Locker assembly and associated insert assembly for a cabinet

Abstract

A locker assembly insert 10 for a cabinet 11. The cabinet 11 is a two door cabinet having a first door 12 and a second door 13. A central mullion 19 having a rear cover plate divides the cabinet 11 down the middle and the doors 12 and 13 close the cabinet. The locker assembly insert 10 in this case is applied to a two door cabinet and has a central support member 20 (which is put in place by first removing the rear cover plate behind the central mullion 19, the rear cover plate is tucked in behind the central support member 20 before assembly allowing it to be reused if the refrigerator is ever restored to its original condition). The insert is completed using vertical divider sets 27, 28 and 29 and ten door locker door assemblies 30 and 31.

Claims

1. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet; the refrigerated cabinet having an inner wall and at least one outer door; the locker assembly being positioned inside the refrigerated cabinet, and comprises a locker door assembly in front of and spaced from vertical and horizontal locker dividers; the locker door assembly further comprising a main locker door having separately operable locker doors within the main locker door; the main locker door being operably disposed inside of the outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet and being spaced from the locker spaces for independent operation; the refrigerated cabinet having a cooled space and further having an airflow passage means for flow of air through the cabinet, and the horizontal dividers being so made and arranged for air flow preferentially through the horizontal dividers; the vertical and horizontal dividers being located inside the cabinet with the dividers and the inner wall of the cabinet defining locker spaces so that adjacent locker spaces share the inner wall of the cabinet and are located and aligned behind a respective one of the separately operable locker doors of the main locker door when the main locker door is closed; wherein divider co-operating coupling rails are located at junctures between the horizontal and vertical dividers.

2. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the locker door assembly further comprises components being a substantially flat assembly including a box grid frame defining grid spaces, each grid space having a said separately operable locker door pivoted to the grid frame in each of the grid spaces, the grid frame being supported behind the closable outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet by a horizontal base frame section, a horizontal top frame section and vertical frame members set vertically on opposite sides of the locker door assembly and extending between the base frame section and the top frame section, the vertical dividers comprising aligned flat plates, wherein adjacent ones of said aligned flat plates have divider co-operating coupling rails so that the plates and rails are located behind and aligned with the box grid frame.

3. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the locker door assembly comprises an outer peripheral door frame fitted into an opening in the refrigerated cabinet behind the closable outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet and further having an inner peripheral door frame pivotally coupled to the outer peripheral door frame so that all the locker spaces behind the main locker door and corresponding to the said separately operable locker doors may be accessed when the main locker door is open.

4. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein an air intake is adjacent a top of the cabinet and the locker assembly has aligned individual vertical plates inserted between the horizontal dividers.

5. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein an air intake is adjacent a top of the cabinet and outlets extend across the cooled space as sets of outlets, and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

6. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves with the vertical dividers are inserted between the horizontal dividers.

7. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator having cooled air outlets extending across the cooled space as sets of outlets and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

8. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator and air outlets extend across the cooled space as sets of outlets on either side of the cabinet and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

9. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator having a central vertical mullion between two doors, and the locker assembly includes an upright located around the mullion and used to support a said locker door assembly on the inside of the mullion, the cabinet doors operate as a seal for the cooled space as if the locker assembly was not present and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

10. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein substantially all airflow through the locker spaces is through the horizontal dividers.

11. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein substantially all airflow through the locker spaces is through the horizontal dividers.

12. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein there is an intake adjacent a top of the cabinet and outlets extend across the cooled space as sets of outlets, and wherein substantially all airflow through the locker spaces is through the horizontal dividers.

13. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein an air intake is adjacent a top of the cabinet and the locker assembly has flow through top section adjacent the intake and outlets extend across the cooled space as sets of outlets on either side of a central vertical divider, wherein substantially all airflow through the locker spaces is through the horizontal dividers, and wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator having respective said locker door assemblies on each side of a central mullion, the cabinet doors operating as a seal for the cooled space as if the locker assembly was not present.

14. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the dividers are separate inserts positioned inside the cabinet independently of the locker door assembly, the locker door assembly being operatively secured in position over the locker spaces.

15. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the dividers are inserts positioned inside the cabinet independently of the locker door assembly, the locker door assembly being operatively secured in position over the locker spaces, the locker door assembly further comprises a substantially flat assembly including a box grid frame defining grid spaces, each grid space having a said separately operable locker door pivoted to the grid frame in each of the grid spaces, the grid frame being supported behind the closable outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet by a horizontal base frame section, a horizontal top frame section and vertical frame members set vertically on opposite sides of the locker door assembly and extending between the base frame section and the top frame section, and the vertical dividers comprising flat plates and the co-operating divider coupling rails positioning the vertical dividers between the horizontal dividers and aligned in a vertical plane and being located behind and aligned with the box grid frame.

16. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the dividers are inserts positioned inside the cabinet independently of the locker door assembly, the locker door assembly being operatively secured in position over the locker spaces, and wherein an air intake is adjacent a top of the cabinet and the locker assembly has a top section adjacent for air flow through to the intake and their being outlets extending across the cooled space as sets of outlets on either side of the cabinet, wherein substantially all airflow through the locker spaces is through the horizontal dividers and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

17. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator, each of the two doors having a corresponding said locker door assembly located behind it, the dividers being inserts positioned inside the cabinet independently of each of said corresponding locker door assemblies, the locker door assemblies having respective main lockers doors and being operatively secured in position over the locker spaces with their respective independently operable locker doors aligned with respective locker spaces and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

18. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet, the refrigerated cabinet having an inner wall and at least one outer door; the locker assembly being positioned inside the refrigerated cabinet, and comprises a locker door assembly in front of and spaced from vertical and horizontal locker dividers; the locker door assembly further comprising a main locker door having separately operable locker doors within the main locker door; the main locker door being operably disposed inside of the outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet and being spaced from the locker spaces for independent operation; the refrigerated cabinet having a cooled space and further having an airflow passage means for flow of air through the cabinet, and the horizontal dividers being so made and arranged for air flow preferentially through the horizontal dividers; the vertical and horizontal dividers being located inside the cabinet with the dividers and the inner wall of the cabinet defining locker spaces so that adjacent locker spaces share the inner wall of the cabinet and are located and aligned behind a respective one of the separately operable locker doors of the main locker door when the main locker door is closed; wherein the locker assembly is made up of components retro-fitted to the refrigerated cabinet comprising a substantially flat door assembly including a box grid frame defining grid spaces, each grid space having a said separately operable locker door pivoted to the grid frame in each of the grid spaces, the grid frame being supported behind the closable outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet by a fitted horizontal base frame section, a fitted horizontal top frame section and fitted vertical frame members set vertically on opposite sides of the locker door assembly and extending between the base frame section and the top frame section, and the vertical dividers comprising fitted flat plates aligned in a vertical plane and being located behind and aligned with corresponding vertical cross members of the box grid frame.

19. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet, the refrigerated cabinet having an inner wall and at least one outer door; the locker assembly being positioned inside the refrigerated cabinet, and comprises a locker door assembly in front of and spaced from vertical and horizontal locker dividers; the locker door assembly further comprising a main locker door having separately operable locker doors within the main locker door; the main locker door being operably disposed inside of the outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet and being spaced from the locker spaces for independent operation; the refrigerated cabinet having a cooled space and further having an airflow passage means for flow of air through the cabinet, and the horizontal dividers being so made and arranged for air flow preferentially through the horizontal dividers; the vertical and horizontal dividers being located inside the cabinet with the dividers and the inner wall of the cabinet defining locker spaces so that adjacent locker spaces share the inner wall of the cabinet and are located and aligned behind a respective one of the separately operable locker doors of the main locker door when the main locker door is closed; wherein the refrigerated cabinet is a two door refrigerator having a central vertical mullion between the two doors, and the locker assembly includes an upright located around the mullion and used to support a said locker door assembly on the inside of the mullion, the cabinet doors operating as a seal for the cooled space as if the locker assembly was not present and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

