AU2015100050B4 - A locker assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to the locker assembly for a change room. The locker assembly is specifically adapted to not exceed 900mm in depth from front to back, and yet the assembly has an upper compartment in which clothes can be 5 hung that has a depth of 600mm, a lower compartment in which bags and shoes be stored that has a depth from front to back of 400mm, and a seat extending in front of the upper compartment. 60595751 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15

Description

1 2015100050 20 Jan 2015

A LOCKER ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locker assembly for storing goods including clothing 5 and other sporting equipment. The locker assembly may be suitable for change rooms at sports or exercise facilities.

BACKGROUND

Lockers for change rooms are typically arranged in banks about the perimeter of the 10 room and have a top deck of storage compartments and a lower deck of storage compartments that extend to the ground. Each storage compartment has internal fittings, such as hanging rails for hanging clothes, shelves for smaller items such as mobile telephones and small bags, and a lockable front door for locking the compartment. Typically, larger bags such as sports bags are placed on the floor of the 15 each compartment. Depending on the architecture of the change room, the lockers are often arranged about the perimeter of the room and bench seats may be located in the centre of the room.

Perimeter lockers and centralised bench seats can work well in large rooms, but are 2 0 not particularly well adapted for change rooms that have limited space. There is therefore a need for an alternative locker assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locker assembly suitable for a change room, the 25 assembly including: an upper compartment in which clothing can be hung on a clothes hanger, the upper compartment having a front opening to allow access into the upper compartment, and having a depth dimension extending away from the front opening, wherein the upper compartment has an upper portion having a large depth and a lower 30 portion having a smaller depth so that the upper portion overhangs the lower portion in the depth dimension, and a lower compartment for storing items without using a clothes hanger, wherein the lower compartment is overlaid by the overhang of the upper compartment and extends forward of the upper portion of the upper compartment so as to provide a seat 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15 2 2015100050 20 Jan 2015 on which a person can sit, and wherein the lower portion of the upper compartment and the lower compartment are separated by a dividing wall therebetween.

Ideally the lower portion, having the smaller depth, may be located toward or aligned 5 with the rear of the upper compartment so that the overhang portion is located toward the front of the upper compartment.

The seat can be any surface on which a person can sit while changing their footwear and alike. 10

The dividing wall may define, in part, the smaller depth of the lower portion of the upper compartment, and provide a rear wall of the lower compartment. In other words, the dividing wall joins the lower portion of the upper compartment and the lower compartment. 15

The front opening of the upper compartment may extend to, or extend adjacent to, the seat portion of the lower compartment.

The extent to which the lower compartment is overlaid by the overhang of the upper 2 0 compartment can be any suitable dimension. However, we have found that in order for the seat portion to function adequately, the seat portion is required to extend by at least 250mm, and the depth of the lower compartment should have a depth dimension of at least 350mm. 25 In one embodiment, the seat portion of the lower compartment extends by a range from 250 to 350mm forward of the upper portion of the upper compartment and has to total depth dimension of approximately 350 to 450mm.

In one embodiment, the seat portion of the lower compartment extends 300mm 30 forward of the upper portion of the upper compartment and has to total depth dimension of approximately 400mm. The upper compartment overhangs the lower compartment by approximately 50 to 150mm, and suitably approximately by 100mm.

In other words, the lower dividing wall may be located rearwardly from the front opening by approximately 100mm. 35 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15 3 2015100050 20 Jan 2015

In an embodiment, either one or both of: i) the upper compartment has a first openable door at the front opening; and ii) the lower compartment has a second front opening below the seat portion, and a second openable door may be located at the second front opening. 5

In another embodiment, it is possible that the seat portion may be openable to allow access into the lower compartment. For example, the seat portion may be removable altogether, or the seat portion may be hinged. 10 The upper portion of the upper compartment may have any suitable depth, including a depth of at least in the range of 500mm to 700mm. Ideally, the upper compartment has a depth of approximately 600mm and has an overhang portion of approximately 100mm. 15 The seat portion of the lower compartment may be located at a height of approximately 400 to 600mm, and suitably approximately 440mm.

