Background of the Invention [0002] Storage cabinets have been used to store parts, such as nuts, bolts, and nails, and tools, such as screw drivers, wrenches, and utility knifes. These cabinets typically include predetermined drawer arrangements and sizes. Additionally, drawer dividers have been used to modify existing drawers by creating sub-storage areas.

The cabinets and drawer dividers have been made from various materials, such as steel, aluminum, and plastic.

[0003] One problem with prior art storage cabinets is the permanent drawer arrangement. Because users require different drawer arrangements, different fully integral cabinets must be designed and manufactured to meet varying user demands.

These fully integral cabinets are more costly to manufacture because the necessary deep-draw molds are more expensive and a unique mold is required for each arrangement. Thus, it would be more beneficial to have a modular design having a standard base, which requires a single deep-draw mold, and various cabinet fronts having unique drawer arrangements. Additionally, consumers with changing needs would be able to effectively change drawer arrangements with the modular cabinet.

The prior art cabinets do not effectively address these needs.

[0004] Another problem is the inclusion of drawer dividers. Typically, drawer dividers are produced through a separate manufacturing process and require handling and packaging when included within the cabinet. These additional processes and steps increase costs to the manufacturer. Thus, either the manufacture either reduces profits or increase the retail price to the consumer. Additionally, the dividers may be misplaced or lost before their first use since they are separate from the cabinet.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a cabinet that provides a single base capable of incorporating a variety of removable fronts, each having a unique drawer arrangement. Also, there is a need for including a within the molded cabinet base removable drawer dividers.

[0006] Therefore, in light of the foregoing deficiencies in the prior art, the applicant's invention is herein presented.

Summary of the Invention [0007] In one aspect, this invention is accomplished by providing a storage system comprising: a cabinet base having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a back surface; a cabinet front having a plurality of storage openings; a means for engaging the cabinet base with the cabinet front; and a plurality of drawers slidably positioned within the storage openings.

[0008] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a storage system comprising: a cabinet base; a cabinet front removably attached to the cabinet base, the cabinet front having a plurality of storage openings therein; and a plurality of drawers slidably positioned within the storage openings.

[0009] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing storage system comprising a molded cabinet having a plurality of removable drawer dividers integral thereto and at least one drawer.

[0010] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a combination comprising: a cabinet base; a plurality of cabinet fronts having a plurality of storage openings, the plurality of cabinet fronts including cabinet fronts with differing storage opening configurations; one cabinet front being engagably attached to the cabinet base; and a plurality of drawers slidably positioned within the storage openings.

[0011] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a storage cabinet base comprising: a rectangular shell having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side panel, and a right side panel; and a plurality of first engagement fittings adapted to retainably engage a plurality of second engagement fittings positioned on a storage cabinet front.

[0012] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a storage cabinet front comprising a drawer grid capable of receiving drawers and a plurality of first engagement fittings adapted to retainably engage a plurality of second engagement fittings positioned on a storage cabinet base.

[0013] In another aspect of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a cabinet system for storing small items comprising: a molded cabinet having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of storage openings, and stacking fittings integral to the top surface and bottom surface; and a plurality of drawers slidably positioned within the storage openings. The first stacking fitting is adapted to engage a second stacking fitting integral to the bottom surface of a second cabinet.

[0014] This invention may also be accomplished by a method of assembling a storage system comprising the steps of : providing a cabinet base; providing a plurality of cabinet fronts having a plurality of storage openings, the plurality of cabinet fronts including cabinet fronts with differing storage opening configurations; selecting one cabinet front to attach to the cabinet base; and attaching the cabinet front to the cabinet base.

[0015] These along with other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a reading of the detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage cabinet, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the cabinet base of the storage cabinet, as illustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating an attachment projection; FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the cabinet base, illustrated in FIG. 2, illustrating an attachment projection ; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cabinet front of the storage cabinet, illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the cabinet front, illustrated in FIG. 4, showing the fastening details; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drawer of the storage cabinet, illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a larger cabinet base, in accordance with an alternative embodiment; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a larger cabinet using the larger cabinet base, illustrated in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a larger cabinet, illustrated in FIG. 8, having a second cabinet front; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a larger cabinet, illustrated in FIG. 8, having a third cabinet front; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wide cabinet base, in accordance with an alternative embodiment; and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a wide cabinet using the wide cabinet base, illustrated in FIG. 11.

