Vertical wall rack and variable shelf arrangement

A storage system having a pair of parallel, spaced side braces and a plurality of interchangeable wire racks, shelves and baskets secured and suspended between the side braces. The side braces are mounted directly to a wall or other flat surface. The side braces are provided in interlocking sections and can be joined together to form a side brace as long as desired. Each side brace has a plurality of evenly spaced keyhole-shaped openings formed in an inner surface. The openings in one side brace are parallel to the openings in the other side brace. Each shelf, rack or basket has side extensions designed to engage the openings. Each side extension terminates in a retention means, for example a knob that engages and is secured in the opening. The rack, shelf or basket can be moved between openings to raise or lower the height of the unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to storage systems, more particularly to an 
adjustable wire shelving storage system having interchangeable components. 
Shelving units are known to the art. In general, shelves must be built into 
a building upon construction or renovation to afford storage space to the 
inhabitant. In most cases, storage areas are planned into the building in 
the form of closets, cabinets or pantries. These planned storage areas 
generally contain some shelving to facilitate the orderly storage of 
belongings. Once the construction or renovation of the building is 
completed the storage space is limited to those preplanned storage areas. 
It is time consuming and expensive to add additional storage. It is not 
uncommon to discover, upon completion of construction or renovation, that 
the storage areas are limited. That is, the inhabitants of the building 
often discover that they need more storage space or that the storage space 
provided is unhandy. Furthermore, as the number of inhabitants increases, 
more storage space is needed. 
Often a homeowner realizes that the closets or cabinets are too small to 
accommodate all of the items to be stored. For example, the closets may be 
too small to accommodate shoes as well as clothing. Or, the kitchen 
cabinets may not have the capacity to hold all of the food stuffs, spices 
or cooking utensils required by a growing family. Moreover, even in 
situations where there is sufficient storage space, it may be desirable to 
better organize the items stored. For example, toys, sporting equipment or 
cleaning supplies may be scattered about a room or house. Tools or 
automobile are randomly stashed in a garage or workarea. It would be 
desirable to have a storage system having interchangeable components that 
is easily installed to increase the amount of storage area to facilitate 
the organization and storage of personal belongings. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present invention to 
provide a storage system that can be assembled and mounted in an existing 
structure to facilitate the organization and storage of personal 
belongings. 
A further object of this invention is to provide substantial stability to 
the mounting and support of items against a vertical surface, whether it 
be a wall, door, or the like through the use of an integrated vertical 
wall rack and various shelf arrangements. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a vertical wall rack, when 
disassembled, as for shipment and display, can be reduced to substantially 
small dimensions, with no section being over four feet in length, while 
prior art devices come in much greater sizes, add to the inconvenience of 
their usage. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a vertical wall rack 
which is completely adjustable, providing for various types of shelving, 
at various levels, depending on the desire of the user. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a storage 
system that has interchangeable shelving and rack components so as to 
maximize the utility of the system. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a storage 
system that can be installed in existing structure and requires no 
structural modification. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a storage 
system that can maximize preexisting storage space. 
Another object of the invention is to provide such a storage system that is 
economical to manufacture, easy to install, easy to use, and well suited 
for its intended purposes. 
In accordance with the invention, briefly stated, a storage system having a 
pair of spaced side braces and a plurality of interchangeable wire 
shelves, racks and baskets suspended between the side braces. The side 
braces are mounted directly to a wall or other surface, or even to the 
inside surface of a door. The vertical side braces are provided in 
interlocking sections and can be joined together to make a side brace as 
long as desired. Each side brace section has a plurality of key hole 
shaped openings on an inner surface. The openings in one side brace are 
parallel to the openings in the other side brace. Each shelf and basket 
has side extensions on each side designed to engage the keyhole shaped 
openings. Each side extension terminates in an engagement means, for 
example a knob, or coined portion, that engages the opening. The 
engagement means are secured in the openings to suspend the rack or basket 
between the side braces. The rack or basket can be moved between parallel 
openings so as to raise or lower the height of the rack or basket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An adjustable wire shelving system of the present invention is indicated 
generally by reference numeral 1 in the drawings. Shelving system I has a 
pair of opposed side braces 3 and 5 as well as a plurality of 
interchangeable shelves 7 and 9 racks 11 and specialty racks 13. The 
individual elements of system 1 will now be described in greater detail. 
