Abstract:
A ceiling storage mounting systems allows for unused ceiling space to be accessed and used for removably attaching storage containers. The system provides the storage of containers to be mounted entirely below the bottom surfaces of standard ceiling joists, whether exposed or finished with a hung ceiling. The mounting system includes a two part system of a mount and a storage container. The mount is anchored to the ceiling and the container is then attached to the mount by means of a plurality of gaps and protrusions. The gaps and protrusions are located between the mount and the storage container to mate and interlockingly engage the container to the mount. The storage container is mounted to the ceiling by aligning the gaps and protrusions, and sliding the gaps and protrusions relative to one another, thereby interlocking the gaps and protrusions. The container is then removably attached the ceiling.

Description:
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. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a ceiling storage container mounting system according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown for a typical ceiling  12  as above. The ceiling shown is cut way to show spaced apart ceiling joists  14  beneath a floor surface  16 . The mount system according to the third embodiment 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 in  FIG. 2  includes a mounting panel  62  anchored to the ceiling via a plurality of screws  18 . Anchored to the mounting panel  62  may be a variety of mounting elements most which have been heretofore described in part. More specifically, a plurality of mounting rails  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c,  are anchored to the mounting panel  62  by means of the screws  18  or by means of additional screws (not shown). Three examples of mounting rails are shown each having a plurality of spaced pins protruding downward, which are intended to matingly engage with a plurality of slotted keyholes in the flanges of the storage container  32  as described in the first embodiment of container system  30  and shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in the first example, mounting rail  22   a  is provided with individual mounting pins  24   a.  The individual mounting pins  24   a  are secured to the mounting rail  22   a  also means of screws  18  or by means of additional screws (not shown). In the second example, mounting rail  22   b  is provided with mounting pins  24   b  integrally formed with the mounting rail  22   b.  In the third example, mounting rail  22   c  is provided with adjustable mounting pins  24   c  which may slide horizontally with respect to the mounting rail  22   c  and the mounting panel  62  to which the rail  22   c  is mounted. The adjustable mounting pins may be constructed in any desirable manner. It will be understood that the third embodiment is specific to a mounting panel being anchored to the bottoms of a plurality of ceiling joists, which enables mounting apparatus of varying kinds to be attached thereto, and those without necessarily also being anchored into the joists. 
         [0020]    Also shown in  FIG. 2 , is an alternate form of the third embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, that the individual mounting pins  24   a,  may be mounted directly onto the mounting panel  62  via screws  18  or by means of other screws (not shown) to thereby eliminate the mounting rail  22   a.  In the ease of the individual mounting pins  24   a  being mounted onto the panel  62  by means of additional screws, the mounting pins  24   a  need not be necessarily anchored into the joists, provided enough support is available for mounting the storage containers. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows yet a fourth embodiment of the invention which includes a plurality of spaced mounting rails  22   d,    22   e,    22   f.  These mounting rails may anchored to the ceiling via a plurality of screws (not shown), and may be anchored directly to the joists, via a ceiling surface to the joists, or via a mounting panel, as described previously. These mounting rails have a continuous cross-sectional configuration, extending along the entire length of the mounting rail. Mounting rail  22   d  comprises a ledge having a left end “L” shape, mounting rail  22   e  comprises a double ledge having a middle inverted “T” shape, and mounting rail  22   f  comprises a ledge having a right end reverse “L” shape. It will be understood that the ledges of mounting rails  22   d,    22   e,  and  22   f,  matingly engage with storage containers having opposing flanges, of the types shown in  FIG. 1  and others (not shown). When it is desired to mount a storage container to the ceiling, the storage container is lifted vertically toward the rails such that the flanges of the storage container are positioned above the ledges of the mounting rails and at the open horizontal ends of the mounting rails, as viewed in  FIG. 3 . Then the storage container is slid horizontally with respect to the rails. It will be appreciated that multiple storage containers may be mounted in series along a pair of rails, however accessing one container necessarily disturbs another container mounted on the same pair of rails, as the ledges of the mounting rails extend continuously along the mounting rails, and a container must be removed to access the previously mounted container(s). 