GB2475927A

GB2475927A - Lockable storage device and attachment strap

Info

Publication number: GB2475927A
Application number: GB0921431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Constaninou; Terry Godrick Mcmillan
Original assignee: MY SEA SAFE Ltd
Current assignee: MY SEA SAFE Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-07
Filing date: 2009-12-07
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-07
Also published as: GB0921431D0; GB201020658D0; GB2475927B; WO2011070317A1; GB2475980A; GB2475980B

Abstract

A lockable storage device suitable for use with a sun lounger comprises a container or bag 1 for storing valuables or the like, a flexible strap 8 secured at one end to the container and designed to be looped over a frame member 37 of a sun lounger and releasable locking means 16 for connecting the other end of the strap to the container. The strap may be made of the same material as the bag and the two may be integrally formed. The releasable locking means may comprise a U-shaped frame 11, 21 and the container may be held closed by a padlock 31.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN STORAGE DEVICES

This invention relates to storage devices and is particularly concerned with a lockable storage device for use with a sunbed, sun lounger, recliner or deck chair or the like (hereinafter referred to generically as a "sun lounger").

Lockable storage devices for use with sun loungers and the like have previously been proposed but such devices have been permanently secured to sun loungers and this creates a problem with regard to stacking of such sun loungers when they are not required for use. A further problem is that a user must put articles into the security device when the sun lounger is in use and empty the security device when the sun lounger is no longer required by the user. This is time consuming and inconvenient.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the existing storage devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a lockable storage device for use with a sun lounger said device comprising a container for storing valuables or the like, a flexible strap secured at one end to the container, said strap being adapted to be looped around a part of the sun lounger, and means for releasably locking the other end of the strap to the container.

Preferably, the container takes the form of a bag made of flexible material. The strap may be made of the same material as the bag. In a preferred embodiment, the bag and strap are formed as an integral component.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the releasable locking means comprise a rigid frame to which the container and said one end of the strap are permanently secured, a locking part having a plurality of pegs engageable in a corresponding number of holes adjacent to the other end of the strap and in a corresponding number of holes in the frame and means for releasably securing the pegs in position on the frame whereby the said other end of the strap is releasably clamped between the frame and the locking part.

Preferably, the container comprises a front face, a bottom, a rear face and two sides and the rear face is secured to the frame while the front face is secured to an auxiliary frame part which is engageable with the frame. Locking means are desirably provided to lock the auxiliary frame part to the frame. The locking means may comprise an apertured lug projecting from the frame and an opening in the auxiliary frame part through which the lug can project when the auxiliary frame part is engaged with the frame, the aperture in the lug being adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame and the auxiliary frame part are substantially U-shaped, the upper end of the front face of the container being secured to the web of the auxiliary frame part, the upper end of the rear face of the container being secured to the web of the U-shaped frame and the sides of the container being secured to the limbs of the U-shaped frame and auxiliary frame part.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-Fig. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of a storage device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device shown in Figs. I and 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in Figs. Ito 4; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the device shown in Figs. I to 5 secured to a frame member of a sun lounger or the like.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

I

Referring to the drawings, the storage device according to the invention comprises a web of fabric material which is folded adjacent to one end to form the front face 1 and rear face 2 of a container. A strip 3 of securing material having a plurality of tongues 5 is secured to the rear face 2 of the container at a location which forms an opening for the container. A similar strip 4 of securing material having a plurality of tongues 6 is secured to the front face I of the container at the end of the fabric web. A series of holes (preferably three) 7 is provided in the fabric web adjacent to and above the location at which the strip having the tongues 5 is secured to the fabric web. The remainder of the web forms a strap 8 in which several rows of holes 9 are provided adjacent to the other end of the web. The number of holes 9 in each row is equal to the number of holes 7 in the fabric web.

A main frame part or back body 11 is secured to the rear face 2 of the container by means of the tongues 5. The back body 11 is substantially U-shaped and is provided with a series of slots 12 through each of which a respective tongue 5 is passed, the end of each tongue then being secured to the rear face 2 by sewing or by a suitable adhesive. The back body 11 is also provided with a series of holes 13 corresponding in number with the holes 7 in the fabric web, the holes 7 and 13 being aligned with one another when the back body 11 is secured to the rear face 2 of the container. A lug 14 having a through-going bore 15 projects from the back body 11 in a direction facing away from the rear face 2.