As can be seen in FIG. 1, which provides a composite of various styles of 
shelving and rack elements mounted to the vertical wall rack of this 
invention, the lower section of FIG. 1 shows the vertical wall rack of a 
pair of vertically aligned side braces with a series of shoe racks and 
discloses how a series of shoe racks can be applied at various height 
dimensions to furnish a multiple storage of pairs of shoes at any given 
time. In addition, the upper segment of this particular vertical rack 
discloses how a series of shelvings, whether they be of the basket type 
for holding bottles or the like, or flat shelves for holding towels, etc., 
can be interchangeably replaced upon the vertical wall rack, as desired. 
In addition, these racks may be of differing sizes. For example, where the 
rack may be used for supporting shoes, the shoe racks may be of a narrower 
width and, therefore, the use of one or more braces, incorporating a 
series of vertically located shoe racks, may be used alone in this 
installation. Likewise, a series of shelves, whether of the flat style or 
basket type, may be used along the height of this particular device. But, 
where the shelving is of the same approximate width, combinations of such 
shelves and racks may be employed, in a further embodiment. 
It is to be noted that what is significantly convenient through the usage 
of this invention is the application of coined end members, into the 
keyhole-like openings 28, and into which various of the racks and shelving 
may conveniently, and with high stability, fit for holding the assembled 
vertical wall rack together, into position, for application to a vertical 
surface, such as a wall. 
Side braces 3 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6-7. Side brace 5 is an 
exact mirror image of side brace 3. It will be appreciated that the side 
braces come in interlocking sections of variable length so that any number 
of sections can be interconnected to make a side brace of desired length, 
as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Each section is made 
from an appropriate material such as a lightweight painted or vinyl coated 
metal or plastic of sufficient strength and durability. Each section of 
brace 3 has a elongated body 14 having top or first end 15 and a bottom or 
second end 17. Body 14 has a substantially U-shaped cross section formed a 
solid front wall 19 with a first perforated side wall 21 and a second 
perforated side wall 23 integrally attached thereto at right angles to the 
front wall. When mounted on a flat surface, the open backside of the brace 
is positioned adjacent the surface. There are spaced cross members 25 
positioned between the respective side walls to add support to the brace. 
Also between the walls are a plurality of bosses 26, shown in greater 
detail in FIG. 6A. Each boss 26 has a bore 27 formed centrally therein, 
for the insertion of mounting screws or other hardware (not show). The 
bosses 26 are space evenly along the length of body 14 and positioned to 
provide optional support to the entire length of body 14 when the brace is 
mounted. 
Side wall 21 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated 
that side wall 23 is the mirror image of side wall 21. Side wall 21 has a 
plurality of openings 28 evenly spaced along the length of the wall. Each 
opening has a keyhole-like configuration, As shown in FIG. 6B, opening 28 
has a substantially round upper section 29 and a narrower, elongated lower 
section 31. Obviously, the round section is for insertion of a rack end, 
while the narrower portion locks the installed rack into position. 
The first or top end 15 of the brace is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 
and 6B. Top end 15 is defined by short end segments 33 and 35 of walls 21 
and 25 respectively, a cross member 36 and a short end segment 37 of front 
wall 19. There is an opening 39 formed centrally in wall segment 37. 
Opening 39 is designed to allow the introduction of a screw or other 
attachment means. There is a first bead 41 that runs along the edge of 
segment 35 and a second opposed bead 43 running along the lower edge of 
segment 33. As seen in FIG. 6B, the cross member 36 and the beads 41 and 
43 do not extend the width of the respective segments 35 and 33 thereby 
creating an offset 45 to accommodate the attachment of a lower end 17 of 
another section, positioned thereabove, of side brace as will now be 
described. 
