Spray Painter's Cabinet

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to storage cabinets. More particularly, the present invention relates to storage cabinets for spray painting equipment and supplies.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many storage cabinets and tool boxes known in the art. Exemplary of the processes of the prior art related to storage cabinets are the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,927,837; 2,981,549; 4,070,075; 4,478,467; 4,518,208; 4,659,154; 4,759,560; 5,221,132; and 5,224,531.

None of the cabinets of the prior art are directed specifically to the needs of an automobile painter. Commonly, an automobile painter leaves painting equipment such as spray-guns, power tools, air-tools, buffers, grinders, and the like unattended during the course of the day for lack of a storage cabinet in which the tool could be quickly and easily stored. Such unattended equipment is an easy target for theft. Furthermore, the unattended equipment can get dirty and get sprayed with paint.

Painters using spray-guns are generally required, and normally do use conventional respirators to prevent inhalation of paint and fumes which are hazardous to their health. Such respirators commonly employ charcoal filters, and such respirators should be placed in an air-tight compartment when not in use to extend the life of the charcoal filters.

Quite frequently painters and their helpers get small particles in their eyes. It is thus desirable that a mirror be located close to the area in which the painter is working to aid the painter in removing the particle.

Automobile painters also frequently spill paint, paint thinner, reducers, and other harmful substances on their clothing. Therefore, the painter needs an extra set of clothing located close to the area in which the painter is working after the clothing having the harmful substances thereon is removed.

Automobile painters commonly use wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets and socket wrenches, and the like which need to be stored quickly and easily after use. Furthermore, the automobile painter needs to keep written records of work to be done and work completed, and therefore commonly uses a clipboard which should be stored near the area in which the painter is working and protected from spray paint.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cabinet for storing spray painting equipment and supplies equipment including a box-like body having two rectangular vertical parallel sidewalls rigidly connected to a vertical rectangular backwall, a rectangular horizontal bottom rigidly connected to the two rectangular vertical parallel sidewalls and the vertical rectangular backwall, a rectangular horizontal top rigidly connected to the two rectangular vertical parallel sidewalls and the vertical rectangular backwall, a door rotatable connected to one of the two rectangular sidewalls for enclosing the interior of the box-like body, at least one upper shelf rigidly connected to the interior of each of the two sidewalls and to the interior of the backwall, the shelf being aligned parallel to the rectangular horizontal top, a plurality of a slot for holding paint spray guns connected to the interior of the side walls between the shelf and the rectangular horizontal top for holding spray paint guns, a plurality of slidable pull-out drawers located adjacent to one of the two sidewalls, and at least one air-tight drawer connected to one of the sidewalls beneath the shelf for storing air sensitive respirators.

The invention has the advantage of enabling spray painting equipment and supplies to be quickly and easily stored and locked to prevent damage to the equipment when not in use and to prevent theft of the equipment.

The invention has the further advantage of providing a foldable work table for the painter.

The invention has the additional advantage of providing an air-tight compartment for storing respirators to increase the life of the charcoal filters in the respirators.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly cut-away, of the spray painter's cabinet of the invention with the doors open;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly cut-away, of the spray painter's cabinet of the invention with the doors closed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a conventional spray gun and a bracket for holding a spray gun, and a slot for receiving the bracket for holding a spray gun;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly cut-away, of the spray painter's cabinet of an alternate embodiment of the invention with the doors open; and

FIG. 5 is a partly cut-away, enlarged view of a drawer of the cabinet of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown a first embodiment of the cabinet of the invention generally indicated by the numeral 10. Cabinet 10 has two parallel vertical rectangular sidewalls 12 and 14, a vertical rectangular backwall 16 connected perpendicularly to rectangular sidewalls 12 and 14, a rectangular horizontal bottom 18 connected perpendicularly to sidewalls 12 and 14 and backwall 16, and a rectangular horizontal top 19 connected perpendicularly to sidewalls 12 and 14 and backwall 16, rectangular horizontal being parallel to bottom 18. Rectangular sidewall 12 and 14 are identical in size, as are rectangular bottom 18 and rectangular top 19. Four wheels 20 are connected to the four corners of rectangular bottom 18 by brackets 18a and axles 18b. Preferably, wheels 20 have conventional locking devices 20a thereon to selectively lock and release each wheel.

Two rectangular doors 22 and 24 are connected to sidewalls 12 and 14, respectively, by hinges 22a and 24a. Door 24 preferably has a mirror 24b connected on the inside thereof as shown in FIG. 1 for use by a painter, particularly when the painter gets particles in their eyes, which is a common occurrence for spray painters and technicians. Door 22 preferably has a conventional clipboard 26 connected thereto for hanging sheets of paper having estimates, repair orders, and the like, written thereon. Door 22 has a conventional rotatable handle 28 on the outside thereof for opening and locking door 22 by selectively sliding bar 30 upwards and downwards to engage the inside of lip 19a on rectangular top 19 and slot 18c on lip 18b.

