The invention relates to a frame for a storage system, for example an understairs or under similar pitched spaces.
In a typical home, the space under the stairs typically occupies 1.11 square metres (12 square feet) of the overall footprint of a house. Typically this space is rarely utilised effectively. Similarly, attic space and particularly in the space under the roof pitch storage space is rarely utilised effectively. Drawer units or other closet structures are often fitted under the stairs of houses to utilise this space as understairs storage.
As shown in
Typically a plurality of drawers are installed under the stairs to optimise the space utilisation. However, while drawers may be generic, the installation of these drawers and the installation and framing system are bespoke, tailored to match the individual requirements of individual stairs or pitched space. Bespoke manufacture is required as houses have varying pitches of stairs and the angle of the pitch of the stairs can vary from 35° to 50°. Bespoke manufacture is required as the orientation of stair rise can vary from house to house, with different configurations of drawer units being required for stairs orientated to rise from left to right and stairs orientated to rise from right to left. Bespoke manufacturing is required as the footprint under stairs can vary. Bespoke manufacture is both time consuming and expensive. Bespoke manufacture, by its nature of once off manufacturing, is prone to waste which may be detrimental to the environment in addition to increasing the carbon footprint of each bespoke unit. Kits are available for such storage solutions, but separate kits are provided for each pitch and for each stair orientation. The requirement for the provision of separate kits resulting in increased manufacturing costs, component cost, delivery, storage costs and often the need for a qualified person to install the storage solution. It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a universal kit which reduces the component count for a storage solution such as that described herein.
As described herein with reference to the appended claims, there is provided a frame for an understairs storage system, the system having a plurality of substantially triangular gussets, each gusset having a gusset pitch (α), comprising:
a first support member and a second support member, each of the first and second support members having a plurality of preconfigured engagement points, the preconfigured engagement points of the first support member pairing with the plurality of engagement points of the second support member to provide a plurality of pairs of engagement points;
each pair of engagement points configured to cooperably engage a gusset of the plurality of gussets at a convergent point of the first and second support members to orientate the second support member at a preselected angle, x, to the first support member, said preselected angle corresponding to the gusset pitch. The frame provides for a single solution for a plurality of pitch angles thus reducing manufacturing costs, component cost, delivery, storage costs, and simplifying installation. This further reduces environmental waste, and the associated carbon footprint associated with manufacturing.
The first support member may have a longitudinal length, wherein the first plurality of pre-configured engagement points may be positioned at a distal end of the longitudinal length at a distance from a proximate end of the first support member the distance in millimetres being 32α−Y, α being the gusset pitch and Y being a constant.
The positioning of the plurality of pre-configured engagement points on the first support member according to the equation 32α−Y allows the first support member to be attached to gussets with varying pitches in such a manner as to allow a single frame to be fitted under stairs of different pitches. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points allow a single frame to be fitted under stairs of right to left or left to right orientation. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points according to the equation 32α−Y allows the first support member to be configured to fit under stairs of different footprints. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points provides a single frame which can be configured to fit under numerous configurations of stairs.
The footprint available under the stairs may be of normal or greater than normal size. A normal size footprint is one which the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, for example 952 mm. A greater than normal footprint is one in which the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, for example 1102 mm.
The frame of the present invention the frame may be configured to fit under stairs with a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, wherein Y may have a value of from about 390 to about 400. Y having a value of from about 390 to about 400 allows the frame to be correctly positioned under the stairs having a pitch from 39° to 50°. A value of Y below 400 may position the gusset on the first support member too low to fit neatly under stairs. A value of Y above 390 may position the gusset too high on the first support member and prevent the frame from fitting under stairs. Preferably Y has a value of 395 which will allow the frame to be positioned neatly under stairs.
Alternatively the frame of the present invention may be fitted under stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm. In this case Y may have a value of from about 260 to about 270. Y having a value of from about 260 to about 270 allows the frame to be positioned correctly under stairs of greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm. A value of Y below 270 may position the gusset on the first support member too low to fit neatly under stairs. A value of Y above 260 may position the gusset too high on the support member and prevent the frame from fitting under within the footprint of the stairs. When the frame is configured to be positioned under stairs of greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, preferably Y has a value of 267 which will allow the frame to be positioned in the correct orientation to fit neatly under stairs.
