WO1986006595A1

WO1986006595A1 - Storage device

Info

Publication number: WO1986006595A1
Application number: PCT/GB1985/000202
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Muirhead
Original assignee: James Muirhead
Priority date: 1985-05-14
Filing date: 1985-05-14
Publication date: 1986-11-20
Also published as: EP0260251A1

Abstract

A storage device (1) comprises a pair of upstanding end members (2) joined by a plurality of tie-bar members (3, 4, 5), such that lower tie-bar members (3, 4) define a floor plane and at least one tie-bar member (5) serves as a back, and a plurality of divider members (7); each tie-bar member includes slots (6) for locating said plurality of divider members to stand in mutually spaced relationship between and generally parallel to the end members at positions selected by a user.

Description

STORAGE DEVICE The present invention relates to a storage device and in particular to storage devices suitable for keeping items such as books, phonograph or video discs, files and telephone directories in an upright position.

Storage devices for such articles are known which have a shel f member and a back member extending between two end members. Articles such as books may be stood on the shel f member supported at the sides by the end members. When only a few articles are to be placed on the shelf member, or when groups of articles are' to be kept separate, there is a need for supports intermediate the end members. General ly, storage de ices of this kind proposed in the past have not provided a sufficiently ready means for inserting intermediate supports at any desired position.

The present invention provides a storage device comprising a pair of upstanding end members joined by a plurality of tie-bar members, there being at least a pair of lower tie-bar members . defi ni ng a floor plane and at least one tie-bar member above said pair of lower tie-bar members serving as back, and a plurality of divider members, each tie-bar member including means for locating said plurality of divider members to stand in mutually spaced relationship between and generally parallel to the end members at positions selected by a user.

Preferably, there are two tie-bar members defining the floor plane and one or two tie-bar members above the .floor plane serving as a back. Preferably, the tie-bar members serving as a back lie vertical ly above one of the tie-bar members defining the floor plane, or slightly outside the area vertically above the tie-bar members defining the floor plane, so that the tie-bar members define a right angle triangle or a sl ightly obtuse triangle.

Preferably, each tie-bar member comprises a large number of recesses, such as transverse elongate slots or aligned circular bores. The recesses on the respective tie- bar members should be so al igned with respect to recesses on other tie-bar members that they a r e adapted to receive and locate the plurality of divider members.

The divider members may be plate like members , e.g. substantially triangular plate like members adapted to locate in both the tie-bar(s) acting as a back and the tie-bar members defining the floor plane. Alternatively, the dividers may be bar like members adapted to extend from the or a back tie-bar member to a forward tie-bar member defining the floor plane.

Preferably, the end members are assembled to the the tie-bar members by engagement of formations, preferably interlocking formations, provided on said members and are locked in engagement at each joint by the insertion of a locking element. ^' Preferably, such assembly is or may be carried out without the use of tools. A suitable method of joining the tie-bar members to the end members is for each end member to be provided with a plural ity of bores and the tie-bar members to be each provided at each end with one or more male formations receivable in said bores to join the end members to the tie-bar members. The male formations may include locking formations to lock with the end members, e.g. each male formation may comprise a pair of legs resiliently deformable towards one another and having at least one rearwardly facing abutment to be passed into the bore of a respective end member and to locate against a far surface thereof to prevent withdrawal , or to locate against a corresponding oppositely facing abutment within the bore so as to prevent withdrawal . In such a case, the tie-bar can be disconnected from the end member by once again deforming the pair of legs towards one another to clear the rearward facing abutment from its engagement with the end member so that the male formation may be withdrawn through the bore.

A locking element may be provided to locate - 4 - between the legs of the male formation when the tie-bar is connected to the end member so as to prevent deformation of the legs towards one another to clear said abutment and hence to prevent withdrawal of the male formation from its receiving bore. The locking element in this case may comprise a head portion having extending therefrom a tongue adapted to be received between the legs of the male formation of the tie-bar member. In an alternative arrangement, the male formation of the tie-bar member and the bore of the end member may be so shaped that the male formation can enter the bore in at least one attitude and by rotation about the axis of the tie-bar member may be brought to a second attitude in which it cannot be withdrawn.

