Abstract:
A wall mounted storage system has a track, a plurality of vertical panels, a plurality of plugs and a plurality of shelves. The track is mounted to a wall for supporting the vertical panels. The shelves and panels form compartments. Each vertical panel has a cut out which matches the configuration of the track. The cut out has a front radiused section and a rear flat section. The track has a corresponding front radiused edge and rear seat. The cut out mates with the track at the radiused and flat sections. An opening is provided between the bottom of the track and the bottom of the cut out. The plug fits within this opening to prevent the vertical panel from separating from the track after the panel is attached to the track. The front bottom edges of the vertical panels are protected by bottom protectors.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Wall mounted storage systems are often built into residential and commercial buildings. They provide a space savings means for storing various types of items, such as clothing and shoes. 
     A common type of wall mounted storage system is comprised of a track, a plurality of vertical panels and a plurality of shelves. The track is horizontally oriented and secured to a wall in a location such as a closet. The vertical panels are adapted to engage with the mounted track such that the vertical panels are stabilized in a vertical orientation. The shelves are horizontally oriented and attached to pairs of vertical panels to form storage compartments. 
     A number of problems are associated with current state-of-the-art wall mounted storage systems. The track is often unable to support significant loading. It tends to pull away from the wall to which it is attached under loading. Also, commonly used tracks have a tendency to bend and deform at their upper edges where they engage with the vertical panels. 
     The vertical panels engage with the track at cutouts within the vertical panels. Often, the vertical panel cutouts are misaligned with the track. This causes the vertical panels to be not as securely attached to the track as intended by the panel/track designer. As a result, the panels can be unintentionally disengaged from the track when the panels are bumped. Further, the track and the track engaging cutouts within the vertical panels may be damaged because of the cut out/track misalignment. 
     In many wall mounted storage systems the vertical panels do not rest upon a floor. Instead, the bottom edges of the vertical panels are positioned above floor level. The front lower corner sections of the vertical panels are exposed. They may be easily damaged by a person or object, such as a vacuum cleaner, unintentionally striking a corner section. Such contact between a person and a vertical panel lower corner may injure the person. Such contact between an object, such as an item of clothing, and a vertical panel corner may damage the object. 
     The wall mounted storage system described herein provides relief from the aforesaid problems associated with currently available wall mounted storage systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wall mounted storage system is comprised of a track, a plurality of vertical panels and a plurality of plugs. The track is horizontally oriented and mounted to a wall. The track has a front face, a rear face, a bottom surface and a top surface. The top surface of the track slopes downward from the front face of the track toward the rear face of the track. 
     Each vertical panel has a top section, a bottom section, a front edge, a rear edge and a cut out. The vertical panels are intended to form sidewalls of storage compartments formed within the wall mounted storage system. Each storage compartment is formed by two vertical panels and two shelves. 
     Each cut out is positioned within the top section of its respective vertical panel. The cutout extends through the rear edge of the vertical panel. The length of the cutout is configured to allow the vertical panel to slide over the track when the vertical panel is being engaged with the track. This process involves moving the cut out at the rear edge of the vertical panel from the front face of the track toward the rear face of the track in order to install the vertical panel onto the track. The length of the cut out is further configured such that a plug opening is provided between the bottom surface of the track and the bottom surface of the cut out when the cut out is engaged with the track. Each vertical panel is attached to the track by engaging the cut out of that vertical panel with the track. 
     The plug is sized and shaped to snugly fit into the opening between the bottom surface of the track and the bottom surface of a vertical panel attached to the track. The plug is inserted into this opening to prevent the vertical panel from lifting off of the track. 
     The top surface of the track has an upper front edge and an upper rear edge. Preferably, the upper rear edge of the track has a longitudinally extending horizontally oriented flat seat. The seat is positioned below the front edge of the track such that the top surface of the track slopes downward from the front face of the track toward the rear face of the track. The front upper portion of the cut out is configured to fit the front edge of the track. The rear upper portion of the cut out is configured to have a flat surface adapted to contact the seat of the track while the front upper portion of the cut out contacts the front edge of the track. 
     The body of the track should be adapted to support the entire top surface of the track. In other words, the body of the track should be configured so that the body will not tend to bend when the track is loaded by a vertical panel supporting its own load. The body of the track should have sufficient vertical width to allow the track to be secured to a wall stud by at least two fasteners. The term of vertical width refers to the vertical dimension of the track when it is attached to a wall. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wall mounted storage system showing the track, vertical panels and cutouts within the vertical panels described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a broken away perspective view of the wall mounted storage system of  FIG. 1 , showing the configuration of the track, the configuration of the cut out within a vertical panel and the engagement of the cut out of the vertical panel with the track. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional elevation side view of a wall mounted storage system. 
