AU2011202327B2

AU2011202327B2 - A Hanging Storage System

Info

Publication number: AU2011202327B2
Application number: AU2011202327A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Walter Bachmann
Original assignee: BACHMANN INNOVATIONS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BACHMANN INNOVATIONS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-19
Filing date: 2011-05-19
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-19
Also published as: AU2011202327A1

Abstract

An embodiment of a demountable hanging storage system 10 includes six identical hanging storage elements 20 which are mounted to a frame formed from four side panels 30 and top and bottom struts 32, 34. Each hanging storage element 20 includes an inner member 21 which is telescopically slidable in relation to an outer member 22. Four attachment formations in the form of eye-bolts 25 are mounted at the underside of inner member 22 such that the position of each eye-bolt 25 with respect to the inner member is adjustable. Fig I

Description

AUSTRALIAN COMPLETE PATENT APPLICATION Title: A HANGING STORAGE SYSTEM Applicant: BACHMANN INNOVATIONS PTY LIMITED Inventors: Walter Bachmann 2 A HANGING STORAGE SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to hanging storage systems and particularly 5 relates to an element for use in a demountable hanging storage system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention provides an element for use in a storage system for storing hanging articles, the element including: 10 a first member being mountable in the storage system; and a second member slidably disposed on the first member, the second member including a plurality of attachment formations for attaching hanging articles to be stored, wherein the positions of at least some of the attachment formations in relation to the second member are slidably adjustable. 15 Preferably at least some of the attachment formations are rotatable with respect to the second member and the attachment formations are mountable in a channel of the second member. Preferably the attachment formations are removable from the second member. In one embodiment each of the attachment formations is disposed on a 20 respective pressure plate adapted to bear against the channel. Preferably a threaded adjuster is operable to frictionally engage each pressure plate with the channel so as to secure the respective attachment formation at a desired position with respect to the second member. In one embodiment the second member is mounted to the first member by way 25 of an arrangement of bearings, which may include at least one bearing disposed so as to support a weight of the second member and any articles hanging thereon. Preferably the arrangement of bearings also includes at least one bearing disposed so as to reduce friction caused by mis-alignment of the second member relative to the first member. In a second aspect the present invention provides a storage system including at 30 least one element as described above. Preferably the at least one element is attachable 3 to the storage system in one of a number of possible positions. In another aspect the present invention provides a storage cabinet for storing hanging articles, the storage cabinet including: an opposed pair of spaced apart sidewalls; 5 first and second struts extending between the sidewalls; and at least one element including a first member being mountable so as to extend between the first and second struts; and a second member slidably disposed on the first member, the second member including a plurality of attachment formations for attaching hanging articles to be stored, wherein the positions of at least some of the 10 attachment formations in relation to the second member are slidably adjustable. Preferably the first member is attachable to the first and second struts in one of a number of possible positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a demountable hanging storage system; Figure 2 is a top view of the hanging storage system of figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section along the line A-A of figure 2; 20 Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the section marked B in figure 3; and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross section along the line D-D of figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to figure 1, a demountable hanging storage system 10 is shown 25 including six identical hanging storage elements 20 which are mounted to a frame formed from four side panels 30 and top and bottom struts 32, 34, which together form a storage cabinet. Each hanging storage element 20 includes a first outer member 21 which is arranged to be mounted to top struts 32 by way of aligned holes and threaded fasteners 30 (not shown) and a second inner member 22 which is telescopically slidable in relation to 4 the outer member 21. A face plate 23 and a handle 24 are mounted to the outer end of inner member 22. By way of grasping and pulling handle 24, the inner member 22 may be slid inwardly or outwardly from the storage system. Referring to figure 4, inner member 22 is supported on a number of bearings 5 40, 42 which are mounted on axels disposed at the inner surface of outer member 21. In use, these bearings 40, 42 support the weight of the second member 22 and any articles hanging thereon. Inner member 22 includes a pair of bearings 44, 46 which act upon the inside side wall of outer member 21 to reduce any friction that may otherwise be caused by a slight mis-alignment of the inner member 22 relative to the outer member 10 21. The bearings endow the mechanism with a smooth gliding action. As best shown in figure 5, a series of attachment formations in the form of four eye-bolts 25 are mounted at the underside of inner member 22. As best shown in figure 4, a channel member 27 is disposed inside inner member 22. A pressure plate 26 includes a threaded hole (not shown) which receives a threaded end 29 of eye-bolt 25. 15 When installed, the eye portion of eye-bolt 25 is free to rotate about the central axis of the fixed threaded end 29 so as to aid in the attachment of hanging articles to the eye portion of eye-bolt 25 from various directions. Referring to figure 5, eye-bolts 25 are shown equally spaced along the length of inner member 22. The positions of the eye-bolts relative to the inner member 22 may 20 be re-configured to meet the requirements of the particular articles to be stored. To move the eye-bolts, the threaded end 29 of the eye-bolt is firstly slackened, thereby allowing the pressure plate and eye-bolt assembly to be moved along the channel member 27. Secondly, when the eye-bolt 25 is in the desired location relative to the inner member 22, the threaded end 29 is re-tightened, forcing the lower surface of the 25 pressure plate against the upper surface of the channel member 27. This causes the pressure plate 26 to frictionally engage the channel member, thereby retaining the eye bolt 25 at the desired location relative to the inner member 22. Furthermore, one or more eye-bolts may be added or removed from the inner member 22 as required. Removal of an eye-bolt is achieved by completely unscrewing the threaded end 29 and 30 removing the eye-bolt assembly inclusive of the pressure plate 26. Stop member 50 limits the travel of inner member 22 to prevent it from becoming separated from the outer member 21.

