EP3476253A2

EP3476253A2 - Storage facility

Info

Publication number: EP3476253A2
Application number: EP18212316.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jouko Karjalainen; Arto Schroderus
Original assignee: Ballmec Oy
Current assignee: Ballmec Oy
Priority date: 2018-04-11
Filing date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2019-05-01
Also published as: EP3476253A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage facility to be used for storing firewood and sauna accessories or other accessories. In particular, the invention relates to a storage facility used as a piece of furniture and simultaneously for storing firewood and accessories in saunas as well as in dry rooms.

Description

The invention relates to a storage facility to be used for storing firewood and sauna accessories or other accessories. In particular, the invention relates to a storage facility which is used as a piece of furniture and simultaneously for storing firewood and accessories in saunas as well as dry spaces.
Wood-burning furnaces are heated with firewood which is also called logs, split firewood, or simply wood. For example, a sauna is heated to a desired temperature by burning a sufficient amount of wood in the furnace of the sauna stove. Continuously heated sauna stoves often have to be supplied with wood during bathing as well. Storing wood in the steam room of the sauna is difficult because the steam room becomes littered with debris and the firewood becomes wet. Therefore, the wood to be supplied to the furnace is often stored in the porch of the sauna, which, in turn, makes it more difficult to supply wood into the furnace. In intervals between bathing times, it is preferable to keep some firewood in storage for the next bathing time. In that way, wood which is dry on the outside only, will have time to dry up, will kindle more easily, and will burn more cleanly at the beginning of burning. Storing firewood indoors for the next heating time is preferable for all furnaces, because less particles will be produced by ignition and burning of the wood. Thanks to the more efficient combustion, the furnaces and chimney flues will remain cleaner as well.
Sauna accessories and other goods or accessories can also be stored in sauna facilities, if suitable storage equipment is provided.
Because a relatively large space is needed for storing firewood and accessories, the storage facility is preferably implemented by integrating it in the furnishing of the sauna or other room. The storage facility may be integrated in a step used for climbing the sauna bench, or in other bench structures. The storage facility may be integrated in a seat, such as a sauna stool or a bench in a dry space. Furthermore, it is possible to mount the storage facility at a suitable height on a wall in a dry space, so that the storage is combined with, for example, a counter for household chores, or a side table or a sideboard for other purposes. When the storage facility is made a unit of its own, it can be placed relatively freely on the floor or fastened to a desired place on a wall in a sauna or in a dry space. In wet spaces, the storage facility is preferably implemented as a splash-proof structure. The structures of the storage facility are designed to take at least the weight of an adult person, in the order of 70 kg to 110 kg.
The invention makes it possible to store firewood in, for example, the steam room of a sauna without littering the surrounding area and wetting the wood. According to the invention, the storage facility can also be used for storing sauna accessories. The storage facility comprises one or more separate compartments in which the accessories or pieces of firewood are protected from splashes and, on the other hand, debris from the wood cannot enter the sauna facilities. The container is hidden in, for example, the structure of a sauna stool, whereby the top of the stool is used as a protective cover and a lid for the container. The container is equipped with a pivotal carrying handle hinged to the frame of the container. The hinging is implemented so that in its rest position, the entire handle is pivoted below the height level of the top edge of the container. In an advantageous embodiment, the entire handle is fitted to pivot to the inside the container. The storage facility according to the invention can be implemented to match the furnishing of a sauna or a room, whereby it is, for example, lined with the materials used in the sauna benches or in the room.
The present invention provides a storage facility with one or more separate containers for storage. The storage facility comprises a circumferential frame, legs connected to the frame, and the necessary supporting structures. The frame, the legs, and the supporting structures constitute a space for the container whose bottom is supported on the frame structure. The container consists of a box-type structure and is equipped with a carrying handle. The storage facility comprises a detachable or hinged cover which hides the container. The cover comprises a shield which is arranged to be splash-proof, if necessary. The shield is supported by a supporting structure which may be hinged to the frame of the storage facility, if necessary. Ventilating battens are provided on top of the shield, and are, in turn, covered by the lining material of the cover, for example boards of wood. The frame may also be lined with battens or boards according to the furnishing style of the sauna or room.
The invention provides a wood storage facility whose container may be used for storing firewood to be supplied during bathing, or as kindling wood for the next time of heating the sauna. The wood remains protected from splashes, whereby it can be stored in the steam room of the sauna. The invention also makes it possible to furnish dry or wet spaces, wherein the storage facility for firewood or other goods can be integrated in a seat, such as a stool or a bench in a dry space. Furthermore, the storage facility can be fixed at a suitable height on a wall, whereby the storage of wood or goods is combined with, for example, a counter for household chores or a side table or a sideboard for other purposes. In that case, it comprises a suitably lined cover which is simultaneously a seat or a sideboard or a side table.
The invention eliminates drawbacks of prior art solutions and provides a storage facility for firewood, which increases comfort of living conditions, has a functional structure, and is suitable for being part of the furnishing in a sauna or another room.
Said advantages are achieved with the storage facility according to the invention, which is characterized in what will be defined in the claims.
In the following, the invention will be described in detail by means of some advantageous embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings.

