GB2391873A

GB2391873A - A store for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2391873A
Application number: GB0218704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Mark Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-12
Filing date: 2002-08-12
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-12
Also published as: GB2391873B; GB0218704D0

Abstract

A store 10 includes a moveable cover 16 with a rigid roof portion 20. Preferably the cover is moveable along guide tracks 38, 40 which include a ramp 44. The store may further include a fixed, rigid back plate 14 and apertures 34 for securing the store to the ground with bolts (48, Fig 4) or ground anchors (118, Fig 5). A locking system 88 comprising a rack and pinion mechanism with handle 98, and slots 82, 84 may be provided to secure the store when closed. In an open position, there may be a vehicle entrance at one side of the store and a vehicle exit at the other. The store may comprise a structure of steel mesh embedded in a plastics material.

Description

VEHICLE STORE

The present invention relates to vehicle stores, such as small garages and to small vehicle (e.g. passenger vehicle), and implement stores. In particular, 5 the present invention relates to motorcycle garages for storing motorcycles.

It is known to park a motorcycle on the ground outdoors, but such motorcycles are susceptible to theft thereof. In order to reduce the possibility of motorcycle theft, a security lock for preventing me rotation of the front wheel of a motorcycle is known and, additionally it is known to secure a 10 motorcycle to the ground with a ground anchor. However, the sight of such motorcycles can still be tempting to thieves who may wish to attempt to overcome such security devices and, in addition, it has now become the practice to steal parts of motorcycles, such as by unbolting or otherwise removing such parts and taking them without the consent of the owner.

15 In addition to attempts made to secure motorcycles, attempts have been made to provide stores for motorcycles for protecting the same from the weather. A known vehicle store for a motorcycle comprises a base with a collapsible frame holding a flexible fabric cover which folds down to one end of the base for parking/removing a motorbike. However, this provides 20 extremely limited security, since the flexible fabric cover may be cut open, for example, with a knife. Additionally, motorcycles often have notoriously poor turning circles and normally (with the exception of some large motorcycles such as larger American or American-style motorcycles) have no reverse driven gear. With this known type of vehicle store, the motorcycle may 25 therefore be difficult to park or remove from the store, particularly when the store is located on a slope, because motorcycles are usually relatively heavy and, if a motorcycle has been ridden or walked forwards to a parked position on the store, the folded fabric cover in front of the motorcycle prevents exit forwards from the motorcycle store and it may be difficult to reverse the

motorcycle out of the parked position, especially if it is necessary to reverse up a slope.

It is also known to provide a vehicle store in the form of a wooden shed with a door which may be opened in order to enable parking or removal of a 5 motorcycle. To enable a motorcycle to be ridden into the vehicle store to a position under the roof thereof or walked therein, the door needs to be at least as tall as a person and, thus, the motorcycle store needs to be taller still. This means that, in practice, this type of motorcycle store is relatively tall and obtrusive. Often, in cities like London, each house in a row of houses may 10 only have a small front garden area to provide for the off-road parking of vehicles such as motorcycles and the installation of a tall motorcycle store in a front garden may, in these or other circumstances, be unsightly, and may be of concern to neighbours, or may in some circumstances require planning consent which may be refused if the installation would be considered unsightly or 15 otherwise inappropriate by the government planning authorities.

The present invention aims to alleviate, at least to a certain extent, the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle store comprising a cover having a roof portion, the cover being adapted 20 for movement to cover a parked vehicle, wherein the roof portion of the cover is rigid. The rigid nature of the roof portion enhances security. Furthermore, the movable cover enables a vehicle first to be parked and the cover then moved to cover the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle store does not need to be particularly tall since a doorway at least as tall as a person or, for example, a 25 person on a vehicle such as a motorcycle is not needed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle store comprising a fixed wall and a cover having a roof portion, the roof portion being movable from an open position to a closed position adjacent the fixed wall for enclosing a vehicle. Thus, instead of the arrangement in a 30 standard garage or known shed, as described above, in which a door is opened,

a cover or shell portion of a vehicle store or garage, such as a motorcycle garage, may be opened instead and the height of the store or garage need not be much bigger than the height of the average vehicle such as a motorcycle in the case of a motorcycle garage.