The lower end 17 of the side brace section is shown in greater detail in 
FIG. 6D. The lower section has a tip 47. Tip 47 has a generally square 
cross section defined by a top wall 49, opposed side walls 51 and 53 and a 
face wall 55. The side walls are shorter than walls 21 and 23 resulting in 
an offset 56. As best seen in FIG. 6C, there is a mounting hole 57 formed 
centrally in face wall 55 and is counterbored to a bore 58. Counterbored 
hole 57 allows the recess seating of a mounting screw or other appropriate 
hardware. A neck 60 connects tip 47 to the lower end of the body 14. Neck 
60 has a first compound groove 62 at the base of side wall 53 and a second 
compound groove 64. Groove 62 has an outer section 66 and a smaller 
recessed section 68. Groove 64 has an outer section 70 and a small 
recessed section 72. The recessed sections of the respective grooves seat 
beads 41 and 43 when two sections of side brace are joined end to end. The 
outer sections seat larger beads formed on end caps as will now be 
described in greater detail. 
An end cap, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8-8B, is indicated, generally, 
by reference numeral 75. Cap 75 has a rear wall 77, a bottom wall 79, a 
first side wall 81, a second side wall 83 and an open front 85 which 
define an open-sided chamber 87. Chamber 87 is configured and dimension to 
fit over tip 17 from the front. There is a first bead 90 along side wall 
81 and a second bead 92 along wall 83. The beads 90 and 92 are dimensioned 
to engage grooves 62 and 64. There is hole 95 formed in rear wall 77. Hole 
95 is designed to align with hole 57 in tip 47 when cap 75 covers tip 47. 
Rear wall 77 fits in off-set 56 and bottom wall 79 covers top wall 49 of 
the tip to impart a clean finished look to the side brace when cap 75 is 
installed. 
The upper end 15 of a section of side brace is finished with an end plug, 
indicated generally by reference numeral 80 in FIGS. 9-9B. Plug 80 has a 
flat bottom wall 82. A plug segment 84 is integrally attached to wall 82. 
Plug segment 84 has a substantially cube configuration formed by bottom 
wall 82, side wall 86 and 88 and end walls 90a and 92a. An opening 94 is 
formed in end wall 90a and communicates with a bore 96 extending through 
the plug segment 84. There is a first groove 98 formed in wall 86 and a 
second groove 100 formed in wall 88. The grooves 98 and 100 are designed 
to engage beads 41 and 43 formed in end 17. 
As stated above, interchangeable shelves 7 and 9, as well as 
interchangeable racks 13 are suspended between side braces 3 and 5. Shelf 
7 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Shelf 7 has a 
substantially rectangular platform 102. Platform 102 is constructed as a 
grid having a front edge bar 104, a rear edge bar 106 and a middle support 
bar 108. Rear edge bar 106 is longer than the front edge bar 104 resulting 
in a first extension 110 and a second extension 112 which extend laterally 
beyond platform 102. A plurality of cross bars 1 14 extend from the front 
edge bar 104 to the rear edge bar 106 and are attached to the middle 
support bar 108. The individual cross bars 114 are equally spaced along 
the length of the edge bars. There are spaces 116 between the cross bars. 
The cross bars 114 are spaced so that spaces 116 are not so large as to 
allow objects placed on platform 102 to fall between the bars. It will be 
appreciated that the respective support, edge and cross bars can be formed 
from heavy gauge steel, into the formation of the various components for 
this rack, and then these formed components can subsequently be painted or 
vinyl coated, as a vinyl coated wire, or can be formed from a sufficiently 
durable or resilient plastic or other resin material. But, in the 
preferred embodiment, vinyl coated formed wire is preferred. 
