GB2143263A - Storage enclosures - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage enclosure 10 may have individual parking compartment(s) 13, e.g. for cycles, separated by mesh partitions 14. Each compartment 13 has an upwardly pivotable top wall 17 hinged 16a towards the rear of compartment 13 and a front wall 18 hinged 20 to top wall 17 to lift therewith, the lower end of front wall 18 being connected to a counter-balanced arm 21 which supports the raised front wall/top wall assembly for access to storage compartment 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage enclosures This invention relates to storage enclosures.

The invention provides a storage enclosure, having a plurality of side-by-side spaces, the enclosure having end and rear walls and, for each space, hinged front and top walls pivotally mounted at the rear of the enclosure to lift up and provide access to individual storage spaces and means for each front/top wall assembly to guide and support the assembly in a raised position during access to the enclosed space.

The following is a description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bank of lock-up stores; Figure 2 is a section through one store showing the front wall/roof panels in the closed position; and Figure 3 is a similar view of Fig. 2 showing the front wall/roof panel in the open position.

The drawings show a bank of cycle sheds each indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprising a series of trapezoidal shaped frames 11 spaced apart side-byside one another at the base thereof by a front member 1 2 and a rear member (not shown) to define between them individual parking spaces indicated generally at 1 3. A mesh partition 14 is mounted in each frame 11 to divide the spaces from each other. The rearward end of each space 14 is closed by an end panel 1 5 secured to the frames 11 on either side of the space. The panel 1 5 is formed from glass reinforced plastics or RRIM (reaction reinforced injection moulding) and is of deep channel section, the peripheral edges of the channel being secured to the respective frames 11 on either side of the enclosure.The panel 1 5 has a short roof section 1 6 which overlies a rearward part of the enclosure as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Each enclosure 1 3 has a channel section glass reinforced plastics or RRIM roof panel 17 hinged at 1 6a to the end of the roof part 1 6 of the end panel 1 5.

The roof panel 1 7 stops short of the front of the frame and a front panel 1 8 with a short roof portion 1 9 of similar channel section to the panels 1 5 and 1 7 is hinged at 20 the forward end of the roof panel 1 7.

The frames 11 each have intermediate upright members 21 mounted therein towards the forward ends of the frames and pivot arms 22 are pivotally mounted at 23 midway up the members 21, one end of each pivot arm 22 having a pivotal connection 24 to one side of the lower end of a front panel 1 8 and the other end of each pivot arm carrying a counter-balance weight 25. Thus each end panel has two pivot arms 22 connected to its lower end each with its counter-balance weight 25.

To gain access to the an enclosure 13, the front panel 18 is lifted under the guidance of the pivot arms 22 and roof panel 1 7 connected thereto until the pivot arms 22 are approximately vertical and the counter-balance weight 25 are in the bottom dead centre position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The weights then serve to support the front panel 18 and roof panel 1 7 in the upper positions allowing clear access to the enclosure 1 3. The counter balance weights 25 are mounted on the pivot arms 22 with their centres of gravity off set slightly from the arms 22 so that the weights apply a force holding the front/roof panels in the upper open position even when the arm 21 is in the vertical position as shown in Fig.

3.

To close the enclosure, the front panel 18 is drawn downwardly against the action of the weight 25 into the position shown in Fig. 2 and a lock mechanism is mounted on the inner side of the front panel which is lockable in a notch 26 in the base member 1 2 of the frame structure and a locl plate 27 is mounted on the outer side of the front panel to receive a key for operating the lock mechanism.

The structure is completed by end covers 28 of glass reinforced plastics or RRIM to cover the ends of the bank of enclosures.

The construction provides a convenient arrangement of individual side-by-side storage spaces suitable for cycles, motor cycles or the like and which is simple and easy to erect.

The base members of the frame structures are bolted to suitable fixtures provided on the ground to hold the structure in place.

The arrangement described above consists of a bank of enclosures but, equally, the enclosures could be provided singly where required for example for domestic use.

The plastic components of the enclosures could be formed by rotational moulding instead of laying up in conventional moulds or forming the panels using injection moulding techniques.

1. A storage enclosure having a plurality of separate side-by-side spaces, the enclosure having end and rear walls and, for each space, hinged front and top walls pivotally mounted at the rear of the enclosure to lift up and provide access to individual storage spaces and means for each front/top wall assembly to guide and support the assembly in a raised position during access to the enclosed space.

