally wide and vertically
relatively shallow drawer, but it will be appreciated that
the tool chest 10 could be provided with drawers of varying
shapes and sizes. ,
One of the drawers 15 in FIG. 1 is illustrated with a
plurality of drawer partitions 20, each constructed in
accordance with and embodying the features of the present
invention, for partitioning the drawer 15 into a plurality
of compartments arranged side by side. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, the open drawer 15 contains a plurality of
substantially identically-sized and shaped drawer partitions
20. However, as will be explained in greater detail below,
it will be appreciated that drawer partitions in accordance
with the present invention could be provided in a number of
different sizes and configurations.
Referring also to FIGS. 2-8, each drawer partition 20
includes a generally channel-shaped tray 21, which is of
unitary, one-piece construction, preferably being molded of
a suitable plastic material. The tray 21 has a rectangular
base wall 22 provided with a plurality of longitudinally
spaced-apart rows of apertures 23 therethrough, each row
including at least two apertures 23 aligned laterally of the
base wall 22. Preferably, each aperture 23 is generally
rectangular in shape. Formed in the bottom surface of the
base wall 22, respectively in surrounding relationship with
the apertures 23, are shallow recesses 24 (see FIG. 7).
Each aperture 23 is chamfered, as at 25, at the upper end
thereof (see FIG. 3). The underside of the base wall 22 is
provided with an elongated, longitudinally extending center
rib 26. Respectively adjacent to the opposite ends of the
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rib 26 are screw holes 27 formed through the base wall 22
and surrounded with circular bosses 28. Elongated side ribs
29 are also formed on the underside of the base wall 22,
respectively adjacent the side edges thereof and
substantially parallel to the center rib 26.
The base wall 22 is integral at its side edges,
respectively, with upstanding side walls 30 which are formed
as mirror images of each other. Each of the side walls 30
has an elongated upper edge 31 and a lower edge 32. Formed
lo in the lower edge 32 and extending su~stantially the entire
length of the side wall 30 is an elongated groove 33 (see
FIG. 6), which defines a generally rectangular bearing
surface 34 (FIG. 7) and a downwardly extending and laterally
outwardly facing retaining surface 35. A channel 36
separates the surfaces 34 and 35. Each side wall 30 has an
upstanding flat inner surface 27, and has formed therein a
plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart grooves 40, each of
the grooves 40 being dovetail-shaped in transverse cross
section and extending from the upper edge 31 downwardly a
predetermined distance toward the base wall 22. Each of the
grooves 40 is flanked by a pair of elongated guide ribs 41
which extend from the upper edge 31 substantially to the
base wall 22 and cooperate to define therebetween an
elongated slot 42. The grooves 40 and slots 42 are equal in
number to and, respectively, laterally aligned with the rows
of the apertures 23 in the base wall 22.
The tray 21 is provided at one end thereof with a front
end portion 44 which constitutes an extension of the base
wall 22 and the side walls 30, and has inclined upper edges
45 which slope downwardly from the upper edges 31 of the
side walls 30. The inner surface of the end portion 44 is
continuous with the inner surface of the base wall 22 and
the side walls 30, but the outer surface thereof is
recessed, as at 46, so that the end portion 44 is thinner
than the main portion of the tray 21. The tray 21 is
provided at its other end with a rear end portion 47 which
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also constitutes an extension of the base wall 22 and the
side walls 30 and is provided with upper edges 48 which are,
respectively, stepped down a predetermined distance from the
upper edges 31 of the side walls 30. The outer surface of
the end portion 47 is substantially continuous with the
outer surfaces of the base wall 22 and the side walls 30,
but the inner surface of the end portion 47 is recessed, as
at 49, so that the end portion 47 is thinner than the main
portion of the tray 21.
The drawer partition 20 may be p~ovided with one or
more divider panels 50, one of which is shown in the drawer
partition 20 illustrated in the drawings. The divider panel
50 is preferably also molded of a suitable plastic material
and is a generally rectangular panel having an elongated
upper edge 51 and a lower edge 52 and upstanding end edges
53 (see FIG. 7). The divider panel 50 is dimensioned to
span the side walls 30 of the tray 21. More specifically,
the end edges 53 of the divider panel 50 are dimensioned to
be respectively slidably received in laterally aligned ones
of the slots 42 in the side walls 30. In this regard, it
will be appreciated that the slots 42 may be slightly
tapered so as to guide sliding of the divider panel end
edges 53 thereinto and to provide a slight wedging action.
Respectively projecting laterally outwardly from the end
edges 53 at the upper portions thereof are tongues 54, each
being substantially dovetail-shaped in transverse cross
section and respectively being dimensioned for being
slidably mateably received in the grooves 40.
Depending from the lower edge 52 of the divider panel
50 are spaced-apart latching structures (see FIG. 7) equal
in number to the base wall apertures 23 in a row thereof.
