Single support suspension rack and kit

Abstract

A single-support suspension rack having a vertical support member with a proximal end, distal end, and face is used to hold various equipment, and particularly bicycles. A pliable member is attached to the distal end of the vertical support to aid in holding the rack in place. A tension bracket is attached to the proximal end of the vertical support with a bracket face for attaching the tension bracket to the vertical support face, and a horizontal bracket member with threaded apertures or holes. At least one leveling glide having threads complementary to the horizontal member is attached to the horizontal member. The leveling glide may be adjusted to position the rack and to hold the rack in place. A mounting assembly is attached to the vertical support face for holding the various equipment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a single-support suspension rack and a method for holding various equipment. More specifically, the present invention provides a single-support suspension rack for storing athletic equipment, such as bicycles, skis, and the like, and a kit containing the necessary hardware components for creating a custom suspension rack.

[0002] Indoor bike racks or utility storage racks are well known in the art and may be generally characterized as either single-support or ladder type racks. Ladder type racks are typified by Scott B. Lentz et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,270 which discloses two vertical support members attached by cross support pieces, a terminal cross support for pressing against the ceiling and an adjustment mechanism for tightening the fit of the rack between the floor and ceiling to compensate for unparallel floors and ceilings. There are many limitations on ladder type racks. Perhaps the most significant limitations are: (1) as a practical matter, the limited range of heights available for using the rack due to the one-size-fits-all nature of the vertical support members; (2) the use of an inflexible terminal cross support for pressing against the ceiling causing undue instability; and (3) the use of two vertical support members requiring more space than a single-support type rack.

[0003] The single-support type racks are disclosed in Ford Saeks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,930, and are shown having a single vertical support member, an upper height adjustment member and a lower height adjustment member and having predetermined locations for the placement of brackets for holding equipment. The single-support has a distinct advantage over the ladder type racks in that it requires less horizontal space to install the rack. This is especially beneficial when the rack is to be installed in confined or restricted spaces such as garages or loft type apartments.

[0004] Typically, single-support racks have two height adjustment members one for each end of the vertical support. The use of two adjustment members introduces additional complexity and expense in the manufacture of the suspension rack and requires more skill while installing the single-support rack; however, the greater problem is posed by the inherent instability of two adjusting means. Frequently when installing racks with two separate means of adjustment the person installing the rack attempts to approximate the position of the remote adjuster and uses the second more accessible adjuster to tighten the rack into position. While this approach is more practical for a person attempting to install the rack alone, it usually fails to secure the rack in a steadfast manner. Instead, the more accessible adjuster is secured, while the remote adjuster has only a small portion of the available contacting surface area touching the base surface. Because the contacting surface of the remote adjuster is not flush with the base surface, a certain amount of play is inevitably introduced into the vertical support. This problem is exacerbated by ceilings or floors that are not level such as those found in many older homes and in particular older garages where single-support type racks are commonly installed.

[0005] Another significant limitation of single-support racks is that each of the adjusters has a limited range for accommodating various ceiling heights. In addition, the more the adjusters are extended to accommodate higher ceilings, the more instability is imparted to the vertical support. Accordingly, it has proven impractical to provide single-support racks with adjusters that extend to any great degree. The result is that previous single-support racks have had limited areas where they may be used to any practical extent. Therefore, there is a need to provide a single-support rack requiring only limited horizontal space for installation, but capable of remaining vertically steadfast within a wide range of ceiling heights.

[0006] The single-support rack of the present invention provides only a single height adjustment member in the form of leveling glides and has an attached pliable member at the remote end of the vertical support making it more easily installed and providing additional stability. Furthermore, the kit of the present invention allows the user to construct and install a single-support rack using a customized vertical support selected by the user to suit the specifications of the space into which it will be installed. The single-support rack kit of the present invention also provides a significant cost savings over prefabricated racks which are purchased as an assembled unit or as a package including preselected vertical support member(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a kit containing the necessary hardware elements for the construction of a single-support rack using a vertical support selected by the user.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a kit and method of constructing a single-support rack which is less expensive than the prior prefabricated support racks currently available.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide in a single-support suspension rack a height adjustment mechanism capable of imparting novel stability to the vertical support.

[0010] The height adjustment mechanism in accordance with this invention includes a single adjuster at the proximal end of the vertical support and a pliable member at the distal end of the vertical support. The adjuster may be extended to conform the pliable member to the base surface, typically either the ceiling or the floor, imparting novel stability to the vertical support.

[0011] It is a further object of this invention to provide a single-support rack that maybe installed in areas of limited horizontal space.

[0012] It is another object of this invention to provide a single-support rack kit that maybe installed competently by a single person with limited engineering skills.

[0013] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a single-support rack with unlimited range in accommodating various ceiling heights without losing stability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the single-support suspension rack for storing athletic or utility equipment.

[0015] FIG. 2A is an elevational view of the pliable member.

[0016] FIG. 2B is an elevational view of the tension bracket.

[0017] FIG. 2C is an elevational view of the leveling glide.

[0018] FIG. 2D is an elevational view of the rod bracket.

[0019] FIG. 2E is an elevational view of the hang rod.

[0020] FIG. 2F is an elevational view of the screw.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the rack illustrating the location of the tension bracket and the leveling glide on the proximal end of the vertical support.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the rack illustrating the location of the pliable member on the distal end of the vertical support.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a front view of the mount assembly with the rods engaged on the face of the vertical support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 discloses a single-support suspension rack apparatus 5 having a vertical support 70 with face 75. The vertical support 70 may be made of any material capable of receiving the component parts of the invention and bearing the weight of the items to be suspended. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical support 70 is made of wood and may be a typical two by four inch (2×4) board. The length of the vertical support 70 is dependent upon the vertical space in which the single-support suspension rack 5 is to be installed. In a preferred embodiment, the installer will measure the distance between two base supports 80, 81, typically between ceiling and floor, and select or cut lumber two and one-quarter (2¼) inches shorter than the total measurement between the two base supports 80, 81.

[0025] As best disclosed in FIG. 4 the vertical support 70 has distal end 72 capable of receiving pliable member 10. The pliable member 10, shown in isolation in FIG. 2A, is attached to the vertical support 70 through plate 12 using one or more screws 60. The pliable member 10 may be made of any flexible material capable of conforming to the contour of the base support 80 when tension is applied, however, preferably the pliable member 10 is made from Galvanized or coated steel and more preferably from Galvanized or coated steel in a gauge range of about 5 to 20 gauge. The pliable member 10 extends across the distal end 72 (shown in FIG. 1) perpendicular to the face 75 of the vertical support 70 leaving, as shown in FIG. 4, opposing extended portions 14, 15 of the pliable member face 11 on either side of the vertical support 70. For best results, the extended portions 14, 15 should extend at least about two (2) inches past either side of the vertical support 70. The extended portions 14, 15 of the pliable member face 11 provide sufficient surface area to prevent slippage and effectively secure the single-support tension rack 5 in place when installed flush against the base support 80.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 3, a tension bracket 20 is mounted to the proximal end 71 of the vertical support 70 using a plurality of screws 60 to attach the bracket face 21 to the vertical support 70. The tension bracket 20, shown in detail in FIG. 2B, may be made of any material capable of withstanding the weight of the vertical support 70 and the items to be stored on the rack 5, however, preferably the tension bracket 20 is made from Galvanized or coated steel and more preferably from Galvanized or coated steel in a gauge range of about 5 to 15 gauge. The tension bracket 20 is attached to vertical support 70 so that its proximal end 71 rests upon the horizontal bracket member 22 when the vertical support member 70 is brought to a vertical position. Vertical bracket member 23 is substantially aligned with the face 75 of the vertical support member 70 and is at least about one (1) inch in length. The vertical bracket member 23 attaches horizontal member 22 and horizontal member 24.

[0027] Horizontal member 24 has threaded apertures or holes 25a and 25b (not shown) for receiving a pair of leveling glides 30. The leveling glides 30, shown in FIG. 2C, are used to create the necessary tension against base support 81 to force the pliable member 10 to the opposing base support 80. Each leveling glide 30 is hand adjusted to lengthen or shorten the rack 5 to fit within a desired vertical space. Once the rack is positioned a wrench may be used to tighten the leveling glides 30 creating the necessary tension to press the pliable member 10 against the base support 80 and thereby secure the position of the rack 5. In the preferred method of installation, the person installing the rack 5 uses a level to position the rack 5 to ensure that it is upright, straight and generally perpendicular to the base supports 80, 81 (or parallel to the force of gravity when between non-parallel or uneven base supports 80, 81).

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 5, at least one mounting assembly 55 for suspending articles is mounted on a face 75 of the vertical support 70. Mounting assemblies 55 may be mounted or the same or different faces 75 of the vertical support 70 as desired. In a preferred embodiment, a mounting assembly 55 comprises a rod bracket 40, shown in FIG. 2D, having one or more rod mounts 45 which receive rods 50. The mounting assembly 55 is secured to the face 75 by screws 60. Once the mounting assembly 55 is secured, objects of considerable weight may be placed on the rods 50 without warping or bending the rods 50. Typically however, the rods 50, shown in FIG. 2F, are used to support bicycles, hoses, and other household utility items.

[0029] The present design, unlike the previous art, allows the user of the suspension rack 5 to select the height of the vertical support 70 since it is acquired by the user independently from the kit. This feature of the invention creates a rack 5 that may be installed in spaces having a wide variety of heights with consistent stability. However, regardless of the height of the ceiling, once the vertical support 70 is selected, the range of height adjustment is limited to the length of the leveling glides 30. This approach to accommodating various ceiling heights is unique and has distinct advantages over the prior art methods of telescoping the vertical support or keeping the vertical support at one length and providing adjusting means to stretch the length of the rack. In the present invention the adjustment mechanism is only used to provide tension, not to lengthen the rack 5. As a consequence a new single support suspension rack 5 is provided that consistently provides stability in a limited horizontal space.

