Abstract:
In an example embodiment, a mechanical crawl space organization system comprises a drive element which drives a winding element. The system further comprises a cable cooperating with at least one tubular conduit to define a drive path. The cable is mechanically connected to the winding element and a lead cart. The system enables the drive element to move the lead cart along a path defined by the cable guide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/159,849 filed Mar. 13, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to crawl space organization systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to mechanical systems, devices and methods of use in providing users with a convenient, efficient way of storing and retrieving articles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many homes are constructed to comprise a crawl space which may be used to store personal articles and belongings. Many home owners who live in houses with a crawl space find storage of personal articles and belongings in a crawl space to be inconvenient, cumbersome and inefficient. A need exists for a system and apparatus to facilitate convenient and efficient storage of personal articles and belongings in a crawl space. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the present application, a first example of a crawl space organization system is disclosed. The system comprises a drive element and a cable winding element mechanically driven by the drive element. The system further comprises a cable connected to the cable winding element and a cable guide cooperating with the cable to define a drive path. A lead cart is mechanically connected to the cable, and activation of the drive element causes the lead cart to travel along the drive path. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example apparatuses, systems, methods, and so on, and are used merely to illustrate various example embodiments. It should be noted that various components depicted in the figures may not be drawn to scale, and that the various assemblies and designs depicted in the figures are presented for purposes of illustration only, and should not be considered in any way as limiting. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of a mechanical crawlspace organization system. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlargement of the element for pulling of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of one embodiment of a storage means of the system and embodiments of means for moving and supporting a storage means. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an embodiment of the system in which a drive cart of a storage means is shown at a point along a line of traversal that is distant from a user access point. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an embodiment of the system in which a drive cart of a storage means is shown at a point along a line of traversal that is near a user access point. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of an embodiment of the system in which a conduit and drive cable for pulling a drive cart of a storage means is depicted. 
         FIG. 7A  is a plan view of an embodiment of the system in which a flared conduit end is depicted. 
         FIG. 7B  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the system in which a flared conduit end is depicted. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of one embodiment of an apparatus depicting one alternative configuration of a line of traversal. 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  depict multiple embodiments of winding elements. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict multiple embodiments of base mount carrier bearings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the provided drawings and as described below, the disclosed apparatus and system provides an elegant solution to the problem of accessing storage crawl spaces in a home or other building via an efficient, cost effective and automated system and apparatus. The embodiments described herein allow a user to store articles in various storage containers and to access these containers from the exterior of the crawl space, that is, without the need for the user to physically crawl into the space. This is accomplished through a series of connected storage containers that may be moved forward and backward along a defined drive path or line of traversal via a motorized drive system. 
     The embodiments described herein accomplish the goal of increased convenience for users via a simple, and cost efficient design. Rather than requiring expensive parts such as chains or conveyor belts, the disclosed apparatus and system make use of inexpensive and readily available parts such as steel cables and metal conduits, in some embodiments. The disclosed apparatus and system do not require pulleys or tracks because, pursuant to the novel design herein, the storage carts themselves self orientate along the desired line of traversal. As described below, the storage carts in one embodiment are pulled from below, rather than from above, eliminating the need for a complicated series of custom located pulleys. Moreover, each storage cart contains a set of concave guide wheels that straddle a conduit containing the drive cable, thus allowing the carts to remain properly orientated along the line of traversal without the need for tracks. 
     As will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the embodiments described herein contain an additional advantage over the prior art of allowing for a generally uniform and inexpensive means of installing the device in a variety of differently dimensioned crawl spaces. 
       FIG. 1  discloses one possible configuration of an example embodiment of a crawl space organization apparatus  100 . Depicted is a drive element  130  for pulling at least a lead cart or storage means  110  along a drive path or line of traversal  120 . As shown in the configuration of  FIG. 1 , storage means  110  may comprise a plurality of storage containers or carts. The line of traversal  120  of this configuration is an enclosed loop as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, curved conduits may run 20.02″ in length and have a 25.5″ diameter. The system in the illustrated crawl space may use one (1) 10′ length cut to four (4) 21″ corners and sized to suit. Of course, these are merely sample dimensions for the spacing of storage carts and other elements, which one of ordinary skill in the art would understand to be representative of but one of many potential configurations of these elements. 
     As shown in the example embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the drive element  130  comprises an electric motor  131 , which may be securely mounted on lower plywood substrate between two by four inch framing members (not depicted). Connected to the motor  131  is a drive shaft  132  extending through winding reels  133  and rotateably affixed to a shaft cradle  135  with carrier bearings  136 . As shown in this embodiment, the carrier bearings are securely affixed to the substrate (not depicted) using cradle mounting bolts  134 . 
