Patent Application
20190031396
The invention generally pertains to storage device, and more particularly to an apparatus that is attached to an inner surface of a garage door for storing empty plastic bottles.
Throughout the world, and especially in developed countries, one of the most important issues is the use and disposal of various items. Due to the convenience and large use of many items there is not enough room in landfills to accommodate all of the refuse. That is why recycling is encouraged, or mandated, for items that can be recycled.
One of the most widely encountered of the recyclable items is plastic bottles, and in particular, plastic water bottles. In the United States alone there are billions of plastic water bottles used each year, with only a small percent being recycled even though there is typically a cash redemption value for each bottle. The reason for this is because, for many people, recycling is an inconvenience. A large part of this results from the need to store empty plastic bottles before transporting them to a recycling facility.
Storing empty plastic water bottles is exacerbated when other plastic bottles, such as soft drink or sports drink is added. Even when ‘empty” these bottles can create a messy, sticky eyesore, that can attract insects such as ants. As a result, most people who do save empty plastic bottles keep them in a garage. All this does though is create a problem in the garage. There is also the chore of collecting all the empty bottles in the garage and arranging them for transport to a recycling facility. Invariably these problems have caused many people to simply give up on recycling.
What is needed is a convenient, clean and unobtrusive way of collecting and storing empty plastic bottles in a garage. A storage apparatus that could be placed at an existing location where empty bottles could be maintained for an extended period of time, and that would not interfere with the normal use or functions of the garage, would be optimal. A storage apparatus that is placed on a garage door would be easy to install, would require little or no maintenance, and could be used with various sized powered or manual garage doors.
A search of the prior art did not disclose nay literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,608 patent discloses a storage assembly consisting of a storage space below a garage ceiling with rafters and a ceiling panel and above an opened overhead garage door. The ceiling panel has tie receiving apertures, a plurality of ceiling catching beams, a plurality of metal ties and a plurality of fasteners securing the ties to the ceiling catching beams. Fasteners are attached to the lower ends of the ties, and a shelf panel overlies the shelf catching beams. The lower end of the ties overly the opened overhead garage door.
The U.S. Pat. No.7,958,925 patent discloses a storage device for use with a garage door having multiple panels that are connected together by hinges and fasteners. The fasteners are disposed in vertical alignment at a top part and bottom part of at least one of the panels, and include a storage container having a peripheral support structure which is normally maintained adjacent the panel and includes a plurality of eyelets which receive one of the fasteners therethrough.
The U.S. Pat. No. 8,468,745 patent discloses a lifting and storage mechanism for storing a component in a garage using the energy of a powered garage door opening and closing system. The lifting and storage mechanism includes a pulley system for raising and lowering the components and a latching mechanism with a spring latch for secures the components. In order to lower the components from a storage position, an operator initiates manual release of the spring latch or activation of an electromechanical release combined with activation of the motor of the powered garage door.
For background purposes and indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the patent search.
A plastic bottle storage apparatus for a garage door (PBSA) that is used in combination with multiple empty plastic bottle panels or strips which are used to maintain empty plastic bottles, with or without caps, prior to recycling.
The preferred embodiment of the PBSA has an upper section with a horizontal member including securing means and a lower section with a horizontal member including securing means that is placed parallel to, at a distance from, the upper section horizontal member. In an alternate configuration, located on the upper section horizontal member are securing means and on the lower section horizontal member are corresponding securing means. The upper and lower securing means can comprise a hook, a peg, a hook and loop fasteners, a strap an adhesive, a bolt and nut, a latch, a twist lock, a rod, or a pin. A resilient band can be attached at a lower end to the lower section horizontal member. The band's upper end has securing means such as a hook or a clip. The two horizontal members can be made of various materials including plastic, metal or wood, and they can be removably or permanently secured to an inner surface of a garage door, which is preferably a sectional type garage door.
The preferred method of securing the horizontal member utilizes a design incorporating a retractable pin that extends from each end of the members. The pin enters into an opening on an existing hinge bracket on the garage door, thereby securing the member onto the door. Alternately, a retractable pin can only be on one end, with a stationary pin on the opposing end.
Multiple empty bottle panels or strips, with empty plastic bottles secured thereto, are attached to the PBSA. An upper end of each panel or strip has an opening that interfaces with the securing means on the upper section horizontal member. A lower end of each panel or strip also has an opening that interfaces with the securing means on the lower section horizontal member. Once a panel or strip with empty plastic bottles is secured, the panel or strip with bottles can be maintained on the PBSA for an indefinite period of time. The PBSA, either with or without the resilient band is able to compensate for the variations in length that occur as the sectional garage door open and closes.
