AU624836B2 - Improvements in or relating to work stations - Google Patents

Description

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OPI DATE 05/01/90 PCr AOJP DATE 01/02/90 APPLN. i0 37514 89 PCT NUMBER PCT/AU89/00221 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 89/11922 B06P 3/025, 3/14 Al (43) International Publication Date: 14 December 1989 (14.12.89) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU89/00221 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), BR, CH (European patent), DE (European (22) International Filing Date: 18 May 1989 (18.05.89) patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GB (European patent), HU, IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU (European patent), NL (European patent), NO, RO, SE (Eu- Priority data: ropean patent), SU, US.

PI 8745 10 June 1988 (10.06.88) AU Published (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): M.M. JACK With international search report.

ENGINEERING PTY. LIMITED [AU/AU]; 40 North Arm Road, Middle Cove, NSW 2068 (AU).

(72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) PEARSON, Graeme, Leslie, Stewart [AU/AU]; 40 North Arm Road, Middle Cove, NSW 2068 (AU).

(74)Agent: WATERMARK; Suite 6, Floor 16, Town Hall 6 2 4 8 3 House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 (AU).

(54) Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WORK STATIONS (57) Abstract A work station consists in one or more inclined support frames each one having on, or in it at least one sliding carriage frame (12) which is able to be slid outwardly and downwardly in relation to its associated support frame. Each carriage frame is designed for the reception on, or in it of such as racks, shelves (20, 21, 22), display tables, workbenches, stands, storage bins and hoppers, drawers, and the like, and the work station and other components may be installed in such as a van or trailer body so as to be transportable. Each carriage frame (12) is able to be raised, lowered and adjusted relative to its support frame

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SWO 89/11922 PCT/AU89/00221 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WORK STATIONS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to work stations and more particularly to what may be termed "field service vehicles", comprised of a said work station incorporated within an enclosure such as a van body, a trailer body or other like container.

BACKGROUND ART Commercial motor vehicle bodies for the storage, transport and display of articles of merchandise or goods, services and equipment, and also mobile vending booths are known; for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,480,866 discloses a van body which has at least one display rack capable of being extended laterally to provide a centre passageway from which an intending purchaser is able to view the goods on display.

U.S. Patent No. 4,270,319 reveals a similar arrangement, here a van or trailer body has lateral "pull-out" extensions to accommodate buyers under cover, while the main body portion is able to accommodate such as cooking equipment, bains-marie and serving counters; thus, it constitutes a superior kind of "hot dog stand".

Somewhat similar arrangements are disclosed in German Patent Specifications No.'s 2744839 and 2724137 and in French Patent Specification No. 2748557.

However, such prior art constructions are generally quite complex arrangements, are not very versatile and are often mechanically unstable.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention, the above and other disadvantages are overcome by the provision of a work station which is optionally accommodatrable within an enclosure, the work station comprising one or more inclined support frames each adapted to have slideably mounted thereon at least one co-operating carriage frame capable of being slid/ably moved, on its associated support frame, .1 ;;I WO 89/11922 PCT/AU89/00221 2 outwardly and downwardly with respect to the work station; the work station and an enclosure associated with it together constitute a so-called "field service vehicle".

Ideally, the enclosure may well be, say, a transportable van body or trailer body, or other like container.

The or each co-operating carriage frame has, most advantageously, on it, or within it, or at least associaLted with it, a "designated-purpose structure" as will be defined hereinafter.

Moreover, the or each co-operating carriage frame is preferably provided with means for raising and lowering it and for adjusting its position relative to its associated support frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, hereinafter will be described certain preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of a field service vehicle of the kind which constitutes an enclosure together with an inventive work station; Figure 2 is a corresponding rear elevation; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an inventive work station's component parts; Figures 4 to 7 schematically illustrate some examples of the various usages to which the inventive work station may be put;

AND

Figure 8 is a composite drawing showing a selection of possible configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In Figures 1 and 2 is to be seen a field service vehicle including a van body 1 which constitues an enclosure i- i Wn RO/ 1107 PCT/A U89/0022 1

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ulrJnP9- 3 adapted to accommodate therewithin an inventive work station. However, although in this particular embodiment the work station is installed within a van body, it is to be clearly understood that it might equally well be accommodated in a trailer body, a discrete "container", or the like. While this work station concept is ideally enclosed within a transportable body which can be removeably fitted on the tray of a trailer, or of a motor vehicle, or even onto a railway flat car, it is envisaged that the work station could just as well be permanently affixed to a base, or plinth, or the like. In fact the inventive work station is extremely versatile and a canopy body is not essential to its functioning, as will be realised. The overall outside dimensions of the work station, or at least of the enclosure, are limited only by local road or rail usage regulations. As is best to be seen in Figure 2, van body 1 has hinged side doors 2 which are able to be folded upwardly to provide access to the work station within. Additionally, there may be one or more end doors or hatches, as that referenced 3 in Figures 2 and 8. Nevertheless, access arrangements are not limited to folding doors, alternatively "barn" doors, roller doors, or even curtains may be employed.

Within body 1 may be installed the inventive work station, comprising, among other components better to be seen in the Figure 3 perspective drawing, one or more inclined support frames 4 shown in end view and in broken line.

Illustrated in Figure 3 is a dual-sided work station in which support frame 4 includes a pair of triangular end members 5 and 6, the lower limbs 7 and 8 of which are affixed, as by such as bolting down, or more permanently fastened, to the floor of the enclosure. End members 5 and 6 are connected together by three bars or rods 9, 10 and 11; in a modification, the end members themselves may be affixed to the walls of an enclosure and top bar 9 i i: 1 WO 89/11922 PCF/AU89/00221

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done away with. In certain applications removal of bar 9 is of advantage.

The angle may be varied in accordance with individual requirement and is limited only by the need to clear cab and chassis components disposed below chassis level. While Figure 3 shows a dual-sided work station adapted to be accommodated within such as the van body shown in Figures 1 and 2, any other geometry of support frame 4 which is feasible is contemplated; for example, single 10 sided, or a portion only of a side, or having rear access, i0 etc., see the selection of possible configurations shown in the Figure 8 composite drawing.

The or each support frame 4 is adapted to have slidably mounted thereon at least one co-operating carriage frame as that referenced 12 of such a geometry as to fit within support frame 4 and to be slideably moveable thereon for outward and downward movement as indicated by the double arrows A with respect to the work station. Such movement of carriage frame 12 may loosely be termed a "diagonal" movement, although only in certain instances will it represent a true diagonal with respect to the enclosure's cross-section.

As has been previously indicated, the embodiment of support frame 4 shown in Figure 3 will usually have a second carriage frame on the opposite side of support frame 4. Side members 13 and 14 of carriage frame 12 may be provided with such as ball bearings, roller bearings, wheels, etc., adapted to run in channels or on rails, as indicated at 15, 16. Carriage frame 12 also includes a top frame member 17, preferably one or more intermediate frame members as 18 and 19 and a bottom rail or running board The carriage frame rolling system components are widely variable in design and construction as required or desired.

The or each co-operating carriage frame 12 is provided with means for raising and lowering it and for adjusting its position relative to its associated support i C i J' WO 89/11922 PCT/AU89/00221 frame 4. Mechanisms envisaged include:- 1) hydraulics combined with cables and pulleys; 2) direct-acting hydraulics; 3) manually-operated winches and differential pulleys; 4) mechanical winches; mechanically-assisted rack-and-pinion arrangements; 6) chain-and-sprocket arrangements manual or mechanically-assisted 7) pneumatics In fact, any motive power which will move a load through a given distance is suitable as a lifting and height-adjusting mechanism.

The carriage frame 12 functions as an inclined platform for the reception upon it, or within it, of a designated-purpose structure, some graphic examples being schematically shown in Figures 4 to 7. Specifically, Figure 4 shows an array of small shelves 21 which may be of metal grid or mesh, solid metal or any other suitable material.

Figure 5 illustrates similar but larger shelving 22. Figure 6 shows a workbench 23 with cupboards 24 and 25, over and under respectively, while Figure 7 shows a storage facility including pigeonholes as 26, drawers as 27, and cupboards as 28.

Other uses are numerous racks, shelves etc., for displaying product, articles of merchandise or other goods, services, etc.; benches or tabletops for ease of performance of manual operations and/or demonstrations; arrays of drawers, pigeonholes and/or storage bins and hoppers; frames and stands for trade tools and equipment; and many more. Potential users may well be such as sales and display organisations; authorities such as Telecom, County and Municipal Councils, Waterboards, etc. etc.; and tradesmen as, for example, nurserymen, plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators, and so on.

ii WO 89/11922 6 PCr/AU89/00221 Figure 8 shows, diagrammatically, some of the various layouts contemplated. A work station may have a support frame which occupies, say, one quarter, or other portion of the floor-space as in A, B, C and E, either at front or rear end and at either side; a single full-length support frame as in D and F; double full-length frame as in H; and the previously-mentioned rearwardly-disposed support frame as in G.

Mobile service/vending/maintenance and display vehicles are currently, with few exceptions, of a walk-in, centre aisle design; this means that space must be allowed for the movement of personnel in the body of the vehicle to gain access to tools, products, etc. This space may well occupy up to one half the body volume, but seldom less than one third. The present invention permits transfer of pedestrian space required to the outside of the vehicle and thus reduces the required volume of body space while maintaining the original storage capacity. The possible reduction in body size will, in many instances, allow reduction on overall size.

Other advantages ensue from the inventive work station, such as:up to 50% reduction in body size; greater access to and visual exposure of stored products; potential reduction inoverall vehicle dimensions and thus power; work station transferrable from vehicle to vehicle; the arrangement can be "containerised" for semi-permanent or permanent field use; and in the majority of cases, considering like vehicles, reduction in gross vehicle weight results because of the smaller body.

From the abovegoing, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous

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WO 89/11922 7 PCT/AU89/00221 variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set out in the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. 2. The work station as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said work station is mounted upon the tray or chassis of a vehicular structure.
2. 3. The work station is claimed in Claim 1, wherein said work station is mounted upon or within a floor of an associated enclosure. 0 4. The work station as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said work station and associated 000 enclosure together constitute a field service vehicle. 0S. The work station as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said associated enclosure is a van body .00 6. The work station as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each said carriage frame 00. (12) is provided with means (15,16) for raising and lowering it relative to said 0000. support frame
3. 07. The work station as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each said carriage frame (12) is provided with a designated purpose structure (21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,).
4. 8. A work station being substantially as herein described with reference to figs 1 to 3 or any one of figs 4 to 8 inclusive. DATED this 18th day of February 1992 M M JACK ENIGINJEERING PTY LT WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS L EVEL 4, AMORY GARDENS, 2 CAVILL AVENUE, I B A\ ASHFIELD, NEW SOUTH WALES 213-1, AUSTRALIA. 0Z T1