         FIG. 4  is a broken away sectional side elevation view of the wall mounted storage system of  FIG. 3 , showing the configuration of the track, the configuration of the cut out within the vertical panel, the engagement of the cut out of the vertical panel with the track and a plug inserted into the plug opening between the track and the bottom surface of the vertical panel cut out. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wall mounted storage system showing bottom protectors attached to the bottom front surface of three vertical panels. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a wall mounted storage system showing a bottom protector attached to the bottom front surface of a vertical panel. 
         FIG. 7  is a broken away perspective view of a vertical panel of the wall mounted storage system of  FIG. 5 , showing a bottom protector attached to the bottom front surface of a vertical panel. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the broken away section of  FIG. 7 , showing the bottom front portion of the vertical panel, the bottom protector and the screw fasteners used to attach the bottom protector to the vertical panel. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bottom protector. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the bottom protector of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the bottom protector of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the bottom protector of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The preferred embodiment of a wall mounted storage system  20  is comprised of a track  24 , a plurality of vertical panels  44 , a plug  64  and a plurality of shelves  66 . 
     The track  24  may be fabricated from a piece of wood having a 3 inch width and a ¾″ thickness. This width will allow the track to be screwed or nailed to a single wall stud  23  in two locations. The track  24  should be so fastened to multiple wall studs  23 . This will ultimately provide a very stable and secure base upon which the vertical panels  44  may be hung. It should be understood that the width and thickness dimensions of the track  24  may vary considerably from one storage system  20  installation to another and that the storage system  20  described herein is not limited to any particular width and thickness of the track  24 . 
     The track  24  has a front face  26 , a rear face  28 , a bottom surface  30  and a top surface  32 . The top surface  32  has a front edge  34  and a rear edge  36 . The track  24  is formed as a one piece monolithic structure, and as a solid construction extending between the front face  26  and the rear face  28 . The front edge  34  of the top surface  32  of the track  24  has a semicircular ridge or radiused edge  38 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The radiused edge  38  or semicircular ridge includes a first side  38   a  and a second side  38   b  having a curved portion extending therebetween. The first side  38   a  extends linearly from the front face  26  of the track  24 . The first side  38   a  extends generally parallel to the second side  38   b  and to the front face  26 . The rear edge  36  of the top surface  32  of the track  24  has a flat seat  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The flat seat  40  should be substantially parallel to the bottom surface  30  of the track  24  so that the surface of the flat seat  40  is substantially horizontal when the track  24  is mounted to a wall  22 . An intermediate section of the top surface  32  of the track  24  should be provided between the radiused edge  38  and the flat seat  40 . The radiused edge  38  of the track  24  and the flat seat  40  extend longitudinally along the top surface  32  of the track  24 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The flat seat  40  is positioned below the radiused edge  38  when the track  24  is oriented in its wall mount position. The top surface  32  of the track  24  slopes downward from the front face  26  of the track  24  toward the rear face  28  of the track  24 . 
     The track  24  is horizontally oriented and mounted to a wall  22  at a height from the floor sufficient to allow the track  24  to support the vertical panels  44  by engaging with cutouts  54  provided in the top section  46  of each vertical panel  44 . A typical wall  22  consists of wallboard secured to underlying vertical studs  23 . The track  24  can be secured to the wall  22  by inserting two screws  42  through the track  24  and each stud  23 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Again, the track  24  should be so secured to multiple studs  23 . 
     Each vertical panel  44  has a top section  46 , a bottom section  48 , a front edge  50 , a rear edge  52  and a cut out a  54 . The references to top, bottom, front and rear are with respect to the position of a vertical panel  44  when it is attached to a track  24  to form a wall mounted storage system  20 . The cut out  54  on each vertical panel  44  is positioned within the top section  46  of the vertical panel  44  such that the cut out  54  extends through the rear edge  52  of the vertical panel  44 . This is shown in  FIG. 4 . The cut out  54  is shaped to mate with the track  24 . The cut out  54  allows a vertical panel  44  to be securely attached to the track  24 . 
     The rear upper portion of each cut out is configured to have a flat surface  58  which is adapted to contact the flat seat  40  of the track  24  while the front upper portion of cut out  54  is configured to have a radiused section  56  adapted to contact the radiused edge  38  of the track  24 . When a vertical panel  44  is mated to the track  24  at the cut out  54  of the vertical panel  44 , the flat surface  58  of the cut out  54  is supported by the flat seat  40  of the track  24 . The radiused section  56  of the cut out is supported by the radiused edge  38  of the track  24 . This allows the radiused edge  38  of the track  24  to support the vertical panel  44  at the radiused section  56  of the cut out  54 . The vertical length of the cut out  54  is configured to allow the vertical panel  44  to slide over the track  24  when the vertical panel  44  is being engaged with the track  24  by moving the cut out  54  at the rear edge  52  of the vertical panel  44  from the front face  26  of the track  24  toward the rear face  28  of the track  24 . The height of the cut out  54  is further configured such that a plug opening  62  is provided between the bottom surface  30  of the track  24  and the bottom surface  60  of the cut out  54  when the cut out  54  is engaged with the track  24 . The plug opening  62  is sized and shaped to receive a plug  64  such that the vertical panel  44  may be locked to the track  24  by preventing vertical movement of the panel  44  with respect to the track  24 . Each vertical panel  44  is attached to the track  24  by engaging the cut out  54  of each vertical panel  44  with the track  24 . 