5 Preferably, in either aforementioned aspect of the invention, the cover is adapted for movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle and an open position, wherein the store, in the open position of the cover, has a vehicle entrance at one side of the store and a vehicle exit at an opposite side of the store. First, a vehicle such as a motorcycle may be walked 10 or driven through the entrance to a parked position thereof and may later be walked or driven in the same direction through the exit. Accordingly, in the case of a vehicle such as a type of motorcycle which has no reverse drive gear, the vehicle may be driven under its own power or walked through the entrance to the parked position and may then also be driven under its own power or 15 walked through the exit of the vehicle store and this may be especially advantageous when the vehicle store is located on a slope. Furthermore, it is not necessary to manoeuvre and turn round the vehicle, such as a motorcycle, in order to exit the store through the point of entrance as required in the prior art discussed above.

20 Preferably, in any of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move such as with a generally horizontal and translational movement.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle store comprising a cover, the cover being adapted for movement to 25 cover a parked vehicle, wherein a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move, preferably with a generally horizontal and translational movement, between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle and an open position.

A number of preferred and optional features, which may be applicable, as desired, in any of the aforementioned aspects of the invention will now be described. Preferably, the cover has a roof portion which is rigid.

5 Preferably, the cover has wall portions adapted to extend down from the roof portion to ground level.

Preferably, the cover has wall portions at a front and two sides thereof, with an opening being formed in the cover to the rear thereof, and preferably, a fixed back-plate is provided, the back-plate being adapted to close the opening 10 in the cover, the cover and back-plate thereby forming a substantially sealed enclosure. Accordingly, when wall portions are provided on the cover extending to the ground, and the back-plate also extends to the ground, the store may form a fully enclosed and secure enclosure for optimum security and may also provide good weather protection. The store is preferably of opaque 15 and/or non-light transmitting material. This may advantageously mean that it is not possible to see whether a vehicle or other item is located inside the store and this may reduce the possibility of attack by thieves.

Preferably, the cover and back-plate where provided are each of tough material, such as plastics or heavy gauge steel. The cover, and backplate 20 where provided, may be of plastics such as polycarbonate polypropylene in order to be relatively light and a strengthening mesh, such as a steel mesh may be provided adjacent, either inside or outside a layer of plastics material or plastics material may be formed around a strengthening mesh. A steel strengthening mesh may be encapsulated in a plastics material such as 25 polypropylene or polycarbonate in order to provide a tough and hard-wearing structure for the store.

Preferably, a generally vertical back-plate is provided for the store.

Preferably, when a back-plate is provided, the back-plate includes at least one formation thereon for securement thereof to the ground. The 30 formation may comprise an aperture formed in a generally horizontal flange

formed at a lower end of the back-plate. A bolt may be provided for engagement through the aperture for securement of the back-plate to the ground. When a guide system is provided, the guide system preferably includes a S pair of mutually spaced and parallel guide tracks. The guide tracks preferably extend at ground level. When a back-plate is provided, the guide tracks preferably extend generally perpendicular to the backplate. Preferably, at least one of the tracks is formed with a formation thereon for securement of the track to the ground, said formation being located at an end of the track distant from 10 the back-plate. Thus, the store may have ground securement formations located at each corner thereof in order to minimise the possibility of the store being moved without appropriate permission.

Preferably, each guide track includes at least one glide element for enabling gliding movement of the cover relative to ground on which the store is IS located. A said glide element may comprise or include a wheel or a ball bearing. Preferably, each guide track includes an elongate fixed track member adapted to be secured to the ground, an elongate intermediate track member supported on the fixed track member by a glide element and an elongate third 20 member secured to the cover and supported on the track member by a further glide element. A said glide element may comprise a ball-bearing and one or more ball races may be provided for enabling telescopic extension of the track members of the guide system. The guide system may be provided with an elongate ramp extending along at least one side of at least one of the guide 25 tracks. In this case, the ramp may be adapted to extend upwardly to a point above the intermediate track member. Thus, when the cover is in an open position thereof, a vehicle may be driven over the guide track without interfering with the guide tracks thereof. A said guide track may be provided with an elongate profile located above a lower level of the ramp in order to 30 provide a water gully, below the elongate profile and a drain hole may be

provided in the elongate profile for enabling water such as rain water to drain via the gully.

