Abstract:
A storage rack is formed by a plurality of stacked modules where each module includes a vertical support column and a support arm that extends outwardly and downwardly from the vertical support column at an angle of about thirty degrees. A barrier arm is pivotally mounted to a distal free end of the support arm. A strap extends from a first, inner end of the support arm to the barrier arm. Elongate objects placed atop the strap cause the barrier arm to pivot into a vertical position to create a barrier that prevents objects from rolling or sliding in a direction away from the vertical support column. When the elongate object is lifted from the support arm, the tension in the strap is released and the barrier arm pivots into a horizontal position of repose to facilitate removal of the object from the support arms.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This disclosure claims benefit of a pending provisional application filed by the same inventor on Aug. 14, 2003, bearing Ser. No. 60/481,229. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to storage racks for large, elongated objects such as recreational kayaks, canoes, sailboards, surfboards, cargo boxes, and the like. The novel storage rack may also hold pipes, missiles, and other substantially straight items. 
   One shortcoming of prior art racks or shelves is that they are difficult to load and unload. The item to be stored must be lifted to the height of the shelf upon which it is to be stored, or even higher if the rack includes an upwardly-extending barrier designed to prevent the stored item from rolling or sliding off the shelf. 
   Thus there is a need for a storage rack that is easier to load and unload than the storage racks of the prior art. 
   Many of the known storage racks are also of complex construction and thus are difficult to assemble and disassemble. 
   A need therefore exists for a storage rack of simple construction that is easy to assemble and disassemble. 
   The complex construction of the prior art storage racks is in part because such racks are not made of modular components. Moreover, they are typically made of bulky and heavy parts. 
   There is a need, therefore, for a storage rack made of modular components. The needed components should be made of strong yet light-in-weight materials that are weather-resistant and durable. It would also be advantageous if such parts could be injection molded. 
   However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts how to produce a storage rack that supplies the needed features. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved storage rack is now fulfilled by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention. 
   The novel storage rack includes a vertical support column and a support arm formed integrally with the vertical support column. The support arm extends outwardly and downwardly from the vertical support column. More particularly, the support arm is disposed downwardly relative to a horizontal plane by about thirty degrees. 
   A barrier arm has a proximal end pivotally mounted to a distal free end of the support arm. A support strap extends between a proximal end of the support arm and a free distal end of the barrier arm in vertically spaced relation above the support arm. The barrier arm is disposed in a substantially horizontal disposition when the support strap is in a position of repose and the barrier arm is disposed in a substantially vertical position when the support strap is under tension. The barrier arm is in a substantially vertical position to prevent the elongate object from sliding from or rolling off the support arm when an elongate object is supported by the support arm. The support strap is under tension when the elongate object is so supported. The barrier arm is in a substantially horizontal position to facilitate removal of the elongate object from the storage rack when the elongate object is lifted from the support arm. Lifting the elongate object removes the tension from the support strap. 
   The vertical support column and the support arm collectively form a module. A first module is stacked in surmounting relation to a second module so that the first and second modules collectively form a first storage rack column. A third module is stacked in surmounting relation to a fourth module so that the third and fourth modules collectively form a second storage rack column. The first and second storage rack columns are disposed in laterally spaced relation to one another to collectively form a storage rack. The first and second storage rack columns may also be secured to one another in a back-to-back relation to collectively form a storage rack. 
   The support arm includes an upper support wall, a lower support wall disposed in parallel relation to the upper support wall, and a truss assembly including a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed truss members that maintain the upper support wall and the lower support wall in said parallel relation to one another. 
   A top connector is disposed in surmounting relation to and formed integrally with the vertical support column. 
   The top connector has a width narrower than a width of the vertical support column; and the top connector is centered with respect to the width of the vertical support column. 
   An upper wall mount is adapted to be mounted to a vertical wall of a room. The upper wall mount includes a pair of laterally spaced apart walls adapted to slideably receive the top connector therebetween. 
   The top connector and the upper wall mount are adapted to receive at least one fastener that interconnects the top connector and the upper wall mount to one another. 
   A bottom connector is disposed at the bottom of and formed integrally with the vertical support column. 
   The bottom connector includes two walls disposed in laterally spaced relation to one another. 
   A lower wall mount is also adapted to be mounted to a vertical wall of a room. The lower wall mount includes a flat back wall adapted to abut the vertical wall of the room. A central wall is formed integrally with the back wall and extends therefrom in normal relation thereto. The two walls of the bottom connector are adapted to slideably receive the central wall of the lower wall mount therebetween. The bottom connector and the lower wall mount are adapted to receive at least one fastener that interconnects the bottom connector and the lower wall mount to one another. 
