Ceiling-mounted storage bracket

A ceiling-mounted storage bracket having a top member rigidly attached to a pair of side members, and a bottom member rigidly attached to the side members. The top member, side members and bottom members define a storage aperture sized to admit items to be stored. Alternate embodiments of the ceiling-mounted storage bracket are disclosed which provide two mutually cooperating top members, which may be translated relative to each other so as to vary the width of the storage aperture. An alternate embodiment is disclosed wherein the ceiling-mounted storage bracket is made of bolted-together angle iron, and a bottom member attached to the side member by means of brackets, to permit both the height and the width of the storage aperture to be varied. The ceiling-mounted storage brackets are generally used in pairs, so that each ceiling-mounted storage bracket may support one extreme of an article(s) to be stored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to storage brackets, and in particular to a 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket. 
2. Background of the Invention 
During this century the automobile has become the pre-eminent means of 
transportation in the United States. Accordingly, many single-family 
residences now include a garage within which to house the family 
automobile. 
Modern garages tend to fulfill a variety of functions: besides housing a 
car, they may also accommodate a clothes washing machine and dryer, a hot 
water heater, and also serve as a storage building. In view of the many 
roles garages are expected to play, it is not surprising that storage 
space in a garage may become limited, especially for long thin articles 
such as pipes and ladders. 
Existing Designs 
One answer to the problem of garage storage scarcity has been the design of 
overhead storage bins and wall- or ceiling-mounted brackets capable of 
storing long, thin items. For example, DeMaine et al. were granted U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,788,349 for an Overhead Storage System with Illuminated 
Signage. While this design provided increased storage space, it was also 
complex and consequently expensive. 
Gussow et al. were granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,181 for a Ladder Bracket and 
Staging Utilizing the Same. While this bracket system was capable of 
holding two ladders upright, the Gussow et al. patent did not teach ladder 
storage. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,873 was granted Higgins for a Ladder Bracket and Lock. 
The Higgins patent taught a wall-mounted bracket with a rotatable end 
plate which could swivel out of the way long enough for a ladder leg to be 
placed in the bracket, and then the end plate could be rotated back into a 
locked position, thereby holding the ladder within the bracket. While 
Higgins '873 provided a ladder storage system, it was complex and included 
moving parts, and therefore was expensive. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket which is quickly and easily installed. 
Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a top 
member having top member bores sized to accommodate a screw or other 
standard fastener, which can be inserted through the top member bore and 
screwed into a ceiling. Advantages associated with the accomplishment of 
this object include ease of installation and the associated cost saving. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ceiling-mounted 
storage bracket which accommodates a wide variety of long, narrow items 
for storage. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished 
include a top member and bottom member rigidly attached to side members, 
and a storage aperture defined by the top, bottom and side members. 
Benefits associated with the accomplishment of this object include the 
ability to store long and narrow items off the floor, immediately below 
the ceiling, or in the alternative, on a wall, thus increasing usable 
floor space. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a ceiling-mounted 
storage bracket which is adjustable in width. Design features enabling the 
accomplishment of this object include, in a first alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket, a first top member angle iron nested in a 
second top member angle iron, secured in place with screws. In a second 
alternate embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket, design features 
enabling the accomplishment of this object include a female top member 
having a female top member aperture sized to slidably accommodate a male 
top member. An advantage associated with the realization of this object is 
increased flexibility of use of the ceiling-mounted storage bracket, and 
the possibility of expanding and reducing its width as necessity and 
convenience dictate. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ceiling-mounted 
storage bracket which is adjustable in height. Design features enabling 
the accomplishment of this object include, in a first alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket, a bottom member mounted to side member 
angle irons by means of bottom member brackets. The bottom member brackets 
are removably mounted to the side member angle irons by means of bottom 
member bracket screws. An advantage associated with the realization of 
this object is increased flexibility of use of the ceiling-mounted storage 
bracket, and the possibility of expanding and reducing its height as 
necessity and convenience dictate. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ceiling-mounted 
storage bracket made of inexpensive materials. Design features allowing 
this object to be achieved include the use of components made of readily 
available materials and off-the-shelf fasteners. Benefits associated with 
reaching this objective include reduced cost, and hence increased 
availability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a pair of ceiling-mounted storage 
brackets 2 with ladder 12 stored in them. Each ceiling-mounted storage 
bracket 2 comprises top member 4 rigidly attached to an upper extreme of a 
pair of side members 6, and bottom member 8 rigidly attached to a lower 
extreme of the pair of side members 6. Top member 4, side members 6 and 
bottom member 8 define storage aperture 10. Storage aperture 10 is sized 
to accommodate long and narrow items such as ladders, pipes, etc. 
Referring now also to FIG. 2, we observe a front cross-sectional view of 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 2 mounted to ceiling 14. Top member 4 
comprises a plurality of top member bores 5, sized to accommodate screws 
16. Ceiling-mounted storage bracket 2 is installed on ceiling 14 by 
inserting screws 16 through top member bores 5, and screwing screws 16 
into ceiling 14. 
