Sheet metal panel assembly

Claim 2

In a sheet metal assembly, first and second interlocking panels, each panel providing a main panel area bounded by an elongated, transversely folded, rectilinear marginal portion, said marginal portions defining respectively an elongated flatsided polygonal groove and a complementary tongue slidably Located in the groove, the groove of the first panel being defined by a first flange folded at an acute angle to the main panel area and a second reversely directed, flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to the main panel area, said reversely directed flange terminating in a hooked flange providing a seat, and the tongue of the second panel being defined by a panel portion extending at right angles to the main panel area of said second panel and having a first flange folded at an obtuse angle to said panel portion and a second, rearwardly directed flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to said panel portion, said rearwardly directed flange having a free edge, all said flanges being substantially rigid, said first and second flanges of the groove lying in face to face relation with the first and second flanges of the tongue, and said free edge bearing on the seat to maintain the panels in interlocked relationship with said panel portion substantially coplanar to the main panel area of said first panel.

Claim 3

A sheet metal box comprising interlocking front, rear and end panels, and a bottom panel located by said front, rear and end panels, each front and rear panel providing a main wall portion and a pair of end wall portions folded at right angles to the main wall portion, each end wall portion defining a flat area bounded by an elongated, transversely folded, rectilinear marginal portion, and each end panel defining a main panel area bounded by a pair of elongated, transversely folded, rectilinear marginal portions, the marginal portions of the end panels defining polygonal grooves and the marginal portions of said end wall portions defining complementary tongues slidably located in the grooves, each of said grooves being defined by a first flange folded at an acute angle to the respective panel area and a second reversely directed, flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to said respective panel area, the second flange terminating in a hooked flange defining a seat, and each of said tongues being defined by a panel portion extending at right angles to the main panel area of said second panel and having a first flange folded at an obtuse angle to the respective panel portion and a second, rearwardly directed, flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to the respective panel portion, the second flange terminating in a free edge, all said flanges being substantially rigid, the first and second flanges of each tongue lying in face to face relation with the first and second flanges of a respective groove with the free edge of the tongue bearing against the seat of the groove, said front, rear and end panels thereby being maintained in interlocked relationship with said panel portion substantially coplanar to the main panel area of said first panel.

Claim 4

A sheet metal box comprising interlocking front, rear and end panels, and a bottom panel located by said front, rear and end panels, each front and rear panel providing a main wall portion and a pair of end wall portions folded at right angles to the main wall portion, each end wall portion defining a flat area bounded by an elongated, transversely folded, rectilinear marginal portion, and each end panel defining a main panel area bounded by a pair of elongated, transversely folded, rectilinear marginal portions, the marginal portions of the end panels defining polygonal grooves and the marginal portions of said end wall portions defining complementary tongues slidably located in the grooves, each of said grooves being defined by a first flange folded at an acute angle to the respective panel area and a second reversely directed, flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to said respective panel area, the second flange terminating in a hooked flange defining a seat, and each of said tongues being defined by a panel portion extending at right angles to the main panel area of said second panel and having a first flange folded at an obtuse angle to the respective panel portion and a second, rearwardly directed, flange folded at an acute angle to the first flange and lying parallel to the respective panel portion, the second flange terminating in a free edge, all said flanges being substantially rigid, the first and second flanges of each tongue lying in face to face relation with the first and second flanges of a respective groove with the free edge of the tongue bearing against the seat of the groove, said front, rear and end panels thereby being maintained in interlocked relationship with said panel portion substantially coplanar to the main panel area of said first panel.

Claim 5

In combination with a sheet metal box as claimed in claim 2, a rectangular lid hinged about a horizontal axis rearward of the rear panel.

Claim 6

The combination claimed in claim 3, including a pair of bracket arms mounted on the end wall portions of said rear panel and extending rearwardly therefrom, and hinge means mounted on the brackets, said hinge means engaging the lid to define said horizontal axis.

Claim 7

The combination claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is formed with a pair of downturned end flanges engageable over the end walls of the box in the closed position of the lid, each of said down-turned flanges being formed with a horizontal elongated slot adjacent to its rear end, said hinge means comprising first and second roller bushings mounted on the brackets, said roller bushings engaging in the elongated slots of the lid flanges to provide a sliding hinge.

Claim 8

The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the end walls is of trapezoidal shape having a top edge sloping downwardly from the rear to the front of the box, and wherein each of the front and rear panels is of rectangular shape hAving a top edge formed with an outwardly turned horizontal flange defining a seat for the lid in its closed position.