Abstract:
A method and structure are provided to suspend a support frame from a structural element such as an I-beam with an intermediate framework. An anchor is fastened to the structural element. An upper linkage is fastened to the anchor means and hangs therebelow. Legs are fastened to the upper linkage and hangs therebelow. The support frame is fastened to the legs and hangs therebelow. The upper linkage is selected from the group consisting of a scissors link and a mounting plate. The anchor can be a bifurcated C-Clamp.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to mechanical anchoring devices and a system for enabling suspended overhead suspension of a framework from an I-beam or truss joist. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As more and more materials including lawn chairs, sports equipment, recreational devices and the like accumulate in a space such as a garage, a problem is that there is insufficient space on the floor or on the walls for storage of such things in the space available. Accordingly there is a need for enhanced methods and equipment for providing supplemental storage space. 
         [0003]    An advantage of the present invention is that is can be installed without the cost of hiring professional installers. 
         [0004]    Another advantage of the system and method of this invention is it avoids invasive changes to existing construction; and avoids a need for pre-construction. 
         [0005]    Moreover, time is saved by avoiding clearing stored materials from a storage space such as a garage. Also, few tools and materials are required. 
         [0006]    Another advantage of this invention is that an installation in a garage does not interfere with overhead garage door equipment and its operation or with the garage door. 
         [0007]    In accordance with this invention overhead storage is provided in a structure with limited floor space for storage by suspending a framework from clamps secured to the flanges of a flanged overhead beam. A preferred form of flanged overhead beam is an “I” beam with a solid web, preferably composed of steel. A suitable alternative to such a steel I-beam is an Open Web Truss Joist preferably made of steel having 4″ top and bottom flanges. Typically, the steel OWTJ is used to support roof structures with series of opened half diamond steel rails welded to and in between the flanges forming a webbing structure that spans the length of the OWTJ. Regardless of the material of which the beam is composed the beam and the flanges must have sufficient strength to support the framework. In short, the invention provides for suspending a framework from flanges suitable for supporting a clamp, which flanges are formed on the sides of an I-beam or a truss joist. 
         [0008]    As stated above, the present invention overcomes the problem of having insufficient floor space in structures that have overhead space. 
         [0009]    The device enables the user to create overhead space easily by suspending a mechanical framework from a beam, e.g. an I-beam or a truss joist. 
         [0010]    The invention provides a device which is easy to install, highly versatile and eliminates requisite steps, now being used to facilitate the creation of overhead storage more specifically, garages and other related garage framing configurations. 
         [0011]    The process/system used today is restrictive due to impeding overhead garage doors, their mechanical automatic devices and other fixed obstructions. The system of the present invention enables creation of more overhead space below a support structure. 
         [0012]    In a garage the system of this invention increases available storage space because the installation is not impeded by overhead garage doors, the devices associated with the door or the door itself. Thus additional storage space is created which had not been available heretofore. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a framework in accordance with this invention for suspension of a support frame from a support by a beam, e.g. an I-beam. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the framework of  FIG. 1   
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged perspective side view of a bifurcated C-Clamp shown in  FIG. 1  which is adapted to be fastened to the lower flange of an I-beam. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view of the bifurcated C-Clamp of  FIGS. 1 and 3A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the framework of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged, fragmentary end view of the framework of  FIG. 1  showing two C-Clamps, each of which includes a lower jaw which carries a fastener comprising a threaded pressure screw that engages a lower surface of the left and right rims of a flange of an I-beam. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the left end of  FIG. 1  showing portions of the framework including scissor arms and legs from which support frame is suspended. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the framework of  FIG. 1  for suspension of a support frame from a support by a beam, e.g. an I-beam. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a detail of a joint between a scissor arm and a leg from which the support frame is suspended. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a view of the joint between an upper diagonal brace and a lower diagonal brace with an interlock, but with the bolt absent showing the bolt hole in the brace with the parts in alignment prior to insertion of the bolt. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with C-Clamps fastened to an I-beam and the framework suspended from the C-Clamps and lanyard cables secured to the ends of the support frame. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9B  is a plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A   
