GB2409439A

GB2409439A - Mobile cloakroom and clothes hanging rail

Info

Publication number: GB2409439A
Application number: GB0329957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Morrisroe; Vincent Morrisroe
Original assignee: MORRISROE SHEILA
Current assignee: MORRISROE SHEILA
Priority date: 2003-12-24
Filing date: 2003-12-24
Publication date: 2005-06-29
Also published as: GB0329957D0

Abstract

A mobile vehicle such as a trailer or a motorised van 101 is configured to function as a cloakroom wherein: in said vehicle there is provided means 302, 303 for hanging one or more items of clothing, the vehicle further comprising an opening 108 for receiving the clothing from a person wishing to hang said clothing in the vehicle, the opening being configured to also prevent the person from readily entering the vehicle. The vehicle may be provided with a counter 306 which acts to prevent the person entering the vehicle and provides support for an electronic till. A shutter 301 may be pivoted upwardly so as to provide a canopy. The clothes may be hung upon rails supported by struts 308, 309 (see also figure 5) which are telescopic and abut against the floor and ceiling of the vehicle.

Description

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IMPROVED CLOAKROOM AND CLOTHES HANGING STRUCTURES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of cloakrooms and in particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to cloakrooms of the type used to temporarily store coats, jackets and like items of clothing. The invention also relates to structures configured to enable a plurality of clothes to be hung.

Background to the Invention

To In public places such as concert halls, cinemas and nightclubs it is known to use a small room or region of the venue as a cloakroom. Thus members of the public are able to store their excess clothing and/or baggage whilst they attend the venue and frequently such storage is allowed upon payment of a fee to an attendant of the cloakroom. In return the attendant usually issues a receipt for the clothing and at a later time the person having left their clothing returns and hands over their receipt and thereby collects their clothing. Cloakrooms are generally specific to a given venue or other situation. There is thus a problem in that, being specific to a given venue, a given person wishing to store their clothing in a cloakroom is, to some extent, restricted to staying at the given venue. In other words if a person wishes to move between several venues then, in effect, they would have to keep storing their clothing in a succession of cloakrooms that are particular to each venue. This provides great inconvenience to members of the public. Thus, for example, if a member of the public wishes to go for a night out in a town center then they have the option of either leaving their "excess" clothing (such as a big coat) at home, leading to lack of clothing in the cold of the night, or to transporting their clothing with them and storing this at each venue, bar, restaurant, concert hall etc. that they attend - this incurring substantial cost and inconvenience through queuing and the like.

In view of the above there is therefore a need for an improved cloakroom which alleviates some or all of the above problems.

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Summarv of the Invention One object of the present invention is to provide a mobile cloakroom for transport along a road system for use by a plurality of persons such as members of the public.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mobile cloakroom that is configured to enable clothing from a plurality of people to be received 1 c whilst preventing ready access to the cloakroom by these people.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mobile cloakroom which is configured to receive clothing from members of the public upon payment of a fee.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mobile structure configured to function as a cloakroom, the structure being in the form of a vehicle or a trailer.

go Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable clothes hanging support system that is easily and readily fitted into a mobile cloakroom.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a clothing rail support strut that is configured to support clothing rails in a mobile structure, such that the strut is adjustable and thereby configured to fit into a plurality of different types of mobile structures.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a 3 o mobile vehicular structure configured to function as a cloakroom, wherein: :: :::: :. .. :.:: in said structure, there is provided means for hanging one or more items of clothing, said structure being characterized in that it further comprises: an opening means in said structure for receiving said clothing from a person wishing to hang clothing in said structure, said opening means being configured to also prevent said person from readily entering said mobile structure.

To Alternatively said mobile structure comprises a motorised vehicle.

Alternatively said structure comprises a trailer.

Alternatively said means for hanging one or more items of clothing comprises at least one adjustable strut fitted in said vehicle.

Alternatively said adjustable strut comprises means for enabling said strut to abut against a first side of said structure and against a second side, said second side opposite to said first side such that said first and second sides are 2 o substantially parallel.