There is a first angled brace 118 extending upward from one end edge bar 
104 and a second angled brace 120 extending upward from the opposite end 
of front edge bar 104. Each brace has an elbow 122 that terminates in a 
retention knob 124. Knob 124, which may be a coined area, has an extension 
tip 125 to facilitate introduction of the knob into an opening, as will be 
explained below. The knob 124 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The 
knob 124 is a substantially spherical and is dimension so that it is 
smaller than round segment 29 of opening 28 yet larger than narrow segment 
31 of opening 28. The configuration and dimensions allow the knob 124 to 
be introduced into opening 28 through segment 29, moved downward by slight 
pressure or by the weight of objects placed on platform 102 and be secured 
in opening 28 since knob 124 cannot be drawn through narrow segment of 28, 
as at 31. It will be appreciated that the angled braces 118 and 120 extend 
upward from front edge bar 104 at an appropriate angle so that the 
extensions 110 and 112 on bar 106 fit into an opening 28 when the knobs 
124 are secured in an opening 28 to add stability to the shelf when it is 
suspended between the side braces. It will be noted that shelf 9 is 
configured the same as shelf 7 having longer cross bars and longer angled 
braces, making the platform of shelf 9 larger than that of shelf 7. It 
will be appreciated that the shelves can be raised or lowered by moving 
the up or down relative to the side braces and engaging higher or lower 
openings. 
Rack 11 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 4A. Rack 11 has a 
substantially rectangular platform 126. Platform 126 has a front edge bar 
128, a rear edge bar 130 and a plurality of equally spaced cross bars 132. 
Rear edge bar has a first extension 134 and a second extension 136 which 
extend out laterally beyond platform 126. Rack 11 has a vertical front 
wall 140. Front wall 140 shares front edge bar 128 and has an upper edge 
bar 142. There is a plurality of vertical bars 144 between bars 128 and 
142. Bar 142 has a first extension 146 at one end and a second extension 
148 at the opposite end. The extension 146 and 148 are substantially 
elongated S shaped bars, or, Z bars, each terminating in a retention end 
150 or knob 150. End 150 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3A. End 150 
has concentric neck 154 positioned between end 150 and the extension bar. 
End 150 is dimensioned so that it can be inserted into opening 28 through 
segment 29 yet be retained behind segment 31, as previously described in 
relation to knob or coined area, 124. It will be appreciated by those 
skilled in the art that either a knob 124 or a end 150, can be used in 
conjunction with the racks and shelves without departing from the scope of 
the invention. It will also be appreciated that rack 11 functions like a 
basket when the system is mounted on a flat surface such as a wall or the 
back of a door or the like. Also, all of the bars 106, 130, etc., will 
have sufficient resiliency so as to allow their slight bending when 
initially inserted into the keyhole slots 28, but to straighten out once 
inserted. 
One embodiment of a specialty rack 13 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 
and 5A. Rack 13 is designed to hold shoes S, as indicated in FIG. 1. Rack 
13 has a horizontal support bar 160. A plurality of hoops 162 extend 
upward at a desired outward angle from the support bar 160. Each hoop 162 
is dimension to hold a shoe S. There is a first support arm assembly 164 
at one end of the support bar 162 and a second support arm assembly 166 at 
the second end. Each support arm assembly, as best seen in FIG. 5 has an 
upper angled arm 168 and a lower angled arm 170. The arms 168 and 170 are 
appropriately angled so that the hole engagement end of each arm is 
properly positioned relative to an opening in a side brace. Each of the 
last said angled arms has and elbow 172 (FIG. 1.) Each elbow has a 
retention means at the either, either one constructed in accordance with 
the knob shown in FIG. 3 or the disc shown in 3A. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and 
modifications can be made in the shelving system of the present invention 
without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, 
various other configurations of the shelves and racks may be employed. 
Therefore, the description and accompanying drawings should be viewed as 
illustrative only and should not be construed in a limiting sense.