Storage device for raised homes

Abstract

A storage device for storing an article in a clearance space beneath a raised home comprises a base and a shelf that slides along the base. The base is secured to the floor of the clearance space, and has rollers rotatably mounted on its upper surface. The shelf has a top surface for the article to be stored, and a lower surface that engages with the rollers on the base. The shelf can slide out of the clearance space into an extended position for access, and in to the clearance space into a retracted position for storage. Methods are provided to install and use the storage device.

1 . A storage device for storing an article in a clearance space beneath a raised home, the clearance space having a floor, the storage device comprising: 
 a base having a bottom surface adapted to engage with the floor so as to substantially secure the base in position, the base having an upper surface with a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted thereon;    a shelf having a top surface adapted to engage with and support the article, the shelf having a lower surface that engages with the rollers of the base so that the shelf is in a slidable relationship with the base;    whereby the shelf slides out over the base in one direction into an extended position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is outside of the clearance space, thereby allowing access to the article from outside the clearance space; and    the shelf slides in over the base in the opposite direction into a retracted position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is inside of the clearance space, thereby storing the article in the clearance space.    
   
   
       2 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rollers comprises: 
 a frame mounted to the upper surface of the base;    an axle mounted in the frame; and    a rotating member mounted around the axle so that the rotating member projects in a generally upward orientation from the base.    
   
   
       3 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the rotating member is a wheel.  
   
   
       4 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein the shelf further comprises: 
 a guide rail mounted on the lower surface of the shelf, the guide rail substantially in parallel to the direction of movement of the shelf when it slides over the base, the guide rail mounted alongside at least some of the portion of the lower surface of the shelf that engages with the rollers of the base; and    whereby the guide rail guides at least some of the rollers so as to generally hinder lateral displacement of the shelf as the shelf slides across the base.    
   
   
       5 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the raised home further includes a patio surface adjacent to the clearance space, the storage device further comprising: 
 a supporting roller mounted upon the lower surface of the shelf in a generally downward orientation, positioned upon the portion of the shelf that slides out of the clearance space; and    whereby when the shelf is in the extended position, the supporting roller engages with the patio surface so as to support the shelf above the patio surface.    
   
   
       6 . The storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the supporting roller is adjustable so that the distance to which the supporting roller extends out from the lower surface of the shelf can be changed so as to maintain the shelf in a generally horizontal position.  
   
   
       7 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises: 
 two parallel base rails forming outside edges;    a strut connecting the two base rails, the strut retaining the base rails in their relative position and orientation to each other; and    whereby the frames of the plurality of rollers are attached to the base rails so that the rotating members project in a generally upward orientation from the base.    
   
   
       8 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf further comprises: 
 a retaining rail mounted upon the top surface of the shelf, near the perimeter of the top surface of the shelf, and    whereby the retaining rail is adapted to engage with the article so as to retain the article upon the top surface of the shelf.    
   
   
       9 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is of sufficient length that, in the retracted position, the shelf extends substantially the depth of the clearance space.  
   
   
       10 . The storage device of  claim 1 , the clearance space having a ceiling and the clearance space near the ceiling being at least partially obstructed by an obstruction, wherein the shelf is sufficiently distant from the ceiling so that the article can pass under the obstruction.  
   
   
       11 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf slides in over the base into a retracted position so that the entire shelf is inside of the clearance space.  
   
   
       12 . A storage device for storing an article in a clearance space beneath a raised home, the clearance space having a floor, the storage device comprising: 
 a base having a bottom surface adapted to rest upon and engage with the floor so as to substantially secure the base in position;    a shelf having a top surface adapted to engage with and support the article;    means for engaging the base with the shelf in a slidable relationship;    whereby the shelf slides out over the base in one direction into an extended position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is outside of the clearance space, thereby allowing access to the article from outside the clearance space; and    the shelf slides in over the base in the opposite direction into a retracted position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is inside of the clearance space, thereby storing the article in the clearance space.    
   
   
       13 . A method for installing a storage device for storing an article in a clearance space beneath a raised home, the clearance space having a floor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a base having an upper surface with a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted thereon;    substantially securing the base in position on the floor of the clearance space;    providing a shelf having a lower surface that engages with the rollers of the base;    placing the shelf upon the base so that the shelf is in a slidable relationship with the base;    whereby the shelf is adapted to slide out over the base in one direction into an extended position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is outside of the clearance space, thereby allowing access to the article from outside the clearance space; and    the shelf is further adapted to slide in over the base in the opposite direction into a retracted position so that a substantial portion of the shelf is inside of the clearance space, thereby storing the article in the clearance space.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of: 
 sliding the shelf into the extended position;    placing the article upon the top surface of the shelf so that the shelf retains the article; and    sliding the shelf into the retracted position, thereby storing the article in the clearance space.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when the shelf is slid into the retracted position, the shelf is entirely within the clearance space.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , the raised home having a skirt that encloses at least a portion of the clearance space, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 forming an aperture in the skirt, the skirt forming a side of the aperture;    providing a panel, the panel having an edge;    attaching a hinge to the edge of the panel;    further attaching the hinge to the side of the aperture, the panel thereby forming a door capable of opening and closing;    further positioning the base entirely within the clearance space so that the door can be opened and the shelf can be slid out through the aperture substantially out of the clearance space into the extended position; and    further positioning the base so that the shelf can be slide in through the aperture entirely into the clearance space into the retracted position and the door can be closed.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of forming an aperture in the skirt is accomplished by removing a cut-out section from the skirt, and the step of providing a panel is accomplished by providing the cut-out section.  
   
   
       18 . A method for storing an article in a clearance space beneath a raised home, the clearance space having a floor, the method comprising: 
 providing the storage device of  claim 1;     substantially securing the base in position on the floor of the clearance space;    placing the shelf upon the base so that the shelf is in a slidable relationship with the base;    sliding the shelf into the extended position;    placing the article upon the top surface of the shelf so that the shelf retains the article; and    sliding the shelf into the retracted position, thereby storing the article in the clearance space.