4.1 The specification
25 The title of the Patent is "Apparatus for Storing or Holding Items".
26 The Field of the Invention states that "[t]he present invention relates to an apparatus for storing or holding one or more items."
27 The Background to the Invention describes known storage systems used in four-wheel drives and commercial vehicles, such as sliding drawers or other sliding arrangements, as follows:
Four-wheel drive and off-road enthusiasts frequently undertake lengthy journeys into wilderness areas. In order to provide for the necessities of life during such journeys, it is common for four [sic] drives and off-road enthusiasts to fit their vehicles with appropriate storage systems and refrigerators. Tradesmen often have to carry many tools in their vehicles and frequently use large tool boxes.
One common storage system fitted to four wheel drive and commercial vehicles includes sliding drawers mounted to the luggage compartment of four wheel drive vehicles. The sliding drawers typically have a common top surface that provides a further surface for storing further items. It will be understood that the top surface is positioned at a height above the height of the floor of the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Refrigerators and tool boxes that are used by four-wheel-drive and off-road enthusiasts (which are typically called "car refrigerators" or "car fridges") or tradesmen typically have a lid that pivots upwardly about a top edge thereof. In order to provide access to such refrigerators or tool boxes, they may be mounted on a sliding arrangement that itself is mounted to the common top surface of the storage drawers. In order to store the fridge or tool box, the sliding arrangement is slid into the vehicle such that the refrigerator or tool box sits over the top surface of the storage drawers. In order to access the refrigerator or tool box, it is slid outwardly so that the sliding arrangement is extended and the refrigerator or tool box extends out of the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
28 It also states that, throughout the specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have any inclusive meaning unless the context of use clearly indicates otherwise.
29 The specification then provides a Brief Description of the Invention, and states that it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that provides an improvement over the prior art devices mentioned above, or at least provides a commercial alternative.
30 The specification goes on to describe aspects of the invention commencing at page 2 line 5. It states that:
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing one or more items, the apparatus comprising a first part adapted to be mounted to a surface or a wall and a second part mounted to the first part, the second part adapted to store or hold one or more items, wherein the second part is movable relative to the first part such that the second part can be moved from a storage position to a first access position at which the second part is at one level, the second part being movable from the first access position to a second access position, the second access position being located at a lower level than the first access position.
31 The specification then progressively informs the reader of the componentry to be used in performing the invention.
32 For example, on page 2, the specification states:
In one embodiment, the second part slidably moves from the storage position to the first access position (and vice versa). When in the storage position, the second part may at least partially overlie the first part. In some embodiments, when in the storage position, the second part may be positioned at essentially the same level as the first part.
33 The concepts of "sliding mechanism" and "linkage arrangement" or "linkage mechanism" are introduced from page 2 line 17 as follows:
In some embodiments, the apparatus is provided with a sliding mechanism that can slidably move relative to the first part, the apparatus further including a linkage arrangement mounted to the sliding mechanism, the linkage mechanism mounting the second part to the sliding mechanism, the linkage mechanism operative to move the second part between the first access position and the second access position.
34 On page 2 commencing at line 23, the specification identifies that the first part, in one embodiment, may comprise opposed rails or sliding guides which are mounted to a surface or wall. One alternative which is stated is that "the opposed rails or sliding guides may be provided with attachment means for mounting to a surface. For example, the attachment means may comprise a strip of adhesive or adhesive tape".
35 On page 3 commencing at line 3, by reference to another embodiment, it is stated that:
The second part may comprise a support frame. Alternatively, the second part may comprise a platform. In either case, the second part is adapted to support one or more items are thereon. For example, the second part may support a small refrigerator, such as a refrigerator commonly used in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It will be appreciated that the second part may provide support for a number of other items and that the present invention should not be considered to be limited solely to use in supporting small refrigerators.
36 The specification also refers to "actuating means", "offset lever", "biasing means" and "pivotally connected". Such references appear in the specification commencing at page 3 line 10 as follows:
The apparatus may further comprise actuating means for moving the second part from the first access position to the second access position. The actuating means may comprise, for example, an offset lever connected to one or more linkages. Moving the lever, such as by rotating the lever upwardly or downwardly, causes the linkages to rotate and causes the second part to move between the first and second access positions. A biasing means, such as a spring, hydraulic cylinder, gas strut or the like, may be used to assist in moving the second part between the first access position and the second access position. A handle may be pivotally connected to the offset lever to facilitate movement of the offset lever.
Preferably movement from the first access position to the second access position comprises simultaneous vertical and horizontal movement. Even more preferably the second part extends further from the first part as it is lowered. Preferably the one or more items are maintained substantially level (i.e. not tilted or angled) when being moved from the storage position to the first access position, and also from the first access position to the second access position. The second part, or at least a portion of the second part, may by [sic] extendable in the second access position.
Preferably the second part is mounted to a mechanism that is adapted to lower the second part from the first access position to the second access position. The mechanism preferably moves/slides with the second part from the storage position to the first access position, and is actuated to move the second part from the first access position to the second access position…
37 Reference is made to the storage position commencing at page 4 line 3 as follows:
In the storage position the first part, second part, and mechanism are preferably adjacent and, even more preferably generally flat. If the second part is holding one or more items, it preferably holds those items from below, or at least at or near a lower region of the item.
38 A second embodiment is described at page 4 of the specification commencing at line 12:
In a second embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing a car fridge or a tool box in or on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a base or frame adapted to be mounted in or on the vehicle, a sliding arrangement fixed to the base or frame, the sliding arrangement being slidably movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a support platform being mounted to the sliding arrangement wherein the support platform is mounted to the sliding arrangement such that when the sliding arrangement is in the extended position, the support platform is movable between a first height that is at essentially the same height as the sliding arrangement and a second height that is lower than a height of the sliding arrangement. Preferably, the second height is lower than the level of the base or frame.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a storage device in which the first access position is lower than the second access position. This provides for easier access in situations where the first part is mounted at a low level.
