Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-05-08
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226930
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the field of rentable storage space, and, more particularly, to an improved storage system in which a storage bay has at least one, and possibly two, movable walls that allow the total volume of available space to be tailored to the specific needs of one or more consumers.
BACKGROUND ARTS
The need for storage space has increased in recent years due to the bulk of goods that must be stored, either long term or short term.
The past decade has also seen the growth of rentable self-storage systems. These are usually in the form of single-storey buildings having access, typically through an upwardly-acting door, to a volume of space therewithin. Usually, there are access doors provided on opposite sides of the building, and the volume of space between two transversely-aligned access doors is separated by an interior partition. In many instances, the partition is fixed and subdivides the total space between the two doors into two fixed volumes. However, this may not be the most efficient way to utilize such available space. For example, one person might wish to store a boat and trailer over the winter, and might need more space than would be afforded by a half of the total door-to-door volume. On the other hand, another person may wish to rent less than a half bay.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved storage system in which the total volume of the rentable space may be selectively and adjustably divided and tailored to the particular needs of the individual consumer.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention broadly provides an improved storage system (
20
), such as contained within static structures and the like.
In its broad form, the improved storage system has substantially-parallel first and second walls (
21
,
22
) spaced from one another, and has a third wall (
29
) mounted for movement relative to the first and second walls. The improvement comprises track means (
26
) for guiding movement of the third wall relative to the first and second walls. The track means has a first track (
31
) positioned substantially parallel to the first wall, a second track (
32
) positioned substantially parallel to the second wall, a first carriage (
33
) mounted on the third wall and operatively engaging the first track for movement therealong, and a second carriage (
44
) mounted on the third wall and operatively engaging the second track for movement therealong. The improvement also includes locking means (
28
) operatively arranged to releasably hold at least one of the carriages to the associated track for preventing unintended movement of the third wall relative to the first and second walls; whereby the third wall may be releasably held in an adjustable position relative to the first and second walls such that the total volume of available space may be tailored and partitioned according to the particular needs of the individual consumer.
In the preferred form, the first track is mounted on the first wall, and the second track is mounted on the second wall. Indeed, the first track may comprise two or more parallel tracks, with carriages associated with each. The locking means may include a plurality of recesses (
36
) on one of the tracks, and a detent (
41
) mounted on the associated carriage, such that the detent may be selectively engaged with any one of the recesses to prevent unintended movement of the third wall relative to the first and second walls. The detent may be pivotally mounted on the carriage. A keeper may also be mounted on a carriage in association with the detent to accommodate a lock, such as a pad lock, a combination lock or the like, by which the wall may be releasably held in a particular position against unintended movement.
In a particularly preferred form, the locking means is a first locking means, and the improvement further comprises a fourth wall (
30
) mounted for movement relative to the first and second walls, a third carriage mounted on the fourth wall and engaging the first track, a fourth carriage mounted on the fourth wall and engaging the second track, and second locking means mounted on one of the third and fourth carriages and selectively engageable with the associated track for preventing unintended movement of the fourth wall relative to the first and second walls. This form is particularly preferred because it provides two independently-movable walls between the two doors of back-to-back bays, such that the rentable volumes accessible through the doors may be separately and independently varied.
In the preferred form, each carriage has at least two vertically-spaced rollers, and the associated track is passed between these rollers.
Accordingly, the general objective of the invention is to provide an improved storage system.
Another object is to provide an improved storage system in which the total volume of space between two oppositely-disposed access doors is divided by at least one, and preferably two, interior movable wall partitions such that the rentable space accessible through each door may be separately and independently varied.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the foregoing and ongoing written specification, the drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4049311 (1977-09-01), Dietrich
patent: 4943110 (1990-07-01), Pastva
Friedman Carl D.
McDermott Kevin
Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber LLP
Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership
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