LIQUID STORAGE TANK WITH OPTIONAL COMPARTMENTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention THIS INVENTION relates to a liquid storage tank.

More particularly, the invention relates, but is not limited, to a liquid storage tank with optional compartments; where the liquid storage tank can be used in the transport of vehicles (as hereinafter defined).

Dictionary A. The term "tank" shall be used throughout the specification to include a tank, container, or like hollow storage device suitable for the storage and / or transport of liquid(s), such as water, petroleum or other fuel(s), oils or other lubricants, coolants, and / or the like.

B. The term "vehicle" shall be used to include: (i) a land-based vehicle, such as a motorcycle or bicycle; but shall also include a three- wheeled vehicle, such as a tricycle or trike; and a four- or more-wheeled vehicle, such as an automobile (e.g., car or utility), small 4WD, quad-bike or the like; (ii) a water-based vehicle, such as a personal watercraft (e.g. of the type sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Jet Ski") or other small watercraft (e.g. a dinghy with an outboard motor); and / or (ii) an amphibious vehicle.

C. The term "wheel" shall be used to also include a tyre, or tyre / wheel assembly, of a vehicle.

D. The term "hull" shall be used to include any base-portion of the body, and / or pontoon(s) or outrigger(s), or the like, of a watercraft and / or

of an amphibious vehicle. 3. Prior Art

Apart from their uses in practical applications, e.g., agriculture and mining, many land-based vehicle owners like to use their vehicles in recreational pursuits, which may occur at off-road locations, such as along forest trails, sandy beaches, desert tracks and the like.

Typically, the owners or operators of these off-road locations require that any vehicles operated thereon must be cleaned before leaving those areas to prevent the transfer of pests such as noxious weeds, insects and the like.

For example, a motorcyclist may require up to, or in excess of, 200litres (200L) of water to clean his motorcycle, and this water must be transported in container(s) which can stand up to the rigors of the journey to/ from the off-road location. Typically, the water is transported in 20litre (20L) plastic containers. However, these containers are relatively bulky; and can be difficult to accommodate with all the other required equipment, e.g., helmets / spare fuel / spare tyres, etc.

For an operator of a watercraft, e.g. of the type sold under the

Registered Trade Mark "Jet Ski"), or of a small dinghy fitted with a small outboard motor; the ability to quickly wash the watercraft and / or flush the cooling system of the outboard motor after use minimizes possible corrosion due to metal-contact with salty and / or dirty water.

Similar comments apply to an operator of an amphibious vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid storage tank, with at least one liquid storage compartment, which is capable of receiving and engaging at least one wheel, or hull, of a vehicle. It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such a tank where the / some / all of the wheel(s), or hull(s), of the vehicle are simultaneously engaged.)

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide such a tank which can be releasably mounted on, or supported by, a chassis, or load-bearing tray, of a transport vehicle.

It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide such a tank which incorporates an upstanding end wall, which may also incorporate at least one recess or channel operable to receive and / or engage at least one wheel of a vehicle. It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide such a tank where the upstanding end wall incorporates one or more storage compartments for the same, or additional, liquid(s), a pump, tools and / or other parts or accessories for the vehicle(s).

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In a first aspect, the present invention resides in a liquid storage tank including: a hollow body having at least one liquid storage compartment therein; and

at least one elongate recess or channel in a top wall of the, or each, liquid storage compartment, to receive and / or engage at least one wheel or hull of at least one vehicle.

Preferably, the, or each, elongate recess or channel is provided in a substantially planar portion of the top wall of the, or each, liquid storage compartment; and one end of the, or each, elongate recess or channel extends to at least one end wall of the hollow body to enable wheel(s) of the vehicle(s) to be wheeled; or the hull(s) of the vehicle(s) to be slid or otherwise moved; into, or out of, engagement with the, or each, elongate recess or channel.

Preferably, the, or each, elongate recess or channel may be provided parallel to, or at an angle to, a longitudinal axis of the hollow body.

Preferably, but not exclusively, one, two or three elongate recesses or channels are provided in the top wall; and preferably, the width of the, or each, elongate recess or channel is equal to, or just slightly wider than, the width of the vehicle wheel(s), or the central portion(s) of the vehicle hull(s), to be received and / or engaged therein .

Preferably, an upstanding end wall may be provided at an end of the hollow body; and the upstanding end wall may be formed integrally with, or be releasably detachable from, the hollow body.

Preferably, at least one vertical recess or channel is provided in the upstanding wall, where the, or each, vertical recess or channel is aligned with a respective elongate recess or channel.

Preferably, each vertical recess or channel has sidewalls which are

substantially parallel, or inwardly convergent, in top plan view .

Preferably, the upstanding end wall may contain one or more (hollow) storage compartments for (a) liquids, such as water /fuel /lubricant /coolant; and / or for (b) articles, such as a liquid pump or tyre pump / liquid hose / spray nozzle assembly; helmet / gloves / spare chain / spare tyre / spare tube / puncture repair kit / tools and / or the like.

