Cabinet With Pivoted Locking Outrigger

This invention relates to cabinets. More particularly, the invention relates to a tool box-type cabinet comprising a large number of sliding drawers in which a stabilizing, pivoting outrigger is provided which is foolproof--that is, it must be placed in its operative position if the drawers are to be opened--and which is additionally utilized to provide a lock for the drawers.

The use by mechanics, plumbers and other workmen of large tool boxes or cabinets fitted with a number of horizontally slidable drawers, mounted on casters for movement about a work area, is very common. These tool boxes can be guide large, up to on the order of perhaps six feet tall, and are very heavily constructed so as to be able to contain a large amout of tools, spare parts and the like. When a drawer of such a tool box having a large number of heavy tools stored therein is pulled out, particularly to its full extension, it can occur that the center of gravity of the tool box as a whole may be vertically aligned with or even be located forward relative to the axis of its front casters, thus becoming unstable. If such an unstable tool box is then given a slight impetus to tip forward, it tends to tip very quickly as it pivots on the wheels of the casters. Moreover, of course, the fact that the box is very heavily laden means that its momentum is substantial such that it is very possible for a serious injury to result to anyone who happens to be beneath the falling tool box.

It would be a simple matter to provide an outrigger extending forward from the tool box, in the direction the drawers are opened, so as to provide a rigid strut for prevention of the tool box's tipping forward on its wheels. However, to provide such a rigid strut would not be desirable because it would be in the way, causing the box to take up additional storage space even when the tool box is not being used, and would thus be unpopular in the marketplace. Moreover, if such a stabilizing outrigger strut were to be added to preexisting tool boxes, it would be desirable if this could be done in as efficient and useful a way as possible. In particular, it would be desirable if additional improvements could be made to the tool box structure and mode of operation at the same time.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an outrigger for a tool box which does not require substantial additional storage space when the tool box is not being used, and which is foolproof in the sense that the workman is not tempted or enabled to circumvent the protection thus provided him.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an outrigger for a tool box in which the outrigger added provides as many additional improvements to the tool box as possible.

The present invention satisfies the needs of the art and objects of the invention mentioned above by its provision of a pivoting outrigger for a tool box. The outrigger pivots about a vertical axis just outside the lateral extension of the drawers of the tool box so that it folds flat across the front of the drawers. This has several advantages. Primary among these is that in order to open any drawer the outrigger must be extended, thus preventing the workman from circumventing the protection thus provided him. Moreover, a hasp can be provided for insertion of a padlock so that the outrigger can be locked across the drawers when not in use, providing a very positive lock against pilferage of tools from the tool box.

The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the tool box according to the invention with the outrigger open; and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the tool box according to the invention with the outrigger closed.

FIG. 1 shows a typical tool box 10 with a number of drawers 12. As indicated, the drawers are frequently full of very heavy objects, mechanics' tools and the like, and consequently when a large drawer is pulled all the way out, the center of gravity of the tool box as a whole can be vertically aligned with, or even ahead of the axis of the casters 14 at the front of the box. Hence, the box is made very unstable. According to the invention, an outrigger 18 is provided pivoted at upper and lower mounts 20 and 22, respectively, so as to be folded across the drawer when in the closed position shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when it is desired to open a drawer 12, the workman is obliged to open the outrigger 18. In this way, he is prevented from disabling this important safety feature. This is accomplished by pivoting the outrigger 18 about an axis which is beyond the lateral extension of the drawers, but still disposed in front of the tool box itself, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown by FIG. 2, when the outrigger is closed, it prevents any of the drawers from being opened by virtue of fitting flush in front of all of the drawers. An additional advantage is realized by addition of a hasp 24 to the outrigger 18 and a second hasp 26 on the chassis (i.e., not on a drawer) of the tool box 10. A lock 28 can be placed through the two hasps, thus preventing opening of any of the drawers 12 by one seeking to pilfer tools from the tool box 10.

As described above, the problem of tipping of tool boxes is particularly grave in cases where the tool box is fitted with casters 14 because the caster provides a very free rolling pivot about which the entire box can rotate, tending to fall forward. However, permanently mounted tool boxes with drawers also suffer from instability and can similarly be prevented from tipping by installation of an outrigger 18, again pivoted about a vertical axis beyond the lateral extension of the drawers and desirably fitted with hasps for insertion of a padlock 28 as shown in FIG. 2 hereof.

The construction of the outrigger according to the invention is straightforward. Its main members are steel, e.g., one-inch square tubing of 1/16 inch wall thickness and form a pivotally mounted rigid strut as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The remaining members can be formed of mild steel plate and welded, drilled and tapped, all as conventional in the art, as needed, to perform the functions called for.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, its scope should not be limited thereby, but only by the following claims.

In particular, use of the term "tool box" throughout does not limit the invention to cabinets used exclusively for the storage of tools.