Patent Grant
10897992
The present disclosure relates generally to a storage apparatus attachable to a surface.
Storage apparatuses are often used in residential and/or commercial properties for storing items. Some storage apparatuses may be attachable to a surface, such as to a side wall or ceiling of building structure, and one or more items may be placed or stacked on the apparatus when attached to the surface. In some instances, it may be desirable to adjust a height of the apparatus relative to the surface. However, with some designs, height adjustment may be limited and/or cumbersome for the user. The present disclosure is aimed at solving the challenge(s) presented above.
A storage apparatus attachable to a surface is disclosed. The storage apparatus comprises a support beam defining a beam axis and adapted to be coupled to the surface with the support beam having first and second beam ends and defining a first plurality of mounting positions between the first and second beam ends. The storage apparatus further comprises a support structure abutting and being supported by the support beam, an alignment device attached to the support beam, and a cable having first and second cable ends with the first cable end adapted to be attached to the surface and the second cable end removably attached to the support beam at a selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions, with the cable coupled to the alignment device to align the second cable end with the support beam and the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions, and the cable movable along the alignment device to move the second cable end from the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions to another one of the first plurality of mounting positions for adjusting the support structure relative to the surface.
Another embodiment of a storage apparatus is disclosed. In this embodiment, the storage apparatus comprises a support beam defining a beam axis, a support structure abutting and being supported by the support beam with the support structure defining a longitudinal axis transverse to the beam axis, and a cross beam supported by the support beam and extending transverse to the longitudinal axis with the cross beam defining a channel. The support structure is further defined as a plurality of support racks each having a lip with the lip of one of the plurality of support racks and the lip of an adjacent one of said plurality of support racks disposed within the channel of the cross beam to secure said one of the plurality of support racks and the adjacent one of said plurality of support racks to the cross beam.
Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, embodiments of a storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 are shown throughout the figures and described in detail below. The storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 is attachable to a surface 10, such as a ceiling, a wall, a door, a tangible or intangible object, etc. In certain embodiments, the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 is attachable to a wall, such as a wall of a commercial or residential building or structure, such as shown for example in
The storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 is configured to hold, support, and/or store at least one item. For residential purposes, and as non-limiting examples, the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 may be configured to hold, support, and/or store household cleaning items, food items, garage items, tools, yard equipment, sporting equipment, clothing, pet supplies, etc. For commercial purposes, and as non-limiting examples, the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 may be configured to hold, support, and/or store commercial products or stock, packaging, office supplies, office equipment, cleaning supplies, tools, etc. It should be appreciated that the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 can be configured to hold, support, and/or store any type of item or plurality of items having any configuration. It should also be appreciated that the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 can be configured to hold, support, and/or store the item(s) having any reasonable weight.
The storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 includes a support structure 22, such as at least one support rack or at least one support panel. The support structure 22 is adapted to hold and/or support the at least one item. For example, the item(s) may be placed on the support structure 22 for storage, safe keeping, or the like. The support structure 22 is adjustable relative to the surface 10. In the illustrated embodiments, the support structure 22 is adjustable in height relative to a reference position, which may be on the surface 10 or may be the surface 10 itself. In certain embodiments, the support structure 22 is adjustable in height relative to the surface 10 itself, such as the ceiling of a building. In certain embodiments, the support structure 22 is adjustable in height relative to a reference position located on the surface 10, such as a user-selected reference position on the wall of a building. The support structure 22 is fixed once the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 has been attached to the surface 10. In instances where it is desirable to adjust the support structure 22, a user can detach the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 from the surface 10, make adjustment(s) to the height of the support structure 22, and then reattach the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 to the surface 10.
Embodiments of the storage apparatus 20, 320, 520, 720 are described below with reference to
With reference to
The first support beam 24 defines a first plurality of mounting positions 40 between the first 26 and second 28 beam ends. In the illustrated embodiments, the plurality of mounting positions 40 is further defined as a first plurality of apertures 40. Each one of the first plurality of apertures 40 is separated from an adjacent one of the first plurality of apertures 40. In an embodiment, each one of the first plurality of apertures 40 is evenly spaced from an adjacent one of the first plurality of apertures 40. As shown, each of the first plurality of apertures 40 has a circular configuration. It should be appreciated that the first plurality of apertures 40 can have any suitable configuration.
