Patent Publication Number: US-11382422-B1

Title: Overhead storage system and apparatus configured to raise and lower

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/810,300 filed Feb. 25, 2019 and which is incorporated herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to an overhead storage system configured for attachment to a ceiling or similar rigid structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Storage space in homes is always in short supply. The same is true of garage space. Indeed, many garages are now used to store personnel belongings other than automobiles. The area near the ceilings of homes, garages and other structures is vastly underutilized. And when it is used, accessing the stored items is challenging. 
     It would be advantageous to develop an overhead storage apparatus that provides easy and convenient access to the items stored thereon. Moreover, the overhead storage apparatus should be economical. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention involves a platform, a pair of spaced scissor mechanisms, each scissor mechanism having a first rotatable point of attachment to said platform and a second translatable point of attachment to said platform, and a spring-biased tensioner mechanism configured to maintain said platform in an elevated state when access to said stored items is not desired and a lowered state when access to said stored items is desired, said spring-biased tensioner mechanism configured to allow a human to manually lower said platform from said elevated state to said lowered state and manually raise said platform from said lowered state to said elevated state. 
     The embodiments of the present invention allow a user to easily access the stored items without having to climb a ladder by permitting the platform of the overhead storage apparatus to be raised and lowered manually. When lowering the platform and items placed thereon, the user need only overcome the upward force of the spring-biased tensioner mechanism maintaining the platform in an elevated state. In one embodiment, the desired upward force may be set at between 30 to 40 pounds allowing almost any user to lower the platform. Raising the platform is just as easy albeit requiring a modest lifting force by the user. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of an overhead storage apparatus in a lowered state with storage bins thereon according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the first embodiment of the overhead storage apparatus in an elevated state with storage bins thereon according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the first embodiment of the overhead storage apparatus in a partially lowered state according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the first embodiment of the overhead storage apparatus in a lowered state according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate a spring-biased tensioner mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A through 6C  illustrate side views of the first embodiment of the overhead storage apparatus in an elevated state, lowered state and partially lowered state, respectively, according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A through 7I  illustrate various views of a second embodiment of an overhead storage apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
       FIG. 1  shows an overhead storage apparatus  100  in a lowered state with storage bins  105  thereon according to the embodiments of the present invention. In broad terms, the overhead storage apparatus  100  comprises a platform  110 , a pair of spaced scissor mechanisms  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2  and pulley and spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130 . A pair of supports  140 - 1 ,  140 - 2  are configured to attach the overhead storage apparatus  100  to a rigid structure (e.g., ceiling, rafters, etc.).  FIG. 2  shows the overhead storage apparatus  100  in an elevated state. In the elevated state, the bins  105  are adjacent to the ceiling or other structure to which the overhead storage apparatus  100  is attached thereby maintaining the bins or other stored items in an overhead area. 
       FIG. 3  shows the overhead storage apparatus  100  in an elevated state with no storage bins.  FIG. 4  shows the storage apparatus  100  in a lowered state with no storage bins. As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the platform  110  may comprises a frame  111  and floor  112  arrangement. As shown, the floor  112  is a grid configuration allowing the storage bins  105  to be viewed from beneath. With transparent storage bins users may prefer to view the storage bins  105  to determine items stored therein. Similarly, with opaque storage bins users may mark the bottom of the storage bins indicating items stored therein. Alternatively, the floor  112  may a solid member. 
     Each of the pair of spaced scissor mechanisms  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2  is connected at one end to one of the supports  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2  and connected at a second end to the frame  111  of the platform  110 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that other structural members may be integrated between connection points of the pair of spaced scissor mechanisms  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2  and the pair of supports  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2  and the frame  111  of the platform  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A through 6B , each scissor mechanism  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2  comprises four arm members  121 - 1  through  121 - 4  and  122 - 1  through  122 - 4 . Arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 2  are connected at first ends to support member  130 - 1  and rotatably connected at second ends to arm members  121 - 3  and  122 - 4 , respectively. Mid-points of arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 2  are also rotatably connected to one another in a cross configuration. Arm members  121 - 3  and  122 - 4  are rotatably connected at first ends to arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 2 , respectively, and connected at second ends to frame  111 . Mid-points of arm members  121 - 3  and  121 - 4  are also rotatably connected to one another in a cross configuration. Arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 3  are slidably connected to said support member  130 - 1  and frame  111 , respectively, while arm members  121 - 2  and  121 - 4  are rotatably connected to said support member  130 - 1  and frame  111 , respectively. Arm members  122 - 1  through  122 - 4  are arranged in the same fashion. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  show the frame  111  comprising an outer wall  116  and inner wall  117  in which pins  118 ,  119  extending between opposite edges of arm members  121 - 3  and  121 - 4 . Slots  126 ,  127  in outer wall  116  and inner wall  117 , respectively, allow arm member  121 - 3 , via pin  118 , to slide along frame  111 . Pin  119  rotates relative to outer wall  116  and inner wall  117  thereby maintaining arm member  121 - 4  in rotatable connection to frame  111 . A similar arrangement controls scissor mechanism  120 - 2 . 