A back or clamping plate 16 having a series of pegs 17 corresponding in number to the holes 7 is adapted to be releasably secured to the back body 11 by passing the pegs 17 through one row of holes 9 in the fabric web, through the holes 7 and through the holes 13 in the back body 11. The pegs are releasably secured in position to hold the clamping plate 16 to the back body 11 in a releasable manner.

An auxiliary frame part or front body 21 is secured to the front face 1 of the container by means of the tongues 6. The front body 21 corresponds in shape to the back body 11 and is provided with a series of slots 22 through each of which a respective tongue 6 is passed, the end of each tongue then being secured to the front face I by sewing or by a suitable adhesive. The front body 21 is further provided at the end of each limb with a bore 23 by means of which the front body 21 is pivotally fastened to the back body 11 by screws 19 which pass through the bores 23 and engage in screw-threaded bores 18 at the ends of the limbs of the back body 11.

The front body 21 further has a rim in which two semi-circular depressions 24 are formed. A padlock clamping plate 26 is secured to the front body 21 by screws 28 which pass through bores 25 in the front body 21 and engage in screw-threaded bores (not shown) in the padlock clamping plate 26. The plate 26 has a rim provided with two semi-circular depressions 27 which are aligned with the depressions 24 in the front body 21.

The depressions 24 and 27 are adapted to accommodate the hasp 32 of a padlock 31 part of the body of the padlock being housed in a chamber formed between the front body 21 and the padlock clamping plate 26. The padlock is preferably of the combination type as shown in the drawings but could be key-operated if desired. When a combination type padlock is utilised, it is desirable to provide the padlock with an override key unlock function to allow for forgotten codes.

The container is completed by side panels 33 and 34 which are secured to the edges of the front and rear faces I and 2. An eyelet 35 provided with an eyelet ring 36 may be provided at or adjacent to the top of each side panel.

In use, the clamping plate 16 is removed from the back body I and the strap 8 is looped over a frame member 37 of a sun lounger or the like as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The effective length of the strap can be adjusted by a user according to choice but will normally be so arranged that the bottom of the container is cTear of the ground. This can be achieved by appropriate selection of the rows of holes 9 in which the pegs 17 are inserted. The pegs 17 are then pushed through the aligned holes 7 and 13 in the rear face 2 and back body 11 respectively. At this stage, the front body 21 is pivoted away from the back body 11. A user can then deposit valuables and other articles such as sun glasses, sun tan lotion in the container. The contents of the container can be secured against theft by selecting the appropriate combination of the padlock 31 to release the hasp 32 and then by pivoting the front body 21 towards the back body 11. The rim of the front body 21 has a recessed region 29 which is adapted to receive the lug 14 projecting from the back body 11. When the front body 21 is fully engaged with the back body 11, the aperture 15 in the lug 14 is in alignment with one of the depressions 24 and 27 in the front body 21 and padlock clamping plate 26 respectively and the hasp 32 can be re-engaged in the padlock 31, part of the hasp passing through the aperture 15 to lock the front body 21 to the back body 11.

It will be seen that the device according to the invention provides a quick and convenient manner of storing articles securely on a sun lounger or the like.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the container and strap could be made separately and secured together instead of being made from a single web of material.

While it is preferred to make the container and the strap from a fabric material, this is not essential and other materials may be utilised if desired. The container and the strap may also be made of different materials although the material from which the strap is made should be flexible. When a fabric material is used, it is preferable to make this cut resistant to avoid the possibility of the container being slashed or cut open.

The side panels of the container are desirably made from the same material as the front and rear faces but again this is not essential and the side panels could be made of a different material. In particular, the side panels could be made of a rigid material such as plastics or from an elasticated material. If made of a fabric material, the side panels are preferably secured to the edges of the front and rear faces of the container by sewing. However, it is also possible to secure the side panels to the edges of the front and rear faces of the container by means of a suitable adhesive.

