Lockers

Abstract

 Lockers made from pressed and punched sheet metal parts have a triangular cross section, preferably approximately equilateral triangular. The lockers can be assembled in runs of lockers with side panels shared by adjacent lockers. In a preferred arrangement alternate lockers (134) are factory built and connected on site by additional parts (138,140) which form further lockers between the factory built lockers.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to lockers. In particular although not exclusively the invention is applicable to lockers provided for employees to store their clothes and personal effects at a place of work. Such lockers are frequently provided at factories and other industrial premises. An employee may in particular wish to hang up a jacket or raincoat in such a locker as well as storing other items.

[0002] Lockers provided on industrial premises are frequently made from sheet metal which is shaped and joined to provide a rectangular horizontal cross-section defined by side panels, a back and a front panel incorporating a door.

[0003] According to this invention we provide a locker constructed from sheet metal and having a front face including a door, and side panels which extend away from the front face and also towards each other so that the side panels and front face define a generally triangular cross-section wherein side panels include an angle, remote from the door, in the range 45 to 75°, preferably approximately 60°, giving a substantially triangular cross section.

[0004] The side panels may converge to meet at a vertical line. Alternatively they may be joined by a back panel which is narrower than the front face. In this event the cross-section will be a truncated triangular cross-­section possibly in the form of a trapezium.

[0005] Preferably the side panels each define a planar wall which extends forwardly to intersect the front face. However, it is possible for a side panel to lie largely in one plane with a minor portion deviating from that plane. For example the main side wall panels which converge as they extend away from the front face could be joined to the front face by short sections which are parallel to each other. In that event the cross-section of the locker would be a triangle truncated at the corners adjacent the front face.

[0006] We have found that a locker with a generally triangular cross-section is advantageous.

[0007] Clothing is traditionally accommodated in rectangular structures. However, we have found that a triangular locker can be made large enough to accommodate a coat hanger with a garment hung on it, still provide some additional storage space, and use less floor space than a traditional standard rectangular locker.

[0008] The triangular shape can yield a cost saving because only three rather than four walls are required for defining the perimeter of the locker, and the amount of material needed for shelves, top and base is also reduced.

[0009] Lockers with a triangular cross-section can be placed side by side in a straight run where the front faces of successive lockers lie on alternate sides of the row. They can also be arranged side by side with the front faces of successive lockers side by side but at an angle to each other. In this event the lockers build up into a structure which has a polygonal or part-polygonal horizontal cross section. Such a structure can be a free standing podium of lockers, which might be desirable in a recreational changing area.

[0010] With both of these arrangements for a plurality of lockers, a single panel can form a side wall of two adjacent lockers, i.e. adjacent lockers can have a side panel in common. In this event a run of lockers can be provided with only one side panel and one front face per locker with one additional side panel at the end of the run of lockers. Even this extra side panel is not required if a plurality of lockers are arranged side by side to provide a polygonal structure.

[0011] A preferred form of this invention therefore provides a plurality of lockers according to the invention, arranged side by side with at least some pairs of adjacent lockers having a single panel oonstituting side panels of both lockers.

[0012] A further useful arrangement of lockers is with sides of adjacent lockers lying against a common plane. This can yield a herringbone arrangement, giving greater privacy as compared with a run of rectangular lockers side by side.

[0013] Further benefits available from triangular lockers are reduced time for installation on site and less pipework or air ducting if it is required to provide heated lockers.

[0014] A desirable constructional feature is that each side panel is formed by a generally plane metal sheet reinforced down its front vertical edge by a strip shaped to a uniform non-planar cross section. Such a strip can serve to provide a neat edge for the side panel and to define a side of a frame for the door. Such a strip can be a separate part from the plane sheet which forms the side panel, and attached for example by spot welding or rivetting through pre-made holes.

[0015] When two lockers adjoin, having front faces side by side, and having a shared side panel, the adjoining side edges of door frames may be framed by two such strips attached to the door panel.

