WALL MOUNTED ITEM RETENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR
A wall-mounted item retention system include at least two bracket members, each having a plurality of hooks or retainers for retaining an end of an elastic band. A plurality of elastic bands are provided, with each elastic band being stretch from a hook or retainer on one bracket member to a hook or retainer on another bracket member, forming a region covered by stretched elastic bands in proximity to, and parallel with, the wall or surface on which the bracket members are mounted. Items can be retained by pulling the elastic bands away from the wall and placing the items between the elastic bands and the wall, wherein the force of the elastic band against the items will retain the items against the wall or surface.
The present invention relates generally to storage systems and method for holding items when not in use, and, more particularly, relates to a retention system for retaining items on a wall using a plurality of elastic bands stretched between two or more bracket members.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is always a demand for ways to organize and store items. The design of a given storage system takes into account the type of items that may be stored in it and, how long they may be stored, as well as the location of the storage system. As a result, there are a variety of storage systems on the market that vary in utility and appearance. For example, a storage chest for storing clothes in a residential bedroom is designed and looks differently than a tool chest for a garage. Thus, storage systems balance utility, access, organization, ease of use, and aesthetics against their intended use.
There are a number of vertical storage systems where items are stored and retained on or against a wall. Vertical storage systems can include, for example, magnets to hold object, and/or hooks on which items can be hung, and are especially desirable in places where a person needs quick access to an item without having to search through drawers or open cabinet doors. By placing items in a vertical storage system a user can quickly see where a given item is, retrieve it, and use it. An example of a location where vertical storage system is useful would be a kitchen, where items may be used and placed back on the vertical storage system several times while cooking, especially in a commercial kitchen.
While magnetic-based vertical storage system are good for holding items with ferrous-based alloys (e.g. knives, utensils), they are not useful for non-metal items. Hook systems are also very useful, but require that items have a hook hole or equivalent structure on they can be hung on a hook. Thus, prior art vertical storage systems fail to provide an ability to store and hold a great many items that cannot be stored in conventional vertical storage systems.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides a wall mounted item retention system and method therefore that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that allows a user to easily store or move items out of the way, while also providing quick access to the items as needed.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a retention system for holding items on a wall that includes a first bracket member and a second bracket member. Each of the first and second bracket members have an elongated body defining an axis and having a plurality of raised hook members. Each of the raised hook members is oriented perpendicular to the axis. The first bracket member and second bracket member are arranged on the wall parallel to each other such that their respective raised hook members are facing outward from each other. The retention system further includes a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, wherein each one of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands is stretched between, and retained by a raised hook member of the first bracket member and a raised hook member of the second bracket member.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first and second bracket members including a back surface that faces the wall, wherein the back surface of each of the first and second bracket members has a width of at least 0.5 inches.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first and second bracket members having a planar body with a width of at least 0.5 inches.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the raised hook members having a clearance of less than 0.5 inches.
In accordance with another feature the raised hook members are provided along an outer edge of the first and second bracket members.
In accordance with another feature the first and second bracket members are each formed of a respective first and second pieces of sheet metal, and wherein the raised hook members are formed by pressing rectangular sections along one edge of each piece of sheet metal to be raised above a surface of the respective piece of sheet metal at a proximal end of each rectangular section, wherein each raised hook member comprises a hook body that is coplanar to the surface of the respective piece of sheet metal.
In accordance with another feature the first and second bracket members are arranged vertically on the wall, and at least some of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands are stretched horizontally between corresponding raised hook members of the first and second bracket members.
In accordance with another feature, the retention system further includes mounting holes at opposing ends of each of the first and second bracket members.
In accordance with the inventive disclosure, some embodiments include a method of arranging a retention system for holding items on a wall that includes providing a first bracket member and a second bracket member. Each of the first and second bracket members having an elongated body defining an axis. The method further includes providing a plurality of raised hook members on each of the first and second bracket members, wherein each of the raised hook members is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the respective one of the first and second bracket members. The method further includes arranging the first bracket member and second bracket member on the wall parallel to each other such that their respective raised hook members are facing outward. The method further includes providing a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, wherein each of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands are stretched between, and retained by, a raised hook member of the first bracket member and a raised hook member of the second bracket member.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members with each having a back surface that faces the wall, wherein the back surface of each of the first and second bracket members has a width of at least 0.5 inches.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members each having a planar body having a width of at least 0.5 inches.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the raised hook members comprises providing the raised hook members to have a clearance of less than 0.5 inches.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the raised hook members comprises providing the raised hook members along an outer edge of the first and second bracket members.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket member to each be formed of respective first and second pieces of sheet metal, and wherein providing the raised hook members are provided by pressing rectangular sections along one edge of each piece of sheet metal to be raised above a surface of the respective piece of sheet metal at a proximal end of each rectangular section, wherein each raised hook member comprises a hook body that is coplanar to the surface of the respective piece of sheet metal.