Detailed Description of the Invention [0017] In FIGS. 1-6, the invention 10 is shown in a preferred embodiment.

The storage cabinet 10 comprises a cabinet base 20, a cabinet front 60, and at least one drawer 90. Preferably, each is made from molded plastic.

[0018] The cabinet base 20 includes a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24, and side walls 26,28 connecting the respective ends of top 22 and bottom 24 to one another.

A back wall 30 joins the top 22, the bottom 24, and the side walls 26, 28 in order to strengthen and stabilize the cabinet base 20. Also included in the base 20 are attachment projections or engagement fittings 32, strengthening projections 44, drawer support projections 46, and stacking grooves 52 and base support or stacking ribs 54.

[0019] T-shaped attachment projections 32 are integral to the cabinet base 20 and may be located on any combination of the top 22, bottom 24, and side walls 26, 28. Preferably, the projections 32 are also integral to the back 30 to provide maximum strength and rigidity. The projections 32 allow the cabinet front 60 to mount to the base 20 by facilitating an interference and/or fit with attachment projection grooves 68 (See FIG 5). Preferably, (as shown in FIG. 3) the projections 32 are T-shaped and comprise an attachment member or rib 36 and a strengthening member 34, which are integral to one another. The attachment member 36 extends perpendicularly from the top 22, bottom 24, or side 26,28 and includes a groove 37 with a ridge 40 within the groove that provides the interference fit for attaching the cabinet front 60 and engages a notch 74 formed in attachment projection groove 68 (see FIG. 5). Also, the attachment member 36 includes a strengthening ridge 42 protruding from either side. The strengthening member 34 extends perpendicularly from the end of the attachment member 36 opposite the end extending from the top 22, bottom 24, or side walls 26,28. Attachment projections 32 located on the bottom wall 24 include drawer ribs 43 that extend from strengthening member 34. Drawer ribs 43 improve drawer movement by reducing surface friction between the attachment projection 32 and the drawers 90 by reducing the attachment projection 32 contact area.

[0020] Strengthening projections 44 are included on the top 22, bottom 24, and sides 26,28 at least where attachment projections 32 are omitted. These projections 44 are similar to the attachment projections 32, the difference being the omission of ridge 40. The attachment projections 32 and strengthening projections 44 reinforce the walls by adding additional strength and rigidity. The number of these projections included on a wall is proportional to the length of the wall. If an attachment projection 32 is not used where wall reinforcement is needed, a strengthening projection 44 is used. For improved strength and rigidity, projections 32,44 should interface the back wall 30, especially at locations where the back wall 30 is able to handle the transferred loads, such as the areas in close proximity to back wall 30 edges when a void exists at the center of the back wall 30. The inclusion of gussets 45a and braces 45b allow the projections to be located closer to or at the center of the respective wall.

[0021] Drawer support projections 46 extend from the bottom wall 24 to provide support for drawers 90 located at the bottom of the cabinet 10. These supports 46 extend vertically from the bottom wall 24 and include a strengthening ridge 42 that extends from either side to provide additional strength and rigidity. The supports 46 should be placed in locations where drawers 90 may be located, as different drawer combinations are available through the use of different cabinet fronts 60.

[0022] A stacking groove 52 is located on the top wall 22, while a complimentary stacking rib 54 is located on the bottom wall 24. The stacking groove 52 and rib 54 facilitate stacking similar cabinets 10, where the stacking rib 54 of the top cabinet is aligned with and inserted into the stacking groove 52 of the bottom cabinet. Grooves 52 and ridges 54 are level with the ground plane yet tapered in relation to the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 24, respectively, as the walls are inclined back to front. Additionally, the groove 52 and the rib 54 have vertical walls with zero draft, ensuring the stacked cabinet will not lean forward like the prior art cabinets. Still, it is contemplated that the groove 52 and ridge 54 may be of constant depth, especially when the top wall 22 and bottom wall 24 are not inclined.

[0023] The back 30 joins top 22, bottom 24, and side walls 26, 28 in order to improve the strength and rigidity of cabinet base 20. The back may be solid or comprise voids to reduce manufacturing costs and overall weight of the cabinet 10.