The second support member may have a longitudinal length and wherein the second plurality of pre-configured engagement points may be positioned at a distal end of the longitudinal length at a distance from a proximate end of the second support member the distance in millimetres being 10.66α+Z, α being the pre-selected angle and Z being a constant. The positioning of the plurality of pre-configured engagement points according to the equation 10.66α+Z may allow the second support member to be attached to gussets with varying pitches in such a manner as to allow a single frame to be fitted under stairs of different pitches. Advantageously the positioning the pre-configured engagement points allow the frame to be fitted under stairs of right to left and left to right orientation. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points allow the frame to configured to be fitted under stairs of different footprints. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points provides a single frame which can be configured to fit under numerous configurations of stairs.
The frame may be configured to fit under stairs with a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, wherein the frame of the present invention Z may have a value of from about 210 to about 220. Z having a value of from about 210 to about 220 allows the frame to be correctly positioned under the stairs. A value of Z below 210 may prevent the second support member from fully extending the length of the stairs. A value of Z above 220 may make the second support member too long and prevent the second support member form fitting under a stairs. Preferably Z has a value of 216 which will allow the frame to be positioned neatly under stairs.
The frame may comprise a third support member comprising a third plurality of pre-configured engagement points wherein the third support member and a fourth support member may be orientated at the pre-configured angle and wherein the fourth support member may be identical to the second support member. The third support member may provide additional support to the frame.
The third support member may have a longitudinal length and wherein the third plurality of pre-configured engagement points may be positioned at a distal end of the longitudinal length at a distance from a proximate end of the third support member the distance in millimetres being 16α−A, α being the pre-selected angle and A being a constant. The positioning of the plurality of engagement points on the third support member according to the equation 16α−A may allow the third support member to be attached to gussets of varying pitches in such a manner as to allow a single frame to be fitted under stairs of different pitches. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points allow a single frame to be fitted under stairs of right to left or left to right orientation. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points according to the equation 16α−A allows the first support member to be configured to fit under stairs of different footprints. Advantageously the positioning of the pre-configured engagement points provides a single frame which can be configured to fit under numerous configurations of stairs
The frame of the present invention the frame may be configured to fit under stairs with a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, wherein A may have a value of from about 140 to about 150. A having a value of from about 140 to about 150 allows the frame to be correctly positioned under the stairs. A value of A below 150 may position the gusset on the third support member too low to fit neatly under stairs. A value of A above 140 may position the gusset too high on the third support member and prevent the frame from fitting under stairs. Preferably A has a value of 145.5 which will allow the frame to be positioned neatly under stairs.
Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
An embodiment of the frame of the present invention is shown in
The gusset 100 has a gusset pitch α. The gusset pitch α is defined as the angle formed by the sides 100a and 100b of the gusset 100 which is shown as triangular. Alternatively a right trapezoid gusset 300 has a gusset pitch α which is defined as the angle formed by sides 300a and 300b.
A gusset 100 is selected which has a gusset pitch which corresponds to the pitch the stairs β under which the under stairs storage system is to be fitted. As shown in
An understairs installation is shown in
The first support member 101 is shown as attached to a gusset 100 at a region close to the distal end 106 of the longitudinal length of the first support member 101. The positioning of the gusset 100 on the first support member 101 is determined by a plurality of pre-configured engagement points 301 on the first support member 101 as shown in
The frame also comprises the second support member 102, shown positioned at an angle in
The frame comprises an optional third support member 103 as shown in
The frame also includes an optional fourth support member 104, shown positioned at an angle in
The third and fourth support member above are described as optional. Additional support members may be incorporated depending on the under stairs requirement. These additional support members allow for subdivision of the under stairs cavity.
To provide flexibility to allow a single first support member 101 and a single second support member 102 to form a frame which may be positioned under stairs with different pitches β, the position of the engagement points 301, 302 are preconfigured during manufacture. As outlined above, the first support member 101 and the second support member 102, each have a plurality of preconfigured engagement points 301, 302 as shown in
The engagement points 301, 302, 303, 304, are shown in
To provide the flexibility outlined above the position of the engagement points 301, 302, 303, 304 are preconfigured during manufacture.
The positioning of the plurality of engagement points 301 of the first support member 101 may be determined by the distance in millimetres from the proximal end 107 defined by:
32α−Y, Equation 1
wherein α corresponds to a gusset pitch and Y is a constant.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, Y is a value from about 390 to about 400. Preferably Y is 395. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 301 on the first support member 101 will be calculated as 32(40)−Y. Where Y is 395 the preconfigured engagement point 301 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 107 of the first support member 101 of 885 mm, which is 32(40)−395. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, Y may have a value from about 260 to about 270, preferably Y is 267. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point on the first support member will be calculated as 32(40)−Y. Where Y is 267 the preconfigured engagement point will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end of the first support member of 1013 mm, which is 32(40)−267. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint, wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm.