[0016] Each side panel may be generally plane sheet reinforced down both vertical edges by a strip of non-planar cross sections. Attached strips can be used as means to join adjacent panels.

[0017] A further desirable constructional feature is that side panels should have inturned portions at top, bottom or both while the locker top or bottom attaches to these inturned portions. This feature is useful to enable the top or bottom of a locker to be secured in place without passing any fastener through the main plane of the side panel. When two adjacent lockers have a common side panel this feature enables the top and/or bottom of one locker to be attached to the common side panel before parts of the adjoining locker are attached to the common side panel. This can avoid having to position and assemble an inconvenient number of parts simultaneously. Such feature is useful for the preferred arrangement mentioned next.

[0018] A preferred arrangement for assembling a plurality of lockers togther is that some lockers have at least their sides, top and bottom assembled together to form a carcase prior to any connection to adjoining lockers. After this further parts are connected to the sides of the assembled carcases so as to form additional lockers sharing the side panels of the previously assembled carcases.

[0019] Assembly to form individual carcases may go almost all, or all, the way to assembly of individual lockers. This may be carried out as a factory assembly operation after which assembled individual lockers (or carcases) are transported to the required site where assembly is completed, attaching the individual carcases together.

[0020] Accordingly a preferred form of this invention is a plurality of lockers arranged side by side in succession with adjacent lockers sharing single panels as side panels of both lockers; alternate lockers being of a first category constructed by assembly of at least their side panels, top and base before connection to other lockers, and a second category constructed by assembly onto the side panels of adjoining lockers of the first category.

[0021] The first category of lockers may be wholly or partially assembled in a factory before delivery to the site of use. Alternatively they may be assembled or partially assembled on side, as individual units before attachment of parts forming the second category of lockers.

[0022] A locker according to the present invention may include a shelf, of generally triangular shape. This may be arranged to slope downwardly towards the rear of the locker, so as automatically to retain objects which slide or roll. This feature of a sloping shelf could also be used in lockers of different cross-section. Another possibility is to provide a level shelf with a lip at its front edge.

[0023] A further feature, which can be used in lockers of other cross-sections as well as triangular, is to utilise a panel or door with two layers of sheet metal spaced apart, and perforated by ventilation apertures which are offset so as to provide a ventilation path without any line of vision into the locker through the ventilation holes.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the end locker of a run of triangular lockers;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal section through the locker of Fig. 1 and parts of the next two lockers in the run;

Figs. 3 to 6 are diagrammatic plan views showing different arrangements of pluralities of lockers;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic horizontal section through the shared parts of two adjacent lockers;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of locker;

Fig. 9 is an exploded view showing insertion of parts to form a locker between two lockers of the type shown by Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 are horizontal cross sectional details of the front edges of side panels and attached door frames.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a locker 1 is constructed with two side panels 10, 12, and a door formed from two parts 14, 16. The locker has a horizontal cross-section which is an equilateral triangle so that the included angle between the side panels 10, 12 is substantially 60°. The locker has a top 18 and base 19 both of which are equilateral triangles.

[0026] Further parts provide a second locker 2 beside the locker 1 and facing in the same direction together with a third locker 3 between the lockers 1 and 2 and opening in the opposite direction. The locker 2 is defined by side panels 20, 22, a door 25 which is again formed from two parts, and a top and base (not shown). The locker 3 is formed by the side panels 12, 20, a door 35 and a top and base (not shown).

[0027] All the parts of the locker are formed from steel sheet which is punched out and then bent to the required shapes. The side panels 10, 12, 20, 22 are flat rectangular sheets punched with holes for rivets. The panels 10, 12 are joined to each other and stiffened by a strip 40 which is bent longitudinally to a V-shape cross-­section with an included angle of 60°. The front edge of panel 10 is stiffened by a strip 42 attached to it. This strip 42 is shaped to provide a portion 44 which is one upright edge of the door opening and a lip 46 at the front face of the locker alongside the door opening. The front edge of side panel 12 is also stiffened by strips attached to it. These are a V-shaped strip 50 exactly like the strip 40, and a strip 52 which is shaped to provide a portion 54 down the other vertical edge of the door opening of locker 1, a portion 56 down the vertical edge of the door opening of locker 3 and a flat face 58 extending between the strips 54, 56 in the plane of the fronts of the lockers 1, 2. The strips 50, 52 attached side panel 12 to side panel 20.

