GB2480928A

GB2480928A - Loft storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2480928A
Application number: GB1110335A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Adrian Allum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-20
Filing date: 2011-06-20
Publication date: 2011-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-20
Also published as: GB201110335D0; GB2480928B

Abstract

An apparatus for storing items between web members 5a, 5b of two or more Fink roof trusses, including double Fink roof trusses (sometimes referred to as W or W-type roof trusses) comprises a net 5c covering the space between the shorter web members 5b and the opposing longer web members 5a of two trusses to create a storage space, A rear net support is secured to the shorter web members 5b and a front net support is secured to the longer web members 5a across the desired span of trusses. The net is fastened to the supports and to the web members below the height of the supports through all or some of the net holes.

Description

Detailed Description

Part 1 -Background

This invention relates to an apparatus that allows items to be stored between the web-members [see Figure 2: 2c and 2d] of two or more Fink roof trusses [see Figure 1: la].

The roofs of many houses are supported by roof trusses. A space exists below the roof, between the gable walls at either end of the building and above the walls upon which the trusses sit. This space is commonly referred to as a loft, loft space or attic. The loft space is normally accessed by a ladder from the highest inhabited floor below and is commonly used to store things in.

Commonly, things are stored in the central section of the loft space [see Figure 1: lb and Figure 3: 3c], where the roof pitch is highest and where it is possible to stand. It is common for boards to be laid on or secured to the bottom chords [see Figure 2: 2a] of trusses to provide a standing and walking area and it is on these boards that things are usually stored. This is illustrated in Figure 1.

Other parts of the loft space are impractical to access or store things and are not commonly used as storage areas. The outer sections beyond the point where the shortest and longest web-members meet the bottom chord [see Figure 1: lc and Figure 3: 3d] are not commonly boarded or used to store items due the diminishing height of the roof as it slopes towards the walls below. This means that little of the total volume of the loft space is used for storage.

The space in the central storage section can be used efficiently if the items to be stored are stackable. However, there is great variation in shape, dimension and rigidity of items typically stored in loft spaces. If soft, difficult to stack, long or bulky items such as pillows, duvets, fishing rods, bags of clothes or soft toys are also stored, the density at which things are stored is reduced. This limits the storage capacity of the central storage area.

Therefore, this invention solves two problems. Firstly, it increases the storage in loft spaces by utilizing the space between the web-members of the roof trusses and does so without reducing the storage volume between the trusses. Secondly, this newly created storage area allows soft, difficult to stack, long or bulky items to be stored outside the central storage area, allowing stackable items to be packed more densely, increasing the storage capacity of the central loft space.

Part 2 -Statement of Invention

This invention comprises of a net covering the space between the shorter web-members [see Figure 2: 2d] of two or more Fink roof trusses [see Figure 1: la] and the longer web-members [see Figure 2: 2c] opposite each of the shorter web-members to create a storage space [see Figure 6]. This allows items to be stored in the horizontal and vertical space between roof trusses.

The invention comprises of a rear support [see Figure 5: Se] secured to the shorter web-members [see Figure 2: 2d] across the desired span of trusses and a front support [see Figure 5: Sh] secured to the opposite longer web-members [see Figure 2: 2cJ.

One edge of a square or rectangular net is secured along the length of the rear support [see Figure S: Se]. The rear support is secured to each of the shorter web-members of the desired span. The opposite edge of the net is secured along the length of the front support. The front support [see Figure S: Sh] is secured to each of the longer web-members of the desired span.

The net is secured to the web-members below the level of the front and rear supports with cable ties through some or all of the net holes [see Figure 7: 7d and Figure 4: 4c]. The net is also secured to the front and rear supports with cable ties [see Figure 4: 4c].

Part 3 -Technical Specification

A description of one method of construction will now be described. This description is supported by Figures 1 to 7, which are as follows: Figure 1 is a two dimensional cross section of a loft space where the roof is supported by Fink roof trusses, as seen from the side of a building, showing where items are traditionally stored. The notation in Figure 1 refers to: la A Fink roof truss; lb Traditional storage area; lc Areas in a loft space not normally used for storage.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a Fink roof truss. The notation on Figure 2 refers to: 2a Bottom chord; 2b Top chords; 2c Longer web-members; 2d Shorter web-members.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a loft space including where the invention is located. The notation on Figure 3 refers to: 3a The points at which the web-members meet the bottom chords; 3b The area between the web-members where the invention stores items; 3c The central section of a loft space that is commonly used to store items; 3d The outer section beyond the point where the shorter and longer web-members meet the bottom chord that is not commonly used to store items.

Figure 4 presents a side view which demonstrates how the invention spans across a number of roof trusses and how the net prevents items from falling between the spaces between the trusses to create a storage space. The notation on Figure 4 refers to: 4a Gable wall; 4b Roof truss; 4c Cable ties; 4d Rear net support attached to shorter web-members; 4e Front net support attached to longer web-members; 4f Rear portion of net; 4g Front portion of net; 4h Roof truss bracing.

