HANGING RACK SYSTEM

Abstract

A hanging rack system configured for organizing and storing items in a cabinet. The system includes left and right side wall connection members configured for attachment to left and right cabinet side walls and each having a plurality of upwardly opening notches, a hanging rail with left and right end portions sized to non-rotatably and removably be received in the notches, and an attachment members configured to be non-rotatably and removably attached to the hanging rail and support at least one item.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a system for storing and organizing tools and other items in a storage area. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable storage system for use in locations such as garages.

2. Description of the Related Art

Individuals accumulate items over the course of their lives. Many times these items are placed in an area of a person's home where they accumulate. Over time, these items may fall out of use or become lost. When a time arises that these items need to be retrieved, often times these items cannot be found. In addition, these accumulations of items can grow to the size that the area where the items in which they are stored cannot hold all of the items. This is particularly true in the case of a garage or a storage room, which is intended to store a particular item such as an automobile but over time, the accumulation and disorganization of materials in the storage area prevents the automobile from being stored in the garage. In order to overcome this problem, a variety of shelving and organizing systems exist. However, most of these organizing systems have a variety of drawbacks.

One drawback of many types of the storage and organizing systems found in the prior art is the inflexibility of the systems in which the devices are utilized. Most of the systems are configured to be connected together and then installed in a location. Most of the time, once these systems are put into place and installed, the system is relatively fixed in this embodiment and configuration. This provides a significant disadvantage in that during the course of a period of time as short as one year the desired configuration and orientation of storage system may need to be variously reconfigured in order to meet the needs and necessities of a user.

Another drawback of many of the systems of the prior art is that they a configured to be constructed from the ground up. This type of system takes up valuable floor space, which then takes away the ability of an individual to perform many other activities within the same space. For example in a garage type of setting, the construction of such floor based types of devices take up valuable space such as the floor space around vehicle parking areas which must be kept clear in order to allow car doors to be opened and closed. Many times the construction and placement of these types of prior art systems causes the garage to become simply a storage room, and not a place where cars can be parked.

Another problem associated with the prior art systems is their rigidity and inflexibility of construction. This does not allow for easily accessible changes to take place and reduces the value and utility of such systems. For example, in locations positioned in a temperate climate, the items to be stored in such a system vary. During the winter months in areas where snow is present, items such as skis, ski poles, sleds, snow shovels, and heavy winter clothing need to be both stored and readily accessible for use. During this same time of year, other items such as bicycles, garden hoses, lawn mowers, and garden tools need not be as readily accessible. However, as the temperature warms and the seasons change, the winter materials can be stored in a less readily accessible location and the warm weather materials need to be more readily accessible. In addition, the configuration of a storage system needs to be variously altered depending upon the accumulation of additional items or the loss of items. The configuration of most of the prior art systems requires that once a storage system is put in place, it is relatively fixed in place and cannot be easily reconfigured. This feature limits the usefulness of the storage system in that the system cannot be modified to accommodate items of varying sizes, weights and dimensions. In many instances, this then results in the storage system becoming obsolete because the system cannot be easily modified.

These drawbacks have been overcome with applicant's prior designs for wall hanging garage shelf and rack storage systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,249,685, 7,497,343 and 7,866,491. These systems are designed for attachment to a wall using at least two generally vertical wall connecting portion with each having a forward projecting angled brace attached thereto. A plurality of hanging rail extend between and are supported by adjacent braces. However, there are times when it is desirable to install a durable rack storage system within a cabinet or closet, such as a cabinet or closet located in a garage, utility room or other location within a house or other structure. Hereinafter, both cabinets and closets are referred to as “cabinets”.

