Patent ID: 8651294

Claim:
A support surface frame for a modular overhead storage system comprising: a first side rail member comprised of a first rail member adjacent to and abutting a second rail member, said first and second rail members each having a front face, wherein said front face of each rail member has at least one hole therein, said first and second rail members removably coupled together by a first rail connector sized to overlap said first and second rail members where the rail members touch, wherein each rail connector has a front face having a plurality of holes therein, and wherein, for each side rail member, said at least one hole in the front face of each rail member is configured to align with one or more holes of said plurality of holes in the front face of said rail connector; a second side rail member comprised of a third rail member adjacent to and abutting a fourth rail member, said third and fourth rail members each having a front face, wherein said front face of each rail member has at least one hole therein, said third and fourth rail members removably coupled together by a second rail connector sized to overlap said third and fourth rail members where the rail members touch, wherein each rail connector has a front face having a plurality of holes therein, and wherein, for each side rail member, said at least one hole in the front face of each rail member is configured to align with one or more holes of said plurality of holes in the front face of said rail connector; a first frame rail member having a front face shaped substantially similar to the first and second side rail members, a proximal end of said first frame rail member adjacent, abutting and secured to said first side rail member, and a distal end of said first frame rail member adjacent, abutting and secured to said second side rail member; a second frame rail member having a front face shaped substantially similar to the first and second side rail members, a proximal end of said second frame rail member adjacent, abutting and secured to said first side rail member and a distal end of said first frame rail member adjacent, abutting and secured to said second side rail member wherein the first side rail member, second side rail, member, first frame rail member and second frame rail member together form the substantially rectangular shaped support surface frame configured to support one or more grid members positioned thereon; and at least one mounting track coupled to said support surface frame for securing the modular overhead rack system to one or more ceiling joists of a structure.