The positioning of the plurality of engagement points 302 of the second support member 102 may be determined by the distance in millimetres from the proximal end 109 as defined by:
10.66α+Z, Equation 2
wherein α corresponds to a gusset pitch and Z is a constant.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, Z is a value from about 210 to about 220, preferably Z is 216. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 302 on the second support member will be calculated as 10.66(40)+Z. Where Z is 216 the preconfigured engagement point 302 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 109 of the second support member of 642.6 mm, which is 10.66(40)+216. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, Z may have a value from about 310 to about 320, preferably Z is 312. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 302 on the second support member 102 will be calculated as 10.66(40)+Z. Where Z is 312 the preconfigured engagement point 302 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 111 of the second support member 102 of 738.6 mm, which is 10.66(40)+Z. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm.
As the first support member 101 and the second support member 102 both have a plurality of preconfigured engagement points 301, 302 wherein the positioning of the preconfigured engagement points 301, 302 are determined by the gusset pitch α, the preconfigured engagement points form pairs of engagement points. Each pair of engagement points is suitable for cooperably engaging a gusset with a specific gusset pitch α. Advantageously the first support member and the second support member are manufactured with a plurality of engagement points which form pairs of engagement points allowing a single first support member and a single second support member to be manufactured and be suitable for fitting under stairs without requiring bespoke manufacture of a first support member and a second support member to fit under stairs with different pitches β.
The positioning of the plurality of engagement points 303 of the third support member 103 may be determined by the distance in millimetres from the proximal end 111 as defined by:
16α−A, Equation 3
wherein α corresponds to a gusset pitch and A is a constant.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, A is a value from about 140 to about 150, preferably A is 145.5. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 303 on the third support member will be calculated as 16(40)−A. Where Z is 145.5 the preconfigured engagement point 303 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 111 of the third support member of 494.5 mm, which is 16(40)−145.5. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, A may have a value from about 75 to about 85, preferably A is 81.5. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 303 on the third support member 103 will be calculated as 16(40)−A. Where A is 81.5 the preconfigured engagement point 303 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 111 of the third support member 103 of 558.5 mm, which is 16(40)−A. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm.
The fourth support member is identical to the second support member. The positioning of the plurality of engagement points 304 of the fourth support member 104 may be determined by the distance in millimetres from the proximal end 113 as defined by:
10.66α+Z, Equation 2
wherein α corresponds to a gusset pitch and Z is a constant.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm, Z is a value from about 210 to about 220, preferably Z is 216. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 304 on the fourth support member will be calculated as 10.66(40)+Z. Where Z is 216 the preconfigured engagement point 304 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 113 of the fourth support member of 642.6 mm, which is 10.66(40)+216. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which has a normal size footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is less than 1000 mm.
In an embodiment of the invention suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm, Z may have a value from about 310 to about 320, preferably Z is 312. Considering a stairs where the pitch of the stairs β is 40°. The gusset will be chosen to have a gusset pitch α to match the pitch of the stairs β so a gusset with a gusset pitch of 40° will be chosen from a plurality of gussets. The position of the preconfigured engagement point 304 on the fourth support member 104 will be calculated as 10.66(40)+Z. Where Z is 312 the preconfigured engagement point 304 will be positioned at a distance from the proximal end 113 of the fourth support member 104 of 738.6 mm, which is 10.66(40)+Z. This embodiment may be suitable for stairs which have a greater than normal footprint wherein the horizontal length, L, is greater than 1000 mm.
As the third support member 103 and the fourth support member 104 both have a plurality of preconfigured engagement points 303, 304 wherein the positioning of the preconfigured engagement points 303, 304 are determined by the gusset pitch α, the preconfigured engagement points form pairs of engagement points. Each pair of engagement points is suitable for cooperably engaging a gusset with a specific gusset pitch α. Advantageously the third support member 103 and the fourth support member 104 are manufactured with a plurality of engagement points which form pairs of engagement points allowing a single third support member and a single fourth support member to be manufactured and be suitable for fitting under stairs without requiring bespoke manufacture of a third support member and a fourth support member to fit under stairs with different pitches β.
The frame of the invention may also comprise a fifth support member 105. The fifth support member 105 may provide additional stability and support to the frame. As shown in
The frame as shown in
The under stairs storage in
While one strut 402 is shown in
The frames shown in
The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018/0327 | Oct 2018 | IE | national |