The cover, in a closed position thereof, preferably overlaps upper and side flanges of the back-plate, and the cover may include at least one locking 5 formation for inwardly overlapping one of the upper and side flanges of the back-plate. The cover, in a closed position thereof, preferably has a side wall which extends below an adjacent portion of a said ramp which is located to the exterior of the cover. Thus, it may be difficult, due to this configuration, to force the store open, with a crowbar or similar tool.

10 Preferably, a front wall of the cover includes a locking formation which is adapted to engage with a fixed locking formation of the store. The cover may include a flange which is adapted to engage under a fixed flange of the store, so as to minimise the possibility of the cover being lifted.

Preferably, the store includes a lock system which is operable for 15 selectively locking the cover in a closed configuration thereof.

The lock system may include at least one locking tab adapted to extend through a locking aperture of the cover and a locking aperture of a fixed component of the store for preventing movement of the cover.

The locking system may include a rack and pinion mechanism for 20 movement of the locking tab and may include a twistable pinion adapted to provide a linear drive to a rack connected to the locking tab.

The locking system may be manually operable from a front face of the cover. Several said locking tabs may be provided for engagement with several pairs of respective locking apertures of the cover and a fixed component of the 25 store, in order to secure the movable cover and fixed component together at two or more locations. The fixed component may comprise a back-plate of the store or a flange secured thereto.

In one embodiment, the vehicle store is adapted for storing a motorcycle and in a closed configuration thereof is 2.3 metres long, 1.1 metres wide and 30 1.3 metres tall. Although these dimensions would be appropriate for a vehicle

store in the nature of a single motorcycle garage, smaller or larger dimensions are envisaged for different applications such as for the storage of unpowered bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, scooters, etc. For example, a vehicle store in the nature of a double motorcycle garage may be approximately 5 metres long, 5 1.5 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall or, alternatively, may be about 2.5 metres long, 3 metros wide and 1.5 metros tall.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a store as in any aforementioned aspect hereof, in combination with a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, parked therein.

10 Although the invention has been described various places herein in terms of a vehicle store, it is not necessarily applicable to stores solely for vehicles. It is envisaged that the invention may be applicable in other aspects to the storage of other items, such as garden tools, garden toys, ride-on mowers, quad bikes and their trailers, farm machinery and farm implements 15 and/or other items. Additional aspects of the invention may be recited as follows and these may be applicable as inventions combined with or independent from each other and the aforementioned aspects hereof: According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a store comprising a cover having a roof portion, the cover being adapted for 20 movement to cover an item to be stored, wherein the roof portion of the cover is rigid.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a store comprising a fixed wall and a cover having a roof portion, the roof portion being movable from an open position to a closed position adjacent the fixed 25 wall for enclosing an item to be stored.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a store comprising a cover which is adapted for movement between a covering position for covering an item to be stored and an open position, wherein the store, in the open position of the cover, has an entrance at one side of the store 30 and an exit at an opposite side of the store.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a cover, the cover being adapted for movement to cover an item to be stored, wherein a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move with a generally horizontal and translational movement between a covering position for 5 covering an item to be stored and an open position.

Further aspects of the invention are set out in claims 29 to 32.

The present invention may be carried out in various ways and various preferred embodiments of stores in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in 1 0 which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle store in accordance with the present invention in an open configuration thereof; Fig.2 is an isometric view of the store of Fig.1, shown in a closed configuration thereof; 15 Fig.3 is a schematic view showing a rack and pinion mechanism of a preferred locking system of the vehicle store; Figs.4A and 4B show an operation handle of the locking mechanism in respective retracted and extended configurations thereof; Fig.S is a schematic end view of part of the store, showing a guide track, 20 ramps and a securing bolt thereof; Fig.6 is a view equivalent to Fig. 5, in which the bold is replaced by a ground anchor; and Fig.7 shows a schematic end view equivalent to Fig.5, the cover of the store having a modified wall configuration.

