Abstract:
The present invention broadly comprises a storage system comprising a plurality of rungs serving as hangers or for supporting hanging devices. The rungs are spaced vertically along a pair of elastic cords that are hooked, top and bottom to a rectangular shaped support, such as a door.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to a storage system and, more particularly, to a storage system for hanging from a door comprising top and bottom hooks, stretch cords between the hooks and cross supports between the stretch cords.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Storage assemblies are known in the art.  
         [0003]     Swiss Patent No. 667380 A5 (Margot Shoop-Berbert) (hereinafter “Swiss system”) discloses a hanging storage system for a front or back of a door such as a closet door. The Swiss system comprises hooks, ropes, springs, conical pins, and cross bars. The hooks attach the system top and bottom to a frame such as a door; the ropes provide attachment for the crossbars and with the springs connect the hooks top to bottom; the conical pins secure the ropes within the hooks and secure the crossbars to the ropes; and the crossbars provide a place from which to hang objects. The spring provides a tension on the ropes, while a set of conical pins is used to adjust the ropes to match door height.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,430 (Ke) discloses a hanging storage system for a front or back of a door such as a closet door. Ke discloses a strap from top to bottom of a door secured by hooks at top and bottom. A single vertical strap or two vertical straps are taught. Each strap can be configured with a set of hooks for hanging items. When two vertical straps are used a pair of hooks may support crossbars or nets. An adjustable buckle on the straps is used to set the length of the straps to match the door height.  
         [0005]     While both systems of the art provide an adjustability feature, self adjusting in a user friendly fashion is not provided. For example as the systems in the art are loaded with the weight of hanging objects, the straps or ropes will lengthen even if only slightly as a function of time and load. Thus the pins may require removal and readjustment in the Swiss system or the buckles will require readjustment in the Ke system. The buckles and/or conical pin devices are also somewhat unsightly with adjusting features apparent. Removable parts are also a detriment as they can be lost or misplaced.  
         [0006]     What is needed, then, is an aesthetically pleasing storage system for hanging over a door that is simple to install and self adjusting and/or easily modified to meet individual needs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention broadly comprises a storage system assembly comprising a plurality of elastic cords, a plurality of hooks for affixing ends of the cords, and, a plurality of rungs attached to at least two of the plurality of elastic cords. The storage system is arranged to be hung over a door, such as a closet door or a door to a room.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the storage system of the present invention comprises a plurality of hooks, for example, four hooks, two for hooking over the bottom of the frame and two for hooking over the top of the frame. Hooks at top and bottom are held by elastic cords, for example, strung from a hook at the top of the frame to a hook at the bottom of a frame. A preferred embodiment includes a plurality of rungs from which objects to be stored can be hung.  
         [0009]     Any rigid frame should suffice. The storage system may be configured to any frame size by matching hook dimensions to frame thickness dimensions. Likewise elastic cords of the storage system, though providing for a range of frame sizes due to the stretching range of the cord, may be made longer or shorter to correspond to any frame height. The elastic strength of the cord can be chosen to correspond to the rigidity of the frame.  
         [0010]     The hooks preferably accept stoppers that fix a top or bottom of an elastic cord, to a hook. Preferably the stoppers contain an end of an elastic cord, thus hiding the end of the cord from view. Also preferred is a stopper comprising a lumen with at least a first part having a diameter about that of the elastic cord. More preferably the stopper comprises a second part of the lumen having a larger diameter than the first part. Especially preferred is an embodiment where the second part can hide and hold a widened portion of the elastic cord, while the first narrower part prevents the widened part of the elastic cord from passing through that part of the stopper. While not a preferred embodiment for aesthetic reasons, a single elastic cord could start, for example at a frame top, traverse through a hook or stopper at the frame bottom across to another hook or stopper at the frame bottom with the end in a stopper at the frame top. A stopper for each hook is preferred.  