Each one of the first plurality of apertures 40 corresponds to a particular height of the support structure 22 relative to the reference position on the surface 10 or the surface 10 itself. During assembly of the storage apparatus 20, the user selects one of the apertures 40 corresponding to a desired height of the support structure 22. With reference to
With reference to
The storage apparatus 20 further includes the alignment device 48 attached to the first support beam 24. The alignment device 48 may be attached anywhere along the length L1 of the first support beam 24. In an embodiment, the alignment device 48 is attached proximate the second beam end 28 of the first support beam 24. Additionally, the alignment device 48 is disposed adjacent the inner side 32 of the first support beam 24. Further details of the alignment device 48 are described below.
The storage apparatus 20 further includes a cable 52 having first 54 and second 56 cable ends. The first cable end 54 is adapted to be attached to the surface 10. The first cable end 54 may be attached to the surface 10 utilizing a suitable fastening system 58. In an embodiment, and as best shown in
The second cable end 56 is removably attached to the first support beam 24 at a selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 40. The cable 52 is coupled to the alignment device 48 to align the second cable end 56 with the first support beam 24 and the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 40. As shown at least in
As shown in
As previously mentioned, the alignment device 48 includes the pulley 64. As illustrated, the pulley 64 is sandwiched between the bracket 66 and the first support beam 24. The pulley 64 and the bracket 66 are secured to the first support beam 24 utilizing the fastening system 68. As best shown in
With continued reference to
The cable 52 of the storage apparatus 20 is movable along the alignment device 48 to move the second cable end 56 from the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 40 (such as shown in
During adjustment of the support structure 22, the user detaches the storage apparatus 20 from the surface 10, detaches the mounting post 82 from the first support beam 24, and selects a new mounting position 40 on the first support beam 24. In an example, the new mounting position 40 corresponds to a new desired height of the support structure 22. The user moves the cable 52 (which is seated in the groove 62 of the alignment device 48) until the second cable end 56 is aligned with the newly selected mounting position 40, and attaches the second cable end 56 to the first support beam 24 at the newly selected mounting position 40. For instance, the user disposes the mounting post 82 through the aperture 40 associated with the newly selected mounting position 40, attaches the second cable end 56 to the mounting post 82 (such as by inserting the shaft 86 of the mounting post 82 through the loop of the second cable end 56), and secures the mounting post 82 to the first support beam 24 by securing the washer 88 and the nut 90 to the shaft 86. When adjusted, a portion of the cable 52 extends a third length from the alignment device 48 to the mounting position 40 and another portion of the cable 52 extends a fourth length from the alignment device 48 to the surface 10 with third length longer than the first length and the fourth length shorter than the second length to reduce the height of the storage apparatus 20 relative to the reference position of the surface 10. In another example, the height of the storage apparatus can be lengthened relative to the reference position of the surface 10 when the third length is shorter than the first length and the fourth length is longer than the second length.
The storage apparatus 20 further includes the support structure 22 abutting and being supported by the first support beam 24. In an embodiment, and as best shown in
With reference to
As shown at least in
Each one of the plurality of apertures 108 corresponds to a particular height of the support structure 22 relative to the reference position on the surface 10 or the surface 10 itself. During assembly of the storage apparatus 20 having both the first 24 and second 92 support beams, the user selects one of the apertures 40 of the first support beam 24 and a corresponding one of the apertures 108 of the second support beam 92 with the pair of apertures 40, 108 corresponding to a desired height of the support structure 22. The user can adjust the height of the support structure 22, for example, by selecting another pair of apertures 40, 108 corresponding to another height of the support structure 22.