25 Fig.1 shows a preferred embodiment of a motorcycle store 10 in accordance with the present invention, in an open configuration thereof. Fig.2 shows the store, somewhat schematically, in a closed configuration thereof, having a motorcycle 12 stored therein.

With reference to Fig.1, the motorcycle store comprises a fixed back 30 plate 14 and a moveable cover 16. The cover 16 includes a generally vertical

front wall 18 which is formed integrally with a flat horizontal top wall 20 and left 22 and right 24 side walls.

The right side wall 24 and components thereon are not shown in detail in the drawings, but they are a mirror image of the equivalent parts of the left 5 side wall 22.

The back plate 14 includes a lower horizontal flange 26 at a lower edge thereof and an upper horizontal flange 28 at an upper edge thereof, as well as left 30 and right 32 vertical side flanges at side edges thereof. The back plate 14 is generally rectangular. The lower flange 26 includes ground securement 10 formations, shown in their preferred form as apertures 34 formed therethrough.

A guide system 36 for guiding movement of the cover 16 includes left 38 and right 40 guide tracks. Each track 38,40 extends generally perpendicular to the back plate at ground level, each extending from a bottom corner 42,44 of the back plate. The guide tracks 38,40 are mirror images of one another and, 15 with reference to Fig.5, it will be seen that each guide track includes a telescoping arrangement for sliding the cover 16 relative to the back plate 14.

As shown in Fig.5, the left guide track 38 includes a first elongate member 43 which is adapted to be secured via ramp arrangements 44 and flange 46 by a bolt 48 to the ground 50, optionally including a concrete or other binder 52 in 20 the region of the bolt 48. The flange 46 of the guide track 38 is located at an end 54 of the guide track 38 distant from the back plate 14. An opposite end 56 of the guide track 38 is secured to the ground by a similar bolt 48 secured through adjacent aperture 34 of flange 26. It will be appreciated that the end 56 of the guide track may be held down by engagement with the flange 26 or 25 attachment to the back plate 14, side flange 30 and/or lower flange 26, such as by welding.

The guide track also includes an intermediate elongate member 58 and a third elongate member 60. The third elongate member is secured by suitable fasteners 62 such as bolts 62, to the side wall 22 and, as shown in Fig.5, the 30 elongate member 60 may be spaced from the side wall 22 by bushes 64,

adjacent each bolt 62. Although only one bolt/bush 62/64 arrangement is shown in Fig.5, it will be appreciated that several similar bolts and bushes may be used, spaced apart along the elongate member 60 for securing the side wall 22 to the guide track 38. The intermediate elongate member 58 is 5 telescopically slidable on the first elongate member 42 by means of a ball race 66 having ball bearings 68. The third elongate member 60 is telescopically slidable along the intermediate elongate member 58 by means of a ball race 70, having ball bearings 72. Thus, the cover 16 may be easily slidable relative to the back plate 14, by means of the guide system 36.

10 The left wall 22 of the cover 16 includes a security flange 74 adapted to rest adjacent an inner side 74 of the left flange 30, such that, when the cover 16 is in the closed configuration thereof, the side flange 30 is sandwiched between the security flange 74 and the side wall 22 edge in order to minimise the possibility of the cover being prised open. Additionally, the front wall 18 of 15 the cover 16 includes left and right lower security flanges 76,78 adapted to rest under respective security flanges 80 adjacent flanges 46, in order to prevent prising up of the cover in the region of the ends 54 of the guide tracks 38,40.

Left flange 30 is formed with a slot 82 adapted to align with a slot 84 formed through the side wall 22, when the cover 16 is in the closed 20 configuration thereof shown in Fig.2. A rod 86 of a lock mechanism 88 may be slid through the slots 82,84 to a locked configuration in which movement of the cover 16 relative to the back plate 14 is prevented. The lock mechanism includes a rack and pinion, including a pair of racks 90 formed on the ends of rods 86, the racks 90 being driven by a pinion 92. The pinion is formed at one 25 end of a lock rod 94, the other end of the lock rod 96 being attached to a handle 98, the handle 98 incorporating a lock 100 which is adapted to be operated by a key 102. With the cover closed and the handle locked in a recessed configuration thereof shown schematically in Fig.4a, in which it is recessed into a recess 104 in the front wall 22, the pinion 92 engages the racks 90 and 30 prevents the rods 86 from moving, the rods 86 thus preventing the movement

