Abstract:
A storage system that is attached by (means of)a bracket (FIG.  3 ) to the underside of a horizontal surface. This bracket (FIG.  3 ) incorporates a track made by the bracket side wall ( 32 ) and the bracket lip ( 34 ), which holds a retractable slide arm (FIG.  4 ) that slides forward when in use and slides back when at rest. A bracket stop ( 36 ) at the front end of the bracket (FIG.  3 ) prevents the slide arm (FIG.  4 ) from separating from the bracket (FIG.  3 ). The front end of the slide arm (FIG.  4 ) incorporates a slide arm pull ( 29 ) for ease of use. Items to be stored are suspended from hooks ( 30 ) that are positioned on the underside of the extended center section of the slide arm ( 28 ). Hangers (FIG.  9 ) incorporate a hanger eye ( 38 ) that slips easily on or off the hook ( 30 ). Hanger adhesive ( 44 ), which lines the hanger base ( 42 ), provides a (means) technique for attaching the hanger (FIG.  9 ) to the top of the receptacle to be stored.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the storage and organization of items that can be hung from a hook; or contained in small jars, bottles, bags or other small receptacles and hung from a hook. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Our physical environment is filled with many items that are difficult to store in a compact and organized fashion. Many of these items—such as spice jars and vitamin bottles—are sold packaged in containers. Others items—such as cake decorating tips and small hardware items such as nuts, washers, screws or nails—are not sold with any permanent housing. In either case, these items often end up crammed into cabinets or stuffed into draws in a disorganized and inefficient manner. 
     In terms of prior art, spice jar storage has received a great deal of attention. There are, for example, many available options for storing spices on racks or carousels. Typically, spice racks are either hung on walls or placed upon flat surfaces. Carousels are usually placed on flat surfaces or stored in cabinets. Nevertheless, a cabinet-stored carousel requires use of a large portion of the cabinet&#39;s interior space and, because of its round shape, renders the cabinet&#39;s corner space unusable. 
     A search of prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,987 to Hommes (1997) discloses a retractable cabinet rack specifically designed to solve the problem of visibly storing and retrieving small containers. However, the ability to store containers of various heights is limited by the fixed dimensions of the bin used for placement of containers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,818 to DeBruyn (1987) discloses a retractable apparatus for organizing storage containers in a cabinet. However, items to be stored using this mechanism must be decanted into the storage bins which fit into the mechanism. Thus, each bin may offer too little or too much space for the particular item. In the case of offering too little space for transferring an item from its store package to the organizer&#39;s container, the organizer does not fully solve the storage problem. In the case of too much space to store an item, the efficiency of the organizer is reduced. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,608 to Sterling et al. (2002) discloses a wall-mounted storage system. This system, in addition to other options, offers hooks as a method of storage. However, the storage system is not retractable. Thus, it does not provide the aspect of using space efficiently in a closed cupboard or deep shelving. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Objects and Advantages 
     Several objects and advantages of the present invention of a retractable system for hanging storage are: 
     a) To provide a storage system that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal surface thereby allowing use of space otherwise frequently wasted in a cabinet or shelving unit. 
     b) To provide a storage system that is retractable when not in use but extends forward from the underside of the horizontal surface during use to allow ease of access to items stored in the back of the storage system unit. 
     c) To provide storage for receptacles or items of various heights and widths. 
     d) To provide the option for as much or as little storage as is required by using a single or several storage system units installed side by side. 
     e) To provide hooks to allow for suspension of items to be stored. 
     f) To provide storage of any receptacle or item that can be hung from a hook. 
     g) To provide hangers to attach to the tops of receptacles—such as spice and vitamin jars—that are suitable for suspension from the storage system unit, but do not have an existing means of suspension. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, the retractable system for hanging storage provides a flexible system for storing items that are difficult to store and organize. Each storage system unit allows for the storage of a plurality of items. Any number of storage system units can be installed side by side. The spacing between each unit is at the users discretion thereby offering the user a broad range of options in terms of items to be stored and the amount of space used for storage. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of my invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cut away view of my invention. 
         FIG. 3  is the part of my invention that will be referred to as the bracket in all future references to this piece of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is the part of my invention that will be referred to as the slide arm in all future references to this piece of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the slide arm. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the slide arm. 
