GB2447603A - Storage system for boxes and tubes of colouring medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A stackable storage system for boxes and tubes of hair colour and/or artists paints comprises a rack having a base 1, a back board 8, end plates 7 and a central supporting wall 6. A plurality of partitions or dividers 5 enables the separation of different types of articles, such as boxes 2, to be stored. Holes 4 are arranged forward of each partition to accommodate tubes 3 of colouring medium. The system is made to be stackable by having pegs 9 around the base of the rack engageable in location holes 10 on the top of the end plates 7. The racks can be free-standing or can be affixed to a vertical surface.

Description

Storage system for boxes and tubes of hair colour and artists

paints.

This invention relates to a stacking system to store boxes and tubes of hair colour for the hairdressing industry and paint tubes for artists.

All hairdressing salons have the same problem of storing colour boxes and tubes so they can be easily seen and stored in order without mess and tube wastage.

There are two common means of storage used in salons. One is to throw all opened tubes in a big box. This makes finding a particular tube very difficult because there can be a large amount of already opened tubes and there is generally a lot of mess.

The second has been to hang opened tubes over a string. Tubes then fall off causing a mess and making it difficult to find the right tube.

Both of these methods cause bad stock control (staff can not be bothered to look for the right tube and so open a new box), messy stock areas Qots of half opened tubes in abxorstrungonthesideofacupboard)andlolsofwastageofstock(tubesbeing opened when not needed which then go off).

Both methods arc not financially economical, do not look attractive, and lead to messy To overcome this, the present invention proposes a stacking storage system for both boxes and opened tubes which eliminates mess and wastage, as well as looking clean and tidy. It also allows the colour boxes to be easily visible to choose the right shade quickly and to store opened tubes in front of the boxes to allow these to be used first beibre another box is opened, eliminating waste.

In this way stock control is also easier, as the numbers of boxes of colour are easily seen, so no more than necessary are re-ordered and half empty tubes are not lying around to go off. This can also be applied to tubes of paints for artists.

The stacking system will ensure that the colours are easily visible and that only two tubes are open at any one time.

Preferably the stand is made of Perspex, for easy cleaning and lightweight stackability.

Itwill havedividers to prevenitheboxes fromfalling over, andthe holes arc atthe front of each divided section to allow the open tube to correspond to the shade of colour being stored behind it Preferably the stacking system will be fixed by pegs to prevent collapse, or they can be laid on a wooden shelving system such as a bookcase.

Preferably it will be able to be flxedto awailto allowittobc viewed and accessed easily, and to utilise space better.

Each salon could have in the region of 50 different shades of tint colour, each box having a code to determine the correct shade. Being able to clearly see the code on the end of each box and having each shade separated minimises mistakes. Also only allowing two opened tubes of colour at any one time means staff use these up before opening a new box. The holes at the front of each division allow for only two tubes to be standing up at any time. This prevents lots of the same colour tube being open at any one time, and so minimising wastage and saving money.

We use this system that we have designed in our salon and have saved money by simply being able to see what stock we have and prevent wastage and mess by simply minimising the number of open tubes at any one lime.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawmgs.

Figure 1/3 shows the complete storage system (on an angle), the dividers and how the boxes and tubes of colours are stored with the opened tubes in front of the fill boxes. Each division Is for a separate shade of colour and is of a universal size to accommodate aft types of tube box, either horizontally or vertically depending on the size of the box.

* Figure 213 shows the front view and side view. Side view shows how the system can be fitted together with pegs to enable each unit to be stacked one on top of the other.

* Figure 3/3 shows how the tubes can be easily inserted into holes for upright storage of opened tubes. As the size of tube nozzle varies, the holes will be of a size to accommodate all tube types.

Descnption.

A stackable storage system is created from a base (1), back board (8) and side supports (7) with a central supporting piece to add stability (6). The system is made stackablcbypegsonthebase(9)andlocationholesonthesidcsupports(lO). Inthis way it can be free standing to accommodate the vast number of tubes used in most salons. ft has dividers (5) to prevent the boxes of tint or paint (2) from falling over and getting mixed up thus giving each shade its own section, with corresponding opened tubes being stored out of the box (3) standing up at the front of the division.

There are two cap holes (4) per division to allow for the possibility of two opened tubes at any one time.

The whole system can be made out of Perspex, probably by plastic welding. The boles are drilled to a size capable of accommodating all sizes of tube, but still providing a snug fit so that they stand up without falling over. The system also has wall mountings to allow it to be fixed to the wall, or it could just simply sit on a shelf imit.

Claims (4)

1 A stackable storage system for boxes and tubes of hair colour and artists paints.

2 A Storage system according to claim 1 In which the system has dividers for each shade of tint or paint to keep them separate and prevent the boxes from falling over and getting mixed up.

3 A storage system according to claim 2 in which each division has two holes in the base for opened tubes to stand up in front of the corresponding boxes.

4 A storage system according to any of the preceding claims in which it can be stacked by pegs in the base and location holes in the side supports, stood on a shelf or fixed to a wall.