5 An additional degree of configurability is provided by the modular nature of the elements 10 and the fact that each element 10 can be mounted to the top struts 32 at one of a number of possible positions. If being used to store relatively narrow hanging articles, then the elements 10 may be disposed on the top struts 32 immediately next to 5 each other, as shown for example in figure 1. However, if being used to store wider hanging articles, the elements may be mounted to top struts 32 with a user-selectable separation distance between each of them so as to provide clearance for the desired hanging article. In order to store an article, the number and positions of the attachment 10 formations are first configured appropriately, if required. Additionally, the separation distance between adjacent elements 10 may be adjusted as outlined in the preceding paragraph, if necessary. Then the inner member 22 is pulled to its extended position as shown in figure 1. The article in question is then hung from the attachment formations and the inner member 22 is slid home to its retracted position, such that the hanging 15 article is housed within, and protected by, the storage cabinet. To retrieve the article, the inner member 22 is pulled out and the article is detached from the attachment formations. Embodiments of the invention may be configured so as to be suitable for storing numerous types of articles that may be stored in a hung configuration, including, 20 by way of non-limiting example, surfboards, artworks, small boats, sails, sheet building products, etc. It will also be appreciated that some embodiments of the invention may be used in various usage scenarios, including the storage and subsequent dispensing of articles. For example, each element may have an array of cubicles hanging from the attachment formations and one or more articles may be stored in each of the cubicles. 25 One such embodiment, which is likely to be particularly useful for use in shoe shops, may include cubicles sized for the storage of shoes and/or shoe boxes, for example. In another contemplated usage scenario, a tool rack, which may be in the form of a shadow board, may hang from the attachment formations, allowing the user to slide the tool rack out so as to select a tool that is hanging on the tool rack. In another such usage 30 scenario, spare parts may hang from the element for storage and dispensing purposes. It can be seen that embodiments of the invention may provide at least one of the following advantages: 6 * The number of attachment formations may be varied to suit the article being stored; * The locations of the attachment formations can be adjusted to suit the article at hand; 5 e The bearing mounting of the inner member 22 provides a smooth gliding action; and * The storage system can be de-mounted and reassembled in alternative configurations. Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission 10 that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated. Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An element for use in a storage system for storing hanging articles, the element including: a first member being mountable in the storage system; and a second member slidably disposed on the first member, the second member including a plurality of attachment formations for attaching hanging articles to be stored, wherein the positions of at least some of the attachment formations in relation to the second member are slidably adjustable.

2. An element according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the attachment formations are rotatable with respect to the second member.

3. An element according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment formations are mountable in a channel of the second member.

4. An element according to claim 3 wherein each of the attachment formations is disposed on a respective pressure plate adapted to bear against the channel.

5. An element according to claim 4 wherein a threaded adjuster is operable to frictionally engage each pressure plate with the channel so as to secure the respective attachment formation at a desired position with respect to the second member.

6. An element according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment formations are removable from the second member.

7. An element according to any preceding claim wherein the second member is mounted to the first member by way of an arrangement of bearings.

8. An element according to claim 7 wherein the arrangement of bearings includes at least one bearing disposed so as to support a weight of the second member and any articles hanging thereon. 8

9. An element according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the arrangement of bearings includes at least one bearing disposed so as to reduce friction caused by mis-alignment of the second member relative to the first member.

10. A storage system including at least one element according to any preceding claim.

11. A storage system according to claim 10 wherein the at least one element is attachable to the storage system in one of a number of possible positions.

12. A storage cabinet for storing hanging articles, the storage cabinet including: an opposed pair of spaced apart sidewalls; first and second struts extending between the sidewalls; and at least one element including a first member being mountable so as to extend between the first and second struts; and a second member slidably disposed on the first member, the second member including a plurality of attachment formations for attaching hanging articles to be stored, wherein the positions of at least some of the attachment formations in relation to the second member are slidably adjustable.

13. A storage cabinet according to claim 12 wherein the first member is attachable to the first and second struts in one of a number of possible positions.

14. An element for use in a storage system for storing hanging articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.

15. A storage system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.

16. A storage cabinet for storing hanging articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.