Patent Publication Number: US-7896175-B1

Title: Weight activated storage device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to the instant inventors&#39; co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/886,357 filed on Jan. 24, 2007 and entitled, “Wall Mountable and Weight Activated Retaining Device;” the aforementioned provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     RELEVANT INVENTIVE FIELD 
     The various inventive embodiments described herein relate generally to storage devices and more specifically to wall mounted storage devices for storing for example watersports type boards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various storage systems are available in the relevant art which provide static receptacles, shelves, hooks and combinations thereof. However, in many circumstances, elongated objects, for example, a surfboard, due to its dimensions, shape and contour are not easily maintainable in the devices of the relevant art. Therefore, a wall mountable device which retains elongated objects of various sizes and shapes is highly desirable yet currently unavailable in the relevant art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The various inventive embodiments described herein address the limitations of the relevant art and provides a mechanical arrangement which may be used to store elongated objects. In a first general aspect, a weight actuated storage device is provided. The weight actuated storage device comprises an elongated frame member having an upper end, a lower end, and a fixed pivot pin disposed proximate to its upper end. First and second lever members and are pivotally coupled to the pivot pin at their respective top ends and to a first and a second arm member at their respective bottom ends. The first and second arm members being upwardly and outwardly aligned in opposing relation such that their bottom ends intersect at a cross point along a longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member subjacent to the pivot pin. 
     The first and second arm members each include a perpendicular grasping member configured to laterally grasp an elongated object from a side when a longitudinal force is received at the cross point. A base support member is restively disposed in proximity to an opposite end of the elongated frame member and is communicatively coupled with the cross point of the first and second arm members. The base support member includes a platform aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member and is configured to transmit the longitudinal force to the cross point when the elongated object is placed upon the platform for storage. 
     A motion damping device is provided for damping the longitudinal force between the cross point and the base support member. The transmitted longitudinal force causes the first and second arm members to move in unison inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member until the elongated object is laterally grasped on opposing sides by each perpendicular grasping member. 
     In a related aspect, a motion damping device provides damping between the base support member and the cross point. The motion damping device is configured to dampen the rate of movement of the grasping members in response to the weight being placed on or removed from the top surface of the base support member. The motion damping device may be of an automotive type shock absorber. 
     In another related aspect, the grasping members include inward facing curved surfaces configured to grasp one or more rounded edges associated with the elongated object disposed there-between. 
     In a yet another related aspect, the grasping members include resilient surface padding disposed on at least opposing faces. In still another related aspect the elongated object is a recreational board, for example, skis, wake boards, boogie boards, surfboards, windsurfing boards, and skim boards. 
     In still another related aspect, the elongated frame member further includes a two or more openings periodically placed to allow the weight actuated storage device to be attached to a wall or other suitable vertical support structure using fasteners such as nails and/or screws. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numerals and characters are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described exemplary embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the inventive scope as defined by the claims. 
       FIG.  1 —depicts a generalized frontal view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. 
       FIG.  2 —depicts a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. 
       FIG.  3 —depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. 
       FIG.  4 —depicts another exemplary frontal view of the weight actuated storage device having an elongated object stored therein. 
       FIG.  5 —depicts another exemplary side view of the weight actuated storage device having an elongated object stored therein. 
       FIG.  6 —depicts an exemplary perspective view of an embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various exemplary embodiments described herein provide a weight activated storage apparatus for maintaining an elongated object. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a front view of the weight actuated storage device is provided. The weight actuated storage device is comprised of an elongated frame member  5  which provides the base foundation for the remaining components. The elongated frame member  5  is intended to be mounted generally in a vertical plane to minimize the storage area required and also to maximize the use of gravity for activating the retaining features. 
     The elongated frame member  5  is envisioned to be constructed from a relatively lightweight metal or high impact plastic strip having sufficient weight bearing capabilities to support elongated objects to be stored in the weight actuated storage device. In proximity to the bottom end of the elongated frame member  5 , a base support member  10  is provided for resting an elongated object thereupon to operate the clamping mechanism described below. The base support member  10  is slidably mounted perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member  5 . In one embodiment, a longitudinal guide is provided to axially retain a motion damping device  20  coupled to the base support member  10  (not shown.) 
     In one embodiment, a separate “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  may be coupled to the base support member  10  to assist in maintaining the elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ) securely on the base support member  10 . When so equipped, the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  is affixed to the base support member  10  by common fasteners such as screws or rivets. The “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  is likewise envisioned to be constructed from lightweight metal or high impact plastic sufficient to maintain an elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ) within the weight actuated storage device. 