         [0011]     A preferred hook has a u-shape portion that fits over the frame and a circular portion that can hold a stopper. For a frame such as a door, the u-shape portion preferably has a base portion that would correspond to the thickness of a top or bottom of a door. The base of the u-shape potion preferably has two wall portions corresponding to the front and back of the frame, for example, the door. Thus preferably these wall portions are at about 90° angles to the base so that the u-shape portion can be held securely over the frame (door) top or bottom. Preferably the circular portion that can hold the stopper is in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the u-shape portion base, that is, approximately parallel to the top and/or bottom of the frame. A more preferred embodiment comprises a hook where at least one wall of the u-shape portion has a stabilizer that serves to limit torsion and to spread out force on the frame surface. For example, the wall of the u-shape portion opposite the side with the stopper holding circular portion may have a surface contacting the frame wider than the surface of the other wall of the u-shape portion contacting the other side of the frame.  
         [0012]     A preferred embodiment comprises a wire shape hook with a first end on the outer wall corresponding e.g., to an exterior door surface; the first end may be, for example, T-shaped, L-shaped or curved, preferably in a pleasantly appearing or smooth shape, such that the shape or curve forms a plane at a right angle to the base of the u-shape portion and at a right angle to the wall of the u-shape on the first end.  
         [0013]     A preferred embodiment with a wire shape hook has the circular portion of the hook at an opposite end from that of the outer wall. Preferably the hook is formed from a wire, coated or uncoated. The hook is preferably formed with an outer stabilizer wall with a maximum width about the length of the base of the u-shape portion; the wire preferably continues from the outer wall through the base of the u-shape portion to the opposite (inner) wall; then the wire preferably continues in a plane at an angle approximately parallel to that of the base of the u-shape portion and terminates in a circular portion in a plane at an angle approximately parallel to that of the base of the u-shape portion. An especially elegant embodiment may have a circular portion at each end of the hook; a circular portion to hold a stopper and a circular portion to contact the frame.  
         [0014]     A preferred embodiment comprises a first and a second hook for the top and bottom of the frame, respectively with a third and fourth hook for the top and bottom of the frame, respectively, but spaced laterally from the first and second hooks. In this embodiment, elastic cords strung from the first to the second hook and from the third to the fourth hook serve to hold the hooks to the frame.  
         [0015]     A preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of rungs preferably at approximately right angles to the elastic cords. A more preferred embodiment comprises three rungs between two cords.  
         [0016]     Preferably each rung is fitted in an end cap at each end, the end cap holding the rung at an approximately right angle to an elastic cord. Especially preferred is an embodiment where the end cap has a lumen through which the elastic cord is situated. Most preferred is an embodiment where the elastic cord has a diameter about that of the end cap lumen with a result that the lumen is filled by the elastic cord. In this most preferred embodiment, the end cap lumen is preferably at an angle about 90° to the rung.  
         [0017]     The lumen preferably provides friction fixing the end cap at a selected position on an elastic cord. The lumen can provide friction by having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the elastic cord when it is relaxed. As the cord is stretched the cord will take on a smaller diameter. More preferred is a lumen that may be about the diameter of the elastic cord or perhaps larger, but that is not linear. For example, the lumen may be curved or comprise a plurality of linear segments not in a straight line with one another. For example, the lumen may take on a V, U, ellipsoidal, parabolic or hyperbolic shape. Most preferred is a lumen with a circular curvature, especially a curvature extending about 90°.  
         [0018]     A preferred curvature is a curvature where a straight line passing from the outer diameter surface at each opening intersects the inner diameter surface of the lumen. An especially preferred embodiment is one where the straight line is tangent to the inner diameter surface.  
         [0019]     A preferred embodiment of an elastic cord has a rubber interior and a protective sheath, more preferably a woven protective sheath. A nylon protective sheath is especially preferred. An especially preferred elastic cord is a bungee cord, for example a cord with an internal rubber elasticity sheathed with a protective coating such as a polyester layer and covered with an outer woven nylon sheathing.  