For instance, there may be one or more slots laterally extending in the male formation of the tie- bar member in which are received inwardly projecting edge portions of the bore wall upon rotation of the tie-bar member.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of this type, the bore in the end member is a through bore which is generally circular but has a scalloped interior formation. The male formation of the tie-bar may be of square cross section having rounded corners and is constituted by a pair of parallel spaced plate -. -

like members of said square cross section joined by webs leaving slot like recesses at each corner between the plate like members. The end most of the plate like members of the male formation is adapted to past through the bore in the end member in one of several orientations and upon rotation, intruding portions of the scalloped formation of the edge of the bore locate in the slot l ike recesses in the corner portions of the male forma ion to prevent withdrawal of the male formation from the bore.

In an alternative construction of this kind the bore may be of similar shape to the end plate l ike member of the tie-bar, e.g. square or substantial ly square. The end plate like member may then pass through the bore when correctly rotationally orientated and upon rotation of the tie-bar member corner portions of the end plate-like member will overly portions of the end member, so preventing withdrawal .

Alternatively, the said male formation can be provided with one or more lateral ly projecting ears or tongues receivable in grooves defined between two parallel extending projections from the bore wall .

A locking element may be provided adapted to be inserted into said bore after said male formation has been rotated to said second attitude to prevent rotation out of said attitude and hence to prevent withdrawal of the male formation from the bore.

Instead of the male formation being provided in the tie-bar and the receiving bore in the end member, their positions may be reversed in all of the arrangements described above.

In an alternative method of connecting the end member to each tie-bar member, through bores may be provided in each member, a bore may be provided in each end of each tie-bar member and a locking element may be provided having a head portion and a male formation protruding therefrom passed through the bores of the end member and the tie-bar member.

Suitably, there are locking formations on the male formation of the locking element engaged with corresponding formations in the bore of the tie-bar member or simply with a far face of an end wall portion of the ie bar member in w ich the bore is formed.

The tie-bar member and the end member are thereby trapped between the head and the locking formations of the male formation of the locking element.

In yet a further method of connecting the end members to each tie-bar member, the end member may be provided with an abutment such as a retaining wall member extending parallel to the main body of the end member on the interior side thereof and spaced sl ightly therefrom and the tie-bar member may be provided with a - 7 - formation designed to hook over the retaining wall of the end member. A locking element may be provided to prevent the tie-bar member being removed from its engagement with the retaining wall . . For instance, there may be an aperture in the main body of the end member immediately facing the retaining wall and a locking element may be passed into the aperture to fil l the aperture and may have a projection extending over the tie-bar member to prevent its movement parallel to the end member for unhooking thereof from the retaining wall .

Altern tively, there may be an abutment on the tie-bar member to abut against the exterior face of the retaining wal l member or other abutment of the end member after the hooking formation of the tie-bar member has been hooked over the wall member and a locking element may be inserted between a portion of the hooking formation and the interior face of the wall member to prevent movement of the tie-bar member away from the end member.

Preferably, the tie-bar member is engaged to the end member by sequential movement parallel to the end member and toward the end member such that the tie bar member comes to l ie under a portion of the end member preventing immediate reversal of said movement parallel to the end member, and the locking element when inserted prevents reversal of said movement toward the end member.

The methods of joining the end members and tie-bar members described above enable storage devices to be assembled from component parts without the use of tools so that the storage devices may be delivered to the end user in a compact knocked down form and may readily be assembl ed for use .

Accordingly, the invention provides a kit of parts for assembly into a storage device as described above. The invention will be illustrated by the following description of preferred embodiments thereof with: reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete storage device according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the joint between the lower front tie-bar member and the right most end member of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the joint between the upper back tie-bar member and the right most end member of a second embodiment of the storage device,

Figure 4, is a section on line IV-IV of Figure 3 with the joint completed,

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the joint between the lower back tie-bar member and the left most end member of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Figure 6 is a side view of a divider member for use in the storage device of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a side view of an end member for use in a further embodiment of the invention,

Figure 8 is a view of the front of the end member of Figure 7, partially sectioned,

Figure 9 shows in perspective view a further embodiment according to the invention, Figure 10 is an external view of an end plate of the device of Fi gure 9 ,

Figures 1 l_a and 1 l_b are sections on the lines A-A and B-B respectively,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a tie-bar member of the device of Figure 9,

Figure 13 is a section on the l ine 13-13 in Figure 12;

Figures 14a_ and 14jb are interior face and side elevations of the locking member of Figure 9. Figure 15 is an elevation of the interior face of an end member of a further embodiment of the invention,

Figure 16 is a cross section on the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15, Figure 17 is a plan view of an end portion of a first tie-bar member for use with the end member of F i g u re 1 5 ,

Figures 18 a to d show the assembly of the tie-bar member and end member of Figures 15 to 17 in section on the line XVI I I-XVIII of Figure 16 (Figs 18 a to 18c) and an elevation of the locking member involved (Fig. 18d) ,

Figure 19 is a plan view of a second tie-bar member for use with the end member of Figure 15,

Figure 20 is a section of the tie-bar member of Figure 19 on the l ine XX-XX.