[0028] The top 18 and base 19 of the locker 1 are each a triangular plate with flanges 60 extending downwardly from all three edges. The flanges which extend downwardly from the side edges of the top and base have cut-outs 62 which receive tabs projecting from the ends of the strips 40, 42, 52. A shelf 64 is again a triangular plate with flanges descending from its edges. This shelf does not extend to the front of the locker but on the contrary is located inwardly from the strips 42, 52. This shelf is preferably shaped and mounted so as to extend slightly downwardly as it extends into the locker so that objects such as golfballs placed on the shelf roll into the locker rather than rolling forward and falling off the shelf.

[0029] All the fixed parts of the locker mentioned so far are connected together by rivets through holes previously punched in the side panels 10, 12, in the strips 40, 42 and 52 and through the flanges descending from the edges of the top 18, base 20 and shelf 64.

[0030] The door is formed from a first part 14 and a second part 16 both of which are again punched and bent from sheet steel. The part 14 is bent round at one edge so as to form a square section post 66 down one longitudinal edge of an otherwise flat sheet. Flanges 68 project at top and bottom. The second part 16 of the door is bent to a channel shape with inturned lips 70. This part is fitted against the flat sheet of part 14, between the flanges 68 and secured by rivets through the lips 70. The part 14 is punched with ventilation apertures 72 in its upper half while the part 16 is punched with ventilation apertures 74 in its lower half. Consequently there is a path for ventilation of the locker through these apertures and the hollow interior of the door. There is however no possibility of seeing into the locker through these apertures.

[0031] The post 66 at the edge of the door is attached by hinges to the strip 42. The door is also provided with a handle and a catch, (not shown) with the catch positioned to engage a suitable aperture in the strip 52.

[0032] The side panel 12 is common to the locker 1 and the adjacent locker 3 as already mentioned. The vertical edge of this panel which is at the rear of locker 1 but adjacent the door opening of locker 2 has attached to it a strip 76 analogous to the strip 42.

[0033] The side panel 20 which is shared by the lockers 2 and 3 is attached to side panel 22 through strips 78, 80 which are exactly like strips 52 and 40. Generally where a flat side wall panel is shared by two adjacent lockers it will have strips attached to both of its faces, for example the strips 40 and 76 attached on opposite faces of the flat sheet 12. When this occurs all three parts are secured by the same rivets passing through all three thicknesses of sheet steel.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing how a run of lockers can be formed with doors on each flat face of the run so that the doors of adjacent lockers open on either side of the run as is the case with the lockers 1 and 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Each locker is shown as a triangle. The faces which incorporate doors are indicated by reference numeral 82.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows how a number of individual lockers, with no shared side panels, can be placed along a wall with all the doors facing in the same general direction, giving a herringbone arrangement. Fig. 5 shows how lockers can be arranged in groups of three, so that the central locker 84 shares side panels with the lockers 86 at either side of it. Each cluster is placed against the wall as shown. Fig. 6 shows how six lockers of equilateral triangular cross-section can be arranged into a hexagonal free-standing podium.

[0036] In Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the doors of adjacent lockers lie on the external faces of a hexagon or half a hexagon. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic horizontal cross-­section showing the arrangement of parts at the junction of two such lockers. A shared side panel 88 is sandwiched down its back edge between two V-shaped strips 90 which are each the same as the strip 40 shown in Fig. 2. Down the front edge the shared side panel 88 is attached to a strip 92 which is shaped to provide a portion 94 down each door opening and a lip 96 down the edge of the front face of each locker.

[0037] Figs. 8 to 11 illustrate a further embodiment of locker construction. Once again the lockers are assembled from a number of parts which are each formed from steel sheet punched out and bent to the required shapes.

