Wall-mounted storage system

• US 6,499,608 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: John Sterling Corporation (Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company)
• Inventors: Kluge, Richard G., Sterling, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHOA H
• Application Number:
  US09/503,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 211/70.6, 211/90.01, 211/90.02, 211/90.034, 211/69, 211/71.01, 211/70.1, D 6/553
• US Class Current: 211/70.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/067 Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/04 Racks

Abstract

A wall-mounted storage system comprises a generally elongated mounting channel having upper and lower rows or hook-receiving openings defined thereby. The system further includes a plurality of storage attachments which are selectively removably positionable on the mounting channel. Each of the attachments includes at least one pair of vertically-spaced, downwardly opening hook-elements. Each pair of hook-elements can be selectively positioned in a respective pair of vertically aligned ones of the hook-receiving openings in the mounting channel, with the variously configured storage attachments providing a highly versatile and easily customized storage system.

Claims

1. A wall-mounted storage system, comprising:

an elongated mounting channel having a generally U-shaped cross-section, including upper and lower leg portions, and a forwardly facing web portion extending between said leg portions;

said web portion defining upper and lower rows of laterally spaced hook-receiving openings, each of said hook-receiving openings being generally vertically elongated, with respective ones of said openings of said upper and lower rows being vertically aligned with each other; and

a plurality of storage attachments selectively, removably positionable on said mounting channel, each of said attachments including at least one pair of vertically spaced, vertically aligned, downwardly opening hook-elements, each of said hook-elements defining an upwardly converging opening, whereby each pair of hook-elements of each of said attachments can be selectively, respectively positioned in a respective pair of vertically aligned ones of said hook-receiving openings in said upper and lower rows of openings in said mounting channel,

said upwardly converging opening of each said hook element being shaped to resiliently deform said web portion of said mounting channel beneath the respective one of said hook openings, when said web is received within said upwardly converging opening, to provide a stable mounting of the attachments on the mounting channel.

2. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

at least said upper leg portion of said mounting channel defines a plurality of laterally spaced article-receiving openings.

3. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said storage system including at least one generally U-shaped wire rack having a pair of laterally spaced free ends at the rear thereof, said free ends being insertible in a laterally spaced pair of said article-receiving openings for removably mounting said wire rack on said mounting channel.

4. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises an outwardly positioned rack extension, comprising a vertical plate portion having one of said pairs of said vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof, and a horizontal plate portion extending from said vertical plate portion, and defining a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving articles therein.

5. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said one of said attachments includes a laterally spaced pair of said vertical plate portions between which said horizontal plate portion extends, said vertical plate portions each defining a plurality of spaced apart article-receiving openings.

6. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said attachments comprises a generally U-shaped mounting portion having a pair of laterally spaced side legs, each of which has a pair of said vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof.

7. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said one of said attachments comprises a magnetic mounting element secured to the front of said U-shaped mounting portion.

8. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said one of said attachments comprises a support rod extending outwardly from between the side legs of said U-shaped mounting portion.

9. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said one of said attachments comprises a pair of laterally spaced support rods extending outwardly from between the side legs of said U-shaped mounting portion.

10. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said one of said attachments comprises vertically-spaced, upper and lower U-shaped support rods respectively extending outwardly from above and below said U-shaped mounting portion, said upper U-shaped support rod defining an interior dimension larger than an interior dimension defined by said lower U-shaped support rod.

11. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 6, wherein

said one of said attachments includes a generally U-shaped support rod pivotally attached to said U-shaped mounting portion.

12. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a rear plate portion having said pair of vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof, and a support arm extending outwardly from said rear plate portion.

13. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

said storage system includes a support tray positionable beneath said mounting channel to support an elongated article thereon, with an upper portion of said article retained by said support arm of said one of said attachments.

14. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a one-piece storage compartment, comprising a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls each of which include a pair of said vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof, said storage compartment further comprising a floor extending integrally between said sidewalls, a front wall extending integrally from said floor, and a rear wall extending integrally from said floor.

15. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a shelf support bracket, comprising a vertical plate portion having said pair of vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof, said vertical plate portion including upper and lower rearward extensions respectively positioned above and below said hook-elements for respective positioning above and below said mounting channel when said shelf support bracket is mounted on said mounting channel, said shelf support bracket further including horizontal support flange at an upper edge of said vertical plate portion, whereby an associated shelf member can be positioned on top of the horizontal flanges of a laterally spaced pair of said shelf support brackets mounted on said mounting channel.

16. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a one-piece tool hanger having a pair of laterally spaced side plates each of which has a pair of said vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof, and an upper plate extending integrally between said side plates, said upper plate defining a forwardly opening recess for receiving an associated tool therein for mounting of said storage system.

17. A wall-mounted storage system comprising:

an elongated mounting channel having a generally U-shaped cross-section, including upper and lower leg portions, and a forwardly facing web portion extending between said leg portions;

said web portion defining at least one row of laterally spaced hook-receiving openings, each of said hook-receiving openings being generally vertically elongated; and

a plurality of storage attachments selectively, removably positionable on said mounting channel, each of said attachments including at least one pair of laterally spaced, downwardly opening hook elements, each of said hook-elements defining an upwardly converging opening, whereby each pair of hook-elements of each said attachments can be selectively, respectively positioned in a respective pair of laterally spaced ones of said hook-receiving openings in said at least one row of openings in said mounting channel,

said upwardly converging opening of each said hook element being shaped to resiliently deform said web portion of said mounting channel beneath the respective one of said hook openings, when said web is received within said upwardly converging opening, to provide stable mounting of the attachments on the mounting channel.

18. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

at least one of said attachments comprises a generally U-shaped mounting portion having a pair of laterally spaced side legs, each of which has one of said vertically-spaced hook-elements at the rear thereof.

19. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said one of said attachments comprises a support rod extending outwardly from between the side legs of said U-shaped mounting portion.

20. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said one of said attachments includes a laterally spaced pair of vertical plate portions between which a horizontal plate portion extends, said vertical plate portions each having one of said hook-elements at the rear thereof and defining a plurality of spaced apart article-receiving openings.

21. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a one-piece storage compartment, comprising a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls each of which include one of said hook-elements at the rear thereof, said storage compartment further comprising a floor extending integrally between said sidewalls, a front wall extending integrally from said floor, and a rear wall extending integrally from said floor.

22. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a shelf support bracket comprising a vertical plate portion having one of said hook-elements at the rear thereof, said vertical plate portion including upper and lower rearward extensions respectively positioned above and below said hook-element for respective positioning above and below said mounting channel when said shelf support bracket is mounted on said mounting channel, said shelf support bracket further including a horizontal support flange at an upper edge of said vertical plate portion, whereby an associated shelf member can be positioned on top of the horizontal flanges of a laterally spaced pair of said shelf support brackets mounted on said mounting channel.

23. A wall-mounted storage system in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

one of said attachments comprises a one-piece tool hanger having a pair of laterally spaced side plates each of which has one of said hook-elements at the rear thereof, and an upper plate extending integrally between said side plates, said upper plate defining a forwardly opening recess for receiving an associated tool therein for mounting of said storage system.