Patent Publication Number: US-2015069892-A1

Title: Overhead storage system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/875,225, filed Sep. 9, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate generally to overhead or ceiling-mounted storage systems utilizing bins and rails. 
     Storage space is highly desirable. Rental rates for storage spaces are at an all-time high. Closet size in newly constructed homes continues to increase. Homes with ample storage space, for example in a garage, attic, or basement, are more desirable. A simple and cost-effective way to increase available storage space is to use shelves or other systems to move beyond square footage and store items along a vertical axis. 
     In a garage, the floor is typically used to store vehicles, yard and lawn equipment, or other items that need to be frequently accessed. Shelves can be placed along walls to create vertical storage, but they cannot be used to create or expand storage, e.g., above a vehicle. Current solutions hang a shelf or rack from the ceiling, creating a suspended surface where items can be stored. However, placing items on and retrieving items from such a shelf can be a difficult and awkward process. This problem is compounded if smaller items are stored inside a bin and the bin is placed on the hanging shelf. One must retrieve and search through each bin to locate the desired item. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,203 is directed to a storage system comprising one or more storage containers which form an array of storage containers, at least two rail units that attach to a ceiling or a wall to create a hanging apparatus. Each of the rail units have one or more parallel support rails, at least two inner adjacently parallel reinforcement rods, one or more outer parallel reinforcement rods, and a plurality of inverted u-shaped brackets. Each of the storage containers has an upper lip to allow the containers to adjustably and horizontally slide along and between the parallel support rails. However, the parallel support rails only provide a single point of contact between the rail and the upper lip of the container, resulting in an unstable and unsafe design. In addition, the parallel support rails are not strong enough to hold a container of substantial weight. Finally, the thin design of the parallel support rails results in bending of the rails over time. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, an overhead storage system stores items in a substantially straight-walled bin supported by rails attached to a ceiling or other overhead structure. The system includes two or more rails and one or more bins. A rail includes a body and a lip configured to support a bin. A rail is configured to connect to an overhead structure, such as a ceiling. A bin includes at least two opposing, substantially straight walls, and a straight wall includes a rim configured to support the bin when the rim is in contact with at least one rail. The rails are configured to support bin when the rim of the bin is in contact with the rails and the rails are connect to an overhead structure. The lip of the rail and the rim of the bin are configured such that the lip substantially maintains contact with the rim across each of their respective widths. In another embodiment, the rail is composed of a material strong enough to support bins with a weight of at least 20 pounds, for example aluminum. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  shows a detail schematic perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     By way of example, and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the present invention comprises a ceiling-mounted storage system  10  utilizing bins  12  and rails  14 . A rail  14  may be connected to a ceiling  16  by one or more fasteners  20 . Different fasteners  20  may be used, depending on the construction of the ceiling  16 , as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, toggle bolts may be used if the rail  14  is attached to sheetrock, while wood screws may be used if the rail  14  is attached to a stud or beam in the ceiling  16 . A rail  14  may include a body  22  with a square or rectangular cross-section, which may define a central cavity  24 . A rail  14  may include one or more lips  26 . A rail  14  with one lip  26  may be used as an end rail  14 A, which may be positioned as an outermost rail  14  in a storage system  10 . 
     A bin  12  may include a bottom  30  and four walls  32 , which may define an opening. The top of a wall  32  may be flared outward, forming a rim  34 . The rim  34  may receive a lid  36  for the bin  12 . The lid  36  may include a latch  38  or other means of securing the lid  36  to the bin. The rim  34  may have width that is sufficient to support the bin  12  when rims  34  on opposite walls  32  of the bin  12  are supported. The lip  26  of the rail  14  may have a width that is sufficient to accommodate the rim  34 . The lip  26  of the rail  14  and the rim  34  of the bin  12  are configured such that the lip  26  substantially maintains contact with the rim  34  across each of their respective widths. 
     In use, two or more rails  14  may be attached to a ceiling  16  or other overhead structure. The spacing between an adjacent pair of rails  14  may be sufficient to accommodate a bin  12 . For example, the distance between rail lips  26  may be roughly equal to an outer distance between opposite walls  32  of the bin  12 , and the distance between rail bodies  22  may be roughly equal to an outer distance between rims  34  on opposite walls  32  of the bin  12 . Rails  14  may have a length that is sufficient to accommodate one or more bins  12 . 
     Current storage bins have sides that are slightly bowed or curved, which may not provide sufficient contact between the bin&#39;s rim and the rails  14  to support the weight of the bin. A bin  12  may have opposite walls  32  that are largely or substantially straight, which may enable the rails  14  to sufficiently support the bin  12 . The bin  12  may be made of plastic or any other suitable material. The bin  12  may be clear, transparent, translucent, or opaque. A clear, transparent, or translucent bin  12  may allow the contents to be more easily examined without removing the bin  12  from the rails  14 . The bin  12  may include a label or decal for recording and/or displaying a list of the contents of the bin  12 . A bin  12  may be any size. A bin  12  may be sized so that an average person may lift it to the ceiling and slide it onto the rails  14  when the bin  12  is filled with common household items. As a non-limiting example only, a bin  12  may be roughly  26  inches long, 16 inches wide, and 14 inches tall. 
     The ceiling-mounted storage system  10  may allow for storage to be mounted as high as possible in a garage or other locations, such as, e.g., storage unit, office, warehouse, etc. The system  10  may allow a full view of the contents inside and may provide a clean, consistent appearance. 
     In another embodiment, the rails  14  is composed of a material strong enough to support bins  12  with a weight of at least 20 pounds, at least 25 pounds, at least 30 pounds, at least 35 pounds, at least 40 pounds, at least 45 pounds, or at least 50 pounds. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, aluminum. 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the present invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.