[0038] Fig. 8 illustrates the basic construction of a single locker 134. This locker has two side panels 100,102 formed from a single steel sheet bent at the rear edge 104 so that the side panels include an angle of 60°. At the top, each side panel has an inturned portion 106 of L-shaped cross section. At the base each side panel has an inturned portion 108 of U-shaped cross section.

[0039] A top 110 is provided with steps 112 along two edges so that it can be fitted to the inturned portions 106 and secured by rivets passing through pre-punched holes in the steps 112 and the vertical faces of the inturned portions 106. A base 114 is shaped with flanges along its edges. It can be fitted over the U-section inturned portions 108 and secured by rivets through pre-punched holes into the upper faces of the inturned portions 108.

[0040] It will be appreciated that assembly in this way to form the carcase of the locker can be carried out without passing any rivet or other fastener through the planes of the side panels 100, 102. These side panels are however punched with a number of holes not shown in Fig. 8) in two vertical lines spaced inwardly from the front and back edges of the side panel. These holes receive rivets when lockers are assembled together as will be described in more detail below.

[0041] The locker carcase illustrated in Fig. 8 receives a shaped reinforcement 116 which is attached to the side panels 100, 102 adjacent the back edge 104. A shelf 118 is also attached to the side panels. Attachment of parts 116, 118 will be explained in more detail below.

[0042] The front of the locker is fitted with a door frame consisting of a pair of shaped uprights 120, 122 spot welded to channel section horizontals 124. The channel sections fit round the front edges of the top 110 and base 114 and are riveted to these.

[0043] The front edges of the side panels 100, 102 are shaped to co-operate with the uprights 120, 122 as can best be seen from the cross-sectional detail in Fig. 10. The uprights 120, 122 each have a flange 126 positioned to lie against the side walls 100, 102. These flanges 126 are each punched with a vertical line of holes which are aligned with one of the abovementioned vertical lines of the holes in the side panels 100, 102. The flanges are then secured to the side panels 100,102 by spot welding, leaving the aligned holes clear for use subsequently in assembling to other lockers. Each of the uprights 120, 122 is shaped as shown in Fig. 10 to wrap around the front edge portion 128 of the side panel to which it is fitted. These front edge portions are stepped slightly so that the portions 130 of the strips 120, 122 lie in the planes of the side wall panels 100, 102. A door (not shown) fabricated from pressed steel parts is fitted into the door frame. The upright 120 has an angle section piece 132 spot welded to it to serve as a stop for the door.

[0044] Assembly of single lockers 134 as described so far is intended to be carried out in a factory. These lockers can be connected together with additional parts, forming assemblies of lockers such as generally illustrated by Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The single lockers 134 are connected together by parts which are riveted to the exteriors of the side wall panels 100, 102 of the single lockers 134. For this reason the holes in the side panels are not obstructed during assembly of the single lockers 134 as shown by Fig. 8.

[0045] Fig. 9 shows two lockers 134 which are as described in Fig. 8. These lockers 134 are being connected together by additional parts so as to form part of a straight run of the type indicated by Fig. 3 in which the doors of lockers open on alternate sides of the straight run. Fig. 10 illustrates a detail of this. The two lockers 134 are connected by a reinforcement 116′ (which is the same as reinforcements 116 already mentioned) and also by top and bottom supports 138, 140. These are each generally V-shaped with the arms of the V-shape being of channel section and L-section respectively.

[0046] The top and bottom supports 138, 140 are riveted to the side panels of the lockers 134. They then mimic the inturned portions 106, 108 of a single locker 134 so that a top 110 and base 114 can be riveted to them. As illustrated by Fig. 10, the aligned but unusual holes through the side panels 100,102 and uprights 120,122 of the previously built lockers 134 align with holes in the side flanges of the reinforcement 116′ enabling riveting through these holes as indicated by rivet 140. A shelf 118 is also fitted between the side panels. A door frame (which is the same as illustrated in Fig. 8) is fitted by riveting the flanges 126 of the door frame's uprights to the side panels of the lockers 134. Fig. 11 is a detail cross section of an upright 122 fitted in this way, with rivets 140 passing through side flanges of reinforcement 116.