         FIG. 7  is rear view of the slide arm. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the part of my invention which will be referred to as the hanger in all future references to this piece of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the hanger. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       20 —Double sided adhesive strip 
       22 —Bracket top 
       24 —Bracket screw holes 
       26 —Top section of the slide arm 
       28 —Extended center section of the slide arm 
       29 —Slide arm pull 
       30 —Hook 
       32 —Bracket side wall 
       34 —Bracket lip 
       36 —Bracket stop 
       38 —Hanger eye 
       40 —Hanger stem 
       42 —Hanger base 
       44 —Hanger adhesive disc 
       46 —Protective paper disc 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment (All Figures) 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention, which in future will be referred to as the storage system, is illustrated in  FIG. 1  (side perspective view) and  FIG. 2  (cut away view). The storage system is composed of three parts, being a bracket  FIG. 3 , a slide arm  FIG. 4  and a hanger  FIG. 8 . In the preferred embodiment the bracket  FIG. 3  and slide arm  FIG. 4  are manufactured as separate molded plastic objects. However, the storage system can be constructed of wood, metal or any suitable alternate material. The external measurements of the bracket  FIG. 3  are 41 mm wide, 255 mm long and 10 mm high. A double-sided adhesive strip  20  measuring 41 mm wide and 255 mm long is offered as one means of installation. The bracket top  22  includes two screw holes  24  to offer an alternate method of installation. One screw hole  24  is placed 30 mm from the back end of the bracket  FIG. 3  and the other screw hole  24  is placed 60 mm from the front end of the bracket  FIG. 3 . The screw holes  24  are beveled on the underside of the bracket top  22  to allow for insertion of a flat headed screw which becomes flush with the inside surface of the bracket top  22  when in place. 
     The internal configuration of the bracket  FIG. 3  provides for a side wall  32  ( FIG. 7 ) measuring 5.5 mm wide, 249 mm long and 5 mm high from the inside of the bracket top  22  to the inside top of the bracket lip  34 . At the front end of the bracket  FIG. 3  the side wall  32  is extended to form a bracket stop  36  that measures 9mm wide, 6 mm long and 5 mm high. This provides a mechanism to insure that the slide arm  FIG. 4  does not exit the bracket  FIG. 3  when the slide arm  FIG. 4  is fully extended. The configuration of the bracket  FIG. 3  provides for a bracket lip  34  measuring 13 mm wide, 255 mm long and 3 mm high. The bracket lip  34  supports the slide arm  FIG. 4  in the bracket  FIG. 3 . The side wall  32 , combined with the bracket lip  34 , provides a track for the slide arm  FIG. 4 . 
     The second piece of the storage system is a slide arm  FIG. 4 , which is a molded plastic item that includes an extended center section  28  that extends from the top section of the slide arm  26  ( FIG. 7  —rear view of slide arm) and includes 5 hooks  30  and a slide arm pull  29 . The top section of the slide arm  26  ( FIG. 5 ) is 4.5 mm thick and 255 mm long. At the back end, the top section of the slide arm  26  measures 29 mm across and 50 mm long. The remaining 205 mm length of the top of the slide arm  26  measures 22.5 mm wide. The extended center section of the slide arm  28  is 14 mm wide and 3 mm thick. The length of the extended center section of the slide arm  28  is straight for 255 mm and then extends past the end of the top section of the slide arm  26  into a half circle slide arm pull  29  ( FIG. 6 ) with an internal diameter of 15 mm and a thickness of 4 mm. There are 5 hooks  30  that extend from the bottom side of the extended center section of the slide arm  28 . Starting toward the back of the slide arm  FIG. 6  the first hook  30  is placed 26 mm from the back end of the slide arm  FIG. 4 . Each additional hook is placed at 50 mm intervals down the length of the slide arm. The hooks  30  extend 20 mm down from the bottom surface of the extended center section of the slide arm  28 . 
     The companion pieces to the storage system are hangers  FIG. 9 . Each hanger  FIG. 9  is manufactured as a molded plastic object but could be made from a suitable alternate material. The hanger  FIG. 9  is composed of a hanger eye  38  with an interior diameter of 9 mm and an external diameter of 13 mm. The hanger eye  38  is composed of a cylinder with a 2 mm diameter. A cylindrical stem  40  with a diameter of 2 mm extends 4 mm from the hanger eye  38 . The hanger stem  40  connects the hanger eye  38  with a hanger base  42 . The hanger stem  40  is positioned at the center of the hanger base  42 . The hanger base  42  is a circle with a 15 mm diameter and thickness of 2 mm. A double stick adhesive disc  44  with a 15 mm diameter is affixed to the bottom of the hanger base  42 . A protective paper disc  46  with a 15 mm diameter covers the bottom side of the adhesive disc  44 . 