of the cover 16 relative to the back plate 14, due to the engagement of the rods 86 through the slots 82,84. In order to open the store 10, the key 102 may be used to operate the lock 100 and the handle 98 may be moved to an extended position, as shown in Fig.4b, but in which the pinion 92 still engages the racks 5 90. The handle 98 may then be twisted in order to drive the rods 86 clear of the slots 82,84, so that the cover may be opened to the configuration shown in Fig. 1, such as by pulling on the handle 98 which may be restricted from further movement relative to the front wall 18 of the cover 16. During the opening movement, the pinion 92 disengages from the racks 90 and the pinion end 106 to of the rod 94 may be supported by a flange 108.

When the store 10 is in the open configuration shown in Fig.l, the motorcycle 12 may be driven or walked into the store 10 through an entrance formed between edges 110,112 of the left side wall 22 and flange 30, and the motorcycle may later exit the store through the right side of the store through a 15 vehicle exit formed there. Naturally, a motorcycle or other vehicle may alternatively enter the store through the right side thereof and may exit the store through the left side thereof. Indeed, if desired, such a vehicle may enter or exit the store in which ever direction may be desired.

As shown in Fig.5 in dotted lines, the ramp arrangements 44 may be, 20 alternatively, be constructed to be higher as ramp arrangements 44, such that top edges 45 of the ramps are located above the intermediate member 58, such that a vehicle entering or leaving the store 10 will not apply weight to the guide system 36 unnecessarily.

The back plate 14 and cover 16 of the store 10 are preferably made of 25 tough material and, as shown in Fig.5, may be constructed with a form of a wire mesh 1 10, encapsulated in a tough plastics material, such as polypropylene. Thus, unauthorized entry to the store may be particularly difficult. Furthermore, the store may be of non-light transmitting material such that when closed the interior contents are not visible from the outside, thus 30 reducing the possibility of unauthorized persons making attempts to open the

store to take what may be inside. The ramp portions 44 or 44' are located close to the exterior surface of the side walls 22,24 in order to reduce the possibility of the cover 16 being levered upwards by an unauthorized person.

The tracks 38,40 preferably include raised humps 112 in a lower 5 elongate trough portion 114 thereof, the sides of each elongate hump 112 being provided with various drain holes 116 being provided spaced along the tracks in order to minimise the possibility of water collection in the troughs 114. The flanges 76,78,46,80, the drive rods 86, the rod 94 and handle 98, as well as the elongate track members 42,58,60 are preferably formed from steel, such as 10 galvanised steel or steel otherwise coated or treated in order to minimise corrosion effects.

Fig.6 is a view equivalent to that of Fig.S, but with the bolt 48 replaced with a ground anchor 118 including a ring 120 for chaining or otherwise securing an item in the store such as a motorcycle to the ground for extra 15 security. The ground anchor 118, like the bolt 48 may be removably secured into the ground, if desired, such that the store 10 may be moved, such as when the owner thereof moves house. Alternatively, the bolts 48 or ground anchors 118 may be permanently secured to the ground for maximum security, such as providing the same set permanently into the binder or ground, such as by 20 including one or more transverse projections 120 on the bolt or anchor, extending laterally into the ground 50 or binder 52.

Fig.7 shows a view equivalent to Fig.5, but in which the plastics 111 and integral mesh 110 structure of the Fig.5 embodiment is replaced by an arrangement in which a wire mesh 122 is placed alongside and either interior to 25 (as shown in Fig.7) or externally to a plastics layer 124, the plastics material serving to protect the inside of the store 10 from the elements and to prevent viewing of the interior thereof.

It is noted that a further difference between the embodiments of Fig.S and Fig.6 is that in Fig.6, central drain holes 116' are provided for draining the 30 track 38 centrally into a gully 130 beneath the track.

