Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a portable storage assembly including a plurality of poles, a support attachable to each of the poles and a storage container mountable to the support; wherein in use the poles are positioned to intersect forming an apex in an upper section and a wide base in a lower section, the storage container is positionable within the space defined by the poles in the lower section.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable assembly for the temporary storage of goods. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use while camping, on a picnic or at the beach. Reference to the assembly at the beach is provided by way of example but the invention is not limited to this use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When a person is at the beach, they generally discard their clothes, towel, valuables and drink on the sand when they venture for a swim in the sea. The items are generally not secure, often become contaminated with sand and are exposed to the weather elements and encroaching tide. 
         [0003]    Chairs with storage compartments have been developed to provide a space for storage of clothes and other items. U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,717 discloses a collapsible seat with a storage compartment below the seat cover. A person sitting on the seat can access the storage compartment from the top side of the seat. In US2014/0132037 there is described a collapsible stool with a drawer that can be extended from one side of the stool and below the seat cover. Both these seats were described to be useful on picnics and camping. 
         [0004]    An alternative approach has been the development of a stand on which holders and trays have been mounted and arranged to suit a particular purpose. U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,007 is a stand comprising a stake with a sectional tray mounted near its top. The post arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,358 is a stand with a number of modular components including lantern holder, toilet roll holder, tray, garbage bag support and basket. 
         [0005]    Each of these solutions have their limitations. Chairs with storage compartments have limited storage capacity. Chairs with storage compartments cannot also hold other items whereas stands have limited capacity to store items. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative portable storage assembly that overcomes at least in part one or more of the above mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a portable storage assembly including 
         [0008]    a plurality of poles; 
         [0009]    a support attachable to each of the poles; and 
         [0010]    a storage container mountable to the support; wherein in use the poles are positioned to intersect forming an apex in an upper section and a wide base in a lower section, the storage container is positionable within the space defined by the poles in the lower section. 
         [0011]    Preferably there are 4 poles. In alternate embodiments there are configurations of 3, 5 or more poles. 
         [0012]    The poles are preferably made of fiber glass, plastics, wood, metal or other suitable material. Each of the poles preferably comprise two or more parts. The pole parts preferably connect via complementary male and female ends to form a continuous pole. In a preferred embodiment the pole parts of each pole are associated by a joining cord so that the parts of each pole are proximal to each other. 
         [0013]    One or more of the poles can be telescopically extendable. 
         [0014]    In use the poles can cross over continuing upward from their intersection that forms the apex. Alternately and preferably the poles intersect at their upper end to form the apex. Preferably the poles are connected at the apex. The connection at the apex can be by fasteners or use of a head cap means. 
         [0015]    The support is preferably fixable to each of the poles so that it is substantially horizontal. The support can be disassembled into different parts. Preferably parts of the support are pivotally attached via fasteners. Preferably each pole has a support fixed at substantially the same position from the lower end of the pole. 
         [0016]    The storage container is preferably a fabric bag with at least one opening. The at least one opening is preferably at the top of the storage container. There can be an additional opening in the storage container in one of the sides of the storage container. The top perimeter of the storage container is preferably mounted to the support. The storage container is preferably square or rectangular in shape. Preferably each lower corner of the storage container is attached to the adjacent pole to prevent unintentional movement. The storage container can preferably store a variety of goods including personal possessions, clothes, towels, footwear, hats, food, picnic items and other similar items. 
         [0017]    In one preferred option there is a head cap that has one or more hangers extending therefrom. The one or more hangers preferably provide the facility to hang items such as clothes, hats, towels and the like. The head cap in another form provides a mount to hold a camera, a video camera, speaker(s), solar panel, phone or tablet recharging station, an umbrella, a shade cover, and the like. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment the top of the storage container allows the positioning of a tabletop thereon. In a preferred option there is a table top mountable onto the storage container. 
         [0019]    In a further preferred option one or more cup holders can be attached to one or more of the poles. Preferably the one or more cup holders are attached to a pole at or adjacent the position where the storage container is attached. 
         [0020]    Preferably the portable storage assembly can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and reduced to a relatively small size for storage purposes. 
         [0021]    In a further aspect the invention resides in a portable storage assembly including 
         [0022]    four poles each of which comprise of a plurality of parts; 
         [0023]    a support attachable to each of the poles, wherein the support is attachable at substantially the same position on each of the poles; and 
         [0024]    a fabric storage container mountable to the support; wherein in use the poles are positioned to intersect forming an apex in an upper section and a wide base in a lower section, the storage container is positionable within the space defined by the poles in the lower section. 
         [0025]    Preferably the portable storage assembly has four poles each of which comprise of a plurality of parts; the support is attachable at substantially the same position on each of the poles; the storage container is a waterproof fabric container mountable to the support; and the upper end of the poles are attached together by a head cup arrangement. 
         [0026]    Preferably the portable storage assembly has a mount to hold hangers, a camera, a video camera, speaker(s), solar panel, light, beacon, phone or tablet recharging station, an umbrella, a shade cover, and other similar accessories. 