     In one embodiment, the winding reels  133  comprise two three inch diameter reels, also referred to as “split drum winding reels.” Each reel may be attached to one end of a drive cable  140 , which extends the length of the line of traversal  120  via conduit  121  that forms guiding means. Conduit  121  may be embodied as ½″ round metal conduit aluminum or steel, screwed to a substrate with ⅛″×1 and ½″ Phillips pan head screws. 
     Driving means is formed by drive element  130 , drive shaft  132 , and winding reels  133 . The drive element  130  may be used to engage the winding reels  133  in a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion, causing the conduit to spool on one reel as it unspools on the other. As discussed in greater detail below, the drive cable  140  is attached to the storage means  110 , allowing the element  130  to move the storage means  110  forward along the line of traversal  120  by spooling the drive cable  140  on one of the two winding reels  133 . Likewise, the storage means  110  may be moved backward along the drive path by reversing the rotation of the winding reels  133  such that the drive cable  140  unspools from the first winding reel and spools on the other. 
     As also depicted in  FIG. 2 , one example embodiment includes a custom flared conduit end  150 , which may be attached to the ends of the conduit  121  on either side of the winding reels  133 . As discussed in greater detail below, the custom flared conduit end  150  helps to guide the drive cable  140  onto the winding reels  133  while reducing friction. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , example embodiments for the conduit sections are shown for use with the configuration of  FIG. 1 . By way of example, straight conduit lengths  125  may consist of one half inch diameter metal conduit with a lengthwise three sixteenth inch opening along the top and a series of three sixteenth inch pilot holes along the bottom. As discussed in more detail below, the lengthwise opening at the top allows for connection to the drive cable  140  to the storage means  110 . The pilot holes along the bottom provide a convenient means of securing the conduit to plywood substrate by passing nails or screws or some other fastening means through the holes and into the substrate. 
     Also depicted in  FIG. 1  is one example embodiment of a storage container of the storage means  110 . Roller wheels  114 , which may be 2″ diameter steel swivel roller wheels, are located at each corner of the rectangular bottom of the depicted storage container. These roller wheels  114  support the load and allow the storage means  110  to move over the substrate along the line of traversal  120  when the drive cable  140  is wound around the winding reels  133 . In one embodiment, the rectangular bottom of the storage container of the storage means  110  may be one foot four inches wide by one foot six inches long. In one embodiment the roller wheels  114  may have a nine inch wheel base. 
     Also shown are two guide wheels  113 , which, in one embodiment, may be 2″ diameter steel swivel roller wheels located in the center-front and center-back of the rectangular bottom of the depicted storage container. As discussed in more detail below, these guide wheels  113  may have a concave center portion in one embodiment which allows the guide wheels  113  to straddle the conduit  121  and thereby maintain the orientation of the storage means  110  along the line of traversal  120 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , two forms of storage carts of the storage means  110  are depicted, a drive cart  111  and a tow cart  112 . In one embodiment, the storage means  110  consists of one drive cart  111  and a plurality of tow carts  112 . In one embodiment, the drive car  111  and tow cars  112  may have a wheel base of approximately 9″. In this embodiment, the drive cart  111  connects to tow carts on either side via tow cables  141 , which are affixed to each cart via tow cable mounting plates  115 , located near the top edge of the front and back of each cart. In the illustrated embodiment, tow cables  141  may be ⅛″ steel or similar cables which may be configured to provide approximately 5.75″ of separation between carts. 
     In one embodiment, the drive cart  111  also contains a set of drive cable mounting plates  116  below each of the two cable mounting plates  115 . The drive cable mounting plates  116  allow the drive cable  140  to attach to each end of the drive cart  111 . The drive cable  140  extends at an angle, roughly forty five degrees in one embodiment, from the drive cable mounting plate to the conduit  121 . The drive cable  140  is held down by the guide wheels of each of the tow carts  110 , which may extend, at regular intervals, the entire length of the line of traversal  120  via the conduit  121 . In an alternate embodiment, a gap may be allowed in the chain of tow carts  112  to enable users to access the area inside of the closed loop formed by the line of traversal  120 . 
     In one embodiment, the conduit  121  may be securely affixed to a plywood substrate  161  via screws, which pass through the aforementioned pilot holes located along the bottom of the conduit  121 , through the substrate  161 , such as ¾″ tongue and groove plywood, and into framing members  162 . In one embodiment, the framing members  162  may rest upon or, alternately, be secured to a lower plywood substrate  163 , such as ¾″ tongue and groove plywood. In one embodiment the lower substrate  163  may rest upon a bed of aggregate  164 . 