         [0020]     A very preferred embodiment comprises two elastic cords with four ends; three rungs with six ends; six end caps each individually disposed on an end of one of the rungs; four stoppers and four hooks wherein the end caps each have a lumen with a diameter about the diameter of a relaxed elastic cord and the elastic cords fit inside the end cap lumens. Preferably the stoppers have a conical outer shape with a large diameter end and a small diameter end, the large diameter end having a first lumen with a diameter about 2 times a diameter of a second lumen at the small diameter end. In this very preferred embodiment a circular portion of the hook circumscribes an opening with a diameter less than the large diameter, but greater than the small diameter of the stopper, the small diameter being about the diameter of a relaxed elastic cord, for example a bungee cord with the stoppers each fixing an end portion of an elastic cord in a hook.  
         [0021]     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in view of the several drawings of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention as it might appear installed on a door;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hook suitable for use in the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an end cap suitable for use in the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stopper with a conical shape suitable for use in the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective fragmentary view of a rung of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective fragmentary view of an elastic cord of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view showing insertion of an elastic cord without a knot through an end cap and a stopper as possible features of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the hook, stopper, knotted cord and end cap section of the present invention; and,  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment for the stopper and end cap of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical or corresponding structural elements of the invention. While the present storage system is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a view of storage system  10  as it might appear when installed on a frame, for example, a door, such as a closet door in a house. As installed, hooks  11  are affixed to the top and bottom of a panel, such as door  22 . Hooks  11  preferably have a u-shape with a portion, when installed, on for example, one side of a door, a portion spanning a top or bottom of door  22  and a portion on a second side of door  22 . Stopper  12  resides upon installation in hook  11  holding an elastic cord  15  by its end. Two stoppers  12  and two hooks  11  on opposite ends of an elastic cord  15  stretch the elastic cord  15  from near the top to near the bottom of frame  22 . End caps  13  are strung on elastic cords  15  supporting ends of runs  14  crossways across the door panel  22 . Elastic cords are cords that have a relaxed configuration to which they return after a load is applied and released. Preferably the elastic cords of the present invention will support a load of at least about 35 lbs, more preferably at least about 50, 75, 100 or 125 lbs or more and still return to the relaxed configuration upon release of the load. Elongation is preferably at least about 10% or 20%, more preferably at least about 40%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 120%, 140% or 150% or greater while still retaining ability to return to the relaxed configuration after elongation. The cords may be integral in construction or may comprise several portions, for example, a core portion and a sheath portion.  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of hook  11  suitable for use in the present invention. Hook  11  attaches storage system  10  to frame  22 . As shown here, hook  11  has a u-shaped portion with base  23  and two sides or walls  20  and  24 . A hook should be made of a material that retains its shape when challenged with desired loads expected for system  10 . A hard metal, such as aluminum or steel would be suitable. Plastics can also be used. A hook may be uniform in construction or may be laminar, for example a metallic core encased in a plastic protective covering. The diameter of hook  11  if made of wire is not critical. A preferred embodiment comprises a wire hook with a diameter between about ¼ and 2 times the width of the elastic cord  15 , More preferably about ½ the width of the elastic cord. Preferably base  23  has a length from wall to wall  20  and  24  approximately equal to frame  22  width. For example, base  22  may have a length about 35 mm, e.g., approximately the width of a common door. Wall  20  has a stabilizer at a right angle to a plane formed by base  23  and wall  24  and parallel to wall  24 . Thus the stabilizer is capable of fitting