     OPERATION OF INVENTION 
     The storage system unit described in this patent application is assembled prior to installation by inserting the slide arm  FIG. 4  into the bracket  FIG. 3 . The slide pull  29  at the front end of the slide arm  FIG. 4  is inserted into the rear end of the bracket  FIG. 3  with the top section of the slide arm  26  facing toward the bracket top  22  and then pulled toward the bracket stop  36 . 
     Subsequent to assembly, the storage system unit is installed for use by affixing it to the underside of a shelf, cabinet or other horizontal mounting structure. The storage system unit is suitable for use in either open shelving or a closed cabinet. The bracket  FIG. 3  is attached to the underside of a horizontal mounting structure using one of two installation options. One option is to screw the storage system unit into the underside of the horizontal mounting structure by inserting flat head screws through the bracket screw holes  24  into the underside of the horizontal mounting structure. If this method of installation is chosen, the slide arm  FIG. 4  must be pulled to its full forward position during installation. The other option is to affix the double stick adhesive strip  20  to the bracket top  22  and then install the storage system unit under the horizontal mounting structure using the adhesive strip  20  to hold it in place. In either case, the storage system unit is installed with the slide arm pull  29  at the front edge of the horizontal mounting structure. 
     Once the storage system unit has been assembled and installed, it operates by using the slide arm pull  29  to bring the slide arm  FIG. 4  forward when reaching for a stored item and pushing the slide arm  FIG. 4  back when the storage system unit is not in use. 
     The items to be stored using the storage system unit are hung from the hooks  30  which are built into the extended center section of the slide arm  28 . 
     The hangers  FIG. 9  are attached to the tops of receptacles which are to be stored using the storage system unit by the use of an adhesive disc  44 . This adhesive disc  44  is protected by a layer of paper  46  which is kept in place until such time as the hanger  FIG. 9  is attached to the object to be stored. When ready to attach the hanger  FIG. 9  to the item to be stored, the user removes the protective paper layer  46  from the adhesive disc  44  and presses the disc onto the top of the receptacle. Alternately, any receptacle that has a hole at its top can be hung from the storage hooks  30 . For example, a standard plastic storage bag with a pressure closure that has a half-inch of plastic extending above the closure can have a hole punched into it so that it can be hung from the hook  30 . Similarly, any item such as a kitchen utensil incorporating a suitable feature can be hung from a hook  30 . 
     ADVANTAGES 
     The Retractable System for Hanging Storage provides many advantages for storing small items. 
     a) Items can be stored in the top section of a shelf or cupboard using space that is frequently wasted. 
     b) The slide arm of the storage system can be pulled forward providing ease of access to items stored at the back of a storage area. 
     c) The storage system units can be installed in any configuration suitable to the width of items that require storage. 
     d) One or more storage system units can be installed pursuant to available space. 
     e) The storage system unit provides an installation option that does not require use of tools. 
     f) The hooks on the slide arm allow for ease of removal and replacement of items being stored. 
     g) The hooks on the slide arm allow for storage of any item that can be hung from a hook. 
     h) The hangers make it easy to adapt any flat top container of suitable dimension for use as a receptacle in the storage system unit. 
     CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE 
     As is evident, the Retractable System for Hanging Storage has many advantages over existing methods for storing small items. The storage allows efficient use of space which is otherwise frequently wasted. The storage system allows easy access to items stored toward the back of a shelf or cupboard. In addition, the storage system allows flexibility in terms of the volume of storage required and the amount of space available for storage. The items stored using the retractable storage system can be organized in any way that appeals to the user, such as by alphabetical order (as in the case of spices) or by item type. The storage system can be installed without the use of any tools. The hangers developed for use with the storage system allow standard flat top containers to be easily adapted for hanging storage. In addition, any item that has a hole, loop or lip can be hung from a hook for storage. Items that are hung from the storage system are easily removed and replaced. 
     Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. A similar mechanism made with a bracket with multiple tracks could support a plurality of slide arms. A similar mechanism made in a larger size could allow for a greater plurality of hooks and/or receptacles of larger depth. In addition to receptacles, other items such as cooking utensils can be stored and organized using the storage system. A similar mechanism made in a larger scale could be used for storage of larger items such as gardening tools or mops and brooms. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.