An advantage of the inclusion of three elongate members 42,58,60 for the guide tracks 38,40 is that, when the store 10 is in its closed configuration, the members are enclosed within the plan form of the cover 16 and do not protrude therefrom. Other forms of guide system are envisaged including 5 wheels fixed to the cover and running along tracks mounted to the ground, but in this case, it may be necessary for the tracks to extend in length from the store when in its closed configuration the same distance as the desired opening distance of the cover. Although the material of the back plate and cover may, as described above include a wire or steel mesh reinforcing a plastics surface, 10 the use of sufficiently tough plastics or other suitable material may avoid the requirement for a mesh.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above enable a design for a small area garage which has low height, the dimensions of which only need to be large enough to enclose the desired item, such as a motorcycle, 15 and no bigger. It will be seen that the embodiments described can be considered to have a configuration opposite to a standard brick-built vehicle garage whereby a door thereof opens to admit entry. Instead, the back plate (equivalent to the door) is fixed, and the cover (equivalent to the garage shell) opens. Motorcycles normally have notoriously poor turning circles making 20 them difficult to manoeuvre in small areas and the ability to open the entire "shell" or cover offers easy access to an item such as a motorcycle, which can either be ridden or walked in or out of the store. The cover or "shell" can then be closed and locked. Opening the "shell" or cover of the store or garage rather than a more usual door also means that the height of the store or garage need 25 not be much bigger than the height of an average item to be stored such as a motorcycle. Figure 8 shows a store 10 as in Figure 1, but with a baseboard 150 fitted.

The baseboard 150 has a top surface 152 at the same level as or at about the same level as the top of the ramp arrangements 44,44'. Thus, this may be

advantageous when pushing a heavy motorcycle or other object backwards through the same exit as that used upon entry to the store 10.

Figure 9 shows a further modification of the embodiment of Figure 1 with a ramp arrangement 44" having a plurality of different heights. With the 5 cover 16 in the fully opened configuration thereof shown in Figure 9, lower portion 140 of ramp arrangement 44" adjacent back plate 14 has the same or slightly more height than first elongate glide member 43, whereas second ramp portion 142 is higher than ramp portion 140, so as to be the same height as or slightly higher than intermediate elongate member 58 of the drive system 36.

10 The extended ramp height of higher ramp portion 142 ensures no damage to elongate member 58 while objects are entered into or taken out of the store 10.

The optional baseboard 150 may be advantageous with heavier objects to be stored, such as relatively heavy motorcycles. Stores may in various embodiments be used for storing articles other 15

than motorcycles, such as mowers, ride-on mowers, quad bikes, trailers such as trailers for quad bikes, farm machinery and implements, garden tools and toys, and sacks such as of coal or salt for domestic or other purposes.

Figure 8 shows an example of a hook 160 which may be used for storing, for example, garden tools in the store 10 on or adjacently backplate 14.

20 Optionally, shelving 162 or other storage devices may be employed in the store 10 for storing items such as oil for motorcycles. Preferably, the store is an outdoor store for outdoor use.

Various modifications may be made, it will be appreciated, to the embodiments described, without departing from the scope of the invention as 25 defined by the accompanying claims as interpreted under patent law.

Claims

1. A vehicle store comprising a cover having a roof portion, the cover being adapted for movement to cover a parked vehicle, wherein the roof 5 portion of the cover is rigid.

2. A vehicle store comprising a fixed wall and a cover having a roof portion, the roof portion being movable from an open position to a closed position adjacent the fixed wall for enclosing a vehicle.

3. A vehicle store as claimed in claim I or claim 2 in which the cover is adapted for movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle and an open position, wherein the store, in the open position of the cover, has a vehicle entrance at one side thereof and a vehicle exit at an 15 opposite side thereof.

4. A vehicle store comprising a cover which is adapted for movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle and an open position, wherein the store, in the open position of the cover, has a vehicle 20 entrance at one side of the store and a vehicle exit at an opposite side of the store.

5. A vehicle store as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move with a generally horizontal 25 and translational movement.

6. A vehicle store comprising a cover, the cover being adapted for movement to cover a parked vehicle, wherein a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move with a generally horizontal and translational

movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle and an open position.

7. A store as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 (when dependent 5 upon claim 3 or claim 4) or claim 6 wherein the cover has a roof portion which is rigid.

