Abstract:
A compact, wall-mounted retiary storage and display system comprising a planar, regular quadrilateral polygonal-type shape formed of a sturdy, lightweight material with a retiary region formed of regularly spaced columns and rows of fiber bordered by a durable and flexible sheath. System is mounted to a surface by a hardware subassembly with applied horizontal tension from a shock cord loop subassembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/286,365 titled “Wall Storage System, Hand Tools” and filed on Jan. 23, 2016, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Art 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates to the field of wall storage and display systems, and more particularly to a wall-mounted retiary display and storage system. 
         [0004]    Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In the field of wall storage and display systems, some of the desirable attributes include space savings, simplicity of installation, and ease of removing and replacing items. Users unfortunately have a very limited number of systems to choose from and those usually require a large space and are difficult to install. The attending usability issues may cause the stored items to suffer a deferred return, precarious or incorrect positioning on the system, or temporary or permanent loss of the item. 
         [0006]    One type of storage and display system has gridded sets of holes (pegboard systems); while another is based on a panel with specially cut horizontal grooves (slat-wall systems). Both systems require the purchase of a variety of exclusively created attachments and implements such as hooks, racks, and pegs in order for items to be affixed to the systems. While both the pegboard and slat-wall systems provide excellent visibility, they fall short in installation and usability. Pegboard and slat-wall systems can be quite large, taking up a sizeable amount of space on a wall and can be difficult to install due to size and weight. Frequently a sub foundation is required before installation may begin. Users become frustrated when item retrieval is hindered by system components or other stored items. Also wearisome is the need for precision item placement within system to minimize possibility of items falling off or colliding with other items. Planning the arrangement of attachments and items is time consuming and further raises the complexity of using the storage and display system. Furthermore, the exclusive attachments are known to release spontaneously from their respective systems when items are taken from display. This requires the user to spend time locating and reinstalling the missing attachment before returning the item to the system. 
         [0007]    What is needed, is a means to provide the user with a small, lightweight storage and display system that is easy to assemble and install and requires minimal to no attachments. This storage and display system means to provide ease of access to items, clear visibility, ease of returning items to the system as well as a capacity that is better than or equal to current systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, the inventor has conceived and reduced to practice, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a compact lightweight tensioned retiary storage and display system that can be mounted to a wall or a movable, flat surface. System is tensioned to gently clasp items between system and mounting surface, thereby reducing the need for additional attachment and implements. System also maintains a capacity equivalency with current systems while taking up less space. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment of the system a wall-mounted retiary storage and display apparatus, comprising a planar, regular quadrilateral retiary region bounded by a rigid frame comprising four frame pieces is disclosed. The retiary region has regularly spaced rows and columns of fiber, whereby openings are formed between successive pairs of rows and columns. An upper and a lower edge of the retiary region each terminates in a flexible sheath. A first frame piece slides into the flexible sheath on the upper edge, a second frame piece slides into the flexible sheath on the lower edge, the third and fourth frame pieces are attached at opposite ends to the first and second frame pieces by means of engineered corners to complete the frame. The frame supplies a slight vertical tension to the retiary region. The frame corners are supplied with holes to accept the installing hardware. Once mounted to a flat surface, horizontal tension is applied to the retiary region by installing shock cord loops along the vertical edges of the retiary region. The shock cord loops are held in place by the systems installing hardware. Items to be stored and displayed on the invention may be applied by dropping the item into an opening of the retiary fabric, weaving an item in and out of the retiary fabric, hooking or hanging an item on the retiary fabric via the items own appendages or through use of generic hooks, loops and rings. 
         [0010]    In another preferred embodiment of the system a wall-mounted retiary storage and display apparatus, comprising a planar, regular quadrilateral retiary region bounded atop and beneath by rigid slats with holes at each end for placement of installing hardware is disclosed. The retiary region has regularly spaced rows and columns of fiber, whereby openings are formed between successive pairs of rows and columns. An upper and a lower edge of the retiary region each terminates in a flexible sheath. A first slat slides into the flexible sheath on the upper edge, a second slat slides into the flexible sheath on the lower edge. The user installs this partial assembly on the wall placing the installing hardware in holes on each end of the slats. The consumer must apply a slight vertical tension to the retiary region by strategic placement of the sheathed slats during installation. In this embodiment, there are only two horizontal rigid sides and no engineered corners. Horizontal tension is then applied to the retiary region by installing shock cord loops along the vertical edges of the retiary region. The shock cord loops are held in place by the installing hardware. Items to be stored and displayed on the invention may be applied by dropping the item into an opening of the retiary fabric, weaving an item in and out of the retiary fabric, hooking or hanging an item on the retiary fabric via the items own appendages or through use of generic hooks, loops and rings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention according to the embodiments. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings are merely exemplary, and are not to be considered as limiting of the scope of the invention or the claims herein in any way. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary retiary storage and display system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the device with all main components, subassemblies, and optional parts assembled. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exemplary assembly method of main body of invention according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating frame and retiary subassemblies. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of exemplary subassemblies for tension loop and hardware according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the subassemblies&#39; components and installation. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary alternative assembly of retiary storage and display system according to a preferred embodiment to the invention, illustrating a variation of frame assembly from a four-piece frame to a two-slat frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary retiary storage and display system  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the device with all main components, subassemblies, and optional parts  200 - 603  assembled. 