Voids may be strategically located to maximize strength-to-weight ratios and result in the formation of gussets 45a or cross braces 45b. The back 30 includes key-hole shaped mounting apertures 48 to facilitate mounting of the cabinet 10 to a wall or the like. Also, the back 30 includes removable drawer dividers 50 that are molded integral with the base 20 but may be separated therefrom due to the inclusion of thin or frangible sections 51 which act as weak points. The number and the design of the drawer dividers 50 will depend on the size and configuration of cabinet 10, as larger cabinets 10 generally will have more drawers 90. Preferably, a variety of divider sizes are included, as a variety of drawer 90 sizes may be used in the cabinet 10. Thin sections 51 separate the drawer dividers 50 and are easily broken to allow detachment of the drawer dividers 50 from the back 30 and each other. The inclusion of voids adjacent to the dividers 50 allows a user to better access the drawer dividers 50 for improved manual detachment of the drawer dividers 50 from the back 30 by hand.

Still, it is not necessary to include these voids, as other means, such as the use of a utility knife, would provide adequate detachment without the presence of a void.

[0024] The cabinet front 60 includes a frame 62, a grid 64, attachment projection grooves or engagement fittings 68, grid stiffening members 76, and drawer support members 78. The frame 62 encompasses the grid 64 and comprises a U- shaped cross-section, which provides an enlarged section modulus to resist bending and improve strength. It is contemplated that other designs or materials may be used to provide the necessary strength and rigidity requirements. The grid 64 comprises intersecting verticals 65 and horizontals 66. Verticals 65 extend vertically from the frame 62, while horizontals 66 extend horizontally from the frame 62. The grid 64 may be of any desired configuration in order to provide a desired drawer arrangement.

Above each drawer opening 69 in the cabinet front 60 are two drawer stops 63. These stops 63 prevent the drawers 90 from being pulled out of the cabinet 10 under normal usage or from being inserted too far.

[0025] Attachment projection grooves 68 extend from the frame 62 and are positioned to engage the attachment projections 32 of the cabinet base 20.

Attachment projection groove 68 comprises two spaced prongs 70 (see FIG. 5). Each prong 70 may be stiffened by including a stiffening spine 72, which may extend from either side of the prong 70 and along the length of the prong 70. Preferably one of the prongs 70 has a notch 74 to interact with ridge 40 of the attachment projection 32 of the cabinet base 20. It is contemplated that each prong 70 may have a notch 74 and each side of the attachment member 36 of the attachment projection 32 may have a ridge 40.

[0026] Grid stiffening members 76 provide additional strength and rigidity to the cabinet front 60 and the top 22 and bottom 24 of the cabinet base 20 when fully assembled. The grid stiffening members 76 are located where verticals 65 intersect the frame 62 and extend from the intersection vertically. A strengthening ridge 42 may be included, extending from either side of the member 76.

[0027] Drawer support members 78 support drawers 90 and improve the structural integrity of the cabinet front 60. Drawer support members 78 are located along the horizontals 66, where intersecting a vertical 65 or the frame 62, and comprise a vertical member 80 and a horizontal member 82. While both members 80, 82 provide strength and rigidity, the horizontal member 82 also provides a surface for drawers 90 to rest and the vertical member 80 provides additional alignment of the drawers 90.

[0028] Drawers 90 are inserted into the cabinet front 60 openings and are used for storage purposes. The drawers 90 may be of any desired size and are similar to those found within the industry except for handle 92. Handle 92 is fully integrated into the sides of the drawer for improved strength and durability. Handle 92 also has a lip 94 and ribs 96 that provide improved drawer handling during the opening process. The ribs 96 are located only on the underside of handle 90, which allows for improved handling while leaving the top side smooth. This facilitates the application of labels to the topside handle surface and also prevents the collection of dirt thereon.

[0029] The present invention 10 provides interchangeability through the modular cabinet system. Through a variety of cabinet fronts 60, each having a unique grid 64, a single cabinet base 20 can provide a cabinet 10 with drawer arrangements that meet the end user's changing needs. In FIG. 7, an alternative base 20b is shown.

A variety of drawer arrangements, via different drawer fronts 60bl, 60b2,60b3 are shown for the alternative base 20b in FIGS. 8-10. A third base 20c is shown in FIG.

11, with the corresponding assembled cabinet 10c shown in FIG. 12. Preferably, this invention 10 forms a combination that includes a standard cabinet base 20 and a variety of cabinet fronts 60 and drawers 90. In the alternative, all may be available separately and individually. Providing cabinet fronts 60 that use standard drawer sizes allows the end user to maintain a smaller inventory of drawers.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made and alternatives utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.