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the longer and shorter web-members in a loft space showing how the supports, net, saddle clips and cable ties combine to create a storage area. Only an area spanning two trusses is shown with a net for clear illustration. The notation on Figure 5 refers to: 5a One of the longer web-members; Sb One of the shorter web-members; Sc Net; Sd Gable wall; Se Rear net support secured to shorter web-members; Sf One of the saddle clips that secure the rear and front supports to the web-members; Sg Cable ties securing the net to the web-members; Sh Front net support attached to longer web-members; Si One of the cable ties that secures the net to the rear support; Sj One of the cable ties that secures the net to the front support.

Figure 6 is an end view showing how the net spans between trusses to form a storage area. The notation on Figure 6 refers to: 6a Gable wall; 6b Rear net support attached to shorter web-members; 6c One of the shorter web-members; 6d Net; 6e Saddle clip; 6f One of the longer web-members; 6g Front net support attached to longer web-members.

Figure 7 shows how the supports and net are attached to the web-members and how the net is threaded in and out of the supports. The notation on Figure 7 refers to: 7a Web-member; 7b Net support attached to a web-member; 7c Net.

7d Cable tie.

7e Saddle clip.

Method of Construction This invention is an apparatus for storing items between the web-members [see Figure 2: 2c and 2d] of two or more Fink roof trusses, including double Fink roof trusses, sometimes referred to as W or W-type roof trusses [see Figure 1: la], as found in loft spaces.

The storage space in this method of construction is created through a combination of: a net [see Figure 5: Sc] threaded in and out of 2 poles that make up the front and rear supports [see Figure 5: 5 5h and Se respectively]; poles attached to roof trusses by saddle clips [see Figure 5: Sf and Figure 7: 7e]; cable ties that secure the net to the poles [see Figure 5: Si]; and cable ties that secure the net to the trusses below the level of the poles [see Figure 7: 7d and Figure 5: 5g]. Each of these elements will now be described in detail.

In this method of construction, a rectangular knotted rope net with a mesh of 60mm spans the space between the opposing web-members of six trusses to create a storage space. The net has a width of 3060mm to span the space between six trusses of 600mm spacing, centre to centre, and a truss width of 35mm. The length of the net is 2350mm; 1350mm secured between the longer web-members to create a rear portion of the net that prevents items falling behind the storage area; 1100mm secured between the shorter web-members to form a front portion of the net opposite the rear portion. The shallower front portion of the net allows users to reach over the net to and place items in the net or remove items from the net.

Other possible methods of construction could use larger or smaller mesh sizes. The net type could be knotted or unknotted. The net could be made from other materials such as twine, cord, plastic or a synthetic weave.

In addition, the invention could span a different number of trusses. It could also be used where truss spacing is not the standard 600mm. 400mm truss spacing is another common spacing when using Fink roof trusses.

The supports in this method of construction comprise of 2 copper poles of a length that span the space between adjacent roof trusses, in this case 6 trusses and S spaces. The supports keep the net aligned horizontally so that the net does not deform or become twisted when storing items. They help to keep the net aligned vertically to the trusses so that the net can be secured to the trusses below the height of the supports. In addition the supports help to hold up the net and any items that are stored in the net.

Other possible methods of construction could use poles of different lengths and materials. For example lengths shorter than the horizontal distance between the first and lass truss. These could attach together by push fitting or screwing along a thread for example. Alternative materials include other metals such as steel or aluminium, wood, such as a bamboo cane or plastic.

The net and supports are combined in the following way to create a storage space: The holes adjacent to the longest edge of the net are threaded in and out of one copper poles [see Figure 7]. The rear pole is secured to each of the shorter web-members by saddle clips [see Figure 7: 7e] screwed into the web-members. This secures the pole between the shorter web-members [see Figure 5: Se and Figure 6: 6b].

An alternative method of securing the front and rear supports to the web-members could involve screwing through a hole drilled through the pole and into the web-member.

The threaded edge of the net is secured to the pole by a cable tie every second, third or fourth hole in the net (see Figure 5: Si). This prevents the net from being pulled along the supports and out of shape. The cable ties also spread the stress placed upon the supports in any one place, increasing the weight of items the net can support. The net below the level of the rear support is secured down the length of each of the six shorter web-members through every hole or second hole in the net. The cable ties prevent the net from distorting if the weight distribution of items stored in the net is uneven. Cable ties secure the net to the shorter web-members until the shorter and longer web-members almost meet at the bottom chord [see Figure 5]. The rear portion of the net is thus secured to and between the shorter web-members.

The opposing front portion of the net [see Figure 4: 4g] is created by securing the net with cable ties up the length the longer web-members until two holes from the edge of net remain unsecured. The front pole is threaded in and out of the net edge and secured to each of the longer web-members by saddle clips screwed into the web-members (see Figure S: Sh). The threaded edge of the net is secured to the pole by a cable tie every second, third or fourth hole in the net (see Figure 5: Sj).