In use, generally a pair of ceiling-mounted storage brackets 2 is used to 
store long, narrow objects. However, any number may be used as required to 
store the objects in question. Although in the preferred embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 2 was mounted to a ceiling of a garage or 
storage building, it is contemplated that ceiling-mounted storage brackets 
2 may be mounted to a wall, or any other convenient surface, and that 
ceiling-mounted storage brackets 2 may be used in any suitable 
environment, including in residences, stores, warehouses, etc., not only 
in garages and storage buildings. 
In the preferred embodiment, ceiling-mounted storage bracket 2 was 
manufactured of wood or other suitable material. Off-the-shelf fasteners 
such as wood screws and nails were used in its assembly and installation 
on a suitable surface. 
FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of first alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 40. First alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 40 comprises first top member angle iron 
42 partially nested in second top member angle iron 44, and a side member 
angle iron 46 attached to each top member angle iron 42 and 44. 
All angle iron members consist of a sheet of metal or other appropriate 
material bent longitudinally at substantially a ninety degree angle, thus 
forming two legs when the angle iron is viewed from one extreme. Each leg 
comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged angle iron bores 52. This 
basic structure of angle iron is well-known in the art, and is readily 
available commercially as an off-the-shelf structural member. 
Each extreme of bottom member 8 is attached to a lower extreme of a side 
member angle iron 46 by means of a bottom member bracket 48. Bottom member 
brackets 48 are attached to side member angle irons 46 by means of bottom 
member bracket bolt(s) 50. Two bottom member bracket 48 embodiments 
contemplated to be within the scope of the instant invention are a single 
screw bottom member bracket 48, and the two-screw bottom member bracket 48 
which is pictured in FIG. 3. 
The width of first alternate embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket 40 
may be increased or decreased by sliding first top member angle iron 42 
relative to second top member angle iron 44. First top member angle iron 
42 and second top member angle iron 44 are mounted to a ceiling, wall, or 
other suitable surface by means of screws 16 through angle iron bores 52. 
If desired, first top member angle iron 42 and second top member angle 
iron 44 may be aligned so the angle iron bores 52 within their mutually 
nested lengths are co-extensive, in which case a screw 16 may be inserted 
through both an angle iron bore 52 of first top member angle iron 42, and 
then through an angle iron bore 52 of second top member angle iron 44, and 
then screwed into a mounting surface. In this fashion a single screw 16 
may perform the dual functions of fixing the width of first alternate 
embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket 40, and securing same to a 
suitable mounting surface. 
The height of first alternate embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket 40 
may be increased or decreased by altering the specific angle iron bores 52 
of side member angle irons 46 to which bottom member brackets 48 are 
attached. For example, the height of storage aperture 10 may be decreased 
by simply detaching bottom member brackets 48 from their respective side 
member angle irons 46, moving them up a few angle iron bores 52, and then 
re-attaching the bottom member brackets 48 to their respective side member 
angle irons 46 by means of bottom member bracket bolts 50 though angle 
iron bores 52. 
FIG. 4 is a front isometric view of second alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 20. Second alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 20 comprises a female top member 22 having 
a female top member aperture 24 sized to slidably accommodate a male top 
member 26. One side member 6 is attached to an extreme of male top member 
26, and one side member 6 is attached to an extreme of female top member 
22. A bottom member receptacle 28 having a bottom member receptacle 
aperture 30 and set screw 32 is attached to each side member 6. Bottom 
member receptacle aperture 30 is sized to admit an extreme of bottom 
member 8. 
During installation, first the width of second alternate embodiment 
ceiling-mounted storage bracket 20 is determined by sliding male top 
member 26 into female top member 22 until the desired width is obtained. 
Bottom member 8 is cut to the appropriate length, and then one bottom 
member receptacle 28 is slid over each extreme of bottom member 8 and set 
screws 32 tightened. The installation is completed by inserting screws or 
other appropriate fasteners through top member bores 5 and into a ceiling, 
wall, or other appropriate mounting surface. 
In the second preferred embodiment of ceiling-mounted storage bracket 20, 
bottom member receptacles 28 and bottom member 8 were commercially 
available components. Bottom member receptacles 28, for instance, might be 
electrical conduit components. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, 
it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the appending 
claims. 
DRAWING ITEM INDEX 
2 ceiling-mounted storage bracket 
4 top member 
5 top member bore 
6 side member 
8 bottom member 
10 storage aperture 
12 ladder 
14 ceiling 
16 screw 
20 second alternate embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket 
22 female top member 
24 female top member aperture 
26 male top member 
28 bottom member receptacle 
30 bottom member receptacle aperture 
32 set screw 
40 first alternate embodiment ceiling-mounted storage bracket 
42 first top member angle iron 
44 second top member angle iron 
46 side member angle iron 
48 bottom member bracket 
50 bottom member bracket bolt 
52 angle iron bore.