Figures 21 a and b are an end elevation and a section on the line XXI-XXI of the tie-bar member 'of Figures 19 and 20, and

Figure 22 is a section of the end member and the tie-bar member of Figure 19 about to be assembled taken on the l ine XXI I-XXI I of Figure 16.

As shown in Figure 1, a storage device 1 according to the invention comprises a pair of end members 2 spaced and connected by three tie-bar members 3,4 and 5. Each tie-bar member has a large number of parallel extending shallow stopped housing slots 6 along its length. Each slot is open to one side of the tie-bar member and stopped before it reaches the other side. The open ends of the slots of the two lower tie-bar members 3 and 4 face one another and the open ends of the slots of the upper tie-bar member 5 face downwardly. A number of divider members 7 are provided which are received in the slots of the tie-bar members 3,4 and 5. Two divider members 7 are shown but any desired number up to the number of slots in each tie- bar. member may be provided to separate the space between the end members into as many compartments as a re wanted .

The storage device shown in Figure 1 can stand freely upon a surface such as a shel f or desk or can be wall mounted, e.g. by hooking onto standard wal l hooks 8.

The storage device may be dimensioned as desired conveniently to receive objects of a variety of sizes. A device as shown is particularly suitable for items up to the size of telephone directories. For even larger items, it may be desirable to include a second back tie-bar member 5 below the one illustrated, e.g. about half way up the rear edge of the end members.

As shown in Figure. 2, the joint between each tie- bar member and each end member is formed by receiving an end portion of the tie-bar member in a rectangular shallow recess formed by a flange 9 on the interior surface of the end member 2 and by location of a male formation constituted by a pair of legs 10,11 present on the end of the tie-bar member 3 in a bore 12 of the end member. Each leg 10,11 is hooked outwardly to provide a forward facing oblique face 13 and a rearwardly facing abutment face 14. On pressing the tie-bar member 3 into the recess 9, the oblique face 13 acting on the interior wall of the bore 12 deflects each respective leg 10,11 of the male formation towards the other enabling the hooked formation to pass through the bore and to snap out behind the bore to locate the abutment 14 against the opposite face of the end member 2. A locking element 15 is provided comprising a circular head 16 and a rectangular tongue 17 w ich is a snug fit between the legs 10 and 11 of the male formation of the tie-bar member 3 when inserted 'in the bore 12 and therefore prevents removal of the tie-bar member 3 by compression of the legs 10 and 11 toward one another.

The tie-bar member can however be disassembled from the end member if the locking member is removed. The device shown in Figure 1 can therefore be suppl ied as separate components in a flat-pack and can readily be assembled without the use of tools to provide a robust and rigid storage device.

An alternative joint for connecting tie-bar members to end members in a storage device otherwise generally as shown in Figure 1 is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The tie-bar member 5 terminates in a portion of - 13 - reduced size producing a step defining a forward facing abutment 18. The end portion of the tie-bar member 5 is received in a shallow recess defined by a flange 9 extending from the end member 2. Once again, a bore 12 is p^'rovided through the end member 2. A locking element 19 comprises a rectangular head 20 bearing a male formation in the form of two spaced parallel extending legs 21 ,22 each terminating in an outwardly hooked formation presenting an obl ique forward facing surface 23 and a rearwardly facing abutment surface 24. As shown in Figure 4, a bore 25 is provided in an end wal l of the tie-bar member 5 and corresponds in size and loction to the bore 12 in the end member 2. The male formation of the locking element 19 is pressed through the aligned bores 12 and 25, the obl ique faces 23 assisting in compressing the legs of the male formation together to enable the hooked formations to pass through the bores. The legs then snap apart to locate the rearward facing abutments 24 against the interior surface of the end wall of the tie-bar member 5 , so trapping the end wall member of the tie-bar member 5 tightly against the end member 2 and forming a snug and secure joint. An alternative form of tie-bar member and an alternative form of joint to the end member are shown - 14 - in Figure 5. In Figure 5, the tie-bar member 4 is composed of a multitude of parallel plate like members 26 arranged in a row spaced from one another. Each is of square shape with rounded corners. The plate like members 26 are connected by a pair of webs. Web 27 extends along a mid-line of each plate member and web 28 extends along a perpendicular mid-l ne. Each plate like member is therefore separated from the next by four generally square slot l ike recesses 29, one at each corner .

