GB2067521A - Support for vehicle accessories - Google Patents

Abstract

For supporting accessories, tools, and components involved when working on a motor vehicle, such as in the engine/gearbox region 27 of a tractor unit of an articulated vehicle, after the cab (not shown) has been tipped forward, a support 10 is fitted to a tyre 28 of the vehicle. The support 10 comprises an upper platform part 13 and a lower part defining a tapering recess which fits with wedging action to the tyre 28, and preferably storage bins 15 and 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support This invention relates to a support, for tools, components and the like, suitable for use by a mechanic.

Tractors for articulated vehicles, agricultural tractors, mobile plant and other industrial, commercial and like vehicles, often have cabs which tilt forward to allow access to the engine, gearbox and associated fittings and components for service and repair. When a mechanic is working on such parts he often has relatively little room to work and little space in which to put down tools and removed components. An object of the present invention is to provide support, for tools, components and the like, which is simple and can be conveniently mounted for use in this situation.

Pursuant hereto, the invention provides a support comprising an upper platform portion and a lower portion defining a tapering recess wider remote from the platform than it is adjacent the platform and dimensioned so that with the lower portion wedged over a vehicle tyre the platform presents a useful working surface.

Preferably the support includes one or more bins or reception areas as well as the platform portion.

Advantageously a bin is provided on each side of the platform portion which comprises a substantially horizontal platform overlying the said recess, the nearer walls of the two bins constituting side wals of the recess. These walls may be tapered or inclined to give the recess its tapered configuration. Alternatively, these side walls could be parallel and have transverse members capable of resting on and engaging with the tread of a vehicle tyre and so making the support stable relative thereto and effectively achieving said wedging action.

One of the bins may be smaller than the other, and the platform may be surrounded by a rim.

The support of the invention can conveniently be made of glass-reinforced plastics material.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it beng understood that the following description is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the support of the invention, and Figure 2 is a further perspective view, to a reduced scale, illustrating the support of Fig.

1 in position on a vehicle wheel.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of the support of the invention is made from glassreinforced plastics material, for example approximately 5 mm in thickness.

As shown, the support 10 comprises an upper platform portion, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11, and a lower portion, which will be described in detail later. and which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 2.

The platform portion 11 comprises a generally rectangular horizontal platform 1 3 (measuring, for example, 200 mm by 400 mm) moulded integrally with surrounding upstanding rims or flanges 14, and extends transversely of the support 10 which is generally rectangular in plan and in overall configuration is constructed after the manner of a substantially rectangular open-topped basketlike receptacle which is divided into two bins, indicated generally by the reference numerals 1 5 and 1 6 respectively, by the platform portion 11 and which has an overall edge flange 17.

The rims or flanges 1 4 along the longer sides of the platform 1 3 merge respectively with adjacent or facing inner walls 1 8 and 1 9 which provide the effective lower portion 1 2 of the support. These walls 1 8 and 1 9 diverge away from one another in the downward direction, each being disposed, for instance, in a respective plane disposed at about 7" to 10 to the vertical, and extending generally transversely of the support.The disposition of the platform 1 3 and walls 18, 19, is such that the platform 1 3 is asymmetrically disposed so as to be somewhat closer to endwall 20 of the support than to endwall 21 thereof, as a result of which the bin 1 5 is somewhat smaller than the bin 1 6.

At each end of the platform 13, the rim of flange 1 4 thereof merges into a respective lateral link piece 22 which connects with a respective side panel 23, 24 of the support, these side panels 23, 24 providing respective sides of the bins 1 5 and 1 6. Bottom panels 25, 26 respectively of the bins 15, 1 6 are formed integrally with the respective immer walls 18. 19, endwalls 20. 21 and the side panels 23, 24.

The adjacent or facing inner walls 1 8 and 19 of the two bins 15, 1 6 define, beneath the platform 1 3, a tapered recess.

Referring to Fig. 2, in use, when a cab (not shown) of a vehicle has been swung forward to allow access to the engine, gearbox and associated components whose region is indicated generally by the reference numeral 27, the support of the invention can be brought into a suitable position for use by engaging it wedgingly over front tyre 28 of the vehicle with the smaller bin 1 5 disposed inwardly towards the vehicle and the larger bin 1 6 projecting outwards. The support 10 then makes available the platform 1 3 for supporting tools, components and accessories, and the bins 1 5 and 1 6 can be used to receive detached parts and components which are thus stored safely and controlledly, and will be conveniently available for refitting.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing example and variations can be made thereto. For example, the shape of the support can be varied widely to suit various applications. The bins can be subdivided to provide a plurality of compartments for reception of components. The construction may be such that respective further platforms are present at one or both sides of the platform 13, in the place of the or each bin 1 5, 16, but the bins and/or further platforms are not essential to the support of the invention which in its simplest form may comprise only the platform 1 3 (or its equivalent) together with the lower portion 1 2 which can be wedged onto a vehicle tyre such as the tyre 28. The configuration of the support may, if desired, be such that the facing inner walls 1 8, 1 9 are substantially parallel, protrusions and/or other suitable formations being provided on these walls so that the support fits to the tyre with a wedging action. Other variations are, of course, possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. A support comprising an upper platform portion and a lower portion defining a tapering recess wider remote from the platform than it is adjacent the platform and dimensioned so that with the lower portion wedged over a vehicle tyre the platform presents a useful working surface.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 which includes one or more bins or reception areas as well as the platform portion.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein a bin 1 3 provided on each side of the platform portion which comprises a substantially horizontal portion overlying the said recess, the nearer walls of the bins constituting side walls of the recess.

4. A support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said nearer walls are tapered or inclined to give the recess its tapered configuration.

5. A support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said nearer walls are parallel and have protrusions or protuberances which provide said wedging action.

6. A support as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein one of the bins is smaller than the other.

7. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the platform is surrounded by a rim.

8. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made of glass-reinforced plastics material.

9. A support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.