Abstract:
An overhead storage unit providing a consumer with an efficient system of using otherwise un-usable overhead space for the storage of various articles. The overhead storage unit includes a mounting frame for securing the storage unit to the underside of a horizontal surface, such as ceiling for example, a storage bin, and a swing coupling attaching the storage bin to the mounting frame. The swing coupling allows the storage bin to be swing from a raised, stowed position with the top of the storage bin being parallel to the horizontal surface to a lowered, rearward position while maintaining the top of the bin parallel to the horizontal surface. The storage unit further comprises a mechanism that provides a mechanical advantage to aid a consumer in raising and lowering the storage bin in a controlled manner, and a latch for securing the storage bin in the raised position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to storage systems. More particularly, relating to overhead storage systems suspended from a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with the present invention, an overhead storage unit is provided. The purpose of the overhead storage unit is to provide a consumer with an efficient system of using otherwise un-usable overhead space for the storage of various articles. The overhead storage unit is easy to operate and includes an assist means for helping a consumer in raising and lowering the overhead storage unit in a controlled manner, which is critical to the safety of the consumer when heavy articles are sought to be stored. 
         [0004]    In general, in one aspect, the overhead storage unit includes an open top bin having a front, a rear and two side walls; a mounting frame adapted to be mounted to an underside of a horizontal surface, the mounting frame having a forward end and rearward end; a swing means for allowing the bin to swing from a raised position adjacent the horizontal surface to a lowered position below and rearward of the raised position, the swing means is attached to and between the frame and the bin; an assist means for providing mechanical assistance in swinging the bin from the raised position to the lowered position and back to the raised position, the assist means being connected to the mounting frame; and a latch means for securing the bin in the raised position. 
         [0005]    In general, in another aspect, the swing means includes first and second rear swing arms each having opposite ends, one of the opposite ends of each of the first and second swing arms being pivotally attached to the rear of said bin, and the other of the opposite ends of each of the first and second swing arms being pivotally attached to the rearward end of the mounting frame; and first and second front swing arms each having opposite ends, one of the opposite end of each of the first and second front swing arms being pivotally attached to the front of said bin, and the other of the opposite ends of each of the first and second front swing arms being pivotally attached to the forward end of the mounting frame. 
         [0006]    In general, in another aspect, the assist means includes first and second spring saddles, the first spring saddle being fixedly attached to the first rear swing arm, and the second spring saddle being fixedly attached to the second rear swing arm; first and second springs each having opposite ends, one end of the first spring being attached to the first spring saddle with the other end of the first spring being attached to the mounting frame approximate and forward of the pivotal attachment between the first rear swing arm with the mounting frame, and one end of the second spring being attached to the second spring saddle with the other end of the second spring being attached to the mounting frame approximate and forward of the pivot attachment between the second rear swing arm with the mounting frame. 
         [0007]    In general, in another aspect, the assist means includes a motor having a shaft; and a first coupling member having opposite ends one of the opposite ends attached to the mounting frame with the other end attached to the shaft of said motor such that the coupling is wound onto and off of the shaft to raise and lower the bin. 
         [0008]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0009]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0011]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an overhead storage unit constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view showing the overhead storage unit attached to a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling or rafters of a garage with the bin in a raised stowed or stored position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view showing the overhead storage unit attached to a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling or rafters of a garage of a garage with the bin in a lowered and rearward position from the raised stowed position as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an alternate version of the overhead storage unit including a motorized assist means; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1  showing a pivotal coupling of a swing arm to the bin; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1  showing a pivotal coupling of a swing arm to the mounting frame; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken longitudinally through the bin and latch means for securing the bin the raised stowed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4  showing detailed view of the motorized assist means; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged detail view of a spring biased assist means. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-8 , a preferred embodiment of the overhead storage unit of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded perspective view of the overhead storage unit  10 , herein after referred to as a storage unit  10 . The storage unit  10  primarily includes a mounting frame  12 , a swing means  14 , storage bin  16  and an assist means  18 . The mounting frame  12  is adapted to be secured or otherwise attached to the underside of a horizontal surface, such as ceiling or to rafters of a ceiling. The storage bin  16  is an open top type bin having a rear  20 , a front  22 , a first side wall  24 , a second side wall  26 , and a bottom  28 . The swing means  14  couples the storage bin  16  to the mounting frame  12  and allows the storage bin to swing from a raised, stowed position as shown in  FIG. 2  to a lowered and rearward position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The assist means  18  provides mechanical advantage to a user and allows the user to raise and lower the storage bin  16  in a controlled manner. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the mounting frame  12  includes a first and second side brackets  30  and  32 , which are each attached to the mounting surface  34  parallel and approximate to the first and second side walls  24  and  26 , respectively, of the storage bin  16 . The first and second side brackets  30  and  32  each have a forward end  36  and a rearward end  38 . The forward end of each being orientated towards the front  22  of the storage bin and the rearward end  38  of each being orientated towards the rear  20  of the storage bin. The first and second side brackets  30  and  32  can be of an L-shaped angle iron with the flange  40  of each being secured to the mounting surface  34  and the web  42  of each extending downward from the mounting surface. 
         [0026]    The swing means  14  includes a first rear swing arm  44 , a first rear swing arm  46 , a first front swing arm  48 , and a second front swing arm  50 , each having opposite ends  52 . The first rear swing arm  44  and the first rear swing arm  46  are each pivotally attached at one end to the storage bin  16  on the first and second side walls  24  and  26 , respectively, at the rear  20  of the storage bin and pivotally attached at the other end to the mounting frame  12  to the first and second bracket  30  and  32 , respectively, towards the rearward end  38  of each bracket. The first front swing arm  48  and the second front swing arm  50  are each pivotally attached at one end to the storage bin  16  on the first and second side wall  26  and  28 , respectively, at the front  22  of the storage bin and pivotally attached at the other end to the mounting frame  12  to the first and second brackets  30  and  32 , respectively, towards the forward end  36  of each bracket. 