           [0025]      FIG. 9C  is an end, elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 9A-9C  with like parts indicated by like indicia from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the device of  FIG. 10  showing, among other things, one of the clamps secured to a flange of the I-Beam and the lanyard cables which hold up the end of the support frame. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary, end, elevational view of the device of  FIG. 10  showing the lanyard cables and the clamps secured to the flanges of the I-Beam. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a framework in accordance with another embodiment of this invention in which two pairs of scissor arms of  FIG. 1  are replaced by a pair of rectangular mounting plates with horizontal wide mounting slots and an array of narrow mounting slots and modified long bifurcated C-Clamps. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a long bifurcated C-Clamp of  FIG. 13  secured to the left rim of an I-Beam and fastened to the upper left side of one of the mounting plates of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is an elevational schematic drawing of one of the rectangular mounting plates shown in  FIG. 13  with the a pair of horizontally oriented, wide mounting slots near the top edge of the wide top side of the mounting plate. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16A  is a perspective side view of a long, bifurcated C-Clamp with feet extending down from the bodies of the frames thereof and with a through hole provided for insertion therethrough of a screw shown in  FIG. 14  to support one end of a mounting plate. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16B  is a sectional perspective view showing the inner surfaces of the right frame of the C-Clamp of  FIG. 16A  with a peripheral anti-rotation interlock surface surrounding a hole for a screw to support the mounting plate. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the foot of the C-Clamp of  FIG. 16B  showing the hole for a screw to fasten the mounting plate and the peripheral anti-rotation interlock surface surrounding the hole. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective front, elevational view of a cable supported modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  with the mounting plates shown in  FIG. 13  and with cables connected from bolts through the upper corners of the mounting plates to the distal ends of the support frame. 
           [0036]      FIG. 18B  is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . 
           [0037]      FIG. 18C  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 18A . 
           [0038]      FIG. 18D  is a further enlarged, perspective front, elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . 
           [0039]      FIG. 18E  is a still further enlarged, front view of the device of  FIG. 18D . 
           [0040]      FIG. 18F  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . 
           [0041]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a fragment of a mounting plate with a mounting slot therethrough lined by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces with indicia therebelow. 
           [0042]      FIG. 20  is an elevational view of a fragment of a mounting plate also having a mounting slot therethrough surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces with indicia plus an array of small slots therebelow. 
           [0043]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a modified mounting plate with two mounting slots therethrough surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces on the top surface and two more slots on the bottom of the mounting plate. 
           [0044]      FIG. 22  is an elevational view of a hanging stack arrangement of two modified mounting plates of the variety shown in  FIG. 21  suspended from two C-Clamps fastened to an I-Beam. The two C-Clamps are fastened to the top horizontal mounting slots of the upper mounting plate by fasteners in the manner shown in  FIG. 18E . 
           [0045]      FIGS. 23A-23C  show three mounting plates with the first and second mounting plates, which are suspended by C-Clamps from an I-Beam, provide support for the third mounting plate. The third mounting plate is suspended from the first and second mounting plates by additional inverted C-Clamps. 
           [0046]      FIGS. 24A-24C  show a set of four mounting plates which are connected together by stacked L cross section brackets and fasteners with two plates oriented vertically but the other two plates oriented horizontally. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     Scissors Arm and C-Clamp Embodiment 
       [0047]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a framework  9  in accordance with this invention. The framework  9  is provided for suspension of a support frame  11  from a support such as an I-beam  10 . The support frame is provided to support a storage shelf, not shown for convenience of illustration such as a plywood sheet or the like. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the framework  9  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged perspective side view of a C-Clamp  40  shown in  FIG. 1  which is adapted to be fastened to the lower flange of I-beam  10 ; and  FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view of the C-Clamp  40  of  FIGS. 1 and 3A . Preferably, each of the C-Clamps  40  is bifurcated as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 A. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 1 , the framework  9  is shown suspended from the flanges  10 F of the I-beam  10 . Each I-beam  10  comprises a web  10 W with upper and lower flanges  10 F. The upper flange  10 F, which is on top of the web  10 W, has rims  10 L/ 10 R extending to the left and right thereof. The lower flange  10 F, which is on the bottom of the web  10 W, also has a left rim  10 L rim and a right rim  10 R. The rims  10 L/ 10 R extend to the left and right respectively of the web  10 F. The framework  9  is suspended from four C-Clamps  40  affixed to the rims  10 L and  10 R of the lower flange  10 F of the I-beam  10 . Two of the C-Clamps  40  are affixed to the rims  10 L/ 10 R respectively at the proximal end  10 P of the I-beam  10  and the other two clamps  40  are affixed to the rims  10 L/ 10 R respectively at the distal end  10 D of the I-beam  10 . In other words, the four C-Clamps  40  provide support for the framework  9  which comprises the infrastructure described below. 