There may be provided an apparatus for storing a car fridge or a tool box in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a base or frame mounted in the vehicle, a sliding arrangement fixed to the base or frame, the sliding arrangement being slidably movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a support platform being mounted to the sliding arrangement wherein the support platform is mounted to the sliding arrangement such that when the sliding arrangement is in the extended position, the support platform is movable between a first height that is at essentially the same height as the sliding arrangement and a second height that is higher than a height of the sliding arrangement.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing one or more items, the apparatus comprising a first part adapted to be mounted to a surface or a wall and a second part mounted to the first part, the second part adapted to store or hold one or more items, wherein the second part is movable relative to the first part such that the second part can be moved from a storage position to a first access position at which the second part is at one level, the second part being movable from the first access position to a second access position, the second access position being located at a higher level than the first access position.
39 On page 5, lines 11-25, there is described "another aspect" of the invention, in identical terms to claim 1 (being the first independent claim).
40 The specification then contains a further consistory clause commencing on page 5 at line 27, which is in the same terms as claim 15 (being the second independent claim):
In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing a car fridge or a tool box in or on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a base or frame adapted to be mounted in or on the vehicle, a sliding arrangement fixed to the base or frame, the sliding arrangement being slidably movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a support platform being mounted to the sliding arrangement wherein the support platform is mounted to the sliding arrangement by a linkage arrangement including at least one arm pivotally connected at or near one end to the sliding mechanism and pivotally connected at or near another end to the support platform, and an offset lever connected to at least one of the at least one arm such that when the sliding arrangement is in the extended position, the support platform is movable between a first height that is at essentially the same height as the sliding arrangement and a second height that is lower than a height of the sliding arrangement by moving the offset lever.
41 There is then a brief description of the drawings, which includes five drawings of the same embodiment of the invention (Figures 1 to 5). Figures 1 and 2 are reproduced below:
42 Figures 6 to 10 are photographs of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 moving from the first access position to the second access position.
43 At page 8, lines 10-25, the linkage arrangement of the invention is described as follows:
As shown in figures 1 to 5, the support platform 22 is mounted to the sliding arrangement by use of two pivoted linkage arms on either side of the support platform. For example, referring to figure 1, linkage arms 24, 26 are mounted to one side of the platform. Similarly, two other linkage arms are mounted to the other side of the support platform 22. As best shown in figure 5, linkage arm 24 is pivotally mounted as one end to a pin 28. Pin 28, in turn, is mounted to the support platform 22. The linkage arm 24 is pivotally mounted at its other end to a pin 30. Pin 30 is, in turn, mounted to the innermost sliding member 20.
The other linkage arms are mounted to the platform and sliding arrangement in a similar fashion. For example, as shown in figure 1, linkage arm 26 is mounted to the sliding arrangement via pin 32. The other end of linkage 26 is pivotally mounted to the support frame 22 by pin 34. Similarly, on the other side of support platform 22, linkage arm 38 is pivotally mounted at one end to the platform by pin 40 and is pivotally mounted at the other end to the sliding arrangement by pin 42. Linkage arm 44 is pivotally mounted at one end to platform [sic] by pin 46 and pivotally mounted at the other end to the sliding arrangement by pin 48.
44 At page 9, lines 4-23, there is a description of how the platform is moved between the first and second access position in the following terms:
…the apparatus is further provided with an actuating means 60. The actuating means 60 comprises an offset lever 62 having an offset portion 63 that is mounted to linkage arm 24. This may be achieved, for example, by welding the end of offset portion 63 to the linkage arm 24. A handle 66 is connected via pivoting arm 68 to the offset lever 62. A pin 70 is used to connect the pivoting arm 68 to the offset lever 62. A gas strut 72 is also provided. Gas strut 72 is connected at one end via bracket 74 to the sliding mechanism to which the platform 22 is connected. The other end of gas strut 72 is connected to the offset lever 62. As is shown in figure 1, as the platform 22 moves between the first access position 56 and the second access position 58, the gas strut extends to thereby ease lowering and raising of the platform 22.
…
In order to lower the platform 22 from the first access position 56 to the second access position 58, the handle 66 is grasped by a user and swung upwardly. This causes the offset lever 62 to move from the position 62A (see figure 1) to the position 62B (shown in figure 1 in dotted outline). As the end of the offset portion 63 of offset lever 62 is mounted to the linkage arm 24, moving the offset lever as described above (and as shown by reference to arrow 78) causes the linkage arm 24 to pivot downwardly. This also causes the linkage arm 26 to pivot downwardly. The support platform also moved downwardly.
45 At page 11, lines 1-9, it is stated that:
The present invention provides an apparatus that allows for storage of one or more items in the storage position. For ease of access, the apparatus allows the second part to be moved to a first access position. The first access position is normally located outwardly from the storage position so that easier access is provided. The first access position is normally at essentially the same vertical height as the storage position. If the first access position is inconveniently or uncomfortably high, the second part of the apparatus can be moved from the first access position to the second access position. As the second access position is located at a lower level than the first access position, easier access may be obtained.
46 At page 11, lines 10 to 19, the specification states that the invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described and then provides several examples of modifications but does not suggest any modification to the linkage arrangement, the arrangement of the offset lever, or the way in which the offset lever is positioned and interacts with other components of the apparatus. This passage includes the statement that, "Although a support platform is shown in the embodiments…, it will be appreciated that an item to be stored or held by the apparatus may be directly connected to the linkage arms".