U.S. patent application number 17/098783 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-04 for support rack and methods of making and use.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shane Collins Ryan. The applicant listed for this patent is Shane Collins Ryan. Invention is credited to Joanne K. Ryan, Robert C. Ryan, Shane Collins Ryan.
Application Number | 20210059410 17/098783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005222378 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210059410 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan; Shane Collins ; et
al. |
March 4, 2021 |
SUPPORT RACK AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USE
Abstract
A rack support and method of use. The support rack can include a
plurality of support slats mounted to a support base. The support
slats cooperatively provide a plurality of article mounting
channels, and article mounts can be slidably mounted in the
channels in order to provide a variety of orientations of the
article mounts with respect to the support base. In one embodiment,
the support channels are T-shaped, and the article mounts have
T-shaped mounting ends that may slidably mount with the T-shaped
support channels. Other support channel and mounting end shapes may
be used. In some embodiments, the rack support may be used to store
articles on a wall with increased article density, economy,
reliability, safety, and/or usability.
Inventors: |
Ryan; Shane Collins; (Reno,
NV) ; Ryan; Joanne K.; (Reno, NV) ; Ryan;
Robert C.; (Reno, NV) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ryan; Shane Collins |
Reno |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ryan; Shane Collins
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
1000005222378 |
Appl. No.: |
17/098783 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15934667 |
Mar 23, 2018 |
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17098783 |
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14641139 |
Mar 6, 2015 |
9936807 |
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15934667 |
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11677500 |
Feb 21, 2007 |
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14641139 |
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60775660 |
Feb 21, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 11/028 20130101;
A47B 95/008 20130101; A47B 81/005 20130101; A63B 71/0036 20130101;
A47F 5/0846 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00; A47F 5/08 20060101 A47F005/08; A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00; A63C 11/02 20060101 A63C011/02; A47B 95/00 20060101
A47B095/00 |
Claims
1. A wall mountable support rack comprising in combination: a. a
planar base section mountable to a wall; b. a plurality of support
slats mounted to the planar base section with an outer side spaced
from the base section and each of the support slats being spaced
from each other to cooperatively provide a first support element
mounting channel between one adjacent pair of said support slats
and a second support element mounting channel between a second
adjacent pair of said support slats; and c. a plurality of article
mounting elements, each said article mounting element: (i)
including a mounting base element and a plurality of article
support arms extending from the article mounting base element, with
(ii) the mounting base element being slidably mountable in, and
with the plurality of support arms slidably extending through,
either of the first support element mounting channel or the second
support element mounting channel.
2. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 wherein the mounting
base element of each said article mounting element is slidably
securable adjacent the planar base section by either of the one
adjacent pair of said support slats or the second adjacent pair of
support slats.
3. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 wherein the mounting
base element of each said article mounting element has a generally
planar surface with the plurality of support arms extending from
the generally planar support surface.
4. The wall mountable support rack of claim 2 wherein the mounting
base element of each said article mounting element has a generally
planar surface with the plurality of support arms extending from
the generally planar support surface.
5. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 wherein each of said
support arms has a protruding section extending from the mounting
base element, and the protruding section is at least five inches
long.
6. The wall mountable support rack of claim 4 wherein each of said
support arms has a protruding section extending from the mounting
base element, and the protruding section is at least five inches
long.
7. The wall mountable support rack of claim 3 each said article
mounting element has at least one flat side transverse to the
generally planar surface.
8. The wall mountable support rack of claim 4 each said article
mounting element has at least one flat side transverse to the
generally planar surface.
9. The wall mountable support rack of claim 6 each said article
mounting element has at least one flat side transverse to the
generally planar surface.
10. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 wherein each of the
planar base section, support slats, and article mounting elements
consist essentially of plastic.
11. The wall mountable support rack of claim 9 wherein each of the
planar base section, support slats, and article mounting elements
consist essentially of plastic.
12. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 wherein a first said
article mounting element has a first pair of article support arms
with first predetermined length, a second said article mounting
element has a second pair of article support arms with a second
predetermined length, and the first predetermined length is longer
than the second predetermined length.
