U.S. patent application number 11/525000 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for slidable support system for portable storage containers.
Invention is credited to James L. Doubts.
Application Number | 20080074020 11/525000 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39200818 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080074020 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doubts; James L. |
March 27, 2008 |
Slidable support system for portable storage containers
Abstract
The disclosure is specific to a slidable support frame for
supporting, storing and accessing a portable storage container from
underneath structures used in any transportation vehicle including
a boat or recreational vehicle, without sacrificing counter top,
seating or floor space. A method of using this slidable support
frame is also included.
Inventors: |
Doubts; James L.; (Durham,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LATIMER, MAYBERRY & MATTHEWS IP LAW, LLP
13873 PARK CENTER ROAD, SUITE 122
HERNDON
VA
20171
US
|
Family ID: |
39200818 |
Appl. No.: |
11/525000 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/330.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/04 20130101; A47B
88/407 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/330.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00 |
Claims
1. A portable storage container slidable support frame comprising;
a tray comprising a top planar surface, and a bottom planar
surface, wherein said bottom planar surface comprises a vertical
wall and sliding mechanism, wherein said sliding mechanism
comprises telescoping slides that provide for linear movement of
said tray along said slidable support frame.
2. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said tray includes holes or slots or a combination of
holes and slots together with a securing means to secure said
portable storage container to said slidable support frame.
3. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said tray can be shaped in any proper geometry including
rectangular, square, circular, triangular or the like, and wherein
any surface of said tray is smooth or textured.
4. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said slides attached to said bottom planar surface are
additionally secured to a floor, base or cabinet wall of any
transportation vehicle such as a boat or recreational vehicle.
5. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said slides include a locking/unlocking mechanism such
as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and wherein said slides are
activated either manually or remotely using hydraulic, pneumatic,
electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices thereby securing
said support frame in any desired position.
6. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said linear movement along an axial direction provides
for either storage of or access to said portable storage
container.
7. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said top planar surface has either no barrier features
or at least one or more attached barrier features on a top side of
said top planar surface and wherein said barrier features are of a
shape that will restrain movement of said portable storage
container.
8. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said barrier features are adjustable to the size and
shape of said portable storage container.
9. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said tray, said barrier features and said vertical wall
may be attached to, adhered to, or singularly molded to said
support frame.
10. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim
1, wherein said tray or said portable storage container provides a
storage space.
11. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame comprising; a tray comprising a top planar surface,
and a bottom planar surface, wherein said bottom planar surface
comprises a vertical wall and a sliding mechanism, wherein said
sliding mechanism comprises telescoping slides that provide for
linear movement of said tray along said support frame and wherein a
user provides manual, electrical, or hydraulic work to said sliding
mechanism.
12. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray includes holes or
slots or a combination of holes and slots together with a securing
means for securing said portable storage container to said slidable
support frame.
13. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray can be shaped in
any proper geometry including rectangular, square, circular,
triangular or the like, and wherein any surface of said tray is
smooth or textured.
14. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said slides attached to said
bottom planar surface are additionally secured to a floor, base or
cabinet wall of any transportation vehicle such as a boat or
recreational vehicle.
15. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said slides include a
locking/unlocking mechanism such as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or
stop and wherein said slides are activated either manually or
remotely using hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic or
electro-mechanical devices thereby securing said support frame in
any desired position.
16. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said linear movement along an
axial direction provides for either storage of or access to said
portable storage container.
17. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said top planar surface has
either no barrier features or at least one or more attached barrier
features on a top side of said top planar surface and wherein said
barrier features are of a shape that will restrain movement of said
portable storage container.
18. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said barrier features are
adjustable to the size and shape of said portable storage
container.
19. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray, said barrier
features and said vertical wall may be attached to, adhered to, or
singularly molded to said support frame.
20. A method for using a portable storage container slidable
support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray or said portable
storage container is providing a storage space.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to slidable support frames for
portable storage containers used on boats and in recreational
vehicles (RVs) with limited floor space, accessibility and storage
of coolers under leaning posts, counter tops and seating areas.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Most boats and recreational vehicles have limited floor and
storage space available for refrigerated storage. Insulated and
non-insulated portable storage containers occupy space under
leaning posts, counter tops, low shelving, bench seating or are
placed upon limited floor space creating tripping hazards.
Top-opening coolers, for example, stored under permanent structures
are limited in accessibility and must be withdrawn to gain access.
Many times the access is limited as the top opening lid is
restricted from being fully opened by the structure(s) above. (Four
Winns, Vista 288; Nautical Design Leaning Posts pg. 2, 3)
[0003] Portable storage containers commonly used on boats such as
coolers, for example, are relatively large in size (e.g.,
seventy-two and ninety-four quart sizes are common) and can be
heavy and awkward to move on a floor surface. Movement with the
cooler bottom in contact with the floor or shelf surface can
potentially mar the floor or cooler contact surface. Additional
force is required to access the cooler in that the contact surfaces
are not designed to be laterally moved across a surface. Location,
weight and size put a user in danger of personal injury due to
limited space and awkward positioning of the body.