Preferably, a rectangular foldable table 32 is rotatably connected to sidewall 12 by hinge 34. Hinge 34 is rigidly connected to sidewall 12 and table 32 to enable table 32 to rotate relative to sidewall 12. In FIG. 1 table 32 is shown folded against sidewall 12, and in FIG. 2 table 32 is shown locked perpendicularly to sidewall 12.

Table 32 is supported in the horizontal position by flat bar 36 which is rotatably connected to flat bar 38 by pin 40. Flat bar 38 is rotatably connected to bracket 42 by pin 44. Bracket 42 is rigidly connected to the outside of sidewall 12 by welding, bolting, screwing or the like. Pin 40 may be force fitted into flat bar 36 and flat bar 38 to hold flat bar 36 in alignment with flat bar 38 as shown in FIG. 2 to support table 32 in the horizontal position. Table 32 may be used as a work station to store and mix paint. Table 32 preferably has a rigid metal bar 45 connected thereto for hanging spray guns and the like thereon during the course of the work day.

A plurality of slots 46 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are connected to the inside of side wall 14 and backwall 16 for holding paint spray guns 48 having paint reservoirs 50 connected thereto. Paint reservoirs 50 have a tapered portion 50a which is connected to spray gun 48. A holding bracket generally indicated by the numeral 52 has a semi-circular shaped reservoir engaging member 54 rigidly connected to a vertical pin member 56 having a cross-bar 56a rigidly connected perpendicularly thereto and a lower portion 56b beneath cross-bar 56a. Lower portion 56b of pin 56 is slidably received in slot 46 as shown in FIG. 3, and the tapered portion 50a is slidably received in engaging member 54 to support and hold spray gun 48 inside cabinet 10.

A rigid metal rod 58 is rigidly connected to walls 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Rod 58 is used to hang automobile spray guns (not shown) having a hook on the top thereof which may be placed on rod 58 to support the automobile spray gun when not in use. Preferably rod 58 is coated with a soft material such as a plastic, polymeric coating known in the art to prevent the spray guns supported on rod 58 from being scratched by metal rod 58.

A rectangular top shelf 60 aligned parallel to bottom 18 and top 19 is rigidly connected to sidewalls 12 and 14 and to backwall 16 to separate the slots 46 and rod 58 from the remainder of the interior of cabinet 10 to define a space for hanging spray guns.

Located beneath top shelf 60 and aligned parallel thereto is bottom shelf 62 which is rigidly connected to sidewalls 12 and 14 and to backwall 16. A bottom drawer 64 is slidably received in cabinet 10 between bottom 18 and bottom shelf 62 and extends between sidewalls 12 and 14. Bottom drawer 64 has a lip 64a extending across the top thereof for grasping by hand to pull drawer 64 out from cabinet 10 to remove or place objects therein.

A vertical rectangular panel 66 is connected to shelves 60 and 62 parallel to sidewall 14 as shown in FIG. 1 to define a space between sidewall 14 and panel 66 for hanging clothing such as jackets and extra work clothes or uniforms in case of accidental paint spills on the painter's clothing. Such clothing may be hung on rod 68 shown in FIG. 1 which is connected to sidewall 14 and vertical panel 66.

A second vertical rectangular panel 70 is connected to shelves 60 and 62 parallel to sidewall 14 to define a space between panel 66 and second vertical panel 70 for receipt of a plurality of shelves 72, 74, and 76 aligned parallel to shelves 60 and 62 for storing finishing and preparation materials used in spray painting. Preferably, shelves 72, 74, and 76 are adjustable to enable the distance therebetween to be changed as necessary to store items of varying size.

Located between vertical panel 70 and sidewall 12 are a plurality of smaller pull-out drawers 78 each supported by shelves 79 and each having a lip 80 thereon for grasping by hand to pull drawers 78 out from cabinet 10 to remove or place objects therein such as screw drivers, wrenches, sockets, and the like. Located between vertical panel 70 and sidewall 12 are a plurality of larger pull-out drawers 82 supported by shelves 83 and each having a lip 84 thereon for grasping by hand to pull drawers 82 out from cabinet 10 to remove or place objects therein such as pneumatic tools, buffers, and the like.

Located between the lowest shelf 78 and the highest shelf 82 is an air-tight compartment 86 having a handle 88 connected to door 89 for opening compartment 86 for storage of respirators having charcoal air filters to prolong the effective life of the charcoal therein. Air-tight compartment 86 prohibits any air from entering the compartment when door 89 is closed. A hinge 90 rotatably connects door 89 to base 89a of compartment 86. Base 89 is rigidly connected to vertical panel 70 and sidewall 12. A pullout drawer 92 may be located adjacent to air-tight compartment 86.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an alternate embodiment of the cabinet of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 100. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, cabinet 100 is a smaller version of cabinet 10 without some of the features of cabinet 10. Cabinet 110 may be placed on the floor of the working area or on a table or bench as desired.