Alternatively said strut is configured for use in a mobile structure comprising a ceiling and a floor, said strut being configured to abut against said ceiling and said floor.

Alternatively said strut comprises a screw thread and nut mechanism to provide said adjustability.

Alternatively said strut is in the form of an elongate member having a 3 o longitudinal axis.

I :: :: :: :. .. :.:-: 1 1 Preferably said strut is configured to hold a clothing rail at an angle of substantially 90 from the longitudinal axis of said strut.

Preferably wherein said opening means is located towards the rear of said mobile structure.

Preferably said opening means is located substantially above a customer service counter.

To Preferably said opening means comprises a door configured to swing from a vertical closed position to a horizontal position extending away from said mobile structure, said door thereby functioning as a canopy to protect said person from an adverse weather condition.

s Preferably said structure is configured to function as a public cloakroom for members of the public to hang items of clothing.

Preferably said structure comprises a cash receiving and a receipt generation facility, such as an electronic cash till.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle configured to operate as a mobile cloakroom.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a trailer configured to operate as a mobile cloakroom.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a clothes hanger rail support strut configurable for use in a structure, such as vehicle, said strut comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and means for supporting a clothes hanger rail; I :: :::: :. .. :.:: at each end of said strut and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a structure abutment means configured to abut against a surface of a said structure; and adjustable means for adjusting the length of said strut during fixing of said strut into a desired position within said structure.

Preferably said clothes hanger rail support means comprises an orifice o located in the body of said strut.

Preferably said orifice is in the form of a circular hole located in said elongate body.

Preferably a first said abutment means located at one end of said elongate member comprises a member having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said elongate member.

Preferably at least one of said abutment means is configured to operate in o conjunction with said adjustable means.

Preferably said strut is configured to abut against the ceiling and the floor of a motorised vehicle or a trailer.

Preferably said adjustable means for adjusting said length of said strut comprises a screw thread and nut mechanism to provide said adjustability.

Preferably said strut is configured to be fixed in position such that one of said abutment means abuts against the ceiling of said structure and the other of 3 o said abutment means abuts against the floor of said structure.

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According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a clothes hanger rail support strut configured for use in a mobile cloakroom, said strut comprising a strut length adjustment mechanism.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment (side elevation view) of a mobile structure configured for use as a mobile cloakroom, the preferred embodiment being in the form of a motorised vehicle such as a van; s Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an end elevation view of the mobile structure schematically illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the internal configuration of the mobile structure of Figs. 1 and 2 along the section A-A; Fig. 4 schematically illustrates the section within the mobile structure of Figs. 1 to 3, indicated at B-B in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a clothing hanger support strut of the type s configured in accordance with the present invention and as used in the mobile cloakroom according to the present invention that is depicted in Figs. 1-4.

Detailed Descrintion o There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be :. ece. e. ..e .e:. r,

apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to

unnecessarily obscure the description.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment, in side elevational view, of a mobile structure configured for use as a mobile cloakroom, the preferred embodiment being in the form of a motorised vehicle such as a van.

However those skilled in the art will realise that the mobile cloakroom may be To configured in a variety of other structures such as, for example, a trailer to be towed behind a vehicle. Since a trailer is a kind of vehicle the mobile structures of concern may be termed vehicular and this term is to be construed herein as covering vehicles, trailers, caravans and other similar structures that are configured to be transported across a road system. In the preferred embodiment s the mobile structure comprises a floor and a ceiling in addition to wall portions that form the main body of the structure. By mobile structure it is meant a structure that can be transported along the road system of a given geographical region so that the mobile cloakroom may be used in a variety of physical locations. A van or lorry is considered to represent the best mode of o implementing the invention since the mobile cloakroom is then comprised as part of an independent vehicle. Van 101 comprises a series of wheels, 102, 103 for enabling said van to be transported along a road system of a given geographical region. Van 101 comprises a main chassis comprising a lower floor region 104, wall regions, such as region 105 and a ceiling or roof region 106. Towards the back of the mobile cloakroom 101 there are provided one or more vehicle entry doors 107. Door 107 may be a conventional van door having a window 108.

