Abstract:
A modular storage system which includes a support rail mounted on wall or ceiling, in horizontal or vertical orientation, with slidably adjustable cantilevered hooks, from which are hung storage boxes fitted with a frame on the open side, and a transparent hinged door. A hanger and straps are utilized to attach the rigid frame to a storage box. Reinforcing support brackets can also be attached to a storage box on its underside or top, and suspended from cantilevered hooks of the modular storage system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a modular storage system, and more particularly to a wall or ceiling mounted system for mounting storage boxes on a rail system. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is an axiom of modern life that storage needs expand to equal and exceed the amount of storage space available. In the office and in the home, various systems have been developed over the years to store materials. Filing cabinets are utilized for papers which need to be frequently accessed, and storage drawers are similarly used. Store rooms, garages, file rooms and document rooms are also equipped with shelves on which cardboard boxes are placed, with stored material inside the cardboard boxes. When the shelves are full, or until they are built, a common method of storage is to put materials to be stored in cardboard boxes, and stack the cardboard boxes in stacks. This has the advantage of being cheap and easy to do, but has the disadvantage that you may have to unstack the entire stack of boxes to find objects which are located in the bottom box. If you don&#39;t have a record of what is in each box, you may have to open each box searching for the material to be retrieved from storage. 
     Bookshelves also have the disadvantage that whether they are filled with boxes or totally empty, the bookshelves occupy an entire area, such as a wall, and essentially prevents that wall from being used for anything else. 
     What is needed is a storage system which mounts easily to an unused space, such as a wall or a ceiling, but when not in use allows that space to be utilized for other purposes. What is also needed is a storage system which is modular, so that storage boxes may be opened and inspected without having to unstack a vertical stack of boxes. Such a modular system also has to be adjustable, to account for various sizes of boxes. What is also needed is a way to determine the contents of a particular box without having to open the lid of that box or unstack a stack of boxes. It would also be desirable to be able to view the contents of a box or open a particular storage box by accessing the side of a box facing the user, rather than having to open the flaps on the top or removing a lid from the top of the box. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a storage system which mounts to an unused space, such as a wall or a ceiling. It is also an object of this invention that the storage system be modular and provide storage boxes which are not stacked upon each other, but may be individually viewed and opened to remove stored contents. It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular storage system which is adjustable, so that boxes of various sizes may be utilized and when not necessary, storage boxes may be removed from the system. It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular storage box which allows the contents of a particular box to be viewed, and for the box to be opened and the contents removed or added to without having to unstack other boxes. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are obtained by a modular storage system which includes one or more storage containers or boxes, a support rail, and a means of attaching storage boxes to the support rails. The support rails are attached to a wall or ceiling. One way of attaching the storage boxes to a support rail is by the use of one or more cantilevered hooks. These hooks are inserted into a recess in the support rail, and when pressure is applied at one end of a hook, the other end of the hook locks in place inside the support rail. The support rail can be oriented either horizontally or vertically on a wall, or horizontally on a ceiling, with its attached storage boxes which form an array of storage boxes. In one version of this invention, the storage boxes are used with a rigid frame which is mounted on the edges of the storage box. A door can be utilized which fits in the rigid frame which is removable and openable. Being able to open the door, or see through the door if it is transparent, allows easy identification of the contents of the storage box, and easy access to the contents. The rigid frame would typically be mounted onto the storage box by a strap which attaches to one edge of the rigid frame, wraps around three sides of the box, and attaches to a side of the rigid frame opposite the side to which the strap was first attached. Mounted integrally with this strap is a top edge bracket assembly. The top edge bracket assembly is basically an L-shaped bracket which mounts on the top of the rear edge of the storage box and attaches to the strap. The strap can be configured to be two straps, each of which attach to an edge of the top edge bracket assembly. The top edge bracket assembly has a hanging loop by which the storage box is attached to one of the cantilevered hooks. The top edge bracket assembly also has a rail guide which is used for orienting the top edge bracket and therefore the storage box to the support rail. 
     The modular storage system described above can also include one or more rigid support sections which can be mounted on the under side of the storage box for providing additional strength and rigidity to the storage box. This allows the storage box, by use of the rigid support sections, to support a heavier weight without deforming. Optionally, several rigid support sections could be mounted on the under side of a storage box by the use of flexible straps. One or more rigid support sections could also be mounted on the top side of the storage box, and could be linked with the rigid support sections on the under side of the storage box by a loop of flexible strap material. Such strap material could also have a closure, buckle or other means of adjusting and securing the flexible strap. The rigid support sections could consist of two pieces which telescope one into the other and are adjustable for length. 
     In another version of the modular storage system, rather than providing support to the storage box by the attachment of a top edge bracket assembly, and using the hanging loop from the top edge bracket assembly to attach to a cantilevered hook, another method of attachment is also possible. A top suspension handle can be utilized which is a generally U-shaped handle which attaches to the top of the storage box by a strap which encircles the storage box and secures the storage box to the top suspension handle. One or more rigid support sections can be utilized with this embodiment of the invention, either mounted below or above the storage box, as previously described. 
     Still other objects advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the modular storage system. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a storage box. 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective drawing of a storage box with a support bracket. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing the support rail and a cantilevered hook. 
     Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of a support rail and a cantilevered hook. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of a top edge bracket. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing of a top suspension handle. 
     FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a top suspension handle mounted on a storage box and suspended from a cantilevered hook. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cantilevered hook configured to support a plastic tote. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of a plastic tote suspended from a cantilevered hook configured to support plastic totes. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an array of storage boxes, oriented horizontally and vertically on a wall, and horizontally on the ceiling. The best mode of the invention includes a support rail  14 , shown in detail in FIG.  3  and in cross-section in FIG.  4 . The support rail is a generally four sided linear structure made of a metal, such as steel, or a durable plastic. One side of the support rail  14  is a rail back  44 . Connected at right angles to the edges of the rail back  44 , is first rail side  76  and opposite is second rail side  78 . Attached along an edge of first rail side  76  and perpendicular to it is first side rail  50 . Attached to one edge of second rail side  78  and perpendicular to it is second side rail  48 . The gap between first side rail  50  and second side rail  48  forms an inter-rail slot  52  through which cantilevered hooks  28  are inserted. Rail back  44  also includes several mounting holes  46  through which nails, screws or bolts can be used to mount the support rail  14  to a wall or ceiling. In the best mode, support rail  14  is made of steel and is approximately six to eight feet in length, three-quarters of an inch wide, with a depth of an inch to one-half inch. The support rail  14  also includes rail steps  62 , as shown in FIG. 4, which are provided along rail back  44  and which interact with cantilevered hook  28  to provide a positive positioning mechanism for cantilevered hook  28 . 
     The modular storage system  10  also includes storage containers or boxes  12 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  2 A. These storage boxes are specially made for use with the modular storage system  10 , and are produced in small, medium and large sizes. The front of each box is open ended. 
     The modular storage system  10  also includes a rigid frame  38 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The rigid frame  38  may optionally contain a door  40 , which is attached by hinges  42 . Preferably the rigid frame  38  is made of plastic, although metal would also work. Preferably the door  40  is of transparent plastic. The rigid frame  38  is attached to the open side of the storage box  12  and adds rigidity to the storage box  12 , as well as providing a means of seeing the stored material in the storage box  12 , and providing easy access through the door  40 . 
     Another component of the modular storage system  10  is a cantilevered hook  28 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cantilevered hook  28  includes a hook base  56  and hook shoulder  58 , and a hook finger  60 . Cantilevered hook  28  is preferably made of a metal such as steel, but other material such as a durable plastic could also be utilized. 
     Another component of the preferred embodiment of modular storage system  10 , is a top edge bracket  22  which is shown in FIG.  4 . Top edge bracket  22  is formed of a top rectangular piece  24  and a back rectangular piece  26 , which are joined along one of their edges. Attached to top rectangular piece  24  is a hanging loop  30 . Attached to back rectangular piece  26  are rail guides  32 . 
     Another component of the preferred embodiment of the modular storage system  10 , is a top suspension handle  34  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This is a generally U-shaped piece of metal preferably, although a durable plastic could also be utilized. The top suspension handle  34  includes a hook loop  80  and strap guides  82  and  84 . A strap  20  is utilized with the top suspension handle  34 . 
     An optional further component is a support bracket  88  which can be utilized with the top suspension handle  24  and strap  20 , or with a strap  20  by itself optionally, one or more support brackets  88  can be mounted below the storage box  12  or above storage box  12 . 
     A second preferred embodiment of the modular storage system  10  is shown in FIG.  2 A. In this embodiment, a non standardized size storage box  12  is utilized. As shown in FIG. 2A, a top suspension handle  34  is mounted on the top and utilizes a strap  20  which encircles the storage box  12 . In addition to the top suspension handle  34  and the strap  20 , a support bracket  88  may be mounted on the underside of the storage box  12  to provide additional rigidity for heavy loads. One or more support brackets  88  can be mounted on the underside of the box, and if necessary one or more can be mounted on top of the box to give further rigidity to the storage box  12 . The support bracket  88  is preferably made of two pieces, one of which adjustably telescopes into the other, and can be adjusted for the dimensions of a particular box. 
     In use, the modular support system is assembled by mounting support rail  14  to a wall or ceiling, by nails or screws. Next, cantilevered hooks  28  are inserted into the support rail  14  through the inter-rail slot  52 . Top edge bracket  22  is mounted to a small, medium or large box in the center of its top rear edge. First strap  16  is extended across the top of storage box  12  and strap hook  36  is attached to the edge of rigid frame  38 . Rigid frame  38  is mounted so that the four edges of rigid frame  38  fit over the four edges of the open side of storage box  12 . Second strap  18  extends from top edge bracket  22  down the back of storage box  12 , along its underside, and attaches with a second strap hook  36  to rigid frame  38 . First strap  16  and second strap  18  are adjusted to securely attach straps, the top edge bracket, and rigid frame  38  to the storage box  12 . Optionally, a top suspension handle  34  can be mounted to the top of a storage box  12 , using a strap  20 . With one or both of the top edge bracket  22  and the top suspension bracket  34  mounted to the storage box  12 , the storage box  12  may be hung by the hanging loop  30  of the top edge bracket from the cantilevered hook  28 . The cantilevered hook  28  can be moved up and down in the support rail  14 , so that hook base  56  interacts with rail step  62  to lock the cantilevered hook  28  into the preferred position. 
     A third preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. This embodiment includes a modification of cantilevered hook  28 . This version of cantilevered hook  28  is called a tote hook  64 , and includes a tote hook handle grip  72 , a tote hook base  68 , a tote hook shoulder  66 , and a tote hook keeper  70 . These interact with a commercially available rubber or plastic storage container, termed a tote  74 . FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the tote hook  64 , and FIG. 9 shows a side view of tote hook  64  supporting a plastic tote  74 . 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.