WO2000013935A1

WO2000013935A1 - Storage unit for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2000013935A1
Application number: PCT/ZA1999/000082
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Wayne De Beer
Original assignee: Richard Wayne De Beer
Priority date: 1998-09-10
Filing date: 1999-09-09
Publication date: 2000-03-16
Also published as: AU6434499A

Abstract

A storage unit is provided for the storage of beverage containers such as tins of beverage, or even cups of beverage, in a motor vehicle where space is limited. The storage unit is specially configured to be operatively mounted on top of a dashboard (7) of a motor vehicle. The storage unit comprises a heat insulated container (1) having an access opening (2) and a lid (4) for closing same. A refrigeration unit (9) such as a solid state one may be associated with the container. Means, in particular recesses (3), are preferably provided for locating the beverage containers relative to the storage unit to restrict movement thereof consequent on movement of the vehicle.

Description

STORAGE UNIT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a storage unit which is optionally refrigerated or heated at least to some extent and which is particularly adapted for use in motor vehicles. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a storage unit for use in motor vehicles and mini-busses for the particular purpose of storing containers of beverages conveniently and safely.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the case of smaller vehicles such as motor cars and micro- or mini-busses, it is often inconvenient to have a storage unit, in particular a cold box, in the passenger cab as there is very limited space available. In the event that a conventional storage unit is employed it would either be in the way or result in one less seat being available for use. The latter could result in a serious diminishing of the commercial viability of, for example, a taxi business. The storage of containers such as cans of beverages is of particular concern but other types of containers may also be appropriate in certain circumstances.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a storage unit for motor vehicles which will avoid the necessity of losing the use of a seat but which will serve the purpose outlined above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a storage unit comprising a heat insulated container having an access opening and a lid for closing same, the storage unit being characterised in that it is made of elongate shape; of low height; and is adapted to be operatively mounted on top of a dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Further features of the invention provide for the container to be adapted to receive conventional beverage cans lying on their sides; for the internal base of the container to have a series of recesses for locating beverage cans on their sides to prevent them from rolling laterally; for the access opening to be orientated in a generally vertical plane with the lid pivoting upwardly and rearwardly to open the container to provide access to the contents thereof; for the internal height of the container to be either adapted to accommodate a single row of cans extending along the length of the container or one or two rows on top of a bottom row; and for the container to have a separate mounting base to which it is operatively attached by means of fasteners or other attachment means which eittier pull out or fracture in the event of an impact on the container such as may be caused by an accident or the like.

Still further features of the invention provide for a refrigeration unit to be embodied in the container; for the refrigeration unit to include a closed circuit internal circulation system cooperating with a solid state refrigeration unit such as Peltier element having an external heat dissipating unit and an internal heat sink; for the internal circulation system to include flow paths formed in the inside surface of the rear wall of the container; and for either or, preferably both of the heat sink and heat dissipating unit to have a fan for promoting air flow over same. As an alternative, and for use in appropriately cold climates, the container may have recesses for holding an upstanding series of cups of hot beverages with anti-slopping lids, for example. In this case a simple resistance or other heater could be embodied in the container. It is also possible that with certain types of refrigeration unit a heating effect can be obtained simply by reversing the polarity of the electrical supply. This is true, for example, in the case of the aforementioned Peltier element.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood two embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective view, a storage unit according to the invention installed on a motor vehicle dashboard;

Figure 2 illustrates the storage unit alone with the lid in an open condition;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the invention with the lid removed and an internal rear cover partially broken away;

Figure 4 is rear elevation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view thereof, and,

Figure 6 is schematic part elevation illustrating a mounting base attached between the container and a dashboard to provide a break out safety feature. DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a storage unit, primarily for beverage cans, comprises en elongate, substantially rectangular container (1 ) having its operatively front wall open to provide an access aperture to the interior thereof as indicated by numeral (2). The general configuration of the container is rather particular and is more fully described below.

The interior of the container has a series of part-circular cross-sectioned recesses (3) in the bottom thereof, the recesses being dimensioned to snugly accommodate conventional sized beverage containers having a capacity of the order of 250 to 350 millelitres so that they are properly confined and do not roll around in the container with the movement of a motor vehicle. The series need not extend along the entire length of the container as illustrated, but a section of the bottom may be flat for accommodating food, optionally in containers, or even freezer packs for cooling the container and its contents.

A lid (4) for the access aperture (2) is pivoted to the side walls (5) by means of pivots (6) at an upper and rearward region as illustrated clearly in Figures 1 and 2 so that the lid itself is kept in a closed position by its own weight. Rotation of the lid to an open position thus causes the lid to move upwardly and rearwardly so that in the open position it is located over the container and thus out of the way.

All of the walls of the container and the lid are of a double wall construction with heat insulating material, typically a foam, introduced between the outer and inner skins of the wall, in any conventional or other manner. In this particular embodiment of the invention the height of the interior of the container is chosen to accommodate two rows of beverage cans, one on top of the other, but in the event that such a container is too high it could be made to accommodate only a single row. On the other hand, if there is sufficient height available then two, or even more rows could be accommodated on top of each other.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the container is dimensioned in its length, and generally configured, to be accommodated on the dashboard (7) of a motor vehicle between the instrument panel (8) and passenger door end of the dashboard.