Although the back doors of a conventional vehicle may be modified so that the windows may function as a hatch for receiving clothing from customers, in the preferred embodiment, the known van back doors are left unmodified. In any event when the mobile cloakroom is in operation clothing is received from customers who queue behind the back of the vehicle and pass their clothing to a cloakroom attendant who stands behind a counter configured in the vehicle.

:e e..e Aft. ;.. :.e Following receipt of clothing the clothing is hung in the vehicle along one or more suitably configured clothing hanging structures. In the preferred embodiment van 101 is also provided with a canopy 109 that is attached to the vehicle by means of a hinge type arrangement. When not in use canopy 109 is folded from its horizontal in-use position to a vertical out of use position and thereby acts as a protective cover for window (or windows) 108. In an alternative embodiment the canopy may provide an additional protection mechanism for a slideable window that may be located in place of a window 108. When in use to protect a customer from weather conditions such as rain canopy 109 is, as shown, moved into a JO plane such that the plane of the canopy is parallel to the plane of the ceiling of the vehicle.

Mobile cloakroom 101 may thus be driven from a particular location and parked in a location ready for accepting customers who desire to leave their it, clothing in the mobile cloakroom. A good example is where the vehicle would be driven into a town center at a weekend so that members of the public are provided with a service such that they can leave their excess clothing (large coats, hats, umbrellas and baggage etc.) as desired and with the intention of picking the clothing up at the end of the night. The mobile cloakroom can be o used at all times of the day and may thus find applications, as those skilled in the art will realise, for use in town or city centres where members of the public who are shopping require to leave certain items so that they can more quickly attend to their shopping commitments.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an end elevation view of the mobile structure that is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 thus the view represented is a view looking at the rear of the van. In the preferred embodiment the van is a van that comprises double back doors that open outwards from the centre such that the doors themselves can communicate with canopy 109 and therefore form an o entrance type porch of the type indicated at 110 in Fig. 1. Following set up of the mobile cloakroom in particular location such that the doors and canopy are put into position then the view shown in Fig. 2 is that seen by customers who wish to a:. if. ;e :.. ? 1

leave their clothing. The view shown in Fig. 2 is a slice through the rear of the vehicle a little nearer to the back end of the vehicle than the section shown at B- B. A solid counter front 201 is provided below hatch 108 so as to provide a barrier to customers and thereby prevent ready access by one or more customers. From the customers point of view a cloakroom attendant facing out of the vehicle and looking through opening 108 is thus at a raised position relative to the customers and thus safety of the cloakroom attendant is optimised.

Opening 108 may itself comprise a closure window configured in the form of, for example, a toughened shutter (plastics based or laminated glass, for example) Jo that may be pulled across or down orifice 108 so as to make entry to the mobile cloakroom gets more difficult if customers exhibiting antisocial or violent behavior are in the vicinity of the vehicle. Towards the sides of opening 108 there may be configured an inner wall structure 202 so as to close off the remainder of the vehicle from the counter portion 201. Thus suitable the inner wall structure 202 which fills the remainder of the area around orifice 108 up to the walls of the vehicle and the ceiling may comprise a reinforced plastics based material or some other suitable material such as wood. The inner wall structure 202 thus acts as a security type screen and if a security shutter is located for operation within orifice 108 then upon the shutter being closed the entire inner space of the go van is effectively closed off from the outer environment. The counter 201 may have a hinged door arrangement 203 to allow access and/or emergency egress from under the counter.

