Patent Publication Number: US-2007102380-A1

Title: Adjustable strap mounting system

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to racks, and more specifically to an adjustable strap mounting system.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Storage and display are always problems in the home and in business. Some items which are used constantly are desirable to store in visible locations with very easy access. Surfboards, wakeboards, snowboards and skis fall into these categories. Wall storage can be a good solution for these items. The items stored on the wall are highly visible and easily accessible. To preserve space, it is desirable to store boards flat against the wall so that the boards do not stick out away from the wall. The boards themselves may be subject to denting or scratching, so supporting the boards in a support system which does not scratch, dent, or mar the surface of the board is desirable.  
      Many possessions are both large and of irregular size making storage of these objects using conventional devices inadequate or otherwise unsatisfactory. Often, these items must be stored in somewhat inaccessible areas where adequate storage space is not really available, and where their presence must not interfere with other activities. Often a choice must be made between accessibility for frequent use, or inaccessibility but better safety for the objects.  
      Another problem related to the use and storage or relatively large and irregularly shaped and sized objects include the difficulty of maintaining the objects and of monitoring their condition. When such items are left merely laying around, they are typically susceptible to damage and deterioration. However, when they are left in storage, it may not be possible to monitor their condition.  
      Thus, what is called for is a storage system that allows for the storage of large and irregular objects. What is also called for is a storage system that is adjustable such that it can accommodate different sizes of objects, as well as being able to be mounted in locations with different clearances.  
     SUMMARY  
      An adjustable storage rack system that allows for the organized storage of objects. The storage rack is adjustable with regard to the size of the objects to be stored, as well as to the position of the objects along the rack. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an adjustable storage rack system in use along a wall according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of an apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a clip used in some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side cutaway view of a clip used in an apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of a clip used in some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a side cutaway view of a clip used in an apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is an illustration of an adjustable storage rack system in use along a ceiling according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is an illustration of an adjustable storage rack system in use along a ceiling according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is an illustration of a clip used in some embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an adjustable storage rack system  100  stores items  105 ,  106 ,  107  against a wall  112 . A first main strap  101  and a second main strap  102  hang vertically against the wall  112  in some embodiments. The main straps  101 ,  102  may be of nylon webbing material in some embodiments. A top attach point  108 ,  110  may be used to attach the main straps  101 ,  102  to the wall  112 . In some embodiments, the top attach points  108 ,  110  may be a grommet. In some embodiments, the main straps  101 ,  102  may be attached by a fastener placed through the grommet and into the wall  112 . The bottom of the main straps  101 ,  102  may be also be attached to the wall  112  using bottom attach points  109 ,  111 . In other embodiments, the top attach points  108 ,  110  may be attached to a ceiling to allow the main straps  101 ,  102  to hang down from the ceiling, as in the middle of room, or also if a plurality of rack systems are to be used side by side with space between for walking and access. The length of the main straps may be adjusted through the use of a second segment  116  and an adjusting clip  115 . The first segment of the main strap may be attached using to top attach point  108 , and then the main strap may be lengthened or shortened as required. The bottom attach point  109  may then also be fastened if desired.  
      A plurality of attaching straps  104   a - c ,  103   a - c  may be attached along the length of the main straps  101 ,  102 . The attaching straps are not permanently fastened along the straps but are attached using a plurality of adjustable attaching clips  114   a - c  which function as a link between the attaching straps  104   a - c  and the main strap  101 . The attaching straps  104   a - c  are adapted to be adjustable such that the loop formed by the attaching strap can be snugly fastened around objects of differing sizes  105 ,  106 ,  107 . The attaching straps  104   a - c  may have buckle clips  117   a - c  which allow the attaching straps  104   a - c  to be clipped around the item to be stored. The buckle clips  117   a - c  are adapted to allow for the adjustment of the length of the loop formed by the attaching straps. Although three attaching straps are shown in the illustrative example of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is understood that any number of attaching straps may be used in different embodiments of the present invention.  