In an embodiment, the alignment device 48 is further defined as a first alignment device 48 and the storage apparatus 20 further includes a second alignment device 110 attached to the second support beam 92. The second alignment device 110 may be attached anywhere along the length L2 of the second support beam 92. In an embodiment, the alignment device 110 is attached proximate the second beam end 96 of the second support beam 92. Additionally, the alignment device 110 is disposed adjacent the inner side 100 of the second support beam 92. The second alignment device 110 has the same configuration as the first alignment device 48, and the second alignment device 110 is attached or secured to the second support beam 92 in the same fashion as described above for attachment of the first alignment device 48 to the first support beam 24.
In an embodiment, the cable 52 is further defined as a first cable 52 and the storage apparatus 20 further includes a second cable 112. The second cable 112 has first 114 and second 116 cable ends. The first cable end 114 of the second cable 112 is adapted to be attached to the surface 10, such as with the same fastening system 58 and turnbuckle 60 used to attach the first cable end 54 of the first cable 52 to the surface 10 as described above. The turnbuckles 60 attached to the cables 52, 112 provides a means for leveling second beam ends 28, 96 of the first 24 and second 92 support beams, respectively. Adjustments to the turnbuckles 60 reduces or increases the length of the cables 52, 112, which reduces or increases a distance between the support structure 22 and the surface 10 to level the second beam ends 28, 96.
The second cable end 116 is removably attached to the second support beam 92 at a selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 108. The second cable 112 is coupled to the second alignment device 110 to align the second cable end 116 of the second cable 112 with the second support beam 92 and the selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 108.
The storage apparatus 20 further includes a mounting post 118 coupled to a selected one of the second plurality of apertures 108 and configured to receive the second cable end 116 of the second cable 112 to attach the second cable end 116 of the second cable 112 to the second support beam 92. The mounting post 118 receives the second cable end 116 of the second cable 112 to attach the second cable end 116 to the second support beam 92 at the selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 108 the same way as previously described for attaching the second cable end 56 of the first cable 52 to the first support beam 24 at the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 40.
The second cable 112 is movable along the second alignment device 110 to move the second cable end 116 of the second cable 112 from the selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 108 to another one of the second plurality of mounting positions 108 for adjusting the support structure 22 relative to the surface 10. The second cable 112 is movable in a similar fashion as the first cable 52 described above. During adjustment of the support structure 22, the user detaches the storage apparatus 20 from the surface 10, detaches the mounting post 82 from the first support beam 24 and the mounting post 118 from the second support beam 92, and selects a new pair of mounting positions 40, 108 on the first 24 and second 92 support beams with the new pair of mounting positions 40, 108 corresponding to a new desired height of the support structure 22. The user moves the first cable 52 until the second cable end 56 is aligned with the newly selected mounting position 40 of the first support beam 24, and attaches the second cable end 56 to the first support beam 24 at the newly selected mounting position 40. The user also moves the second cable 112 until the second cable end 116 is aligned with the newly selected mounting position 108 of the second support beam 92, and attaches the second cable end 116 to the second support beam 92 at the newly selected mounting position 108. For example, the user disposes the mounting post 82 through aperture 40 associated with the newly selected mounting position 40, attaches the second cable end 56 to the mounting post 82, and secures the mounting post 82 to the first support beam 24. Additionally, the user disposes the mounting post 118 through the aperture 108 associated with the newly selected mounting position 108, and secures the mounting post 118 to the second support beam 92.
As shown at least in
The third support beam 120 is configured to be attached to the first support beam 24 (such as with fasteners, rivets, and/or another suitable fastening system) to interconnect the first 24 and third 120 support beams, as best shown in
In an embodiment, the third support beam 120 may be formed as a single piece. In another embodiment, and as shown at least in
As best shown in
In an embodiment, at least one of the apertures of the first central bracket 142 may have a square-shaped configuration and at least one of the fasteners 149 may have a shaft with a square-shaped configuration complementary to the square-shaped configuration of the aperture(s). When the fastener(s) 149 is/are disposed through the aperture(s) of the first central bracket 142, the square-shaped configuration of the shaft of the bolt mates with the square-shaped configuration of the respective aperture to prevent the first central bracket 142 from moving (such as spinning or rotating) as the first 134 and second 136 beam segments are attached to the first central bracket 142.