Therefore what is needed is a durable, convenient storage system mountable within the limited space of a cabinet that provides a variety of configurations that can be reconfigured as desired without the use of tools. The system should utilize a variety of rail attachment devices for suspending items to be stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention installed in a cabinet.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the cabinet with the embodiment of FIG. 1 installed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the wall connection members and hanging rails of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the left side wall connection member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the left side wall connection member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of one of the attachment devices of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of another one of the attachment devices of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 includes a serials of drawings showing the steps of attaching the attachment device of FIG. 7 to a hanging rail of the embodiment of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a durable and convenient storage system 10 mountable within the limited space of a cabinet 12 that provides a variety of configurations that can be reconfigured as desired without the use of tools. The system 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 installed within the cabinet 12 which includes laterally spaced apart left and right side walls 12a and 12b, respectively, a top 12c and a bottom or base 12d. The system 10 utilizes an elongated left side wall connection member 14 attached directly to the interior side of the left side wall 12a of the cabinet 12 (shown only in FIG. 2) and an elongated right side wall connection member 16 attached directly to the interior side of the right side wall 12b of the cabinet, directly opposite the position of the left side wall connection member.

The side wall connection members 14 and 16 support one or more hanging rails 18 which extend between the left and right side wall connection members, with FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the use of three hanging rails. The hanging rails 18 are nonrotatably and removably supported by the side wall connection members 14 and 16.

The system 10 includes a variety of attachment devices 20 which are nonrotatably and removably positionable at selectable lateral locations on and supported by the hanging rails 18, and which are configured to support tools and other items. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the attachment device 20a is shown supporting a shovel 22.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the left side wall connection member 14; the right side wall connection member 16 being the mirror image thereof. The left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 each have a “Z” bar channel shape with two right angle bends which define a lower flange portion 24 attachable to one of the left and right side walls 12a and 12b of the cabinet 12, an upper portion 26 which has a series of recesses or notches 28 spaced apart along its length, and a mid-portion 30 which serves as a stand-off to hold the upper portion 26 spaced laterally inward from and parallel to the side wall of the cabinet to which the lower flange portion of the side wall connection member is attached.

The lower flange portion 24 of each of the side wall connection members 14 and 16 extends substantially the length of the side wall connection. In the embodiment illustrated, the lower flange portions 24 each include two through holes 32 for receiving threaded fasteners 34 for securing the left side wall connection 14 to the interior side of the left side wall 12a of the cabinet 12, and for securing the right side wall connection 16 to the interior side of the right side wall 12b of the cabinet, such that the side wall connection members 14 and 16 are non-movably secured to the left and right side walls, but removable for repositioning. Alternative fasteners or other means may be used to secure the lower flange portions 24 to the left and right side walls 12a and 12b of the cabinet 12. In the illustrated embodiment the lower flange portion 24 of each of the side wall connection members 14 and 16 is about 0.75 inches in height.

The upper portion 26 of each of side wall connection members 14 and 16 is planar and extends substantially the length of the side wall connection member. In the embodiment illustrated, the upper portions 26 each include seven upwardly open notches 28 evenly spaced apart along the length of the upper portion. Each of the hanging rails 18 includes a left end portion 18a, a right end portion 18b and an intermediate or mid-portion 18c extending between the left and right end portions of the hanging rail. In the embodiment illustrated, the hanging rails 18 are square cross-section tubes with the left and right end portions 18a and 18b thereof each having a square cross-section.

Each of the notches 28 is shaped to snuggly receive either the left or right end portion 18a or 18b of one of the hanging rails 18 therein, preferably with an upper side 18d of the end portion of the hanging rail flush with an upper edge 36 of the upper portion 26. In the embodiment illustrated, the notches 28 are square notches of slightly larger width than the end portion 18a or 18b of the hanging rails 18 to be received therein. Other shape hanging rails and notches may be used where the upper sides 18d of the hanging rails 18 extend above, are flush with or are below the upper edge 36 of the upper portion 26 when the hanging rails are within the notches. By using a non-round in cross-section hanging rail 18 fit within a notch 28 shaped to hold the hanging rail from rotating within the notch, when the attachment devices 20 are nonrotatably positioned on the hanging rail and supporting a load such as the shovel 22 or some other item, the weight of the load will not rotate the hanging rail within the notch retaining it. Other means of attaching the hanging rails 18 to the side wall connection members 14 and 16 may be used, preferably with the hanging rails being nonrotatably and removably supported by the side wall connection members.