     In one embodiment, an electric motor  131  of the drive element  130  is mounted on the lower plywood substrate  161  between the framing members  162 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the tow carts  112  are four inches by sixteen inches by eighteen inches and are spaced five and three quarter inches apart from each other and/or the drive cart  111 . In the depicted embodiment, the distance between framing members  162  is one foot four inches. In the depicted embodiment, the tow cable is one-eighth inch steel or similar. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the drive cart  111  is four inches by sixteen inches by eighteen inches. In one embodiment, the clearance of each of the drive cart  111  and the plurality of tow cars  112  is four inches above the substrate  161 . In one embodiment screws are used to secure the conduit to the substrate  161 , said screws may be three quarters of an inch long, and the framing members  162  may be two inches by four inches spaced apart approximately 1′ 4″. In one embodiment, the lower plywood substrate  163  may be a half inch. In one embodiment the aggregate  164  may consist of two to four inches of crushed gravel with six mil vapor barrier. 
       FIG. 4  provides a sectional view of one embodiment of the system in which the drive cart  111  is located at a point along the line of traversal  120  that is distant from a user access point. As shown in the drawing, the tow cable  141  is orthogonally projected from the tow cable mounting plate, located near the top edge of the drive cart  111 . The drive cable  140  is shown extending from the drive cable mounting plate  116  to the conduit  121 , which is affixed to the substrate  161  and framing members  162  via screws or some convenient alternative fastening means. 
       FIG. 5  provides a sectional view of one embodiment of the system in which the drive cart  111  is located at a point along the line of traversal  120  that is proximal the user access point. As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the drive element  130 , including the motor  131 , drive shaft  132 , winding reels  133 , and drive shaft cradle  134 , are each located substantially below the substrate  161  with some portions slightly above the substrate  161  (shown). In an alternative embodiment the drive element  130  may be completely located below the substrate  161 . In one embodiment, the drive element  130  may be located proximal the user access point (shown). In an alternative embodiment, the drive element  130  could be located at a point distal to the user access point. In one embodiment, the motor  131  is located on the exterior of the enclosed loop formed by the line of traversal  120  and the drive shaft cradle  134  is located in the interior portion of this enclosed loop (shown). In another alternative embodiment, the position of the motor  131  and drive shaft cradle  134  could be switched such that the motor is located on the interior of the enclosed loop formed by the line of traversal  120 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , one embodiment of the system is shown in which the conduit  121  is half-inch in diameter and is made of metal. Other diameters and other materials could be substituted. In one embodiment, a top section  122  is cut in the top of the conduit  121  such that a gap is formed. In one embodiment, this gap is three sixths of an inch. In one embodiment, a series of pilot holes  123  are drilled at specified internals. In one embodiment, straight conduit runs  125  have pilot holes  123  every sixteen inches. In one embodiment, conduit corner pieces  126  have pilot holes  123  every six inches. Edges of the conduit may be rounded and ground smooth. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment of the system the drive cable  140  is positioned on the interior of the conduit  121 . The position of the drive cable  140  within the conduit  121  may vary. 
     In  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  one embodiment of the custom flared conduit end  150  is shown.  FIG. 7A  provides a plan view of the embodied conduit end  150 , including a half inch opening  151  connecting to the half inch diameter conduit  121 , on one end, and a two and a half inch opening  154 , located proximal one of two winding reels  133 , on the other. The embodied flared conduit end  150  includes one eight inch side portion  155 , running the length of the flared conduit end  150 , and an opposite side consisting of a four inch straight portion  152 , proximal the half inch opening  151 , and a four inch flared portion  153 , proximal the two and a half inch opening. 
     The embodiment of the flared conduit end  150  shown in the plan view of  FIG. 7A  is shown in perspective in  FIG. 7B , further specifying that in one embodiment of the flared conduit end  150  a wide opening  154 , which is proximal the winding reels  133  is two and a half inches wide by one half inch high, forming an oval. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , an alternative configuration of the system is shown in which the winding line of traversal  220  is employed to maximize the interior space utilization. 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  provide several examples of embodiments of split drum winches or winding reels  133  as used in the system. 
       FIG. 10  provides  FIGS. 10A and 10B  provide examples of shaft cradles  134  with carrier bearings  136  and mounting bolts  135 . 
     Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. 
     Furthermore, while the devices, systems, methods, and so on have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict, or in any way, limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the devices, systems, methods, and so on provided herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. The preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Finally, to the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising,” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B, but not both,” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Similarly, when the applicants intend to indicate “one and only one” of A, B, or C, the applicants will employ the phrase “one and only one.” Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).