     In operation, arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 2 , and  121 - 3  and  121 - 4  are able to rotate about their connected mid-points  123  and  124  while the two arm members  121 - 1  and  121 - 3  slide along slots  126 ,  127  in frame  111  and slot  128  in support member  130 - 1 , respectively, permitting the entire scissor mechanism  120 - 1  to flatten into the elevated state (the same is true of scissor mechanism  120 - 2 ). The opposite operation takes place when moving the overhead storage apparatus  100  into a lowered state. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  show a spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  includes spools  155 - 1 ,  155 - 2 , axle  160 , pulleys  165 - 1 ,  165 - 2  and flat springs  170 - 1 ,  170 - 2 . The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is configured to retain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in an elevated position while permitting a user to lower the overhead storage apparatus  100  by means for a modest downward force. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is further configured to maintain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in a lowered position until a user applies a modest upward force returning the overhead storage apparatus  100  to its elevated position. While not shown, the frame  111  and/or floor  112  may include one or more handles allowing a user to easily grip the overhead storage apparatus  100  to lower and raise the same. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  show a spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  includes spools  155 - 1 ,  155 - 2 , axle  160 , pulleys  165 - 1 ,  165 - 2  and flat springs  170 - 1 ,  170 - 2 . The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is configured to retain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in an elevated position while permitting a user to lower the overhead storage apparatus  100  by means for a modest downward force. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is further configured to maintain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in a lowered position until a user applies a modest upward force returning the overhead storage apparatus  100  to its elevated position. While not shown, the frame  111  and/or floor  112  may include one or more handles allowing a user to easily grip the overhead storage apparatus  100  to lower and raise the same. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  show a spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  includes spools  155 - 1 ,  155 - 2 , axle  160 , pulleys  165 - 1 ,  165 - 2  and flat springs  170 - 1 ,  170 - 2 . The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is configured to retain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in an elevated position while permitting a user to lower the overhead storage apparatus  100  by means for a modest downward force. The spring-biased tensioner mechanism  130  is further configured to maintain the overhead storage apparatus  100  in a lowered position until a user applies a modest upward force returning the overhead storage apparatus  100  to its elevated position. While not shown, the frame  111  and/or floor  112  may include one or more handles allowing a user to easily grip the overhead storage apparatus  100  to lower and raise the same. 
       FIGS. 7A through 7H  show a second embodiment of an overhead storage apparatus  200  according to the embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the overhead storage apparatus  200  comprising broadly a lower support platform for goods  205 , a scissor mechanism comprising two pairs of flat bars  210 - 1  to  210 - 4  with each pair of flat bars  210 - 1  and  210 - 2 , and  210 - 3  and  210 - 4  attached at mid-points  215 - 1  and  215 - 2  to each other. One upper end of flat bars  210 - 1  and  210 - 3  are rotatably attached to an upper support member  220 , attachable to a rigid overhead support (e.g., rafters) while lower ends of flat bars  210 - 2  and  210 - 4  are rotatably attached to said lower support platform  205 . Opposite ends of flat bars  210 - 2  and  210 - 4  slidably engage upper guide rails  225 - 1  and  225 - 2  via wheels. Opposite ends of flat bars  210 - 1  and  210 - 3  attach to vertical members  227 - 1  and  227 - 2  of U-shaped cross-beam  230 . The attachment of the flat bars  210 - 1  and  210 - 3  to the U-shaped cross-beam  230  further serves to slidably attach the U-shaped cross-beam  230  to lower guide rails  235 - 1  and  235 - 2 . 
     The attachment of the flat bars  210 - 1  and  210 - 3  to the U-shaped cross-beam  230  is accomplished with a nut, bolt, and wheel or ball bearing arrangement  228 - 1  and  228 - 2 . Wheels  240 - 1  and  240 - 2  slide along the lower guide rails  235 - 1  and  235 - 2 . Similar wheels (only wheel  240 - 3  is shown) allow the flat bars  210 - 2  and  210 - 4  to slide along upper guide rails  225 - 1  and  225 - 2 . Stops  245  prevent the lower support platform  205  from lowering beyond a threshold level. 
       FIGS. 7G and 7H  show rear and front views, respectively, of the overhead storage apparatus  200 . With this second embodiment, the overhead storage apparatus  200  may be lowered and raised using a wheel  250  shown in  FIG. 7I . The wheel  250 , as detailed below, turns a threaded rod  255  which intersects, and threadedly engages a threaded opening  260  in, the U-shaped cross-beam  230  extending beneath the lower support platform  205 . As the threaded rod  255  is turned by means of wheel  250  connected thereto, the U-shaped cross-beam  230  is forced to move via the wheels  240 - 1  and  240 - 2  sliding within lower guide rails  235 - 1  and  235 - 2  thereby raising or lowering the support platform  205 . In one embodiment, turning the wheel  250  clockwise raises the lower support platform  205  and turning the wheel  250  counter-clockwise lowers the lower support platform  205 . Means other than the wheel  250  may be used to turn the threaded rod  255  such as a crank handle, power tool, etc. 
     The components used to build the overhead storage apparatuses  100  and  200  may be fabricated of any number of materials including but not limited to alloys, polymers, metals, composites, plastics and combinations thereof. The components may be fabricated using any number of techniques including but not limited to machining, molding, casting, additive manufacturing and combinations thereof. The components may be attached to one another and an overhead rigid structure using any number of fasteners including but not limited to pins, screws, nails, rivets, anchors, adhesives, magnets and combinations thereof. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.