Each of the latching structures 55 includes a pair of
flexible dependent legs 56, each being provided at its
distal end with a laterally outwardly extending foot 57.
The latching structures 55 are so dimensioned that when the
legs 56 are in their normal relaxed condition, the feet 57
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will not pass through the associated aperture 23. However,
the legs 56 may be resiliently flexed together sufficiently
to permit the feet 57 to pass through the aperture 23, the
legs 56 resiliently springing back to their normal position
after passing through the aperture 23, with the feet 57
being received in the recess 24 on the underside of the base
wall 22, securely to lock the divider panel 50 in place in
the tray 21 for dividing the tray 21 into sub-compartments.
In use, the drawer partitions 20 are inserted in the
drawer 15 in side-by-side abutting re~ationship so as to
substantially fill the drawer 15. In the embodiment
illustrated, the drawer partitions 20 have a length which is
substantially equaI to the front-to-back dimension of the
drawer 15. However, it is a significant aspect of the
invention that the drawer partition 20 may be used in
drawers which have a front-to-back dimension substantially
greater than the lèngth of the drawer partition 20. In this
regard, two of the drawer partitions 20 may be abutted in
end-to-end relationship. Referring to FIG. 5, this
arrangement is facilitated by the end portions 44 and 47.
Thus, when two of the trays, designated 2lA and 2lB in FIG.
5, are arranged end to end, the front end portion 44 of the
rear tray 21B nests inside the rear end portion 47 of the
front tray 2lA. When thus arranged, it can be seen that the
inner surfaces of the base walls 22 are substantially
coplanar and continuous with one another to provide a
continuous partition. This nested overlapping relationship
of the end portions 44 and 47 also serves to inhibit
relative lateral shifting of the trays 2lA and 2lB with
respect to each other and prevents stored material from
falling between the two trays.
While the drawer partition 20 will typically have a
vertical height or depth which is substantially the same as
that of the associated drawer 15, it is another significant
aspect of the invention that the drawer partitions 20 can be
stacked to provide a layered compartmentalization of drawers
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which have a vertical height or depth substantially greater
than that of the drawer partition 20. Referring to FIG. 9,
when these two trays 2lA and 2 lB are stacked one upon the
other, the upper edges 31 of the side walls 30 of the lower
5 tray 2 lB respectively fit within the grooves 33 in the lower
edges 32 of the side walls 30 of the upper tray 21A. More
specifically, the bearing surfaces 34 on the upper tray 21A
respectively rest upon and bear against the upper edges 31
of the lower tray 21B, while the retaining surfaces 35 of
the upper tray 2 lA respectively depen~ inside of the side
walls 30 of the lower tray 21B, thereby to inhibit lateral
shifting of the trays 2 lA and 2 lB relative to each other and
permitting a guided longitudinal sliding movement of the
trays 21A and 21B relative to each other. Thus, for
15 example, in a typical arrangement, either the upper tray 2 lA
may be shorter than the tray 2 lB or a single tray 2 lA may be
stacked above end-to-end abutted lower trays 2 lB, so that
the upper tray 2 lA can be slid forwardly and rearwardly of
the drawer 15 to expose front and rear portions of the lower
tra~ or trays 2 lB .
In the illustrated embodiment, the drawer partition 20
is shown with only a single divider panel 50. However, it
will be appreciated that any number of divider panels 50
from zero up to the number of grooves 40 in a tray side wall
25 30 may be provided in each drawer partition 20, and a
divider panel 50 may be selectively shifted from one
position to another to provide different size sub-
compartments. In this regard, it will be appreciated that,
in order to remove a divider panel 50 from the tray 21, the
legs 56 of the latching structures 55 are compressed
together to permit them to be released from the apertures
23. It will also be appreciated that, when a divider panel
50 iS mounted in place, as illustrated in the drawings, the
cooperation of the end edges 53 thereof with the slots 42
35 and of the tongues 54 thereof in the grooves 40 firmly seats
the divider panel 50 in place and prevents any longitudinal
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shifting of the position thereof or tilting thereof. While
the drawer partition 20 has been shown with three pairs of
grooves 40, it will be appreciated that any desired number
can be provided, depending upon the length of the drawer
partition 20. Also, while each of the rows of apertures 23
has been shown as including two such apertures, it will be
appreciated that any number of apertures could be provided
in each row, depending upon the width of the drawer
partition 20. Also, it will be appreciated that, if
desired, the drawer partition 20 could be provided without
apertures 23 or grooves 40 in the event that division of the
drawer partition 20 were deemed unnecessary.
While the drawer partitions 20 are illustrated as being
simply freely seated in the drawer 15, it will be
appreciated that they could be fixedly secured in place by
suitable screws (not shown) passed through the screws holes
27 in the base wall 22.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been
provided an improved drawer partition which is of simple and
economical construction and is shaped and dimensioned so as
to facilitate end-to-end nesting and stacking, while at the
same time providing movable divider panels which can be
easily and effectively secured in place.
