Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a warning cone, and more specifically to a warning cone comprising internal storage. The present invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising a warning cone, where the warning cone comprises internal storage.

Background to the Invention

Warning cones are often used to highlight flooring areas with reduced grip, such as wet floors during a cleaning process and where there has been a spillage. As flooring with a reduced grip can be dangerous to the public due to the increased likelihood of slips and falls, there is a desire to reduce the amount of time for which any reduced grip situation persists.

Whilst current warning cones adequately highlight areas with a reduced grip to the public, they do little to decrease the amount of time taken for a user to restore the flooring to its usual grip level. As such, there is a desire to provide an improved warning cone that may allow a user to clean floors and spillages more quickly, reducing the period for which the floor remains in a low grip state and, concomitantly, reducing the risk of slips and falls. Additionally, current solutions may require the user to leave the area of reduced grip during the cleaning process, again increasing the risk of slips and falls amongst the public.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning cone comprising a body portion with an exterior surface and an interior, wherein the interior comprises a storage volume, the storage volume accessible, in use, via an aperture in the exterior surface.

In this way, there is advantageously provided a warning cone with an internal storage area where a user can store items required during the cleaning of a floor or the removal of a spillage. As such, the user can quickly access products, such as spares, cleaning products or other chemicals, required to complete the necessary cleaning processes, reducing the time the floor will remain in a low grip state. Additionally, as the products may be stored within the warning cone, the user is not required to leave the low grip area to complete the cleaning process to collect additional supplies. Therefore, the user will always be present to warn the public of the low grip rea, reducing any risk.

Preferably, the warning cone comprises a door configured to move between a first position whereby a user may access the storage volume via the aperture and a second position whereby the door occludes the aperture. Such a feature may be advantageous as it may allow the content of the storage volume to be secured within the warning cone. Additionally, when the door occludes the aperture, the visual impact of the warning cone will not be disrupted by the contents of the storage volume.

Preferably, the door is lockable in said second position. Such a feature may be preferable as it may allow hazardous chemicals and other cleaning products to be stored securely within the storage volume.

Preferably, the door is hingedly connected to the body portion.

Preferably, the warning cone comprises at least one castor wheel located at the base of the body portion. The inclusion of at least one castor wheel may allow the warning cone to be moved easily between sites. Ensuring ease of movement of the warning cone is of increased importance when the storage volume may contain heavy materials or significant volumes of cleaning fluids.

Preferably, the warning cone comprises a plurality of castor wheels. Preferably, at least one castor wheel within the plurality of castor wheels is locakable. The provision of a lockable castor wheel may be preferable as it may allow the warning cone to be secured in position in an area of low grip.

Preferably, the warning cone further comprises a handle. Including a handle may be preferable as it may allow a user to move the warning cone more easily. Preferably, the handle is located proximate to the top of the warning cone. Preferably, the warning cone comprises at least one bracket mounted on the body portion. Such a bracket may be advantageously included to allow additional cleaning equipment to be stored on the warning cone.

Preferably, the at least one bracket comprises at least one hinged portion movable between a first position where the hinged portion lies adjacent to the body portion and a second position where the hinged portion projects outwardly from the body portion. In this way, the bracket may be reconfigured to allow different items of cleaning equipment to be stored on the warning cone.

Preferably, the bracket comprises at least two hinged portions, where each hinge portion is independently movable between a first position where the hinged portion lies adjacent to the body portion and a second position where the hinged portion projects outwardly from the body portion. The provision of two hinged portions may advantageously allow for more items of cleaning equipment to be stored on the warning cone.

Preferably, the at least two hinged portions are evenly spaced around the perimeter of the warning cone.

Preferably, the warning cone comprises at least one securing portion connected to the body portion. Again, the use of at least one securing portion may allow for further cleaning equipment to be stored on the warning cone.

Preferably, the securing portion comprises at least one resiliently deformable clip. The use of a resiliently deformable clip may allow cleaning equipment with different sized handles to be secured and or stored on the warning cone. Preferably, the securing portion comprises at least two resiliently deformable clips. Preferably, the resiliently deformable clips are evenly spaced around the perimeter of the warning cone.

Preferably, the at least one securing portion is, in use, located above the at least one bracket. In this way, the at least one securing portion and the at least one bracket may combine to secure cleaning equipment to the warning cone. Preferably, the storage volume comprises at least one shelf. Preferably, the storage volume comprises at least one container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising the warning cone of any one preceding claim and a mop.

In this way, a kit of parts with the hereinbefore described advantages is provided.

Preferably, the mop is reversibly securable to the warning cone. Preferably, the mop is a flat mop.