The first central bracket 142 also serves to connect the first 134 and second 136 beam segments of the third support beam 120 directly to the surface 10 utilizing fasteners (such as bolts 150).
The first beam segment 134 of the third support beam 120 further defines two pairs of vertically-arranged apertures 152 proximate the second segment end 140, and the second beam segment 136 defines two pairs of vertically-arranged apertures 154 proximate the first segment end 138. Each of the upper apertures of the pairs of apertures 152, 154 has an oval configuration, and each of the lower apertures of the pairs of apertures 152, 154 has a key-hole configuration. The storage apparatus 20 further has first 156 and second 158 end brackets, with the first end bracket 156 attached to the second segment end 140 of the first beam segment 134 and the second end bracket 158 attached to the first segment end 138 of the second beam segment 136. Each of the first 156 and second 158 end brackets has the same configuration as the first central bracket 142. For example, each of the first 156 and second 158 end brackets has a pair of rivets 160, with one of the rivets 160 disposed within and secured by the key-hole shaped apertures of the third support beam 120. Additionally, fasteners 162 are inserted through the upper aligned apertures to attach the third beam segment 120 to the first 156 and second 158 end brackets respectively.
In an embodiment, each of the first 156 and second 158 end brackets also define oval-shaped apertures 164. The oval-shaped apertures enable the end brackets 156, 158 to shift from one side to the other. For example, each of the end brackets 156, 158 may be shifted in one direction (and secured to the surface 10) such that both of the end brackets 156, 158 are attached to the third support beam 120 of the storage apparatus 20 having a single support frame 166. An example of this is shown at least in
The storage apparatus 20 further includes a fourth support beam 170 spaced from the third support beam 120 and extending transverse to the first beam axis A. The fourth support beam 170 is also transverse to the second beam axis B. Additionally, the fourth support beam 170 extends along the longitudinal axis C. The fourth support beam 170 is attached to the first 24 and second 92 support beams, and has first 172 and second 174 beam ends and a length L4 extending between the first 172 and second 174 beam ends along the longitudinal axis C. Additionally, the fourth support beam 170 has a top surface 175. In an embodiment, the length L4 of the fourth support beam 170 is about the same as the length L3 of the third support beam 120. In an alternative embodiment, the lengths L3 and L4 could be different.
The fourth support beam 170 further has a body 176 with inner 178 and outer 180 sides and a ledge 182 extending inwardly from the inner side 178 of the body 176. The fourth support beam 170 further has first 184 and second 186 flanges at the first 172 and second 174 beam ends respectively. The first flange 184 is directly attached to the first support beam 24 (such as with fasteners) to interconnect the fourth support beam 170 and the first support beam 24, and the second flange 186 is directly attached to the second support beam 92 (such as with fasteners) to interconnect the fourth support beam 170 and the second support beam 92. The fourth support beam 170 may be formed of any suitable material, such as a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer or plastic, a natural material (e.g., wood), and/or the like, and/or combinations thereof. In the illustrated embodiments, the fourth support beam 170 is spaced from the surface 10, but adapted to be coupled to the surface 10.
In an embodiment, the fourth support beam 170 may be formed as a single piece, such as shown in
The first beam segment 188 of the fourth support beam 170 defines a set of apertures 198 proximate the first segment end 192, and the second beam segment 190 defines a set of apertures 200 proximate the second segment end 194. The apertures of each of the sets 198, 200 may have any suitable configuration. The second central bracket 196 defines first 202 and second 204 sets of apertures. The first set of apertures 202 of the second central bracket 196 is aligned with the set of apertures 200 of the second beam segment 190, and fasteners 206 are used to secure the second beam segment 190 to the second central bracket 196. Similarly, the second set of apertures 204 of the second central bracket 196 is aligned with the set of apertures 198 of the first beam segment 188, and fasteners 208 are used to secure the first beam segment 188 to the second central bracket 196.
In an embodiment, and as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the fourth support beam 170 could be further defined as a single second support beam as mentioned above. In this alternative embodiment, no second central bracket 196 would be required.