13. The wall mountable support rack of claim 9 wherein a first said
article mounting element has a first pair of article support arms
with a first predetermined support arm length, a second said
article mounting element has a second pair of article support arms
with a second predetermined support arm length, and the first
predetermined support arm length is longer than the second
predetermined support arm length.
14. The wall mountable support rack of claim 11 wherein a first
said article mounting element has a first pair of article support
arms with a first predetermined support arm length, a second said
article mounting element has a second pair of article support arms
with a second predetermined support arm length, and the first
predetermined support arm length is longer than the second
predetermined support arm length.
15. The wall mountable support rack of claim 1 also including a
single support arm article mounting element.
16. The wall mountable support rack of claim 9 also including a
single support arm article mounting element.
17. wall mountable support rack of claim 14 also including a single
support arm article mounting element.
18. A wall mountable support rack comprising in combination: a. a
planar base section mountable to a wall; b. a plurality of support
slats mounted to the planar base section with an outer side spaced
from the base section and each of the support slats being spaced
from each other to cooperatively provide a first support element
mounting channel between one adjacent pair of said support slats
and a second support element mounting channel between a second
adjacent pair of said support slats; and c. a plurality of article
mounting elements including at least a first article mounting
element and a second article mounting element, each including a
first mounting base element and a plurality of article support arms
extending from the first mounting base element, with the first
mounting base element being slidably mountable in, and with the
plurality of support arms slidably extendable along, either of the
first support element mounting channel or the second support
element mounting channel; wherein (i) the first article mounting
element has at least a first element support arm with a
predetermined first element support arm length, (ii) the second
article mounting element among second element support arm with a
predetermined second element support length, and (c) the
predetermined first element support arm length is longer than the
predetermined second element support arm length.
19. A wall mountable support rack comprising in combination: a. a
planar base section mountable to a wall; b. a plurality of support
slats mounted to the planar base section with an outer side spaced
from the base section and each of the support slats being spaced
from each other to cooperatively provide a first support element
mounting channel between one adjacent pair of said support slats
and a second support element mounting channel between a second
adjacent pair of said support slats; and c. a plurality of article
mounting elements including at least a first article mounting
element and a second article mounting element, the first article
including a first mounting base element and a plurality of article
support arms extending from the first mounting base element, with
the first mounting base element being slidably mountable in, and
with the plurality of support arms slidably extendable along,
either of the first support element mounting channel or the second
support element mounting channel, and wherein the second article
mounting element includes a single arm mounting base element and a
single article support arm extendable from the second article
mounting base element, and with the second mounting base element
being slidably mountable in, and with the single support arm
slidably extendable along, either of the first support element
mounting channel or the second support element mounting
channel.
20. The wall mountable support rack of claim 18 wherein at least
one among the predetermined first element support arm length and
the predetermined second element support arm length is at least
five inches long.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/934,667, filed Mar. 23, 2018, and entitled
"Support Rack And Methods Of Making And Use", which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/641,139, filed
Mar. 6, 2015, and entitled "SUPPORT RACK AND METHODS OF MAKING AND
USE", which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/677,500, filed Feb. 21, 2007, and entitled "SUPPORT RACK AND
METHODS OF MAKING AND USE", which claims priority through and also
incorporates by reference in its entirety the applicant's prior
Provisional Patent Application, filed Feb. 21, 2006, entitled
"SUPPORT RACK AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USE", Ser. No. 60/775,660.
All such prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety. It is to be understood, however, that in the event
of any inconsistency between this specification and any information
incorporated by reference in this specification, this specification
shall govern.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to a support rack of the type
mountable on a wall to store articles on the rack. The disclosure
also relates to use of such a support rack.
INTRODUCTION
[0003] The applicants, particularly Shane Collins Ryan, invented
the present invention and developed the prototype for presentation
in connection with Shane's participation in the Invention
Convention, at Roy Gomm Elementary School, Reno, Nev., in 2006.
Shane presented the prototype to his sixth grade class and at the
subsequent Invention Convention at the School. He received an A+,
and "best of class" nomination from his teacher, Mr. Joseph Ernst,
for his work and presentations regarding this invention.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Storage of items on walls has long presented a significant
problem. In the home environment, for example, garage walls, among
others, are commonly used to hang and store a wide variety of
items. The types of goods involve may include lawn and garden
tools, snow shovels, sporting goods, camping equipment, and many
other things. A wide variety of wall storage systems have been
developed as a result.