[0004] In cases where portable storage containers such as coolers
are firmly secured within the locating structures, the securing
methods and confined space constraints severely limit, if not
prohibit, container access. Securing coolers while in a stored
position from unwanted movement, especially those in an accessible
position, has not been addressed in present designs.
[0005] Thus, providing an easily moveable support frame allowing
for easy placement of the portable storage container for storage,
securing of the container, and full accessibility for a container
without diminishing the useable amount of floor space is
desirable.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,279, to Stahel, Patrick E., unassigned,
describes a portable food and beverage cooler for use in
conjunction with a platform seat as found in a rowboat or the like,
with the cooler comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel
chambers and an interconnecting planar portion that fits over and
engages the platform seat.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. RE32740, to Steffes, William J., assigned to
The Coleman Co., describes a cooler having an inside surface which
is provided with vertically extending retaining means for holding a
shelf in a vertical position and horizontally extending supporting
means for holding a shelf in a horizontal position but designing
the handles in such a manners so as to allow the shelf to latch
into handle features that will allow the shelf to be held
horizontally on the exterior of the cooler.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,914, to Steinhoff, et. al., assigned to
SPX Corp., describes an under the counter refrigeration unit
providing controlled temperature storage for desired materials, the
refrigeration unit comprising: a refrigerator cabinet having a
front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and defining an interior cavity for
receiving materials to be stored; a refrigeration system for
controlling a temperature in the interior cavity and including
controls operable to control the refrigeration system; and a slide
mechanism, such as drawer slides, operable to slidably support the
refrigeration cabinet and at least part of the refrigeration system
for sliding movement between a stored position under a counter top
and an accessible position adjacent the counter top. The support
frame includes a frame bottom and the refrigerator cabinet bottom
is higher than the frame bottom to define a toe kick space below
the refrigerator unit.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,310, to LeGrow, Mary, unassigned,
describes a portable cooler for use in a vehicle having a plurality
of storage areas and at least one fastener for facilitating
securement of the housing to a vehicle seat wherein the fastener
includes a pair of loop straps spaced from one another.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,642, to Kennedy, Thomas, assigned to TAK
Enterprises, describes a combination cooler-seat-sports gear
storage and transporting device, which comprises a cooler with an
open front with a hinged door and further containing a plurality of
horizontal drawer supports for a plurality of drawers located
within the cooler and slidably connected to the drawer supports for
horizontal opening and closing. At least a portion of the plurality
of drawers are located inside the cooler behind the door; and a
seat located on top of the cooler; and a handling means on the
cooler for manually carrying same.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,643, to Kennedy, Thomas, assigned to TAK
Enterprises, describes a combination cooler-seat-sports gear
storage and transporting device, which comprises a cooler of two
compartments with a first compartment with an open front with a
hinged door and further containing a plurality of horizontal drawer
supports for a plurality of drawers located within the cooler and
slidably connected to the drawer supports for horizontal opening
and closing with a second compartment being side-by-side to the
first compartment and being a cooler with the second compartment
being a top opening compartment having a top lid for access with a
plurality of drawers located within the first compartment and
slidably connected to the drawer supports for horizontal opening
and closing thereof and a seat located on said top of the first
compartment of the cooler so as to be side-by-side with the second
compartment of the cooler and handling means on the cooler for
manually carrying same.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,639, to Scherer, Patrick, unassigned,
describes a portable cooler assembly comprising: insulated
container means for storing and insulating contents therein and for
minimizing heat transfer between the contents and the surrounding
environment; said assembly characterized by said container means
including step means for receiving a force thereon at an elevation
between a lower surface and an upper surface.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,309, to Pifer, William J., unassigned,
describes a cooler particularly suitable for use with recreational
vehicles with compartments of two different depths wherein the
deeper of the two is suitable for carrying block ice and an
interior barrier partitioning off the two compartments.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,991, to Clark, George A., assigned to
Delta T, LLC, describes a food chiller comprising: a housing
including a horizontal base wall and upwardly extending enclosing
side walls; a cold sink, a hot sink and a food container suspended
from the housing with a downwardly facing duct and an ambient, fan
driven air flow path through the housing The container is slidably
attached to the housing.
[0015] Japanese Publication No. JP09042828A2 to Saito Masao,
assigned to Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., describes a drawer type
refrigeration unit that pulls out from the main unit to aid in
servicing
[0016] Japanese Publication No. JP07004824A2 to Fujimoto Hidetoshi,
assigned to Matsushita Refrig Co Ltd., describes an insulation box
from a front opening in the front direction by removing a fixing
piece from the front direction of a main body, which makes it
possible to replace a cooler in the insulation box with ease. In
case when an open insulation box is used, it is possible to pull
out the cooler and a machine chamber simultaneously and facilitate
replacement work by removing a front insulation piece.