The first 24, second 92, third 120, and fourth 170 support beams collectively define the support frame 166 with the support structure 22 abutting and being supported by the support frame 166.
Referring at least to
The cross beam(s) 210 may have any suitable configuration. In an embodiment, the cross-beam(s) 210 has a U-shaped configuration in cross-section and defines a channel 212. The cross beam(s) 210 is supported by the third 120 and fourth 170 support beams and movable along the longitudinal axis C relative to the third 120 and fourth 170 support beams to adjust a position of the cross beam(s) 210. In the embodiment shown, the cross beam(s) 210 is seated against and movably supported by the respective ledges 132, 182 of the third 120 and fourth 170 support beams. Once positioned, the cross beam(s) 210 rests against the ledges 132, 182. Notably, the cross beam(s) 210 is not mounted or fixed to the support beams 120, 170 and remains movable along the longitudinal axis C.
As previously mentioned, the storage apparatus 20 further has the support structure 22. The support structure 22 abuts the cross beam(s) 210. Additionally, the support structure 22 is removably supported by the first support beam 24 and the second support beam 92. In the embodiments illustrated in
Each support rack 214 has a main portion 216 and a lip 218 extending from the main portion 216. As described in further detail below, the lip 218 is configured to be disposed within the channel 212 of one of the cross beams 210 to mount or secure the support rack 214 to the cross beam 210. The lip 218 of one of the plurality of support racks 214 and the lip of an adjacent one of the plurality of support racks 214 are disposed within the channel 212 of a common cross beam 210 to mount or secure the one of the plurality of support racks 214 and the adjacent one of the plurality of support racks 214 to the cross beam 210. In other words, the channel 212 of the cross beam 210 is configured to receive both the lip 218 of one support rack 214 and the lip 218 of and adjacent support rack 214 to mount or secure the support rack 214 to the cross beam 210. In instances where the storage apparatus 20 has a plurality of cross beams 210, the lip 218 of one of the plurality of support racks 214 and the lip 218 of an adjacent one of the plurality of support racks 214 are disposed within the channel 212 of a common one of the plurality of cross beams 210.
Mounting of the adjacent support racks 214 to a common cross beam 210 is accomplished without using locking tabs, bolts, clamps, and/or welded connections between the adjacent support racks 214. Additionally, it should be appreciated that while the respective lips 218 of the adjacent support racks 214 extend into the channel 212, the main portion 216 is seated and rests against the legs of the ‘U’ of the U-shaped cross beam 210. This enables weight transfer between the adjacent support racks 214. Additionally, the support racks 214 are removable from the cross beam 210, which may be accomplished by simply lifting each support rack 214 off the support beams 120, 170 and the cross beams 210.
In one embodiment, the storage apparatus 20 may have a single cross beam 210 and two support racks 214. The support racks 214 in this embodiment are further defined as end racks 221. One of the end racks 221 is positioned adjacent the first support beam 24 and the other one of the end racks 221 is positioned adjacent the second support beam 92. Each end rack 221 has the main portion 216 with first 215 and second 217 sides, the lip 218 extending from the first side 215, and a foot 219 extending from the second side 217 of the main portion 216. The respective lips 218 of the two end racks 221 are disposed within the channel 212 of the common single cross beam 210. Additionally, the foot 219 of one of the end racks 221 is seated against or supported by the ledge 36 of the first support beam 24 to mount the end rack 221 to the first support beam 24 and the cross beam 210. The foot 219 of the other one of the end racks 221 is seated against or supported by the ledge 104 of the second support beam 92 to mount the end rack 221 to second support beam 92 and the cross beam 210.
In another embodiment, the storage apparatus 20 includes a plurality of cross beams 210 and three support racks 214. The three support racks 214 include two end racks 221 and a middle rack 223 sandwiched between the end racks 221. The lip 218 of one of the end racks 221 is disposed within the channel 212 of one of the cross beams 210, and the foot 219 is seated against the ledge 36 of the first support beam 24 to mount the end rack 221 to the first support beam 24 and the cross beam 210. The lip 218 of the other one of the end racks 221 is disposed within the channel 212 of the other one of the cross beams 210, and the foot 219 is seated against the ledge 104 of the second support beam 92 to mount the end rack 221 to the second support beam 92 and other cross beam 210.