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a variation of the a ceiling storage container mounting system  10 , which includes a mount system  20  and a storage container system  30 . The mount system  20  includes a plurality of spaced mounting rails  22   g  anchored to the ceiling  12  via a plurality of screws (not shown) as described above. Protruding outward from each side of the mounting rails  22  are a plurality protrusions embodied as spaced pins  24   g,  which are intended to matingly engage with a plurality of counterparts (to be described) on the container system  30 . Shown directly below the spaced rails  22   g  is a storage container  32  having opposed sides which are provided with a plurality of placed apart gaps, embodied as slotted holes  36   g  in the form of an inverted “T.” The slotted holes  36   g  are the counterparts to the pins  24   g,  as they are designed to align with the pins  24   g  such that the pins  24   g  extend into the “T” of the slotted holes. 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   g  such that the pins  24   g  and the slotted holes  36   g  are aligned. The pins  34   g  are extended into the vertical portion of the slotted holes  36   g  and then the storage container  32  is slid horizontally with respect to the rails  22 . At this point the pins  24   g  engage the horizontal portion of the slotted holes 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, as the mounting rails are provided with adjacent pairs of pins so that containers may be mounted in parallel below adjacent joists. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a storage container lid  60  which is not described in detail but is exemplary in that all of the embodiments of the invention described herein may include a storage container lid for sealing the contents of the container. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a variation of a ceiling storage container mounting system  10 , which includes a mount system  20  and a storage container system  30 . The mount system  20  includes a plurality of spaced mounting rails  22   h  anchored to a ceiling via a plurality of screws (not shown). In this variation of the invention, each of the mounting rails  22   h  are provided with a plurality of gaps embodied as slotted keyholes  24   h,  which are intended to matingly engage with a plurality of counterparts (to be described) on the container system  30 . Shown directly below the spaced rails  22   h  of the first embodiment is a storage container  32  having opposed flanges  34  which are provided with a plurality of placed apart protrusions, embodied as pins  36   h.  The pins  36   h  are the counterparts to the slotted keyholes  24   h,  as they are designed to align with the slotted keyholes  24   h  such that the pinheads extend through a circular portion of the keyholes  24   h.  When it is desired to mount the storage container  32  to the ceiling, the storage container is lifted vertically toward the rails  22   h  such that the keyholes  24   h  and the pins  36   h  are aligned. The pinheads are extended through the circular portion of the keyholes and then the storage container  32  is slid horizontally with respect to the rails  22   h.  At this point the pins  36   h  engage the slotted portion of the keyholes  24   h  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. It will be understood that this variation of the invention is intended to demonstrate that the mount system can be provided with protrusions, or pins as in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , or with gaps, or slotted keyholes as in  FIG. 5 . And vice versa, the containers can be provided with gaps, or slotted keyholes as in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , and the mount system can be provided with the protrusions, or pins as in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a detailed drawing of various individual mounting protrusions  6   a - c.  Mounting protrusion  6   a  and  6   b  are previously described with reference to  FIG. 1  as mounting pin  24 , and “L” shaped mount  52 , and mounting protrusion  6   c  embodies an inverted “T” shaped mount  62 . These mounts can be mounted into a ceiling surface  12  or can be directly anchored into the joist  14 , if the ceiling is unfinished. Alternatively, these mounts can be mounted by screws into a mounting rail, as described previously with reference to  FIG. 2 . The mounts are provided with screw holes to receive mounting screws  18 .  FIG. 6  also shows each of these mounting protrusion embodied as integrally formed with a mounting rail  72 ,  76 , and  80 , respectively. Pin  74  is integrally formed with mounting rail  72 , shown in section, and a plurality of mounting pins  74  are spaced along the mounting rail  72  (shown in  FIG. 1  as pins  24  and rail  22 ). “L” shaped mount  78  is integral with mounting rail  76  and a plurality of “L” shaped mounts are spaced along the mounting rail (not shown). Similarly inverted “T” shaped mounts  82  are formed integrally with mounting rail  80  and a plurality of “T” shaped mounts are spaced along the mounting rail (not shown). These variations are similar to those shown in  FIG. 3 , except that the mounts are spaced along the mounting rails, rather than extending along the rails as continuous ledges, so that multiple containers may be stored in series such that a container may be mounted or removed without disturbing and adjacent container. 
         [0025]    The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.