Drawer cabinet storage kit

Abstract

The present device provides an assembly, or kit, of injection molded panels having integrated connectors which combine to form a drawer cabinet with integrally formed guide rails and cooperating pull out drawers supported upon a plurality of rollers. The cabinet panels are formed of injection molded plastic and includes integrally formed connectors to interlock with one another without the need for separate fasteners. The integrated connection of the side, top and base panels simplifies the drawer cabinet construction and minimizes the number of components required to assemble the drawer cabinet. Injection molding allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity. When supplied as a kit, assembly of the drawer cabinet requires minimal hardware and a minimum number of hand tools.

1 . A drawer cabinet kit comprising: 
 a base panel for enclosing the bottom portion of said drawer cabinet, said base panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a left end, a right end, a front portion and a rear portion, said left end including a plurality of upright locking posts constructed and arranged for attaching said base panel to a left side panel in a perpendicular relationship, said right end including a plurality of upright locking posts constructed and arranged for attaching said base panel to a right side panel in a perpendicular relationship, said rear portion including a means for preventing over insertion of a drawer member;    a top panel for enclosing the top portion of said drawer cabinet, said top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a left end, a right end, a front portion and a rear portion, said left end including a means for attaching said top panel to a left side panel in a perpendicular relationship, said right end including a means for attaching said top panel to a right side panel in a perpendicular relationship;    a left side panel for enclosing the left side portion of said drawer cabinet, said left side panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge, a back edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, said top edge including a means for attaching said left side panel to said top panel in a perpendicular relationship, said bottom edge including a plurality of locking sockets constructed and arranged to cooperate with said locking posts of said base panel, said locking posts of said base panel are brought into coupling engagement with corresponding locking sockets of said left panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection between said base panel and said left side panel arrange, said inner surface including a means for guiding at least one removably secured drawer member to provide support and prevent tipping and canting of said at least one drawer while said at least one drawer is moved inwardly and outwardly of said cabinet assembly;    a right side panel for enclosing the right side portion of said drawer cabinet, said right side panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge, a back edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, said top edge including a means for attaching said right side panel to said top panel in a perpendicular relationship, said bottom edge including a plurality of locking sockets constructed and arranged to cooperate with said locking posts of said base panel, said locking posts of said base panel are brought into coupling engagement with corresponding locking sockets of said right panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection between said base panel and said right side panel, said inner surface including a means for guiding at least one removably secured drawer member to provide support and prevent tipping and canting of said cabinet;    at least one drawer member for enclosing the front of said drawer cabinet and providing a storage area within said drawer cabinet, said at least one drawer including a front portion, a rear portion, a left side, a right side and a bottom, wherein said at least one drawer is constructed and arranged to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to said drawer cabinet to provide access to said storage area within said at least one drawer;    said lower surface of said base panel includes a plurality of integrally formed locking sockets, said locking sockets are constructed and arranged to cooperate with a plurality of locking posts arranged on said top edge of at least one of said left and said right side panels, said locking posts of said at least one of said left side panel and said right side panel are brought into a coupling engagement with corresponding locking sockets in said lower surface of said base panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection between said base panel and said side panels, wherein at least two drawer cabinets are integrated together into a multiple drawer cabinet;    wherein said drawer cabinet kit can be shipped in a disassembled state and assembled on a desired site without separate fasteners.    
   
   
       2 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said means for guiding said at least one drawer includes at least one channel integrally molded into each of said inner surfaces of said left and said right side panels, wherein said at least one channel extends from about said front edge of said panels to about said rear edge of said panels.  
   
   
       3 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said left side and said right side of said at least one drawer each include at least one outwardly projecting guide rail, wherein said guide rail is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said at least one channel to prevent canting of said drawers while said drawers are moved inwardly and outwardly of said drawer cabinet.  
   
   
       4 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 3 , wherein said guide rails are integrally formed to said at least one drawer.  
   
