Patent Application
20140291264
The present disclosure relates generally to a storage system for utilization of storage space between wall studs, and more particularly, to a basket hung between two wall studs on an unfinished wall for the storage of items.
In unfinished areas of buildings, wall studs constitute wasted space. This is true in attics, garages, sheds, basements, and the like. These spaces have often been used to store cans, odd shaped boxes, tools, and other miscellaneous items, which often detract from the area's appearance. The space between wall studs is even less appealing when free standing shelves are placed in front of the wall studs. Additionally, often items may fall behind the shelves and into the void spaces in between the wall studs, producing an undesirable result.
It would be beneficial to utilize the space between wall studs in unfinished areas of buildings. As such, systems have been provided to organize or provide storage in-between wall studs in unfinished areas of buildings. However, such storage systems may still be bulky, awkward, or fail to reduce issues such as items falling off the back of the shelves or allowing easy organization of the items placed in the storage system. To provide an easy way to utilize a storage system which reduces spilled items and aids in organization, a system or method for hanging a storage basket between two wall studs on an unfinished wall for the storage of items is needed.
A stackable wall shelving module adapted to fit between wall studs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,217 (the '217 patent) issued Aug. 15, 2000 to Mathy et al. The '217 patent describes a wall shelving module adapted to fit between wall studs. The wall shelving module is made of durable material, is easy to install, extends beyond the front edges of the stud and has a closed back.
Although the wall shelving module adapted to fit between wall studs of the '217 patent may reduce the amount of spilled items and help with organization, it has several shortcomings. For example, the wall shelving module of the '217 patent is not adaptable to incorrectly spaced wall studs. For instance, if the wall shelving module of the '217 patent is designed for wall studs 16 inches apart, it may not work well if the studs are 15 inches or 17 inches apart Additionally, the wall shelving module of the '217 patent uses only shelves which presents limitations on the design. For example, if too many items, especially smaller items, are placed within the wall shelving module of the '217 patent, some of the items may roll or fall out the front of the wall shelving module.
An open wall storage assembly for use with unfinished walls is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,094 (the '094 patent) issued Feb. 14, 1989 to Eittreim. The '094 patent describes an open wall storage assembly for use with unfinished walls. The open wall storage assembly is readily installable by the homeowner, extends beyond the front edges of the stud, has a closed back, and is characterized by a large area integral member which is utilized in surrounding engagement with adjacent vertical members.
Although open wall storage assembly for use with unfinished walls of the '094 patent may be readily installable by the homeowner and help with utilization of unfinished wall space, it has several shortcomings. For example, the open wall storage assembly of the '094 patent is not adaptable to incorrectly spaced wall studs. For instance, if the open wall storage assembly of the '094 patent is designed for wall studs 16 inches apart, it may not work well if the studs are 15 inches or 17 inches apart Additionally, the open wall storage assembly of the '094 patent is a large backplane with multiple shelves or other storage items in it which presents limitations on the design. For example, even if the homeowner only wants one or two shelves to store items on, he must still buy the entire assembly. This can be especially problematic if there is little vertical space of which to take advantage.
The disclosed system and method are directed to improvements in the existing technology.
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a storage system for unfinished walls. The storage system for unfinished walls may include at least one storage basket attached between two wall studs in an unfinished wall, wherein the storage basket has a bottom and raised sides. The system may also include at least two fastener holders and at least two fasteners to attach the storage basket to the wall studs.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method of storing in an unfinished wall. The method may include attaching at least one storage basket between two wall studs in an unfinished wall, wherein the storage basket has a bottom and raised sides. The method may also include fastening at least two fasteners through fastener holders to attach the storage basket to the wall stud.
A further aspect of the disclosure is directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one storage basket attached between two wall studs in an unfinished wall, wherein the storage basket has a bottom and raised sides. The apparatus may also include at least two fastener holders and at least two fasteners to attach the storage basket to the wall studs.
Wall studs 102 may include any common wall stud found in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Wall studs may be 2×4's, 2×6's, or any other size. Wall studs 102 may be made from wood, metal, or any other appropriate material. Wall studs 102 may have a separation of about 16 inches, 24 inches, 30 inches, any other regularly repeated separation, or each distance between adjacent wall studs 102 may be a different or irregular distance.
Storage system for unfinished walls 100 may include a storage basket 104 and two or more fasteners 106. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, one or more of storage baskets 104 and two or more of fasteners 106 may be integrated as a single unit.
Storage basket 104 may include any basket capable of being placed between two wall studs 102. Storage basket 104 may have a bottom, and 4 raised sides. Storage basket 104 may be made of metal, plastic, glass, reinforced plastics, fiberglass, wood, or any other natural or manmade material. Metals may include steel, aluminum, tin, stainless steel, to name a few. Additionally, storage basket 104 may be constructed of cross wire, mesh, panels, solid material, or any combination of the aforementioned. It is contemplated that storage basket 104 may be of varying load bearing ratings, from a pound to several 100 lbs, based on material, thickness of material, construction means, etc.