2. An enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front and top walls are hinged together and guide means are provided for guiding the lower end of the front wall upwardly and rearwardly as the wall is raised to provide access to the enclosed space and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Storage enclosures This invention relates to storage enclosures. The invention provides a storage enclosure, having a plurality of side-by-side spaces, the enclosure having end and rear walls and, for each space, hinged front and top walls pivotally mounted at the rear of the enclosure to lift up and provide access to individual storage spaces and means for each front/top wall assembly to guide and support the assembly in a raised position during access to the enclosed space. The following is a description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bank of lock-up stores; Figure 2 is a section through one store showing the front wall/roof panels in the closed position; and Figure 3 is a similar view of Fig. 2 showing the front wall/roof panel in the open position. The drawings show a bank of cycle sheds each indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprising a series of trapezoidal shaped frames 11 spaced apart side-byside one another at the base thereof by a front member 1 2 and a rear member (not shown) to define between them individual parking spaces indicated generally at 1 3. A mesh partition 14 is mounted in each frame 11 to divide the spaces from each other. The rearward end of each space 14 is closed by an end panel 1 5 secured to the frames 11 on either side of the space. The panel 1 5 is formed from glass reinforced plastics or RRIM (reaction reinforced injection moulding) and is of deep channel section, the peripheral edges of the channel being secured to the respective frames 11 on either side of the enclosure.The panel 1 5 has a short roof section 1 6 which overlies a rearward part of the enclosure as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Each enclosure 1 3 has a channel section glass reinforced plastics or RRIM roof panel 17 hinged at 1 6a to the end of the roof part 1 6 of the end panel 1 5. The roof panel 1 7 stops short of the front of the frame and a front panel 1 8 with a short roof portion 1 9 of similar channel section to the panels 1 5 and 1 7 is hinged at 20 the forward end of the roof panel 1 7. The frames 11 each have intermediate upright members 21 mounted therein towards the forward ends of the frames and pivot arms 22 are pivotally mounted at 23 midway up the members 21, one end of each pivot arm 22 having a pivotal connection 24 to one side of the lower end of a front panel 1 8 and the other end of each pivot arm carrying a counter-balance weight 25. Thus each end panel has two pivot arms 22 connected to its lower end each with its counter-balance weight 25. To gain access to the an enclosure 13, the front panel 18 is lifted under the guidance of the pivot arms 22 and roof panel 1 7 connected thereto until the pivot arms 22 are approximately vertical and the counter-balance weight 25 are in the bottom dead centre position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The weights then serve to support the front panel 18 and roof panel 1 7 in the upper positions allowing clear access to the enclosure 1 3. The counter balance weights 25 are mounted on the pivot arms 22 with their centres of gravity off set slightly from the arms 22 so that the weights apply a force holding the front/roof panels in the upper open position even when the arm 21 is in the vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. To close the enclosure, the front panel 18 is drawn downwardly against the action of the weight 25 into the position shown in Fig. 2 and a lock mechanism is mounted on the inner side of the front panel which is lockable in a notch 26 in the base member 1 2 of the frame structure and a locl plate 27 is mounted on the outer side of the front panel to receive a key for operating the lock mechanism. The structure is completed by end covers 28 of glass reinforced plastics or RRIM to cover the ends of the bank of enclosures. The construction provides a convenient arrangement of individual side-by-side storage spaces suitable for cycles, motor cycles or the like and which is simple and easy to erect. The base members of the frame structures are bolted to suitable fixtures provided on the ground to hold the structure in place. The arrangement described above consists of a bank of enclosures but, equally, the enclosures could be provided singly where required for example for domestic use. The plastic components of the enclosures could be formed by rotational moulding instead of laying up in conventional moulds or forming the panels using injection moulding techniques. CLAIMS

1. A storage enclosure having a plurality of separate side-by-side spaces, the enclosure having end and rear walls and, for each space, hinged front and top walls pivotally mounted at the rear of the enclosure to lift up and provide access to individual storage spaces and means for each front/top wall assembly to guide and support the assembly in a raised position during access to the enclosed space.

2. An enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front and top walls are hinged together and guide means are provided for guiding the lower end of the front wall upwardly and rearwardly as the wall is raised to provide access to the enclosed space and counter-balancing means are provided for supporting the front/top walls in the raised position.

3. An enclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide means for the lower end of the front wall comprise an arm or arms pivotally mounted part-way along the length thereof on a fixed part of the enclosure for rotation about a horizontal axis part-way between the base and roof thereof, one end of the arm being pivotally connected to the lower end of the front wall and the other end of the arm carrying a counter-balance so that as the front end of the wall is raised, the counterbalance moves downwardly until the arm assumes a vertical position supporting the front/top panels of the roof assembly in a raised position.

4. An enclosure substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.