GB2183147A - Storage devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-position storage device comprises a plurality of side-by-side storage compartments formed by vertical walls (1,2) move as a unit attached to one (8) of a set of mutually telescoped members (8, 14, 18), the final one of which (18) is fixed e.g. on the underside of a shelf or counter. By adjusting the relative ease with which each of the members may be telescoped relative to the next, and by providing appropriate stops and catches (3, 12 and 11, 16), the travel of adjacent telescoping portions may be fixed and the storage member extended by an integral number of compartments. A latch (2a) may be provided to hold the storage member in the fully retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage devices This invention relates to storage devices.

A wide variety of storage devices is known in which a storage member is movable relative to a framework from a retracted or closed position into an extended or open position. In the closed position, items in the storage device are protected and out of the way. In the open position, items may be placed in or removed from the storage device.

Problems can often arise in the case of storage devices of this sort used in confined spaces where the storage device in its fully extended position gets in the way.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage device having a plurality of vertically extending side by side sections, the sections being movable as a unit relative to a fixed member, wherein the fixed member constitutes one of a plurality of telescoping members so arranged that the movement of the storage sections from a retracted to a fully extended position takes place in a plurality of distinct steps corresponding to the plurality of compartments becoming accessible.

Preferably the fixed member constitutes a hanger for the moveable sections, the fixed member being fixed e.g. to the underside of a shelf or bench, or to the ceiling of a portable or wheeled box-like structure.

Preferably there are two side by side sections or compartments, the movable unit comprising the two compartments being provided with a rail telescopically movable inside an intermediate member, the intermediate member being telescopically movable inside the fixed member. Preferably the force required to move the rail relative to the intermediate member to telescope it in or out of the latter, is less than the force required to telescope the intermediate member in or out of the fixed member.

This is preferably achieved by mounting the rail on rollers which bear on the intermediate member and having the intermediate member slide within the fixed member.

Coacting stop means may be provided on the telescoping members to limit the extent to which they may be telescoped together and/or telescoped apart. Latch means may be provided to hold the plurality of telescoping members substantially in their most telescoped together position.

Spring catch means may be provided to hold one telescoping member in a telescoped apart position relative to the next telescoping member.

Operating this way it is possible to provide racks or the like which may be slid in two or more stages from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position, with an intregal number of sections available for putting items in or taking items from the rack at each stage.

This is particularly convenient in confined working spaces.

The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a sliding rack system in accordance with the present invention, with parts cut away, Figure 2 is a vertical section through the system shown in Fig. 1 in use with the rack in a withdrawn position, Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the rack in a semi-extended position, and Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rack in a fully extended position.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the rack itself consists basically of a horizontal upper member 4, end walls 1 and 2, and a middle wall, the three walls being united at the base by a floor, not shown.

An upstanding tag 3 is punched out of the upper member 4 for a purpose to be described later.

Bolted by means of a plurality of bolts 9 to upper member 4 is a plate 8 having a clearance hole 7 in it through which tag 3 passes.

The outer edges of the plate are bent up at 5 and 5a to form reinforcing edge members and at each end of plate 8 are freely running wheels 6.

Plate 8 is designed to be inserted into a channel member 14. This member has inwardly facing grooves 10 and 10a into which the edges 5 and 5a of member 8 can be inserted, with the whole of member 8 therefore being able to run in member 14 on the wheels 6.

Member 14, has adjacent one end, a pair of apertures 11 a, 11 b into which the legs of a generally U-shaped member 11 fit, member 11 being held on to member 14 by a bolt 13.

At the other end of member 14 is a rectangular aperture 1 2a through which protrudes the upper portion of a bridge shaped member 12 having apertures in lower flanges through which bridge member 12 is bolted on to member 14 by means of bolts 13a.

Member 14 can in its turn slide in a channel member 18. Channel member 18 is open at one end and has some leaf springs 17 mounted at that end for a purpose to be described. Affixed to the edge of member 18 is a fixing bracket 15. There is also a bent down portion of the central web of member 18, denoted 16, which acts as a stop as explained below.

Members 8, 14 and 18 may be thought of as three members, telescoped together. Member 8 will run smoothly because of wheel 6 inside member 14, and member 14 can slide, albeit with more resistance than the rolling resistance of wheel 6, in member 18.

Tag 3, springs 17 and members 11 and 12, and tag 16, constitute a series of members which can interact to restrict the telescoping movement.

A latch 2a, biased to an upper position by means of a tension spring, is- mounted on member 2. As shown clearly' in Fig. 2, the upper end of latch 2a seats behind a portion 17a of one of the tension springs 17. This holds the three members 8, 14 and 18 telescoped together as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the storage rack is located effectively wholly underneath member 18. Member 18 may be mounted on any convenient frame of a fixed or portable nature. Fixing holes are provided and/or the bracket(s) 15 may be used.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that if latch 2a is slid downwards, and then pulled to the left as seen in the drawings, then the assembly of members 1, 2, 4 and 8 can move to the left.

It can move freely with the turning of rollers 6 to enable the rack to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. It is held at this position by tag 3 coming into contact with member 11. Usually that coming into contact moves member 14 slightly to the left as well, so that the bottom of the central leaf spring 17 comes to locate e.g. between the heads of the two bolts 13 which screw member 11 on to member 14. In this position the rack is held stably but can be pushed back towards the right if desired.

If it is desired to pull the rack out further, then this may also be achieved by simply pulling to the left. With more resistance than the rolling of member 8 in member 14, member 14 now slides along in member 18. It slides along until bridge member 12 comes to rest against the back of downwardly projecting tag 16, as shown in Fig. 4. The leaf springs 17 bear on the flat upper surface of member 14, and the whole of the rack is then accessible.

If the rack is pushed to the right as shown in Fig. 4, member 8 first of all rolls right back into member 14 until the top of latch 2a hits the left hand edge of member 14. At this stage member 14 is then slid back into member 18 until member 11 comes to lie against the front edge of tag 16.

Claims (9)

1. A storage device having a plurality of vertically extending side by side sections, the sections being movable as a unit relative to a fixed member, wherein the fixed member constitutes one of a plurality of telescoping members so arranged that the movement of the storage sections from a retracted to a fully extended position takes place in a plurality of distinct steps corresponding to the plurality of compartments becoming accessible.

2. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein the fixed member constitutes a hanger for the movable sections.

3. A storage device according to claim 1 or 2 and including two side by side sections or compartments, the movable unit comprising the two compartments being provided with a rail telescopically movable inside an intermediate member, the intermediate member being telescopically movable inside the fixed member.

4. A storage device according to claim 3 wherein the force required to move the rail relative to the intermediate member to telescope it in or out of the latter, is less than the force required to telescope the intermediate member in or out of the fixed member.

5. A storage device according to claim 4 wherein the rail is mounted on rollers which bear on the intermediate member and wherein the intermediate member slides within the fixed member.

6. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and including coacting stop means provided on the telescoping members to limit the extent to which they may be telescoped together and/or telescoped apart.

7. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and including latch means to hold the plurality of telescoping members substantially in their most telescoped together position.

8. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and including spring catch means to hold one telescoping member in a telescoped apart position relative to the next telescoping member.

9. A storage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.