[0030] In one preferred embodiment, the present invention comes in the form of a kit of the component parts 10, 20, 30, 55 (except for the vertical support 70) with a page of assembly instructions (not shown) for the user to follow in constructing a suspension rack. The user obtains a vertical support 70 and using the instructions from the kit is directed how to properly measure and cut the vertical support 70 to the correct height, attach each of the component parts using simple tools and install the rack 5 between the base supports 80, 81.

[0031] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is to be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto since may modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope or equivalent scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suspension rack kit having component parts capable of being assembled by a user for constructing a suspension rack using a vertical support, said suspension rack kit comprising:

(a) a pliable member having a face for contacting a first base support for attachment to a distal end of said vertical support;

(b) a tension bracket for attachment to a proximal end of said vertical support, said tension bracket having at least one adjustable leveling glide for contacting a second base support; and

(d) at least one mounting assembly for attachment to a face of said vertical support.

2. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said mounting assembly comprises:

(a) a rod bracket attached to the vertical support by one or more screws;

(b) at least two rod mounts substantially centered on said rod bracket;

(c) at least one rod attached to each of said rod mounts for holding various equipment.

3. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said pliable member further comprises a plate attached to the face of the vertical support, said plate connecting to a pliable member face extending across and to either side of the distal end of the vertical support in a plane generally perpendicular to the face of the vertical support.

4. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said tension bracket further comprises a bracket face mounted to the face of the vertical support, said bracket face connecting to a horizontal bracket member extending substantially across the proximal end of the vertical support in a plane generally perpendicular to the face of the vertical support, said horizontal bracket member further connecting to a vertical bracket member substantially aligned with the face of the vertical support and at least about one (1) inch in length, said vertical bracket member further connecting to a horizontal member, said horizontal member having one or more threaded apertures for receiving a corresponding number of adjustable leveling glides.

5. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 further comprising a page of assembly instructions.

6. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said pliable member is made of Galvanized steel in the gauge range of about 5 to 20 gauge.

7. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said tension bracket is made of Galvanized steel in the gauge range of 5 to 15 gauge.

8. The suspension rack kit of claim 1 wherein said vertical support is made of lumber having dimensions of two by four inches.

9. A suspension rack comprising:

(a) a vertical support having a proximal end and a distal end and a face;

(b) a pliable member attached to the distal end of said vertical support having a face for contacting a base support;

(c) a tension bracket attached to the proximal end of said vertical support having a bracket face for attaching the bracket to the vertical support and a horizontal member with threaded apertures;

(d) at least one leveling glide having threads complementary to said horizontal member and attached thereto; and

(e) a mounting assembly attached to said vertical support face.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 9 comprising:

(a) a rod bracket attached to the vertical support by one or more screws;

(b) at least two rod mounts substantially centered on said rod bracket;

(c) at least one rod attached to each of said rod mounts for holding various equipment.

10. The suspension rack kit of claim 9 wherein said pliable member further comprises a plate attached to the face of the vertical support, said plate connecting to a pliable member face extending across and to either side of the distal end of the vertical support in a plane generally perpendicular to the face of the vertical support.

11. The suspension rack kit of claim 9 wherein said tension bracket further comprises a bracket face mounted to the face of the vertical support, said bracket face connecting to a horizontal bracket member extending substantially across the proximal end of the vertical support in a plane generally perpendicular to the face of the vertical support, said horizontal bracket member further connecting to a vertical bracket member substantially aligned with the face of the vertical support and at least about one (1) inch in length, said vertical bracket member further connecting to a horizontal member, said horizontal member having one or more threaded apertures for receiving a corresponding number of adjustable leveling glides.

12. The single-support suspension rack of claim 9 wherein said pliable member is made of Galvanized steel in the gauge range of about 5 to 20 gauge.

13. The single-support suspension rack of claim 9 wherein said tension bracket is made of Galvanized steel in the gauge range of 5 to 15 gauge.

14. The single-support suspension rack of claim 9 wherein said vertical support is made of lumber having dimensions of two by four inches.

15. A method of assembling a suspension rack from a kit of parts, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the distance between two base supports;

(b) selecting a vertical support having first and second opposing ends and a length about two and one-quarter inches shorter than the distance between the two base supports;

(c) attaching a pliable member to the first end of said vertical support;

(d) attaching a tension bracket to the second end of said vertical support;

(e) contacting said pliable member to a base support such that the vertical member is substantially perpendicular to said base support and adjusting said tension bracket to hold the rack in place;

(f) attaching a mounting assembly to said vertical support.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of selecting a vertical support comprises obtaining a vertical support of greater length than the distance between said base supports and cutting the vertical support to a length about two and one-quarter inches shorter than the distance between said base supports.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the tension bracket comprises:

(a) a face attached to the vertical support by one or more screws;

(b) a horizontal member having threaded holes for receiving leveling glides said glides being adjustable to create the necessary tension to hold the position of the rack.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the pliable member comprises:

(a) a plate attached to the vertical support by one or more screws;

(b) a face extending at least about two inches on either side of said vertical support.