The three support racks 214 further include the middle rack 223 sandwiched between the two end racks 221. The middle rack 223 has the main portion 216 with the first 215 and second 217 sides. The middle rack 223 further has a first lip 225 extending from the first side 215 of the main portion 216 and disposed within the channel 212 of one of the cross beams 210, and a second lip 227 extending from the second side 217 of the main portion 216 and disposed within an adjacent one of the plurality of cross beams 210. Accordingly, and in this example, the lip 218 of one of the end racks 221 and the first lip 225 of the middle rack 223 are disposed within the channel 212 of a common one of the two cross beams 210, and the lip 218 of the other one of the end racks 221 and the second lip 227 of the middle rack 223 are disposed within the channel 212 of a common other one of the two cross beams 210.
It should be appreciated that the plurality of support racks 214 could have a single middle rack 223. Alternatively, the plurality of support racks 214 could have a plurality of middle racks 223 (such as two, three, four, five, or any desired number of middle racks 223), with the plurality of racks 223 sandwiched or disposed between the end racks 221. Additionally, the storage apparatus 20 can have any suitable number of cross beams 210 based on the total number of support racks 214.
The middle rack 223 may be secured to adjacent cross beams 210 of the storage apparatus 20 utilizing a sequence similar to that described above for the end rack 221. For example, and as best shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Although support racks 214 and panels 220 have been shown in the figures and are described above, it should be appreciated that the support structure 22 can have any configuration and be made of any suitable material.
As best shown in
Another embodiment of the storage apparatus 320 is described below with reference to
The support structure 22 in this embodiment is further defined as a single panel or sheet of material 393 disposed on the first 324 and second 392 support beams. The panel 393 may be attached to the underlying support beams 324, 392 by any suitable means, such as with one or more fasteners. Alternatively, the panel 393 is configured to simply rest on the underlying support beams 324, 392. The panel 393 may extend from the first support beam 324 to the second support beam 392. Alternatively, the panel 393 may extend beyond the first 324 and second 392 support beams, such that the beams 324, 392 are spaced inwardly from the edges of the panel 393 as illustrated in the
The storage apparatus 320 may be attached to the wall of the building as shown in
As shown in
At the other end of the storage apparatus 320, one end the second cable 112 is attached to the second support beam 392 proximate second end 396 of the second support beam 392, and one end of the fourth cable 442 is attached to the second support beam 392 proximate the first end 394 of the second support beam 392. Each of the cables 112, 442 are coupled to a respective alignment device to align the second 112 and fourth 442 cables with the second support beam 392. The other ends of the second 112 and fourth 442 cables are attached to the surface 10. In the embodiment shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the storage apparatus 20, 320 could have just one support beam extending along the longitudinal axis C. When storage apparatus 20, 320 is secured to the surface 10, the support beam would be spaced from the surface 10 and the support structure 22 would be directly secured to the surface 10 with hinges, brackets, or another suitable fastening system.
The embodiments of the storage apparatus 20 described above have a single support frame 166. In other embodiments of the storage apparatus 520, as described below with reference to
In another example shown in
In another embodiment, and shown in
In yet another embodiment, and as shown in
The second support frame 168 has the same configuration and includes the same individual components as the first support frame 166. Alternatively, the configuration and/or one or more of the individual components of the second support frame 168 could be different from the first support frame 166. The second support frame 168 has a first dependent support beam 524 defining a beam axis D and adapted to be coupled to the surface 10. The first dependent support beam 524 has first 526 and second 528 beam end and defines a first plurality of mounting positions 540 between the first 526 and second 528 beam ends. The first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 may have the same configuration as the first support beam 24 of the first support frame 166 described in detail above. Additionally, the first plurality of mounting positions 540 of the first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 may have the same configuration and arrangement as the first plurality mounting positions 40 of the first support beam 24 of the first support frame 166.
