Moveable stairwell storage

Abstract

An apparatus and method for storing items above a stairway in a stairwell includes an overhead storage unit that can be moved between a storage location and an access location by a suspension system which may use horizontal, parallel rails fixed to opposing walls of the stairwell in combination with rollers on the side of the storage unit. The storage location is above a lower portion of the stairway in a generally unused and inaccessible space, while the access location is above an upper portion of the stairway in a space that is easily accessible from the top of the stairway. The storage unit can include shelves, a back wall, and a handle or pull rope.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 61 / 431,484, filed Jan. 11, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purpose.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to apparatus and methods for providing storage, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for converting unused, inaccessible space into storage spaceBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]As every homeowner knows, there is always a lack of sufficient storage space in the finished rooms of a house. This is particularly true of the kitchen. One existing solution to this problem is the use of off-site storage, but this is inconvenient and expensive. Another existing solution is to install additional shelves or other storage units in rooms of the house, but this approach reduces the usable square footage and is therefore also undesirable. Similar storage problems exist in offices, and in other facilities.[0004]Unused space sometimes ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Shelves can be provided within the storage unit to facilitate the organization of the stored goods. Lips can be provided on the front edges of the shelves to prevent items from sliding off the shelves. A solid back can be provided to prevent items from being pushed through and falling out from the back side of the storage unit. Swinging doors or a full or partial front cover such as a roll-type cover may be used on some embodiments. A roll type or vertically sliding cover may be linked to the horizontal movement mechanism so as to open the front of the storage unit as it is being pulled forward to the extended position, and close when the storage unit is moved back into the retracted position.

[0010]The horizontally movable support mechanism in some embodiments may be sloped, such that the extended position is somewhat above or below the retracted position, as for example where the retracted position is higher and closer to the ceiling, and the extended position is lower for easier access.

[0011]The horizontally movable support mechanism may in some embodiments be powered or spring assisted to reduce or eliminate the manual effort required to move it back and forth.

[0019]Another general aspect of the present invention is a method for providing accessible storage above a stairway in a stairwell. The method includes mounting a pair of rails substantially horizontally on opposing walls of the stairwell, the rails being mounted parallel to each other and at a common height, the rails extending from a storage location above a lower portion of the stairway to an accessible location above an upper portion of the stairway, and supporting a storage unit on the rails by a horizontally movable mounting mechanism fixed to the storage unit and supported by the rails, so that the storage unit and the mounting mechanism are movable horizontally along the rails from the storage location to the accessible location. A benefit to embodiments using simple side support systems as this is the relative ease of installation.

Problems solved by technology

While this overhead clearance is actually only needed at the top of the stairway, the height of the ceiling above a stairway is typically uniform above most or all of the stairway, so that unused and unnecessary overhead space exists above a lower portion of the stairway.

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