Vacuum accessory storage system and method

Abstract

A vacuum accessory storage system includes an elongate rail and an accessory holder that mounts to the elongate rail in order to store a vacuum accessory. The accessory holder may slide along the length of the rail to any selected one of several possible locations. The rail may be mounted to a support structure, such as a wall. The accessory holder is configured to hold a vacuum accessory. One or more rails may be mounted to one or more support in any number of different arrangements, and many different arrangements and types of accessory holders may be mounted to the rails, such that the storage system allows for an easily expandable and customizable system that can be tailored to the individual needs of a given user.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of storing vacuum accessories with a vacuum accessory storage system including an elongate rail having a length extending from first end to a second end and an accessory holder that mounts to the elongate rail, the method comprising:
 mounting the accessory holder onto an end of the rail;   sliding the accessory holder to a selected location along the length of the rail; and   coupling a vacuum accessory to the accessory holder;   whereby the rail supports the accessory holder, and the accessory holder supports the vacuum accessory.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 disengaging a lock on the accessory holder to unlock the accessory holder and slide the accessory holder along the rail; and   engaging the lock to lock the accessory holder at the selected location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 mounting a second accessory holder onto an end of the rail;   sliding the second accessory holder to a second selected location along the length of the rail; and   coupling a second vacuum accessory to the second accessory holder.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 attaching the rail to a support surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 attaching a second rail to the support surface;   mounting a second accessory holder onto an end of the second rail;   sliding the second accessory holder to a second selected location along the length of the second rail; and   coupling the vacuum accessory to the second accessory holder.   
     
     
         18 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A vacuum accessory storage system that has:
 a rail that has a back side that is adapted to be mounted to a wall;   a row of spaced teeth that are on the rail and are arranged on a plane that extends along the length of the rail between two lateral ends, parallel to the back side of the rail;   an accessory holder that holds a vacuum accessory and selectively mounts to the rail for movement along the length of the rail between the lateral ends;   an engagement member that is on the accessory holder and releasably seats between the spaced teeth on the rail, selectively locking the accessory holder against movement along the length of the rail; and   a release member that is on the accessory holder and is arranged for being resiliently displaced toward the back side of the rail, causing the engagement surface to move out of the plane of the spaced teeth and thus freeing the accessory holder for movement along the length of the rail.   
     
     
         23 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 22 , in which:
 the spaced teeth have facing edges that are generally perpendicular to the length of the rail; and   the engagement member has lateral sides that extend generally perpendicularly to the length of the rail.   
     
     
         24 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 22 , in which the rail slides in a channel on the accessory holder that is defined by a) an upper angle member that protrudes from a back side of accessory holder and b) a lower angle member that protrudes from the back side of the accessory holder. 
     
     
         25 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 22 , in which the accessory holder is arranged to lock the accessory holder at each one of a plurality of locations along the length of the rail. 
     
     
         26 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 22 , in which the rail has a central web, an upper track that extends along an upper edge of the central web along the length of the rail, and a lower track that extends along a lower edge of the central web along the length of the rail, and the upper track and the lower track are each slidingly received within a channel on a back side of the accessory holder. 
     
     
         27 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 22 , in which the accessory holder has a channel that slides over the end of the rail, and at least one of the ends of the rail is tapered and guides the rail into the channel. 
     
     
         28 . A vacuum accessory storage system that has:
 a rail that has a back side that is adapted to be mounted to a wall;   a row of spaced teeth that are on the rail and are arranged on a plane that extends along the length of the rail between two lateral ends, parallel to the back side of the rail;   facing edges on the spaced teeth that are generally perpendicular to the length of the rail;   an accessory holder that holds a vacuum accessory and selectively mounts to the rail for movement along the length of the rail between the lateral ends;   an engagement member that is on the accessory holder, has lateral sides that extend generally perpendicularly to the length of the rail, and releasably seats between the spaced teeth on the rail, selectively locking the accessory holder against movement along the length of the rail; and   a release member that is on the accessory holder and is arranged for being resiliently displaced while the accessory holder is on mounted on the rail, causing the engagement surface to move out of engagement with the spaced teeth and thus freeing the accessory holder for movement along the length of the rail.   
     
     
         29 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 28 , in which the rail slides in a channel that is defined by a) an upper angle member that protrudes from a back side of the accessory holder and b) a lower angle member that protrudes from the back side of the accessory holder. 
     
     
         30 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 28 , in which the accessory holder is arranged to lock the accessory holder at each one of a plurality of locations along the length of the rail. 
     
     
         31 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 28 , in which the rail has a central web, an upper track that extends along an upper edge of the central web along the length of the rail, and a lower track that extends along a lower edge of the central web along the length of the rail, and the upper track and the lower track are slidingly received within a channel on a back side of the accessory holder. 
     
     
         32 . The vacuum accessory storage system of  claim 28 , in which the accessory holder has a channel that slides over the end of the rail, and at least one of the ends of the rail is tapered and guides the rail into the channel.