Abstract:
A storage shed for attaching to the railing at the edge of a deck, such shed having an enclosure assembly mounted on the deck railing while being held in place by doors. The shed preserves deck floor space by hanging principally within and on the outside of the deck railing, and provides a stable storage container that may securely hold a variety of items. The shed can be finished to match the deck or the building to which the deck is attached. A plurality of shelves, hooks, drawers, pegboard, hangers, and partitions within the shed can be arranged for convenient storage of a variety of items.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to storage cabinets. In particular, the present invention relates to a storage cabinet that can be attached to a deck railing.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Storage of gardening tools, patio items, and pool equipment, such as flowerpots, potting tools, lawn sprinklers, barbeque tools and supplies, etc. has been a long existing problem. Since exposure to sunlight and weather elements has an adverse effect on such equipment, it is preferable to store them in an enclosure to improve their lifespan. Additionally, keeping such items neatly put away where they can be readily located and retrieved when one wishes to use them is generally desirable for convenience. Still further, providing a secure location where such items may be kept is likewise desirable. Typically, such items are stored in a garage, basement, or shed located some distance from where the items are put into use. It is therefore desirable to store such items in an easily accessible enclosed container that is located near where the items will be used.  
           [0005]    Many storage containers for gardening equipment and barbecue supplies are short, trunklike enclosures without compartments in which such tools and equipment are haphazardly stored. Tall items, such as brooms and rakes do not fit easily in such containers. Items that are meant to be stored hanging cannot be appropriately accommodated. Likewise, many such storage containers are of limited stability and easily moved, toppled, or damaged. Moreover, even when such storage containers are located on a patio deck for ease of access, they take up a fair amount of floor space, which is generally unfavored.  
           [0006]    The need for additional useful space in limited areas is well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,645 to Hochman discloses an auxiliary shelf for attachment to an existing shelf to increase storage and display space. U.S. Pat. No. 645,124 to Plumb discloses a provision box that is designed to be hung outside a window for storage of items. U.S. Pat. No. 1,280,109 to Silverton discloses a refrigerator that is designed to be hung outside a window for storage of chilled items. U.S. Pat. No. 1,068,391 to Jensen and U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,715 to Owen both disclose brackets that can be hung from a railing, such as can be found surrounding a patio deck. None of the references, however, disclose a storage shed that can be installed on the railing around a deck and that provides easy and convenient access to stored items.  
           [0007]    From the foregoing, it is apparent that there is a need for a storage attachment that can be fitted to a deck railing so as to minimize encroachment on useable deck space, and that provides for secure storage of a variety of items, for example, garden tools, patio items, pool equipment, and the like, and which is cost effective and easy to install but of greater stability than prior known storage containers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a solution to the above and other problems by enabling a simply designed, easy to construct storage shed that provides easy access to frequently used items while preserving deck floor space.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage shed that fits most deck railings. It is a related object of the present invention to provide a storage shed that is attached to the deck railing. It is a further related object of the present invention to provide a storage shed that incorporates the deck railing into the internal shelving.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage shed that is appropriately sized to accommodate patio, garden, and pool items.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage shed that complements the existing finish of the deck.  
           [0012]    This invention relates to a novel storage shed that can be attached to the railing at the edge of a deck. The shed hangs on the deck railing and incorporates the deck rail cap as a stationary shelf within the shed. Once installed on the deck railing, doors are fastened to the front face of the shed to aid in preventing the shed from falling off the deck railing.  