A bottom portion 28a of each notch 28 is located spaced away from the location where the upper portion 26 is attached to the mid-portion 30 which spans between the lower flange portion 24 and the upper portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom portion 28a of the notch 28 is about 0.5 inches from the location where the upper portion 26 is attached to the mid-portion 30. The notches 28 in the upper portions 26 of the left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 are each about one inch deep. Thus, the overall height of the upper portion 26 is about 1.5 inches.

The mid-portion 30 of each of side wall connection members 14 and 16 extends substantially the length of the side wall connection. In the embodiment illustrated, the mid-portions 30 have a width of about 0.5 inches so as to hold the upper portion 26 of each of side wall connection members 14 and 16 about 0.5 inches from the interior side of the left or right side wall 12a or 12b of the cabinet 12 to which the lower flange portion 24 of the side wall connection member is attached. The hanging rails 18 are each provided with a length sufficiently long to position the left and right end portions 18a and 18b of the hanging rail within the respective notches 28 of the upper portion 26 of the left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the side wall connection members, with the left and right end portions 18a and 18b of the hanging rail extending beyond the upper portions of the side wall connection members toward the interior sides of the left and right side wall 12a or 12b, respectively, of the cabinet 12 sufficiently close to the interior sides to prevent the hanging rail from dislodging from the notches if the hanging rail is move laterally during use of the system 10. This allows easy installation and removal of the hanging rails 18 for repositioning them in alternative pairs of notches while holding them securely in place against dislodging resulting from lateral movement of the hanging rails during use.

Three of the several types of attachment devices 20 usable with the system 10 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a “J” hook useful for hanging a variety of items using the system 10. It is noted that attachment device 20 using a “J” hook can be positioned on the hanging rail 18 in a forward orientation with the “J” hook free end forward of the hanging rail as shown in FIG. 6, or can be reversed and positioned on the hanging rail in a backward orientation with the “J” hook free end rearward of the hanging rail. In such manner, an item hung on the “J” hook can be suspended forward of the hanging rail 18 when the attachment device 20 is positioned on the hanging rail with a forward orientation, and suspended rearward of the hanging rail when the attachment device is positioned on the hanging rail with a rearward orientation, to allow more flexibility in the storage arrangement of tools and other items in the cabinet 10 when using the system 10. FIG. 7 illustrates an attachment device 20 with dual prongs useful for supporting a tool, such as the shovel 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. An attachment device 20 with a single prong is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The attachment devices 20 are designed to be nonrotatably and removably positionable at selectable lateral locations on the hanging rails 18 for holding various tools and items within the cabinet 12. As noted above, the orientation of the attachment devices can also be reversed as desired. The hanging rails 18 can also be positioned anywhere along the length of the side wall connection members 14 and 16 as desired if fewer than seven hanging rails are used. Up to seven hanging rails may be used. With larger cabinets with longer side wall connection members more hanging rails may be used. The attachment devices 20 illustrated are by way of example and not intended to be limiting the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upwardly and forwardly slanted left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16, with seven notches 28 extending along each of their lengths, allows placement of each of the hanging rails 18 at a different height above the floor level on which the cabinet 12 rests to accommodate suspending tools or other items of different lengths from attachment devices 20 nonrotatably and removably positionable on the selected hanging rails without them touching the floor. It is noted that depending on the hanging rail 18 selected, the tool or other item is position rearward in the cabinet or more to the front of the cabinet. Essentially, each of the hanging rails 18 is at a different height and at a different forward/rearward position within the cabinet. This provides flexibility in the storage arrangement of tools and other items in the cabinet 12 simply by the selected placement of the hanging rails 18 along the side wall connection members 14 and 16, the selected lateral placement of the attachment devices 20 along the length of the hanging rail to which attached, and the selected orientation for the attachment devices. Further, the lateral position of the attachment device 20 may be easily adjusted simply by sliding the attachment device laterally along the rail and may also be removed and repositioned on a higher or lower elevation hanging rail as desired to suit the storage needs of the user. In such manner, the system 10 can be configured to support tools and other items, and then easily and quickly reconfigured if the storage needs of the user change over time.

As shown in FIG. 6, the attachment devices 20 nonrotatably and removably positionable at selectable locations on and supported by the hanging rails 18 by an attachment portion 38 to which a tool or other item support portion 40 is rigidly attached, such one or more as “J” hooks or prongs to name just a few. The attachment portion 38 of the illustrated embodiment has orthogonally disposed first, second, third and fourth wall portions 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d, respectively, which define an interior chamber 39. These wall portions are arranged and sized to fit snuggly around the hanging rail 18 when within the interior chamber 39 and to prevent rotation of the attachment device about the hanging rail even when supporting a significant load by the support portion 40 of the attachment device and provide a secure attachment to the hanging rail so that the attachment portion 38 will not come off the hanging rail unintentionally under the load being supported or when accidentally contacted by the user or items being supported by other attachment devices. However, the wall portions 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d are designed to allow the user to easily snap the attachment portion onto and off of the hanging rail when desired for its placement and removal. When viewed from the end of the hanging rail as shown in FIG. 6, the second and third wall portions 38b and 38c of the attachment portion 38 span the full widths, respectively, of two of the adjacent sides 18e and 18f of the hanging rail 18. The support portion 40 of the attachment device 20 is secured to the second wall portion 38c of the attachment portion 38. The first wall portion 38a extends only partially over the upper side 18d of the hanging rail and the fourth wall portion 38d of the attachment portion 38 is a lip which extends even less over the side 18g of the hanging rail. This defines a sufficiently passageway between the free ends of the first and fourth wall portions 38a and 38d that the attachment portion 38 may be positioned almost fully around the hanging rail 18 with little force being applied before applying the greater force needed to snap the attachment portion onto the hanging rail and position it fully within the interior chamber 39.

With this arrangement, the attachment portion 38 can then be easily snapped onto and off of the hanging rail 18. The sequence of snapping the attachment portion 38 of the attachment device is shown in FIG. 8. The wall portions 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d are rigid but have enough flexibility to permit the attachment portion to be moved into position on the hanging rail 18 and withdrawn from the hanging rail by pushing the attachment portion 38 partially onto the hanging rail so the hanging rail passes almost completely through the passageway between the free ends of the first and fourth wall portions 38a and 38d, and then twisting it about the longitudinal axis of the hanging rail to snap it into place on the hanging rail with the hanging rail fully within the interior chamber 39. The attachment portion 38 may be removed from the hanging rail by reversing the action.

If the hanging rails 18 are to be used with several different standard width cabinets, the hanging rails may be produced in different standard sizes to fit the width between the interior sides of the left and right side wall 12a and 12b of the particular size of cabinet 12 with which being used. Also, the width of the mid-portion 30 can be sized to be smaller or larger than illustrated to provide a smaller or larger offset spacing of the upper portions 26 of the left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 from the interior sides of the left and right side wall 12a and 12b of the cabinet 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the square tubes used for the hanging rails 18 are about one inch in external width for side to side, and the notches are just slightly larger than the hanging rails are wide. Since the notches 28 in the upper portions 26 of the left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 are about one inch deep, the upper side 18d of the end portion 18a or 18b of the hanging rail 18 is about flush with the upper edge 36 of the upper portion 26. The distance between the adjacent notches 28 along the length of the upper portions 26 of the left and right side wall connection members 14 and 16 is about 1.75 inches in the illustrated embodiment. While the illustrated embodiment shows the upper portions 26 each having seven upwardly open notches 28 evenly spaced apart along the length of the upper portion, fewer or more notches may be used as space permits, and the notches can be space apart as desired and sized according to the size hanging rail used.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediary components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system configured for organizing and storing items and for support within a cabinet having left and right side walls, each having an interior side, the system comprising:

a hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

an elongated left side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion configured to be directly attached to a portion of the left side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the left side wall of the cabinet, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support recesses positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the left end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the recess, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the left side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the left side wall of the cabinet;