The end member 2 comprises a generally circular bore surrounded by a boss 30. The interior surface of the bore is formed in a scalloped shape by eight curved indentations 31. The bore and its scalloped interior are so dimensioned with respect to the plates 26 of the tie-bar member 4 that the end most plate 26 of the tie- bar member 4 may be passed through the bore when so aligned rotational ly about its own axis that the corners of the plate member 26 coincide with the four of the eight curved indentations in the interior surface of the bore which form the scallops. The fit is sufficiently snug however that once the first plate member 26 has been passed through the bore, the tie- bar member 4 may be rotated through 22 ° to make the corner portion of the plate mmebr 26 coincident with the most protruding portions of the interior of the bore which locates snugly between the two end most plate members 26, i .e. in the slot like recesses 29. In that position, the tie-bar member 4 cannot be withdrawn from the bore and is tightly held. The depth of the bore corresponds to the width of the slot l ike recess 29.

A locking element 32 is provided having a circular head bearing four laterally extending arms 33 each having depending therefrom a semi -circular section tongue 34. The locking element is so dimensioned that the four tongues 34 can be pressed into spaces between the terminal plate like member 26 and the scallpped interior of the bore defined by boss 30 so as to prevent rotation of the tie-bar member 4 which would enable its release from the bore.

Whereas the dividers shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 are generally triangular plate l ike members having a wi th such that they are received in the slots 6, an alternative suitable form of divider for use in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 is a bar like member 35 having end portions each angled at approximately 45° to the l ine of the major part of the bar like member so that when the bar like member is generally at 45° to the horizontal , one end portion is generally horizontal and the other end portion is generally vertical . Each end portion is formed with a - 16 - slot 36 adapted to receive a portion of a web 28 or 27 between two plate-like members of a lower and upper tie-bar member respectively.

Like the dividers 7 shown in Figure 1, the dividing bars 35 shown in Figure 6 can be arranged in a multitude of positions to suit the user.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, an alternative end member comprises a peripheral flange and a centrally disposed web, thus allowing each end ember to be identical . The web contains four bores each surrounded by a boss and each of square shape. The end member is adapted for use with a tie-bar member as shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figure 9, an alternative preferred embodiment according to the invention is provided with four tie-bar members connecting a pair of identical end members 2 and comprises divider members 7 generall in the form of a trapezoidal plate having small slots located in converging sides thereof toward the corners which locate over a central web provided on each tie- bar member as will be described more fully hereafter.

As shown in Figure 10, each end member is the same and comprises a plate bearing a peripheral flange, 37 extending around the whole periphery of the plate. Four square apertures 38 are formed in the plate for receiving locking members to retain the tie- bar - 17 - members. Directly in board of each square aperture is a wal l member 39 upstanding from the plate flange 37 and extending approximately 2/3rds of the height of the square aperture 38 away from the edge flange 37. The wall. 39 is in each case formed with a slot 40 extending from its free end toward the flange 37 but stopping short thereof.

The tie-bar member is best seen in Figure 12 in conjunction with Figure 13. The tie-bar member shown in Figure 12 is hollow, of general ly square section and having along one side thereof a plurality of slots 41 extending across the width of the tie-bar member in spaced parallel relationship with other slots 41. Each^' slot 41 is interrupted by a central web 42 thus dividing the slots into two rows, one down each corner portion of the face of the tie-bar member. At each end of the tie-bar member there is a male formation in the form of an end plate 43 spaced from and paral lel to the end of the tie-bar member and connected thereto by a T- shaped web 44 best seen in Figure 13. The cross piece of the T is of lesser width than the tie-bar member and the upright of the T has a depth corresponding to the depth of the slot 40 in the end plate wall 39. Accordingly, the male formation 43 may be passed' between the wall 39 and the plate portion of the end plate member so that the upright of T-shaped web 44 is - 18 - received within slot 40 and the wall member 43 is trapped between the wall 39 and the plate of the end plate member. The tie-bar member may be locked in this position by pressing over the male formation 43 a locking clip as shown in Figure 14. As shown in figure 14, the locking clip is generally C-shaped in side view and is square and corresponding in size with the square aperture 38 in the end plate member when viewed from the front. The top bar of the C is longer than the bottom bar and is provided with an inwardly directed catch projection 45 which is divided into a pair of locking catch projections, one at each side of fhe locking element designed to hook over the top_ of the wall 43 of the male formation on the tie-bar member and fit into the spaces between the wall 43 and the tie-bar member either side of the T-shaped web 44. The locking elements therefore are able to fit flush with the surface of the plate of the end plate member filling the apertures 38. Each divider 7 is provided with a slot toward each of the corners thereof to receive the web 42 of a respective tie-bar member.

