GB2164610A - Racks for use in vans - Google Patents

Abstract

A rack for fitting in a motor van comprises a fixed frame having upper and lower channel members 12,13 which open towards each other, and a slidable rectangular panel structure 16 supported on the fixed frame. The panel 16 has upper and lower edges respectively slidable in the channel members 12,13. The panel 16 has means in the form of a louvre-like array of projecting tangs for attachment of storage bins. End uprights 18 of the frame terminate in feet 19 adapted for fixing to the floor of the van body, and the frame also has top brackets 22 for securing to one side wall of the van body. The panel 16 is slidable on the frame between a vibration-free stowed position in the van and a use position in which it projects outwardly from the van. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Racks for use in vans The invention relates to a rack suitable for mounting in a van, or like small motor vehicle, and suitable for carrying engineering or electrical components for use on site in maintenance or repair.

Vans used by telecommunications engineers for example are customarily small partly because they are frequently used in narrow streets and other confined areas and partly because the bulk of the equipment they carry is slight. Consequently, it is desirable to provide a van with a rack for equipment storage comprising a frame having a stowed position inside the van, and a use position withdrawn from the rear of the van, and consequently accessible to an engineer standing outside in the road.

Known racks are mounted upon wheels or rollers which move along guide respective tracks. One disadvantage to known racks is that when the rack is in a stowed position and the van is under way, the van motion causes the wheels to chatter in their guide tracks thus creating an unacceptable level of noise, making it difficult, for example, for the van driver to concentrate upon his driving.

The invention seeks to provide a rack in which the noise level such as that created by chattering of the wheels in their guide tracks when the rack is in a stowed position, is reduced to a more acceptable level.

In accordance with the broadest aspect of the present invention there is provided a rack for mounting in a van or like like small vehicle in which, when the rack is in a stowed position it is located between vibration absorbing blocks.

The invention provides a rack for mounting in a van or like small vehicle comprising a frame having upper and lower channel members opening towards each other, means for mounting the rack in a van, a panel having edges slidable in the channel members between a stowed position inside the van and a use position withdrawn from the van, channel shaped guide blocks for the panel being mounted in the upper and lower channel members, means for locking the panel in the stowed position, and means for attaching bins to a face of the panel.

The channel-shaped guide blocks are preferably of nylon and positioned near the end of the frame from which the panel is withdrawn so as to prevent vibration when the van is being driven. Preferably, further similar channel-shaped guide blocks are fixed to the upper and lower edges of the panel near the other end of the frame from that at which the first blocks are mounted. Preferably also, rollers are mounted on the frame near the lower corner of the end of the frame from which the panel is withdrawn, and on the panel near the diagonally opposite upper corner. These rollers each assist in the withdrawal of the panel from the rack and its replacement.They project slightly beyond the channel bottoms of adjacent guide blocks so that the panel has to be lifted as it starts to be withdrawn from the rack, and the roller on the panel engages the upper frame member when the panel reaches its part pulled out position.

The locking means may comprise a springloaded plunger mounted on one of the channel members for engaging near an outer end of the panel in the stowed position. In order to move the panel from the stowed position to the use position, the detent is lifted out of engagement with the panel, and the panel slid out of the van by pulling on a handle which is preferably fixed to its outer edge.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to the invention with its panel removed for the purpose of illustration; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic representations of a rack according to the invention with its panel in different stages of withdrawal from the stowed to the part pulled out to the fully pulled out or use position; Figure 3 is a front elevation of a lower corner of the frame which is a part of the rack shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section of an upper corner of the frame in Figure 1 on A-A of Figure 5; and Figure 5 is a section of the upper corner normal to that of Figure 4.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the rack shown comprises a frame having an upper channel member 12 and a lower channel member 13 opening towards each other. The frame has two legs 18 (only one visible) each with a foot 19 for mounting the frame on the floor of a van, and three brackets 22 securing the upper channel member 12 to the inside of the van and thereby helping to mount the frame in the van. A panel 16 has upper and lower edges respectively slidable in the channel members 12, 13 between a stowed position inside the van (Figure 2A) and a use position (Figure 2C) withdrawn from the van.