         [0051]    Preferably, the C-Clamps  40  are bifurcated as will be explained below with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B. As indicated above, the nearer end of the framework  9  is suspended at the proximal end  10 P of the I-beam  10  from two of the clamps  40 , which are secured to the lower flange  10 F. The farther end of the framework  9  is suspended at the distal end  10  of the I-beam  10  by the other two C-Clamps  40 , which are secured to the lower flange  10 F at the distal end  10 D. The bifurcated C-Clamps  40  are on opposite sides of the I-beam  10  and are fastened to the left and right rims  10 L/ 10 R respectively of the lower flange  10 F. In particular, a proximal pair of the clamps  40  are centered above the proximal side of the framework  9  with one thereof secured to the left lower rim  10 L while the other clamp is secured to the right lower rim  10 R on opposite side of the web  10 W of the I-beam  10 . Similarly, a distal pair of the C-Clamps  40  are centered above the distal side of the framework  9  with one thereof secured to the left lower rim  10 L while the other C-Clamp  40  is secured to the right lower rim  10 R on opposite side of the web  10 W of the I-beam  10 . 
       Bifurcated C-Clamps 
       [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B, the bifurcated C-Clamps  40  include a left frame  40 L and a right frame  40 R. Each frame includes a pair of confronting jaws including a bottom jaw  40 B and a top jaw  40 T on opposite ends of the frames  40 L/ 40 R. The top jaw  40 T of both frames  40 L/ 40 R includes parallel clamping faces  40 F. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the framework  9  of  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 2 and 4A  show a C-Clamp  40 , which includes a lower jaw  40 B which carries a fastener  42  comprising a threaded pressure screw  42  that engages a lower surface of the left rim  10 L of a flange  10 F of an I-beam  10 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged, fragmentary end view of the framework  9  of  FIG. 1  showing two C-Clamps  40 , each of which includes a lower jaw  40 B which carries a fastener  42  comprising a threaded pressure screw  42  that engages a lower surface of the left rim  10 L and the right rim  10 R of a flange  10 F of the I-beam  10 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show that the faces  40 F of the top jaw  40 T are formed with downwardly directed serrated teeth  40 S.  FIG. 3A  shows that the upwardly facing surfaces of the bottom jaws  40 B of the C-Clamp  40  are capped with a flat, horizontally extending pad  40 . Pad  40  bridges across above the bottom jaws  40 B of the left frame  40 L and the right frame  40 R. A threaded hole  40 H, bored through the pad  40 P of the bottom jaws  40 B houses a pressure screw  42  shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  12 - 14  which is tightened to affix the clamp  40  to the rim  10 L or  10 R of the flange  10 F of the I-beam  10 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  shows a threaded pressure screw  42  (hexagonal head) that extends vertically up through the gap between the left and right frames  40 L/ 40 R and through a matching threaded hole  40 H bored through the pad  40 P of the bottom jaw  40 B. The pressure screw extends up out of the bottom jaw  40 B towards the clamping faces  40 F of both frames  40 L/ 40 R of the top jaw  40 T. The pressure screw  42  extends from below the bottom jaw  40 B up to press hard against the lower surface of the left rim  10 L of the lower flange  10 F pulling the serrated face  40 F of the top jaw  40 T down into position to clamp the upper surface of the left rim  10 L of the flange  10 , while the top end of the pressure screw  42  clamps the lower surface of the left rim  10 L. The matching components of the other three C-Clamps  40  are clamped to the left rim  10 L and to the right rim  10 R at the respective proximal location and the two distal locations along the I-beam  10 . Each clamp  40  supports one of four scissor arms  30  which support the framework  9 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the short, bifurcated C-clamps  40  includes a pair of support holes  41 H through the heel  40 N at the bottom of the left and right frames  40 L/ 40 R. Each C-Clamp  40  supports one of the four scissor arms  30 . The upper end of each scissor arm  30  is sandwiched between the left and right frames  40 L/ 40 R. Each scissor arm  30  is secured to the C-clamp  40  by a fastener  41 . Each fastener  41  extends through the respective support hole  41 H in the C-Clamp  40  and through the top end of the scissor arm  30  which is sandwiched between the frames  40 L/ 40 R. For example, fastener  41  may be a bolt with a hexagonal head secured to the clamp by a nut (not shown) or fastener  41  may be a round head pin clipped to the clamp  40 . An equivalent type of fastener may be employed. 