an elongated right side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion configured to be directly attached to a portion of the right side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the right side wall of the cabinet, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support recesses positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the right end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the recess, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the right side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the right side wall of the cabinet, the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of the hanging rail, respectively, and support the hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least one attachment member configured to support at least one of the items, the at least one attachment member being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of the hanging rail to support the at least one attachment member in a position between the left and right side wall connection members.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the rail support recesses are upwardly opening notches in the upper portion of the left and right side wall connection members sized and shaped to removably receive and non-rotatably retain therein one of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment member has a rail attachment portion with an interior chamber sized and shaped to removably and non-rotatably receive the intermediate portion of the hanging rail therein.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and the interior chamber of the rail attachment portion has a non-circular cross-sectional shape conforming at least in part to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion and is sized to non-rotatably retain therein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the rail attachment portion is slidably mounted on the intermediate portion of the hanging rail for selective sliding therealong for positioning of the at least one attachment member at a selected position between the left and right side wall connection members.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the interior chamber of the rail attachment portion is defined by first, second, third and fourth wall portions, with the first and fourth wall portions each having a free end and the free ends of the first and fourth wall portions defining a passageway therebetween opening into the interior chamber and sized for receiving the intermediate portion of the hanging rail therethrough.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment member slidably engages the intermediate portion of the hanging rail for selective sliding therealong for positioning of the at least one attachment member at a selected position between the left and right side wall connection members.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the left and right end portions of the hanging rail have a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and the rail support recesses each have a non-circular cross-sectional shape conforming at least in part to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the left and right end portions and with a size to non-rotatably retain therein one of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and the at least one attachment member has an interior chamber with a non-circular cross-sectional shape conforming at least in part to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion and with a size to non-rotatably retain therein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the hanging rail has a uniform square cross-sectional shape along its full length.

11. A system configured for organizing and storing items and for support within a cabinet having left and right side walls, each having an interior side, the system comprising:

a hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

a left side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion configured to be attached to a portion of the left side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the left side wall of the cabinet and a second portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the left end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the notch;

a right side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion configured to be attached to a portion of the right side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the right side wall of the cabinet and a second portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the right end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the notch, the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of the hanging rail, respectively, and support the hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least one attachment member configured to support at least one of the items, the at least one attachment member being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of the hanging rail to support the at least one attachment member in a position between the left and right side wall connection members.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the left side wall connection member further includes a third portion extending laterally between the first wall connection portion and the second portion of the left side wall connection member and holding the second portion spaced away from the interior side of the left cabinet side wall, and the right side wall connection member further includes a third portion extending laterally between the first wall connection portion and the second portion of the right side wall connection member and holding the second portion spaced away from the interior side of the right cabinet side wall.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein each of the second portions of the left and right side wall connection members have a planar portion with an upright orientation, and the rail support notches are in the planar upright portions of the left and right side wall connection members and sized and shaped to conform at least in part to the shape of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail sufficiently to non-rotatably retain therein one of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one attachment member has a rail attachment portion with an interior chamber sized and shaped to removably and non-rotatably receive the intermediate portion of the hanging rail therein.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and the interior chamber of the rail attachment portion has a non-circular cross-sectional shape conforming at least in part to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion and is sized to non-rotatably retain therein the intermediate portion of the hanging rail.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the rail attachment portion is slidably mounted on the intermediate portion of the hanging rail for selective sliding therealong for positioning of the at least one attachment member at a selected position between the left and right side wall connection members.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the interior chamber of the rail attachment portion is defined by first, second, third and fourth wall portions, with the first and fourth wall portions each having a free end and the free ends of the first and fourth wall portions defining a passageway therebetween opening into the interior chamber and sized for receiving the intermediate portion of the hanging rail therethrough.

18. A system configured for organizing and storing items and for support within a cabinet having left and right side walls, each having an interior side, the system comprising:

a hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

an elongated left side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion configured to be directly attached to a portion of the left side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the left side wall of the cabinet, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of rail support recesses positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the left end portion of the hanging rail therein, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the left side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the left side wall of the cabinet;

an elongated right side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion configured to be directly attached to a portion of the right side wall of the cabinet at the interior side of the right side wall of the cabinet, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of rail support recesses positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the right end portion of the hanging rail therein, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the right side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the right side wall of the cabinet, the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of the hanging rail, respectively, and support the hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least one attachment member configured to support at least one of the items, the at least one attachment member being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of the hanging rail to support the at least one attachment member in a position between the left and right side wall connection members.

