Office furniture abstract
A filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers consisting
of a pair of lateral frames (4) which are identical to one another
having the form of a bridge capable of being installed between the
front (2) and rear (3) panels and which determines a longitudinal
member (5) which extends the length of the drawer (1) elevated above
the respective side of the same, and two supports (6) whose external
dimension is set such as to exceed the internal dimension of the
drawer (1) and having in the external direction and in mutual opposition
upper (7) and lower (8) means of assembly which are vertically aligned,
each of which simultaneously but independently acts selectively
in conjunction with one or other of those formed by upper (9) and
lower (10) horizontal pairs of complementary means of installation
which, within each horizontal pair (9 and 10), are designated as
external (9a and 10a) and internal (9b and 10b) in accordance with
whether they are in greater proximity to or more remote from the
side of the drawer (1).
Office furniture claims
1. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers, in
which at least its front (2) and rear (3) panels are of metal or
plastic laminiform construction, characterised in that it consists
of a pair of lateral frames (4) which are identical to one another
and in the form of a bridge which is capable of being installed
between the said front (2) and rear (3) panels and which determines
a longitudinal member (5) which runs the length of the drawer (1)
elevated above the respective side of the same, and two supports
(6) having an external dimension set such as to exceed the internal
dimension of the drawer (1), which supports (6) have, oriented externally
and in mutual opposition, upper (7) and lower (8) means of assembly
which are vertically aligned, each one of which simultaneously but
independently acts selectively in conjunction with one or other
of those formed by upper (9) and lower (10) horizontal pairs of
complementary means of installation which, within each horizontal
pair (9 and 10), are designated as external (9a and 10a) and internal
(9b and 10b) in accordance with whether they are in greater proximity
to or more remote from the side of the drawer (1), and having between
them an appropriate horizontal distance which is combined with the
length of the said supports (6) and with desired dimensions of distance
between the said longitudinal members (5), one on each side of the
drawer (1), which are coincident with a corresponding number of
other actual widths of suspension files.
2. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 1 characterised in that the said upper (7) and lower (8)
means of assembly of the said supports (6) are the same number of
appendices orientated perpendicularly to the said front (2) and
rear (3) panels of the drawer (1).
3. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 1 characterised in that the said external (9a, 10a) and
internal (9b, 10b) complementary means of installation forming the
said upper (9) and lower (10) horizontal pairs consist of apertures
of appropriate width and height.
4. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 2 characterised in that the said appendices constituting
the upper (7) and lower (8) means of installation are planar vertical
fins.
5. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 2 characterised in that the said apertures constituting
the external (9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation
forming the upper (9) and lower (10) pairs of means of installation
are rectangular apertures orientated with a given inclination making
them converge in an ascending direction with those of the opposite
side of the drawer (1).
6. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 2 characterised in that the said appendices constituting
the upper (7) and lower (8) means of assembly are planar vertical
fins having in their lower edge a vertical slot (11).
7. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 3 characterised in that the said apertures constituting
the external (9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation
forming the upper (9) and lower (10) pairs of means of installation
are rectangular apertures orientated with a given inclination making
them converge in an ascending direction with those of the opposite
side of the drawer (1) and which on the lower side of their frame
have a thickness which is arranged to be a sliding fit with respect
to the width of the said vertical slot (11).
8. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 1 characterised in that in relation to their operational
position of installation in the drawer (1), the said longitudinal
members (5) of the side frames (4) are linked to the supports (6)
by means of double bends (12) and orientated towards the exterior
of the drawer (1).
9. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 3 characterised in that the said apertures constituting
the external (9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation
forming the upper (9) and lower (10) pairs of means of installation
are rectangular apertures orientated with a given inclination making
them converge in an ascending direction with those of the opposite
side of the drawer (1).
10. Filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers according
to claim 6 characterised in that the said apertures constituting
the external (9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation
forming the upper (9) and lower (10) pairs of means of installation
are rectangular apertures orientated with a given inclination making
them converge in an ascending direction with those of the opposite
side of the drawer (1) and which on the lower side of their frame
have a thickness which is arranged to be a sliding fit with respect
to the width of the said vertical slot (11).
Office furniture description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device destined for application
in the drawers of office furniture which serve to archive suspension
files.
[0002] More particularly the device disclosed is destined for drawers
of which at least their front and rear panels are of metal or plastic
laminiform construction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] There exists a wide variety of suspension files which, although
all are dimensioned to house subfiles corresponding to the DIN-A4
standard size, for the purposes of their suspension they have end
hooks which require different spans or widths between supports;
in practice it may be considered that a large proportion of the
suspension files in the market correspond to three distinct suspension
widths.
[0004] In addition, the manufacturers of office furniture are not
those who also manufacture the suspension files for their filing
drawers, such that the manufacturer of the furniture selects for
its filing drawers a specific dimension of suspension files which
will be the only one suitable for them.
