Storage box adapted to elevated flooring

Abstract

A storage structure beneath an elevated floor system comprised of pedestals, beams, a flooring unit and a storage box; the beams connected to pedestals to define a frame beneath the flooring unit; lip outwardly extending from both sides of the beam mutually locks up that provided on the peripheral of the opening side of the box for the box to be suspended beneath the flooring unit to provide additional storage space without compromising the layout of electric wiring that the elevated floor serves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a unit of storage box adapted to an elevated floor system, and more particularly, to one suspended beneath the elevated floor to provide additional storage space without affecting the layout of electric wiring under the elevated floor.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Today, information products including computer, facsimile machine, photocopier, modem, printer, telephone . . . etc., are not only popular for industrial application but also becoming popular at home thanks to automation hi-tech. To activate these products, electric wires are required for the transmission of power source or signals. Accordingly, an elevated flooring system as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings has been developed to improve the layout of the electric wiring work, maintain a nice and neat office environment and allow easy access for work and service.

[0005] However, the elevated flooring system is ideal only for accommodating the layout of the electric wiring system, it has actually reduced the space otherwise available for cabinets or other storage facilities, particularly in an area further restricted by the ceiling above the elevated flooring system. An improvement to provide additional storage space without compromising the existing electric wiring arrangement is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a storage box that is effective to provide additional storage place beneath the elevated flooring system.

[0007] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a storage box that will not compromise the exiting electric wiring arrangement beneath the elevated flooring system.

[0008] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

[0009] Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a bird's view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a framework of the prior art used to support an elevated floor.

[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing that multiple storage boxes of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention are piled up in a stack.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing that the storage box is laterally moved to give way for pipeline work.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a structure of the elevated floor of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is comprised of multiple pedestals 2, multiple beams 3, a storage box 4 and a flooring unit 5. Wherein, a mobile worm 21 screwed to a nut 25 penetrates into the center of the pedestal 2; a disk 22 is disposed at the top of the worm 21, multiple screw holes 23 and gaps 24 are provided on the disk 22; and the disk 22 is further covered on its top a soft packing 26 in shape substantially similar to that of the disk 22; the beam 3 substantially indicates an inverted U-shape, running concave portions respectively at its center, right and left while at both ends of the beam 3 a screw hole 31 is each provided and a hooking lip 32 is each externally extending from both sides of the beam 3; and a rubber packing 33 is provided on the top surface of the beam 3; the storage box 4 contains an accommodation space 42 and made in a length of its four edges slightly shorter than that of the beam 3, and in a height approximately equal to two thirds of that of the pedestal 2 to permit space available between the bottom of the storage box 4 and the ground for the electric wiring arrangement; and another hooking lip 41 is running on the upper edge of both sides of the storage box 4; and the flooring unit 5 is related to a square floor panel.

[0022] The gaps 24 provided at four corners of the disk 22 of the pedestal 2 are inserted with four beams 3. The screw hole 31 of each beam is secured with a screw to the screw hole 23 of the disk 22 of the pedestal 2, and then the rubber packing 26 is placed on the top surface of the disk 22 with the hooking lip 41 facing downward provided on the upper edge of the storage box 4 to hook onto the hooking lip 32 provided at both sides of two beams 3. The flooring unit 5 is finally placed over a frame (i.e. the top of the storage box 4) defined by the pedestals 3 and beams 3 to form an integral elevated flooring system.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 3, simply by lifting the flooring unit 5, the storage space 42 inside the storage box 4 is available for accommodating objects desired to be stored, thus to effectively increase the usable space beneath the elevated flooring system.

[0024] In case of rough ground is the case as illustrated in FIG. 2, the flooring unit 5 can be leveled by either rising or descending the mobile worm 21 in the pedestal 2 before re-tightening up the nut 25 for the storage box 4 to stay at a height approximately two thirds of that of the pedestal 2 so to leave a space 27 below the bottom of the storage box 4 when the storage box is hooked onto the hooking lip 32 externally provided to the beam 3 for the layout of various types of pipelines for electricity wiring 6 without compromising the original purpose of the elevated flooring system.

[0025] Now referring to FIG. 4, each flooring unit 5 is available to be provided beneath it a storage box 4 as desired so effectively increase the storage space without further consuming the already confined floor space in the office or interfering with the arrangement of the electric wiring under the elevated flooring system.

[0026] In a conventional elevated flooring system as illustrated in FIG. 5, it includes four pedestals 7 and four beams 8 for each unit of the flooring system. Wherein, the pedestal 7 is similarly provided with a mobile worm 71 having a nut 74 at its top. A disk 72 is provided on top of the mobile worm 71 and multiple screw holes are provided in the disk 72 to engage to the beams 8 to for a unit of the elevated flooring system.

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the pedestal 7 as disclosed in the first preferred embodiment, a beam 8 of a hollow pipe provided at its front and rear ends each a screw hole 81 to be secured through the screw hole 73 to the disk 72 with a screw 82, and a hooking lip 83 is formed outwardly from one side at the bottom edge of the beam 8. A hooking lip 91 provided on the upper edge of a storage box 9 locks up the hooking lip 83 of the beam 8 to provide additional storage space beneath the elevated flooring system without affecting the arrangement of the electric wiring.

[0028] The storage box 9 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with the hooking lip 91 at its side edge on the upper end, and the storage box 9 itself indicates a certain inclination 92 so that multiple storage boxes 9 can be piled up in a stack to reduce the shipping space.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 9, to facilitate the access of the electric wiring pipelines below the bottom of the storage box 9, the storage box 9 can be laterally moved to either side where no storage box 9 is provided by hooking the edge where both of the hooking lip 83 of the beam 8 and the hooking lip 91 of the storage box are engaged to each other.

[0030] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

[0031] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system essentially comprised of four pedestals, four beams, a flooring unit and a storage box; beams connecting pedestals to form a support frame; the frame being provided on its side a hooking lip and another hooking lip being provided on the side of the upper edge of the storage box; the storage box being suspended to provide additional storage space without compromising the arrangement of electric wiring below the storage box.

2. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a mobile worm is placed into the center of the pedestal; a disk being provided at the top of the mobile worm, multiple screw holes and gaps being provided on the disk and a soft packing in a shape substantially similar to that of the disk being inserted on the top of the disk.

3. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the beam relates to a frame in a “¢z¢{” shape.

4. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a soft packing is provided over the top surface of the beam.

5. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a screw hole is respectively provided on the front and the rear edge of the beam.

6. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the beam is related to a hollow pipe and a hooking clip on its side.

7. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the depth of the storage box is approximately equal to two thirds of that of the pedestal.

8. A storage box adapted to an elevated flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, an hooking lip facing downward is provided on the upper edge of the storage box.