         [0018]    According to the embodiment, a retiary storage and display system  100  may comprise a generally quadrilateral polygonal-type shape such as a square; having a sturdy, lightweight frame subassembly  400  formed of a material such as metal, wood, or a rigid plastic (it should be appreciated that other forms of retiary storage and display systems may be used such as but not limited to; other polygonal shapes such as convex polygons [regular polygons] including but limited to triangles, parallelograms, diamonds, and others; or irregular polygons such as rhombi, rectangles, trapeziums, and other shapes as well according to a preferred use basis of the invention). Frame subassembly  400  is merged with retiary subassembly  300  to form primary body subassembly  200  of system, which can then be secured to a wall or other flat surface at each corner  402  ( FIG. 2 ) of frame subassembly  400  with hardware subassembly  500 . Once subsystem  200  is secured to a surface, tension loop subassembly  600  may be installed to complete system  100 . An optional tie-in  603  such as a plastic strip with serrations on one end that lock inside an opening on the other end, cable or other material, may be installed for additional support with use of heavier objects within system  100 . Tie-in  603  installs midway on vertical frame sides  401  and encircles both frame side  401  and tension loop subassembly  600  before being fully secured to system  100 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exemplary assembly method  200  of main body of invention according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating frame  400  and retiary  300  subassemblies. According to the embodiment, retiary subassembly  300  is comprised of a retiary fabric  301  comprised of a textile or other substance such as a reticulated fiber. Retiary fabric  301  has uniformly spaced rows and columns of braided, twisted, or other reticulated string or other fiber, whereby open spaces are formed between successive pairs of rows and columns (one knowledgeable in retiary products will recognize available variety of opening [spaces between rows and columns] sizes and fiber strengths). Attached to retiary fabric  301  at both upper and lower edge is border  302  comprised of a durable textile. Border  302  attaches to retiary fabric  301  by sewing (it should be appreciated that other methods of attachment may be used according to a preferred use basis of the invention) edges of border  302  to edges of retiary fabric  301  to form flexible sheaths for horizontal frame pieces  401  (or for slats  403  for an alternative use of the embodiment) to fit into. Vertical frame pieces  401  are fitted with corners  402  which are likewise fitted to horizontal frame pieces  401  sheathed in border  302 . Centers of corners  402  are drilled for easier installation to a surface. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of exemplary subassemblies for hardware  500  and tension loop  600  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the subassemblies&#39;  500 ,  600  components and installation. Hardware subassembly  500  is comprised of metal screws  501  such as a sheet metal screw or a wood screw with a standard slotted head or Phillips head (it should be appreciated that any mounting screw with compatible diameters and lengths may be used according to a preferred use basis of the invention), a bearing  502  such as a flange bearing comprised of a sturdy plastic material, to support tension loop subassembly  600  and an optional wall anchor  503  comprised of soft lead, metal, or a plastic depending on the receiving surface. Wall anchors  503  are often used to stabilize fasteners in friable wall surfaces (such as drywall) or otherwise difficult wall surfaces (such as masonry) and are placed into the mounting surface at the exact location intended for screw  501  prior to mounting the main body  200  on wall. Screw  501  is inserted through bearing  502  and then through corner  402  before penetrating wall surface or wall anchor  503 . Once main body subassembly  200  is installed on a flat surface, tension loop subassembly  600  may be installed. Tension loop subassembly  600  is comprised of a shock cord  601  (or other material such as an elastic cord may be used according to a preferred use basis of the invention) which is fastened into a continuous loop with crimp  602  which is comprised of a metal. Tension loop subassembly  600  provides horizontal tension across width of retiary fabric  301 . Installation of tension loop  600  begins at bottom edge of retiary fabric  301  and is woven in and out of open spaces in outermost column of fabric  301 . First end of tension loop  600  is hooked over bearing  502 ; tension loop  600  is then stretched downward while maintaining woven aspect through fabric  301 , until second end of tension loop  600  can be hooked over vertically opposing bearing  502 . Tension loop subassembly  600  is shorter than main body subassembly  200  thereby adding horizontal tension to fabric  301 , which in turn stabilizes items installed into system  100  against wall or flat surface. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary alternative assembly  101  of retiary storage and display system according to a preferred embodiment to the invention, illustrating a variation of frame assembly from a four-piece frame to a two-slat frame  403 . Alternative assembly  101  may comprise a generally regular, quadrilateral polygonal-type shape such as a square; having sturdy, lightweight slats  403  comprised of a material such as metal, wood, or a rigid plastic. Slats  403  are longer than durable border  302  and have a pre-drilled hole in center of each slat  403  end to accommodate hardware subassembly  500 . After inserting slat  403  into upper border sheath  302  of retiary subassembly  300 , system should then be installed to wall or other flat surface using hardware subassembly  500 . Second slat  403  is then inserted into bottom border sheath  302  of retiary subassembly  300  creating mild vertical tension to the retiary fabric, and is then installed to surface with hardware  500 . Once main system  101  is installed to surface, tension loop subassembly  600  may be installed. Tension loop subassembly  600  is comprised of a shock cord  601  (or other material such as an elastic cord may be used according to a preferred use basis of the invention) which is fastened into a continuous loop with crimp  602  which is comprised of a metal. Tension loop subassembly  600  provides horizontal tension across width of retiary fabric  301 . Installation of tension loop  600  begins at bottom edge of retiary fabric  301  and is woven in and out of open spaces in outermost column of fabric  301 . First end of tension loop  600  is hooked over hardware subassembly  500 ; tension loop  600  is then stretched downward while maintaining woven aspect through fabric  301 , until second end of tension loop  600  can be hooked over vertically opposing hardware subassembly  500 . Tension loop subassembly  600  is shorter than main body subassembly  101  thereby adding horizontal tension to fabric  301 , which in turn stabilizes items installed into system  101  against wall or flat surface. 
         [0022]    The skilled person will be aware of a range of possible modifications of the various embodiments described above. Accordingly, the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.