The end plate members are able to be made identical despite having an inwardly projecting flange 37 by virtue of the fact that there are four tie-bar members provided so that the end plate members are - 19 - symmetrical about a line from the apex bisecting the longest side so that the square apertures 38 which are located at the base of the left hand most end plate member are located in the upright section of the right hand most end plate member when the end plate member is shifted to that position.

A further embodiment according to the invention is il lustrated in Figures 15 to 22.

As shown in Figure 15, each end member of the storage device is identical and is adapted to connect to four tie-bar members. The tie-bar members which are to connect with the end members at the top and at the front of the device are wider than those to connect to the end members toward to rear and bottom of the device.

Each end member 2 comprises a flat plate having a peripheral flange 37 projecting toward the storage area of the device and extending around the whole of the periphery of the plate. Four square appertures 38 are formed in the plate. In board of each square apperture 38 is an upstanding wall member 39 extending from the peripheral flange parallel to the plate of the end member. Each wall member 39 is connected to the plate of the end member 2 by webs 39a at each end thereof. Wall members 39 are slightly less in height than the square appertures 38 - 20 - and have a slot 40 extending from the top thereof to the level of flange 37.

For connection to the larger tie-bar members illustrated in Figure 19, the formation on the ^'end member 2 is supplemented by upstanding wall portions 46 which extend parellel to webs 39a and define there with a pair of channels 47 extending away from the peripheral flange 37 at that point.

The narrower of the tie-bar members, illustrated in Figure 17, is generally square in cross section having a row of parallel stopped housing slots 49 extending part way across one surface thereof for receiving tongue portions of dividers. The tie-bar member shown is hollow having a top surface 48 incorporating the stopped housings 49 and side walls depending from the top surface 48. A pair of through holes 50 are formed in top surface 48 toward one end thereof. As seen in Figure 18b, the tie-bar member 17 comprises a web 51 extending between the side walls thereof and an end wall 52 parallel to and somewhat spaced from web 51. Appertures 50 are positioned immediately adjacent wall 52 and the space between the apperture 50 and the web 51 corresponds in width to the thickness of the wall 38 of the end member 2. A loc ing pin 53, best seen in Figure 18d, is generally U-shaped having a pair of legs which may be passed - 21 - through the appertures 50.

A web 51a_ extends longitudinally of the tie-bar member between web 51 and 52.

As illustrated in Figure 18, the tie-bar member may^'be assembled to the end member by hooking the end wall 52 over the wall member 39 and pushing the tie-bar member toward to end member 2 so that the wall 52 enters the square apperture 38 of the end member 2. Web 51_a is received in slot 40, the thickness of top surface 48 being accomodated by the difference in height between wal l member 39 and apperture 38.

The wall member 39 thus comes to abut against web 51 of the tie-bar member and a space is left between wall 52 and wall member 39 which may be filled by inserting the locking pin 53 through the appertures 50. The tie-bar member is thus locked against retraction from the apperture 38 by the locking pin 53 and is locked against movement parallel to the plate of the end member 2 by the wall 52 being received in the apperture 38.

As shown in Figure 19, the wider tie-bar member also comprises a top wall 48 bearing stopped housings 49, which a r e of greater length in view of the greater width of the tie-bar member. The tie-bar member also includes a pair of sidewalls depending from the wall

48. At each end of the tie-bar member there is present - 22 - a formation similar to that of the end of the narrower tie-bar member and comprising appertures 50 a web 51, an end wall 52 dimensioned to be received in one of the appertures 38 of the end member 2 and a central web 51a connecting the web 51 and wall 52 for cooperating with a slot 40 of the wal 1 39

In addition, on each side of the aforementioned formation there is a lug 54 projecting outward from the end of the tie-bar member having a width and height to be snuggly received in the channels 47 of the end member 2. The tie-bar member shown in Figure 19 is assembled to the end member in the same manner as described in respect of the tie-bar member of Figure 17. The lugs 54 thereby automatically enter the channels 47 and provide increased lateral stability to the assembly.

