Patent Application
20070278918
The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which;
Referring to
As can be seen, the lower 104 and upper 104′ pairs of side members are of generally L-shaped cross-section, with opposing pairs of side members being oriented so as to be mirror images of each other. Thus, the front end of the framework presents an open rectangle shape. The rear lower member is also of generally L-shaped cross section, with the base of the L-shape being aligned with the bases of the L-shapes of the lower side members 104. The vertical portion of the L-shape of the lower rear member 102 is aligned with the corresponding vertical portions of the L-shapes of the side members 104 thus the vertical stem of the rear member 102 projects above the upper surfaces of the horizontal portions of the L-shapes of the lower rear and side members and can therefore act as a stop for items sliding over the lower front member and lower side members. The lower front member 106 is a substantially flat bar having an upper surface substantially aligned with the adjacent upper surfaces of the horizontal portions of the L-shapes of the lower side members 104A, 104B.
The upper rear member 102′ is L-shaped in cross-section and is substantially aligned with the L-shapes of the corresponding upper surfaces of the upper side members 104A′, 104B′. The upper front member 106′ is formed of a bar of metal that is bent along its length at an angle of around 45° and connected to the upper surfaces of the upper side members, near their front ends. The resulting triangular member can fit into a corresponding formation on a lower surface of a container that can be placed on top of the frame 100.
The lower and upper frame members are connected together in a spaced-apart relationship by means of a plurality of vertical struts. There is a strut 108A, 108B, 108C, 108D located at each of the four corners of the rectangular lower/upper frame members There are also two further vertical struts 108E, 108F located about half-way along the side members 104, 104′. The middle struts 108E, 108F are of L-shaped cross-section. The four corner struts 108A-108D are also of L-shaped cross-section, but include square shaped panels at their upper and lower ends. The lower panel of each corner strut includes an aperture 112. The upper surface of the upper panel of each corner strut includes a rounded projection 110, which 110 may be rubberised.
At the front end of each of the side members 104A, 104B a respective slot 106A, 106B. Each slot 106 is a V-shape rotated clockwise by 90° so that its wider portion is at the end of the side member and then tapers inwards. Each slot can include an indentation (not visible) that is intended to cooperate with a projection on the lower base frame 201 as will be described below, it will be appreciated that the dimensions, number and arrangement of the elongate members/struts shown in the Figures is exemplary only and variations are possible. For instance, fewer than six struts could be used to connect the lower and upper frame members; the struts need not be vertical (e.g diagonal cross-bars could be used); the general outline of the framework need not be rectangular (e.g. it could be a square box); solid panels could be used to connect the lower and upper frame members in addition to or instead of the struts (although using such to replace all of the struts would result in increased weight); the side members/struts need not be of L-shaped cross-section. In the example a rigid metal such as steel is used for the components of the framework, but it will be understood that other strong materials (or a combination of materials) could be used instead. The dimensions of the framework may be chosen to correspond with the dimensions of a container that it is intended to support. For example, the framework could be dimensioned to accommodate a container anywhere between 380 mm-1012 mm (15″-40″) wide, around 42″ (1066 mm) long and 101 mm-508 mm (4″-20″) high. The components of the framework can be connected together using any suitable means, e.g. welding or nuts/bolts, or the framework can be formed at least partially in another manner e.g. using a moulding process
As can best to be seen in
The lower base frame 201 is similar in design to certain of the lower members (e.g. 102, 104A, 104B) of the framework 100, but is slightly smaller so as to fit inside those outer lower members. The lower base frame 201 includes a rear member 202 that extends between ends of a pair of side members 204A, 204B. The rear member 202 is dimensioned to fit between the lower side members 104 of the framework 100. The side members 204 of the lower base frame 201 extend perpendicularly from the ends of the lower base frame rear member 202, towards the open front end of the framework 100. The length of each of the side members 204 of the lower base frame 201 is slightly shorter than the length of each of the lower side members 104 of the framework 100 so that the lower base frame can be substantially fully retracted inside the outer framework. The side members 204 of the lower base frame 201 are of L-shaped cross-section and oriented fit inside the L-shapes presented by the lower side members 104 of the framework 100.
The lower base frame 201 can be configured to slide on the lower members of the framework 100 using one of a variety of means. For example, discrete or continuous panels of anti-friction plastic 205 may be fitted on the inner surfaces of the lower side members 104 of the framework 100. However, it will be understood that alternative sliding means may be used, e.g. a roller/track arrangement.
At the front end of each of the side members 204A, 204B of the lower base frame 201 there is a respective slot 208A, 208B. Each slot 208 is a V-shape rotated clockwise by 90° so that its wider portion is at the end of the side member and then tapers inwards. Each slot can include an indentation 209A that is intended to cooperate with a projection (216) on the upper base frame 210 as will be described below. On the outer surface of each of the side members 204A, 204B, below the narrow end of the adjacent slot 208, there is a projection 211A, 211B.
