Aerosol container storage cabinet

Abstract

A cabinet for the storage of aerosol containers, which may satisfy the storage cabinet construction requirements of NFPA 30A, the cabinet including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a number of side walls defining an interior. Each wall is of double-wall construction, and one side wall includes an opening for storage and removal of aerosol containers. A closeable door of double-wall construction is hingedly attached to the side wall including the opening, wherein the door may be secured, in its closed position, by a latching mechanism. The cabinet may also include fixed-position, adjustable, or sliding shelves with retainers to receive and secure aerosol containers within the cabinet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cabinet for the storage of aerosol containers, the cabinet comprising: 
 a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls arranged and joined to form an interior, the top wall, bottom wall and four side walls each comprising an inner and an outer panel fabricated of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 18 gauge, the inner and outer panels of the respective walls being spaced apart at least 1.5 in. (38 mm), such that an air gap exists between the inner and outer panels;    an opening in at least one of the side walls; a closeable door hingedly attached to a side wall having an opening, the door allowing access to the interior of the cabinet through the side wall opening when the door is open, the door further comprising an inner and an outer panel fabricated of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 18 gauge, the inner and outer panels being spaced apart at least 1.5 in. (38 mm), such that an air gap exists between the inner and outer panels;    the door still further comprising a latching mechanism capable of securing the door, in its closed position, to one or more cabinet walls, at three or more locking points, and a handle capable of operating the latching mechanism, the handle being operable from outside the cabinet;    wherein a side wall to which the door is attached comprises a door sill with a top edge, the top edge of the door sill being spaced at least 2 in. (50 mm) from the inner panel of the cabinet bottom wall; and,    a shelf disposed in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the shelf is slidably attached to one or more of the cabinet walls, such that it slidably moves into and out of the cabinet through a side wall opening, the shelf further including a retainer configured to receive and secure aerosol containers.    
     
     
         2 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is a paddle handle.  
     
     
         3 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the air gaps of all of the top, bottom, and side walls are in fluid communication.  
     
     
         4 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the top, bottom, and side walls are joined by welding.  
     
     
         5 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the top, bottom and side walls are joined by riveting.  
     
     
         6 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is configured to receive and store no more than 120 gal. of flammable and combustible liquids.  
     
     
         7 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is configured to receive and secure aerosol containers in an upright orientation.  
     
     
         8 . A cabinet for the storage of aerosol containers, the cabinet comprising: a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls arranged and joined to form an interior, the top wall, bottom wall and four side walls each comprising an inner and an outer panel, the inner and outer panels of the respective walls being spaced apart, such that an air gap exists between the panels; an opening in one of the side walls; a closeable door attachable to at least one side wall, the door allowing access to the interior of the cabinet through the side wall opening when the door is open, the door further comprising an inner and an outer panel, the inner and outer panels being spaced apart, such that an air gap exists between the panels, the door still further comprising a latching mechanism capable of securing the door in the closed position, and a handle capable of operating the latching mechanism, the handle being operable from outside the cabinet, wherein a side wall to which the door is attached comprises a door sill with a top edge, the top edge of the door sill being spaced a distance from the interior panel of the cabinet bottom wall; and, a shelf disposed in the interior of the cabinet, the shelf being configured to receive aerosol containers.  
     
     
         9 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the latching mechanism is capable of securing the door to one or more cabinet walls at three locking points.  
     
     
         10 . The cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the door is hingedly attached to a side wall having an opening.  
     
     
         11 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the inner and outer panels of the top wall, bottom wall, side walls, and door are spaced apart at least 1.5 inches (38 mm).  
     
     
         12 . The cabinet of  claim 11 , wherein all of the inner and outer panels of the door, and the top, bottom, and side walls are fabricated of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 18 gauge.  
     
     
         13 . The cabinet of  claim 1   1 , wherein the top edge of the door sill is spaced at least 2 inches (50 mm) from the inner panel of the bottom wall, such that the door sill retains spilled liquids within the cabinet.  
     
     
         14 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , the shelf comprising a sliding shelf attached to the side walls of the cabinet, such that the shelf slidably moves into and out of the cabinet through a side wall opening.  
     
     
         15 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the shelf includes a retainer configured to receive and secure aerosol containers in an upright orientation.  
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom wall of the cabinet includes at least one height-adjustable foot.  
     
     
         17 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the handle is a paddle handle.  
     
     
         18 . The cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein the cabinet is configured to receive and store no more than 120 gal. of flammable and combustible liquids.  
     
     
         19 . A method of making an aerosol storage cabinet, the method comprising the steps of: arranging and joining a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls to form an interior, the top wall, bottom wall and four side walls each comprising an inner and an outer panel fabricated of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 18 gauge, the inner and outer panels of the respective walls being spaced apart at least 1.5 in. (38 mm), such that an air gap exists between the panels; providing an opening in at least one of the side walls; providing a closeable door hingedly attached to a side wall having an opening, the door allowing access to the interior of the cabinet through the side wall opening when the door is open, the door further comprising an inner and an outer panel fabricated of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 18 gauge, the door inner and outer panels being spaced apart at least 1.5 in. (38 mm), such that an air gap exists between the panels, the door still further comprising a latching mechanism capable of securing the door, in its closed position, to one or more cabinet side walls, at three or more locking points; a handle capable of operating the latching mechanism, the handle being operable from outside the cabinet; providing a door sill, with a top edge, on the side wall having an opening, the top edge of the door sill being spaced at least 2in.(50 mm) from the interior panel of the cabinet bottom wall; and, providing a shelf disposed in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the shelf is configured to receive aerosol containers and is slidably attached to one or more of the cabinet walls, such that it slidably moves into and out of the cabinet through a side wall opening.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the air gaps of all of the top, bottom, and side walls are in fluid communication.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the handle is a paddle handle.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the top, bottom, and side walls are joined by welding.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the top, bottom, and side walls are joined by riveting.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the shelf includes a retainer configured to receive and secure aerosol containers in an upright orientation.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cabinet is configured to receive and store more than 120 gal. of flammable and combustible liquids.