8. A store as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 7 in which the cover has wall portions adapted to extend down from the roof portion to ground level.

9. A store as claimed in claim 8 in which the cover has wall portions at a front and two sides thereof, with an opening being formed in the cover to the rear thereof, and in which a fixed back plate is provided, the back plate being adapted to seal with the opening in the cover, the cover and back plate thereby 15 forming a sealed enclosure.

10. A store as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 which includes a generally vertical back plate.

20

1 1. A store as claimed in claim 10 in which the back plate includes at least one formation thereon for securement of the back plate to the ground.

12. A store as claimed in claim 11 in which a said formation comprises an aperture formed in a generally horizontal flange formed at a lower end of the 25 back plate and in which a bolt is provided for engagement through the aperture for securement of the back plate to the ground.

13. A store as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the guide system includes a pair of mutually spaced and parallel guide tracks.

14. A store as claimed in claim 13 when dependent upon claim 9 or claim to in which the guide tracks extend at ground level and generally perpendicular to the back plate.

5

15. A store as claimed in claim 14 in which at least one of the tracks is formed with a formation thereon for securement of the track to the ground, said formation being located at an end of the track distant from the back plate.

16. A store as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 in which each guide 10 track includes an elongate fixed track member adapted to be secured to the ground, an elongate intermediate track member supported on the fixed track member by a glide element and an elongate third member secured to the cover and supported on the intermediate track member by a further glide element.

15

17. A store as claimed in claim 16 in which a said glide element comprises a ball bearing in which one or more ball races are provided for enabling telescopic extension of the track members of the guide system.

18. A store as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17 in which the guide 20 system is provided with an elongate ramp extending along at least one side of at least one of the guide tracks, the ramp preferably extending upwardly to a plurality of different heights.

19. A store as claimed in claim 18 when dependent upon claim 16 or claim 25 17 in which the ramp is adapted to extend upwardly to a point above the intermediate track member.

20. A store as claimed in claim 18 when dependent upon claim 16 in which the track is provided with an elongate profile located above a lower level of the

ramp in order to provide a water gully and in which a drain hole is provided in the elongate profile.

21. A store as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20 which includes a 5 baseboard having a raised edge located adjacent a said guide track.

22. A store as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 or any claim when dependent upon claim 9 or claim 10 in which, the cover, in a closed position thereof outwardly overlaps upper and side flanges of the back plate, and in which the 10 cover includes at least one locking formation for inwardly overlapping one of the upper and side flanges of the back plate.

23. A store as claimed in any preceding claim in which a front wall of the cover includes a locking formation which is adapted to engage with a fixed 15 locking formation of the store.

24. A store as claimed in any preceding claim which includes a lock system which is operable for selectively locking the cover in a closed configuration.

20

25. A store as claimed in claim 24 in which the lock system includes at least one locking tab adapted to extend through locking apertures of the cover and a fixed component of the store for preventing movement of the cover.

26. A store as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25 in which the locking system 25 includes a rack and pinion mechanism.

27. A store as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25 or claim 26 in which the lock system is manually operable from a front face of the cover.

28. A store substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. A store for outdoor use for storing vehicles, garden and agricultural 5 tools, and garden toys and the like, the store comprising a cover having a roof portion, the cover being adapted for movement to cover a parked vehicle or other item, wherein the roof portion of the cover is rigid.

30. A store for outdoor use for storing vehicles, garden and agricultural 10 tools and garden toys and the like, the store comprising a fixed wall and a cover having a roof portion, the roof portion being moveable from an open position to a closed position adjacent the fixed for encasing a vehicle or other item.

31. A store for outdoor use for storing vehicles, garden and agricultural 15 tools, and garden toys and the like, the store comprising a cover which is adapted for movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle or other item and an open position, wherein the store in an open position of the cover, has an entrance at one side of the store and an exit at an opposite side of the store.

32. A store for outdoor use for storing vehicles, garden and agricultural tools, and garden toys and the like, the store comprising a cover, the cover being adapted for movement to cover a parked vehicle or other item, wherein a guide system is provided for guiding the cover to move with a generally 25 horizontal and translational movement between a covering position for covering a parked vehicle or other item and an open position.