Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a rack apparatus and storage panel assembly for implementing across two or more beams. The storage panel assembly is most typically implemented in attic storage space lacking a flooring surface on which to place and store items. The storage panel assembly comprises at least one rack apparatus  10 , two or more railings to be positioned onto a series of rack apparatus  10  and a panel  48  configured to rest on two parallel railings  46, 44 . The assembly provides a continuous platform by sitting between the truss  42  creating a planer surface between the top of the panel  48  and the top of the truss  42 . The method of assembly allows positioning of the rack apparatuses  10  between the truss connections and allows the railings  46, 44  and panel  48  to slide under any transverse obstructions bearing on top of truss  42.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Storage of one&#39;s belongings is an issue of increasing concern. Over the past few decades, an entire industry dedicated to renting storage space has been developed and grown into a substantial industry. Attics have traditionally been used as storage. Typical new homes and many older homes comprise large attic spaces, e.g., space between an inner ceiling and roof of a house or a building structure, but with no structure in the attic in which to place items. Many homes simply have non-structural ceiling panels fastened to the bottom of the roof trusses with insulation provided on top of the ceiling material and no additional paneling structure on top of the trusses that could be used to place storage items. Consequently, in such houses and/or buildings there exists a vast amount of potential storage space that is not being exploited. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a rack apparatus according to one embodiment of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the rack apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A-C  shows an embodiment of the invention directed to a rack apparatus having adjustable components.  FIG. 3A  shows a side view of a disassembled embodiment.  FIG. 3B  shows a side view of an assembled embodiment with fasteners.  FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A  or  3 B demonstrating one version of how the parts interlink to achieve adjustability. 
         FIG. 4A-C  shows another embodiment of the subject invention pertaining to a storage panel assembly that implements a rack apparatus embodiment according to one embodiment of the subject invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of a rack apparatus embodiment being positioned onto a support beam.  FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of two railings being positioned onto a rack apparatus. FIG.  4 C shows a panel being attached to the railings positioned on plurality of rack apparatuses disposed on two parallel support beams. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a plurality of storage panel assemblies assembled in an attic space. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has developed an attic storage system that is configured for easy adaptation in nearly all types of attic spaces, or other empty spaces in a house or building, that comprise a plurality of parallel trusses or similar support members. The storage system creates a structural platform to bear in between the support members and provide a top planer surface flush with the top of the truss or supporting members, hence creating a continuous platform though out the extents of the system. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a rack apparatus  10  is shown. The rack apparatus  10  comprises a base portion  12  having a first arm member  14  and a second arm member  16  extending transversely from the base portion  12 . The base portion  12  and first and second arm members  14 ,  16 , respectively, define a space that may rest upon a support structure such as a truss, or similar structure. Extending transversely from the first arm member  14  is a wing member  18 . Extending from second arm member  16  is a second wing member  20 . Extending transversely from the first wing member  18  is a securement member  22 . Extending from the second wing member  20  is a second securement member  24 . As described below, the first and second wing members and first and second securement members act together as a cradle to support a railing. 
     In some applications, having more than one wing member is not necessary. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment, the rack apparatus comprises a base portion, first and second arm member and one wing member extending from one of the arm members. Typically, the wing member will comprise a securement member extending therefrom, though not required. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . First and second arm members  14 ,  16 , respectively, form an angle  27  at the attachment or integration with the base portion  12 . It is noted that the angle  27  may be in the range of between about 1° to 179°. More preferred, the angle  27  is between about 60° to 120°, and most preferred at 90°. The first and second wing members  18 ,  20  are attached to or integrated with the first and second arm members  14 ,  16 , respectively, to form an angle  23 . This angle  23  is typically 90° but may be between 1° to 179°. Securement members  22 ,  24  attached to or integrated with first and second wing members  18 ,  20 , respectively, form angle  25 . Again, the preferred angle of  25  is 90° but may be between about 1 to 179°. 
     As mentioned above, the rack apparatus is preferably implemented in assembling attic storage panels in conjunction with trusses in an attic space. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the rack apparatus and in particular its specific components, is optimized for implementation with standard sized trusses. Thus, the base portion  12  is of a length in a preferred range of about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches. The first and second arm members  14 ,  16  are preferably within the range of about 0.25 to 4.25 inches in length and are specific to allow the storage panel to be planer (flush) with the top of the truss members. This can be an advantage when other objects are attached to the top of the trusses or other support structures. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the dimensions of the rack apparatus are optimized such that the panels, as will be described in detail below may lay flush with the top of the truss, or other support structure. Wing members  18 ,  20  are preferably of a length in the range of about 0.0625 to 3.5 inches. Securement members  22 ,  24  are preferably of a length in the range of about 0.25 to 1.5 inches. In a most preferred embodiment, the base portion  12  is about 1.5 inches long, arm members  14 ,  16  are about 2.5 inches long, wing members  18 ,  20  are 1.75 inches long, and securement members  22 ,  24  are about 0.875 inches long. Preferably, the dimensions of the base portion, arm members and wing members are configured such that panel resting on a railing disposed in said rack is about flush with the top surface of the adjacent beam or truss. The dimensions shown on  FIG. 2  represent the most preferred dimensions. 