In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a plastic bottle storage apparatus for a garage door that allows multiple empty plastic bottle panels or strips with empty bottles attached thereto, to be secured and maintained on an inner surface of a sectional garage door while permitting the garage door to open or close as per normal operation.
In addition to the primary object, it is also an object of the invention to provide a plastic bottle storage apparatus for a garage door that:
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a plastic bottle storage apparatus for a garage door (PBSA). The act of recycling, and in particular recycling plastic beverage bottles, has become one of the most important issues in the modern world. The convenience of making, selling and using plastic bottles for beverages, especially water, coupled with the number of people using plastic bottles, has led to a major environmental problem. Recycling plastic bottles would have a positive impact on the problem, and as a result, in many states and cities in the United States, incentives including cash redemption value, or even mandates have attempted to influence or force people to recycle plastic bottles. The problems that cause people not to recycle include the difficult in maintaining empty plastic bottles prior to recycling. There is the obvious requirement for space to store empty plastic bottles, along with the effort to arrange and transport empty bottles to a recycling facility, and lastly the often sticky, messy handling of certain bottles.
The instant PBSA provides a solution to the problems by facilitating the effective and convenient storage of many empty plastic bottles within a residential (or commercial) garage. The PBSA offers quick and easy access to stored empty bottles, and does away with much of the associated mess.
The PBSA 10, as shown in
The PBSA 10 provides a storage solution or a single panel or strip, or multiple panels or strips, on an inner surface 82 of a garage door 80. While the PBSA can be used with any type of garage door, or in fact on any surface, the PBSA is especially designed for use on a sectional garage door that consists of multiple sections which are hingedly connected and raise or lower vertically on a track. Also, the PBSA can be used with both manual (non-powered) or powered sectional garage doors.
The PBSA is comprised of two major elements: an upper section 12 and a lower section 36. The upper section 12, as shown in
Located on the upper section horizontal member 14 is an upper attachment means 26, as shown in
The lower section 36 also has a horizontal member 38 including a right end 40 with securing means 42, and a left end 44 with securing means 46. The lower section horizontal member 38 can be made of plastic, metal or wood, and is similarly secured to an inner surface 82 of a sectional garage door 80 as the upper section horizontal member 14. As shown in
Attached to the lower section horizontal member 36 is a lower attachment means 50, which is comprised of at least one, and preferably multiple, resilient bands 52 which are located to vertically correspond to the hooks 28 or pegs 30 on the upper section horizontal member 14. The resilient band 52 can be made of any stretchable material such as elastic or rubber, and is preferably comprised of a BUNGEE CORD™ type.
As shown in
To use the PBSA 10, at least one panel or strip 76 is secured to the PBSA 10, as shown in
To add to the functionality of the PBSA 10, a vertically adjustable bracket 74 can be implemented. The bracket 74 is preferably attached to exiting garage door hardware and allows the PBSA 10 to be vertically raised or lowered to a desired or required height on the inner surface 82 of the sectional garage door 80. Also, located on a lower edge of the lower section horizontal member 38 can be at least one hanging device 104, as shown in
In an alternate configuration, which is the preferred design, the PBSA 10 is comprised of:
a) an upper section 12 including a horizontal member 14 with a right end 16 and a left end 18. The horizontal member 14 is secured to an inner surface 82 of a sectional garage door 80 by securing means 84 on the right end 16, and securing means 84 on the left end 20,
b) multiple upper attachment means 26 that are longitudinally located along the length of the upper section horizontal member 14,
c) a lower section 36 including a horizontal member 38 with a right end 40 and a left end 42. The horizontal member is secured below and parallel to the upper section horizontal member 38 on an inner surface 82 of the sectional garage door 80 by securing means 84, on the right end and securing means 84 the left end, and
d) multiple lower attachment means 50 that are located to directionally correspond to the upper attachment means.
In the preferred design, the securing means 84 on the right and left ends 16,20 of the upper section horizontal member 14, and the right and left ends 40,44 of the lower section horizontal member 38 are comprised of a pin 86 with an outer end 88 and an inner end 90. As shown in
Additionally, both horizontal members 14,38 can have at least one opening 94 into which is inserted a vertical locking rod 96, as shown in
The upper end of the panel or strip is secured to the upper attachment means by interfacing the opening on the upper end of the panel or strip with the upper attachment means, and the lower end of the panel or strip is secured to the lower attachment means by interfacing the opening on the lower end of the panel or strip with the lower attachment means 50. Once the panel or strip with empty bottles thereon is secured, the panel or strip with empty bottles, is maintained on the inner surface 82 of the garage door 80. The PBSA 10 is able to compensate for the variation in length that occurs when the sectional garage door opens and closes.
While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.