An advantage of the present invention is that the lower portion can be sized to fully accommodate footwear oriented heel to toe in the depth direction away from an 2 0 opening of the lower compartment, including when the openable doors on the lower compartment are closed.

The locker assembly may also include a top compartment in which clothing can be hung located above the upper compartment. 25

The top compartment may have the same width as the upper portion of the upper compartment and align over the upper compartment.

The lower compartment may include two sub-compartments, each having their own 30 front openable door. The sub-compartment may be located side-by-side, or one on top of other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference 35 to the accompanying figures, of which: 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15 4 2015100050 20 Jan 2015

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the locker assembly having an lower compartment providing a seat and for storing items such as shoes, an upper compartment in which clothing can be hung, and a top head compartment in which clothes can also be hung; 5

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of the locker assemblies shown in Figures 1 joined together in a line as if in a change room;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the locker assembly shown in Figure 1; and 10

Figure 4 is a front view of the locker assembly shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, the locker assembly 10 includes an upper compartment 15 11 having a front opening 12 in which clothing can be hung on a clothes hanger, and a lower compartment 13 for other items that do not need to hung such, as but by no means limited to, sports bags, shoes and other apparel. The assembly 10 also includes an optional top compartment 14 above the upper compartment 11. 2 0 The upper compartment 11 is specifically configured to have an upper portion 15 have a full depth, denoted by D1 from front to back, and a lower portion 16 having a reduced depth, denoted by D2. A front aspect of the upper portion 15 overhangs the lower portion 16 of the upper compartment 11. The lower compartment 13 extends under the overhang portion such that the lower compartment 13 has sufficient depth to 25 accommodate items such as footwear, with the heel to toe of the footwear in a depth direction, denoted by D3, of the lower compartment 13 without increasing the overall depth D4 of the assembly 10. In particular, the lower compartment 13 can accommodate items such as footwear, even while a front door 23 on the lower compartment is closed. 30

As can be seen in Figure 1, the assembly 10 includes a lower dividing wall 17 that joins the lower compartment 13 and the lower portion 16 of the upper compartment 11. In particular, the lower wall 17 provides a rear wall of the lower compartment 13 and a front wall of the lower portion 16 of upper compartment 11. The lower dividing wall 17 35 is set back rearwardly from the front opening 12 of the upper compartment 11 which 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15 5 2015100050 20 Jan 2015 defines the extent to which the upper compartment 11 overhangs the lower compartment 13. In order for the total depth D4 of the assembly 10 to not exceed 900mm, ideally the lower dividing wall 17 is set back from the front opening 12 by an amount in the range of 50mm to 200mm, and ideally approximately 100mm. The lower 5 dividing wall 17 being set backwardly by this amount enables that the lower compartment 13 to have a total depth of 400mm and a seat portion 18, protruding forward of the front opening 12 of the upper compartment 11 by approximately 300mm. The lower portion 16 of the upper compartment 11 has a depth D2 of 500mm, which accommodates the bottom end of hung items such as jackets, trousers and shirts. The 10 upper portion 15 of the upper compartment 11 ideally has a depth D1 of approximately 600mm, from front to back, which accommodates clothes hangers oriented over the depth D1.

The lower compartment 13 includes a bottom wall 19, opposite side walls, and a top 15 wall 20 on which the seat 18 can be provided forward of the front opening thereof. As can be seen in Figure 1, the top wall 20 joins to dividing wall 17and ideally, the lower compartment 13 is sealed from the upper compartment 11 to prevent air circulating directly therebetween. 2 0 The lower compartment 13 may also have a shelf 22, as can be seen in Figure 1, and an optional door, or in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a pair of doors 23 for closing the front of each of the lower compartments 12. A suitable lock 24 may be provided in the front door(s) of the lower compartment. 25 The upper compartment 11 includes a bottom wall 25, opposite side walls, a rear wall 26 and a front door 27 at the front opening 12. Standard fittings including a hanging rail 28 extending across the width, denoted by W1, of the upper compartment 11, a top rear shelf 29, a hook 30 for hanging apparel, and a lock 31 for locking the front door 27 may also be provided. As mentioned, the lower portion of the upper compartment is 30 also defined in part by the lower dividing wall.