In accordance with other features, the method can also include providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members vertically on the wall, and wherein providing the plurality of closed loop elastic bands comprises providing at least some of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands being stretched horizontally between corresponding raised hook members of the first and second bracket members.
providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members with mounting holes formed at opposing ends of each of the first and second bracket members.
In accordance with the inventive disclosure, some embodiments can include a wall-mounted item retention system that includes a first bracket member and a second bracket member, where each of the first and second bracket members have a plurality of retainers. Each of the retainers includes a shank portion that couples to the respective bracket and a head at the top of the shank portion. The system further includes a plurality of elastic bands, wherein each one of the plurality of elastic bands is stretched between, and retained by a retainer of the first bracket member and a retainer of the second bracket member.
In accordance with another feature, each of the plurality of retainers has a height of not more than 0.5″.
In accordance with another feature, the head on each retainer is flat.
In accordance with another feature, the retainers integrally formed on the first and second brackets.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a wall mounted item retention system and method therefor, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
“In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as “installed”, “coupled”, “connected” should be broadly interpreted, for example, it may be fixedly connected, or may be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it may be mechanically connected, or may be electrically connected; it may be directly connected, or may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the bracket members, for example, along an the length of the bracket member. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the embodiments of the present invention according to the specific circumstances
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient storage system for retaining items against a wall or other surface. Embodiments of the invention provide at least two bracket members that each support a plurality of hooks or retainers over which an end of an elastic band is placed and retained. The other end of the elastic band is then placed over a hook/retainer on a different bracket member such that the elastic band is under tension. A plurality of elastic bands are so arranged, each disposed over different pairs of hooks/retainers to form a region between the bracket members covered by elastic bands. Items can then be placed between the elastic bands and the wall, whereby the tension of the elastic bands holds the items in place.
Referring now to
The bracket members 102, 104 can have a planar body 110, 112, respectively, that has a width 118 formed from pieces or sections of sheet metal. Further, bracket member 102 can include mounting holes 114, and bracket member 104 can likewise have mounting holes 116. The mounting holes 114, 116 can be disposed at each end of the respective bracket member, and are sized to allow the shank of a standard mounting screw or other attachment member to pass through the mounting holes 114, 116 and retain the respective bracket member against a wall or other surface, with the screw or other attachment member passing into the wall for retention.
The width 118 of each bracket member 102, 104 can be at least one half inch to two inches, depending on the length (i.e. from top to bottom as drawn) and the location of the mounting holes with respect to the forward edge 120 of the bracket member. In particular, an axis 121 is defined along a line between the mounting holes (e.g. 114) at the top and bottom of each bracket member. Other mounting holes may be provided as well (e.g. in the middle, between the top and bottom). As a result of the force imparted to the raised hook members 106, 108, a torque is produced that urges the bracket members to roll about the axis 121 between the mounting holes since the mounting screws act as fulcrums. By having a portion of the bracket member between the axis 121 and the forward edge 120, the forward edge 120 being spaced a distance 122 from the axis 121, the portion of the bracket between the axis 121 and the forward edge 120 resists the torque produced by the elastic bands upon being mounted on the bracket members (i.e. between raised hook members on each bracket member) by bearing against the wall or other surface on which the bracket members 102, 104 are mounted. Thus, the width 122 from the front edge to the axis 121 can be on the order of one quarter to one inch, or more, according to some embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bracket members 102, 104, being independent pieces, can be arranged parallel to each other, or at other angles.
In implementing the system shown in
In some embodiments, the bracket members do not need to be parallel, and can form, for example, a “V” shape, with successively longer closed loop elastic band between corresponding hook members in the upwards direction. In some embodiments there can be three or more bracket members arranged in a box configuration, with bands stretched between anti-parallel and/or parallel brackets in various patterns.
A wall-mounted item retention system and method has been disclosed that provides a plurality of opposing retainer or hook members disposed on corresponding bracket members that mount to a wall or other surface. The system and method allow for retention of items against a wall using the action of a plurality of elastic bands that are stretched and deflected away from the wall when an item is placed between the elastic bands and the wall, resulting in a force from the elastic bands against the item, into the wall. The system and method provide the benefit of being able to hold metallic and non-metallic items alike, unlike magnetic systems, while still providing quick visual location of items. The system and method are especially useful in retaining items to keep them out of the way when not in use, while allowing quick and easy access to the items.
