CEILING STORAGE CONTAINER MOUNTING SYSTEM
A ceiling storage mounting systems allows for unused ceiling space to be accessed and used for removably attaching storage containers. The system provides the storage of containers to be mounted entirely below the bottom surfaces of standard ceiling joists, whether exposed or finished with a hung ceiling. The mounting system includes a two part system of a mount and a storage container. The mount is anchored to the ceiling and the container is then attached to the mount by means of a plurality of gaps and protrusions. The gaps and protrusions are located between the mount and the storage container to mate and interlockingly engage the container to the mount. The storage container is mounted to the ceiling by aligning the gaps and protrusions, and sliding the gaps and protrusions relative to one another, thereby interlocking the gaps and protrusions. The container is then removably attached the ceiling.
This application is based on Provisional Application 60/836,945 filed on Aug. 11, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to using wasted space on finished ceilings or exposed ceiling joists in basements, storage rooms, attics, or garages for instance. A substantial amount of space in these areas is inefficiently used. Typically storage in these areas includes boxes of stored items stacked corners, placed into attics, or left in rooms inside the house taking up invaluable living space. It is therefore and object of the invention to provide a storage container mounting system for a ceiling, finished or unfinished, which is easily installed. It is a further object to provide for easy mounting and removal of individual storage containers from an accessible storage space.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTAs general prior art in this field, there exist several patents directed to mounting storage containers between exposed ceiling joists or wall studs. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,660, to Miller et al. mounts a container between two exposed ceiling joists on top of a panel that is adjustably secured. The container in Miller et al. engages the panel only by resting atop of the panel. Various other patents show storage containers mounted pivotally in the space between open ceiling joists to allow generally for a container storage position and a container access position. In these cases a mounting means pivotally mount the containers between the space provided between joists. All of these prior storage systems use the space between ceiling joists or wall studs to mount a storage container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is directed to an apparatus for removably attaching at least one storage container to a ceiling, including a mounting system and a storage container. The mounting system is attached to the ceiling so as to removably attach a storage container. The storage container is provided with an interlocking system for interlockingly engaging the mounting system to thereby mount the container to the ceiling. The storage container is mounted to the ceiling by aligning the mounting system with the interlocking system, and sliding the interlocking system relative to the mounting system thereby removably attaching the storage container to the ceiling.
The mounting system features a plurality of male or female engaging parts, and the interlocking system features a plurality of male or female engaging counterparts. These male and female parts of the mounting system and interlocking system matingly engage upon aligning the mounting system with the interlocking system and sliding the container relative to the mounting system.
The mounting system is comprised of a plurality of mounting rails anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists. A plurality of protrusions are provided on the mounting rails at spaced intervals, and a plurality of gaps are provided on the storage container. The protrusions are formed as pins and the gaps are formed as slotted keyholes, such that upon aligning the pins with the slotted keyholes, the pins matingly engage the keyholes, and upon sliding the keyholes relative to the pins, the container locks relative to the mounting rails.
Alternatively, the mounting system includes a plurality of individual mounts anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists at spaced intervals. These mounts provide the male engaging parts, and comprise a plurality of protrusions integral with the individual mounts. The container is provided with female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of gaps provided on opposing flanges of the storage container. The protrusions are formed as pins and the gaps are formed as slotted keyholes, such that upon aligning the pins with the slotted keyholes, the pins matingly engage the keyholes, and upon sliding the keyholes relative to the pins, the container locks relative to the individual mounts.
Alternatively, the mounting system includes a mounting panel anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists. The mounting system male or female engaging parts include a plurality of protrusions or gaps provided on the mounting panel at spaced intervals. The container is provided with male or female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of protrusions or gaps.
The invention is also directed to a method for removably attaching at least one storage container to a ceiling. This methods includes attaching a mounting system to a ceiling at spaced intervals, and providing a storage container with matingly spaced interlocking mechanisms to matingly engage with the mounting system and thereby attach the container to the ceiling. The mounting system includes a plurality of male or female engaging parts and the interlocking mechanisms includes a plurality of male or female engaging counterparts which matingly engage with the mounting system male or female engaging parts. The invention method includes aligning the interlocking mechanism with the mounting system, matingly engaging the mounting system with the interlocking mechanisms and then sliding the interlocking system relative to the mounting mechanisms thereby removably attaching the storage container to the ceiling.
The invention will be better understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
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The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for removably attaching at least one storage container to a ceiling comprising:
- a mounting means attached to the ceiling for removably attaching a storage container; and
- a storage container comprising interlocking means for interlockingly engaging said mounting means to thereby mount said container to said ceiling;
- wherein said storage container is mounted to said ceiling by aligning said mounting means with said interlocking means, and sliding said interlocking means relative to said mounting means thereby removably attaching said storage container to said ceiling.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprise plurality of male or female engaging parts, and said interlocking means comprise a plurality of male or female engaging counterparts which matingly engage with the mounting means male or female engaging parts upon aligning said mounting means with said interlocking means and sliding said interlocking means relative to said mounting means.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of mounting rails anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists, wherein said mounting means comprises male engaging parts in the form of a plurality of protrusions provided on said mounting rails at spaced intervals, and wherein said interlocking means comprises female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of gaps provided on said storage container.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said protrusions are formed as pins and said gaps are formed as slotted keyholes, such that upon aligning said pins with said slotted keyholes, said pins matingly engage said keyholes, and upon sliding said keyholes relative to said pins, said container locks relative to said mounting rails.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of mounting rails anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists, wherein said mounting means comprises female engaging parts in the form of a plurality of gaps provided on said mounting rails at spaced intervals, and wherein said interlocking means comprises male engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of protrusions provided on said storage container.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said protrusions are formed as pins and said gaps are formed as slotted keyholes, such that upon aligning said pins with said slotted keyholes, said pins matingly engage said keyholes, and upon sliding said pins relative to said keyholes, said container locks relative to said mounting rails.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of individual mounts anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists at spaced intervals, wherein said mounting means comprises male engaging parts formed as a plurality of protrusions integral with said individual mounts, and wherein said interlocking means comprises female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of gaps provided on said storage container.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said protrusions are formed as pins and said gaps are formed as slotted keyholes, such that upon aligning said pins with said slotted keyholes, said pins matingly engage said keyholes, and upon sliding said keyholes relative to said pins, said container locks relative to said individual mounts.
9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a mounting panel anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists, wherein said mounting means comprises male or female engaging parts in the form of a plurality of protrusions or gaps provided on said mounting panel at spaced intervals, and wherein said interlocking means comprises male or female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of protrusions or gaps provided on said storage container.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said mounting means further comprises a plurality of mounting rails anchored to a bottom side of said mounting panel, wherein said plurality of protrusions or gaps provided on said mounting panel are formed in or attached to said mounting rails.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said mounting means further comprises a plurality of individual mounts anchored to a bottom side of said mounting panel at spaced intervals, wherein said male engaging parts are formed as a plurality of protrusions integral with said individual mounts, and wherein said interlocking means comprises female engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of gaps provided on said storage container.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of mounting rails anchored to a bottom side of a plurality of ceiling joists, wherein said mounting rails include an “L” shaped cross-section, wherein ledges are formed by a horizontal portion of the “L” shaped cross-section of the mounting rails, and wherein said interlocking means comprises engaging counterparts in the form of a plurality of flanges provided on said storage container, such that said flanges are aligned adjacent to and above said ledges and said flanges are slid relative to said ledges to thereby attach said storage container to said ceiling.
13. A method for removably attaching at least one storage container to a ceiling comprising the steps of:
- attaching a mounting means to a ceiling at spaced intervals, wherein said mounting means includes a plurality of male or female engaging parts;
- providing a storage container with matingly spaced interlocking means to matingly engage with said mounting means to thereby attach said container to said ceiling, wherein said interlocking means includes a plurality of male or female engaging counterparts which matingly engage with said mounting means male or female engaging parts;
- aligning said interlocking means with said mounting means;
- matingly engaging said mounting means with said interlocking means; and
- sliding said interlocking means relative to said mounting means thereby removably attaching said storage container to said ceiling.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Inventors: John NILSEN (Ocala, FL), Raymond L. SMITH (Fort Pierce, FL)
Application Number: 11/834,906
International Classification: A47F 5/08 (20060101);