AU2005211597B2 - Storage frame - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Mervyn John Coles ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): Mervyn John Coles ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "STORAGE FRAME" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2004905408 FILED ON 21 SEPTEMBER 2004 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TITLE STORAGE FRAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage frame, in particular to a portable storage 5 frame for storing a plurality of sheet-like building materials. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION On a building site, it is common practice for sheet-like building materials, such as plasterboard sheets, to be stored by leaning a vertically inclined sheet against a stable vertical surface, such as a wall. Several sheets, packed closely together in parallel 10 alignment with one another, may be stored in a single location. This arrangement is preferred to horizontally stacking the sheets on top of one another in a pile because, in comparison, it affords more unoccupied floor space to work in, and reduces the risk of back injuries from lifting and replacing the horizontally stacked sheets on the pile when a particular sheet in the pile is required. 15 However, the practice of vertically leaning sheet against walls has led to several injuries and even deaths. Typically, when a particular sheet is required, the preceding sheets are inclined in an opposing direction to access and remove the desired sheet from the pack of parallel sheets. Injuries have occurred when the combined weight of the preceding sheets has been in excess of the weight that can be supported by the 20 person who has inclined the preceding sheets in the opposing direction. Failure to adequately support the sheets has resulted in the collapse of the sheets on the person and subsequent injuries thereto. The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages. 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a storage frame adapted to support rigid sheet-like materials comprising a pair of opposing upright members interconnected at respective lowermost ends thereof with a 5 substantially horizontal base member, and a pair of opposing downwardly inclined elongate members, each elongate member respectively extending between an upper end of each upright member and the base member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to 10 the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1 shown in use with a plurality of rigid sheet-like materials. 15 DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals and symbols refer to like parts throughout, there is shown a storage frame 10 adapted to support rigid sheet-like materials 20, including, but not limited to, plasterboard sheets, glass sheets, fibre cement sheets, and doors. The storage frame 10 is generally U-shaped and includes a 20 pair of opposing upright members 12 interconnected at respective lowermost ends 11 thereof with a substantially horizontal base member 14, and a pair of opposing downwardly inclined elongate members 16. Each elongate member 16 respectively extends between an uppermost end 13 of the upright member 12 and the base member 14 at an acute angle. 3 The storage frame 10 is typically provided with a transversely disposed plate member 18 attached to each end 15 of the horizontal base member 14 to stabilise the storage frame 10 and minimise the potential for the storage frame 10 to tilt forwardly or rearwardly. It is envisaged that a longitudinally disposed plate member 18 could also 5 be provided to extend outwardly from each end 14 of the horizontal base member 14 to afford additional stability to the storage frame 10. The plate members 18 are provided with apertures adapted to receive fixing means, such as plugs, screws, nail, or pins, to secure the storage frame 10 to a floor. In a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the storage frame 10 is 10 comprised of a pair of substantially L-shaped members adapted in use to be coupled together to form the U-shaped storage frame described above. Each L-shaped member is formed from the upright member 12 and a respective female base member 14a or a male base member 14b. The female and male base members 14a, 14b are adapted to be coupled together such that an effective length of the base member 14 of 15 the storage frame 10 can be adjusted. Each L-shaped member is also provided with the elongate member 16 extending between the uppermost end 13 of the upright member 12 and the female or male base member 14a, 14b at an acute angle. The male base member 14b is provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned 20 apertures 17 disposed at regular intervals along the length of the male base member 14b, and the female base member 14a is provided with at least one aperture 19 disposed proximal to a free end 21 thereof. The female base member 14a is adapted to receive the male base member 14b in an arrangement whereby the aperture 19 of the female base member 14a is coincidentally aligned with the desired aperture 17 of 4 the male base member 14b corresponding to the desired effective length of the base member 14, whereupon the female and male base members 14a, 14b are secured together with conventional fixing means such as pins. The upright members 12, base members 14a, 14b, and the elongate members 16 are 5 generally formed from C-section channels of aluminium or steel. However, it is envisaged that the upright members 12, base members 14a, 14b, and the elongate members 16 could be readily formed from extruded plastics materials, particularly PVC, or from timber, MDF, or a fibreglass material. The storage frame 10 of the present invention is particularly adapted for storage of 10 sheet-like building materials. In use, a facing surface 22 of a first rigid sheet 20 is disposed in contiguous parallel alignment with the elongate member 16 of the storage frame. Referring to Figure 2 a plurality of rigid sheets 20, packed closely together in parallel alignment with one another, is supported contiguously by the first rigid sheet 20 and the elongate member 16. 15 Any one of the rigid sheets 20 can be readily removed from the storage frame 10 by first tilting the preceding rigid sheet(s) 20 toward(s) the opposing upright member 12 and elongate member 16 until the preceding rigid sheet(s) 20 is(are) leaned up against and supported by the opposing upright member and elongate member 16. In this way, the combined weight of the preceding sheets is safely supported while the desired 20 rigid sheet 20 is removed from the storage frame 20. Rigid sheets 20 may be replaced within the group of rigid sheets 20 held in the storage frame 10 by reversing the order of actions described above. 5 Advantageously, the storage frame 10 can be used in the middle of a floor space, thus freeing up wall space which may previously have been occupied in the prior art practice where rigid sheets were vertically leant against the wall. It will be envisaged that a pair of storage frames 10 can be erected in a back-to-back 5 arrangement to provide yet further stability and storage space in the middle of a work space. The preferred embodiment of the invention can be readily assembled by engaging the female and male base members 14a, 14b with one another and securing them with suitable fixing means as described above, whereupon the effective length of the base 10 member 14 can be adjusted to a desired length. The preferred embodiment is also readily disassembled as described above and stored and/or transported as a two-piece unit. In this way, the storage frame 10 is readily portable between work spaces and within a work space. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed 15 to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the storage frame 10 may be provided with detachable horizontal struts extending between the opposing elongate members 16 for storage of cylindrical building materials, such as pipes and hoses. 20 6

Claims (10)

1. A storage frame comprising a substantially horizontal base member, a pair of 5 upright members each connected at a lowermost end thereof with the horizontal base member, and a pair of opopsed inclined elongate members, each elongate member extending between an upper end of a corresponding upright member and the base member. 10

2. A storage frame in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of upright members are connected at opposed ends of the base member.

3. A storage frame in accordance with claim 1 or 2 comprising a pair of L-shaped members, wherein a first of the L-shaped member comprises a first of the pair of the 15 upright members and a female base member connected at a lower end thereof, a second of the L-shaped member comprises a second of the pair of the upright members and a male base member connected at a lower end thereof, and the male member is receivable in the female member to form the horizontal base member. 20

4. A storage frame in accordance with claim 3, wherein the male base member is moveable relative to the female member and includes a means for securing the male member relative to the female member such that the length of the horizontal base member maybe adjusted. 7

5. A storage frame in accordance with claim 4, wherein the male member is provided with a plurality of apertures along the length thereof, the female member includes an aperture adjacent an end thereof and a pin is provided to be received in the aperture of the female member and an aligned one of the apertures on the male 5 member.

6. A storage frame in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the male and female base members each comprise a length of C-channel. 10

7. A storage frame in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright members and the elongate members each comprise a length of C-channel.

8. A storage frame in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal base member is provided with a transversely disposed plate member 15 attached to each end thereof to stabilise the horizontal base member.

9. A storage frame in accordance with claim 8, wherein the plate members are provided with apertures to receive fixing means, such that the plate members may be secured to a floor. 20

10. A storage frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 8 DATED THIS 19TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER

2005. Mervyn John Coles 5 By his Patent Attorneys Lord and Company PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 9