Preferably, the kit of parts further comprises a brush. More preferably, the bush is reversibly securable to the warning cone.

Preferably, the kit of parts further comprises a dustpan. More preferably, the dustpan is reversibly securable to the warning cone.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a warning cone in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the interior of the warning cone illustrated in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a kit of parts including the warning cone of Figures 1 and 2 in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention.

Figure 1 depicts a warning cone 100 according to a first aspect of the present invention. As can be seen from Figure 1, the warning cone 100 includes a body portion 110, the body portion connected to a door 120 by three hinges 130. The three hinges 130 hingedly connect the door 120 to the body portion 110 along a single edge of the door 120, such that a user can move the door 120 relative to the body portion 110. The door 120 further comprises a lock 140, the lock 140 positioned close to the edge of the door 120 opposite the hinges 130. As such, the lock 140 can be used to secure the door 120 in a closed position whereby the door 120 lies substantially parallel to a face of the body portion 110.

The waning cone 100 further comprises a handle 150 located at the top of the body portion 110. The handle 150 projects outwardly from the body portion 110 for ease of gripping by the user. The handle 150 is costed in a textured rubber to ensure it can be gripped by a user even when the user may have damp or wet hands.

At the base of the body portion 110, the warning cone includes four castor wheels 160. The castor wheels 160 allow the warning cone 100 to be moved across a floor easily by the user. Each castor wheel 160 can rotate around two axes, one parallel to the surface upon which the warning cone 100 sits, and one perpendicular to the same surface. If desired, each castor wheel 160 can be locked by the user to secure the warning cone 100 in a desired location. Any locking of the castor wheels 160 can be reversed by the user when the further movement of the warning cone 100 is desired.

The warning cone 100 further includes a bracket 170, the bracket 170 further including first 171 and second 172 hinged portions. Here, the first 171 and second 172 hinged portions are located on opposite sides of the body portion 110, and each is movable from a first position where the hinged portions 171 , 172 lie substantially adjacent to a surface of the body portion 110 to a position where the hinged portions 171 , 172 project outwardly from the body portion 110. In the projecting position, the hinged portions 171 , 172 can support and or secure cleaning equipment on the warning cone 100.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the bracket 170 and the hinged portions 171, 172 are located below the door 120. Additionally, the bracket 170 extends around the perimeter of the body portion 110, and the hinged portions 171, 172 are located on faces of the body portion 110 that do not include the door 120. The hinged portions 171 , 172 can be moved independently of one another, with each extending along a separate face of the body portion 110 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the warning cone 100. The warning cone 100 further includes a securing portion 180, the securing portion 180 further including first 181 and second 182 clips or grips. Here, the first 181 and second 182 clips are located on opposite sides of the body portion 110. Each of the clips 181 , 182 is resiliently deformable to secure, for example, the handle of a piece of cleaning equipment to the warning cone 100. Each of the clips 181, 182 is located above a hinged portion 171, 172 of the bracket 170. As such, the clips 181 , 182 and the hinged portions 171, 172 can, together, secure and support cleaning equipment on the warning cone 100.

The securing portion 180 and the clips 181 , 182 are located above the door 120. Additionally, the securing portion 180 extends around the perimeter of the body portion 110, and the clips 181 , 182 are located on faces of the body portion 110 that do not include the door 120.

Turning to Figure 2, there is illustrated a second schematic view of the warning cone 100 of Figure 1 where the door is illustrated as transparent. In addition to the features shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 illustrates the interior of the warning cone that includes a first shelf 191 and a second shelf 192. The first 191 and second 192 shelves can be used to store materials, such as cleaning fluids, within the warning cone 100. On use, the lock 140 on the door 120 can be used to secure the door 120 in a position where the aperture through the body portion 110 into the interior of the warning cone 100 is completely occluded. As such, the warning cone 100 can be used to store secure materials within its interior in a storage volume, the storage volume accessible on demand by a user.

Figure 3 illustrates a kit of parts including the warning cone 100 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In addition to the warning cone 100, the kit of parts comprises a flat mop 200, a brush 300, and a dustpan 400. As such, the kit of parts comprises all the elements required for a user to clean a floor or tidy away a spillage efficiently.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the flat mop 200, brush 300 and dustpan 400 are all releasably secured to the warning cone 100 via the bracket, 170, hinged portions 171 , 172, securing portion 180 and clips 181, 182 such that the flat mop 200, brush 300 and dustpan 400 can be removed and replaced by a user as required. Additionally, the positioning of the flat mop 200, brush 300 and dustpan 400 on the warning cone 100 ensures that the door 120 is not obscured, such that the user always has access to the contents of the storage volume.