Cabinet 100 has two parallel vertical rectangular sidewalls 120 and 114, a vertical rectangular backwall 116 connected perpendicularly to rectangular sidewalls 112 and 114, a rectangular horizontal bottom 118 connected perpendicularly to sidewalls 112 and 114 and backwall 116, and a rectangular horizontal top 119 connected perpendicularly to sidewalls 112 and 114 and backwall 116 which is parallel to bottom 118. Rectangular sidewall 112 and 114 are identical in size, as are rectangular bottom 118 and rectangular top 119.

Two rectangular doors 122 and 124 are connected to sidewalls 112 and 114, respectively, by hinges (not shown) similar to hinges 22a and 24a described above in the description of cabinet 10. Door 124 preferably has a mirror 124b connected on the inside thereof as shown in FIG. 4 for use by a painter, particularly when the painter gets particles in their eyes, which is a common occurrence for spray painters and technicians. Door 122 preferably has a conventional clipboard 126 connected thereto for hanging sheets of paper having estimates, repair orders, and the like, written thereon. Door 122 has a conventional rotatable handle 128 identical to handle 28 described above in the description of cabinet 10 on the outside thereof for opening and locking door 122 by selectively sliding bars 130--130 upwards and downwards to engage the inside of lip 119a on rectangular top 119 and slot 118a on the inside of lip 118a of bottom 118. Sliding bars 130--130 are connected to pivot bar 130a by pins 130b--130b. Pivot bar 130a has latch bar 130c rigidly connected thereto for selectively engaging the inside of lip 124c of door 124. Pivot bar 130a is rotated by a handle on the outside of door 122 identical to handle 28. Sliding bars 30--30 operate in an identical manner as sliding bars 130--130.

A plurality of slots 146 identical to slots 46 of cabinet 10 are shown in FIG. 4 connected to the inside of side wall 114 and backwall 116 for holding paint spray guns 48 shown in FIG. 3 having paint reservoirs 50 connected thereto. Paint reservoirs 50 have a tapered portion 50a which is connected to spray gun 48. A holding bracket generally indicated by the numeral 52 has a semi-circular shaped reservoir engaging member 54 rigidly connected to a vertical pin member 56 having a cross-bar 56a rigidly connected perpendicularly thereto and a lower portion 56b beneath cross-bar 56a. Lower portion 56b of pin 56 is slidably received in slot 46 as shown in FIG. 3, and the tapered portion 50a is slidably received in engaging member 54 to support and hold spray gun 48 inside cabinet 110.

A rigid metal rod 158 is rigidly connected to walls 112 and 114 as shown in FIG. 4. Rod 158 is used to hang automobile spray guns (not shown) having a hook on the top thereof which may be placed on rod 158 to support the automobile spray gun when not in use. Preferably rod 158 is coated with a soft material such as a plastic, polymeric coating known in the art to prevent the spray guns supported on rod 158 from being scratched by metal rod 158.

A rectangular top shelf 160 aligned parallel to bottom 118 and top 119 is rigidly connected to sidewalls 112 and 114 and to backwall 116 separates the slots 146 and rod 158 from the remainder of the interior of cabinet 110 to define a space for hanging spray guns.

A vertical rectangular panel 166 is connected to shelf 160 and bottom 118 parallel to sidewall 114 as shown in FIG. 4 to define two space between panel 166 and sidewalls 112 and 114 for receipt of a plurality of pull-out drawers 178 supported by shelves 179 and 179a each having a lip 180 thereon for grasping by hand to pull drawers 178 out from cabinet 110 to remove or place objects therein such as screw drivers, wrenches, sockets, and the like. Separating adjacent drawers 178 is vertical panel 178a which is connected to shelf 160 and bottom 118.

Located between vertical panel 166 and sidewall 120 is drawer 166a having lip 166b thereon for grasping and pulling drawer 166a out of cabinet 110. Drawer 166a is supported by shelf 166c connected to vertical panel 166 and sidewall 120.

Located between vertical panel 166 and sidewall 140 is drawer 170 having lip 170a thereon for grasping and pulling drawer 170 out of cabinet 110.

Located between the shelf 166c and bottom 118 is an airtight compartment 186 having a handle 188 connected to door 189 for opening compartment 186 for storage of respirators having charcoal air filters to prolong the effective life of the charcoal therein. A hinge 190 rotatably connects door 189 to lip 118b. Air-tight compartment 186 prevents any air from the outside of the compartment from entering the compartment. A tongue 195 is connected to the inside of door 189 and is received in keeper 196 to lock door 189. Air-tight compartment 86 is identical to airtight compartment 186 except for the shape of the handles 88 and 188.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of the following claims: