Article movement device

Abstract

An article movement device for use in a storage area including guide means to define a path for movement of articles, the guide means positioned on or supported by at least one surface of the storage area. Articles which are positioned towards the rear of the storage area are moved either by manual application of force to the articles, the device, or by powered movement, towards the front of the storage area for viewing and/or access and so on for all the articles held by the device.

1 . An article guide device for use in a storage area wherein said article guide device comprises: 
 guide means positionable with respect to the storage area so as to define a path or track on which articles held in the storage area are located and along which said articles can be moved in a guided manner within the storage area to selectively move said articles to be positioned at an opening into the storage area for viewing and/or removal; and    path or track being continuous and formed from a series of elongate members selectively positioned on the storage area surface to allow the user to make use of the storage space shape.    
   
   
       2 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means are in the form of a series of interconnected elongate members.  
   
   
       3 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means are positioned so as define a substantially oval track.  
   
   
       4 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means can be selectively positioned on a support surface so as to define a suitable track width and track shape.  
   
   
       5 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means define a continuous path for said articles to be moved along.  
   
   
       6 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said article guide device includes at least two portions, and said portions can overlap to allow adjustment of the length of the guide means.  
   
   
       7 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  including any or any combination of protrusions and openings.  
   
   
       8 . An article guide device according to  claim 7  wherein said protrusions are located in a recess.  
   
   
       9 . An article guide device according to  claim 8  wherein free ends of said protrusions forms part of the surface of the track of the article guide device.  
   
   
       10 . An article guide device according to  9  wherein said track surface is substantially planar.  
   
   
       11 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein cross ribs are provided to maintain the shape of the device.  
   
   
       12 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said path is at least partly defined by at least part of at least one surface of the storage area.  
   
   
       13 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means includes support means to allow at least a second guide track to be defined and spaced apart from the first guide track so as to form a plurality of article movement tracks as part of the device.  
   
   
       14 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said device includes at least one movement means to exert a moving force on said articles along said guide means.  
   
   
       15 . An article guide device according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one movement means includes any or any combination of wheels, bearings, cogs, rollers, and/or the like.  
   
   
       16 . An article guide device according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one movement means are spaced apart and mounted laterally along said guide means so as to contact said articles at spaced intervals.  
   
   
       17 . An article guide device according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one movement means inter-engage with each other.  
   
   
       18 . An article guide device according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one movement means are connected to drive means, said drive means providing a force to drive said at least one movement means.  
   
   
       19 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide means are in the form of one or more grooves or slots along which a series of bases are spaced, said bases provided to receive at least one article placed thereon.  
   
   
       20 . An article guide device according to  claim 19  wherein said bases are located in and movable along said one or more grooves or slots.  
   
   
       21 . An article guide device according to  claim 20  wherein said bases are connected to drive means, said drive means providing a force to drive said bases along said one or more grooves or slots.  
   
   
       22 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein a series of trays are mounted at spaced intervals on said guide means.  
   
   
       23 . An article guide device according to  claim 22  wherein said trays are moved between first and second vertically spaced planes to join and interlink first and second guide tracks.  
   
   
       24 . An article guide device according to  claim 23  wherein said trays are connected to drive means, said drive means providing a force to drive said trays along said guide means.  
   
   
       25 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said device is constructed from a plurality of sections which are connected together to define a continuous path or loop.  
   
   
       26 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein said device is constructed from a plurality of sections which are adjustably connected together such that the device can be adjusted in size to fit a storage area.  
   
   
       27 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein the storage area is a cupboard space.  
   
   
       28 . An article guide device according to  claim 1  wherein the articles are any or any combination of cans, bottles or containers for consumable goods.