Vertically retractable counterweighted rack for overhead closet storage

Abstract

A system and method of suspending retractable vertical storage is described. The wire shelving system method comprise, among other things, convenient storage of footwear, hand bags, and luggage across horizontal wire shelves. A conveyable, horizontal shelf apparatus is mounted to linear bearing drawer slides or extendable carriers allowing the apparatus to pull down, deploying for convenient access to shoes or other items stored on carrier shelves. The storage system and method is designed to utilize a very confined overhead area or void above closet doors and below the ceiling by allowing passage for the vertically retractable apparatus as to not interfere with existing closet functionality or significantly compromise your storage space typically in use. Thereby creating additional all-new storage in a useless void of space.

Claims

1. A vertically retractable storage apparatus specific for reach-in closets, comprising: a counterbalanced storage device that raises and lowers an overhead suspended shelf system specific for storing primarily footwear, luggage and other items as configured.

2. Fully extendable telescoping linear bearing draw slides wall mounted with threaded fasteners attached to rigid brackets fastened vertically plumb to a closet header wall.

3. Two opposing parallel vertical side mount plates fasten to extendable end of linear bearing drawer slides; are connected structurally by wire shelving and cross supports.

4. The apparatus vertical travels by a cable pulley system that is counterbalanced by: a hanging counterweight(s) or, a load counterweighted force by constant torsion spring reel(s) or, a second identical apparatus installed adjacent in long closet working in tandem to offset opposing down force of first apparatus to neutralize weight or counterbalance.

5. A storage system and method to utilize a specific confined overhead void above closet doors and below the ceiling featuring without conflict to other closet functions; a tandem system that specifically fits standard closet widths, designs, layouts, and dimensions found in standard, sliding door, reach-in closets found in bedrooms, a single unit design that specifically fits standard closet widths, designs, layout, and dimensions found in standard reach-in closets that are found in hallways or bedrooms.

6. The storage suspension system of claim 5, wherein the suspension apparatus is mounted away from shelving against the closet door header above and away from typically found stacked shelving contents or apparel adding all-new storage capacity.

7. The storage suspension system of claim 5, wherein the suspension device is able to vacate the path to make functional use of standard shelving found in reach-in closets.

8. The storage suspension system of claim 4, wherein the suspension device created overhead storage in a vacant void that remains counterbalanced in normal use since removal of a single or few pair of shoes will not affect the weight counterbalance or tandem load equalization enough to disturb the apparatus position set by the user.

9. The storage suspension system of claim 4 that requires no catch system to stop at any point in the travel range if the load of apparatus is significantly close in match by: a weight balance existing between left and right sides in the tandem installation, and a load balance is achieved with adjustable counterbalance mechanism or weight, and a combined system friction is enough to stop counterbalanced apparatus at will, and a reasonable push or pull initiates either up or down movement with minimal effort.

10. A modular storage suspension system that is diverse for various configurations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the figures, like reference numbers refer to like elements or acts throughout the figures. The nature of all sliding door closets is that only one side is available at a time as the doors push both to one side to open access up to the opposite side and the reverse thereof.