   A connector hump is formed on a front side of the top connector. The connector hump includes a narrow arcuate strip having a width substantially equal to the width of the top connector. The connector hump further includes a straight wall having a width substantially equal to a width of the vertical support column. The straight wall is formed integrally with a lowermost end of the narrow arcuate strip. The connector hump further includes a horizontally-disposed stand-off extending from about mid-length of the top connector to a juncture of the narrow arcuate strip and the straight wall. An uppermost end of the narrow arcuate strip is formed integrally with an uppermost end of the top connector and a lowermost end of the straight wall is formed integrally with a lowermost end of the top connector. 
   A vertical support column hump is formed on a front side of the vertical support column. The vertical support column hump includes a top wide arcuate wall, concave relative to the front side, having a top end formed integrally with the straight wall of the connector hump. The vertical support column hump further includes a middle wide arcuate wall, convex relative to the front side, having a top end formed integrally with a lower end of the top wide arcuate wall. The vertical support column hump also includes a bottom wide arcuate wall, concave relative to the front side, having a top end formed integrally with a lower end of the middle wide arcuate wall and having a lower end formed integrally with the top wall of the support arm. 
   An opening is formed in the middle wide arcuate wall and a first mounting means is formed in the middle wide arcuate wall on a first side of the opening. A second mounting means is formed in the middle wide arcuate wall on a second side of the opening. At least one peg has opposite ends respectively secured to the first and second mounting means. The support strap has a radially inner end secured to the at least one peg. 
   A quarter-circle wall extends from each wall of the pair of laterally spaced apart walls of the upper wall mount. Each quarter-circle wall is curved to match the curvature of the narrow arcuate strip. 
   A horizontally-disposed brace extends from a mid-point of the pair of laterally spaced apart bottom connector walls to the lower support wall. 
   The modular aspect of the structure provides an important advantage because it renders the storage rack portable. 
   Additional important advantages are conferred by the pivotally-mounted barrier arm and the support strap that actuates it. Specifically, the ability to lower the barrier arm out of the way when an object is being placed upon or removed from the novel storage rack is highly advantageous and was heretofore unknown. 
   These and other advantages will become more apparent as this disclosure continues. 
   The invention accordingly includes the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of constructions set forth in the detailed description that follows, and the scope of the invention is indicated in the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting a pair of the novel floor-supported storage racks disposed in lateral relation to one another; 
       FIG. 2  is a view like that of  FIG. 1  but depicting a cylindrical object supported at its opposite ends by upper support arms of the respective storage racks; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a wall-mounted embodiment; 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the novel pivot arm; 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the novel lower wall mount; 
       FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of the novel upper wall mount; 
       FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of the novel floor-supported base; 
       FIG. 4E  is a perspective view of the novel support arm; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the novel support arm, depicting the pivot arm when in its upright position in dotted lines and in its horizontal position in solid lines; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a single support arm, floor-standing embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , it will there be seen that a novel storage rack column is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral  10 . 
   Two (2) of said storage rack columns  10  are placed in side-by-side relation to one another to form a simple storage rack, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Any number of such storage rack columns  10  may be employed to form larger storage racks. They may also be secured to one another in a back-to-back relation. 
   Storage rack column  10  is formed of a plurality of storage rack modules. Each storage rack module includes a support arm that extends in cantilever fashion from a vertical support column. In the example of  FIG. 1 , each storage rack column  10  includes two (2) storage rack modules. Upper support arm  12  is a part of the first module and lower support arm  14  is a part of the second module. 
   Upper support arm  12  is formed integrally with vertical support column  16  and lower support arm  14  is formed integrally with vertical support column  18 . Upper support arm  12  and lower support arm  14  are angled downwardly with respect to horizontal by about thirty degrees (30°). 
   Upper support arm includes upper support wall  12   a  and lower support wall  12   b . Horizontally and vertically disposed truss members  13  collectively form a truss that imparts strength to upper support arm  12 . 
   Lower support arm  14  includes upper support wall  14   a  and lower support wall  14   b . Horizontally and vertically disposed truss members  15  collectively form a truss that imparts strength to lower support arm  14 . 
   As perhaps best depicted in  FIG. 3 , the respective distal ends of upper support wall  12   a  and lower support wall  12   b  are joined to one another by a return bend wall  20  having a width about half the width of said upper and lower support walls. 
   Barrier arm  22  is bifurcated at its top  24  and bottom  26 . 
   Top  24  includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rounded walls  24   a ,  24   b  that accommodate distal end  28  of support strap  30 . Eyelets  32   a ,  32   b  (see  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 5 ) are connected to rounded wall  24   a  and a pair of matching blind bores  34   a ,  34   b  are formed in rounded wall  24   b . Said eyelets and blind bores capture opposite ends of a pair of pegs, not shown, about which said distal end  28  of support strap  30  is wrapped. 