The lower base frame 201 is configured to normally only partially extend out beyond the front end of the framework 100. In the example, about half the length of the lower base frame can project beyond the front members 106, 106′ of the framework. This limit on the travel of the lower base frame can be achieved in many ways, e.g. by formations (not shown) at suitable locations on the side members 204 of the lower base frame contacting the front struts 108C, 108D.
The rear member 102 of the framework 100 includes at least one formation, e.g. a pair of apertures 113. The rear member 202 of the lower base frame 201 includes at least one corresponding formation, e.g. a pair of projections (not visible in
As mentioned above, an upper base frame 210 can slide over the lower base frame 201. The upper base frame 210 is similar in design to the lower base frame 201, except that its dimensions are slightly smaller to allow it to be accommodated on/within the lower base frame. The upper base frame 210 comprises a rear member numbered 212 and a pair of side members numbered 214A, 214B The sliding mechanism used between the lower and upper base frames may be the same as (e,g. anti-friction pads 205), or different to the mechanism used to facilitate sliding of the lower base frame on the lower parts of the framework 100.
Projections 216 are located on the outer surfaces of the side members 214. When the upper base frame 210 is pushed fully back over the lower base frame 201, these projections fit into the slots 208. The indention 209 in the slots means that considerable force (in the frontwards direction) needs to be applied to release the projections. In a similar manner, the side projections 211 on the side members of the lower base frame 201 can engage with the slots 106 on the sides of the frame side members 104.
The rear member 212 of the upper base frame 210 includes a pair of projections (not visible in
The front ends of the side members 214 of the upper base frame 210 also include similar tapering slots 218. The front ends each further include a respective contoured clasp member 219 that is connected to the outer surface of the side members 214 by means of a respective pivot 220. The clasp member 219 is biased, e.g. by means of a spring, to a “closed” position, i.e. a position in which the clasp blocks the inner end of the slot 218, thereby preventing any member located therein from escaping unless the clasp is deliberately moved clear. The upper base frame 201 is configured to normally only partially extend out beyond the front end of the lower base frame 201 In the example, about half the length of the upper base frame can project beyond the front of the lower base frame. This limit on the travel of the upper base frame can be achieved in many ways, e.g. by formations (not shown) at suitable locations on the side members 214 of the upper base frame contacting corresponding formations at/near the front ends of the side members 204 of the lower base frame 201 In use, the upper base frame 210 is pulled out of the front of the framework 100 until its travel on the lower base frame 201 is limited. Next, the lower base frame 210 can slide out over the lower members 104 of the framework until its travel is also arrested. At this point the upper front base frame 210 will normally be extended out of the framework 100, as illustrated in
The container-supporting arrangement can then be slid to the storage position within the framework. The upper base frame 210 can be slid over the lower base frame 201 until the projections 216 on the side members 214 of the upper frame move to the end of the slots 208 in the side members 204 of the lower frame. The rear projections 217 and apertures 203 on the two base frames can also engage at this point. The lower frame 201 can then normally still slide over the front 106 and side members 104, until the side projections 211 reach the narrow end of the slots 106 in the lower side members 104 and the rear projections/apertures of the lower base frame 201 and the lower framework members engage. To remove the container from the device the reverse operation can be performed. Of course, the container does not need to be completely removed from the framework, unless desired, and the container-supporting arrangement can just be slid to the extended position, allow the container to be used like a drawer.
The third framework 100C from the bottom is shown with its container-supporting arrangement in the extended position. An example of a suitable container 300 is also shown. The container is a generally rectangular box comprising a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls and a base. One or more carrying handles 302 may be present on one or more of the side and/or end walls. Partitions 304 can (optionally) be fitted inside the container. The container 300 may be fitted with a lid 306, which may be connected to it by means of a hinge 308. The lid 306 can have a lip 310 around at least some of its edges. In some cases a bulb seal may be formed on the lid so as to make the container watertight. Hasps 311 or other closing mechanisms may also be provided to securely shut the lid. The upper surface of a container can include at least one formation 312 that can cooperate with at least one corresponding formation (not visible) on the lower surface of another container, thereby assisting with stacking the containers directly on top of each other. The lower surface of the container may be fitted with rubber pads (not visible) that can reduce vibration and/or reduce metal-to-metal contact (additionally or alternatively, such pads can be provided on surfaces of the upper base frame 210 at least).
The storage system described above can offer a heavy-duty solution, but the use of a “skeleton” framework instead of a solid box-like outer container for an inner container means that the overall weight of the system is significantly reduced. The system also has the added advantage of allowing containers to be removed more easily, e.g. when they are stacked.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60809719 | May 2006 | US |
