Abstract:
Devices, methods, and systems for storing a plurality of coiled tubes as well as features for storing or securing brazing rods and other similar items. One example such system/device is modular and includes a rack support and bin-like units for retaining and providing easy identification and access to coiled tubing, such as coiled copper tubing of differing diameters. In this example, the bin-like units are attached ladder-like so as to form adjacent, angled receptacles for different diameter tubing coils, such that each coil type is quickly visable and easily retrieved.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/860,689, filed Jul. 31, 2013. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to the field of devices and systems for storing tubing, such that the tubing is easily stored and retrieved, as well as features for storing or securing brazing rods and other similar items, while also being protected from damage and other hazards, and particularly to devices and systems that are mountable in a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There remains an unmet need for devices, methods, and systems for easily and safely storing tubing, such as coiled copper tubing and brazing rods, including, for example, such storage in vehicles (e.g., service vehicles), where the devices/methods and systems save space, protect such tubing from damage, and allow easy identification, storage, and retrieval of the tubing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to devices, methods, and systems for providing storage of tubing, such as coiled copper or other tubing, as well as brazing rods and other similar items, as typically used, for example, in electrical, mechanical, and other construction and maintenance service industries. 
     One example variation in accordance with aspects of the present invention provides a modular system that includes a rack support and bin-like units for retaining and providing easy identification and access to coiled tubing, such as coiled copper tubing of differing tube cross-sectional diameters. In this example, the bin-like units are attached ladder-like so as to form adjacent, angled receptacles for different overall coil diameters, in a manner such that each tube/coil type is quickly visible and easily retrieved. In addition, the separate bins protect each coil contained therein, by separating the coils and preventing scratching, denting, and other damage that may occur among coils as may otherwise occur when stored in the manner of the prior art (e.g., stacking coils; roping or otherwise attaching coils to one another and to a hook or hooks in a vehicle). 
     In this example variation in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the rack support may, for example, be secured within a vehicle (e.g., by attachment to a wall within the vehicle), and the bin-like units (also interchangeably referred to herein as “receiving troughs”) may be attached to the rack support, such as by securing the units by nuts and bolts, or by other suitable methods and devices, such as via one or more tabs extending from portions of the bins being inserted into corresponding receiving opening(s) in the rack support. In addition, the number and size of the bins may be assembled in a modular fashion, such that only the required number of bins is created, as needed, and so that assembly and disassembly is facilitated. 
     In yet another variation, rather than the system being modular, the system may be formed or assembled as a non-modular unit, and secured within the vehicle as appropriate. 
     In yet another variation, the modular or non-modular system may be used in other locations than within vehicles (e.g., within a store or storage area). 
     In addition to the rack and bin features for tubing storage, example aspects of the system may also optionally include one or more other mountable storage features, such as retaining features for securing brazing rod containers. 
     Additional advantages and novel features relating to aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only and thus not limited with respect to aspects of the present invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a representative partial cutaway first perspective view of an example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a representative partial cutaway second perspective view of an example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a first Photostat of another example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a second Photostat of another example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a third Photostat of another example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a fourth Photostat of another example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to devices, methods, and systems for providing storage of tubing, such as coiled copper or other tubing, as well as features for storing or securing brazing rods and other similar items, typically used in electrical, mechanical, and other construction and maintenance areas. 
       FIG. 1  shows a representative, partial cutaway first perspective view of an example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device/system  10  may include one or more rack support features  15 , which may also include, for example, a rear support feature  20 . Attachable to the rear support feature  20  may be one or more side structures  25 . A plurality of shelf structures  30   a - 30   d  may be supported via one or more of the one or more side structures  25  and/or the rear support feature  20 . 
     For example, in  FIG. 1 , the shelf structures  30   a - 30   d  may be supported via two side structures  25  (the second side structure to the one visible in  FIG. 1  also being attached to the rear support feature  20  near an opposite edge, located horizontally relative to the attachment position of the rear support feature  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ), via, for example, one or more slotted receiving openings  26   a - 26   d , or other securing features. In this example, open-topped bin-like units  40  are thereby formed by the combination of a portion of the rear support feature  20 , a portion of each of the side structures  25 , and at least a portion of the shelf structures  30   a - 30   b.    