   There are numerous other ways to mount the opposite ends of said pegs, and all of such ways are within the scope of this invention. For example, instead of eyelets for capturing a first end of a peg and a blind bore formed in a solid wall for capturing a second end thereof, both ends could be captured in eyelets or both ends could be captured in blind bores or through bores. The use of eyelets saves materials. 
   Bottom  26  of barrier arm  22  also includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rounded walls  26   a ,  26   b . Walls  26   a ,  26   b  accommodate return bend wall  20 . Said return bend wall  20  is centrally apertured to accommodate an axle having its opposite ends mounted in central hub  27  that is formed integrally with rounded wall  26   a  and a central blind bore, not shown, formed in rounded wall  26   b . Any other mechanical structure that provides a pivotal mount for barrier arm  22  is within the scope of this invention. For example, eyelets could be employed to save materials. 
   The length of support strap  30  is preselected so that barrier arm  22  is vertically disposed when said strap is under load, i.e., when a load is imposed upon said strap. Strap  30  is horizontally disposed when strap  30  is in repose, i.e., when no load is imposed thereupon. Thus, an elongate object is captured atop upper support arm  12  by said upstanding barrier arm and thus cannot roll off or slide from said upper support arm. However, lifting the elongate object from strap  30  allows barrier arm  22  to fall into its horizontal position of repose, thereby facilitating removal of the object from said support arm. This eliminates a need to lift the object over an upright barrier arm  22 . 
   Straps  30  are made of a suitable non-rigid, strong material that conforms to hulls of varying widths and depths. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , barrier arm  22  pivots open when unloading to increase clearance, and pivots closed when the weight of a boat or other large object is applied to straps  30  during loading. This pivot feature enhances the safety of side access loading by minimizing lifting height. 
   Connector  40  surmounts and is formed integrally with vertical support column  16 . Connector  40  has a width that is about half the width of vertical support column  16  and said connector  40  is centered with respect to said width of said connector. A pair of unnumbered “X”-shaped braces are formed integrally with box-like connector  40  and maintain its structural integrity. Any other mechanical means for maintaining the structural integrity of connector  40  is within the scope of this invention. Eyelet  39   a  is formed at the central hub of the upper “X”-shaped brace and eyelet  39   b  is formed at the central hub of the lower “X”-shaped brace. Eyelets  39   a ,  39   b  respectively receive fastener means when connector  40  is mounted to a wall in a manner disclosed hereinafter. As mentioned above, the eyelets are not critical to the invention and may be replaced by other suitable means for receiving a peg, a fastener, or the like. For example, a flat solid wall having a central throughbore formed therein could replace each eyelet  39   a ,  39   b.    
   A first generally convex protrusion or hump, generally denoted  41 , also referred to herein as the connector hump, is formed on the front side of connector  40 . First hump  41  includes narrow arcuate strip  42  having the same width as connector  40  (see  FIG. 4D ) and a wide straight wall  44  having a width about equal to the width of central support column  16 . Horizontally-disposed stand-off  46  extends from mid-length of connector  40  to the juncture of narrow arcuate strip  42  and wide straight wall  44 . 
   A second generally convex protrusion or hump, generally denoted  43 , also referred to herein as the vertical support column hump, is formed on a front side of vertical support column  16 . Vertical support column hump  43  includes a top wide arcuate wall  46 , concave relative to said front side, having a top end formed integrally with wide straight wall  44 , a middle wide arcuate wall  48 , convex relative to said front side, having a top end formed integrally with a lower end of top wide arcuate wall  46 , and a bottom wide arcuate wall  50 , concave relative to said front side, having a top end formed integrally with a lower end of said middle wide arcuate wall  48  and having a lower end formed integrally with top wall  12   a  of upper support arm  12 . 
   Opening  48   a  is formed in middle wide arcuate wall  48 , thereby defining convex walls  49   a ,  49   b  on opposite sides of said opening  48   a . As best depicted in  FIG. 5 , eyelets  51   a ,  51   b  are mounted on mounting strip  51   c , said mounting strip having its opposite ends formed integrally with convex wall  49   a . As best understood in connection with  FIG. 4E , a pair of blind bores, not numbered to avoid further clutter, are disposed laterally opposite eyelets  51   a ,  51   b , said blind bores being formed in a sidewall, also not numbered, that is formed integrally with convex wall  49   b.    
   A first and a second peg, not shown, extend between eyelets  51   a ,  51   b  and said blind bores in parallel relation to one another. Radially inner end  29  of support strap  30  is secured to said pegs. Any other mechanical structure for securing radially inner end  29  is also within the scope of this invention. 
