GB2220617A

GB2220617A - Storage cabinet for motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2220617A
Application number: GB8813666A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Macgill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-09
Filing date: 1988-06-09
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Also published as: GB8813666D0

Abstract

A storage cabinet (10) is divided into a number of compartments (26, 28, 30) and is provided with a means for securing the cabinet within the boot of a motor vehicle. The securing means comprise a number of Velcro (registered trademark) strips attached to the under surface of the cabinet. At least one of the storage compartments (26) is sized to receive suspension files. For this purpose end wall (16) and divider (20) are provided with a grooved element (16A, 20A) for receiving the hooks of the suspension files. <IMAGE>

Description

A STORAGE CABINET This invention relates to storage cabinets.

In particular, the invention relates to storage cabinets which can be positioned and located within motor vehicles, for example, in the boot of a motorcar.

Many people involved in business and similar activities use their motorcar for traveling to and from business and sales meetings.

Frequently, quantities of documents such as files, sales and promotional literature, point of sale material and tools have to be carried to these meetings. It is usually impossible to pack all of the materials into a briefcase and usually are left loose on the seat or floor of the car. Inevitably, due to the movement of the car, the files, documents and other material become displaced and disorganised.

The present invention seeks to provide a storage cabinet which can be secured in a motorcar, preferably in the car boot, provided with divided off areas so that the documents, papers, and materials can be safely and securely stored.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a storage cabinet having means for securing the cabinet within a motor vehicle, the cabinet having one or more storage areas, at least one of said storage areas having a pair of parallel rails arranged to receive filing pockets.

One of the storage areas can be sized to receive a briefcase or similar item of luggage. Another one of the storage sections can be sized to receive standard sized, for example, A3 or A4 brochures, leaflets or catalogues. A further one of the storage areas can be provided with appropriately shaped compartments to receive tools.

The storage cabinet can be secured within the car by means of VELCRO strips on the underside of the storage cabinet, the VELCRO strips engaging with the pile of the carpet on the car floor or with further VELCRO strips attached to the car floor.

The storage cabinet can be formed from a number of components, e.g. a base and four sides secured together by corner sections which slot into the base, together with dividers to create the storage areas within the cabinet.

The parallel rails for the suspended filing pockets can be formed integrally with one or more of the sides of the cabinets or with one or more of the dividers. Alternatively, the rails can be formed separately and then attached between opposing sides or between opposing dividers or a combination of sides and dividers.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 shows a plan view of one form of storage cabinet according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view on Arrow A in Fig. 1 and, Fig. 3 is a view on Arrow B in Fig. 2.

Referring to the Figs, a storage cabinet 10 comprises a base 12, two sides 14 and two ends 16. The base, sides and ends are secured together by corner angles 16 which can be attached to the base 12 and to which the sides and ends 12 and 14 can be attached.

The storage cabinet 10 is divided into different areas by two dividers 20 and 22 which extend between opposed sides 14 and a divider 24 which extends between one of the ends 16 and the divider 20.

The ends 16 and the divider 20 are provided with a grooved element 16A and 20A respectively, which can be either formed integrally with the side and divider or can be separate from them and releasably attached. The grooveS 16A and 20A are arranged to receive a number of filing pockets. The pockets are usually a length of stiff material such as card folded into an approximate U-shape, the ends of the material having laterally extending bars attached to them, the ends of the bars being formed with hooks.

The grooves 16A and 20A are formed to receive these hooks.

It will be appreciated that such an arrangement will enable a number of pockets from an individuals' existing filing system to be readily removed from a standard fixed filing cabinet, and relocated in the storage cabinet 10.

As well as the divider 20 creating a filing area 26, it also creates with the other divider 22, two storage areas 28 and 30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the storage areas 28 and 30 are the same size, though they need not be equal in size and can also be subdivided by further dividers (not shown) to create differently sized storage areas.

For example, the storage areas 28 and 30 whether sized as shown or of different sizes or subdivided, can be sized to receive a briefcase or similar item of luggage or into standard document sizes such as A3 or A4. This would enable standard sized documents, art work etc., to be stored in the cabinet 10.

Further storage areas can also be provided so that non-standard sized items such as point of sale material can also be stored in the cabinet.

Also one or more of the storage areas can be formed to receive tools.

The storage cabinet can be secured within the motorcar by means of VELCO strips 32 which are attached to the underside of the base 12. The VELCO strips 32 can be used to contact the pile of the carpet in a motorcar boot, and should form a sufficiently firm attachment to prevent the storage cabinet from moving about whilst the car is in motion. If necessary the floor of the car boot can be provided with correspondingly positioned and spaced VELCO strips.

The storage cabinet 10 can be provided with handles (not shown) if necessary so that the cabinet can be easily removed from, and replaced in the motorcar boot.

In an alternative arrangement, the storage cabinet can be formed as a one piece molding together with removable dividers and means for locating the dividers enabling the dividers to be positioned in a number of ways to create the desired number and size of storage areas.

In effect, the storage cabinet 10 provides a means whereby the user can organize all of their files, papers, documents, promotional material, point of sale material, briefcase and tools if necessary, for safe and easy transportation thereby providing the user with in effect a mobile office storage system

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A storage cabinet having means for securing the cabinet within the motor vehicle, the cabinet having one or more storage areas, at least one of said storage areas having a pair of parallel rails arranged to receive filing pockets.
2. A storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 in which the securing means comprise at least one strip of Velcro (registered trademark) material attached to the underside of the cabinet.
3. A storage cabinet as claimed in claim 2 in which the securing means comprise three strips of Velcro (registered trademark) material.
4. A storage cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one of the parallel rails is formed by one of the sides of the cabinet.
5. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one of the parallel rails is formed by a divider.
6. A cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 -w3 in which the rails are attached between opposed sides of the cabinet.
7. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cabinet is formed from a base and four sides secured together by corner sections which are attached to the base.
8. A storage cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6 in which the cabinet is formed as a one piece moulding having locating means for removable dividers.
9. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a pair of handles are provided.
10. A storage cabinet constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.