GB2218405A

GB2218405A - Ventilated storage box

Info

Publication number: GB2218405A
Application number: GB8811207A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Eggleston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-11
Filing date: 1988-05-11
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-11
Also published as: GB8811207D0; GB2218405B

Abstract

A ventilated storage box in combination with a portable step is provided with a ventilation hole 3 in each end wall 7, 8 of the box, each hole 3 being covered with a mesh material, and lifting handles 2 integral with or attached to each end wall 7, 8. The handles 2 are shaped to provide a degree of weather protection to the ventilation holes 3. <IMAGE>

Description

VENTILATED STORAGE BOX AND PORTABLE STEP This invention relates to a ventilated storage box in combination with a portable caravan step.

An important consideration in design of a caravan and accessory equipment is weight1 due to the difference between the ex-works weight of a caravan and its maximum design weight being, in general small . Caravans thus generally require:a) Lightweight accessory equipment b) One piece of such equipment to serve where possible more than one duty.

Currently, caravan users store vegetables in:a) Plastic bags or caldboard boxes under the caravan or in an awning if one was available.

b) Or in both the above containers but stored in a cupboard inside the caravan.

In most of the above situations ventilation is either poor or non-existent.

Some caravans are equipped with a collapsible/extending step permanently fixed to the caravan. This is satisfactory if an awning is not required to be used. With an awning the "draught skirt" requires modification to allow the step in use to be extended and the hole thus created provided a source of draught into the awning area.

According to the invention there is provided a ventilation storage box in combination with a portable step comprising a box of substantially trapezoidal cross section, said box being provided with a removable lid and at least one ventilation hole. The box-step may be constructed, for example of wood, plastic material or metal.

The box-step is provided with a lid which serves also as the steptread and which is preferably covered with a layer of non-slip material.

The box-step preferably is provided with at least two handles which may be formed as separate pieces secured to opposite walls of the box, or may be formed integrally with the box either as projections from the box or as recesses or apertures of suitable size and shape.

Each ventilation hole is preferably covered with mesh material to prevent penetration of rain water into the interior of the box-step.

Preferably the box-step is provided with a ventilation hole in each end wall of its box, each hole being covered with said mesh material, and a lifting handle integral with or attached to each end wall immediately above said ventilation holes, each handle being shaped so as to provide an umbrella type protection against rain or dust entering the ventilation holes.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. shows a box-step with lid in situ.

Figure 2. shows the underside of the lid and Figure 3. shows in part one end of the box-step with an alternative handle construction.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a box-step which comprises a box body 1 housing a base 6 and a detachable lid 4. The side panels 7 and 8 are upright with respect to the horizontal lid 4 where as its front panel 9 and rear panel (not shown) are inclined at their upperends towards the lid 4.

The side panels 7 and 8 (not shown) have mesh covered apertures 3 (and 3' not shown) and lifting handle 2. (and 2' not shown) The upper surface 5 of lid 4 comprises a ribbed non slip tread surface. Lid 4 has on its underside locating strips 6 arranged to correspond with the clearance of the open upper end of box step 1 when the lid is removed to enable secure location of the lid onto the box body 1. The box lid 4 is dimensionally of greater area than the upper end of the box body to offer a degree of rain proof protection to the box including the mesh covered apertures 3.

In Figure 3 there s shown an alternative form of lifting handle 10 which is shaped to provide a degree of weather protection to ventilation hole 3.

Claims

1. A ventilated combination storage box and step which comprises a box having a base member, a wall member and a lid member wherein said lid member is fashioned to form a step tread, and said wall member has at least one ventilated hole located therein and at least one lifting handle integral with or attached to said wall member and located above said one ventilated hole to provide rain or dust protection therefore.

2. A boxstep as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall member has two ventilated holes located therein, each one of said holes being located substantially opposite the other and two lifting handles integral with or attached to said wall and located such that each ventilation hole has one of said handles positioned above each said hole.

3. A box step as claimed in claim 2 wherein the box is rectangular and one of two arrangements of ventilation holes and protective handles therefor is located each in one of a pair of opposite facing walls of the box.

4. A box step as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said step tread has a laterally ribbed upper surface.

5. A box step as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said step tread has a substantially non slip surface.

6. A box step as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein two further arrangements of ventilation hole and protective handle therefore are located one in each of the remaining pair of opposite facing walls of the box.

7. A box step as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the lid is removable and has on the underside thereof a downwardly projecting strip member adapted for secure location within the aperture formed by the upper end of the box wall or walls to ensure substantially immovable positioning of the lid in its function as a step lid.

8. A box step as claimed in claim 7 wherein said downwardly projecting strip member is adapted for secure location externally and around the aperture formed by the upper end of the box wall or walls.

9. A box step as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein at or substantially near to each corner of the base of the box there is provided downwardly extending leg means to ensure stable settlement of the box on the surface upon which it is positioned.

10. A box step substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing.