GB2182641A

GB2182641A - Portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2182641A
Application number: GB08626833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter G Langley
Original assignee: Sundridge Tackle Ltd
Current assignee: Sundridge Tackle Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-08
Filing date: 1986-11-10
Publication date: 1987-05-20
Also published as: GB8527608D0; GB8626833D0

Abstract

Apparatus for storage and transport of equipment comprises a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat (3) selectively positionable on top of the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case or box structure; and a backrest (4) locatable to act as a rest for the back of a person sitting upon the seat. A tray (5) may be removably attached to the case or box structure internally or externally thereof and held level, and extendible legs (6) and means (7, 8, 9, 15) for attaching accessories to the case or box structure may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment The present invention relates to portable apparatus forstorageandtransportofequipment.

In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a case or box provided with a seatfora person to sit upon.

Such case or box is known and is commonly used by anglersforcarrying fishing tackle and equipment and for sitting upon when fishing.

The present invention in one aspect aims to provide an improved case or box provided with a seat for a person to sit upon.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top ofthe case or box structure in orderthata person maysituponthe seat with the weight of the person being borne by the case or box structure and movablefrom thetop ofthe case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case orbox structure; and a backrest locatable relative to the case or box structure in a position such asto be able to act as a restforthe backofa person sitting upon the seat when the seat is positioned on thetop ofthe case or box structure and movable from said positiontofac- ilitate carrying ofthe apparatus.

In accordance with a second aspect of the inven tion,there is provided portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure having an access opening atthetop and in which such equipment can beac- commodated; and at least one tray which can be accommodated within the case or box structure, the or each tray having at least one hook or clip for location on an upper edge portion ofthe case or box structure and internally or externally of the case or box structure as desired,the arrangement being such that the tray is held level whether internally or externally ofthe case or box structure when the hook orclip is located on the upper edge portion of the case or box structure.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top of the case or box structure in order that a person may sit upon the seat with the weight ofthe person being borne by the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case o r box structu re; and at least one extendible leg attachable to the case or box structure, whereby the case or box structure can be stabilized on an uneven orsloping surface orsupported on the bed of a body of water but held clear of the water.

In accordance with a fourth aspect ofthe invention, there is provided portable apparatusforstorage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top ofthe case or box structure in orderthata person maysituponthe seat with theweightofthe person being borne by the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case or box structure; one or more members extending from the case or box structure; one or more accessories; and means wherebythe accessories may be removably attached to said members.

The invention is further described below by way of examplewith referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of a case, specifically an angler's tackle box, according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the case, the covering not being shown; and Figure 3A, 3B and 3Care respectively a perspective view, a frontview and a side view of an adjustable accessory fitting.

Referring to the drawings, the tackle seat box shown therein comprises a frame 1 around which snugly fits a bag 2, which acts as a coverforthe frame. The bag 2 forms the base and sides ofthe box and provides a lid 2' which may be used to close the top of the box.

The bag 2 may be provided with external and/or internal pockets or may not be provided with pockets.

Preferablythe bag 2 is made of durable waterproof orwater-resistant material.

The box is provided with a seat 3, a backrest 4, a plurality oftrays 5 (only one of which is shown in the drawings), extendible legs 6 (only one ofwhich is shown in the drawings) and various otherfittings such as those denoted by reference numerals 7,8,9 and 15.

The frame 1 is made oftubular metal, e.g. steel, which may be of round, square orothercross- section.

Theframe 1 comprises four load-bearing vertical members ortubes 31, an upper horizontal re ctangular ring 32, a lower horizontal member34 below the ring 2, all these members being tubular.

The member 34 extends aroundthefrontand sides, butnotthe rear,oftheframe.Tothetwo rearmem- bers 31 and the rear horizontal extending portion of the upper ring 32 are fixed two shorttubes35, open at their upper ends, and inclined slightly rearwardly in the upward direction relative to thevertical.

The vertical members 31 extend upwardly above the ring member32 and the bag 2to provide openended stubs 31a and extend downwardly below the ring member 33 and the bag 2 also to provide studs 31b.

The seat 3 comprises two U-shaped members 6 onto or around the central portions of which arefitted a cover 17 leaving the free end portionsofthe member 6 exposed. The members 6 may be tubes or, preferably, bars. The seat may be fitted onto the frame 1 by inserting the free end portions ofthe members 6 into the upperstubs 31 a ofthe members 1 and may be removed as desired.

When not in use, the seat may be stored within the box.

The cover 17 may be made of hard or preferably, soft material, such as water-resistantorwaterproof fabric.

The backrest 4 comprises two tubes or bars, prefer ably tubes 8, onto or around which is fitted a cover 19 (serving as a back-supporting part) leaving the lower ends ofthe members 8 exposed. The lower ends of the members 8 may be inserted into the tubes 35to position the backrest for use and may be removed therefrom as desired. When not in use the backrest may be stored within the box.

The cover 19, likethe bag 2, may be of hard or, preferably, soft material, such as waterproof orwater- resistantfabric.

Each tray 5 is formed as a shallow box with an open top. The box has side walls 10. To one sidewall 10 are fixed a pair of hooks 11 a. Each tray may be located as desired internally or externally of the box by engag ingthe hooks 1 1a over a straight portion 32a ofthe ring member 32 at either side or the front of the box, the tray being held level by the member34abutting against the hooks 11 a. It will be appreciated that when the tray, hooked onto one ofthe portions 32a, is outside ofthe box, the member 34 abuts the hooks 1 iathrough the bag 2. The trays may be formed by injection moulding.

Each extendible leg comprises a straight rod 12, at one end of which is fitted a pad 13 and the other end of which has an internal thread 14.

Extendible leg fittings 15 each comprise a generally H-shaped member having two short parallel tubes each provided with a clamping device, prefer ablyathumb screw 16 or 17. Into eithershorttube may be slidably inserted a rod 12 of an extendible leg 6 as described above. The other shorttube may be slid onto one of the stubs 316 ofthe upright members 31.Thefitting 15 may be secured to the stub 31b by means ofthe appropriate thumb screw and the leg 6 may be secured, after adjustment so as to extend the desired distance below the box 1, by clamping with the appropriatethumbscrew.

An accessory fitting 7 comprises two shorttubes fastened together so as to form a cross-shape and provided with clamping devices, preferably thumb screws 21 and 22 respectively. Each tube of the ac cessoryfitting 7 may befitted onto any one ofthe stubs31a and 31h oronto a rod 12 of an extendible leg 6 and locked or clamped into position with the appropriate thumb screw.

An accessory fitting 8 is a straight length of rod 23 with an internal screw thread 24 at one end and an external screw thread 25 at the other end. The rod 23 may be slid into one ofthetubes of an accessoryfitting 20 and secured therein by means of the app ropriate thumb screw or may be attached to the rod 12 ofan extendible leg 6, the thread 25 engaging in the thread 14to increase the length of the extendible leg.

An accessory fitting 9 comprises a length of rod 26 having a short length oftube 27 fastened to one end thereof, the tube 27 being provided with a clamping device such as a thumb screw 28. The free end ofthe rod 26 is provided with an internal screw thread 29.

The tube 27 may be fitted onto any one of the stubs 31a and 31b oronto one ofthe members 12 and clamped thereto by means ofthethumb screw 28.

The aforementioned screw threads are all ofthe same diameter and standard, e.g. they are preferably all 3/8" B.S.F. thread, so that an internal screw thread of any one fitting may be engaged with an external screw thread of any otherfitting to join the fittings together.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show an accessory fitting 40 which may be used as an alternative to either of the fittings 7 and 15. The fitting 40 comprises two short tubes 41 and 42 each provided with a clamping device, preferably a thumb screw 43 or 44. To each tube 41 or42 is affixed, as by welding an annular plate 45 or 46. To the centre of the plate 45 is affixed, as by welding, an internally screw threaded member47, such as a nut. Between the plates 45 and 46 an annularfriction disc 48, e.g. of reinforced rubber, is located. The shank of a thumb screw 49 passes through the central hole of each plate 45 and 46 and thefric- tion disc 48 and engages in the nut 47.To the shank of the thumb screw 49 is affixed a stop member 50, con venientlya nutweldedtotheshank.

When the stop member 50 is not pressing hard against the plate 46, then the plates 45 and 46 may be rotated relative to each othertherebyto adjustthe relative angular disposition of the tubes 41 and 42, e.g. as shown by solid and broken lines in Figure 38.

Thethumb screw 49 may then be turned so that its shank screws through the nut 47 to cause the stop member 50 to press hard againstthe plate 46. The plates 45 and 46 are thus pressed hard againstthe friction disc48 and thereby held against relative rotation and the tubes 41 and 42 are accordingly held in a fixed relative angular disposition.

The rods 12,23 and 26 may be formed from bars or, preferably, tubing ofthe same external diameter as the members 31.The shorttubes of the fittings 7, 9, 15 and 40 provided with clamping means in the form ofthumb screws, are all ofthe same internal diameter.

It will be appreciated that the box is preferably associated with a plurality of each of the legs 6 and other fittings selected from fittings 7,8,9, 15 and 40 as described. The various fittings may be joined together in a vast number of different ways and standard fishing tackle components may be attached thereto. Such components may have portions with an external diameter equal to that ofthe members 31 so that such portions can be clamped into any ofthe aforementioned shorttubes of the fittings and/or may have threads compatible with the aforementioned threads whereby they may be attached to the rods 23 and 26 of the accessory fittings and to the rods 12 of the legs 6.

It will be understood that each fitting as described above comprises either a rod provided with a screw thread at at least one end thereof, or a rod provided with a screw thread atone end and a short tube provided with clamping means our a pairofshorttubes provided with clamping means, any such rod of any fitting being slidable into any short tube ofanyother fitting or onto any of the stubs at the end ofthevertical load-bearing membersoftheframe.