         [0058]    Each short, bifurcated C-clamp  40  includes a lower jaw  40 B which carries a threaded, clamping screw  42  (hexagonal head) clamping onto the with hexagonal head or a pin clipped that engages a lower surface of a flange  10 F of an I-beam  10 . An upper jaw of each clamp has a clamping surface with teeth  40 T clamping so that as the screw  42  is tightened the upper jaw  40 U with its teeth and grips the rim of the flange  10 F with the fastener  41  shown as a hexagonal bolt which is secured by a nut. 
       Scissor Arms 
       [0059]    As indicated above each C-Clamps  40  supports a scissor arm  30 . The scissor arms  30  are composed of rigid flat steel strips known in the art as slotted steel which in this case comprises a series of central through holes spaced at more or less regular intervals along the length of the flat steel strips. Referring to  FIG. 4 , at each of the proximal and distal ends of the framework  9 , a pair of the scissor arms  30  is provided with one arm  30  suspended by a pivot pin  41  from the C-Clamp  40  on the left and one arm  30  with the other arm  30  suspended by another pivot pin  41  from the C-Clamp  40  on the right.  FIG. 4  shows that each arm  30  includes five through holes spaced, centrally along the arms  30 . The arms  30  are attached to each other in a scissors or tong like configuration by a pivot screw  31 . The pivot screw  31  is shown inserted through the fourth hole from the top of each of the arms  30  of the pair. Pivot screw  31  secures each pair of scissors arms  30  together to pivot thereabout. The pivot bolt  31  has a head shown on the front side of a first arm  30 . The other end of the bolt  31  is secured by a washer and a nut or a pin (or the like) to the back surface of the other arm  30 . 
         [0060]    The top end of each of scissor arm  30  is rotatably secured between the arms of a bifurcated clamp  40  by a pivot pin  41  that extends through holes  41 H (see FIGS.  3 A/ 3 B) through and the respective frames  40 L, 40 R of each clamp  40 . The pivot pin  41  extends through a hole (not shown for convenience of illustration) in the top end of the arm  30 . 
       Leg Extensions from Scissor Arms 
       [0061]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show one of four legs  28  connected to the each of the lower ends of the proximal and distal scissor arms  30 .  FIGS. 4 ,  12  and  13  show that the legs  28  are secured to the arms  30  by fasteners shown as bolts  29 . The legs  28  and the scissor arms  30  overlap so that the bolts  29  can fasten them together. 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the framework of  FIG. 1  for suspension of a support frame  11  from a support by the I-beam  10 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a detail of the joint  29 J between a scissor arm  30  and a leg  28  from which the support frame  11  is suspended. At the joint  29 J, one of the bolts  29  extends through a scissor arm  30  and a leg  28  with the threaded end of the bolt  29  extending through a threaded nut  29 N between the lower end of a scissor arm  30  joined to the upper end of a leg  28 . The joint  29 J is tightly secured by the bolt  29  fastened to the nut  29 N. The anti-rotation interlock  44  locks the joint together with a matching surfaces of anti-rotation interlocking surfaces  44  (referred to hereinafter as interlocks) comprise machined surfaces in the form of rows of ridges formed on confronting surfaces of the scissor arm  30  and the leg  30 . The interlocks  44  restrict and/or prevent rotation of each leg  28  around the bolt  29  and nut  29 N, locking the elements in the alignment which is selected by the installer and/or the user. 
       Diagonal Braces 
       [0064]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 A and  4 B show four upper diagonal braces  24  suspended from the upper portions of the scissor arms  30 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 A,  4 B,  11 , and  12  show that the upper diagonal braces  24  are suspended by bolts  33  and nuts (as will be understood by those skilled in he art) fastened to the C-Clamps  40 . Again a pair of anti-rotation interlocks  44  is provided to hold the upper diagonal braces  24  in alignment after tightening of the bolts  33  and the associated nuts. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 1 ,  4 A,  4 B,  5 ,  8  and  12  show how one of a set of four lower diagonal braces  26  is fastened to each one of the upper diagonal braces  24  by bolts  25  and nuts with anti-rotation interlocks  44  provided to hold the lower diagonal braces  26  in alignment with the upper diagonal braces  24  after tightening of the bolts  33  and the associated nuts. 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  is a view of the joint between an upper diagonal brace  24  and a lower diagonal brace  26  with an interlock  44 , but with the bolt  25  absent showing the bolt hole  25 H in the brace  24  with the parts in alignment prior to insertion of the bolt  25 . 