           [0013]    The storage shed disclosed herein offers adjustable shelving, customizable compartmentation, and durable storage to the purchasing public. Such shed may be made from a variety of materials, for example, wood, plastic, or metal to fit framing applications and strength requirements. Moreover, such storage shed may be finished to match the deck on which it is installed or the structure to which the deck is attached. The invention enables a storage shed for attachment to a deck railing that can be mass-produced and sold for a reasonable price that, in fact, can be made or put in place by any skilled or semi-skilled person. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a storage shed in perspective according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show an exploded view of a portion of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective illustration of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b , and  4   c  show a perspective illustration of a top portion of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 shows a cutaway illustration of the storage shed of FIG. 1, prior to installation;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows the storage shed of FIG. 5 in an installed position, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 shows an illustration of an exploded view of a portion of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 shows an illustration of a portion of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 shows a bottom perspective illustration of a portion of the storage shed of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of the storage shed of FIG. 1, partially exploded, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to build and use an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1, a shed  10  according to the present invention is shown attached to a deck railing  13 . The deck railing  13  is generally comprised of a top rail  16 , bottom rail  19 , railing posts  21 , and balusters  24 . Top rail  16  is usually covered by rail cap  27  substantially perpendicular to top rail  16 . Rail cap  27  may be a standard 2×6 or 2×4 piece of lumber and is ordinarily aligned over top rail  16  such that top rail  16  is centered under rail cap  27  or top rail  16  is positioned toward the deck side of rail cap  27 . Railing construction is generally known in the art.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 a  shows a portion of shed  10 . Left side panel  30  is attached to bottom panel  33  and center support  36 . In a preferred embodiment, short dowels, such as  39 , are used to align bottom panel  33  and center support  36  with left side panel  30 . As is conventional in the art, such dowels  39  may be attached using a suitable adhesive, such as wood glue and the like. Bottom panel  33  and center support  36  are firmly attached to left side panel  30  using suitable fasteners, such as a plurality of screws  42 .  
         [0028]    Left side panel  30  presents an opening  45 , sized and configured to enable panel  30  to fit snugly on rail cap  27  and against top rail  16 , as described in greater detail below.  
         [0029]    Center support  36  is selectively provided depending on the size of rail cap  27 . If rail cap  27  comprises a 2×6 board, then a smaller center support  36  is necessary than if rail cap  27  comprises a 2×4 board. In use, center support  36  is juxtaposed to rail cap  27  to form a shelf within shed  10 , as explained in greater detail below.  
         [0030]    Right side panel  48  is similarly attached to bottom panel  33  and center support  36  using dowels  39 , adhesive, and fasteners  42 , as shown in FIG. 2 b . Right side panel  48  also presents an opening  51 , sized and configured to enable panel  48  to fit snugly on rail cap  27  and against top rail  16 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective illustration of storage shed  10  with back panel  54  in place. Back panel  54  is attached to left side panel  30 , right side panel  48 , bottom panel  33 , and center support  36  using a plurality of fasteners  42 . Back panel  54  may comprise a single piece or a plurality of pieces fastened together.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment, back gable  57  is separately attached to back panel  54  using a flat plate  60  and a plurality of suitable fasteners, as shown in FIG. 4 a . Wide-angled brackets  63 ,  68  are attached to an inner surface of left and right side panels  30 ,  48 , respectively.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 4 b , a gable door edge piece  71  is attached to an interior surface of front gable  74  using suitable fasteners, such that a portion of the door edge piece  71  extends below a lower edge of the front gable  74 . Right-angled brackets  77 ,  78  are also attached to an interior surface of front gable  74  using suitable fasteners. In a preferred embodiment, short dowels, such as  39 , are used to align front gable  74  with left and right side panels  30 ,  48 . As is conventional in the art, such dowels  39  may be attached using a suitable adhesive, such as wood glue and the like. As shown in FIG. 4 c , front gable  74  is attached to left and right side panels  30 ,  48 . A first right-angled bracket  77  is secured to an interior surface of left side panel  30  and a second right-angled bracket  78  is secured to an interior surface of right side panel  48 , using suitable fasteners.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 shows a shed enclosure assembly, indicated generally as  80 . Enclosure assembly  80  comprises left side panel  30 , right side panel  48 , bottom panel  33 , back panel  54 , back gable  57  (not shown), front gable  74 , and roof panels  83 ,  84 . Roof panels  83 ,  84  are attached to back gable  57  and front gable  74  using suitable fasteners. Roof panel  83  is also attached to wide-angled bracket  63  interiorly of enclosure assembly  80  and roof panel  84  is similarly attached to wide-angled bracket  68  interiorly of enclosure assembly  80 . In a preferred embodiment, the peak  87  between roof panels  83 ,  84  can be sealed using caulk or other suitable sealant.  