      The attaching straps  104   a - c  thus may be moved up or down along the length of the main strap  101  to allow the attach point of the attaching strap to be adjusted according to the shape and size of the object to be stored and according to the desires of the user. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a pair of main straps  101 ,  102  may be used in conjunction with each other to store objects horizontally. In the case of non-uniformly shaped objects, the adjusting straps may be located according to need, and the length of the loop of the adjusting strap may vary according to the cross-section of the object to be stored at the point where it crosses the main strap.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an attaching clip  201  is used to attach the adjusting strap  104  to the main strap  101 . The attaching clip  201  has a plurality of cross members  202 ,  203 ,  204 ,  205  through which the main strap  101  and the attaching strap  104  are threaded. The main strap may be threaded in such a way the attaching clip will not be moved by the weight of the object being held by the attaching strap due to the friction of the threaded strap through the attaching clip. Thus, to adjust the position of the attaching clip along the main strap the attaching clip must be unweighted. This allows for the safe storage of objects along the main strap while allowing for the adjustment of the adjusting strap along the length of the main strap. The adjusting strap may be threaded through the attaching clip so that it may move through the attaching clip relatively easily even under load, or may be threaded so that it must also be unweighted, depending upon the preferences of the user. Typically, the adjusting strap would thread through just one cross member in order to be able to still be moved under load.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an attaching clip  210  has only a single cross member  212  other than the end cross members  211 ,  213 . The main strap  101  threads through the narrow opening between the cross member  212  and the end cross member  211 . The narrow opening allows for the movement of the main strap  101  when pulled horizontally to the plane of the attaching clip  210  but provides sufficient friction to hold the attaching clip  210  in place along the main strap  101  when deflected in line, as when put under load by an object being supported by the attaching strap  104 .  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 7 , an adjustable storage rack system  700  is mounted to the ceiling  720  of a room. The adjustable storage rack system  700  stores items  705 ,  706 ,  707  against a ceiling  720 . A first main strap  701  and a second main strap  702  are mounted horizontally against the ceiling  720  in some embodiments. The main straps  701 ,  702  may be of nylon webbing material in some embodiments. A first attach point  708 ,  710  may be used to attach the main straps  701 ,  702  to the ceiling  720 . In some embodiments, the first attach points  708 ,  710  may be a grommet. In some embodiments, the main straps  701 ,  702  may be attached by a fastener placed through the grommet and into the ceiling  720 . The second end of the main straps  701 ,  702  may be also be attached to the ceiling  720  using second attach points  709 ,  711 . In other embodiments, the first attach points  708 ,  710  may be attached to the ceiling  720  to allow the main straps  701 ,  702  to hang down from the ceiling, as in the middle of room, or also if a plurality of rack systems are to be used side by side with space between for walking and access.  
      A plurality of attaching straps  704   a - c ,  703   a - c  may be attached along the length of the main straps  701 ,  702 . The attaching straps are not permanently fastened along the straps but are attached using a plurality of adjustable attaching clips which function as a link between the attaching straps  704   a - c  and the main strap  701 . The attaching straps  704   a - c  are adapted to be adjustable such that the loop formed by the attaching strap can be snugly fastened around objects of differing sizes  705 ,  706 ,  707 . The attaching straps  704   a - c  may have buckle clips which allow the attaching straps  704   a - c  to be clipped around the item to be stored. The buckle clips are adapted to allow for the adjustment of the length of the loop formed by the attaching straps. Although three attaching straps are shown in the illustrative example of  FIG. 7 , it is understood that any number of attaching straps may be used in different embodiments of the present invention.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 8 , an adjustable storage rack system  800  is mounted to a ceiling of a room or other horizontal along the top surface  830  of a main bracket  801 . The adjustable storage rack system  800  stores items  805 ,  806 ,  807 ,  831 . A first main bracket  801  is mounted horizontally against a ceiling or other horizontal support in some embodiments. The main bracket  801  may be of steel, aluminum, or other suitable strong and rigid material in some embodiments. Attach points  808 ,  810  may be used to attach the main bracket  801  to the ceiling. In some embodiments, the attach points  808 ,  810  may be a through hole. In some embodiments, the main bracket  801  may be attached by a fastener placed through the through hole and into the ceiling.  
      A plurality of attaching straps  804   a - d  may be attached along the length of the main bracket  801 . The attaching straps are not permanently fastened along the bracket but are attached using a plurality of adjustable attaching clip sliders  815  which function as a link between the attaching straps  804   a - d  and the main bracket  801 .  
      The attaching clip sliders are adapted to slide along the length of the main bracket such that the spacing of the attaching straps may be adjusted as desired by the user. The attaching straps  804   a - d  are adapted to be adjustable such that the loop formed by the attaching strap can be snugly fastened around objects of differing sizes. The attaching straps  804   a - d  may have buckle clips which allow the attaching straps  804   a - d  to be clipped around the item to be stored. The buckle clips are adapted to allow for the adjustment of the length of the loop formed by the attaching straps. Although four attaching straps are shown in the illustrative example of  FIG. 8 , it is understood that any number of attaching straps may be used in different embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates an end view of a main bracket  801  and an attaching clip slider  815  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The attaching clip slider is adapted to slide along the main bracket to be moved into a position as desired by the user. The attaching strap may sling over the slider in some embodiments. In some embodiments, other hardware may be added to attach the attaching strap to the slider.  
      As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.