     In addition, optionally, one or more supports  35  may be included, such as in a generally “V-shaped” (e.g., acute angle) pattern—when two such supports  35  are used with regard to each bin-like unit  40 , as viewed in  FIG. 2 . For example, such supports  35  may be received within slots  31  formed within the shelf structures  30   a - 30   d  and/or corresponding slots (see, e.g., slot  20   a  shown in  FIG. 2 ) formed in the rear support feature  20 . The V-shaped pattern may, for example, help secure received coil tubing (see, e.g., cutaway view of sample coil  50  supported by support  35 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ) from excess sliding and/or damage. In one variation, the greatest width of the V-shaped opening (measured horizontally from the shelf structures  30   a - 30   d  to the rear support feature  20 ) may be about 6½ inches to accommodate coiled tubing ranging in diameter from about ⅞ inch to 4 inches. 
     In some variations, the rear support feature  20  may include multiple sub-portions, attachable to one another or relative to one another (e.g., via attachment to rack support features  15 ). The side structures  25  may likewise include multiple sub-portions, attachable to one another or relative to one another (e.g., via attachment to corresponding sub-portions of rear support feature  20  or to rack support features  15 ). As a result, the device/system  10  may be modular, allowing any suitable number of bin-like units  40  to be formed, in a ladder-like manner, for example. 
     In some modular system variations, the width of the sub-portions may vary, for example, from larger widths at lower levels to smaller widths at higher levels, in a “stair-step” manner, for holding sequentially larger to smaller tube sizes, having corresponding overall larger to smaller coil diameters. 
       FIG. 2  shows another representative partial cutaway perspective view of the example coiled tubing storage device/system of  FIG. 1  (perspective from the rear of the device/system  10 , compared to as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In the example variation of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rack support  15  may, for example, be secured within a vehicle (e.g., by attachment to a wall within the vehicle), and the bin-like units  40  may be formed by attachment to the rack support  15 , such as by securing the units by nuts and bolts, or by other suitable methods and devices, such as via one or more tabs extending from various features (e.g., side structures  25 ) being inserted into corresponding receiving opening(s) in the rack support  15 . In addition, the number and size of the bin units may be assembled in a modular fashion, such that only the required number of bins are created, as needed, and so that assembly and disassembly is facilitated. 
     In operation, the bin-like units  40  may each retain one type of coiled tubing  50  (e.g., tubing of one selected pipe cross-sectional diameter, typically having an overall coil diameter that varies according to the tube cross-sectional diameter size—e.g., smaller tubing is typically coiled at a smaller coil diameter than the diameter of coils for larger size tubing), which provides for easy identification and access to each type of coiled tubing  50 . In addition, the separate bin-like units  40  may protect each coil type contained therein, for example, by separating the coil tubing  50  and preventing scratching, denting, and other damage among the coiled tubing  50  that is typical of storage methods and features of the prior art (e.g., stacking coils; roping or otherwise attaching coils to one another and/or to a hook or hooks in the vehicle). 
     Some variations in accordance with aspects of the present invention include additional features relating to the securing and use of both coiled tubing and typical items used with such tubing, such as soldering/welding materials and other items. In addition, coils may be further secured within the bins, for example, such as by providing removable securing features (e.g., Velcro® straps or other selectively securable features to secure the coils while within the bin-like portions). 
       FIGS. 3-6  show various Photostat views of another example coiled tubing storage device/system, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an example device/system  10 , in which the components forming the bin-like units  30   a  comprise a malleable or semi-malleable material, such as plastic. Also shown in this example configuration are stored samples of copper tubing  50  of different tube diameters, separated by bin. In addition, this example device/system  10  includes features for holding soldering/welding rods, securable to the device/system via securing features (e.g., metal retainers  301  for holding rod containers  305  fastened to one of the bin walls or the rear support feature  20 ). 
       FIG. 4  contains a close-up view of a portion of the device/system of  FIG. 3 , including a view of an example rack support securing feature  401  attaching the device/system to another component within a vehicle (e.g., a metal dividing wall contained within a vehicle).  FIG. 4  also shows a close-up view of the features for storing other items, such as soldering/welding rods, via metal retainers  301  for holding rod containers  305  fastened to one of the bin walls or the rear support feature  20 . 
       FIG. 5  contains a close-up view of another portion of the device/system of  FIG. 3 , including a view of one of the side structures  25  that support the shelf structures  30   a.    
       FIG. 6  contains another perspective view of the device/system of  FIG. 3 , showing a coiled tubing sample  50  being removed from/inserted into a bin portion of the device/system. 
     Example aspects of the present invention have now been described in accordance with the above advantages. It will be appreciated that these examples are merely illustrative hereof. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.