As discussed above, storage baskets 104 may be attached to each wall stud 102 with fasteners 106. Storage basket 104 may have one or more flanges, extensions, or other means to allow fasteners 106 to attach storage basket 104 to wall stud 102. Fasteners 106 may include any fasteners that may be used to hang or attach storage baskets 104 to wall stud 102. Fasteners 106 may include nails, dry wall screws, wood screws, sheet metal screws, bolts/nuts, etc.
As shown in
Sides 204a-d may be attached to bottom 202 and be attached to fastener holders 206. Sides 204a-d may be made of metal, plastic, glass, reinforced plastics, fiberglass, wood, or any other natural or man-made material. Metals may include steel, aluminum, tin, stainless steel, to name a few. Additionally, sides 204a-d may be constructed of cross wire, mesh, panels, solid material, or any combination of the aforementioned. While
Fastener holders 206 may be attached to one or more of sides 204a-d. Fastener holders 206 may provide a place for fasteners 106 to connect storage basket 104 to wall studs 102. Fastener holders 206 may all be at the same vertical height on storage basket 104, or may be at different heights. Fastener holders 206 may be all of the same design and material, or may have differing designs and material. Fastener holders 206 may be made of the same material as one or more other parts of storage basket 104, or may be made of a different material. Fastener holders 206 may be made of metal, plastic, glass, reinforced plastics, fiberglass, wood, or any other natural or man-made material. Metals may include steel, aluminum, tin, stainless steel, to name a few. Fastener holders 206 may be designed to hold part of, or all the weight loading storage basket 104 was designed for.
In further exemplary embodiments of storage system for unfinished walls 100, one or more of storage basket 104, sides 204a-d, and fastener holders 206 may protrude past room facing front of wall studs 302. Additionally, some of fasteners 106 may attach to the room facing front of wall studs 302 and some of fasteners 106 may attach to the sides of wall studs 102.
In one exemplary embodiment, lip 404 is attached to the tops of sides 204a-d. Lip 404 is U-shaped, such that when storage basket 104 is dropped over ring 402, three sides of ring 402 are touching lip 404, and ring 402 is bearing the weight of storage basket 104. In another exemplary embodiment, ring 402 may have a rectangular cross-section, and lip 404 may also have a rectangular u-shape, such that lip 404 fits over ring 402, and ring 402 bears the weight of storage basket 104. Other combinations of cross-section and lip 404 inner curvature may be used to support storage basket 104 with ring 402. Ring 402 and lip 404 may be made of metal, plastic, glass, reinforced plastics, fiberglass, wood, or any other natural or man-made material. Metals may include steel, aluminum, tin, stainless steel, to name a few. Ring 402 and lip 404 may be made of the same material, or different materials, and may be made of the same material, or different material as used elsewhere in storage system for unfinished walls 100.
In one exemplary embodiment, shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, fastener holders 206 may have multiple fastening locations 502 to which fastener 106 may be used to attach fastener holders 206 to wall studs 102. Different patterns of fastening locations 502 may be used to allow storage system for unfinished walls 100 to be fastened to wall studs 102 when wall studs 102 are not properly aligned or spaced correctly or consistently. Some embodiments may include a line of fastening locations 502, a “V” shaped pattern of fastening locations 502, or a cross shaped pattern of fastening locations 502, to name a few possible embodiments.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the one or more flexible components of the storage system for unfinished walls 100 may be combined with fastener holders 206 with multiple fastening locations 502. The combination of these exemplary embodiments into a further exemplary embodiment may provide greater flexibility for attaching storage system for unfinished walls 100 to wall studs 102 that are not properly aligned or spaced correctly or consistently.
By employing the disclosed storage system for unfinished walls 100, as discussed above, a user may store items without the items spilling. The use of storage baskets 104 will also aid in the organization of items. Further, the modular nature of the storage system for unfinished walls 100 will allow easy installation and provide for allowing the storage system for unfinished walls 100 to be used when there is not much vertical space available between wall studs 102. Another advantage of the storage system for unfinished walls 100 is allowing its use when wall studs 102 are not properly aligned or spaced correctly or consistently. The combination of flexible storage basket 104, bottoms 202, sides 204a-d, fastener holders 206, rings 402, and/or lip 404 and fastener holders 206 that have multiple fastening locations 502 may allow its use when wall studs 102 are not properly aligned or spaced correctly or consistently. It should be clear that the disclosed system and method could be extended beyond wall studs 102 and may be applied wherever storage between parallel structures would be useful.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed system for utilization of storage space between wall studs. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed system for utilization of storage space between wall studs. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