Preferably, the hollow body and / or the upstanding end wall may be (a) manufactured from suitable plastics, e.g. such as PVC or HDPE, by a method such as "roto-moulding"; or (b) be fabricated from sheet metal, e.g., stainless steel or aluminium. However, other suitable materials (or combinations thereof) and / or other suitable construction / fabrication methods may be used.

Preferably, the upstanding end wall may be of hollow and / or "shell" construction, where the, or each, (hollow) storage compartment(s) may be provided with access panel(s) and / or door(s), to provide access to any article(s) stored therein.

Preferably, the liquid storage tank is mounted, either permanently or detachably, on a transport vehicle for the transport of at least one vehicle.

In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a method of transporting at least one vehicle employing at least one liquid storage tank hereinbefore described.

In a third aspect, the present invention resides in a transport vehicle incorporating, or provided with, at least one liquid storage tank as hereinbefore described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a part-sectional view of a first embodiment of the liquid storage tank, suitable for the transport of two motorcycles;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, with a motorcycle shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view showing the engagement between the front tyre of the motorcycle and the recesses or channels of the upstanding wall;

FIG. 4 is a similar view, where the recesses or channels have an alternative (tapered) profile;

FIG. 5 is a similar view to that of FIG. 2, of a second embodiment of the present invention, where the liquid storage tank only engages the front wheel of the motorcycle;

FIG. 6 is a similar view to that of FIG. 2, where the hull of a watercraft engages rollers or skids within, or forming, the recesses or channels; and FIG. 7 is a sectional end view of one of the skids taken on line 7-7 on FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The motorcycle M illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is of the "enduro-" or "dirt-" bike type; but the addressee will appreciate that the invention is also applicable to other motorcycles M, e.g., of the "sports-" or "touring-" road

types. The motorcycle M has a front wheel / tyre assembly F and a rear wheel / tyre assembly R, one or both of which will be engaged by the liquid storage tanks of the two embodiments as hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, or FIG. 5, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid storage tank 110, of the first embodiment, has a liquid storage compartment in the form of a water storage tank 120, which can be secured to, or releasably mountable on, the chassis or load tray LT of a suitable transport vehicle TV, such as a utility, light truck or towed trailer, which has wheels TVW. The water storage tank 120 has a hollow body 121 "roto-moulded" from suitable plastics material (e.g. PVC or HDPE) with a top wall 122, bottom wall 123, side walls 124 & 125, a first end wall 126, and a second end wall 127; the water storage tank 120 being substantially rectangular in plan view and of a length at least greater than the wheelbase of the motorcycle M.

A pair of elongate recesses 128, 129 are integrally moulded in the top wall 122 of the water storage tank 120; and as illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 2, the elongate recesses 128, 129 are upwardly inclined from the first end wall 126 to the second end wall 127 to provide a "loading ramp". The elongate recesses 128, 129 may be provided with low-friction liners 128A, 129A.

Internal ribs and / or baffles within the water storage tank 120 provide mechanical strength thereto to support the motorcycle M and / or minimize the unwanted excessive movement of the water W "sloshing" in the water

storage tank 120 when the liquid storage tank 110, and motorcycle M, are being transported by the transport vehicle TV.

The water VV may be supplied to, or drawn from, the water storage tank 120 via a suitable inlet/outlet 121 A, or via an inlet and an outlet connected to a liquid pump P, to be hereinafter described.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two elongate recesses 128, 129 provided parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top wall 122 of the water storage tank 120.

Depending on the number of motorcycles M to be transported, there may be one, two or three such elongate recesses, which may either be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top wall 122; or be angled thereto, e.g., to accommodate vehicle(s) with long wheelbases.

An upstanding end wall 130, preferably also "roto-moulded" from the same / similar plastics material, is of a "shell-like" construction, where a vertical front wall 131 is provided with a pair of vertical recesses 132, 133 aligned with the elongate recesses 128, 129; the vertical recesses 132, 133 being arranged to receive and engage the front wheel(s) F of the respective motorcycle(s) M.

It will be noted by the skilled addressee that the height of the upstanding end wall 130 is at least 50% of the diameter of the front or rear wheel(s) F, R engaged with the vertical recesses 132, 133 to provide sufficient lateral stability to the wheel(s) F, R.

One or more hollow storage compartments 134 may be provided in the upstanding end wall 130 to provide storage for:

a) a liquid pump P and pipe connected to an external hose connector HC; b) a water pump, flexible hose and spray nozzle assembly; c) storage(s) for water, fuel, lubricant, coolant or other liquid(s); d) helmet(s) and / or gloves; e) spare chain, tube and / or tyre; f) tools, including a tyre pump or tyre compressor; and / or g) other accessories for the rider and / or the motorcycle M. An access panel 135 may be detachably mounted on, or hingedly connected to, the, or each, storage compartment 134. Access may be provided to the, or each, storage compartment 134 from either side of the upstanding end wall 130.

It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the water storage tank 120 can easily accommodate, e.g., 20+litres (20+L) per motorcycle M ; with limited effect on the centre of gravity (CG.) of the transport vehicle TV, as the water W is stored below the motorcycle^) M, i.e. just above the level of the chassis or load tray LT of the transport vehicle TV.