[0005] One prior art Rubbermaid.TM. system has provided a metal
rail-based system. The metal rails are mountable horizontally along
a wall, and metal article hanging hooks of various shapes and sizes
can be slidably mounted to the rails. By use of multiple rails,
hooks can be arranged at varying locations both horizontally along
a wall and vertically with respect to each along multiple rails
mounted one over the other vertically on the wall.
[0006] The Rubbermaid.TM. system is relatively heavy, expensive,
and difficult to install. If the user desires to have multiple
hooks space vertically from each other along a wall, the user must
install multiple rails. If a particular vertical spacing will be
need, the installer must determine that spacing in advance and
maintain as the rails are mounted to the wall.
[0007] Storage of snow skis on a wall has long presented
significant problems in particular. For example, a family or ski
team may have a number of skiers who each have one or pairs of skis
of varying lengths. The differing pairs of skis often have bindings
mounted on them of varying length and thicknesses as well.
[0008] One common ski storage system has consisted of a single
horizontally mounted board with a number of horizontally spaced
wooden pegs extending perpendicularly from the board along the
associated wall (see FIGS. 1-3). As is shown in FIG. 1, however,
this board-and-peg system will allow for storage of only a
relatively few pairs of skis adjacent a wall unless, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, the various pairs of skis are hung on the pegs so
that they extend at differing angles from the wall. This
arrangement consumes space distal from the wall, as can be seen in
FIG. 1. The skis often are easily knocked off the board-and-peg
rack as people, cars, bikes, etc., bump into them, and removal of a
given pair of skis often requires removal and remounting of
multiple other pairs of skis.
[0009] Falling skis can do damage to the surrounding environment,
including people in that environment. The skis can themselves be
damaged too when they fall off the rack.
[0010] This board-and-peg ski storage system also commonly fails,
as the wooden pegs break. This system can be similarly inefficient
for wall storage of other types of articles either with or without
skis on the rack.
SUMMARY
[0011] The applicants have invented a new support rack and methods
of making and using the rack. The support rack includes a base
system on which multiple mounting pegs, tools, or structures may be
mounted to move in differing directions with respect to each other.
In some embodiments, for example, the mounting structures may be
adjustably mounted on the base system horizontally and vertically
with respect to each other. The base system may be mounted to a
wall, and articles of the same or varying shapes and sized may then
be mounted to the support rack.
[0012] In certain embodiments, a plurality of support slats are
mountable to the base system in parallel, with at least some
adjacent pairs of slats spaced from each other to cooperatively
form a mounting channel between the adjacent pair of slats and
adjacent section of the base system. A plurality of mounting
structures may be slidably mounted in these channels.
[0013] In some embodiments, the base system is a planar base
section. In some embodiments, the support slats are T-shaped, as
can be one or more associated mounting channels. One or more
mounting structures may also have a T-shaped end for slidable
mounting within the T-shaped channel(s).
[0014] In some embodiments, the base system, support slats, and
mounting structures may be made of a wide variety of materials,
such as, for example, one or more among wood, plastic, composite
material, or metal.
[0015] In some embodiments, the mounting structure may consist of
pegs having a variety of shapes, including straight arm pegs,
u-shaped pegs, y-shaped pegs, or other configurations of varying
lengths, widths, and heights. Alternatively, the mounting structure
may comprise shelving mounted to slidable mounting structure,
multiple pegs or arms extending from a mounting structure base. In
the latter case, the pegs or arms may be adjustably mountable to
the mounting structure or base to provide differing distances
between the pegs or arms as desired. Mounting structures of varying
types may be mixed and matched as desired.
[0016] In certain embodiments, not all mounting structure need be
slidably mounted to the base system. Other types of mounting
structures may be fixedly mounted if desired.
[0017] The support rack may be configured to matingly mount to a
wall adjacent one or more other support rack sections. The
resulting support rack system may be expanded if desired. In
certain embodiments, the individual support rack sections can be
more easily packaged, shipped, assembled, mounted, repaired, or
disassembled.