         [0035]    Once the shed enclosure assembly  80  is complete, such enclosure assembly  80  can be positioned on the deck railing  13  as illustrated in FIG. 6. Openings  45 ,  51  (FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b ) envelope rail cap  27  and top rail  16 . Enclosure assembly  80  should be positioned near a railing post  21  to ensure structural stability. In a preferred embodiment, enclosure assembly  80  should be placed within approximately 12 inches of railing post  21 . Prior to positioning enclosure assembly  80 , several balusters  24  should be removed along the section of deck railing  13  selected for the location of such enclosure assembly  80 . FIG. 6 shows the shed enclosure assembly  80  installed on deck railing  13 . Enclosure assembly  80  may be sized so that when it is installed on railing  13 , bottom panel  33  may rest on bottom rail  19 . Alternately, enclosure assembly  80  may be sized so that when installed, bottom panel  33  is positioned near and above bottom rail  19 . In some embodiments, such as deck constructions where bottom rail  19  is not present, bottom panel  33  may be positioned near and above the deck, or alternately may be positioned directly on the deck. Center support  36  preferably aligns with rail cap  27  to form a single shelf spanning the entire width of enclosure assembly  80 .  
         [0036]    In an alternate embodiment, left and right side panels  30 ,  48  can extend beyond the deck side edge of rail cap  27  as illustrated in FIG. 6 in phantom by broken lines  89 . In such an embodiment, bottom panel  33  and roof panels  83 ,  84  should also extend beyond the deck side edge of rail cap  27 .  
         [0037]    In yet another embodiment, openings  45 ,  51  may be positioned on the rear edge of side panels  30 ,  48  with enclosure assembly  80  being locked in place by sliding the enclosure assembly  80  onto deck railing  13 , and thereafter attaching back wall  54 .  
         [0038]    Referring to FIG. 7, doors  91 ,  92  are attached to left and right side panels  30 ,  48 , respectively, using suitable connectors, for example, hinges, a slider assembly, or similarly configured connectors. Rail mount brackets  95 ,  96  are likewise attached to left and right side panels  30 ,  48 , respectively, using suitable fasteners. Such rail mount brackets  95 ,  96  prevent enclosure assembly  80  from falling off deck railing  13 . In addition, to hold enclosure assembly  80  in place, a flat connector plate  99  can be secured to the center support  36  and rail cap  27 . Alternatively, connector plate  99  can be secured to the bottom of center support  36  and rail cap  27 .  
         [0039]    In an alternate embodiment, left and right side panels  30 ,  48  extend beyond the deck side edge of the rail cap (as shown in phantom in FIG. 6). In this case, when doors  91 ,  92  are installed and in the closed position, a vertical open space or gap remains between the doors and rail cap  27 , which vertical open space preferably extends the entire height of enclosure assembly  80 . The open space enables long items, such as brooms, shovels, and rakes to be stored in enclosure assembly  80 . In such an embodiment, rail mount brackets  95 ,  96  (FIG. 7) should be increased in their thickness dimension to fit in openings  45 ,  51  (FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b ) and to hold enclosure assembly  80  in place.  
         [0040]    Rail cap trim pieces, indicated generally as  101  in FIG. 8, can be added, as necessary to close remaining openings around the top rail  16  and rail cap  27 . Following installation of such trim pieces, caulk, or other suitable sealant can be applied to any joint openings that might remain.  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 9, the bottom panel  33  is attached to bottom rail  19  or the deck, if there is no bottom rail, using short balusters, such as  104 . Such short baluster  104  is sized to provide a uniform appearance in relation to the remaining full-length balusters  24 . Short baluster  104  is attached to bottom panel  33  using an L-shaped bracket  106  and suitable fasteners.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 10 shows a completed shed  10 . After shed  10  has been installed and secured to deck railing  13 , additional partitions may be added to the interior of shed  10 , such as shelves  109 , hooks  112 , and compartment  115 . A plurality of shelf pinholes may be provided on the interior surface of left and right side panels  30 ,  48  to permit installation of shelves  109  to a desired height. Compartment  115  can be placed in either the top portion or bottom portion of the shed  10 , as desired. While not particularly shown in FIG. 10, other enhancements can be added as well (e.g., drawers, compartments, pegboard, hangers, etc.), and the placement of such partitions as shown is for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered as restrictive in any way. For example, compartment  115  can be fitted with one or more sliding drawers mounted on the interior of compartment  115 , and/or one or more drawers spanning a portion or the entirety of the width of enclosure  80  may be provided between or in place of shelves  109 . Likewise, a lock of traditional construction may be added which, in combination with the above-described structure of enclosure assembly  80 , and by nature of its attachment to a fixed, permanent structure such as a deck railing, provides enhanced security for the items stored within enclosure assembly  80 .  
         [0043]    The invention has been described with references to a preferred embodiment. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.