| Ceiling storage container mounting system -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Ceiling storage container mounting systemCeiling storage container mounting system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080036341, Ceiling storage container mounting system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application is based on Provisional Application 60/836,945 filed on Aug. 11, 2006. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]The 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 ART [0003]As 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 INVENTION [0004]The 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. [0005]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. [0006]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. [0007]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. [0008]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. [0009]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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010]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: [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling storage container mounting system according to a first embodiment of the invention, and according to a second embodiment of the invention; [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mounting system of a ceiling storage container mounting system according to a third embodiment of the invention; [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a variation of a preferred embodiment of the invention; [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another variation of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and [0016]FIG. 6 shows various components of a mounting system according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0017]Referring to FIG. 1, a ceiling storage container mounting system 10 according to the invention is shown for a typical ceiling 12. The ceiling shown is cut way to show spaced apart ceiling joists 14 beneath a floor surface 16. The invention 10 is comprised of generally a two part system comprising a mount system 20 and a storage container system 30. The mount system, shown generally by reference numeral 20, is attached to the underside of the spaced joists 14 directly, as for an unfinished ceiling, or through a finished ceiling surface 12 to the joists 14. The mount system 20 is generally anchored to the joists 14 either directly or through a ceiling surface 12 via screws or other suitable fasteners by means of a power screwdriver or the like. The installation of the mount system is easily achieved by use of minimal tools, requiring at most a tape measure, a stud finder, and a power screwdriver. The mount system in FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes a plurality of spaced mounting rails 22 anchored to the ceiling via a plurality of screws 18. Protruding downward from each of the mounting rails 22 are a plurality protrusions embodied as spaced pins 24 having each a pinhead 28, which are intended to matingly engage with a plurality of counterparts (to be described) on the container system 30. As depicted in FIG. 1, the pins 24 are integrally formed with the mounting rails 22, and the screws 18 are set spaced apart from the pins. It will be understood, and described hereinafter that the pins 24 may be individually mounted to the rails, or even having the screws set through the pins and rails together into the joists. Shown directly below the spaced rails 22 of the first embodiment is a storage container 32 having opposed flanges 34 which arc provided with a plurality of placed apart gaps, embodied as slotted keyholes 36. The slotted keyholes 36 are the counterparts to the pins 24, as they are designed to align with the pins 24 such that the pinheads 28 extend through a circular portion 38 of slotted keyholes. When it is desired to mount the storage container 32 to the ceiling, the storage container is lifted via handles 42 for instance, vertically toward the rails 22 such that the pins 24 and the keyholes 36 are aligned. The pinheads 28 are extended through the circular portion 38 of the keyholes 36 and then the storage container 32 is slid horizontally with respect to the rails 22. At this point the pins 24 engage the slotted portion 44 of the keyholes and hit the end of the slotted portion to thereby "lock" the storage container 32 into place relative to the mounting system 20 and the ceiling joists 14. It will be appreciated that multiple storage containers may be mounted in series along a pair of rails in a manner such that one container may be mounted or removed without disturbing another container mounted on the same pair of rails. Also, the mounting rails may be provided with adjacent pairs of pins (not shown) so that containers may be mounted in parallel below adjacent joists. [0018]Referring still to FIG. 1, a second embodiment of the storage container mounting system 10 according to the invention is shown for a typical ceiling 12. In this embodiment, the mounting system 20 includes a plurality of spaced individual mounts 52 anchored to the ceiling via screws 18. The spaced individual mounts shown are "L" shaped and are protruding downward from the ceiling joists 14. The "L" shaped mounts 52 are intended to matingly engage with a plurality of counterparts (to be described) on the container system 30. Shown directly below the "L" shaped mounts 52 of the second embodiment is a storage container 54 having a plurality of opposed ledges 56. The ledges 56 are the counterparts to the "L" shaped mounts 52, as they are designed to align atop of the "L" shaped mounts. When it is desired to mount the storage container 54 to the ceiling, the storage container 54 is lifted via handles 42 for instance, vertically toward the anchored "L" shaped mounts 52 such that the ledges are positioned slightly higher than the horizontal portion of the "L" shaped mounts. Then the storage container 54 is slid horizontally with respect to the rails "L" shaped mounts so that the ledges are aligned over that mounts 52 and the storage container is removable attached to the ceiling. Optionally, a stop 58 may be provided on one or more of the ledges 56, so that during the horizontal positioning of the container, the "L" shaped mount engages the stop 58 on the ledge 56 and to thereby "lock" the storage container 54 into place relative to the mounting system 20 and the ceiling joists 14. It will be appreciated that multiple storage containers may be closely mounted in series along a pair of rails to maximize previously unused storage space. Multiple containers may be mounted in a manner such that one container may be mounted or removed without disturbing another container mounted on the same pair of rails. Continue reading about Ceiling storage container mounting system... Full patent description for Ceiling storage container mounting system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ceiling storage container mounting system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ceiling storage container mounting system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Network cabinet Next Patent Application: Configurations and methods for modular cabinetry Industry Class: Supports: cabinet structure ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ceiling storage container mounting system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.20579 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