The top compartment 14 includes similar features as the upper compartment 11, save for the lower absence of the dividing wall 17. The top compartment 14 includes a bottom wall 32, opposite side walls, a rear wall 33 and a front door 34 at a front 35 opening 35. The bottom wall 32 of the top compartment 14 also provides the top wall 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15 6 2015100050 20 Jan 2015 of the lower compartment 11. Standard fittings including a hanging rail 28, a top rear shelf 29, a hook 30 for hanging apparel, and a lock 31 for locking the front door may also be provided in the lop compartment 14 and the lower compartment 11. 5 As can be seen in Figure 1, the upper and top compartments 11,14 have hanging rails 28 across the width, W1, of the compartments 11,14 which orients hangers 36 for clothing in the depth dimension of the compartments 11 and 14. The upper and top compartments 11 and 14 may each have a height in the range of 900 to 1,100mm and ideally, a height in the range of 950 to 1000mm, thererby accommodating a large 10 range of the clothes items that require hanging.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of three of the locker assemblies 10 of Figures 1, 3 and 4 arranged in a line, whereas Figure 4 is a front view of the assembly shown in Figure 2. 15

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, the front doors 23 of the lower compartment, the upper compartment and the top compartment include ventilation openings 37.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the assembly shown in the Figures 1 which shows ventilation 2 0 opening 38 in the rear walls of the upper compartment and the head compartment.

Although not shown in the Figures, the assembly may include adjustable feet on which the bottom walls of the lower compartment and the upper compartment sit. A kick board 39 may be positioned about the exposed perimeter of the assembly. The kick 25 board may be recessed inwardly from the front of the lower compartment, and any exposed sides of the assembly.

Although not shown in the Figures, it will be appreciated that a line of the locker assemblies can be positioned, for example, about the perimeter of a change room as 30 desired.

Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate that many variations and modification can be made to the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 35 6059575_1 (GHMatters) P98799.AU BYRON 20/01/15

Claims (5)

1. A locker assembly suitable for a change room, the assembly including: an upper compartment in which clothing can be hung on a clothes hanger, the upper compartment having a front opening to allow access into the upper compartment, and having a depth dimension extending away from the front opening, wherein the upper compartment has an upper portion having a large depth and a lower portion having a smaller depth so that the upper portion overhangs the lower portion in the depth dimension, and a lower compartment for storing items without using a clothes hanger, wherein the lower compartment is overlaid by the overhang of the upper compartment, and the lower compartment extends forward of the upper portion of the upper compartment so as to provide a seat on which a person can sit, and wherein the lower compartment and lower portion of the upper compartment are separated by a dividing wall therebetween.

2. The locker assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper compartment overhangs the lower compartment from 50 to 150mm, and suitably approximately by 100mm, and the seat portion of the lower compartment extends from 250 to 350mm, and suitably 300mm forward of the front opening.

3. The locker assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower compartment has a front opening and openable doors on the front opening, and the lower compartment has a depth extending rearwardly from the front doors from 300 to 500mm, and suitably 400mm.

4. The locker assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper portion of the upper compartment has a depth in the range of the 500 to 700mm, and is suitably 600mm, and the lower portion of the upper compartment has a depth in the range of the 400 to 600mm, and is suitably 500mm.

5. The locker assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the assembly includes an top compartment positioned above the upper compartment, and wherein the top compartment, upper compartment and the lower compartment are arranged to prevent air circulating directly from one compartment into the other compartment.