Wall Storage System

Abstract

A wall storage system includes panels having recesses disposed on the rear surface that are configured to engage a mounting member that is secured on the wall to which the panel is to be secured. The mounting members are secured in a horizontal and level configuration by placing an alignment device on the wall in order to mark the locations at which the various mounting members are positioned. This alignment device enables the mounting bracket to quickly and easily be placed in the proper configuration on the wall for mounting the panels thereto in the desired configuration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to storage systems, and more specifically to storage systems to be positioned vertically on one or more walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the area of wall storage systems, the primary purpose of the system is to provide easily accessible and viewable storage for the items to be placed on or engaged with the wall storage system. As virtually any type of item can be placed on the system for storage purposes due to the large variety of implements that can be attached to the storage system for holding items thereon, wall storage systems have gained widespread acceptance.

To effectively secure the storage system to the wall, it is necessary to position the storage system on the wall in a level configuration. This enables the storage system to securely engage and hold the items on the storage system using the various implements engaged between the storage system and the items.

To secure the storage system on the wall in the proper configuration, the system includes various types of support members such as brackets that are initially secured to the wall. Once secured to the wall, the brackets are engaged within recesses on the rear of storage system panels forming the storage system opposite the wall in order to hold the panels on the wall.

However, one significant issue with regard to these types of storage systems is their installation on the wall in the level, e.g., horizontal position using the brackets. As the brackets are spaced from one another when initially mounted to the wall, it is often the case that the rackets are not aligned properly with one another on the wall. This misalignment of the brackets translates to the panel for the storage system not being positioned on the wall in a level configuration, resulting in problems with the proper operation of the wall storage system, if the panels can be affixed properly to the misaligned brackets at all.

In addition, even when the brackets are properly secured to the wall, it is difficult to view the brackets behind the panels in order to readily position the panels properly on each of the brackets.

Therefore, it is desirable to develop an improved solution for the mounting of a wall storage system to address these issues with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a wall storage system is configured with a slatwall panel that is to be secured to a wall. The slatwall panel includes a number of elongate horizontal slots disposed between flat sections on a front surface of the panel. The slots have a configuration that enables various supports to be engaged within the slots to hold the support on the panel without the need for any additional engagement members or structures, thereby providing an easy to assemble construction. The supports can also be connected to a variety of different types of organizing devices or structures that provide the panel with a multitude of customizable organizing configurations.

Each slatwall panel additionally includes a number of recesses disposed on the rear surface of the panels that are configured to receive teeth of a mounting member or bracket that is secured on the wall to which the panel is to be secured. The mounting members are secured in a horizontal and level configuration by placing an alignment device on the wall in order to mark the locations at which the various mounting members are positioned. This alignment device enables the mounting bracket to quickly and easily be placed in the proper configuration on the wall for mounting the panels thereto in the desired configuration.

Further, the alignment device can be placed between the wall and the mounting brackets when employed to provide the alignment feature for the mounting system. In this position, the alignment device provides the function of a buffer between the mounting brackets and the wall, to prevent damage to the wall from the attachment of the brackets. Also, in this position the alignment device can be formed to extend beyond the brackets to provide a visual alignment feature for the placement of the panels on the brackets. When the recesses on the rear of the panel are to be engaged with the mounting bracket, the alignment device positioned between the brackets and the wall enables an individual to determine the location of at least one of the engagement members of the brackets, enabling the panels to be secured to the brackets in a quick and easy manner.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the slatwall storage system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the slatwall storage system of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a mounting member for use with the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the alignment device and mounting members of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Before the present compositions, apparatuses and methods are described, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments and methodology, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally identifies the slatwall display system constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention for supporting and displaying various types of article holders 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 from a front side thereof. The system 10 can have any desired configuration, but in one exemplary embodiment the system 10 has a configuration corresponding to the panel disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,026, entitled Slatwall Display System, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all purposes. In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the system 10 is comprised of a series of horizontally disposed, generally rectangular slat panels 12 juxtaposed and interconnected together, one atop the other, at slatwall panel joints 26 to form a slat panel assembly 28. The slat panel assembly 28 is supported on a set of vertically extending mounting members 30 rigidly anchored to a vertical wall 32. Both slat panels 12 and mounting members 30 are substantially rigid elements and can be formed of suitable rigid materials, such as a metals and hard plastics, such as formed of extruded polyvinylchloride (PVC). Additionally, the panels 12 and/or the members 30 can be formed from other suitable materials, such as synthetic materials, including PVC filled materials that do not absorb moisture and that can be utilized in both indoor and outdoor environments. Further, the panels 12 and/or the members 30 can be formed with various decorative finishes thereon, such as various colored or camouflage finishes, to provide an enhanced appearance to the panels 12 and/or members 30.