         [0027]    More preferably the portable storage assembly has a table top mountable onto the storage container and or the positioning of cup holders on one or more of the poles. 
         [0028]    The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of the temporary storage assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the cover bag for holding the temporary storage assembly in a disassembled form; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the temporary storage assembly; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 4 to 9  are a series of figures showing the disassembly of the temporary storage assembly; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view of the temporary storage assembly with an optional camera mounting; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic view of the temporary storage assembly with a mounted umbrella; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic view showing a table top for positioning on the storage container; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic view of positioning the table top on the storage compartment of the temporary storage assembly; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view of the temporary storage assembly with cup holders. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]    With particular references to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there is shown the portable storage assembly  10  having a frame  11  comprising of four individual poles  12 . The poles  12  are positioned in use to substantially form a pyramid with the upper end coming together to form an apex  13 . The apex  13  with each of the upper ends of poles  12  are held together by a fastening cap head arrangement  14 . The fastening cap head arrangement  14  includes a base cap  15  and a top cap  16  which when fitted together fixed the position of the poles  12 . 
         [0040]    Each of the poles  12  compromise several parts that can be disassembled in order to fold and store the assembly. Each part of the pole is associated with its adjacent part by a connecting cord  53 . In this way the parts are not lost and can be quickly assembled to form a functional pole  12 . Adjoining pole parts are connected together via opposing male and female pole part ends  17 . 
         [0041]    Each pole  12  is connected to their adjacent poles  12  by two pivotally connected support arms  19 . The storage container  20  is mounted to the support arms  19 . Each support arm  19  is pivotally connected to the pole  12  by means of a fastener. Each support arm  19  comprises of two parts that are pivotally connected approximately midway between the poles  12  by fasteners  23 . The pivotally connected support arms  19  are attached to each pole  12  at substantially the same position from the base of the poles  12 . The pivotally connected support arms  19  are positioned through peripheral loops  22  surrounding the upper perimeter of the storage container  20 . The storage container  20  is a water-proof fabric container that is substantially square in shape. The storage container  20  has a top zip opening  26  and a side zip opening  27 . There is also a center tab  28  for disassembling the portable storage assembly. While the storage container  20  is fixed to each of the poles  12  there is an elastic tie  29  extending from each lower corner  30  of the storage container  20 . The elastic tie  29  extends from the corner  30  and attaches to a hook  31  on each of the poles  12 . Each of the poles  12  has a foot  32  to provide stability and additional strength. 
         [0042]    The storage container  20  enables clothes, hats and valuables to be stored therein. The storage container  20  can also include an internal secret compartment for the securing of valuables. 
         [0043]    A mounting cap  35  can be placed over the cap head arrangement  14  that forms the apex  13 . The mounting cap  35  has a plurality of channels  36  in a top surface through which hanger arms  37  are located. The hanger arms  37  allows clothes, bags, hats and other items to hang from the extended arms. 
         [0044]    With particular reference to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a camera  40  mounted to the mounting cap  35 . The mounting cap  35  has the preferred ability to enable the mounting of a camera (as shown in  FIG. 10 ); video camera; speakers; beacon; solar panel; light; phone, tablet or laptop chargers; and umbrella  42  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , there is a paneled tabletop  50 , which can be located on top of the storage container  20  so that the portable storage assembly  10  can also serve as a table. A person may use a table for placing food, drinks, plates and cutlery rather than leaving them on the ground. With reference to  FIG. 14 , there is shown cup holders  52  attached to each of the poles  12 . The cup holders  52  can be used in conjunction with the tabletop  50  to provide a dining arrangement. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 to 9 , there is shown various stages of disassembly to the portable storage assembly  10 . Step  1  involves removing possessions from the storage container  20 , removing hanger arms  37  and other accessories from the portable storage assembly  10 . Unhooking the elastic ties  29  from all four corners of the storage container  20 . Step  2  involves pulling up on the tab  28  so that the support arms  19  pivots adjacent pole  12  and midway via fasteners  23 . In this way the storage container  20  collapses and folds around the support arms  19 . The poles  12  are disassembled so that each part of the pole  12  is able to fold back on itself while remaining connected via cords  53 .  FIGS. 6 to 9  show the disassembly of the poles  12  (and without the storage compartment  20  for ease of illustration purposes). The folded pole parts and storage compartment  20  are then placed in cover  60  shown in  FIG. 2 . To reassemble the portable storage assembly  10 , the steps are reversed. 
       ADVANTAGES 
       [0047]    The preferred embodiment of the portable storage assembly  10  has the advantage that it is relatively quick and easy to assemble and disassemble, provide ample storage for clothes, towels and other possessions, form a table and a temporary dining arrangement and can provide shade to those sitting around the portable storage assembly  10 . 
         [0048]    The preferred embodiment of the portable storage assembly  10  enables possessions and food to remain off the ground thereby avoiding contamination and invasion by ants and other insects. 
       VARIATIONS 
       [0049]    It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. 
         [0050]    Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.