GB2223670A - Storage means - Google Patents

Abstract

Storage means comprise a storage fixture 5 positioned in front of a vertical wall 3 above the stairs 2 and facing towards a landing 4 in a domestic dwelling. Two vertically-slidable open-sided containers of drawer-like form are movable between raised storage positions, in which they are concealed behind a fixed panel, and lowered access positions in which shelves can be reached from the landing 4. Each storage container may be counter-balanced by a cord and pulley arrangement with the cord attached at one end to the top of the container and at the other end to a counterbalance weight. <IMAGE>

Description

Gordon Trevor Hunt and Carolyn Jane Hunt "STORAGE MEANS" The invention relates to storage means, suitable for use as a fixture in domestic dwellings. The means of the invention may be manufactured as a storage unit for fixing in position in a dwelling, or may be assembled in situ to provide a storage fixture.

The majority of two-storey domestic dwellings have an inclined ceiling above the stairway which, at the head of the stairs, terminates in a vertical internal wall.

The space immediately in front of this vertical wall is wasted, and it is in those dwellings which have such a construction that space is usually at a premium.

The invention provides storage means which utilise said space which is normally wasted, and which to this end comprise a storage container positioned in front of said vertical wall and slidable from an out-of the way raised position in front of the wall to a lowered position allowing access, on the side facing away from the wall, to the container.

Preferably the container is of open-sided box like form, being generally in the form of a vertically slidable drawer, and in the raised storage position it may be housed behind a concealing fixed panel. The container is preferably vertically slidable, and it is desirably counterbalanced so as to remain in any height position in which it is placed and so that movement requires minimal effort. Counterbalancing may be by a cord and pulley arrangement reminiscent of the counterbalancing of a sash window pane.

The container may be the only container of the storage means and of a width which substantially spans the stairway, but preferably two or more containers are disposed side by side and independently counterbalanced for separate movement between the raised storage positions and lowered access positions. The or each container preferably has one or more shelves, so that it is subdivided into a vertical row of storage compartments.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, a preferred embodiment comprising storage means in accordance with the invention and assembled in situ as a fixture in a domestic dwelling. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of the stairway of dwelling, in diagrammatic cross-section, showing the embodiment from the side; Fig. 2 is a front view, showing two drawer-like containers of the embodiment in fully lowered and partly-lowered positions, respectively; and Fig. 3 is a front view with a front panel removed.

There is shown in Fig. 1 the stairway of a typical domestic dwelling with an inclined ceiling portion 1 above the stairs 2 and which terminates at a vertical internal wall 3 facing towards a landing area 4 at the top of the stairs 2. In what is normally wasted space in front of the wall 3, the storage assembly 5 providing means in accordance with the invention is a fixture, having been assembled in situ.

The assembly illustrated comprises two vertically-slidable open-sided containers 6 and 7 of generally drawer-like form and each of which will, for convenience, be referred to hereinafter as a "drawer". The drawers 6 and 7 when in the raised storage position are flush with a plate 8 fixed across the stairway, and which has two rectangular apertures through which the drawers 6 and 7 respectively slide to selective lowered access positions as shown in Fig. 2. For effecting movement the drawers 6 and 7 have simple pull handles 9, and in the rasied storage positions they are housed and completely concealed behind a fixed front panel 10.

Each of the drawers 6 or 7 has a series of horizontal shelves such as 11, by which it is subdivided into a vertical series of storage compartments in which suitably sized articles can be stored. In each case five shelves 11 have been shown providing six compartments, but it will be appreciated that any desired number of shelves may be provided, or even none at all. It will also be appreciated that the dimensions of the drawers 6 and 7 can be varied, but are desirably chosen to provide the maximum storage volume. The maximum horizontal depth of the drawers depends upon the space available at the head of the stairs, and in respect of the vertical length the front bottom edge 12 of the bottom plate 8 should be above the plane of the ceiling 1 in order to provide unobstructed headroom.

The shelf 6 is slidably guided between a central vertical division 13 and a fixed vertical side plate 14 which is parallel to and spaced from the adjacent side wall 15 of the stairway. The shelf 7 is similarly slidably guided between the central division 13 and a fixed vertical side plate 16 spaced from the other side wall 17 of the stairway. A guide/stop bar 18 extends centrally across the top of the drawer 6, and a guide/stop bar 19 similarly extends across the top of the drawer 7. The bars 18 and 19 engage guide slots in the division 13 and the respective side plates 14 and 16, and they act as stops which engage the upper side of the bottom plate 8 to prevent the drawers 6 and 7 being pulled out through the plate 8.

A fixed beam 20 extends across between the walls 16 and 17 at the top of the assembly and this mounts counterbalancing means, which retain the drawers 6 and 7 in any selected position in which they are placed. The beam 20 has apertures 21 and 22 respectively disposed centrally above the drawers 6 and 7, and apertures 23 and 24 which are respectively disposed centrally above the space 25, between the plate 14 and wall 15, and the space 26 between the plate 16 and wall 17. Pairs of free-running pulleys 27,28 and 29,30 are mounted on the beam 20. A strong cord 31 anchored to the drawer 6 passes through the aperture 21, over the pulley pair 27,28 and through the aperture 23 to suspend a counterbalance weight 32 within the space 25.

Similarly a cord 33 passing through the apertures 22,24 and over the pulley pair 29,30 interconnects the drawer 7 and a suspended counterbalance weight 34.

Two magnets 35 fixed to the inner sides of the side plates 14 and 16 are engageable respectively by the steel bars 18 and 19, as shown, to define the raised storage positions of the drawers 6 and 7. They also act in conjunction with the bars 18 and 19 as magnetic catches for positive retention of the drawers in these raised storage positions.

The assembly described and illustrated may suitably be constructed from timber, plastics, and or metal components which may be chosen, as desired, for their structural and/or aesthetic properties. It can be seen that the assembly provides useful storage in what would otherwise be a completely wasted space. Furthermore, the stored articles are convenient of access when required so that the drawers can be used not only for long-term storage but also for the short-term storage of articles required on a day to day basis.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. Storage means comprising a storage container which is positioned or positionable in front of a vertical wall and slidable from an out-of the way raised position in front of the wall to a lowered position allowing access, on the side facing away from the wall, to the container.

2. Storage means according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is positioned or adapted to be positioned in front of a vertical wall above and adjacent the head of a stairway.

3. Storage means according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the storage container is of open-sided box like form, being generally in the form of a slidable drawer.

4. Storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container when in the raised storage position is housed behind a concealing fixed panel.

5. Storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container is vertically slid able between the raised storage position and the lowered access position.

6. Storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container is counterbalanced so as to remain in any height position in which it is placed and so that movement of the storage container requires minimal effort.

7. Storage means according to claim 6, wherein the storage container is counterbalanced by a cord and pulley arrangement with the cord attached at one end to the container and at the other end to a counterbalance weight.

8. Storage means according to claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 7 as dependent on claim 2, wherein said storage container is the only such container of the storage means and is of a width which substantially spans the stairway.

9. Storage means according to claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 7 as dependent on claim 2, wherein said storage container is one of two or more such containers which are disposed side by side.

10. Storage means according to claim 6 and claim 9, wherein said two or more containers are independently counterbalanced for separate movement between the raised storage positions and lowered access positions.

11. Storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each storage container has one or more shelves, so that it is subdivided into a vertical row of storage compartments.

12. Storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, manufactured as a pre-assembled storage unit for fixing in position.

13. Storage means according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the storage means are assembled in situ to provide a storage fixture.

14. Storage means constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.