Those skilled in the art will realise that various other configurations of s providing a counter and anti-entry mechanism may be provided so as to keep customers out whilst accepting clothing and payment of a fee for depositing clothing. The most simple embodiment envisaged is that an orifice could simply be provided in the back wall of the vehicle, the orifice comprising a slideable shutter and a counter located behind the orifice.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the internal configuration of the mobile structure of Figs. 1 and 2 along section A-A that is parallel to the longitudinal :e e..e he: . : A. ... . *; horizontal axis through the vehicle. The Figure shows the canopy 109 in cross- section and therefore broken lines are shown at 301 in the embodiment illustrated there is provided one or a plurality of high rails such as high rail 302 and one or more of a plurality of low clothes hanging rails such as the low rail indicated at 303. In accordance with the present invention rails 302 and 303 are configured to hold approximately 25 clothes hangers per metro. In the position indicated at 304, that is above the back wheel arch, in the best mode contemplated only a high rail is provided as illustrated. The regions located at the back corners of the vehicle, such as region 305 are suitably configured to provide JO various functions such as, for example, an umbrella stand and/or a coat hanger store. Fig. 3 further schematically illustrates the solid customer counter 201 and in particular illustrates the horizontal nature of the customer counter at 306. The Figure also schematically illustrates orifice 108 and also shows the sliding shutter referred to above and generally indicated at 307.

The coat hanging support rails, such as 302 and 303 are supported in accordance with the present invention by a series of clothes hanger rail support struts such as the struts indicated at 308 and 309. These clothes hanger support struts are configures such that they extend vertically between the floor and ceiling 2 o of the vehicle.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-section through the vehicle at a location deeper into the body of the vehicle from the rear doors than that shown in Fig. 2. Thus this view is deeper into the van than the counter arrangements s 201, 306 and therefore again shows rail strut support members, similar to those indicated at 308 and 309, at 402 and 403 respectively. The end of rail 302 shown in Figure 3 is again indicated at 302, towards the ceiling of vehicle 101, Fig. 4. At this depth herein the vehicle an opening 401 is provided within the vehicle so as to allow access to the cloakroom portion of the vehicle. To make more use of the sides of the vehicle a box type structure 404 may be provided over a given wheel arch.

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The counter arrangement described is suitably configured with a cash receiving and receipt generating cash register so that customers requiring to leave their clothing may be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Suitably such a cash till is placed upon a counter 201 and, in the best mode, the cash till is bolted or otherwise fastened to the counter so as to prevent a criminal from attempting to remove the cash register from the mobile cloakroom.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a clothing hanger support strut of the type indicated at 308, 309, 402 and 401 in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, a clothes hanger support strut is configured for use in a structure, such as a vehicle, the strut 501 comprising and elongate body 502 having a longitudinal axis and means for supporting a clothes hanging rail. The elongate nature of the strut as pictured in Fig. 5 is generally indicated by the break 503 wherein the length of the strut has been compressed for diagrammatical reasons - the strut would be much longer or in reality and may be formed as a series of telescopic portions. At end of the strut and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strut, there is provided a structure abutment means configured to abut against a surface of a structure in which the So strut is used within. Thus there is provided a first structure abutment means 504 for communicating with a first structural wall of the mobile cloakroom and a second structure abutment means 505 for abutting against a second mobile cloakroom structural wall. In the preferred embodiment structure abutment means 504 is configured to abut against the ceiling of the mobile cloakroom and Q abutment means 504 is configured to abut against the floor of the mobile cloakroom. Abutment means 505 may simply comprise a member to substantially increase the surface area of the strut that is placed in contact with the surface to which abutment means interfaces with. Abutment means 505 is more complex and, as shown, comprises an end plate 506 affixed to the main so body 502 of strut 501. Plate 506 there is affixed a screw threaded member 507 about which there is attached a nut 508. Threaded portion 507 extends within the main elongate body 502 such that when nut 508 is tightened against plate 1 B' ; , . . 506 the main body 502 of strut 501 is forced to move. By turning nut 508 about threaded portion 507 such that nut 508 moves towards plate 406 then the distance between nut 508 and the outer portion of the abutment means 509 increases, thereby increasing the overall length of the strut. Abutment means 505 comprises the outer abutment portion 509 which may be configured in a similar manner to the abutment means 504. Abutment means 504 and abutment plate member 509 are both configured to increase the surface area of the end of the strut so that a more rigid fixing of the strut may be achieved. Those skilled in the art will realise that a variety of mechanisms may be employed to enable the To overall length of the strut to be adjusted and thereby be usable in a large number of types of the vans, trailers and the like. To support a given clothes rail the strut 501 is configured with an orifice 510 which may extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strut. Alternatively orifice 510 may comprise a hole that does not extend right the way through body 502. Other s mechanisms for configuring strut 502 to hold a rail are also contemplated herein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Thus for example, rather than an orifice, a bracket could be attached to strut body 502 so as to fix a rail to the strut and wherein the longitudinal axis of the rail and the longitudinal axis of the strut are substantially at 90 to each other. The adjustable mechanism comprising o nut 508 and threaded shaft piece 507 may be protected from dust and undesirable materials by way of enclosing the adjustable mechanism from the outer environment. Thus a plastic cap or cover 511 is provided so as to enclose and protect the adjustable mechanism from the surrounding environment.