[0047] As well as connecting single, pre-assembled lockers 134 with further parts so as to form a straight run with doors on alternate sides of the run, the same parts can be fitted between pairs of single lockers 134 so that the doors are side by side although at an angle to each other in arrangements such as generally illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 12 is a detail showing the upright 122 of the door frame of a pre-assembled single locker 134 and the upright 120′ of a door frame fitted onto it. The upright 120′ is secured by riveting through its flange 126′ and through the side wall panel 102 and flange 126 of the pre-assembled locker 134. (It will be recalled that during factory assembly the punched holes in door frame and side wall panels were aligned but not utilised thus providing open holes for attaching further door frames as shown by Fig. 12.) The portion 130′ of the upright 120′ lies against the portion 130 of the strip 122 which in turn lies against the edge portion 128 of the wall panel 102.

[0048] It will be apparent from the preceding description that the vertical lines of holes spaced inwardly from the front and rear edges of the side panels of a single locker 134 can each be used to attach either the door frame or the back reinforcement 116 of another locker assembled alongside. It has already been pointed out that the assembly operation is organised so that single lockers 134 are put together without riveting through their side panels 100,102, leaving these holes clear for use in attaching further parts.

[0049] For the holes adjacent the front edges, this is made possible by spot welding the door frame into place on single lockers 134. For the holes adjacent the rear edges of single lockers, there are two possible ways to leave these clear. One possibility is to assemble single lockers 134 with their back reinforcements 116 spots welded into place. An alternative, which is preferred, is to assemble two single lockers 134, and hen join them into a group of three, all as a factory operation. This would make it possible to secure the back reinforcements 116 of the two single lockers down one side, where additional parts from a third locker between them. The resulting assembly of these lockers could then be transported to the site of use, and there connected into a larger assembly in the manner described. Shelves 118 can be attached in the same way as the back reinforcements 116.

Claims

1. A locker constructed from sheet metal and having a front face including a door, and side panels which extend away from the front face and also towards each other so that the side panels and front face define a generally triangular cross-section wherein the side panels include an angle, remote from the door, in the range 45 to 75°.

2. A locker according to claim 1 wherein the said angle is substantially 60°.

3. A locker according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each side panel is formed by a generally plane sheet reinforced down its front edge by a strip shaped to a uniform, non planar cross section and defining a side of a frame for the door.

4. A locker according to claim 3 wherein the said strip is a separate part from the plane sheet and attached thereto.

5. A locker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein both sides of a frame for the door are formed by strips of sheet metal bent to non-planar cross section and attached to plane sheets forming side panels of the locker.

6. A locker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one side panel comprises a metal sheet having an inturned portion at top or bottom thereof, with a base or top of the locker attached to said inturned portion.

7. A plurality of lockers according to any one of the preceding claims arranged

(i) at one side of a common plane, with one side panel of each locker in that plane;

(ii) side by side forming a straight row with the front faces of successive lockers on alternate sides of the row; or

(iii) side by side with the front faces of successive lockers side by side but at an angle to each other.

8. A pair of lockers each according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which are arranged side by side and wherein a single panel constitutes a side panel of both said lockers.

9. A pair of lockers according to claim 8 wherein the side panel comprises a plane metal sheet with an inturned portion at top and/or bottom thereof, a top and/or base of one locker is attached to the inturned portion and the top and/or base of the other locker is attached to the plane portion of the metal sheet.

10. A plurality of lockers each acoording to any one of claims 1 to 6 arranged side by side in succession with adjacent lockers sharing single panels as side panels of both lockers; alternate lockers being of a first category constructed by assembly of at least their side panels, top and base before connection to other lockers, and a second category constructed by assembly to the side panels of adjoining lockers of the first category.

Drawing