For use the container can be secured to the dashboard in any manner required and most conveniently simply by adhesive mounting pads or the like or, in the event that enhanced safety is desired, then through the medium of a mounting base as described below with reference to Figure 6.

In use, pre-refrigerated cans of beverage can be stored in the storage unit with the heat insulating feature of the side walls and door ensuring that they are maintained in a cold condition insofar as is possible. They can then be consumed as and when required. Freezer packs could also be employed to maintain a low temperature in the unit as indicated above.

It is envisaged that the storage unit of this invention will be particularly useful when applied to taxis, micro-busses and mini-busses and will provide a unique improvement in service and convenience to passengers.

The construction of the container can assume many forms such as self skinning foamed polyurethane, double skinned composites, or hollow walls filled with heat insulating material as indicated above. Also, the unit could be cooled using solid state thermoelectric coolers or even a small compressor with the necessary co-operative coils.

An embodiment of the invention including refrigeration means is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. In this embodiment of the invention the container has, built into the rear wall thereof, a refrigeration unit generally indicated by numeral (9). In this case the rear wall has a recess (10) in its surface (11) and this recess, at one end (12), is shaped to accommodate a heat sink (13) and a circulation fan (14) fully received in the recess. The other portion (15) of the recess extends along the length of the rear of the container so that circulating cooled air is distributed along the length thereof. This recess is covered by an internal cover sheet (16) illustrated as being partly broken away.

Attached to the outside rear (17) of the container is a heat dissipating unit (18) which has a fan (19) associated with it for circulating air over the heat dissipating unit and promoting the dissipation of heat. A cover (20) serves to channel air moved by the fan over the heat dissipating unit. Conveniently the two fans (1 ) and (19) are each mounted at one end of a common axle driven by a common motor (not shown).

Sandwiched between the heat sink (13) and the heat dissipating unit (18), and located in an apperture through the rear wall, is a solid state refrigeration unit (not shown) such as a Peltier element. Such solid state refrigeration unit can conveniently be energised by plugging it into a cigarette lighter socket in the vehicle.

Apart from this the container is very much the same as that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and is mounted for use in the same way. It has been found that a suitable Peltier element is effective in use even at temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Centigrade. Other embodiments of the invention are also possible. In particular, as indicated above, in appropriate circumstances the container could be provided with a series of recesses for locating upstanding beverage cups containing heated beverages. The cups would obviously have anti-slopping or spilling lids attached thereto and the container could be heated by a simple resistance heating element energised by the motor vehicle's electrical system and such arrangement could also include a heat circulating fan to ensure even heating of the cups.

One variation of particular interest from a safety point of view is a mounting base such as that illustrated in Figure 6. In this variation the container is attached to an interposed mounting base (21) itself secured to the dashboard (22) of the relevant vehicle in a permanent type of manner, such as by means of bolts (23). The container has lugs (24) which are secured by means of screws (25) to inserts (26) moulded or otherwise installed in the mounting base. The inserts are designed such that, in the event of an accident or equivalent impact, the inserts pull out of the mounting base in order to enable the container to move out of the way and not form an anchored object against which a person could become seriously injured.

Numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof which is limited only to the provision of a custom dimensioned heat insulated storage unit for beverage cans or other items and adapted for mounting on the dashboard of a vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A storage unit comprising a heat insulated container (1 ) having an access opening (2) and a lid (4) for closing same, the storage unit being characterised in that it is made of elongate shape; of low height; and is adapted to be operatively mounted on top of a dashboard (1) of a motor vehicle.

2. A storage unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the container is adapted to receive conventional beverage cans lying on their sides or upstanding cups.

3. A storage unit as claimed in claim 2 in which the internal base of the container has a series of recesses (3) for locating beverage cans on their sides to prevent them from rolling laterally or upstanding cups to prevent them from falling over.

4. A storage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the access opening is orientated in a generally vertical plane with the lid pivoting upwardly and rearwardly to open the container and provide access to the contents thereof.

5. A storage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the internal height of the container is either adapted to accommodate a single row of cans extending along the length of the container or one or two rows on top of a bottom row.

6. A storage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a refrigeration unit (9) or heating element is embodied in the container.

7. A storage unit as claimed in claim 6 in which the refrigeration unit includes a closed circuit internal circulation system cooperating with a solid state refrigeration unit having an external heat dissipating unit (18) and an internal heat sink (13).

8. A storage unit as claimed in claim 7 in which the internal circulation system includes flow paths (15) formed in the inside surface of the rear wall (11 ) of the container.

9. A storage unit as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8 in which both of the heat sink and heat dissipating unit have a fan (14 and 1 ) for promoting air flow over same.

10. A storage unit as claimed in claim 9 in which the fans are mounted on a common shaft passing through the rear wall of the container.

11. A storage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container is operatively attached to a mounting base by way of attachment means adapted to pull out or fracture under conditions of the nature of an accident.