A SHELVING ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shelving assembly for installation in a storage compartment of a vehicle. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for installation in trucks, vans, utilities, station wagons and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The storage compartment of trucks or vans are often fitted with shelving designed to store hardware, tools and equipment for carrying out a particular trade.

A shelving system for the storage compartment of a vehicle is described in Australian Innovation Patent No. 2004100146. The shelving system includes framework with shelves. The framework is fixed to the inside wall of the storage compartment. The installation of the shelving system described in AU 2004100146 requires professional fit-out where the vehicle is taken off the road for several days. Professional fit out is required to provide an integrally strong shelving unit. There are considerable costs incurred with a professional fit-out and indirect costs associated with work interruptions and downtime incurred with not having a vehicle for work. Currently all framework shelving systems for the storage compartment of a vehicle require professional installation and the vehicles are taken off the road for a period of time.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelving assembly which overcomes at least in part one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a shelving assembly for the storage compartment of a vehicle including a frame having two first frame members spaced apart by at least one second frame member, two side panel members wherein each of the side panel members is attachable to one of the first frame members so that the side panel members oppose each other when attached to their respective first frame members, and at least one third frame members attachable to each of the side panel members to provide each side panel member with support; a plurality of shelving members positionable between the spaced apart first frame members; mounting means to mount the frame to an inner wall of the storage compartment, said mounting means including a mounting bracket that is fixable to the inner wall and a mounting arm that is attachable to the frame whereby the position of the mounting arm is adjustable to accommodate the position of the frame; wherein the frame, the shelving members and the mounting means forms a modular shelving assembly with structural integrity and is relatively easy to assemble.

The term 'relatively easy to assemble' means that the assembly of the shelving assembly does not require professional installation and includes do-it- yourself (DYI) assembly and installation.

Each of the first and second frame members is preferably elongate and adapted to receive a threaded fastener at or adjacent one or both ends.

Preferably there are two second frame elongate frame members spacing apart the first frame members adjacent each end of the first frame members. Preferably the first members are fastened to one or more of the second members whereby there are inserted nuts to receive a threaded fastener in one or both ends of each first member or second member.

Preferably there is a further third frame member located intermediate of the first frame member and the third frame member. The further third frame member preferably serves to strengthen the frame and allows the positioning and support of shelving members.

Preferably the third frame member braces the side panel near or adjacent the opposing side that is fixed to the first frame member.

The second frame member is preferably fixable to the floor. The first frame member preferably has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures for positioning shelving members on opposing longitudinal sides. When in use the first frame member preferably has an inner side with a plurality of apertures for positioning shelving members and an outer side with a plurality of apertures for fixing the side panel members. Preferably the apertures have insert nuts to receive a threaded fastener.

The shelving members preferably include one or more shelves, one or more support rails for housing cable reels, or a combination thereof.

Each of the shelves preferably has shelf apertures to accommodate fasteners for securing each of the shelves to the first members. The shelf apertures are preferably positioned in opposed side ends of each of the shelves.

The side panel members preferably have panel apertures to allow fastening the first and third members.

Preferably, the side panel members have panel openings to allow light to pass there through. Preferably, an extension side panel member is attachable to one of the side panel members.

The mounting arm is preferably pivotal about the mounting bracket. Preferably, the mounting arm has an arm slot for the adjustable positioning of the mounting arm relative to the frame. The shelving members within the frame can be arranged to suit a person's need or purpose because of the adjustability of the position of the shelving members and the modular nature of the different types of the shelving members.

Because of the modular nature of the shelving assembly, there may be a plurality of frames mounted to the inner wall of the storage compartment. Preferably each of the plurality of frames is joined by at least one bracing member.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a kit for a shelving assembly as described above for do-it-yourself (DYI) assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a shelving assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown mounted to the storage compartment of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a shelving assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a shelving assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1 , there is shown a shelving assembly 10 installed within the storage compartment 11 of a van 12. The shelving assembly 10 includes a frame 14 including side panels 16, several shelves 15 and wall mountings 17. The frame 14 has three pairs of substantially upright supports 20, 21 , 22, an elongate upper bar 24 and an elongate lower bar 26.

The front upright supports 20 are connected to the elongate upper bar 24 and the elongate lower bar 26 at their ends to form a rectangular front frame section 25. Threaded bolts are passed through apertures in the elongate upper bar 24 and fastened to insert nuts in the end of the front upright supports 20. Threaded bolts are passed through apertures in the front upright supports 20 and fastened to insert nuts in the elongate lower bar 26. The elongate lower bar 26 can be bolted to the floor of the van 12.

The frame 14 includes side panels 16 fastenable to the front upright supports 20. The side panel 16 is also fastened to rear upright supports 22 and intermediate upright supports 21. The rear upright supports 22 and intermediate upright supports 21 provides strength and structural integrity to the frame. The rear of the frame 14 is attached to the van wall 18 for support via wall mountings 17.