Nylon guide blocks 23, 24 are mounted respectively in the upper and lower channel members 12, 13 near the end of the frame from which the panel 16 is withdrawn. The guide blocks 23, 24 are themselves channel shaped, and in the stowed position the panel edges contact the channel bottoms in the blocks and not the channel members 12, 13 so as to prevent chattering of the panel rack within the channel members. It will be seen therefore that the guide blocks 23, 24 are vibration absorbing and as such may be of any suitable material, suitably, a resilient material.

The block 24 is secured by a screw 24A. Further similar guide blocks 25, 26 are fixed to the upper and lower edges of the panel 16 near the other end of the frame.

A roller 27 is mounted on the frame near the lower corner of the end from which the panel 16 is withdrawn. The roller 27 projects slightly beyond the channel bottom of the block 24 so that the panel 16 has to be lifted as it starts to be with drawn. A roller 29 is mounted on the panel near the diagonally opposite upper corner. As shown in Figure 2B, the roller 29 engages the upper frame member 12 and assists in the sliding movement when the panel 16 is in its part pulled out position.

On the upper channel member 12 near the rear door of the van is a spring-loaded plunger assembly 32 which enables the panle 16 to be locked in the stowed position. The panel 16 is provided with a number of projecting tangs for attaching bins to the face of the panel 16. Bins of various size and other appliances may be mounted in positions as desired by the user on different parts of the panel 16.

The tangs are produced by punching from the material of the panel 16 itself, or alternatively might be made by moulding. A handle 28 is provided on an outer edge of the panel 16 to help in moving the panel 16 between its stowed and use positions.

Figures 4 and 5 show a plunger 34 loaded with a coil spring 36 and screwed into a locking knob of the plunger assembly 32 while passing through the upper channel member 12. This locking mechanism can be released by lifting the locking lever 32 before starting to withdraw the panel 16 from the stowed position inside the van.

Claims (14)

1. A rack for mounting in a van or like small ve hicle in which, when the rack is in a stowed position it is located between vibration absorbing blocks.

2. A rack for mounting in a van or like small ve hicle comprising a frame having upper and lower channel members opening towards each other, means for mounting the rack in a van, a panel hav ing edges slidable in the channel members between a stowed position inside the van and a use position withdrawn from the van, channel shaped guide blocks for the panel being mounted in the upper and lower channel members, means for locking the panel in the stowed position, and means for attaching bins to a face of the panel.

3. A rack according to claim 2, wherein said guide blocks comprise two such blocks respectively mounted adjacent the outer ends of the up per and lower channel members, and similar guide blocks respectively engaging the upper and lower channel members are mounted on the panel adja cent the inner thereof.

4. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom support roller for the slidable structure is mounted on said frame at the outer end of the lower channel member thereof.

5. A rack according to claim 3 and claim 4, wherein said bottom support roller projects above the level of the base of the channel of the adjacent guide block.

6. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top roller is mounted on the slid ing structure, adjacent the inner end thereof, for supporting engagement with the upper channel member of the frame when the sliding structure is in a particularly withdrawn position.

7. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein positive locking means are provided for locking the sliding structure to the fixed frame when in said stowed position.

8. A rack according to claim 7, wherein said locking means comprise a manually-operable spring-loaded detent plunger mounted on the upper channel member adjacent the outer end thereof for locking engagement with the sliding structure.

9. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein inward sliding movement of said structure is limited by a stop end of the upper channel member of the frame to define said stowed position.

10. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said attachment means are adapted for the attachment of component storage bins.

11. A rack according to claims 2 and 10, wherein said attachment means are provided by a louvre-like formation of the panel which presents rows of tongue-like tangs for detachable support of the storage bins.

12. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mounting means comprise foot plates at the bottom ends of upright end members of the fixed frame and adapted for securing to the floor of the van body.

13. A rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mounting means comprise fixing brackets positioned at the top of the upper channel member of the fixed frame and adapted for securing to a side wall of the van body.

14. A rack for mounting in a van or like small vehicle substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.