The first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 further has a top surface 537 and the second support frame 168 is arranged adjacent the first support frame 166 such that the top surface 37 of the first support beam 24 of the first support frame 166 and the top surface 537 of the first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 are aligned. In the embodiment shown in
The second support frame 168 further has a second dependent support beam 592 spaced from the first dependent support beam 524. The second dependent support beam 592 extends along the beam axis D of the first dependent support beam 524. The second dependent support beam 592 has first 594 and second 596 beam ends and defines a second plurality of mounting positions 608 between the first 594 and second 596 beam ends of the second dependent support beam 592. The second dependent support beam 592 of the second support frame 168 may have the same configuration as the second support beam 92 of the first support frame 166 described in detail above. Additionally, the second plurality of mounting positions 608 of the second dependent support beam 592 of the second support frame 168 may have the same configuration and arrangement as the second plurality mounting positions 108 of the second support beam 92 of the first support frame 166.
The second support frame 168 further has a third dependent support beam 620 extending transverse to the beam axis D of the first dependent support beam 524 and attached to the first 524 and second 592 dependent support beams. The second support frame 168 further has a fourth dependent support beam 670 spaced from the third dependent support beam 620, extending transverse to the beam axis D of the first dependent support beam 524, and attached to the first 524 and second 592 dependent support beams. The configuration of the third 620 and fourth 670 support beams of the second support frame 168 is the same as the third 120 and fourth 170 support beams of the first support frame 166 described in detail above.
The second support frame 168 further has a third alignment device 548 attached to the first dependent support beam 524, and a fourth alignment device 610 attached to the second dependent support beam 592. The configuration and arrangement of the third alignment device 548 attached to the first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 is the same as the first alignment device 48 attached to the first support beam 24 of the first support frame 166. Similarly, the configuration and arrangement of the fourth alignment device 610 attached to the second dependent support beam 592 of the second support frame 168 is the same as the second alignment device 110 attached to the second support beam 92 of the first support frame 166.
The second support frame 168 further includes third 640 and fourth 652 cables. The cables 640, 652 are attached to the first 166 and second 168 support frames such that the second support frame 168 is suspended under the first support frame 166. The third cable 640 has first 644 and second 646 cable ends. As shown in
The second cable end 646 of the third cable 640 is removably attached to the first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 at a selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 540 of the first dependent support beam 524. Additionally, the third cable 640 is coupled to the third alignment device 548 to align the second cable end 646 of the third cable 640 with the first dependent support beam 524 of the second support frame 168 and the selected one of the plurality of mounting positions 540 of the first dependent support beam 524. The third cable 640 is movable along the third alignment device 548 to move the second cable end 646 of the third cable 640 from the selected one of the first plurality of mounting positions 540 of the first dependent support beam 524 to another one of the first plurality of mounting positions 540 of the first dependent support beam 524 for adjusting the second support frame 168 relative to the first support frame 166. All of this is accomplished in the same manner as adjustment of the first cable 52 utilizing the first alignment device 48 described in detail above.
The fourth cable 652 has first 654 and second 656 cable ends. As shown in
The second cable end 656 of the fourth cable 652 is removably attached to the second dependent support beam 592 of the second support frame 168 at a selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 608 of the second dependent support beam 592. Additionally, the fourth cable 652 is coupled to the fourth alignment device 610 to align the second cable end 656 of the fourth cable 652 with the second dependent support beam 592 of the second support frame 168 and the selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 608 of the second dependent support beam 592. The fourth cable is movable along the fourth alignment device 610 to move the second cable end 656 of the fourth cable 652 from the selected one of the second plurality of mounting positions 608 of the second dependent support beam 592 to another one of the second plurality of mounting positions 608 of the second dependent support beam 592 for adjusting the second support frame 168 relative to the first support frame 166.
In an embodiment, the storage apparatus 520 includes the first 166 and second 168 support frames arranged in the same horizontal plane PH, as best shown in
Another embodiment of the storage apparatus 720 is described below with reference to
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. It is now apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
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