The strips of securing material having the tongues 5 and 6 are preferably made of a fabric so that the tongues 5 and 6 can be sewn to the rear and front faces 2 and 1 respectively but this is not essential and the strips could be made of other materials and the tongues could be secured to the rear and front faces of the container by other means such as a suitable adhesive.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A lockable storage device for use with a sun lounger, said device comprising a container for storing valuables or the like, a flexible strap secured at one end to the container, said strap being adapted to be looped around a part of a sun lounger, and means for releasably locking the other end of the strap to the container.
2. A lockable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the container takes the form of a bag made of a flexible material.
3. A lockable storage device according to claim 2, wherein the strap is made of the same material as the bag.
4. A lockable storage device according to claim 3, wherein the strap and bag are formed as an integral component.
5. A lockable storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable locking means comprise a rigid frame to which the container and said one end of the strap are secured, a locking part having a plurality of pegs engageable in a corresponding number of holes adjacent to the other end of the strap and in a corresponding number of holes in the frame and means for releasably securing the pegs in position on the frame whereby the said other end of the strap is releasably clamped between the frame and the locking part.S..... * .: .. 25
6. A lockable storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a front face, a bottom, a rear face and two sides and * wherein the rear face is secured to the frame while the front face is secured to an auxiliary * frame part which is engageable with the frame.

S..... * S
7. A lockable storage device according to claim 6, wherein locking means are provided to lock the auxiliary frame part to the frame.
8. A lockable storage device according to claim 7, wherein the locking means comprise an apertured lug projecting from the frame and an opening in the auxiliary frame part through which the lug can project when the auxiliary frame part is engaged with the frame, the aperture in the lug being adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock.
9. A lockable storage device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the frame and the auxiliary frame part are substantially U-shaped, the upper end of the front face of the container being secured to the web of the auxiliary frame part, the upper end of the rear face of the container being secured to the web of the U-shaped frame.
10. A lockable storage device according to claim 9, wherein parts of the sides of the container are secured to the limbs of the U-shaped frame and the auxiliary frame part.
11. A lockable storage device according to any one of the claims 6 to 10, wherein the auxiliary frame part is pivotally connected to the frame.
12. A lockable storage device for use with a sun lounger, said device being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. S... * . S...* S. S*. * I * S. * S I S... I.. S. * S * .-S..... *Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1. A lockable storage device for use with a sun lounger, said device comprising a container for storing valuables or the like, a flexible strap secured at one end to the container, said strap being adapted to be looped around a part of a sun lounger, and means for releasably locking the other end of the strap to the container, wherein the releasable locking means comprise a rigid frame to which the container and said one end of the strap are secured, a locking part having a plurality of pegs engageable in a corresponding number of holes adjacent to the other end of the strap and in a corresponding number of holes in the frame and means for releasably securing the pegs in position on the frame whereby the said other end of the strap is releasably clamped between the frame and the locking part.2. A lockable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the container takes the form of a bag made of a flexible material.3. A lockable storage device according to claim 2, wherein the strap is made of the same material as the bag.4. A lockable storage device according to claim 3, wherein the strap and bag are formed as an integral component.5. A lockable storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a front face, a bottom, a rear face and two sides and * ** *** * 25 wherein the rear face is secured to the frame while the front face is secured to an auxiliary * * frame part which is engageable with the frame. **** *** .S.* * 6. A lockable storage device according to claim 5, wherein locking means ::::. 30 are provided to lock the auxiliary frame part to the frame.7. A lockable storage device according to claim 6, wherein the locking means comprise an apertured lug projecting from the frame and an opening in the auxiliary frame part through which the lug can project when the auxiliary frame part is engaged with the frame, the aperture in the lug being adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock.8. A lockable storage device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the frame and the auxiliary frame part are substantially U-shaped, the upper end of the front face of the container being secured to the web of the auxiliary frame part, the upper end of the rear face of the container being secured to the web of the U-shaped frame.9. A lockable storage device according to claim 8, wherein parts of the sides of the container are secured to the limbs of the U-shaped frame and the auxiliary frame part.10. A lockable storage device according to any one of the claims 5 to 9, wherein the auxiliary frame part is pivotally connected to the frame.11. A lockable storage device for use with a sun lounger, said device being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. * S *S..... * S 55I * S S...S*.S.*S * *S*S...* * S * . S * S * *5