[0018] The support rack can be used to store articles on a wall. In
some embodiments, the method of use can include assessing the size
or weight of articles to be stored on the support rack and
adjusting the location of the mounting structures, such as support
pegs as an example, horizontally and vertically with respect to
each other in order to mount articles on the board.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the method may be used to increase
article storage density on a wall. In certain embodiments, the
method may be one or more of more reliable, less dangerous, more
economical, and more adjustable than other article storage
methods.
[0020] This brief Summary recites certain aspects of various
embodiments disclosed in this application. It is to be understood
that a given embodiment need not include all such aspects or
address issues noted in the Background above.
[0021] In addition, there are many other aspects and advantages of
various embodiments. They will become apparent as this
specification proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The preferred and other embodiments are described with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a prior art board-and-peg support system with
three pairs of skis mounted on the system laterally along a certain
lateral length of a wall to which the system is mounted;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the prior art board-and-peg support system of
FIG. 2 with five pairs of skis, and two pairs of ski poles mounted
on the system along generally the same lateral length of wall
reference with regard to FIG. 1 above;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows the prior art board-and-peg system as utilized
in FIG. 3, showing the skis and poles extending at an angle away
from the wall and into the room framed by the wall;
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a wood embodiment of a support rack of the
present specification mounted on a wall with five pairs of skis
mounted laterally along the wall in generally the same lateral
length of wall space shown in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a differing view of the system, and associated
mounted skis, of FIG. 4;
[0028] FIG. 6 shows another differing view of the system, and
associated mounted skis, of FIGS. 4 and 5, with the skis hanging
generally vertically along the associated wall;
[0029] FIG. 7 shows the support rack of FIGS. 4-6 with a number of
pairs of ski poles mounted at varying vertical positions along one
side of the support rack;
[0030] FIG. 8 shows the support rack of FIGS. 4-7 with support pegs
adjusted horizontally and vertically along a rack base system in
order to support along the wall a variety of differently shaped
lawn and garden tools and other implements;
[0031] FIG. 9 shows the support rack of FIGS. 4-8 with the support
pegs adjusted horizontally and vertically along the rack base
system in order to support along the wall a variety of differently
shaped sporting goods;
[0032] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the support rack generally
shown in FIGS. 4-10;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the support rack of FIG.
10;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the support rack of FIG.
10; taken through section A-A in FIG. 10;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a slidable support rack
peg of the type useable within peg slots of the support rack of
FIGS. 10-12;
[0036] FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the slidable support rack
peg of FIG. 13;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a back side plan view of the slidable support
rack peg of FIG. 13;
[0038] FIG. 16 shows the support rack of FIGS. 4-10 at an angle to
perpendicular from the plane of the front surface of the support
rack;
[0039] FIG. 17 shows the support rack of FIG. 16 turned ninety
degrees and at an angle to perpendicular from the plane of the
front surface of the support rack;
[0040] FIG. 18 is a close-up sectional view of Section A of FIG.
17;
[0041] FIG. 19 shows the back side of the support rack of FIG. 17
at an angle to perpendicular from the plane of the rear planar
surface of the support rack;
[0042] FIG. 20 shows a substantially, but slightly offset, side
view of the support rack of FIG. 17;
[0043] FIG. 21 is an elevational view of an alternative support
rack embodiment having three horizontal support slats with a series
of arcuate channels in the upper surfaces of the slats and with a
four slidable pegs resting in mating arcuate channels;
[0044] FIG. 22 is a side plan view of the alternative support rack
of FIG. 21;
[0045] FIG. 23 is an elevational view of an alternative support peg
having a round-disc base, of the type shown in the support rack of
FIGS. 21 and 22;
[0046] FIG. 24 is a side plan view of an alternative u-shaped
support peg structure;
[0047] FIG. 25 is a side plan view of an alternative planar
shelf-shaped support peg structure;
[0048] FIG. 26 is a side plan view of an alternative y-shaped
support peg structure; and
[0049] FIG. 27 is a side plan view of an alternative multi-peg
somewhat U-shaped support peg structure;
[0050] FIG. 28 is an elevational view of the multi-peg structure of
FIG. 27.