     Preferably, the plug  64  is comprised of a resilient material such as foam or rubber. This will allow the plug  64  to be releasably retained within the plug opening  62 . After the vertical panel  44  is installed onto the track  24 , the plug  64  is inserted into the plug opening  62 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The plug  64  is shaped to be press fit within the opening between the bottom surface  30  of the track  24  and the bottom surface  60  of the vertical panel cut out  54 . Preferably, the length of the plug  64  is approximately the same length as the width of the vertical panel  44 . This will prevent the plug  64  from extending into a storage compartment. This prevents the vertical panel  44  from being inadvertently lifted off of the track  24 . Without the plug  64 , the vertical panel  44  could be lifted off of the track  24  by someone inadvertently kicking the vertical panel  44 , or by contact with a moving object, such as a vacuum cleaner. By fabricating the plug  64  from a resilient material, the plug may be easily installed and removed from the plug opening  62 . 
     Each shelf is  66  is secured to a pair of vertical panels  44 . The shelves  66  are horizontally oriented. The vertical panels  44  are vertically oriented. The shelves  66  and the vertical panels  44  form storage compartments, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The configuration of the track  24  and the cut out  54  of each vertical panel  44  provides a number of advantages. The vertical panel  44  may be easily installed onto the track  24  by sliding the cut out  54  of the vertical panel  44  over the track  24  such that the cut out  54  of the vertical panel  44  is supported by the track  24 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The mating surfaces between the cut out  54  and the track  24  cause the vertical panel  44  to be securely attached to the wall mounted storage system  20  even when the track  24  and the cut out  54  are misaligned. Substantial downward forces may be applied to the vertical panel  44  without damaging the vertical panel  44  or the track  24 . Also, substantial downward forces can be withstood by the track  24  without the track  24  becoming separated from the wall  22 . 
     Preferably, a bottom protector  70  is attached to the front edge  50  bottom surface of the bottom section  48  of each vertical panel  44 .  FIGS. 5-12  illustrate the preferred design and use of a bottom protector  70 . Typically, in a wall mounted storage system  20 , a plurality of vertical panels  44  have their bottom edges resting above floor level. This presents a hazard at the bottom front edge  50  of the vertical panels  44 . The bottom front edge  50  corner of the vertical panels can be damaged by a person inadvertently contacting the panel  44 , or by an object, such as a vacuum cleaner contacting the vertical panel  44 . A person inadvertently contacting an unprotected bottom corner of a vertical panel may be injured. Clothing or other contents stored within the wall mounted storage system  20  may be damaged by contact with the unprotected bottom corner of a vertical panel  44 . 
     The width of the bottom protector  70  is substantially the same as the width of the vertical panel  44  to which the bottom protector  70  is to be attached. The length of the bottom protector  70  is less than the front to back length of the vertical panel  44  to which the bottom protector  70  is to be attached. The bottom protector  70  may be fabricated from plastic, acrylic or other solid or flexible materials. The bottom protector  70  has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the bottom protector  70  is that surface which is intended to be in contact with the bottom surface of the vertical panel  44  when the bottom protector  70  is attached to the vertical panel  44 . The bottom surface of the bottom protector  70  is that surface of the bottom protector which is lowest when the bottom protector  70  is attached to a vertical panel  44 . The perimeter of the bottom protector  70  is provided with one or more beveled edges  72 , such that the surface area of the bottom surface of the bottom protector  70  is less than the surface area of the top surface of the bottom protector  70 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The one or more beveled edges  72  of the bottom protector eliminate sharp corners at the bottom front edge  50  of the vertical panels  44 . The term beveled edges  72 , as used herein, includes radiused edges. The rigidity of the bottom protector  70  protects the bottom front edge  50  corner of the vertical panel  44  from being damaged by physical contact. The one or more beveled edges  72  of the bottom protector  70  reduce the likelihood of a person being injured or property being damaged when it comes into contact with the bottom front edge  50  corner of the vertical panel  44 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of a bottom protector  70 , a plurality of fastener openings  74  extend from the bottom surface of the bottom protector  70  to the top surface of the bottom protector  70 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The fastener openings  74  are countersunk at the bottom surface of the bottom protector  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . This allows a screw to be used to fasten the bottom protector  70  to the vertical panel  44  without having the head of the screw protruding from the bottom surface of the bottom protector  70 . The bottom protector  70  is attached to the bottom front edge  50  of the vertical panel  44 , at the bottom surface of the vertical panel  44 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . Preferably, screws  76  are used to attach the bottom protector  70  to the vertical panel. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments and methods, those skilled in the art undoubtedly will find alternative embodiments and methods obvious after reading this disclosure. With this in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.