       Angle Iron Shelf Support Frame 
       [0067]      FIGS. 1 and 5  both show a shelf support frame  11  composed of two main rails  14  four extension rails  16 , and four cross rails  18 . Preferably, the rails are composed of slotted angle iron stock which have been assembled into a rectangle of the two main rails  18 , the four extension rails  16  and two of the cross rails  14  at each end of the rectangular support frame  11 . The other two cross rails are located equal distances along the length of the support frame  11   
         [0068]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the left end of  FIG. 1  showing portions of the framework  9  including the scissor arms  32 , and the legs  28 . On the left side of  FIG. 5  are shown two of the four upper diagonal braces  24  joined to two lower diagonal braces  26 , and the left end of the shelf support frame  11 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the shelf support frame  11  is supported by the lower diagonal braces  26  and the legs  28 . In particular, each of the two main rails  14  is suspended from a pair of the legs  28  on the left and the right of the I-Beam  10 . The two main rails  14  are fastened to the legs  28  by the fasteners  27 . Each of the four extension rails  16  is suspended from one of the lower diagonal braces  26  on the left and the right respectively. The extension rails  16  are fastened to the lower diagonal braces  26  by the fasteners  23 . 
       Cable Supported, Scissors Arm and C-Clamp Embodiment 
       [0069]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with C-Clamps  40  fastened to an I-beam  10  and the framework  9  suspended from the C-Clamps and lanyard cables  12  secured to the ends of the support frame  11 .  FIG. 9B  is a plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A ; and  FIG. 9C  is an end, elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A . 
         [0070]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 9A-9C  show elongated extension rails  16  supported on the distal ends thereof by four lanyard cables  12 . Each cable  12  extends at the top end from one of the four scissor arms  30  and the fasteners  33  down to the fastener  13  which connects to the distal end of the extension rail  16  at the bottom end of the cable  12 . This cable supported embodiment provides enhanced extra support for the shelf support  11  when it is either extended to a greater length or when the support frame  11  requires more support for heavier burdens proximate to the outboard portion of the extension rail  16 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 9A-9C  with like parts indicated by like indicia from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
         [0072]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the device of  FIG. 10  showing, among other things, one of the clamps  40  secured to the flange  10 L of the I-Beam  10  and the lanyard cables  12 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary, end, elevational view of the device of  FIG. 10  showing the clamps  40  secured to the flanges  10 L/ 10 R of the I-Beam  10  and the lanyard cables  12 . 
       Mounting Plate and C-Clamp Embodiment 
       [0074]      FIGS. 13-15   16 A,  16 B and  17  show a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a framework  9  in accordance with another embodiment of this invention in which the two pairs of scissor arms  32  of  FIG. 1  are replaced by a pair of rectangular mounting plates  50  with horizontal wide mounting slots  51 W therethrough and an array of narrow mounting slots  54  and modified long C-Clamps  140 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a long C-Clamp  40  of  FIG. 13  secured to the left rim  10 L of the I-Beam  10  and fastened to the upper left side of one of the mounting plates  50  of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 15  is an elevational schematic drawing of one of the rectangular mounting plates  50  shown in  FIG. 13  with the a pair of horizontally oriented, wide mounting slots  51 W therethrough near the top edge of the wide top side of the mounting plate  50 . The mounting plate  50  is shown with an array of small mounting slots  54 , two of which in each plate  50  are shown supporting the legs  28  which support the of two main rails  14  of the shelf support frame  11 . The set of short C-Clamps  40  is replaced by a set of long, bifurcated C-Clamps  140 . In the four corners of the plate are fastener holes  133 H which are employed in the embodiment of  FIGS. 17 ,  18 A- 18 D, and  19 - 21 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 16A  is a perspective side view of a long, bifurcated C-Clamp  140  with the feet  140 F extending down from the bodies of the frames  140 R and  140 F with a through hole  141 H provided for insertion therethrough of a screw  141  shown in  FIG. 14  (which screw is retained by a nut) to support one end of the mounting plate  50 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 16B  is a sectional perspective view showing the inner surfaces of the right frame  140 R of the C-Clamp  140  of  FIG. 16A  with a peripheral anti-rotation interlock surface  144  surrounding a hole  141 H for a screw to support the mounting plate  50 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the foot of the C-Clamp  140  of  FIG. 16B  showing the hole  141 H for a screw to fasten the mounting plate  50  and the peripheral anti-rotation interlock surface  144  surrounding the hole  141 H. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 16A , the long, bifurcated C-Clamps  140  have been modified from the clamps  40  of  FIG. 3A  with longer left and right frames  140 L and  140 R in place of the short frames  41 L/ 40 R. Instead of the heel  40 N of  FIG. 3 , in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , a foot  140 F extends from the bottom of the left and right frames  140 L and  140 R. Each mounting plate  50  is inserted at the feet  140 F between frames  140 L and  140 R of each C-Clamp  140  and mounted to those frames by fasteners  140 . Fasteners  141 , which may be bolts and nuts, pass through the holes  141 H (shown in  FIGS. 16A-16C ), through frames  140 L and  140 R at the feet  140 F of the long C-Clamps  140  as well as through the two wide mounting slots  51 W along the wide side of the mounting plate  50 . 
         [0082]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the top edge of the mounting plate  50  is sandwiched, between the feet  140 F of the frames  140 L and  140 R of the bifurcated C-Clamps  140 . The bifurcated C-Clamps  140  include a left frame  140 L and a right frame  140 R. In  FIGS. 13-15  the mounting plate  50  and the two mounting slots  51 W are horizontally oriented, although the mounting plate can be employed with various features and orientation as described below with respect to other embodiments. It should be noted that the mounting plate  50  is shown in FIGS.  14  and  15  to have the wide mounting slots  51 W formed therethrough with peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces  144  surrounding the slots  51 W as well as indicia marking the location of the C-Clamps  140  in the slots  51 W. 
         [0083]    The two wide mounting slots  54  in this embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 15  are provided to secure elements of the framework  9  to the mounting plate  50  as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . In  FIG. 13 , the legs  28  and the upper diagonal braces  24  are fastened to the mounting plate  50 . As described above, the lower diagonal braces  26  are fastened to each one of the upper diagonal braces  24  by bolts  25  and nuts with anti-rotation interlocks  44  provided to hold the lower diagonal braces  26  in alignment with the upper diagonal braces  24  after tightening of the bolts  33  and the associated nuts. In addition, the shelf support frame  11  is secured to the lower diagonal braces  26  and to the legs  28 . In particular, each of the two main rails  14  on the left or the right is suspended respectively from one of the legs  28  on the left or the right of the I-Beam  10 . Each main rail  14  is fastened to legs  28  by the fasteners  27 . Each extension rail  16  is suspended from lower diagonal braces  26  on the left and the right respectively and fastened thereto by fasteners  23 . 
         [0084]    The bifurcated C-Clamps  140  include a left frame  140 L and a right frame  140 R. Each frame  140 L/ 140 R includes a pair of jaws including a bottom jaw  40 B and a top jaw  40 T confronting each other. The top jaw  40 T of both frames  40 L/ 40 R includes parallel clamping faces  40 F. The lower jaw  40 B carries a fastener  42  comprising a threaded pressure screw  42  that engages a lower surface of the left rim  10 L of a flange  10 F of an I-beam  10 .  FIGS. 16A and 16B  show that the faces  40 F of the top jaw  40 T are formed with downwardly directed serrated teeth  40 S.  FIG. 16A  shows that the upwardly facing surfaces of the bottom jaws  40 B of the C-Clamp  140  are capped with a flat, horizontally extending pad  40 . Pad  40  bridges across above the bottom jaws  40 B of the left frame  140 L and the right frame  140 R. A threaded bore hole  40 H through the pad  40 P of the bottom jaws  40 B houses a pressure screw  42  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  which is tightened to affix the clamp  140  to the rim  10 L or  10 R of the flange  10 F of the I-beam  10   
       Cable Supported, Mounting Plate and C-Clamp Embodiment 
       [0085]      FIGS. 18A-18E  show an embodiment of a cable supported modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  with two mounting plates  50  and the C-Clamp  140  with the provision of a cable  12  connected to the distal ends of the support frame  11 . Otherwise the structure is essentially the same as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 13-16C . 