[0051] FIG. 29 is a top plan view of an alternative multi-peg
structure having slidably adjustable pegs; and
[0052] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view, taken through section
line B-B in FIG. 29.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] With reference now to FIG. 10, one embodiment of the support
rack 10 includes a plurality of horizontal 3' support slats, e.g.,
12, 14, mounted on an underlying 2'.times.3' support base 16. The
support slats 12, 14 are mounted spaced from each other and from
the support base 16 to form a support peg or tool channel 18
between the support slats 12, 14. Support pegs, e.g., 20, 22, are
slidably mounted within the peg channel 18 thus formed between the
slats, e.g., 12, 14. The support pegs, e.g., 20, 22, are thus
moveable horizontally with respect to each other and may be moved,
if desired, from one peg channel, e.g, 18, to another, e.g., 19, on
the support rack 10 to provide vertical adjustability of the
position of a support peg with respect to another peg 10 or other
structure on the support rack 10.
[0054] With reference now to FIGS. 10 and 12, the support slats,
e.g., 14, are secured to the support base 16 by glue (not shown)
and fasteners 26 such as screws penetrating the slats, e.g., 15,
and support base 16. The slats, e.g., 14, can be secured, including
removably mounted if desired, to the support base 16 in many other
ways well known to those skilled in the art.
[0055] With reference to FIG. 11 and the similar apparatus of FIG.
18, the support slats, e.g., 14, each have a T-shaped
cross-section. The T-shape is provided by a 1''.times.2''.times.3'
plank 28 mounted to a 1''.times.3''.times.3' plank 30. Each peg
channel 18 similarly has a T-shaped cross-section cooperatively
provided adjacent slats 12, 14. (See also peg channel 32 in FIGS.
18 and 33 in FIG. 11.) As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, support pegs,
e.g., 20, 22, are thus slidably mounted within the mating T-shaped
peg channel 18, with peg dowels or support members, e.g., 20, 22,
extending from the mating channel 18 perpendicularly away from the
support base 16 and outer faces 21, 23 of the adjacent support
slats 12, 14 respectively.
[0056] With reference now to FIG. 13, the support peg 20 consists
of a one to two inch section of 1'.times.2'' wood block 46 with a
3/8''.times.4'' round wood dowel 48 extending perpendicularly from
the center of an upper 2'' face 49 of the wood block 46. The wood
dowel 48 penetrates, and is glued within, a mating dowel passage 50
penetrating the wood block 46. With reference back to FIGS. 10 and
13, the peg channel 18 is thus only slightly wider than the 3/8''
diameter of the mating wood dowel, e.g., 48. The wood dowel 48, and
its T-shaped wood block end 51 (cooperatively provided by the wood
block 46 and the wood dowel 48 perpendicularly extending from the
lateral center of the upper 2'' face 48 of the wood block 46), are
thereby generally slidable along the generally mating interior
surface of the T-shaped peg channel 18, with some friction between
the them to help maintain the support peg 20 in place after it has
been moved to a desired position.
[0057] With reference to FIG. 15, the opposing lower 2'' face 54 of
the wood block 46 is coplanar with one end 56 of the wood dowel
48.
[0058] With reference to FIG. 16, wood dowels, e.g., 56, 58, may
have differing axial lengths, such as, for example, 1.5-8 inches or
longer. In addition, a widely varying number of support pegs, e.g.,
60, 62, may be mounted on the support base.
[0059] With reference now to FIG. 4, the planar back side 63 (see
also FIG. 19) of the support base 16 may be secured to the surface
of a wall 64 or other supporting structure (not shown). Additional
support racks (not shown) may be mounted to the wall 64 adjacent a
side, e.g., 66, 68, of the support rack in order to expand storage
capacity of the collective racks.
[0060] The components of the support rack 10 may have differing
dimensions than the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-20. For example,
the support base may be small or larger as desired. The lateral
lengths of support slats may be similarly altered, and in some
embodiments, on or more support slats may have differing lengths or
widths than those of one or more other support slats on the rack.
Similarly, one or more support pegs may have a configuration
altered to mate with differently-shaped channels formed in
differently configured adjacent support slats.
[0061] With reference now to FIG. 21, an alternative support rack
may comprise one or support rack sections, e.g., 100. Each such
support rack section 100 may have a plurality (e.g., three as
shown) lateral support slats 102, 104, 106 mounted on an underlying
support base 108. Upper and lower laterally extending L-shaped
lips, e.g., 110, 112, can respectively extend from the upper and
lower laterally-extending sides 114, 116 of the support base 108.