20. A locker assembly in a refrigerated cabinet, the refrigerated cabinet having an inner wall and at least one outer door; the locker assembly being positioned inside the refrigerated cabinet, and comprises a locker door assembly in front of and spaced from vertical and horizontal locker dividers; the locker door assembly further comprising a main locker door having separately operable locker doors within the main locker door; the main locker door being operably disposed inside of the outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet and being spaced from the locker spaces for independent operation; the refrigerated cabinet having a cooled space and further having an airflow passage means for flow of air through the cabinet, and the horizontal dividers being so made and arranged for air flow preferentially through the horizontal dividers; the vertical and horizontal dividers being located inside the cabinet with the dividers and the inner wall of the cabinet defining locker spaces so that adjacent locker spaces share the inner wall of the cabinet and are located and aligned behind a respective one of the separately operable locker doors of the main locker door when the main locker door is closed; wherein the locker assembly is made up of components retro-fitted to the refrigerated cabinet comprising a substantially flat door assembly including a box grid frame defining grid spaces, each grid space having a said separately operable locker door pivoted to the grid frame in each of the grid spaces, the grid frame being supported behind the closable outer door(s) of the refrigerated cabinet by a fitted horizontal base frame section, a fitted horizontal top frame section and fitted vertical frame members set vertically on opposite sides of the locker door assembly and extending between the base frame section and the top frame section, and the vertical dividers comprising fitted flat plates aligned in a vertical plane and being located behind and aligned with corresponding vertical cross members of the box grid frame and further wherein the vertical dividers are plates and the horizontal dividers are wire grill type shelves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the present improvements may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front pictorial view of a locker assembly for a cabinet, the cabinet being shown in phantom;

(3) FIG. 2 is a is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the cabinet lines have been removed showing the assembled insert;

(4) FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the insert of FIG. 2 from the back;

(5) FIG. 4 is a pictorial view showing operation of the main insert doors in an environment where there are further external doors, as in a two door refrigerated locker assembly;

(6) FIG. 5 is a drawing similar to FIG. 4 showing operation of the individual locker doors;

(7) FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are exploded views showing how the insert is assembled, in respect of the shelving and dividers in FIGS. 6 and 7, and with respect to the base, doors and top in FIG. 8; and

(8) FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate flow of air during application of the insert of FIG. 1-8 to a refrigerated cabinet FIG. 10 being a section through A-A of FIG. 11.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

(9) Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4 there is illustrated a locker assembly insert 10 for a cabinet 11 (shown in phantom). In this case the cabinet 11 is a two door cabinet having a first door 12 and a second door 13 (these doors are shown open in FIG. 4). The cabinet has a base 14 opposite sides 15 and 16, a back 17 and a top 18. A central mullion 19 having a rear cover plate divides the cabinet 11 down the middle and the doors 12 and 13 close the cabinet from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 1.

(10) It should be appreciated that when applied to a refrigerator the doors 12 and 13 provide the refrigerator seal in the usual way. The description below will deal with application of the present invention to a two door refrigerator but the invention could be applied to any cabinet. However, in the case of a refrigerated cabinet the relative dimensions, air inlets and vents, the relative disposition of the refrigeration elements and the parts of the insert are selected to optimise airflow and cooling characteristics for the example of a two door refrigerated cabinet given herein. It will be appreciated that in this example the components of the locker assembly are arranged to minimise interference with the normal operation of the refrigerator but this is only exemplary and it should be appreciated that the invention embraces the broad concept as modified for other refrigerator configurations that might have different air flow characteristics.