Although strut 501 has been indicated as having only an adjustable mechanism at one of its ends, those skilled in the art will realise that an adjustable mechanism operable at both ends of the strut could provide benefits in certain situations.

Claims

.. e . . . . . . . . . .. ) Claims: 1. A mobile

vehicular structure, configured to function as a cloakroom, wherein: in said structure, there is provided means for hanging one or more items of clothing, said structure being characterized in that it further comprises: To an opening means in said structure for receiving said clothing from a person wishing to hang clothing in said structure, said opening means being configured to also prevent said person from readily entering said mobile structure.
2. A mobile structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile : structure comprises a motorised vehicle.
3. A mobile structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a trailer.

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4. A mobile structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said means for hanging one or more items of clothing comprises at least one adjustable strut fitted in said vehicle.
5. A mobile structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adjustable strut comprises means for enabling said strut to abut against a first side of said structure and against a second side, said second side opposite to said first side such that said first and second sides are substantially parallel.
6. A mobile structure as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said so strut is configured for use in a mobile structure comprising a ceiling and a floor, said strut being configured to abut against said ceiling and said floor.

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7. A mobile structure as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein said strut comprises a screw thread and nut mechanism to provide said adjustability.
8. A mobile structure as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein said strut is in the form of an elongate member having a longitudinal axis.
9. A mobile structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein said strut is configured to hold a clothing rail at an angle of substantially 90 from the longitudinal axis of said strut.
10. A mobile structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said opening means is located towards the rear of said mobile structure.
11. A mobile structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said s opening means is located substantially above a customer service counter.
12. A mobile structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said opening means comprises a door configured to swing from a vertical storage position to a horizontal position extending away from said mobile structure, said go door thereby functioning as a canopy to protect said person from an adverse weather condition.
13. A mobile structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said structure is configured to function as a public cloakroom for members of the public to hang items of clothing.
14. A mobile structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said structure comprises a cash receiving and a receipt generation facility, such as an electronic cash till. n
15. A vehicle configured to operate as a mobile cloakroom.

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16. A trailer configured to operate as a mobile cloakroom.
17. A clothes hanger rail support strut configurable for use in a structure, such as vehicle, said strut comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and means for supporting a clothes hanger rail; at each end of said strut and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a structure abutment means configured to abut against a surface of a said structure; and adjustable means for adjusting the length of said strut during fixing of said strut into a desired position within said structure.
18. A strut as claimed in claim 17, wherein said clothes hanger rail support means comprises an orifice located in the body of said strut.
19. A strut as claimed in claim 18, wherein said orifice is in the form of o a circular hole located in said elongate body.
20. A strut as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, wherein a first said abutment means located at one end of said elongate member comprises a member having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said elongate member.
21. A strut as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20, wherein at least one of said abutment means is configured to operate in conjunction with said adjustable means. .

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22. A strut as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21, wherein said strut is configured to abut against the ceiling and the floor of a motorised vehicle or a trailer.
23. A strut as claimed in any of claims 17 to 22, wherein said adjustable means for adjusting said length of said strut comprises a screw thread and nut mechanism to provide said adjustability.
24. A strut as claimed in any of claims 17 to 24, wherein said strut is To configured to be fixed in position such that one of said abutment means abuts against the ceiling of said structure and the other of said abutment means abuts against the floor of said structure.
25. A clothes hanger rail support strut configured for use in a mobile cloakroom, said strut comprising a strut length adjustment mechanism.