An elongated, U-shaped finished cap 34 is provided to conceal the exposed side edges of the slat panel assembly 28. In the exemplary illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, it can be seen that the slat panel assembly 28 extends lengthwise from a ceiling 36 which is perpendicular to the wall 32 downwardly and completely to a floor 38. The slat panel assembly 28 also extends widthwise from one adjoining vertical wall 40 to another adjoining vertical wall 42. It should be appreciated from the outset of this description that the slat panel assembly 28 could also be mounted on a free-standing vertical wall which could carry the slat panels on one or both sides thereof as desired by the user. Likewise, it should be understood that while the article holders 14-24 are preferably shown as shelves and a hanger, the slatwall panel assembly 28 is equally capable of supporting other article holders such as baskets, trays, brackets, lights, etc.

Each slat panel is comprised of a body 62 having a plurality of coplanar forward wall portions 64, a plurality of coplanar rearward wall portions 66 spaced rearwardly of the forward wall portions 64, and a plurality of central wall portions 68 joining the forward wall and rearward wall portion 64, 66. Each slat panel 12 also has a lower edge 70 in addition to the upper edge 47 introduced above. The tongue 46 on upper edge 47 is offset from the rearward wall portion 66 and extends downwardly to intersect with a forwardly projecting portion 72 terminating at the forward wall portion 64. The lower edge 70 is provided with an inverted, U-shaped groove 74 cut into the central wall portion 68 between the lowermost forward wall portion 64 and the lowermost rearward wall portion 66. Upper edge tongue 46 is dimensioned and oriented to be accommodated in groove 74 of an adjoining slat panel lower edge 70 to retain the slat panel set 12 together in slatwall panel joint 26.

When adjacent slat panels 12 are held together at joint 26, a first, forwardly opening, L-shaped article holder recess 80 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed by the unoccupied walls of groove 74, a bottom of the forward wall portion 64 on the adjacent body 62, the tongue 46 and the forwardly projecting portion 72. The offset tongue 46 cooperates with the forward wall portion 64 to form a substantially moisture proof seal which prevents any moisture introduced into recess 80, such as by environmental conditions, cleaning fluid or the like, from reaching mounting member 30. It should also be noted that the L-shaped recess 80 has a vertical leg portion which opens through the forward wall portion 64. This design enables any moisture extant in the recess 80 to be pulled down by gravity and led away from the slat panel 12. The forward wall portions 64 are separated from each other by additional forwardly opening, L-shaped article holding recesses 80a formed between the forward wall and rearward wall portion 64, 66. The rearward wall portion 66 are separated from each other by projecting rear recesses 82 formed between the forward wall and rearward wall portions 64, 66. The projecting rear recesses 82 include a series of spaced, inverted, generally V-shaped notches 84 which cooperate with mating structure on the mounting members 30. The central wall portions 68 are molded with material saving voids 86 located above and below the L-shaped article holder recesses 80.

The mounting member 30 has an engagement member 105 having an upper portion 106 which extends outwardly and upwardly then vertically to partially fill the inverted V-shaped notch 84. Engagement member 105 also includes a lower portion 108 which is formed from the upper portion 106 and terminates in an upwardly turned finger 110 for cradling at least one utility conductor C passed through the projecting ear recess 82.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an alignment device 200 is shown that is used to align the mounting members 30 on the wall in order to position the mounting members 30 in the desired horizontal position prior to mounting the panels 12 thereon. The alignment device 200 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is formed of an elongate body 202 having a central elongate opening 204 formed therein. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the alignment device 200 can be formed with a number of elongate bodies 202 attached to one another in order to form an extended device 206 capable of providing proper alignment for a number of mounting members 30 and associated panels 12 simultaneously. The bodies 202 can be integrally formed with one another and/or can be joined by hinges 208, such as living hinges 210 that enable the bodies 202 to be pivoted with regard to one another. Additionally, the hinges 210 can also be formed in a manner that enables the bodies 202 to be separated from one another when less than all of the bodies 202 forming an extended alignment device 206 are not needed, allowing the extended device 206 to be modified as necessary.