Figure 1 shows a storage facility according to the invention seen in a view diagonally from above.
Figure 2 shows the storage facility of Fig. 1 in a side view.
Figure 3 shows the storage facility of Fig. 1 in an exploded view seen diagonally from above.
Figure 4 shows the cover of the storage facility of Fig. 1 in an exploded view seen diagonally from above.
Figure 5 shows the container of the storage facility of Fig. 1 in a view diagonally from above.
Figure 6 shows the circumferential frame of the storage facility of Fig. 1 in a view diagonally from above.
Figures 1 to 6 show a storage facility for wood or other goods, comprising a circumferential frame 1, a container 2, a supporting framework 3 for a cover, a shield 4, and the lining material of the cover.

The circumferential frame 1 is formed by a framework 12 mounted on legs 11. The framework 12 is formed by bars 18 arranged in the shape of a square or a rectangle and joined end to end. The legs 11 are placed in a slanted position so that the lower ends of the legs are spread out, whereby the frame will stand firmly on the ground. The frame is provided with primarily horizontal upper bars 16 for connecting the legs and bracing the frame. At the lower parts of the legs 11, horizontal lower bars 13 and longitudinal bars 14 are provided as braces between the legs and between these lower bars, respectively. The framework 12, the legs 11, the bracing bars 16, the lower bars 13, and the longitudinal parts 14 define a space in the shape of a rectangular cuboid, in which the container 2 can be placed. The bars 13 and 14 constitute a base for the container 2. The frame may be lined with a suitable lining material 15. Preferably, the parts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 of the frame are made of wooden boards or battens provided with a suitable surface treatment.
The container 2, which is open at the top, has the shape of a rectangular cuboid and consists of side walls 21 and a bottom 22. At the top of the container, a carrying handle 23 is pivotally attached by hinging elements 25 to the side walls 21 and may, in its rest position, be pivoted down below the height level formed by the upper edge of the container. The carrying handle 23 may be hinged on either the inside or the outside the container. If necessary, the carrying handle is equipped with hand grips 24 for a more comfortable grip. Preferably, the container 2 and the carrying handle 23 are made of a metal or plastic. The hand grips 24 may be made of a metal, plastic, wood, or another suitable material.
The supporting framework 3 for the cover consists of circumferentially arranged bars 31 and 32, such as wood battens. The framework formed by the bars may be provided with a transverse or longitudinal bracing bar. The shield 4 is fixed to the supporting framework 3 by suitable fixing means. The shield 4 is formed by a plate 41 whose edges 42 may be bent. The shield 4 is covered by straight lining elements 51, and the edges may be covered by rounded lining elements 52. The elements 51 and 52 are separated from the shield by ventilating battens 43 to provide an air gap between the shield 4 and the lining elements 51 and 52.
Joined together, the shield 4, the supporting framework 3 of the cover, the ventilating battens 43, and the lining elements 51 and 52 constitute an integral cover for the storage facility for firewood, and the cover may be detachable or hinged to the frame 1 by hinge elements 35.
The firewood storage facility according to the invention is used in a steam room of a sauna as follows. Typically, the firewood storage facility may be implemented by lining it to match with the furnishing of the sauna, and used for storing firewood in the steam room of the sauna. The cover is opened, and the carrying handle 23 of the container 2 is turned up. The container 2 is lifted off its space by applying the carrying handle 23, after which the container can be used for fetching firewood, for example from an outdoor storage. Filled with wood, the container 2 is placed in its space, and the carrying handle is turned to its rest position down below the height level of the upper edge of the container 2. The cover is closed, whereby the wood is protected from splashes and, on the other hand, debris from the wood does not enter the sauna facilities. Because the wood cannot become wet during bathing, wood to be added may be taken from the container during bathing. Bathing becomes more comfortable because there is no need to fetch firewood from the outside of the steam room.
In an embodiment of the invention, the storage facility for wood is fitted in a stool or a step used for climbing the sauna bench.
In some embodiments of the invention, storage facilities for wood or goods may be used which advantageously have a larger volume and comprise one or more separate containers 2.
In some embodiments of the invention, the shape of the storage facilities and the containers 2 within them may differ from the rectangular cuboid in a suitable way. The corners of the container may be rounded or bevelled. The geometric shape of the container and the space in which the container is placed may be almost random or spherical or cylindrical, depending on the solutions selected for the furnishing.
The figures and the description relating to them are only intended to illustrate the present invention. In the details, the storage facility according to the invention, for wood, sauna accessories or other goods, and the structure of the storage facility, may vary within the scope of the inventive idea presented in the claims and description of the invention. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the dimensions and technical solutions of the invention may vary according to the use.