   Straps  30  are adjustable in length to conform to hulls or other surfaces of varying widths and depths. 
   As best depicted in  FIG. 4D , a pair of laterally spaced apart connectors  40   a ,  40   b , having the same structure as single connector  40  that surmounts central post  16 , are formed integrally with the lower end of central support post  16 . Horizontal brace  52  extends from a mid-point of connectors  40   a  to lower support wall  12   b  with which it is integrally formed so as to be co-planar with the lowermost horizontal brace of truss system  13  as depicted. Convex support arm  54  interconnects lower support wall  12   b  to central support post  16  and arcuate support arm  56  interconnects said central support post to horizontal brace  52 . 
   The novel storage rack may be wall-mounted or floor-mounted. Upper wall mount  60  is depicted in  FIG. 4B  and lower wall mount  70  is depicted in  FIG. 4C . 
   Upper wall mount  60  has a flat back wall  62  that abuts a vertical wall to which a storage rack column  10  is mounted. Open frame walls  64 ,  66  are formed integrally with back wall  62  and extend normal thereto in laterally spaced relation to one another by a distance substantially equal to the width of connector  40 . An unnumbered upper eyelet is centered in the top half of wall  64  and an unnumbered lower eyelet is centered in the lower half of said wall  64 , said eyelets being the central hubs, respectively, of upper and lower “X”-shaped braces. Upper and lower eyelets are also formed in the same way in the upper and lower halves of open frame wall  66 . These eyelets align with upper and lower eyelets  39   a ,  39   b  formed in open frame connector  40  that is formed integrally with and that surmounts vertical support column  16 . Suitable fasteners extend through these aligned eyelets to lock upper wall mount  60  to said connector  40 . 
   Quarter-circular wings  66   a ,  66   b  are formed integrally with walls  64 ,  66 , respectively, and are curved to match the curvature of narrow arcuate strip  42 . The respective edges  64   b ,  66   b  of said wings  66   a ,  66   b  abut standoff  46  when connector  40  is fully received between walls  64  and  66 . Flanges  68  and  69  are coplanar with back wall  62  and are apertured as depicted to receive conventional fasteners. The apertures are not numbered to avoid clutter in the drawings. Also unnumbered are horizontally disposed, vertically spaced braces that interconnects wall  64  and flange  68 . Similar unnumbered and undepicted braces interconnect wall  66  and flange  69 . 
   Lower wall mount  70  has back wall  72  that has unnumbered apertures formed therein to receive conventional fasteners. Central wall  74  is disposed normal to said back wall  72  and has a width substantially equal to the space between connectors  40   a ,  40   b  formed integrally with the lower end of vertical support column  16  and is snugly received between them. Eyelets  76   a ,  76   b  are aligned with eyelets  39   c ,  39   d  formed in connectors  40   a ,  40   b  when central wall  74  is so disposed. Suitable fasteners extend through said aligned eyelets to lock lower wall mount  70  to connectors  40   a ,  40   b.    
   Instead of mounting upper wall mount  60  and lower wall mount  70  to a wall, a pair of upper wall mounts and a pair of lower wall mounts may be secured to one another in back-to-back relation, thereby forming a two (2) rack system where the racks are back-to-back to one another, in a free-standing configuration. In this way, the racks support one another and there is no need to attach them to a wall. 
   Base  80 , depicted in  FIG. 4E , includes a channel-like member  82  having an open top and a closed bottom wall  84 . Channel member  82  slideably receives connectors  40   a ,  40   b  formed integrally with the lower end of either vertical support column  16  or  18 . A pair of supports  86   a ,  86   b  extend laterally from said member  82 , thereby creating a three (3) point stable base defined by the respective outermost ends of said supports  86   a ,  86   b  and the lowermost end of said member  82 . 
   A pair of the novel storage racks  10  equipped with straps  30  and barrier arm  22  will suspend a kayak in an optimal manner. Suspension is the recommended storage method for kayaks because straps  30  evenly distribute hull weight to prevent the hull from warping. Straps  30  also prevent the hull from resting on a hard surface, thereby protecting the hull from abrasion. A pair of racks  10  will also hold a canoe turned hull side up on its gunwales. This is the recommended storage method for canoes since it keeps the hull from warping. 
   The modular unit formed by support column  16  and support arm  12  has the same structure as the modular unit formed by support column  18  and support arm  14 . These modular units can be used alone or they can be vertically stacked and bolted together. Accordingly, no long central column is required. Storage rack  10  is portable because its modular parts can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. 
   It will be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Now that the invention has been described,