         [0027]    The first rear swing arm  44  and said first front swing arm  48  are each pivotally attached to the mounting frame  12  and the storage bin  16  such that they each lie in a common plane that is perpendicular to the front  22  and the rear  20  of the storage bin. The first rear swing arm  46  and the second front swing arm  50  are each pivotally attached to the mounting frame  12  and the storage bin  16  such that they each line in a common plane that is perpendicular to the front  22  and the rear  20  of the storage bin. The first and second rear swing arms  44  and  46  are parallel to each other and the first and second front swing arms  48  and  50  are parallel to each other. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 5  there is shown an exemplary pivotal coupling  54  of an end  52  of a swing arm with the storage bin  16 . The pivotal coupling  54  is a bolted coupling including an elongated bushing  56  having a flanged head  58  which is inserted through a hole  60  through a side wall of the storage bin  16  until the flange head abuts the side wall. A bolt  62  is passed through a hole in the end  52  of the swing arm and through the bushing  56 . A washer  64  is placed on the end of the bolt  62  followed by a nut  66 . Again, this is just an example of a coupling that could be used to pivotally attach the end  52  of a swing arm to the storage bin  16  and various other couplings could reasonably be used. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 6  there is shown an exemplary pivotal coupling  68  of an end  52  of a swing arm with a bracket  30  or  32  of the mounting frame  12 . The pivot coupling  68  is also a bolted coupling including a spacer bushing  70  which is positioned between the end  52  of the swing arm and the bracket. A bolt  72  is inserted through the end of the swing arm, the spacer bushing  70  and the bracket  30  and is secured with a nut  74 . A washer is  76  positioned between the bolt head and the bracket  30  and between the nut  74  and the bracket as shown. Again, this is just an example of a coupling that could be used to pivotally attach the end  52  of a swing arm to the mounting frame  12  and various other couplings could reasonably be used. 
         [0030]    With reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , each swing arm further includes a bend  78  made at a point intermediate the opposite ends  52 . The bend  78  being made in a plane parallel to the swing arm and in a direction towards the rear of the storage unit, as shown. The bend  78  allows the storage bin to swing from a raised, stowed position where an upper edge  80  of each first and second side walls  24  and  26  is substantially parallel to the horizontal surface  34 , to which the storage unit  10  is mounted, to a lower and rearward position where the upper edge of each side wall remains substantially parallel to the horizontal surface. 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  9 , in one version, the assist means  18  includes at least one coupling element  82 , such as a tension spring, attached at one end to the mounting frame  12  and at the other end to either the swing means  14  or the storage bin  16 . Preferably, in one version, the assist means  18  includes two tension springs  88 , each having opposite ends  86  and two spring saddles  90 . Each spring saddle includes a saddle portion  92  and a disc member  94  including a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes  96 . A single spring saddle  90  is fixedly attached to each rear swing arm  44  and  46 . One of the springs  88  is attached at one end to the spring saddle attached to the first rear swing arm at one of the spaced holes  96  and attached at the opposite end to the mounting frame  12  at the first bracket  30  at a position forward of the pivot coupling of the first rear swing arm with the first bracket. The second spring  88  is attached to the first rear swing arm  46  and the mounting frame  12  at the second bracket  32  in the same manner as the first spring is attached to the first rear swing arm  44  and mounting frame. 
         [0032]    Each spring  88  is caused to at least partially wrap around the saddle portion  92  of its respective spring saddle  90  when the storage bin  16  is lifted into the raised, stowed position, thereby increasing the tension in each spring. The tension in each spring  88  acts on the swing means  14  to assist in lifting and lowering the storage bin  16 . The tension in each spring  88  can be adjusted by attaching the end  86  of the spring to the spring saddle  90  at a different hole  96 . 
         [0033]    With reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , in a second version, the assist means  18  includes a motor  98  having rotating shaft  100  and at least one flexible coupling element  102 , such as strap connected at opposite ends to the mounting frame  12  and the rotating shaft. The motor  98  is attached to a rear end  104  of the storage bin  16 . Preferably, the shaft  100  is double ended and attached to each end is a spool  106 . A first coupling element  102  is attached at one end to a first spool with the other end of the coupling element attached to the mounting frame  12 . A second coupling element  102  is attached at one end to the other spool  106  with the other end of the coupling element also attached to the mounting frame  12 . The coupling elements  102 , can be attached to the mounting frame  12  at a cross member  108  which spans between the first and second brackets  30  and  32  at a location forward of the pivotal coupling of the rear swing arms  44  and  46  with the mounting frame  12 . The motor  98  is operated to wind and unwind each coupling element  102  onto and off of its respective spool  106 , thereby effecting the lowering and raising of the storage bin  16 . The motor  98  can be controlled by a switch  110  that operates to connect and disconnect the motor to a power supply  112 . 
         [0034]    Turn now to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the latch means  114  includes a spring loaded latch  116  and a latch receiver  118 . The spring loaded latch  116  includes a latch mounting bracket  119  for attaching the spring loaded latch to the horizontal surface  34  at a forward distance of the mounting frame  12 . The latch receiver  118  is secured to the storage bin  16  at a front end  120  such that when the storage bin is raised and in the stowed position, the spring loaded latch  116  is captured by the latch receiver, thereby locking the storage bin in the raised, stowed position. The storage bin  16  is released from the spring loaded latch  116  by pulling upon a handle  122  which releases the spring loaded latch from the receiver  118 , thereby allowing the storage bin  16  to swing from the raised, stowed position to the lower, rearward position. 
         [0035]    A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.