Cabinet with telescoping trays for fastener bins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10524587-B2
Application number	US-201715676260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A fastener storage and display cabinet includes a housing defining an internal space, with a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space. Each tray unit is movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing. At least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to the lower tray component between a first position nested within the lower tray component and a second position cantilevered forwardly from the lower tray component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener storage and display cabinet, comprising:
a housing defining an internal space;
a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space, each tray unit movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing;
wherein at least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to the lower tray component between a first position nested within the lower tray component and a second position cantilevered forwardly from the lower tray component in a substantially horizontal position;
wherein the lower tray component includes a left side having a left tab portion with an outwardly projecting left slide and a right side having a right tab portion with an outwardly projecting right slide, wherein both the left tab portion and the right tab portion are capable of flexing inward toward each other to enable removal of the tray assembly, including the lower tray component and the upper tray component, from the housing;
wherein the left slide rides within a left track within the housing and the right slide rides within a right track within the housing, wherein the left track includes a left retaining protrusion that aligns with the left tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the left tab portion under cantilever loads, and the right track includes a right retaining protrusion that aligns with the right tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the right tab portion under cantilever loads;
wherein the lower tray component includes a bottom side with a downwardly facing left guide slot and a downwardly facing right guide slot, the left retaining protrusion is stationary and the left guide slot rides over and along the left retaining protrusion and the right retaining protrusion is stationary and the right guide slot rides over and along the right retaining protrusion.

2. A fastener storage and display cabinet, comprising:
a housing defining an internal space;
a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space, each tray unit movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing;
wherein at least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to the lower tray component between a first position nested within the lower tray component and a second position cantilevered forwardly from the lower tray component in a substantially horizontal position;
wherein the lower tray component includes a left side having a left tab portion with an outwardly projecting left slide and a right side having a right tab portion with an outwardly projecting right slide, wherein both the left tab portion and the right tab portion are capable of flexing inward toward each other to enable removal of the tray assembly, including the lower tray component and the upper tray component, from the housing;
wherein the left slide rides within a left track within the housing and the right slide rides within a right track within the housing, wherein the left track includes a left retaining protrusion that aligns with the left tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the left tab portion under cantilever loads, and the right track includes a right retaining protrusion that aligns with the right tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the right tab portion under cantilever loads;
wherein the left slide contacts a forward end of the left track when the tray assembly is in its extended position and the right slide contacts a forward end of the right track when the tray assembly is in its extended position, to limit forward movement of the lower tray component relative to the housing.

3. A fastener storage and display cabinet, comprising:
a housing defining an internal space;
a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space, each tray unit movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing;
wherein at least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to the lower tray component between a first position nested within the lower tray component and a second position cantilevered forwardly from the lower tray component in a substantially horizontal position;
wherein the lower tray component includes a left side having a left tab portion with an outwardly projecting left slide and a right side having a right tab portion with an outwardly projecting right slide, wherein both the left tab portion and the right tab portion are capable of flexing inward toward each other to enable removal of the tray assembly, including the lower tray component and the upper tray component, from the housing;
wherein the left slide rides within a left track within the housing and the right slide rides within a right track within the housing, wherein the left track includes a left retaining protrusion that aligns with the left tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the left tab portion under cantilever loads, and the right track includes a right retaining protrusion that aligns with the right tab portion when the one tray unit is in its extended position to limit inward flexing of the right tab portion under cantilever loads;
wherein the left track is formed on a left track insert positioned within the interior space on a left sidewall of the housing, and the right track is formed on a right track insert positioned within the interior space on a right sidewall of the housing.

4. The fastener storage and display cabinet of claim 3 wherein the left track insert includes a lower base portion abutting a bottom wall of the housing and an upper portion abutting a top wall of the housing to aid in retaining the left track insert in place within the housing, the right track insert includes a lower base portion abutting the bottom wall of the housing and an upper portion abutting the top wall of the housing to aid in retaining the right track insert in place within the housing.

5. The fastener storage and display cabinet of claim 3 wherein the housing includes a front opening through which the tray units move between the closed position and the extended position, the front opening includes left frame segment that aids in retaining the left track insert within the housing and a right frame segment that aids in retaining the right track insert within the housing.

6. A fastener storage and display cabinet, comprising:
a housing defining an internal space;
a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space, each tray unit movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing;
wherein at least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to th

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

• Rosner Brian D
• Huss James F
• Garikapati Nalinikanth

Classifications

• A47F3/063 Primary

  with pull-out receptacles, e.g. drawers · CPC title

• A47F3/004

  adjustable, foldable or easily dismountable · CPC title

• A47B2210/07

  Drawers with sliding trays · CPC title

• A47F7/00

  Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials {(A47F5/0006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47F5/0025

  having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks · CPC title