Claims

A storage facility for storing firewood, accessories and other goods, characterized in that
- it comprises a space for storing firewood, consisting of a frame (1), legs (11), bracing bars (16), lower bars (13), and longitudinal bars (14) constituting a framework (12), and that

- one or more containers (2) are placed in the space, and that

- a shield (4), a supporting framework (3) for a cover, ventilating battens (43), and lining elements (51) and (52), all fitted together, constitute a uniform cover for the space, and that

- the cover constitutes a seat or a counter or a sideboard, and that

- the frame (1), the legs (11), the bracing bars (16), the lower bars (13), the seat or counter or sideboard, all belonging to the storage facility, are fitted as part of the furnishing of a sauna or another room.
The storage facility according to claim 1, characterized in that
- it comprises a circumferential frame (1), a container (2), a supporting framework (3) for a cover, a shield (4), and lining material (5) for the cover, and that

- the circumferential frame (1) consists of a framework (12) mounted on legs (11), the framework (12) being formed by bars (18) arranged in the shape of a square or a rectangle and joined end to end, and that

- the frame (1) comprises primarily horizontal upper bars (16) for binding the legs and bracing the frame, and that

- horizontal lower bars (13) are provided as braces between the legs (11), at the lower part of the legs, and longitudinal bars (14) are provided between these lower bars, and that

- the framework (12), the legs (11), the bracing bars (16), the lower bars (13), and the longitudinal bars (14) constitute a space in the shape of a rectangular cuboid, for receiving the container (2).
The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
- the container (2) has the shape of a rectangular cuboid and is open at the top and is formed of side walls (21) and a bottom (22); and that

- the upper part of the container is provided with a carrying handle (23) which is hinged to the side walls (21) by hinging elements (25) and which may, in its rest position, be turned down below the height level formed by the upper edge of the container (2).
The storage facility according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
- the supporting framework (3) for the cover consists of circumferentially arranged bars (31) and (32), and a transverse or longitudinal bracing bar provided as a brace between these bars; and that

- the shield (4) consists of a plate (41) with bent edges (42); and that

- straight lining elements (51) are provided on top of the shield (4), and rounded lining elements (52) may be provided at the edges, and the elements (51) and (52) are separated from the shield by ventilating battens (43), whereby an air gap is formed between the shield (4) and the lining elements (51) and (52); and that

- the supporting framework (3) for the cover, the shield (4), the ventilating battens (43) and the lining elements (51) and (52) on top of the shield constitute a uniform cover for the storage facility, which cover may be unfixed, or the cover may be hinged to the frame (1) by hinge elements (35).
The storage facility according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
- the storage (2) is equipped with a pivotal carrying handle (23) hinged to the frame (1) of the container; and that

- in its rest position, the carrying handle (23) is turned down within the container (2); and that

- the bars (13) and (14) constitute a base for the container (2); and that

- if necessary, the carrying handle (23) is equipped with hand grips (24) for a more comfortable grip; and that

- the storage facility is integrated in a step or landing used for climbing the sauna bench, in a sauna stool, or in another bench structure.