flat upon frame  22  such as a door and stabilizing hook  11  on frame  22 . Wall  20  is shown here with a circular shape. The shape is not critical. Wall  20  serves to inhibit rotation movement of hook  11  on frame  22 . Hook  11  also includes a portion for holding or fixing elastic cord  15 . In this embodiment, hook  11  has a circular shape portion  16  in a plane approximately parallel to base  23 , i.e., horizontal, so that elastic cords  15  can be stretched vertically between top and bottom hook  11 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows end cap  13  with lumen  18 . As will be discussed in more detail later, rung  14  and elastic cord  15  will each be disposed within end cap  13 . Lumen  18  has an entry port and an exit port such that lumen  18  does not form a straight pipe. For example, the entry and exit ports may be at an angle other than 180° with respect to one another; the ports may for example face out at angles about 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, or 90° with respect to one another or intermediate angles. The angle may be produced for example by V-shaped lumen  18  or curved lumen  18 , so that cord  15  resident in lumen  18  is forced to flex as cord  15  is pulled through lumen  18 . Cord  15  flexing effect can also be produced by providing a curved lumen or non-straight lumen regardless of whether the exit and entry ports are disposed at an angle to one another.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows stopper  12  as an embodiment suitable for use in the present invention. Stopper  12  has a receptacle or lumen  19  from top to bottom. One embodiment of the present invention features stopper  12  fitting into circular portion  16  with an end of elastic cord  15  residing in and fixed within lumen  19 . Stopper  19  is shown here as conical, that is having a smoothly tapered shape. The taper need not be a smooth taper but nay be discontinuous, for example stepped. A stepped taper preferably has an outer diameter before the step about the inner diameter of circular portion  16 . After the step, the outer diameter of stopper  12  is preferably larger than the inner diameter of circular portion  16 , more preferably about the outer diameter of circular portion  16 . Preferably the wider part of the lumen has a length between about 1 and 3 times the length of the length of the narrow portion of the lumen; more preferably the length of the wider portion of the lumen is about 1.5 times the length of the length of the narrow portion of the lumen  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of rung  14  suitable for use in the present invention. Rung  14  has two ends  25  the fit within end caps  13 . Rung  14  is preferably round, but can be any shape so long as end caps  13  are shaped to fit the rung  14  ends. Rung  14  may be of hollow or solid construction. Preferably rung  14  will be capable of bearing a load in its center at least about two lbs., more preferably at least about 5, 10, 11, 12, 15 or 20 or more lbs. without breaking and more preferably without flexing in a vertical direction more than about 5%, preferably without flexing more than 3 or 2% of the length of rung  14 . Alternatively, the flexing can be measured with a distributed load, for example a continuously distribute load, a load spaced at two, three, four or more intervals across rung  14 . Materials and form of the materials can be selected to provide the desired strength at a desired weight without flexing rung  14  beyond desired limits. For example, a stiffer plastic or metal rung  14  may be selected; a larger diameter or cross section may be chosen; or a thicker wall of hollow rung  14  may be put in use to provide less flex with greater load. A manufacturer or marketer may choose performance specifications, the materials and form, etc., based on aesthetics, e.g., visual or auditory, cost, weight, durability, etc., as desired.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a preferred embodiment of elastic cord  15 . In this embodiment the elastic cord has two ends  27 , inner core  26  and sheath  28 . Elastic cord  15  need not be sheathed. Sheathing, if present can be single layer or multi layer. For example, an inner sheath of cotton or polyester may be enclosed within an outer sheath, preferably a woven fabric sheath, most preferably a nylon outer sheath. Preferably elastic cord  15  has a diameter about 7 mm. Other embodiments include smaller or larger diameters, for example, about 3.5 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm etc. The diameter as all measures might be expressed in standard units of for example about, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, ⅜, ½ etc., inches.  