The L-shaped lips 110, 112 can thus matingly abut with reciprocally
configured lips (not shown) in additional support rack sections as
desired. Similar lip structure (not shown) can be included on the
opposing left and right sides 120, 122 respectively on the support
base 108 to mate with additional support rack sections that may be
mounted to the left and right sides 120, 122 of the support base
108.
[0062] One or more arcuate dowel-support depressions or channels,
e.g., 124, 126, may be formed in the upper edge 128 of one or more
support slats, e.g., 104. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a support
dowel, e.g., 130, can thus extend from a dowel base 132 through the
dowel-support channel 126 to extend perpendicularly from the outer
planar face 134 of the support slat 104. In this embodiment as
shown in FIG. 23, the diametral width W of the dowel base 132 is
substantially less than, as shown in FIG. 22, the mating maximum
width Z of the T-shaped channel 134 in which the dowel base 132 is
slidably mounted and retained. This relationship is required to
allow, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the dowel 130 to abut the
dowel-support depression 126 in the lower abutting support slat
134.
[0063] In this embodiment, the support pegs (formed of the dowel
base 132 and support dowel 130) are thus slidable laterally along
the mating T-shaped channels between adjacent support slats except
when the support dowel of the support peg is lowered into a mating
support channel along an upper channel in the lower support slat.
This orientation of the support peg can resist undesired lateral
movement of the support peg within the T-shaped tool channel when
the support peg is utilized to support one or more articles (such
as, for example, when opposing ski tips of a pair of skis are
mounted on and between two support pegs mounted in a tool channel
for example) on the support rack. The vertical depth of the
dowel-support depression of one or more of the dowel-support
channels can be increased, including to form, for example, vertical
or near vertical side walls in the depression, to increase the
resistance the side walls of the depression will present to forces
that may urge a dowel to move laterally with respect to the
depression and associated channel.
[0064] With reference now to FIGS. 24 through 28, support pegs or
other support structures may have a variety of yet additional
configurations. As shown in FIG. 24, they may, for example,
comprise a U-shaped article support 160 with laterally opposing
arms 162, 164 to secure an implement, such as a shovel or baseball
bat (not shown in FIG. 24) on a support rack. As shown in FIG. 25,
they may comprise a planar shelf section 166 extending from two
T-shaped support sections 168, 170 for slidable mounting with a
tool channel (not shown in FIG. 25). Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 26, they may comprise a Y-shaped article support 172 with
laterally oppositely extending Y arms 174, 176 for hanging article
components, such as racket ball racket loops or hockey skate laces,
in order to mount the articles on the support rack.
[0065] Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, they may comprise
somewhat U-shaped support peg 178, with two opposing, parallel
dowel sections 180, 182 extending perpendicularly from a common
base mount 184. This somewhat U-shaped embodiment can prevent
unacceptable or undesired lateral movement of the two opposing
dowel sections 180, 182 with respect to each other, and this
resistance to relative movement can thus be achieved with or
without utilization of, as shown in FIG. 21, dowel depressions or
channels, e.g., 124, 126.
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, one variant of the somewhat
U-shaped embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28 may have opposing dowel
sections or arms 184, 186 that may be adjustably secured along the
length of a mounting slot 190 in the rectangular base mount 188
with varying distances D between the arms 184 as desired. The
adjustably securable ends 192, 194 of dowel arms 184, 186
respectively abut dowel abutting lateral interior ridges 196, 198
extending radially inwardly into, and along opposing sides of, the
mounting slot 190. Wide head screw fasteners 200, 202 penetrate the
mounting slot 190 from the back side 206 (or mounting base facing
side) of the base mount 188 to thread in mating threaded passages
204, 204 in the dowel arms 184, 186 respectively. The screw
fasteners may thus be loosened in order to adjust distance D as
desired and then tightened to retain the dowel arms 184, 186 in
position with respect to each other and the base mount 188.