[0022] FIG. 1 depicts an overhead perspective view of the hanging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts rear side view from inside closet perspective view of a plurality of hanging apparatus counterbalanced in tandem according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a front side perspective view of the tandem apparatus in full down extension depicting the proximity to the built in shelf to an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 depicts a front to side view with two possible alternative counterweighted mechanisms necessary for a singular apparatus install to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 depicts a direct back side perspective view of a tandem apparatus installation at full extended, down, deployed position on the right side, and the inverse left side at a fully retracted, up position, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 depicts a direct back side perspective view of tandem apparatus installation at midpoint through the cable travel range, with equal or half deployment according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0028] Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment. Access alternate between deployed shelves or retracted apparatus as closet doors allow access to just one side at a time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the storage system according to one embodiment of the invention. Wall studs 10 are shown as substantially parallel to each other. Generally, wall studs 10 are coupled to and supported by header beams 18, frames, or other structures of a building (not shown). In the embodiment shown, wall studs 10 and header beam 18, form part of a garage or home closet wall. Generally, in the United States, wall studs are spaced about 16 inches apart. The present invention is not limited to this spacing and can be easily made to accommodate many various configurations of wall studs spacing and header beam orientation and size. In one embodiment, FIG. 1 may represent multiple cells of the storage system which can be extended to both sides of an elongated closet common in bedrooms. In the embodiment shown, a wall 12 is attached to the both sides of wall studs 10 and header beam 18. Wall 12 may be comprised of a variety of materials, for example, wall 12 may comprise drywall, sheetrock, wood, plywood, particle board, sheet metal or any other type of material commonly used to construct walls. In the illustrated embodiment shown, wall 12 is comprised of drywall. While this embodiment is probably the most common configuration of closet wall found, it is not a limitation of the invention that wall 12 be present as a part of the storage system. Closet shelf 28 is commonly found 12-24 below the installed level of the suspension apparatus 14 and extends 12 from rear wall of a typical closet leaving passage for items into the confined area when suspension apparatus 14 is retracted in the up position.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, suspension apparatus 14 are coupled to wall 12 with use of hanger bracket 20 using common anchor methods appropriate for the material of spacer plate 38 and/or 40 it is embedded into. Spacer plate(s) 38 and/or 40 are directly attached to wall 12 wall studs 10, and header beam 18 by use of nails, screws, bolts, adhesives, or other general construction fasteners may be coupled to wall studs 10 using a variety of different methods or fasteners. In the embodiment shown, suspension apparatus 14 are coupled to header beam 18 using lag screws 16 fastening hanger bracket 20. In one embodiment, machine bolts may pass through pre-existing holes in the hanger bracket 20 on 90 degree angle perpendicular to the closet header for mounting drawer slider 36 or guide mechanism. In another embodiment, the construction fasteners pass through lumber that creates the same perpendicular mounting surface with pre-existing holes attached with one or more of aforementioned methods into side support panel 24. In the embodiment shown, suspension apparatus are placed side-by-side in a tandem pair counterweighting one another with a continuous cable 44 over pulleys. An alternative embodiment, a single hanging apparatus 14 uses alternative counterweighting by cable reel 34 or variable level sand 50 filled pipe 48 of the apparatus as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wall studs 10, supported by header beam 18, are shown to be substantially parallel to each other with a sheet rock wall 12 attached. Mounts align with vertical wall studs 10 at a level or plane along the header board 18 such that items can be suspended above the header board 18 level depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 where only apparatus 14 is shown occupying the entire length of the confined void. This side-by-side or tandem application depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is useful in an elongated bedroom closet of a sliding door type where the horizontal span exists such that a tandem installation doubles the capacity of storage. FIG. 5 depicts dual suspension apparatus 14 with the left side in an up retracted position while the second apparatus on the right is deployed in the down position allowing for convenient access of two or more levels of wire shelf 26 storage space.

[0033] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 both depict directional arrows 42 indicating opposite simultaneous directions of travel of apparatus(s) 14 which can be vertically adjusted to allow easy access to either the apparatus contents while deployed or adjacent shelf behind while retracted up.

[0034] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 both depict a front side view of the suspension apparatus 14 system according to one embodiment of the invention. This embodiment further depicts suspension apparatus 14 in the lowest position such that the contoured shape of side panel 24 is shaped to increase the clearance and travel range of apparatus 14 allowing increased access for the third shelf 26 and cross brace 30. This allows for apparatus 14 at a lower operating height for users by avoiding contact with hanging rod 32 or standard built-in, permanent closet shelf 28. Both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 depict a side profile of suspension apparatus 14 in a deployed, lowered position at the full extent of drawer sliders 36 attached to 90 degree perpendicular bracket 20. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the invention that reverses shelving 26 and eliminates cross brace 30 for a less expensive version of apparatus 14 featuring less parts and simpler install.

[0035] As described earlier in FIG. 2, the embodiment shown may extend out in a horizontal directions across wall 12 with a second interdependent apparatus in a tandem counterbalance.

[0036] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 both depict a tandem installation arrangement; hanging apparatus 14 fastened side by side on header beam 18 with fasteners 16 through wall 12.

[0037] FIG. 1 depicts hanging apparatus 14 from an overhead view mounted and spaced from wall 12 with backing plates 38 and/or 40 situated between bracket(s) 20 and wall 12 with an exact appropriate thickness for situational fit and tolerance required to allow a full range of hinge 36 vertical movement of apparatus 14. The clearance needed of apparatus 14 from obstructions that can vary slightly per application, depends on precise spacing away from the wall 12 adequate to clear doors and/or door frame/hardware that are typically under 1. Over spacing away from header 18 backwards will interfere with full range of travel and extension (42 in FIG. 5) by making unwanted contact with shelf 28 and/or hanging rod 32 in FIG. 3.

[0038] FIG. 1 depicts two possible backing plate(s) 38 and/or 40 configurations fastened into wall stud 10 and door header 18 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of possible hanging alternatives to a continuous full closet length backing plate(s) 38 by depicting gaps between backing plate 38 and a vertical narrow wood strip 40.

[0039] The lack of consistent placement of wall studs 10 due to variations of; architectural design, methods of construction; cause retrofitting difficulties to accommodate unforeseeable applications. Therefore, the necessity for backing plate 38 exists for spacing and alignment in that the spacing plate covers the entire mounting area as to consistently catch wall stud(s) 10.

[0040] FIG. 4 depicts a simple counterweight method that involves PVC pipe filled with sand to a level that equals the weight of loaded apparatus 14 in the solo installation requiring this. The elimination of frontal cross supports 30 in FIG. 4 does not include rear cross support 30 that will functionally serve as: pull/push handle for moving apparatus 14 both up and down, support mount point for pulleys (22) and safety guard for cable 44 where it has exposure.