GB2327336A - Suspended storage unit for garage - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage unit for a garage comprises a pair of telescopically adjustable supports 31,32 bearing on the upper brickwork of a garage wall by way of inverted L-members 33,34 and from which a shelf 40 is suspended on telescopically adjustable members 41,42 which rest freely or are bolted on the supports 31,32. Each support may comprise two (as shown) or three telescoping parts. The shelf and its associated support 45 may also be multi-part for ease of packaging. The angle of the L-members may alternatively engage a slot in the wall, eg between adjacent bricks.

Description

Title - Storage Unit This invention relates to a storage unit and in particular to a storage unit suitable for installation in a domestic garage or similar location.

In residential properties storage space is often inadequate. Many people use their garage for storage, often with the result that there is inadequate space for a car.

The present invention seeks to provide a storage unit suitable for installation in a domestic garage, thereby to improve the storage capacity of the garage, whilst still allowing a car to be to be parked in the garage and not hindering access to the car.

According to the invention, a storage unit comprises a support member adapted to be fixed to or supported by side walls of a garage so as to span the garage, and a storage member suspended from and supported by the support member.

The storage unit of the invention is advantageous primarily in that it permits storage of items within the garage without preventing the garage being used for its intended purpose, ie for accommodating a car. The unit utilises space which would otherwise be unused. The unit is also readily assembled and fitted to conventional garages of various standard types of construction.

Most commonly, the unit is installed with the storage member positioned above the car when the car is parked in the garage. The storage member is thus commonly at head height, which means that items stored on the storage member can be easily seen and are more readily accessible than is the case for items stored at higher levels. Loading and unloading of the storage member is also easier than is the case for shelves and the like at higher levels. Furthermore, the storage member will generally not interfere with opening of the car's boot and/or bonnet, allowing access to the boot or engine compartment without the car having to be driven out of the garage.

The support member is preferably of telescopic construction, to enable it to be adjusted to suit the width of a variety of garage constructions. Most conveniently, the support member will comprise two or three telescopic sections. Most preferably, the support member, or the telescopic sections making up the support member, are tubular, most preferably being of square or rectangular section steel tubing.

Generally, there will be at least two support members, fitted at spaced apart locations along the length of the garage.

Fixing brackets are most preferably fitted to the ends of the or each support member. Most preferably, the fixing brackets are of inverted L-shape such that the shorter limb of the bracket can bear against the top surface of the side walls of the garage (such top surfaces commonly being exposed in many conventional garage constructions). Alternatively, the shorter limb of the bracket may be inserted into a slot formed in the wall. Such a slot may be formed readily, eg in brickwork or blockwork walls either in the bricks or blocks themselves or in an intervening layer of mortar, by drilling of several closely spaced holes.

The storage member is most commonly a shelf. Such a shelf is most preferably suspended from a pair of support members, each end or side of the shelf being supported by a pair of suspension members depending from the respective support member. The suspension members will most commonly be attached to the storage member at or near the ends of the storage member.

However, provision may be made for the suspension member to be attached at intermediate positions so as to permit greater flexibility in the positioning of the unit. Most preferably, the suspension members too are of telescopic construction to permit some adjustment of their length, and hence of the height of the shelf. In other embodiments the suspension members may be of fixed length, eg metal rods or bars formed at one end for engagement with the support members and at the other end for engagement with the storage member. Also, the storage member may not be a shelf, but may instead be a specialised component for the storage of a particular type of item, eg a rack for bicycles. For the storage of bicycles, the storage member may be suspended over the boot or bonnet of the car, so as to provide a greater depth of storage space.

In some embodiments, the storage member may be pivotally connected to the support member and it may be possible for the storage member to be swung upwards to an inoperative position if it is not required.

The unit may be of modular construction so that, for example, two storage members may be supported by a common support member.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side view of a garage in which is installed a garage storage unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic end view of the garage of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a more detailed view of the garage storage unit, viewed from the end; Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a second embodiment of a garage storage unit according to the invention; Figure 6 is a partial side view of the garage storage unit of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line VII-VII in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figure 1, a single garage is generally designated 1 and may be of the brick-built or concrete sectional type. The garage 1 has a pitched roof and houses a saloon car 2 of average dimensions. A storage unit according to the invention, generally designated 3, is mounted above the space occupied by the car 2.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the storage unit 3 is offset from the centre of the garage 1, thereby allowing access to the car 2 and the end of the garage 1. It will also be seen that the storage unit 3 utilises for storage the space above the car 2, which space would otherwise be unused.

The storage unit 3 is shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in those Figures, the unit 3 comprises two pairs of telescopic beams 31,32, each of which is fitted at one end with an L-shaped mounting bracket 33,34. The beams 31,32 are of square section steel tubing and the brackets 33,34 are of steel plate welded to the ends of the respective beams 31,32.

In use, the shorter limb of the brackets 33,34 is placed over the upper edge of the wall of the garage. The smaller beam 32 of each pair of beams 31,32 is positioned within the larger beam 31 such that the overall length of the beams 31,32 matches the internal width of the garage 1.