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows a view of a corner of an embodiment of a storage system  10  of the present invention. No frame is shown in this drawing. Hook  11  has a stabilizer backing area  20  and a circular portion  16  holding stopper  12 . Stopper  12  contains and fixes end  27  of elastic cord  15  in stopper lumen  19 . Elastic cord  15  is strung through lumen  18  (not apparent in this drawing) of end cap  13 . At a right angle to elastic cord  15  end cap  13  holds and fixes end  25  (not apparent in this drawing) of rung  14 . Several rungs  14  may be present strung along cord  15 . End cap lumen  18  may be v-shaped or curved. Curved is preferred. A circular curvature is especially preferred. Lumen  18  preferably has a diameter about the same as the outer diameter of elastic cord  15  in a relaxed state. But since the elastic cord when stretched has a diameter smaller than the relaxed diameter, the lumen diameter may be smaller. However, lumen  18  diameter must be large enough to contain elastic cord  15  strung therethrough. The curve or v-shape of lumen  18  provides friction through bending cord  15  thus fixing end cap  13  and rung  14  whose end  25  is fixed inside end cap  13  at a stable location on cord  15 . Storage system  10  may include one, two, three, four, five, or more rungs  14  and pairs of end caps  13 . End caps  13  and rungs  14  may be self adjusting by stretching elastic cord  15  taught to effect sufficient friction to maintain a stable location, but modification of storage system  10  can be accomplished simply, by releasing friction from end caps  13  for example, by reducing tension on elastic cords  15  and flexing elastic cords  15  to correspond to end cap  13  openings to reduce friction. In some embodiments, friction may be reduced by stretching elastic cords  15 , perhaps while also flexing, to reduce elastic cord  15  diameter, thereby reducing friction in lumen  18 .  
         [0040]     A stable location is a location that remains fixed under normal loads, for example less than about 2 lbs, less than about 5 lbs., less than about 7 lbs., less than about 10 lbs., less than about 11 lbs., less than about 12 lbs., less than about 15 lbs., less than about 20 lbs., less than about 25 lbs., or whatever load the storage system is designed to support on a rack. Designed load will be a factor of the thickness of elastic cord  15 , its elongation characteristics under load, strength of hooks  11 , stoppers  12 , end caps  13  and rungs  14 . A tighter curvature or more angled v, or smaller lumen  18  diameter will increase friction and load supported while end cap  13  remains at a stable location. A lumen whose diameter is less than the diameter of a relaxed cord can be used so long as the diameter of the cord when stretched allows the cord to move through the lumen.  
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows a cutaway view of the corner of  FIG. 7 . Hanger  11  includes circular portion  16  that holds stopper  12 . Knot  21  is shown on elastic cord  15  providing a widened portion of cord  15  that prevents cord  15  from sliding out through the narrow end of lumen  19  thus fixing the cord within the lumen. Knot  21  is a simple means to widen cord  15  and is thus preferred, but alternative widening and fixing devices, such as a clamp, a lump of adhesive, a pin through cord  15  would serve the same purpose. Elastic cord  15  then is shown strung though lumen  18  of end cap  13 . No rung  14  is shown here, but a receiving cylinder for the rung is apparent.  
         [0042]      FIG. 9  is a cross section similar to  FIG. 8  showing alternate embodiments of stopper  12  and end cap  13 . The embodiment of stopper  12  shown here includes a stepped lumen  19 . In this embodiment elastic cord  15  fills lumen  19 &#39;s narrow portion. Cord  15  is knotted to form thickened area  21  that prevents the end of cord  15  from slipping through the narrow portion of lumen  19 . A wide part of lumen  19  contains the end of cord  15  and thickened area  21 , obscuring end  27  and thickened area  19  from direct view. From stopper  12  cord  15  exits through the narrow portion of lumen  19  and proceeds through end cap  13 . In the embodiment shown, end cap  13  has a curved shape to provide friction against cord  15  inhibiting sliding of cord  15  through lumen  18  of end cap  13 .  
         [0043]     Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes are considered to be within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the storage system is easily installed by use of hooks. The storage system of the present invention is also self adjusting upon installation by stretch of the elastic cords. The storage system is easily modified through use of the elastic cords and the shaped lumens in the end caps whereby tension on the elastic cords provides a locking effect within the end caps. Furthermore, an aesthetically pleasing design is provided by the stoppers that both secure and hide from view the ends of the elastic cords.