         [0086]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective front, elevational view of a cable supported modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  with the mounting plates  50  shown in  FIG. 13  and the cables  12  connected from bolts  133  through the upper corners of the mounting plates  50  to the distal ends of the support frame  11 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 18B  is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . Through holes  133 H are provided for the bolts which support the cable  133  and additional corner holes  133 H are provided in the lower corners of the mounting plates  50  for addition of other fasteners when required by the user. 
         [0088]      FIG. 18C  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 18A . 
         [0089]      FIG. 18D  is a further enlarged, perspective front, elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . 
         [0090]      FIG. 18E  is a still further enlarged, front elevational view of the device of  FIG. 18D . 
         [0091]      FIG. 18F  is another enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18A . 
         [0092]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a fragment of the mounting plate  50  with a mounting slot  51 W surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces  144  with indicia therebelow. 
         [0093]      FIG. 20  is an elevational view of a fragment of the mounting plate  50  with a mounting slot  51 W surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces  144  with indicia and an array of small slots  54  therebelow. 
       Mounting Plate with Additional Slots 
       [0094]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a modified mounting plate  50  with two mounting slots  51 W surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces  144  on the top surface and two more slots  51 W on the bottom of the mounting plate. In addition, four vertically oriented mounting slots  51 N are provided on the vertical edges of the plate  50  surrounded by peripheral anti-rotation interlock surfaces  144 . Indicia are juxtaposed with the slots  51 N/ 51 W inboard from the periphery of the plate  50 . 
       Hanging Stacked Mounting Plates 
       [0095]      FIG. 22  is a elevational view of a hanging stack arrangement of two modified mounting plates  50 A and  50 B of the variety shown in  FIG. 21  suspended from two C-Clamps  140  fastened to an I-Beam  10  as described above. The two C-Clamps  140  are fastened to the top horizontal mounting slots  51 W of the upper mounting plate  50 A by fasteners  141  in the manner shown in  FIG. 18E . 
         [0096]    he lower mounting plate  50 B is fastened to the upper mounting plate  50  by stacked L cross section brackets  52 . The upper bracket  52  is secured to the lower slots  51 N by fasteners F which are preferably bolts and nuts. The two brackets  52  are connected together by fasteners F. Similarly, the lower mounting plate  50 B is fastened to the lower bracket  52  by fasteners F which pass through the upper slots  51 N of the lower mounting plate and the holes in the bracket  52 . 
       U Linked Mounting Plates and C-Clamp Embodiment 
       [0097]      FIGS. 23A-23C  show three mounting plates  50 C,  50 D, and  50 E with the first and second mounting plates  50 C and  50 D supporting mounting plate  50 E. Each of the mounting plates  50 C and  50 D are suspended from an I-Beam  10  by two C-Clamps  140  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 18A and 18F . The third mounting plate  50  E is suspended from the first and second mounting plates  50 C and  50 D by four additional C-Clamps  140  which have been inverted with the feet hanging down from the lower horizontal mounting slots  51 W and the jaws closed on the four corners of the third mounting plate  50 E. 
       Four Linked Mounting Plates in C-Clamp and Bracket Embodiment 
       [0098]      FIG. 24A  is a perspective view of the four of four mounting plate embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0099]      FIG. 24B  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the four of four mounting plate embodiment shown in  FIG. 24A . 
         [0100]      FIG. 24C  is an end view of the four mounting plate embodiment of  FIG. 24A . 
         [0101]      FIGS. 24A-24C  show a set of four mounting plates  50 E- 50 I which are connected together by stacked L cross section brackets  52  and fasteners F. The top mounting plate is suspended from the  1 -Beam  10  by two C-Clamps  140  as described heretofore. The other three four mounting plates  50 G,  50 H and - 50 I are connected together by brackets  52  and fasteners F as described above. Two mounting plates  50 F and  50 H are oriented vertically but the other two mounting plates  50 F and  50 H are oriented horizontally. 
         [0102]    The foregoing description discloses only exemplary embodiments of the invention. Modifications of the above disclosed apparatus and methods which fall within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. While this invention is described in terms of the above specific exemplary embodiment(s), those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, i.e. changes can be made in form and detail, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, while the present invention is disclosed in connection with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that changes can be made to provide other embodiments which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and all such changes come within the purview of the present invention and the invention encompasses the subject matter defined by the following claims