[0067] The structure of FIGS. 29 and 30 can thus provide an
adjustable somewhat U-shaped slidably mountable support peg
structure. The adjustability of the distance D can allow use of the
same type of support peg structure but adapt it as needed to
support differing implements on the rack. As an example, the
distance D on differing such support peg structures of this type
can be varied to support differing pairs of skis having varying tip
structures to be supported by the opposing dowel arms on the
support peg structure.
[0068] Adjustable two peg support structures may be provided in
other ways if desired. Another such structure can have more than
two, for example five or six if desired, dowel mounting passages
along the face of the peg base. The dowels may therefore be mounted
in the selected mounting passage to achieve the selected distance
between the dowels. Fasteners may be used to secure to the dowels
in the desired dowel mounting passages.
[0069] In addition, more than two dowels may be mounted to a peg
support base if desired. Similarly, dowels or other structure, such
as a shelf, may be integrally formed to extend from the slidably
mountable support structure for the shelf or other article support
section or member.
[0070] The components of the support rack may be made of materials
other than wood, metal fasteners, and glue. For example, one or
more among the rack base, support slats, and support pegs or
similar structure or dowels may be made of one or more types of
plastic, such as, for example polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylic,
etc. Doing so can, in some embodiments, provide one or all of a
lighter, less costly, more durable, and more inexpensively shipped
and/or easily assembled, mounted, and/or maintained support
rack.
[0071] Alternatively, one or more of such components may be made of
metal such as aluminum or other metal material. Doing so can, in
some embodiments, provide a more durable support rack or a more
aesthetically appealing support rack, depending on the aesthetic
objective involved.
[0072] With reference back to FIGS. 4-7, certain embodiments can be
used to store skis. The method includes mounting the support rack
to a wall at a height sufficient to support skis as desired on the
rack, assessing the configuration of the skis, including their
bindings, to be mounted on the rack, and slidably mounting support
pegs or similar support peg structure on the support rack in order
stagger the position of adjacent bindings or adjacent skis mounted
on the rack as they are mounted to the rack, so that the skis may
be mounted close together laterally along the length of the rack
while also, if desired, minimizing the protrusion of the skis away
from the wall. The method may also include slidably mounting
support pegs or other support structure on the rack in order to
hang ski poles or other articles from the pegs or other support
structure.
[0073] With reference back to FIGS. 8-9, certain embodiments can be
used to store many other widely varying types of articles--other
than skis or in addition to them. The method includes mounting the
support rack to a wall at a height sufficient to support the
articles on the rack, assessing the configuration of the various
articles to be mounted on the support rack, and slidably mounting
support pegs or similar support peg structure in selected support
channels on the support rack in order to mount the ski tips (or
other ski structure such as bindings if desired) to the support
rack and stagger the position of adjacent articles mounted on the
rack. In this manner if desired, the various articles may be
mounted close together on the rack while also, if desired,
minimizing or reducing as desired the protrusion of the articles
away from the associated wall.
[0074] These methods may include selection, mounting, and
utilization of varying configurations of support pegs or other
slidably mountable support structures as desired. These methods may
also include, prior to or after mounting of the base section of the
rack on a wall, selecting differing sized support slats or
differently configured pegs or other slidably mountable support
structure, in order provide differently configured support
racks.
[0075] In this regard, the support slats may be mounted to a
support base system in a variety of differing ways other than those
identified above. The support base may include one or more, or a
large number of, mounting passages, slots, support lips or ridges,
or other structure; and the support slats may have mating pegs,
clips, mounting lips or ridges, or other structure for mounting the
support slats to the support base. For example, the support base
may comprise a peg board type of structure, made out of
sufficiently strong metal, plastic, or wood. Such structures can,
in certain embodiments, render the support rack easier to assemble,
modify to yield varying configurations, maintain, or
disassemble.
[0076] In certain embodiments, the support racks can include other
types of channels, such as vertical channels extending from one
horizontal support channel to another. Such a vertical channel
could allow moving a support peg or other structure from the one
horizontal support channel to the other or yet additional
horizontal support channels when desired or needed and, if desired,
without requiring the user to move any or as many articles from the
support rack as otherwise would be required to accomplish such
movement.
[0077] The foregoing is a detailed description of varying
embodiments. It is not itself limiting. Rather the scope of the
invention is to be determined by reference to the claims as
issued.
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