[0017] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0262319, to Fisher, Keith
E., unassigned, describes a cooler comprising: a container having
an interior volume divided into a plurality of compartments and an
optional support frame, having at least one raised flange, and the
frame having a shape and dimensions corresponding to the shape and
dimensions of cooler's bottom end so that the cooler securely fits
within the frame and a means for securing the frame to a fixed
surface. This patent teaches toward a portable cooler with several
compartments in a support frame fixed to a location in a boat and
teaches away from a moveable support frame.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,637, to Benza, Kenneth C., unassigned,
describes a combination of a boat hull, the boat hull including
side boards, a transom and a top deck assembly with a hull drain
hole provided in one of said side boards and transom, and an ice
chest slidably mounted in a recess in the top deck assembly. The
ice chest comprises a drawer and a drawer drain hole for draining
water, a mounting means for sliding the drawer and a stationary
tray mounted in the bottom of the ice chest for receiving water
drained from the ice chest and a conduit for discharging water from
the tray out of the boat hull through a drain hole out of the boat
hull. The mounting means consists of a pair of drawer roller slides
fastened to a seat and within a recess located below the seat. This
patent teaches toward a built in, non-portable ice chest with a
draining means for a boat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The preferred object of the present invention support frame
has a tray comprising a plurality of slides on the bottom wherein
the support frame is slidably mounted underneath a leaning post,
counter, seat or fixed surface on a boat or in a recreational
vehicle. A portable storage container (insulated or non-insulated)
is removeably placed on the support frame providing support for
refrigerated like storage for food, bait or similar refrigerated
items or for storage of personal or boating gear wherein linear
movement to the support frame and portable storage container moves
the combined unit as a system from a latched stored position to a
fully accessible position and back. The tray includes holes or
slots or a combination of holes and slots together with a securing
means such as bolts, screws, fasteners, adhesives, and the like to
secure the portable storage container to the slidable support
frame.
[0020] A preferred slide mechanism preferably comprises a plurality
of telescoping ball bearing slides secured to a deck, floor,
cabinet base, cabinet wall or a combination of such and secured to
the bottom planar surface of the tray of the support frame. The
secured slides allow for linear motion from a stored position to
one of accessibility for the portable storage container thereon.
The slides incorporate an integral locking/unlocking mechanism such
as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and are activated either
manually or remotely by hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic or
electro-mechanical means.
[0021] An object of the invention is to provide a support frame
tray shape that will accommodate a portable storage container
(insulated or non-insulated) within a restrictive confine of a
space under a leaning post, counter, seat or within a cabinet and
be shaped preferably rectangular, square, circular, triangular or
the like to accommodate a portable storage container and the
available space and may incorporate a smooth or textured
surface.
[0022] It is also an object of the invention is to provide support
frame barriers of a shape and in combination with other barriers
that will restrain a portable storage container upon the tray top
planar surface accommodating a portable storage container of such
shapes as rectangular, square, circular or the like. The barriers
may be molded as a singular construction, separate features
attached or separate features adjustable to any size or shaped
portable storage container.
[0023] It is also an object of the invention is to provide a
vertical wall attached, adhered or molded to the tray bottom planar
surface as a structural support for the sliding frame in the opened
position to prevent damage to the sliding mechanisms and/or the
tray surface should a user stand or sit on the sliding frame
thereby exceeding the lateral weight limitations of the extended
slides or the tray. Additionally the vertical wall may act as a toe
plate safety device to prevent users from catching their toes under
the slidable support frame.
[0024] An object of the present invention is to enable the
above-described portable storage container to be preferably stored
underneath a boat or recreational vehicle leaning post or counter
including a counter top work surface and/or a bench seating
arrangement within a cabinet or other fixed surface. The portable
storage container is stored substantially entirely under the
counter or seating surface and accessible on the support frame when
released from a locked position and linearly withdrawn from under
the leaning post, counter, seat surface or cabinet.
[0025] An additional object of the present invention is to enable
storage of goods for coolers, for dry storage, and like items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the top of a slidable support
frame for storing and accessing a portable storage container.
[0027] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the bottom of a slidable
support frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Disclosed is a slidable support frame for the storage and
accessibility of portable storage containers for boats or
recreational vehicles.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a support frame [100] having a tray [105] with
a top planar surface [110] and showing at least one optional
barrier feature [120] located at the top planar corner(s) [130]
locating a portable storage container [140] on the top planar
surface [110] within the support frame [100]. The tray [105] also
has a bottom planar surface [150] having at least one vertical wall
[160] attached to the bottom planar surface [150]. Additionally,
the bottom planar surface [150] has at least one mechanical slide
[180] thereby enabling linear motion of the support frame [100]
with or without portable storage container [140] for access or
storage.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the support frame [100] and
bottom planar surface [150] showing the fastening features [210]
and the slide [180] location(s).
[0031] The tray [105] may be rectangular, square, round,
trapezoidal, triangular or of any desired shape for the space
allowed and of sufficient strength and may incorporate a smooth or
textured surface.
[0032] The mechanical slide [180] incorporates a hole or slot
feature [220] (shown as a hole) that allows for a locking pin [230]
or mechanism to be placed through the hole or slot feature [220]
thereby locking the slide [180] in an open or closed position.
Other methods of locking and unlocking the slide [180] such as
utilizing a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and activated manually
or remotely by hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic,
electro-mechanical means will be apparent to one skilled in the
art.
[0033] While the principles of this invention have been described
in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood
clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
* * * * *