The alignment device 200 is formed of any suitable material, such as a metal or a plastic, that is relatively lightweight and that can include suitable indicia 209 formed or printed thereon, including a ruler or other similar distance markings, among others.

In another exemplary embodiment, the alignment device 200 can be formed with a padding material (not shown) or coating applied to one side of the device 200. This material or coating enables the device 200 to be positioned against the wall 32 without scratching, marring or otherwise damaging the surface of the wall 32 against which the device 200 is positioned.

In operation, the device 200 is positioned against a wall and leveled to ensure the elongate opening 204 located within each of the elongate bodies 202 is disposed horizontally. In one exemplary embodiment, a number of markings (not shown) can then be made on the wall 32 through the opening 204 to provide an indication of where corresponding mounting apertures 212 in the mounting members 30 should be positioned in order to properly position the mounting members 30 on the wall 32. Alternatively, the device 200 can be affixed to the wall 32 using any suitable type of fastener (not shown) to place the device 200 in a level position on the wall 32. The mounting members 30 can then be directly engaged with the device 200 by inserting suitable fasteners (not shown) through the mounting apertures 212 in the mounting members 30 and through the elongate openings 204 alogned with the apertures 212. In this manner, after leveling the device 200, the device 200 remains on the wall 32 to provide the leveling/alignment function to the mounting members 30 secured thereto.

Additionally, where the device 200 is secured between the wall 32 and the panel 12, the length of the device 200 can be used as a visual aid in placing the upper portion 106 of the engagement member 105 within the rear recess 82, which is obscured when placing the panel 12 on the mounting member 30. The ability of the device 200 to be viewed extending outwardly from one or both sides of the panel 12 allows an individual to readily locate the recesses 82 on the panel 12 with the engagement members 105 on the mounting members 30 to secure the panel 12 to the mounting members 30.

Other features can be incorporated onto the alignment device 200, such as a separate leveling device (not shown) to enable the device 200 to more readily be positioned in a level configuration on the wall, among others.

Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A wall storage system comprising: a) at least one wall panel;b) at least one mounting member engagable with the at least one wall panel and adapted to be secured to a wall surface; andc) an alignment device adapted to align the at least one mounting member on the wall surface.

2. The wall storage system of claim 1 wherein the alignment device includes a number of elongate bodies attached to one another.

3. The wall storage system of claim 2 wherein the number of bodies are movably secured to one another.

4. The wall storage system of claim 3 wherein the number of bodies are disengagably secured to one another.

5. The wall storage system of claim 2 wherein the number of bodies are interconnected by hinges.

6. The wall storage system of claim 5 wherein the hinges are integrally formed with the number of bodies.

7. The wall storage system of claim 2 wherein each elongate body includes an aperture therein.

8. The wall storage system of claim 7 wherein the aperture is an elongate aperture.

9. The wall storage system of claim 1 wherein the alignment device has a length longer than a width of the at least one wall panel.

10. The wall storage system of claim 1 wherein the alignment device includes a buffer disposed on one side of the device.

11. An alignment device adapted to align mounting members of a wall storage system on a wall to which the mounting members are secured, the device comprising an elongate body adapted to be engaged with a mounting member for a wall storage system and an elongate opening defined within the elongate body.

12. The alignment device of claim 11 wherein the alignment device includes a number of elongate bodies attached to one another.

13. The alignment device of claim 12 wherein the number of bodies are interconnected by hinges.

14. The storage system of claim 11 wherein the alignment device includes a buffer disposed on one side of the device.

15. A method for mounting a wall storage system to a wall, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing the wall storage system of claim 1;b) placing the alignment device on the wall;c) aligning the at least one mounting member with the alignment device;d) securing the mounting member to the wall; ande) engaging the at least one wall panel with the at least one mounting member.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of placing the alignment device on the wall comprises securing the alignment device to the wall.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of engaging the at least one wall panel with the at least one mounting member comprises: a) aligning a rear recess on the at least one wall panel with the alignment device; andb) engaging the rear recess with the at least one mounting member disposed in alignment with the alignment device.