Open wall storage assembly

[54] OPEN WALL STORAGE ASSEMBLY

[76] Inventor: William D. Eittreim, P.O. Box 659, Sun Valley, Id. 83353

[21] Appl. No.: 120,627

[22] Filed: Not. 13,1987

[51] Int. Q.4 A47F5/08

[52] U.S. a 211/88; 52/317;

211/134

[58] Field of Search 211/88, 134, 90, 187;

52/317, 696, 406, 36

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

405,794 6/1889 O'Donnell 52/317

2,994,114 8/1961 Black 52/317

3,123,220 3/1964 Hanson 211/88

3,334,461 8/1967 York 52/317

3,660,591 5/1972 Schultz et al 52/36

Primary Examiner—Ramon S. Britts
Assistant Examiner—Sarah A. Lechok Eley
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nelson & Roediger

[57] ABSTRACT

An open wall storage assembly for use with unfinished walls including a large area panel having vertical Ushaped channels for receiving the wall supports therein so that the assembly extends into the wall region. Transverse shelving is provided for affixation at desired locations to provide both structural support and serve as fire breaks within the wall region.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

4,804,1

OPEN WALL STORAGE ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an open wall storage assem- 5 bly for use with unfinished walls and, in particular, a wall storage assembly for use in a wall region containing a plurality of vertical wall supports.

In present day home construction, large areas of interior walls are left unfinished, typically in the basement 10 and garage areas, although work rooms and laundry areas may be similarly unfinished. The homeowner desirous of utilizing this wall area typically provides shelving affixed to the exposed or internal surface of the vertical supports, thus providing storage which pro- 15 trades into the room area. A similar result obtains when closed wall storage assemblies such as cabinetry, are also affixed. Since these areas are frequently located in regions where space is at a premium, for example, the area adjacent customary automobile parking in garage 20 facilities and areas adjacent the location of laundry equipment, the inability of the homeowner to effectively utilize the regions between vertical wall supports results in already crowded areas becoming further confined. 25

While a variety of different shelving schemes and outwardly expandable cabinetry is available to promote storage in these areas, the homeowner is faced with a loss of room space especially where the cabinetry contains doors. Furthermore, the mounting of these storage 30 assemblies on the relatively narrow face of the vertical support members utilized in house construction frequently requires the use of additional supporting structure underlying the assembly. This type of storage is characterized by the lack of utility of the region located 35 within the wall between the vertical wall supports. In the construction of the typical house, it is common to find horizontal structural supports placed for fire break purposes and occasionally for structural rigidity between adjacent wall supports. If these members are 40 present, the homeowner is reluctant to disturb them from both a structural and a fire retardant point of view. If these horizontal members are not present, the region between vertical supports and behind any such storage apparatus mounted on the narrow surfaces of the wall 45 supports can act as a flue in the eventuality of fire along the base of the wall.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an open wall storage assembly for use with unfinished walls which is readily installable by 50 the homeowner and effectively utilizes the region between adjacent vertical wall supports heretofore ignored in the construction of storage means. Furthermore, the invention is characterized by a large area integral member which is utilized in surrounding en- 55 gagement with adjacent vertical members and has flange members on the opposing vertical ends for affixation to the vertical wall supports. In the present invention, the individual installer can place the transverse shelving members at locations to fit his particular needs. 60 Thus, the invention is located in heretofore unused areas in the support wall so as not to reduce the usable regions within the building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 65

The open wall storage assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention is intended for placement in an opening in a wall containing a number of

2

uniformly spaced vertical wall support members or, as commonly referred to, wall studs, with the transverse shelving located between adjacent vertical wall supports.

The apparatus includes a large area panel having opposing vertical edges with the panel being dimensioned for placement in the wall opening. If the wall is entirely unfinished, the installer has unlimited opportunity to vary the height of the location at will. However, if the wall is being covered with wall board or the like, a suitable opening may be left to accommodate the present invention, or, in the alternative, the open storage apparatus may be installed prior to the affixation of a wall covering. The large area panel includes a plurality of U-shaped channel members which extend vertically and are spaced in accordance with the standard spacing of vertical wall supports. In the United States, the spacing of these supports, as required by Uniform Construction Codes, in a placement of 16 inches between centers of the wall supports. In addition to the centrally located vertical channels, vertical end members are affixed to opposing edges of the panel and are horizontally spaced so as to terminate on the adjacent surfaces of the vertical support members. Also, flange members are affixed to the vertical end members and extend outwardly or laterally therefrom so that the placement of the panel in the wall opening results in the ends and flange members contacting adjacent surfaces of a support member for attachment thereto.

A plurality of transverse members dimensioned to fit between adjacent support members for attachment to the panel prior to final affixation to the vertical support members of the structure are provided. These transverse members, when installed, provide a degree of structural rigidity, serve as fire breaks in the vertical passageways defined by the vertical support members, as well as serving as basal members for storage. The transverse members are provided with flanges about their peripheral region for fastening to the adjacent portion of the large area panel and for retention of articles stored thereon. In addition, the transverse members are preferably affixed to the broad area of the vertical wall supports when the unit is placed in the opening of the wall. As a result, the support for the items being stored is provided by the large area surface of the vertical wall supports.

The cost of manufacture of the present invention is substantially reduced by forming the large area panel, vertical end members and associated flange members as an integral unitary structure. This single piece structure can be formed of sheet metal or of molded plastic. In the case of a plastic structure, an additional advantage is obtained if the plastic permits slight deformation of the large area panel to accommodate variations in vertical support member spacing during construction. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a wall having the present invention affixed thereto.

FIG. 2 is a top view in cross-section taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1.