Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
OVERHEAD STORAGE SYSTEM WITH ACCESS
This disclosure relates to the field of storage systems and in particular a
ceiling mounted
storage area with wall mounted folding access steps and protective side
panels.
BACKGROUND
Storage space in homes and businesses is often limited and so raised storage
areas are
often used. These typically comprise a storage platform suspended from a
ceiling, such
as a garage ceiling. While such storage areas take advantage of unused space,
such as
above vehicles parked in a garage, access is problematic requiring a ladder of
some type,
with the attendant risk of falling or dropping some article stored on the
storage surface
To address the problem of access United States Patent Number 5,460,280 to
Feddeler
provides a storage basket arranged for pivotal mounting to a ceiling structure
such that
the basket can be pivoted down for access and then pivoted up to the ceiling
and secured
for storage.
United States Patent Number 5,871,070 to Contreras provides a storage platform
that is
moved down for access and then winched up near the ceiling for storage.
Similarly
United States Patent Number 4,377,114 to Fuller provides a storage compartment
suspended by tension lines from an overhead structure such that same can be
lowered for
access and raised for storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides a ceiling mounted storage system that
overcomes
problems in the prior art.
The present disclosure provides a ceiling mounted storage space with an access
system
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that reduces risk and facilitates access for awkward items by providing wide
sturdy steps
with hand supports and side panels. The side panels support the steps so that
the access
system can't be used without the protective side panels in place. The access
system folds
out of the way when not in use so as to allow unobstructed passage adjacent to
the wall
on which the steps are mounted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of a storage system of the
present
disclosure with the storage platform mounted to the ceiling of a garage, and
with the
steps of the access system in the raised stored position;
Fig. 2 is a perspective side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the steps
of the
access system in the lowered operating position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective end view of the steps of the access system of the
embodiment of
Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing middle hooks on the middle side panel
supporting the middle step;
Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of a vehicle parked under the embodiment of
the system
of Fig. 1 with the upper step in the lowered position;
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Fig. 6 is a schematic end view of the upper step and upper side rail in the
raised
position adjacent to the wall..
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 ¨ 3 illustrate an embodiment of a ceiling mounted storage system 1 of
the present
disclosure. The system 1 comprises a storage platform 3 attached to the
ceiling 5 of a
garage or like enclosure by straps 7 such that a storage space 9 is formed
between the
platform 3 and the ceiling 5. The platform 3 typically will slope slightly
toward the
adjacent wall 11 to facilitate access and viewing the stored contents. Support
bars can be
mounted spaced from the underside of the platform 3 to provide storage slots
for brooms,
skis, hockey sticks and the like.
The platform 3 is mounted spaced a distance away from the wall 11 that is
suitable for
mounting the access system illustrated in Fig. 3 comprising upper, middle, and
lower
steps 13A, 13B, 13C. The steps 13 are pivotally mounted along rear edges
thereof to the
wall 11 and are configured to fold from a raised position shown in Fig. 1
where the top
face of each step 13 lies vertically adjacent to the wall 11, to a lowered
position where the
top face of each step 13 is horizontal and supported as illustrated to provide
a climbing
route for a person to access the storage space 9.
The upper and middle steps 13A, 13B are supported in the lowered position by
corresponding upper and middle side panels 15A, 15B. In the illustrated system
1 the
upper side panel 15A is pivotally attached to the outer edge of the upper step
13A by
outer hinges 17A. When in the lowered position as seen in Fig. 3 a top member
19 of the
upper side panel 15A is engaged in upper hooks 21 mounted along the edge of
the storage
platform 3 and so supports the upper step 13A in the horizontal lowered
position.
The middle side panel 15B is mounted in an alternate arrangement where the
middle side
panel 13B is pivotally attached to the storage platform 3 by outer hinges 17B.
When in
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the lowered position as seen in Fig. 3 an outer member 23 of the middle step
13 is
engaged in middle hooks 25 mounted along the lower edge of the middle side
panel 13B,
as schematically illustrated in Fig. 4, and so supports the middle step 13B in
the
horizontal lowered position.