[0005] In this situation the problem arises when the user of one
of these items of furniture proposes to obtain further suspension
files for their filing drawer, either to add to those already in
existence or to replace those which have deteriorated. It is then
typically a truly extended process to find the dimension of suspension
files appropriate for their requirements as not all stores have
available in stock every dimension of suspension files, the usual
option being to place an order with the manufacturers to deliver
a quantity of units which will always be very small for the manufacturer
to lend itself to specially producing it if it does not have it
available in its stock, in which case the probable response from
the manufacturer will be to state that it has been removed from
the catalogue and it is now not possible for it to supply it, unless
the client is prepared to obtain a batch of a sufficient size to
justify its manufacture; on other occasions cessation of its production
by the original manufacturer is certain and there is no manner to
find another product which is compatible. This situation may, in
addition, be an inconvenience for the furniture manufacturer when
a client goes to obtain a new item of furniture and wishes it to
have filing drawers which are suitable for the same dimension of
suspension file which they also have in their other office furniture
in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0006] In view of this state of affairs the subject of this invention
is a filing frame device for office furniture filing drawers, in
particular for a drawer in which at least its front and rear panels
are of metal or plastic laminiform construction. In accordance with
it the device advocated consists of a pair of lateral frames which
are identical to one another, having the form of a bridge capable
of being installed between the said front and rear panels and which
determines a longitudinal member which runs the length of the drawer
elevated above the respective side of the same, and two supports
having an external dimension set such as to exceed the internal
dimension of the drawer, the supports of which have in an external
direction and in mutual opposition upper and lower means of assembly
which are vertically aligned, each of which simultaneously but independently
acts selectively in conjunction with one or other of those formed
by upper and lower horizontal pairs of complementary means of assembly
which, within each horizontal pair, are designated as external and
internal in accordance with whether it is in greater proximity to
or more remote from the side of the drawer, and which have between
them an appropriate horizontal distance which is in combination
with the length of the said supports and having desired dimensions
of distance between the said longitudinal members, one on each side
of the drawer, which same are coincident with a corresponding number
of other actual widths of suspension files.
[0007] This simple device makes possible its adaptation to various
width dimensions of suspension files, in principle for three different
dimensions, although with the same constituent philosophy further
dimensions could be obtained. For this purpose it is sufficient
that on installing the supports of the two collateral bridge frames
we select which of the upper and lower means of assembly shall be
connected to the external or internal means of installation within
their respective upper and lower pairs of means of installation:
if the upper means of assembly is connected to the internal means
of the upper means of installation and the lower means of assembly
is connected to the external means of the lower means of assembly,
then the separation between the collateral longitudinal members
corresponds to the smallest of the three dimensions of suspension
files; if the two upper and lower means of assembly are connected
to the internal means of the upper and lower means of assembly,
then the separation between the longitudinal members is that corresponding
to the intermediate of the three dimensions of suspension files
considered; and if this latter is effected with respect to the external
means of the upper and lower means of installation, the result corresponds
to the largest of the three dimensions of suspension files contemplated.
In the detailed description which, in accordance with the appended
drawings, is provided below, a preferred method of embodiment is
envisaged in respect of the means of assembly and installation referred
to.
[0008] Other positive qualities of this simple device are: that
it does not complicate nor make more expensive the manufacture of
the metal or plastic front and rear panels through having to incorporate
the means of installation, which can be confirmed in the said preferred
embodiment set out below; that its utilization is simple and quick,
it can be carried out by any person without requiring tools and
at any time, which is also evident from the detailed explanation
provided below.
DRAWINGS AND REFERENCES
[0009] In order to better understand the nature of this invention
in the attached drawings we demonstrate a preferred form of industrial
embodiment, the nature of which is merely illustrative and not limitative.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metal drawer (1) which
incorporates the filing frame device in accordance with the invention.
Within this figure there are included two enlarged details demonstrating
the device installed and uninstalled in relation to the left-hand
side of the drawer (1).
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the drawer (1) in FIG. 1 in orthogonal
projection, representing the position corresponding to the smallest
dimension of suspension file and including an enlarged detail clarifying
the same.
[0012] FIG. 3 is in accordance with FIG. 2 but referring to the
intermediate dimension of suspension file.
[0013] FIG. 4 is in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3 but referring
to the largest dimension of suspension file.
[0014] FIG. 5 demonstrates a possible embodiment of the means of
assembly of the supports (6), differing from that of the previous
figures.
[0015] FIG. 6 demonstrates the embodiment of supports (6) of FIG.
5 actually connected to the drawer (1).
[0016] In these figures the following references are employed:
[0017] 1 Drawer [0018] 2 Front panel of drawer (1) [0019] 3 Rear
panel of drawer (1) [0020] 4 Lateral frames [0021] 5 Longitudinal
member of lateral frames (4) [0022] 6 Supports of lateral frames
(4) [0023] 7 Upper means of assembly or upper planar fin [0024]
8 Lower means of assembly or lower planar fin [0025] 9 Upper pair
of means of installation or apertures [0026] 9a External means of
installation of the upper pair [0027] (9) or upper external aperture
[0028] 9b Internal means of installation of the upper pair [0029]
(9) or upper internal aperture [0030] 10 Lower pair of means of
installation [0031] 10a External means of installation of the lower
pair [0032] (10) or lower external aperture [0033] 10b Internal
means of installation of the lower pair [0034] (10) or lower internal
aperture [0035] 11 Vertical slot [0036] 12 Double bends
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] With respect to the drawings and references provided above,
the drawings appended illustrate a preferred method of embodiment
of the invention referring to a device destined to support suspension
files of the kind which go in office furniture filing drawers wherein
the drawer (1) will have, as a minimum, its front (2) and rear (3)
panels constituted laminiformly of metal or plastic; in the drawings
appended the representation has been selected of a drawer (1) entirely
of metal.