     In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , any of the components of the rack apparatus  10  may be adjustable.  FIG. 3A  shows one embodiment of achieving adjustments by breaking down the individual components into two parts. The portion of the first arm member  14  and a portion of the base portion  12  are combined together into a unitary subpart  32 . A portion of the second arm  16  and a portion of the base portion  12  are combined together in a unitary unit  34 . A part of first arm  14  and first wing member  18  are combined together into a unitary unit  36 . A part of second arm member  16  and a part of second wing member  20  are combined into a unitary structure  38 . A part of wing member  18  and a part of securement member  22  are configured into a unitary member  31 . A part of wing member  20  and a part of securement member  24  are configured together into a unitary structure  33 . The end portion of securement members  22  and  24  is shown as  35  and  37 , respectively.  FIG. 3B  shows the juxtaposition of the different components and subparts as described above for  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3C  shows a side magnified view of one juxtaposition of two subparts. The two subparts can be brought together, abutted end to end, overlapped, or secured by the provision of holes  39  wherein a screw  13 , or similar fastener passes through holes  39  as they are aligned, and is tightened with a nut or other similar fastener  15  to secure the two subparts (a) and (b) together. This is simply one embodiment of how the rack apparatus can comprise one or more adjustable components. Those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein will appreciate that numerous configurations of implementing adjustable components for the rack apparatus can be implemented, such as but not limited to, sliding mechanisms, bracket mechanisms, securing with screws, posts, pins, knobs, wing nuts, etc. Furthermore, the junction between the base portion and arm members, or arm members and wing members, or wing members and securement members may individually configured as to pivot. This would create the ability to adjust the angle to properly conform to various beams, railings etc., attach to non-level or inclined members, and provide an overall increase in flexibility to the rack apparatus. This would be especially beneficial when irregularities exist for construction materials, which is not an uncommon scenario. 
     In  FIG. 4A-C , there is shown a storage panel system  40  that implements the rack apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIG. 4A  shows the positioning of the rack apparatus  10  on top of a truss or similar type support member  42 . The system  40 , includes the use of railing(s)  44 ,  46  which are positioned and rest into the space defined by the first and second arm members  14 ,  16 , first and second wing members  18 ,  20  and first and second securement members  22 ,  24 .  FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the storage system  40  wherein two or more rack apparatuses  10  are positioned in a series along two parallel supports (trusses in this case)  42 .  FIG. 4B  shows railings  44  and  46  resting and secured into the rack apparatus  10 .  FIG. 4C  shows a flat panel  48  positioned on top of the railing  44  of one truss  42 ( a ) and railing  46  of another truss  42 ( b ) parallel to truss  42 ( a ) creating a planer surface with the top of panel  48  and the tops of each truss  42 ( a ) and  42 ( b ). Once the panel  48  has been properly placed on top of the railings  44 ,  46 , screws  49  or the like are attached through the panel  48  and into the rails to secure the panel  48 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that securing the panel  48  to the railings  44  and  46  is preferred, though not mandatory, and may be avoided. For example, where temporary use is desired or frequent reconfiguration of the panel assembly is desired, screws or other similar fasteners would not be used. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a number of storage panel assemblies  50  as described in relation to  FIG. 4 . The storage panel assemblies are shown implemented in an attic space. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. For example, based on the teachings herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the railings can associate with the rack apparatus in a number of different ways. Such association includes, but is not limited to, resting into, attached onto or appending from said rack apparatus. Integrating together the rack apparatuses and railing member(s) might be more appropriate where adjustments of spacing of the rack apparatuses is not required. However, given some of the various objects that are attached to trusses in an attic space, or other support structures in or not in an attic space, being able to space apart two or more apparatuses to work around such objects is typically more preferred. Furthermore, it has been described above how various components of the rack apparatus can be configured to be adjustable. The panel that is implemented with the storage panel system may also be adjustable. For example, the ends and/or sides of the panel may comprise a series of hinges such that the panel may be folded out to a desired width or length. Further, the panel may comprise a plurality of subpanels that may be connected together to form a desired width or length; the subpanels may be configured to attach together in a tongue and grove fashion. Further still, the panel may implement a more elaborate means to allow for shortening or extending in one or more planes. 
     The rack apparatus, railings, and/or panel may be made of any suitable material possessing the necessary resiliency and strength properties. Materials may include, but are not limited to, plastics, resins, wood, metals, or combinations thereof. 
     The panel may attach to the railings several different ways as will be appropriate given the specific space and application. The railings and panels may be configured for an interlinking to each other such as by a tongue and groove, or alternatively, the railing and panel may be integrated together so as to avoid the necessity for separate railing(s) and panel(s).