The wall mounting 17 has a mounting bracket 44 pivotally attached to a mounting arm 42. The mounting bracket 44 is fixed to the inner wall 18 of the van 12

by way of a bolt threaded into an insert nut that has been fitted into the wall of the van. The mounting arm 42 can be pivoted relative to the fixed mounting bracket 44 to a desired position to be attached to and support the frame 14. The mounting arm 42 also has an arm slot 46 through which a bolt is passed locating the mounting arm 42 relative to the intermediate upright 21. The bolt position can be adjusted along the arm slot 46 to reach a desired location. The bolt passes through an aperture 39 in the side panel 16, the mounting arm 42 via the arm slot 46 and fixed to an insert nut within the intermediate upright 21.

A choice of the middle panel apertures 39 available to accommodate the bolt allows the position the mounting arm 42 to be adjusted relative to the side panel 16. The ability to adjust the position the frame 14 relative to the inner wall 18 using the wall mounting 17 provides a universal way of conveniently fitting a frame 14 in storage compartments in different types of vehicles.

The upright supports 20, 21 , 22 have a plurality of spaced apart apertures 32 in their inside wall 30 when assembled in a frame 14. The position of the support apertures 32 on the inside wall 30 of the upright supports 20, 21 , 22 are offset relative to the position of the apertures 28 on the outer side wall 29 for fixing the side panel 16. Both sets of apertures 32, 28 have insert nuts to which threaded bolts can be fastened. The insert nuts are positioned within the apertures 32, 28 during manufacture. The insert nuts have complementary screw threads that engage the threads of the bolts that are used to secure the shelves 15 or side panels 16 to the upright supports 20, 21 , 22.

The apertures 32 are used to secure shelves 15 to the assembled frame 14. The apertures 32 allow the position of each shelf 15 to be changed to suit a particular storage requirement.

Each shelf 15 has two opposed side ends 33 that have shelf apertures 34. Bolts pass through the shelf apertures 34 and are directly threaded into the apertures 32. This avoids having further nuts protruding from the outer face of the side panel 16. The shelf apertures 34 are positioned at two different levels above the shelf floor 35. At any one time, shelf apertures 34 at only one level are used. The two different levels of the shelf apertures 34 provide adjustability in positioning each shelf 15 on the supports 22, 20. Although not shown in the figures, each shelf 15 can also be secured by further bolts to the intermediate support 21. The increased support provided by the additional bolts would be desirable where there is a heavier load placed on the shelves 15. The intermediate support 21 also allows narrower shelves, not shown in the figures, to be secured through at least two points on each shelf 15.

The side panels 16 have panel apertures 39 and panel openings 40. The bolts that secure the side panels 16 to the supports 20, 21 , 22 are passed through the panel apertures 39 and are threaded into the apertures 32 of the support 20, 21 , 22. The panel openings 40 provide ventilation and allow light to pass through the side panels 16 and illuminate the shelves 15.

An extension side panel, not shown in the figures, can be attached to the side panel 16 with bolts placed through the panel apertures 39 at the lower end of the side panels 16. The extension side panel can be used for the provision of additional storage or extra shelves.

With reference to Figure 2, there is shown a second embodiment of the shelving assembly 60. The shelving assembly 60 has two shelving units 61 that are mounted side by side each other in the storage compartment 62 of a van 63. Each

shelving unit 61 has a frame 64 with side panels 65 and shelves 66. Each shelving unit 61 is mounted to the inner wall of the van 63 by wall mountings 68. The shelving units 61 are joined to each other by two bracing plates 69. The shelving units 61 have the features as described above. With reference to Figure 3, there is shown a third embodiment of the shelving assembly 75. The shelving assembly 75 has a single shelving unit 76 having a frame 77 with two side panels 78, shelves 79, and two support rails 80. The shelving unit 76 is mounted to an inner wall the van 83 by wall mountings 84. The features of the shelving unit 76 are as described above. Each of the two support rails 80 replace a shelf and are used to store reels of cable or wire.

The components of each of the shelving assemblies described above are modular and the components can be selectively interchanged. Furthermore the shelving assemblies can be packaged into a kit for sale and transport. The components of the kit can be easily assembled to build the shelving assembly without the need for welding.

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the storage assembly includes having modular parts that can be assembled to form a storage assembly with structural integrity.

Another advantage of a preferred embodiment is that the modular parts can be assembled without the need of welding. This allows the shelving assembly to be easily and quickly constructed thereby reducing the down time required for installing the shelving assembly in a vehicle. The modular parts of the shelving assembly can also be conveniently packaged and sold as a DYI kit.

A further advantage of the preferred embodiment is the ability to use the wall mounting to adjust the position the shelving unit of the shelving assembly relative to the inner wall of the vehicle. The adjustability of the wall mounting provides a universal way of conveniently fitting shelving units in storage compartments of different types of vehicles.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.