(11) The locker assembly insert 10 in this case is applied to a two door cabinet and has a central support member 20 (which is put in place by first removing the rear cover plate behind the central mullion 19, the rear cover plate is tucked in behind the central support member 20 before assembly allowing it to be reused if the refrigerator is ever restored to its original condition), a pair of vertical side rails 21 and 22, a pair of bases 23 and 24, a pair of tops 25 and 26. This gives the basic door frame. The insert is completed using vertical divider sets 27, 28 and 29 and ten door locker door assemblies 30 and 31. The wire shelves 32, there being eight of these illustrated, are usually supplied with the refrigerator and accordingly are not part of the insert, however the invention also embodies the whole combination of a locker assembly inclusive of the cabinet with the insert shown whether they be assembled from the same parts illustrated below or configured from other parts to give the equivalent, or substantially equivalent result.

(12) FIG. 4 illustrates the locker door assemblies 30 and 31 open. The tops and bases 23-26 have locks 33-36 so that the outer door frames 37 and 38 may be locked. This permits the use of master keys, pass card or other electronic means to open all the doors at once. The individual doors 39 (only one numeral is used) are individually locked with locks 40 so a master key can be used to unlock and open all the doors as a main door 30 and 31 with the individual users having separate keys pass card or other electronic means for the doors 39, six of these doors 41-46 are shown open in FIG. 5.

(13) FIGS. 6-8 show the assembly method by which an insert is located inside the two door cabinet 11. In the illustrated embodiment the parts are made from metal, typically stainless steel, but any material suited to the purpose may be used. If the assembly were to be used in a lunchroom the parts might be plastic in a more secure situation as in blood storage facility they might be stainless steel.

(14) As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 each of the divider sets 27, 28 and 29 comprises five dividers 47. Each of bases 23 and 24 has spaced slots 48, 49 and 50. These take tabs 51, 52 and 53. A further slot in each base that is not visible in FIG. 8 but this is present and takes tab 54 on the divider. Lower and upper divider coupling rails 55 and 56 are similarly slotted to take tabs and to thereby receive the divider 47 and so on this is repeated to build up the set. The coupling rails are U-shaped and fit over the central wire in a wire shelf 32. Where two wire shelves 32 meet, divider coupling rails 57 and 58 as depicted in FIG. 7 are used in a similar fashion to the coupling rails 55 and 56. The coupling rails 57 and 58 are slightly wider. The coupling rails are rolled, folded or moulded and include spaced grooves such as shown at 59 and 60 which aid to assist localisation of the coupling rails over cross wires 61 and 62 of the wireframe shelves 32. Other grooves and slots shown are to fit around the wires.

(15) Each door 30 and 31 is formed as a grid frame having an outer peripheral frame 63, a central frame member 64 and four cross frame members 65, these together form a grid for the individual locker doors 39. Each door assembly 30 and 31 has a pivot pin top and bottom locatable in holes 66 and 67 in the bases 23 and corresponding holes in the top sections 24. Thus as illustrated in FIG. 8, where a refrigerated cabinet is already equipped with two doors and wire formed shelves 32, the locker assembly insert may be shipped as a flat pack and the refrigerator may be transformed into a refrigerated locker assembly by using the present invention. Since vertical dividers are the only parts that enter the cooled space as long as the air flow is vertical and the outlets into the space are uniform across the space the cooling characteristics of the refrigerator remain effectively the same. An example is given below.

(16) Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 the circulation of cool air is illustrated in relation to the arrows shown in the drawings. In particular the top sections 25 and 26 have respective grilles 68 and 69 and these are located adjacent top intake grilles 70 and 71 of the refrigerated cabinet. The cabinet itself has a rear manifold 71 and there are back outlet grilles 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76 on one side and the same on the opposite side, so that inner wall 77 (shown in phantom) of the cabinet is shared by the locker spaces. These grilles bridge across the vertical dividers as concerns the sets 27 and 29. Air then flows up through the wire shelves 32 to the intakes 70 and 71.

(17) Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth. For example, the number and types of spaces and doors could be of any configuration, one side may have five full width lockers and one side may have ten half width lockers as a combo, or one whole fridge may have five full width lockers on each side, ten in total, and so on. Further, any shape of cabinet may be accommodated using a suitably modified variation of the present invention.