19. A storage cabinet for organizing and storing items, the cabinet comprising:

a left cabinet side wall having an interior side;

a right cabinet side wall having an interior side;

a hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

an elongated left side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion attached to the left cabinet side wall at the interior side of the left cabinet side wall, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support recesses therein positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the left end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the recess, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the left side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the left cabinet side wall, the left side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the left side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation;

an elongated right side wall connection member having a lower wall connection portion attached to the right cabinet side wall at the interior side of the right cabinet side wall, a planar upright upper portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support recesses therein positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each recess sized to receive the right end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the recess, and a mid-portion extending laterally between the lower wall connection portion and the upper portion of the right side wall connection member and holding the upper portion spaced away from the interior side of the right cabinet side wall, the right side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the right side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation, the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of the hanging rail, respectively, and support the hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support recesses of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least one attachment member configured to support at least one of the items, the at least one attachment member being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of the hanging rail to support the at least one attachment member in a position between the left and right side wall connection members.

20. The storage cabinet of claim 19 wherein the rail support recesses are upwardly opening notches in the planar upright upper portion of the left and right side wall connection members sized and shaped to removably receive and non-rotatably retain therein one of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail.

21. A storage cabinet for organizing and storing items, the cabinet comprising:

a left cabinet side wall having an interior side;

a right cabinet side wall having an interior side;

a hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

a left side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion attached to the left cabinet side wall at the interior side of the left cabinet side wall and a second portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the left end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the notch, the left side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the left side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation;

a right side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion attached to the right cabinet side wall at the interior side of the right cabinet side wall and a second portion with a plurality of upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the right end portion of the hanging rail through an upper opening of the notch, the right side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the right side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation, the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of the hanging rail, respectively, and support the hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least one attachment member configured to support at least one of the items, the at least one attachment member being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of the hanging rail to support the at least one attachment member in a position between the left and right side wall connection members.

22. The storage cabinet of claim 21 wherein each of the second portions of the left and right side wall connection members have a planar portion with an upright orientation, and the rail support notches are in the planar upright portions of the left and right side wall connection members and sized and shaped to conform at least in part to the shape of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail sufficiently to non-rotatably retain therein one of the left and right end portions of the hanging rail.

23. The storage cabinet of claim 21 wherein the left side wall connection member further includes a third portion extending laterally between the first wall connection portion and the second portion of the left side wall connection member and holding the second portion spaced away from the interior side of the left cabinet side wall, and the right side wall connection member further includes a third portion extending laterally between the first wall connection portion and the second portion of the right side wall connection member and holding the second portion spaced away from the interior side of the right cabinet side wall.

24. A storage cabinet for organizing and storing items, the cabinet comprising:

a left cabinet side wall having an interior side;

a right cabinet side wall having an interior side;

at least three hanging rails, each hanging rail having spaced apart supportable left and right end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween;

a left side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion attached to the left cabinet side wall at the interior side of the left cabinet side wall and a second portion with at least three upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the left side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the left end portion of one of the hanging rails through an upper opening of the notch, the left side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the left side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation;

a right side wall connection member having a first wall connection portion attached to the right cabinet side wall at the interior side of the right cabinet side wall and a second portion with at least three upwardly opening rail support notches positioned spaced apart along the length of the right side wall connection member, each notch sized to receive the right end portion of one of the hanging rails through an upper opening of the notch, the right side wall connection member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being positioned at an elevation above the rearward end to provide the right side wall connector member with a forwardly and upwardly sloped orientation, the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being located at corresponding positions along the lengths of the left and right side wall connection members, correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the left and right end portions of one of the hanging rails, respectively, and support the one hanging rail in a generally horizontal position extending between the correspondingly positioned ones of the rail support notches of the left and right side wall connection members; and

at least three attachment members, each configured to support at least one of the items, the at least three attachment members being configured to non-rotatably and removably engage the intermediate portion of one of the hanging rails to support the at least three attachment member in positions between the left and right side wall connection members.