The clamping means of each short tube is preferably constituted, as described, by a thumb screw. It will be understood that the shank of the thumb screw passesthrough an opening inthewall oftheshort tube and screw-threadedly engages therewith. For this purpose, the shorttube may comprise (as shown in Figures 3A, Band C), fixed to its wall as by welding, a nut with into which the shank ofthethumb screw is screwed. In use, the shank passes through a hole in the wall ofthetubeto clamp against a rod slid into the tu be.

Claims

1. Portable apparatusforstorage andtransportof equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top ofthe case or box structure in order that a person maysituponthe seat with the weight of the person being borne by the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case or box structure; and a backrest locatable relative to the case or box structure in a position such as to be able to act as a rest for the back of a person sitting upon the seat when the seat is positioned on the top of the case or box structure and movable from said position to fac ilitate carrying ofthe apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case or box structure comprises a frame provided with a covering defining a space for accommodating equipment.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame comprises load-bearing members extending in a direction from the top to the bottom ofthe case or box structure.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat is removablefromthe case or box structure and can be accommodated within the case or box structure.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for releasably attaching op posite margins of the seat respectively to opposite sides ofthe case or box structure.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the backrest is removable from the case or box structure and can be accommodated within the case or box structure.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the backrest is attached to a support means engageable with and disengageable from the case or box struc ture.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the support means comprise at least one support member engageable with and disengageablefrom the case or box structure.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the or each support member is engageable in a cor responding socket fixedly secured to the case or box structure.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 as dependent on claim 2 or3, wherein the or each socket is fixedly secured to the frame.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the backrest comprises a flexible strip extending between a pair of said support members.

12. Portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure having an access opening at the top and in which such equipment can be accommodated; and at least one tray which can be accommodated within the case or box structure, the or each tray having at least one hookorclipfor location on an upper edge portion of the case or box structure and internally or externally of the case or box structure as des ired,thearrangementbeing such thatthetray is held level whether internally or externally ofthe case or box structure when the hook or clip is located on the upper edge portion of the case or box structure.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12,whereinthe or each hook or clip abuts againstthe upper edge portion ofthe case or box structure at a distance below the upper edge of the case or box structure to hold the tray, or the respective tray, level when the hook or clip is located on the upper edge portion of the case or box structure and whetherthe tray is disposed internally or externally ofthe case or box structure.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13,further comprising a seat selectively positionable on top of the case or box structure in orderthat a person may sit upon the seat with the weight of the person being borne by the case or box structure, the seat being movable from the top ofthe case or box structureto allow accessto the interior ofthe case or box structure.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 12to 14, and in accordance with any of claims 1 toll.

16. Portable apparatus for storage and transport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top ofthe case or box structure in orderthat a person may sit upon the seat with the weight of the person being borne by the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case or box structure; and atleast one extendible leg attachableto the case or box structure, whereby the case or box structure can be stabilized on an uneven orsloping surface or sup- ported on the bed of a body of water but held clear of the water.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16,whereinthe case or box structure comprises a frame provided with a covering defining a space for accommodating equipment and the at least one extendible leg is attachable to an extension oftheframe belowthe covering.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17,wherein said extension is part of a load-bearing member extending in a direction from the top to the bottom of the case or box structure.

19. Apparatus according to any of claims 16to 18, comprising a pair of said extendible legs.

20. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 6to 19, and in accordance with any of claims 1 to 15.

21. Portable apparatusforstorageandtransport of equipment, comprising: a case or box structure in which such equipment can be accommodated; a seat selectively positionable on top of the case or box structure in orderthata person may situponthe seat with the weight of the person being borne by the case or box structure and movable from the top of the case or box structure to allow access to the interior of the case orboxstructure; one or more members extending from the case or box structure; one or more accessories; and means whereby the accessories may be removably attached to said members.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the case or box structure comprises a frame provided with acovering defining aspaceforaccommodating equipment and said one or more members are constituted by extensions ofthe frame beyond the covering.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the frame comprises load-bearing members extending in a direction from the topto the bottom ofthe case or box structure and wherein said one or more members are constituted by one or more extensions of said load-bearing members above and/or below said covering.

24. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein said accessories are selected from rod rests, bank sticks, keep nets, pole rollers and platforms.

25. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein said means comprise adjustable meansfor varying the angular disposition of an accessory attached to one of said members.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said adjustable means is provided by a fitting having two relatively rotatable parts and meansforselectively clamping the parts against rotation.

27. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 26, wherein said means comprise one or more fittings having at least one portion in which said one or more members are locatable and means for clamping said fitting onto said member.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least one portion of said first-mentioned means comprise a tubular element provided with said clamping means.

29. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 28, wherein said means comprise fittings provided with respective inter-engageable internal and external threads whereby said members can be fastened together.

30. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 29, and inaccordancewith anyofclaims 1 to 20.

31. Portableapparatusforstorageandtransport of equipmentsubstantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.