The storage device may be completed by dividers of a generally trapezoidal shape having along each of the converging sides an elongate tongue stopping short of each end of the respective side by a distance corresponding to the width of the top surface 48 of the respective tie-bar members not occupied by the stopped housings 49. The end portions of the elongate tongue received in the stopped housings 49 when the divider is in place.

The storage device described with reference to Figures 15 to 22 have the advantages that the end members are identical and that the devices may be assembled without the use of tools and form a particuarly strong and^" rigid assembly by virtue of the operation of the locking pins and the width of the wider tie-bar members of Figure 19 and the engagement of the lugs 54 in channels 47 between the tie-bar members and the end members.

The stabil ity of the assembled storage device is considerably enhanced by the large surface area of contact between the tie-bars and the end members, which is approxi tely five times as great as in the embodiment of Figure 9.

Whi lst the invention has been described with reference to specific features of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that a large number of variations and modifications of these embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. ^' A storage device (1) .comprising a pair of upstanding end members (2) joined by a plurality of tie-bar members, characterised in that there are at least a front lower tie-bar member (3) and a rear lower tie-bar member (4) defining a floor plane and at least one tie-bar member (5) above said lower tie-bar members serving as a back, and a plurality of divider members, at least said front lower tie-bar member and said bacK tie bar member including means (6) tor locating said plurality of divider members (7) to stand in mutually spaced relationsnip between and generally parallel to the end members at positions selected by a user,.

2. A storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the end members are assembled to the the tie-bar members oy engagement of formations (10,11) , provided on said members and are locked in engagement at each joint so formed by the insertion of a locKing element (15).

3.. A storage device as claimed claim 2, characterised in that each end member is provided with a plurality of bores (12) and the tie-bar members are each provided at each end with one or more male formations (10,11) receivable in said bores to join the end members to the tie-bar members, and wherein each male formation comprises a pair of legs (10,11) resiliently deformable - 25. - towards one another and having at least one rearwardly facing abutment (14) to be passed into the bore of a respective end member and to locate against a far surface thereof to prevent withdrawal, or to locate 5 against a corresponding oppositely facing abutment within the bore (12) so as to prevent withdrawal.

4. A storage device as claimed in claim 3, characte ised in that tor each said male formation (10,11) a locking element (15) is provided to locate U between the legs (10,11) of che maie formation when the tie-bar is connected to the end member so as to prevent deformation of the legs towards one another to clear said aoutment (14) and hence to prevent withdrawal of the male formation from its receiving bore.

5 5. A storage device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each end member is provided with a plurality of bores (12) and the tie-bar members are each provided at each end with one or more. male formations (29) receivable in said bores to join the 0 end members to the tie-bar members, and wherein the male formation (29) of the tie-bar member and the bore of the end member are so shaped that the male formation can enter the bore in at least one attitude and by rotation about the axis of the tie-bar member 5 may be brought to a second attitude in which it cannot be withdrawn.

6. A storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that through bores (12) are provided in each end member, a bore (25) is provided in each end of each tie-bar member and a locking element (ly) is

U5 provided having a head portion and a male formation (21,22) protruding therefrom passed through the bores of the end member and the tie-bar member.

7. A storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each end member comprises a main

Lu body and an abutment (39) extending parallel to tne main body of the end member on the interior side thereof and spaced therefrom and tne tie-bar me oer is provided with a formation (43) aαapted to nook over the abutment of the end member.

15 8. A storage device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that a locking element in provided and wherein there is an aperture (38) in the main body of the end member immediately facing the abutment and in assembly the locking element is passed into tne

20 aperture to fill the aperture and has a projection (45) extending over the tie-bar member to prevent its movement parallel to the end member for unhooking thereof from the abutment.

9. A storage device as claimed in claim 7,

25 characterised in that there is an abutment (51) on the tie-bar member to abut against the exterior face of the - 27 - abutment (39) of the end member after the hooking formation (43) of the tie-bar member has been hooked over the abutment and the locking element is inserted between a portion of the hooking formation (43) and an interior face of the abutment (39) of the end member to prevent movement of the tie-bar member away from the end member.

10. A storage device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the tie-bar member (48) is engaged to the end memoer by sequential movement parallel to the end member and toward the end member such that the tie bar member comes to lie under a portion of the end member preventing immediate _^reversal of said movement parallel to the end member, and tne locking element (53) when inserted prevents reversal of said movement toward the end member.