Patent Application
20150136717
The present invention relates generally to vehicle storage, and more particularly, relates to a system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles.
It is well known that storing a vehicle, e.g., a boat, in a dry storage facility requires lifting and transporting the boat to a storage slip. Many dry storage facilities include several storage racks, i.e., levels, wherein boats are placed one underneath the other in their respective storage slips. One existing problem with this type of storage is the issue of water collection from one boat to another. The additional weight of the water may result in a collapse of the storage rack. A collapse of the storage rack would result in damage to the boats, as well as the building where the storage rack is an integral part of the building. In addition, the collapse would endanger building occupants and safety personnel attempting to remedy the structural collapse.
A major concern with indoor rack storage is protection of the boats and rack structure from fire due to the high flammability of many boat construction materials (e.g., fiberglass, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) resins, wood, and rubber) combined with the stack configuration. Most boats in dry stacked storage are stored with filled fuel tanks to prevent water vapors from entering. Further, typical warehouse storage creates obstructions to the fire plume that “channels” the heated gases and flames up narrow flue spaces created by the rack structure, shelves and storage commodity. In boat storage configurations flue spaces are not well defined or consistently narrow, and the dimensions can vary significantly. Consequently, the flow of heated gases and flames may not exhibit the known behavior of narrow flue spaces associated with conventional rack storage facilities. In the event of a fire, though sprinkler systems may put out the fire, the sprinkler systems do not address the outcome of water filling the lower racked boats with water. The accumulation of water would create a catastrophic overload and possible collapse of the supporting structure and/or building.
An additional problem presented by dry storage facilities is the issue of oil, gasoline, and the like, dripping from one boat to an adjacent boat. This causes stains in upholstery which is inconvenient and expensive to replace, as well as being aesthetically unappealing. Further, storage facilities typically do not accept responsibility for staining or leakage from other boats.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that prevents fluid from leaking off of one vehicle and onto an adjacent vehicle.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles having a vehicle storage platform. The vehicle storage platform includes a first level defined by first level frame members and with a first vehicle storage surface configured to retain a portion of a vehicle. The first level includes a left side and a right side opposite the left side of the first level. A second level is defined by second level frame members with a second vehicle storage surface configured to retain a portion of a vehicle and disposed at a position vertically higher than the first vehicle storage surface. The second level includes a left side and a right side opposite the left side of the second level. A first plurality of vertical level support members separates the first level and the second level. A second plurality of vertical level support members separates the first level and the second level. A first horizontal level support member separates the first plurality of vertical level support members and a second horizontal level support member separates the second plurality of vertical level support members. A debris deflection assembly defines a vehicle placement zone. The debris deflection assembly includes a first end, a second end, and an assembly length separating the first and second ends of the debris deflection assembly. A first portion spans in a direction of the assembly length and oriented in a direction toward the second level. The first portion of the debris deflection assembly is coupled to a portion of the second level frame members with at least one fastener. A second portion with a substantially enclosed upper surface spans in a direction of the assembly length, the second portion of the debris deflection assembly is coupled to the first and second plurality of horizontal level support members with at least one fastener to permit the substantially enclosed upper surface of the second portion to extend downwardly from a lower end of the first portion of the debris deflection assembly towards the left and right sides of the first level. The substantially enclosed upper surface of the second portion also covers the first vehicle storage surface and deflects a debris from entering the vehicle placement zone.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a third portion spanning in a direction of the assembly length and extending downwardly from a lower end of the second portion of the debris deflection assembly towards the first level.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention the substantially enclosed upper surface is of a waterproof material.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the substantially enclosed upper surface is of a polymeric material.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the vehicle storage platform.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles, especially boats. Although the present invention is described as a system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles, a device for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles, and method of using the present system is within the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle storage platform having a first level and a second level, and a debris deflection assembly defining a vehicle placement zone positioned between the first and second levels. The debris deflection assembly is designed to cover a first vehicle storage surface and deflect debris, e.g., hazardous oil and gasoline, from entering the vehicle placement zone. Said another way, the present invention is designed to prevent liquids, such as bilge drip and diesel soot damage, from leaking off of one vehicle, e.g., boat, to the interior of an adjacent boat below. As a further advantage, embodiments of the present invention prevent the vehicle storage platform from collapsing due to the substantial weight of water accumulating within vehicles stored in the vehicle storage platform. Advantageously, the present invention reduces the possibility of the vehicle storage platform, e.g., dry boat storage facility, collapsing which, as a practical matter, will increase life-safety, reduce environmental hazard, and which provides an economic benefit by reducing the need for replacement and insurable expenses associated with collapsible vehicle storage platforms.
Referring now to
The system for preventing fluid damage to vertically stacked vehicles 100 includes a second level 116 defined by a plurality of second level frame members 118. The second level 116 includes a second vehicle storage surface 120 configured to retain a portion of the vehicle 110. The second level 116 is disposed at a position vertically higher than the first vehicle storage surface 104. The second level includes a left side 122 and a right side 124 opposite the left side 122 of the second level 116.
The debris deflection assembly 134 defines defining a vehicle placement zone 136. The vehicle placement zone 136 includes a first end 138, a second end 140, and an assembly length 142 separating the first and second ends 138, 140 of the debris deflection assembly 134. The debris deflection assembly 134 includes a first portion 144 spanning in a direction of the assembly length 142. The first portion 144 is shown oriented in a direction toward the first level 104. The first portion 144 of the debris deflection assembly 134 is coupled to a portion 146 of the second level frame members 118 with at least one fastener 148. In one embodiment the fastener 148 is a nickel plated brass fastener. In another embodiment the fastener 148 is a corrosion proof cable attachment. In other embodiments, the fastener 148 is a stainless steel fastener. The fastener 148 may be adjustable to allow horizontal and vertical directional flow of debris toward the left side 112 and the right side 114.
With reference to
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/904639, filed Nov. 1, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61904639 | Nov 2013 | US |