[0038] As FIG. 1 clearly illustrates, the device in accordance
with the invention consists of a pair of lateral frames (4) which
are identical to one another having the form of a bridge capable
of being installed between the front (2) and rear (3) panels and
which determine a longitudinal member (5) which runs the length
of the drawer (1) elevated above the respective side of the same,
and two supports (6) having an external dimension set such as to
exceed the internal dimension of the drawer (1), which supports
(6) have in an external direction and in mutual opposition upper
(7) and lower (8) means of assembly which are vertically aligned,
each of which simultaneously but independently acts selectively
in conjunction with one or other of the means formed by upper (9)
and lower (10) horizontal pairs of complementary means of installation
which, within each horizontal pair (9 and 10), are designated as
external (9a and 10a) and internal (9b and 10b) in accordance with
whether it is in greater proximity to or more remote from the side
of the drawer (1), and which have between them an appropriate horizontal
distance which is in combination with the length of the said supports
(6) and with desired dimensions of distance between the said longitudinal
members (5), one on each side of the drawer (1), which same are
coincident with a corresponding number of other actual widths of
suspension files. One method of preferred embodiment consists in
that the said upper (7) and lower (8) means of assembly of the said
supports (6) are both appendices perpendicularly orientated to the
said front (2) and rear (3) panels of the drawer (1), in conjunction
with which the said complementary external (9a, 10a) and internal
(9b, 10b) means of installation forming the said upper (9) and lower
(10) horizontal pairs, consist of apertures of convenient width
and height. And within this method of embodiment the invention envisages
the particular case wherein the said appendices constituting the
upper (7) and lower (8) means of installation are planar vertical
fins, in conjunction with which the said apertures constituting
the external (9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation
forming the upper (9) and lower (10) horizontal pairs of means of
installation, are rectangular apertures orientated with a given
inclination making them converge in an ascending direction with
those of the opposite side of the drawer (1).
[0039] This preferred final configuration is that demonstrated
in FIGS. 1 to 4. Nevertheless, within the scope of the invention
it is evident that the appendices now located on the supports (6)
could be on the front (2) and rear (3) panels of the drawer (1)
and vice versa; and alternatively, rather than being planar appendices
they could be round acting in conjunction with straight or curved
apertures arranged with a horizontal orientation.
[0040] In order that the connection between supports (6) and front
(2) and rear (3) panels be firmer and safer, within the scope of
the invention an embodiment is envisaged in which the said appendices
constituting the upper (7) and lower (8) means of assembly are planar
vertical fins having in their lower edge a vertical slot (11), in
conjunction with which the said apertures constituting the external
(9a, 10a) and internal (9b, 10b) means of installation forming the
upper (9) and lower (10) horizontal pairs of means of installation,
are rectangular apertures orientated with a given inclination making
them converge in an ascending direction with those of the opposite
side of the drawer (1) and which at the lower side of their frame
have a thickness which is arranged to be a sliding fit with respect
to the width of the said vertical slot (11).
[0041] The functionality of the device described above is clearly
illustrated by means of FIGS. 2 to 4. From them it may be observed
that in order to adjust the advocated device to the smallest dimension
of the three which are possible, it is necessary for the upper planar
fin (7) to be connected into the upper internal aperture (9b) whilst
the lower planar fin (8) is connected into the lower external aperture
(10a), as demonstrated in FIG. 2; in order for the device to be
set to the intermediate size of suspension files it is necessary,
as FIG. 3 demonstrates, that the upper (7) and lower (8) planar
fins be connected into the upper (9b) and lower (10b) apertures
respectively; and in order to achieve the position demonstrated
in FIG. 4 for the largest dimension of suspension files, it will
be necessary for the upper (7) and lower (8) planar fins to be connected
into the upper (9a) and lower (10a) external apertures.
[0042] As may be deduced from the foregoing the device is very
versatile based on modifying the horizontal distance between the
paired apertures (9a and 9b; 10a and 10b) or the vertical distance
between a pair of apertures (9a-9b) and the other pair of apertures
(10a-10b); it is also possible to vary the length of the supports
(6) within a given range. In this respect a particularity of the
invention is that, in relation to their operational position of
installation in the drawer (1), the said longitudinal members (5)
of the side frames (4) are linked to the supports (6) by means of
double bends (12) orientated towards the exterior of the drawer
(1); it thus becomes evident that is possible to alter the actual
length of the double bends (12) or orientate them towards the interior
of the drawer instead of towards the exterior. In summary, the device
advocated offers a great capacity for adaptation to future modifications
without in its essence being varied. |