Patents by Inventor Darren Watts

Darren Watts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240225311
    Abstract: A storage system 1 for storing items 20, the storage system 1 comprising: a plurality of backing panels 9 spaced apart by a predetermined distance to define a slot 11 between adjacent backing panels; a front panel 3 having a projection (19, FIG. 4) from its rear surface, the projection (19) slidably receivable within the slot 11 and configured to engage a rear surface of each adjacent backing panel 9, the projection (19) thereby securing the front panel 3 relative to the slot 11. Methods (500, 600, FIGS. 5, 6) of manufacturing a storage system and interchanging items are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: The West Retail Group Limited
    Inventor: Darren Watts
  • Publication number: 20240225270
    Abstract: A storage system 1 for storing items 20, the storage system comprising: a frame 10 having a plurality of columns 11 spaced apart, each column comprising a track (12, FIG. 3) extending at least partially in a vertical direction, the tracks of adjacent columns together defining a slot for slidably receiving a plurality of items, wherein the frame is configured to retain the items such that a first item at least partially bears the weight of a second item. Also described are a method (40, FIG. 4) for assembling the storage system and a method (50, FIG. 5) of exchanging items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: The West Retail Group Limited
    Inventor: Darren Watts
  • Publication number: 20240225274
    Abstract: A storage system 1 for storing items 20, the storage system comprising: a storage area 5 extending in a length direction L; a first item 21 having a first length; and a plurality of further items 22, 23 each having length less than the first length, wherein the storage area is configured to interchangeably store: the first item in a first arrangement in which the first length extends in the length direction; and the plurality of further items in a further arrangement in which further item lengths extend along the length direction and adjacent further items are spaced apart along the length direction by a fixed separation Lg, wherein the first length is substantially equal to the sum of further item lengths and the at least one fixed separation. A method (40, FIG. 4) of interchanging items 20 is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: The West Retail Group Limited
    Inventor: Darren Watts
  • Patent number: 11064803
    Abstract: A kit of parts for forming a kitchen unit (100) includes a first frame component (110) having a plurality of tubular edge elements (111-114), a second frame component (120) having a plurality of tubular edge elements (121-123) and a plurality of tubular legs (130,140). The plurality of tubular legs include a plurality of end legs (130), to be secured to the first frame component 110 in a recess (116) disposed between adjacent edge elements (111-114) of the first frame component (110) and a plurality of intermediate legs (140) configured to be secured to the first frame component (110) and the second frame component (120) in a recess defined by an edge element (111-114) of the first frame component (110) and an edge element (121-123) of the second component (120). The kit of parts permits a wide range of kitchen units, such as free-standing towers and islands, to be assembled from a relatively small set of basic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: THE WEST RETAIL GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Darren Watts, Mark Sellars
  • Publication number: 20200359786
    Abstract: A kit of parts for forming a kitchen unit 100 includes a first frame component 110 having a plurality of tubular edge elements 111-114, a second frame component 120 having a plurality of tubular edge elements 121-123; and a plurality of tubular legs 130,140. The plurality of tubular legs include a plurality of end legs 130, to be secured to the first frame component 110 in a recess 116 disposed between adjacent edge elements 111-114 of the first frame component 110 and a plurality of intermediate legs 140 configured to be secured to the first frame component 110 and the second frame component 120 in a recess defined by an edge element 111-114 of the first frame component 110 and an edge element 121-123 of the second component 120.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Darren Watts, Mark Sellars