Furthermore, where a transport vehicle TV with a long chassis or load tray LT is to be used to transport a large number of motorcycles M, e.g., to a remote area, the upstanding end wall 130 may be omitted from one liquid storage tank 110, to enable the water storage tank 120 thereof to be connected to the similar water storage tank 120 of a second liquid storage tank 110, so that the motorcycles M can be arranged in rows of two or more.

As illustrated in FIG.3, the elongate recesses 132, 133 may have a profile (= the profile of elongate recesses 128, 129) where the sidewalls thereof are substantially parallel in plan view, & engage respective side faces of the front or rear tyres F, R of the motorcycle^) M. As illustrated in FIG. 4, modified elongate recesses 132A, 133A may have an inwardly convergent profile in plan view, to created a 'wedging" engagement between the sidewalls thereof and the front or rear tyres F, R of the motorcycle(s) M.

In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the liquid storage tank 210 has an upstanding end wall 230 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to upstanding vertical end wall 130 of the first embodiment of

FIGS. 1 to 3; but where the water storage tank 220 is of relatively reduced length so that only the front wheel F of the, or each, motorcycle M are received in an elongate recess 228, 229 in the top wall 222 of the water storage tank 220.

While this arrangement provides less water storage capacity, and less overall stability for the motorcycle(s) M during transport, the engagement of the front wheel(s) F of the motorcycle(s) M in the elongate recesses 228, 229 and vertical recesses 232, 233 of the liquid storage tank 210 will enable safe transport of the motorcycle(s) M to and from the riding location.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 5, the total water storage capacity of the liquid storage tank 210 can be increased by making the upstanding end wall 230 of similar hollow construction to that of the water storage tank 220, and the respective water storage compartments may be interconnected,

or isolated, as preferred.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the elongate recesses 128, 129, 228, 229 and vertical recesses 132, 133, 232, 233 may be provided at a width corresponding to the track of four-wheeled vehicle(s) A, e.g. ofthe type(s) such as a "dune-buggy", "quad-bike", off-road utility or

SUV, 4WD, amphibious vehicle, or the like.

For three-wheeled vehicles T, e.g., "trikes", three elongate recesses may be provided in the top walls 122, 222 of the water storage tanks 120, 220 complementary to the respective tracks between the front wheel F and the two rear wheels R; and a single vertical recess may be provided in the upstanding end wall 130, 230 to receive and engage the front wheel F of the "trike" T.

As hereinbefore described, the liquid storage tanks 110, 210 may be manufactured (e.g. by "roto-moulding" / "rotational-moulding" methods) from plastics material (e.g. PVC, HDPE); but they may also be constructed from metals, such as stainless steel or aluminium; or a combination of materials and / or manufacturing / construction method(s).

The upstanding end walls 130, 230 may be formed integrally with, or be releasably detachable from, the water storage tanks 120, 220, where the upstanding end walls 130, 230 are detachable, e.g., for more compact storage when not in use, or to enable a plurality of the liquid storage tanks 110, 210 to be interconnected together on a long-wheelbase transport vehicle TV .

The top wall 122, 222 and /or side walls 124, 125 of the water storage

tanks 120, 220 and / or upstanding end walls 130, 230 may be provided with tie-down attachment members, or anchors, (not shown) to ensure releasable securement of the vehicle(s) M, A, T to the liquid storage tanks 110, 210 and / or the transport vehicle TV. In a third embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 6 & 7, the elongate recesses 128, 129, 228, 229 of the water storage tank 320 (of liquid storage tank 310) are substituted by elongate recesses 328, 329 configured, or profiled, to engage and support at least the central portions of the hull(s) H of respective personal watercraft PWC (e.g. of the "Jet Ski" (Registered Trade Mark) type), or of small watercraft WC (e.g. of the type known as "dinghys") (which may be fitted with outboard motors rated up to e.g. 25-30HP).

Preferably, the elongate recesses 328, 329 are provided with "low- friction" skid(s) 358,359, preferably lined with low-friction linings 358A, 359A formed of plastics-material, such as "Teflon" (Registered Trade Mark), or the like. The skid(s) 358, 359 may be mounted on flexible springs 368, or on (preferably hingedly mounted) arms or fingers 369, to conform to different shapes / profiles of the hulls H of the watercraft WC, PWC (or of the amphibious vehicle(s) A).

Alternatively, or additionally, rollers 378, of complementary profile, may be rotatably journalled in the elongate recesses 328, 329, to engage and support the hull(s) H.

Guide rollers and / or guide skids 388 can be provided adjacent the elongate recesses 328, 329, to laterally locate the hull(s) H in the elongate recesses 328, 329.

The vertical recesses 332, 333, in the upstanding end wall 330, may have a substantially V-shaped profile, in top plan view, to substantially conform to the profile(s) of the bow(s) B of the hull(s) H.

The skilled addressee will also appreciate that the present invention can be used in association with amphibious vehicle(s) A, where the elongate and / or vertical recesses engage the wheel(s) and / or hull(s) of such vehicle(s) A.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated, e.g. to suit applications for other vehicle(s), without departing from the present invention.