     A longitudinally mounted motion damping device  20  is provided to damp the closing and opening of motions of the weight actuated storage device for both safety reasons and minimizing the possibility of damage to elongated objects  400  ( FIG. 4 ) secured by the weight actuated storage device. In an embodiment, the motion damping device  20  comprises a suitably sized automotive type shock absorber. The motion damping device  20  is attached at the lower end to a bracket (not shown) located on a top surface of the base support member  10 . The upper end of the motion damping device  20  is attached to a cross point  25  in which the lower ends of the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  intersect. 
     The cross point  25  allows the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  to pivot about a common rotation point without being restricted in longitudinal motion. The cross point  25  may be constructed from a shank bolt which traverses a lateral opening at the top of the motion damping device  20 . Other simple lock and pin arrangements may be utilized as well. The first and second arm members  30 ,  35  are aligned at upwardly and outwardly directed acute angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member  5 . The first arm member  30  assumes a leftward directed alignment while the second arm member  30  assumes a rightward directed alignment. 
     A first lever member  40  is pivotally coupled at its lower end to about a midpoint of the first arm member  30  and pivotally coupled at its upper end to a pivot pin  55  attached to the upper end of the elongated frame member  5 . Likewise, a second lever member  45  is pivotally coupled at its lower end to about a midpoint of the second arm member  35  and pivotally coupled at its upper end to the pivot pin  55  attached to the upper end of the elongated frame member  5 . The first and second lever members  35 ,  45  and the first and second arm members  30 ,  40  are likewise envisioned to be constructed from lightweight metal or high impact plastic sufficient to maintain an elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ) within the weight actuated storage device. 
     A tension device  50  is longitudinally coupled to both the pivot pin  55  and cross point  25 . The tension device  50  is intended to provide an upward longitudinal counterforce which maintains the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  in a receptive position for placement of the elongated object  400  into the retention device. The elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ) is maintained within the retention device by a pair of grasping members  60 ,  70  perpendicularly coupled to the upper ends of the first and second arm members  30 ,  35 . The grasping members  60 ,  70  are aligned in opposition to one another such that movement of the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  causes the grasping members  60 ,  70  to move in unison laterally inward or outward, depending on whether the elongated object  400  is being placed into or removed from the weight actuated storage device. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the grasping members  60 ,  70  are provided with a resilient covering  65 ,  75  to prevent damage to the elongated object held therebetween. In another related exemplary embodiment, the grasping members  60 ,  70  are provided with inward facing arcuate contours to better grasp rounded edges which may be associated with the elongated object to be stored in the weight actuated storage device. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. In this view, the elongated frame member  5  is shown affixed to a wall  100  or other suitable vertical support structure. Also visible in this view are the base support member  10 , the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15 , first and second arm members  30 ,  35 , pivot pin  55 , base support member  10 , and the grasping members  60 ,  70  provided with the resilient covering material  65 ,  75 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. In this view, the elongated frame member  5  is again shown affixed to a wall  100  or other suitable vertical support structure. Also visible in this view are the base support member  10 , the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15 , the first arm member  30 , a grasping member  60  with a resilient covering material  65 , the cross point  25 , the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  and base support member  10 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts another frontal view with an elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ) being maintained by the weight actuated storage device. In this exemplary embodiment, the elongated object  400  is depicted as a surfboard. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any elongated recreational type boards may be stored using the weight actuated storage device. When the elongated object  400  is placed upon the base support member  10 , the weight of the elongated object  400  overcomes the upward counterforce provided by the tension device  50  and causes the first and second arm members  30 ′,  35 ′, and associated grasping members  60 ′,  70 ′ and resilient covering material  65 ′,  75 ′ to move inward toward a longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member  5  until the grasping members  60 ,  70  and resilient covering material  65 ,  75  engage the lateral surfaces of the elongated object  400 . The grasping force applied to the lateral surfaces of the elongated object  400  is a function of the weight of the elongated object  400  less the counterforce exerted by the tension device  50 . 
     The “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15 ,  15 ′ and base support member  10 , 10 ′ move longitudinally downward until the grasping members  60 ′,  70 ′ and resilient covering material  65 ′,  75 ′ clamp the lateral surfaces of the elongated object  400 . Once the grasping members  60 ′,  70 ′ and resilient covering material  65 ′,  75 ′ clamp the lateral surfaces of the elongated object  400 , the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  and base support member  10  maintain a fixed geometry which provides a three point retention by way of the grasping members  60 ,  70 , resilient covering material  65 ,  75  and base support member  10 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts another side view where the elongated object  400  of  FIG. 4  (e.g., surfboard) is maintained in the three point retention by way of the grasping members  60 , base support member  10  and the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  (if so equipped.) In this view, the elongated frame member  5  is again shown affixed to a wall  100  or other suitable vertical support structure. Also visible in this view are the first arm member  30 , an associated grasping member  60  with a resilient covering material  65 , the cross point  25 , the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15  and base support member  10 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the weight actuated storage device. In this exemplary embodiment, the weight actuated storage device is again depicted as being affixed to a wall  100  or other suitable vertical support structure by way of the elongated frame member  5 . The base support member  5  is shown in this exemplary embodiment as a narrow bar which supports the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15 . The motion damping device  20  is longitudinally affixed to the base support member  5  at its bottom end and to the cross point  25  at its top end. The first and second arm members  30 ,  35  are coupled to the cross point  25  at generally equal but opposite oblique angles at their respective lower ends. The first and second lever members  40 ,  45  are depicted being coupled on their lower ends to the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  respectively and to the pivot pin  55  near the top end of the elongated frame member  5 . 