The brackets 33,34 are also provided with fixing holes 35 (see Figure 4) through which, if desired, fixing screws may be engaged with wall plugs inserted into the walls. The larger beam 31 of each pair of beams 31,32 is provided near its open end with a threaded bore in which a grub screw 36 is engaged to clamp the smaller dimension beam 32 in the desired position relative to the larger dimension beam 31.

The unit 3 further comprises a storage shelf 40 which is suspended from the smaller dimension beams 32 by two pairs of telescopic arms, each comprising an upper arm member 41 of larger dimension and a lower arm member 42 of smaller dimension. The upper and lower arm members 41,42 are again of square section steel tubing, the lower arm member 42 sliding telescopically within the upper arm member 41.

The upper arm members 41 are connected to the smaller dimension beams 32 near their upper ends by bolts 43 passing through pre-formed holes in the arm members 41 and beams 32. In an alternative arrangement, the upper arm members may be connected to the beams by a pair of bolts passing respectively above and below the beam and captivating the beam between the upper arm members and a plate located on the other side of the beam. This arrangement allows the upper arm members to be positioned at any point along the length of the beam. In another arrangement, the upper arm members may be formed with hook formations which simply hook over the beam. Retuming to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower arm members 42 are fixed relative to the upper arm members 41 by bolts 44 passing through pre-formed holes in the two arm members 41,42. The lower arm members 42 may be formed with a series of preformed fixing holes to allow for adjustment of the overall length of the telescopic arms, and hence for adjustment of the height of the storage shelf 40.

The lower arm members 42 are fixed at their lower ends to angle irons 45 which extend along the sides of the shelf member 40. Again, fixing is by means of bolts 46 passing through preformed holes in the lower arm members 42 and the angle irons 45. The shelf member 40 is itself fixed to the angle irons 45 by bolts 47 which again pass through pre-formed openings. In other embodiments, the angle irons 45 may be replaced by a preformed tray in which a board or boards making up the shelf 40 are laid. In another alternative, the shelf 40 may be formed with integral brackets for direct fixing to the lower ann members 42. Where necessary or desired, strengthening members may be fitted to the storage member, eg angle irons extending transversely and/or longitudinally across the storage member, to provide additional strength and rigidity. This may be particularly important in the case of relatively large storage members and/or where relatively heavy items are to be stored on the storage member.

As can be seen by reference again to Figure 1 in particular, the storage unit 3 utilises space above the car 2 which would otherwise be unused. Because the shelf member 40 is suspended at a height greater than the height of the car 2, the car 2 can be driven into and out of the garage 1.

Because the shelf member 40 is offset from the centre of the garage 1, the car owner can gain access to the car 2 and open the doors of the car 2 without having to stoop below the shelf member 40. Similarly, access to the far end of the garage 1 is unimpeded by the storage unit 3.

Thus, the storage unit 3 provides valuable additional storage space within the garage 1 without diminishing the space available for parking of the car 2 and for the storage of other materials.

The unit also does not interfere with the operation of windows in the wall of the garage.

Furthermore, because the shelf is spaced inwardly from the wall of the garage, mounting of the unit is not prevented by pillars, drainpipes or other obstructions adjacent the wall.

The second embodiment of a garage storage unit according to the invention shown in Figures 5 to 7 is broadly similar to that of Figures 1 to 4, but differs therefrom in a number of respects.

First, as can be seen in Figure 5, the unit comprises two sets of three telescopic beams 51,52,53.

The central beam 51 is of larger dimension and receives the ends of the two outer beams 52,53.

This arrangement allows for more compact packaging of the unit, the lengths of the individual components being somewhat shorter than in the first embodiment.

Similarly, the angle irons which support the shelf are formed in two parts 55,56 (see Figure 6) which are bolted together via a central plate 57. This again enables more compact packaging.

For the same reason, the shelf member itself is formed in three parts 61,62,63 (see Figure 7).

Abutting parts 61,62,63 are supported by T-section cross-members 64,65 which in turn rest at their ends on the angle irons.

It can also be seen in Figure 6 that a series of fixing holes 71 are provided on the angle irons 55,56 for connection to the telescopic arms. This provides greater flexibility in the positioning of the beams.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A storage unit comprises a support member adapted to be fixed to or supported by side walls of a garage so as to span the garage, and a storage member suspended from and supported by the support member.

2. A storage unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support member is of telescopic construction.

3. A storage unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the support member, or the telescopic sections making up the support member, are tubular,

4. A storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least two support members, fitted at spaced apart locations along the length of the garage.

5. A storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein fixing brackets of inverted Lshape are fitted to the ends of the or each support member.

6. A storage unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the storage member is a shelf.

7. A storage unit as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the shelf is suspended from a pair of support members, each end or side of the shelf being supported by a pair of suspension members depending from the respective support member.

8. A storage unit as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the suspension members are of telescopic construction.

9. A storage unit substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.