Accordingly, the inventive disclosure provides the benefit of creating a simple and convenient item storage/retention system that can be mounted on a wall. The system avoids requiring volume in front of the wall, such as is required for shelving, and allows easy placement into, and removal from the retention system. The retention system is particularly useful for items that are regularly used in a work or play space, and which need to be placed out of the way when not in use.
Claims
1. A retention system for holding items on a wall, comprising:
- a first bracket member and a second bracket member, each of the first and second bracket members having an elongated body defining an axis and having a plurality of raised hook members, wherein each of the raised hook members is oriented perpendicular to the axis, and wherein the first bracket member and second bracket member are arranged on the wall parallel to each other such that their respective raised hook members are facing outward; and
- a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, wherein each one of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands is stretched between, and retained by a raised hook member of the first bracket member and a raised hook member of the second bracket member.
2. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the first and second bracket members comprise a back surface that faces the wall, wherein the back surface of each of the first and second bracket members has a width of at least 0.5 inches.
3. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the first and second bracket members have a planar body having a width of at least 0.5 inches.
4. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the raised hook members have a clearance of less than 0.5 inches.
5. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the raised hook members are provided along an outer edge of the first and second bracket members.
6. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the first and second bracket members are each formed of a respective first and second pieces of sheet metal, and wherein the raised hook members are formed by pressing rectangular sections along one edge of each piece of sheet metal to be raised above a surface of the respective piece of sheet metal at a proximal end of each rectangular section, wherein each raised hook member comprises a hook body that is coplanar to the surface of the respective piece of sheet metal.
7. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the first and second bracket members are arranged vertically on the wall, and at least some of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands are stretched horizontally between corresponding raised hook members of the first and second bracket members.
8. The retention system of claim 1, further comprising mounting holes at opposing ends of each of the first and second bracket members.
9. A method of arranging a retention system for holding items on a wall, comprising:
- providing a first bracket member and a second bracket member, each of the first and second bracket members having an elongated body defining an axis;
- providing a plurality of raised hook members on each of the first and second bracket members, wherein each of the raised hook members is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the respective one of the first and second bracket members;
- arranging the first bracket member and second bracket member on the wall parallel to each other such that their respective raised hook members are facing outward; and
- providing a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, wherein each of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands are stretched between, and retained by, a raised hook member of the first bracket member and a raised hook member of the second bracket member.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members with each having a back surface that faces the wall, wherein the back surface of each of the first and second bracket members has a width of at least 0.5 inches.
11. The method claim 9, wherein providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members each having a planar body having a width of at least 0.5 inches.
12. The method claim 9, wherein providing the raised hook members comprises providing the raised hook members to have a clearance of less than 0.5 inches.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the raised hook members comprises providing the raised hook members along an outer edge of the first and second bracket members.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket member to each be formed of respective first and second pieces of sheet metal, and wherein providing the raised hook members are provided by pressing rectangular sections along one edge of each piece of sheet metal to be raised above a surface of the respective piece of sheet metal at a proximal end of each rectangular section, wherein each raised hook member comprises a hook body that is coplanar to the surface of the respective piece of sheet metal.
15. The method claim 9, wherein providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members vertically on the wall, and wherein providing the plurality of closed loop elastic bands comprises providing at least some of the plurality of closed loop elastic bands being stretched horizontally between corresponding raised hook members of the first and second bracket members.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the first and second bracket members comprises providing the first and second bracket members with mounting holes formed at opposing ends of each of the first and second bracket members.
17. A wall-mounted item retention system, comprising:
- a first bracket member and a second bracket member, each of the first and second bracket members having a plurality of retainers, wherein each of the retainers includes a shank portion that couples to the respective bracket and a head at the top of the shank portion; and
- a plurality of elastic bands, wherein each one of the plurality of elastic bands is stretched between, and retained by a retainer of the first bracket member and a retainer of the second bracket member.
18. The wall-mounted item retention system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of retainers has a height of not more than 0.5″.
19. The wall-mounted item retention system of claim 17, wherein each retainer comprises a head.
20. The wall-mounted item retention system of claim 17, wherein the retainers integrally formed on the first and second brackets.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 26, 2018
Publication Date: Dec 26, 2019
Inventor: Maria Clara Gaviria (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 16/018,655