   
       5 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one guide rail is constructed and arranged to have a substantially conjugate shape with respect to said at least one channel integrally formed into each said side panel, wherein said at least one guide rail enters said at least one channel for sliding engagement between said drawer member and said side panels.  
   
   
       6 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said base panel includes at least one pair of rollers for supporting said at least one drawer member, wherein said at least one pair of rollers are rotatably mounted in said front portion of said base panel, wherein said rollers are sized and positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface so that a portion of said rollers protrudes above said upper surface for engaging said bottom of said at least one drawer member.  
   
   
       7 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 6 , wherein said base panel includes two pair of rollers for supporting said at least one drawer member, wherein one pair of said rollers are rotatably mounted in said front portion of said base panel, wherein one pair of said rollers are rotatably mounted in said rear portion of said base panel, wherein said rollers are sized and positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface so that a portion of said rollers protrudes above said upper surface for engaging said bottom of said at least one drawer member.  
   
   
       8 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom of said at least one drawer member includes an alignment pocket integrally formed therein, wherein said alignment pocket is constructed and arranged to cooperate with an alignment boss integrally formed on said upper surface of said top panel for releasably securing said at least one drawer upon said upper surface of said top panel.  
   
   
       9 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said front portion of said top panel includes an integrally formed locking tab, wherein said locking tab includes an aperture constructed and arranged to align with a bolt aperture within said at least one drawer member when said drawer member is in a closed position, wherein a lock or seal may be extended through said locking tab aperture and said bolt aperture to prevent unwanted entry into said drawer member.  
   
   
       10 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said front portion of said base panel includes an integrally formed locking tab, wherein said locking tab includes an aperture constructed and arranged to align with a bolt aperture within said at least one drawer member when said drawer member is in a closed position, wherein a lock or seal may be extended through said locking tab aperture and said bolt aperture to prevent unwanted entry into said drawer member.  
   
   
       11 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said base panel includes a plurality of integrally formed caster bosses, wherein each of said caster bosses is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a caster for allowing said drawer cabinet to be easily moved.  
   
   
       12 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said base panel includes a plurality of integrally formed downwardly depending nesting tabs, wherein said nesting tabs are constructed and arranged to cooperate with a top panel alignment boss to allow at least two drawer cabinets to be placed in a stacked arrangement.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1  wherein said base panel locking posts include at least one integrally formed spring-tab, wherein said at least one spring-tab is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said locking sockets for positively maintaining secure coupling engagement between said base panel and said left and right panels.  
   
   
       16 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said top panel to said left side panel and said right side panel includes a plurality of outwardly extending locking posts extending upwardly from said top surface of said left and said right side panels, wherein said locking posts are constructed and arranged to cooperate with a plurality of locking sockets integrally formed into said lower surface of said top panel, wherein said locking posts are brought into an coupling engagement with corresponding locking sockets resulting in a mechanically secure connection between said top, left and right panels.  
   
   
       17 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 16  wherein said left and right side panel locking posts include at least one integrally formed spring-tab, wherein said at least one spring-tab is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said locking sockets for positively maintaining secure coupling engagement between said top panel and said left, right and back panels.  
   
   
       18 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1  wherein said left side panel, and said right side panel include a plurality of locking sockets arranged in a linear fashion along said bottom edges thereof, said locking sockets extending inwardly between said outer surface and said inner surface, wherein said locking sockets are constructed and arranged to cooperate with said base panel, wherein said base panel is secured to said left and right panels via said locking sockets.  
   
   
       19 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 18 , wherein at least one of said locking sockets include an aperture therethrough, wherein said aperture is constructed and arranged for mating engagement with said at least one spring-tab integrally formed onto said locking posts of said base panel.  
   
   
       20 . The drawer cabinet kit as described in  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said base panel includes integrally formed cross-bracing, wherein said cross-bracing provides increased weight capacity and stability to said drawer cabinet kit.