The upper and lower side panels 15A, 15B provide hand holds for a person
climbing the
steps 13 to access the storage space 9 and the side panels reduce the risk of
a fall, as well
as supporting the upper and lower steps 13A, 13B in the lowered position.
Since the side
panels 15A, 15B support the upper and middle steps 13A, 13B these higher steps
cannot
be used without the fall protection of the side panels in place. The lower
step 13C is
supported in the lowered position on legs 27 pivotally attached to the outer
portion of the
lower step 13C by outer hinges 17C.
The upper step 13A is moved from the lowered position of Fig. 2 to the raised
position of
Fig. 1 by standing on the middle step 13B, or the floor if more convenient,
and raising the
upper side panel 15A to disengage the top member 19 from the upper hooks 21
and the
upper side panel 15A is pivoted on the outer hinges 17A down to lie against
the top
surface of the upper step 13A, and then the top step 13A is pivoted upward on
wall
hinges 29A so that the upper side panel 15A lies against the wall 11 and the
upper step
13A lies against the upper side panel 15A.
Magnets 31 mounted on the wall 11 are positioned to attract and secure steel
plates 33
attached to the upper side panel 15A, as seen in Fig. 2, when the upper step
13A, and the
upper side panel 15A, are in the raised position. The steel plates 33 are
required where
the material is wood, as would be a typical material, or some like non-ferrous
material.
Once the upper step 13A is in the raised position the operator raises the
middle step to
disengage the outer member 23 of the middle step 13B from the middle hooks 25
and
pivots the middle step 13B upward on wall hinges 29B so the top surface of the
middle
step 13B lies against the wall as seen in Fig. 1 where magnets 31 attract and
secure steel
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plates 33 fixed to the top suiface of the middle step 13B. The middle side
panel 15B is
then pivoted upward on outer hinges 17B up to lie against the bottom of the
storage
platform 9 where magnets 31 mounted to the bottom of the storage platform 9
attract and
secure steel plates 33 fixed to the middle side panel 15B.
In the illustrated system 1 the lower step 13C is mounted adjacent to a
landing 35 such as
is commonly found in residential buildings where the floor of the garage is
lower than the
floor of the residence itself. Where no such landing exists a further step 13
may be
provided where the distance to the top of the illustrated lower step 13C is
excessive.
Once the middle step 13B has been moved to the raised position, the operator
steps off
the lower step 13C and pivots the lower step upward on wall hinges 29C such
that wall
mounted magnets 31 attract and secure the steel plates 33 fixed to the top
surface of the
lower step 13C to secure the bottom step 13C in the raised position of Fig. 1.
The legs 27
pivot down on outer hinges 17C and lie against the bottom of the lower step
13C.
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a benefit of configuring the upper step 13A
and upper side
panel 15A to lie against the wall 11 when in the stored position. The
configuration
allows the upper step to be moved back and forth between the raised and
lowered
positions while a vehicle 37 is parked under the platform 3 as illustrated
with the hood
under the upper step 13A. If the upper step 13A and side panel 15A were
configured
similar to the middle step 13B and side panel 15B, with the side panel pivoted
up against
the bottom of the platform 3, the vehicle 37 would need to be moved to lower
the upper
step 13A.
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the upper side panel 15A and upper step 13A
in the raised
position against the wall 11. To reduce the distance the assembly extends from
the wall
lithe side boards 39 of the upper side panel 15A are configured to lie between
the step
boards 41 of the upper step 13A.
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The present disclosure provides a ceiling mounted storage space with an access
system
that reduces risk and facilitates access for awkward items by providing wide
sturdy steps
with side panels to prevent falls and provide hand supports. The side panels
support the
steps so that the access system can't be used without the protective side
panels in place.
The access system folds out of the way when not in use so as to allow
unobstructed
passage adjacent to the wall on which the steps are mounted.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
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