     The tension device  50  is longitudinally coupled to the cross point  25  at its bottom end and to the pivot pin  55  at its top end. The tension device  50  may be of any suitable type for example, a spring, elastic band and/or bungee cord. The grasping members  60 ,  70  are shown aligned in opposition and are perpendicularly coupled at about the upper ends of their respective first and second arm members  30 ,  35 . The grasping members  60 ,  70  may be provided with resilient covering material  65 ,  75 . The resilient covering material  65 ,  75  may be constructed from any suitable polymeric, elastomeric or foam materials sufficient to prevent damaging the lateral surfaces of a retained elongated object  400  ( FIG. 4 ). Likewise, the load bearing components are envisioned to be constructed from a relatively lightweight metal or high impact plastic strip having sufficient weight bearing capabilities to support the type of elongated objects  400  ( FIG. 4 ) to be stored in the weight actuated storage device. 
     In one exemplary embodiment (not shown), the tension device  50  and optionally the motion damping device  20  may be replaced by providing a main pulley at about the top of the elongated frame member  5  and at least a pair of pulleys disposed at about longitudinal midpoints along the elongated frame member  5  between the first and second lever members  40 ,  45  and the first and second arm members  30 ,  35 . In this exemplary embodiment, cables are used to pull the respective first and second arm members  30 ,  35  inward in response to a weight being disposed on the base support member  10 . The first and second lever members  40 ,  45  may be omitted in this exemplary alternate embodiment as well. One cable end is looped through a pulley which engages the first arm member  30 . A second cable is looped through a pulley which engages the second arm member  35 . The two cables are combined into a common cable which is looped through the main pulley and routed downward to connect to the cross point  25 . A separate bar or the existing motion damping device  20  is then attached to the base support member  10  respectively. 
     OPERATION 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the weight actuated storage device is affixed to a vertical support structure, typically a wall  100  ( FIG. 3 ). An elongated object, for example, a surfboard  400  is disposed on a base support member  10  such that the long axis of the surfboard is bracketed by the grasping members  60 ,  70 . The weight of the surfboard  400  causes a downward longitudinal force  405  to be exerted on the base support member  10 ,  15  which displaces the base support  10 ′,  15 ′ from its restive position to supporting position. The base support member  10 ,  15  transmits the downward longitudinal force  405  via a motion damping device  20  to a cross point  25 . The downward longitudinal force  405  is then mechanically transmitted by the first and second lever arms  40 ,  45  and the fixed pivot point  55  to the first and second arm members  30 ,  35 . The transmitted mechanical force causes the first and second arm members  30 ,  35  to be pulled generally inward toward a longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member  5 . The grasping members  60 ,  70  then engage the surfboard  400  in unison from opposing sides. The clamping force exerted by the grasping members  60 ,  70  is a function of the weight of the surfboard  400  disposed on the base support member  10 . A tension device  50  is provided to maintain the first and second arm members  30 ′,  35 ′ laterally apart when the lateral force  405  is absent. 
     In one embodiment, the “U” or “L” shaped channel member  15 ,  15 ′ is provided to maintain the bottom of the surfboard  400  on the base support member  10 ,  10 ′ during storage and removal of the surfboard  400  from the weight actuated storage device. Removal of the surfboard  400  from the weight actuated storage device is accomplished by grasping both sides of the surfboard and lifting upward sufficiently to overcome the weight of the surfboard  400  disposed on the base support member  10 ,  10 ′. The tension device  50  causes the first and second arm members  30 ,  40  to move away from the sides of the surfboard, thus releasing the clamping action of the grasping members  60 ,  70 . The damping device  20  prevents rapid movement of the first and second support arms  30 ,  40  during storage and removal operations. This feature minimizes the need of a person to manually control the speed in which the first and second supports arms  30 ,  40  move. 
     The foregoing described exemplary embodiments are provided as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended to limit the inventive scope to any precise form and/or structure described. In particular, it is contemplated that functional implementation of the various embodiments described herein may be implemented using any common construction material, or tension device. No specific limitation is intended to a particular shape, contour, or angular relationships between the various components. Other variations and embodiments are possible in light of above teachings, and it is not intended that this Detailed Description limit the inventive scope but rather by the Claims following herein.