Modular closet system

Abstract

A modular closet system provides reconfigurable closet capacity and an appearance of a customized closet in any of the configurations. The system includes at least two sideframes cooperating to define a space therebetween creating a closet module when assembled. A series of through holes on an inside surface of the sideframes are used to attach a variety of storage devices from the system's sides, which may be re-positioned by user design. When assembled, any of the fasteners used to attach the storage devices are hidden from a front view perspective of the system. Once assembled, the perimeter of the storage devices cooperates with the frames to block the view of the fasteners. Some embodiments may extend closet capacity by including a hanging rod system that connects two frame modules together via the through hole system on respective closet modules, which when assembled also blocks the view of any fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular closet comprising:
 at least one closet module, each of the at least one closet module including:
 a first beam and a second beam extending parallel to each other with a first plurality of struts disposed between and interconnecting the first beam and the second beam, each of the first beam and the second beam having respective first and second beam inside surfaces, first and second beam outside surfaces, first and second beam front surfaces and first and second beam rear surfaces, wherein the second beam front surface faces the first beam rear surface; 
 a third beam and a fourth beam extending parallel to each other with a second plurality of struts disposed between and interconnecting the third beam and the fourth beam, each of the third beam and the fourth beam having respective third and fourth beam inside surfaces, third and fourth beam outside surfaces, third and fourth beam front surfaces and third and fourth bean rear surfaces, wherein the fourth beam front surface faces the third beam rear surface; 
 a plurality of through holes spaced along the first beam, the second beam, the third beam and the fourth beam, each of the plurality of through holes extending from the respective first, second, third and fourth beam inside surfaces to respective first, second, third and fourth beam outside surfaces; 
 a first front rail extending from and formed integrally with the first beam front surface, forming an L-shape with the first beam outside surface; 
 a first rear rail extending from and formed integrally with the second beam rear surface, forming an L-shape with the second beam outside surface; 
 a second front rail extending from and formed integrally with the third beam front surface, forming an L-shape with the third beam outside surface; 
 a second rear rail extending from and formed integrally with the fourth beam rear surface, forming an L-shape with the fourth beam outside surface; and 
 at least one closet storage element disposed between a first plane defined by the first and second beam inside surfaces and a second plane defined by the third and fourth beam inside surfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of through holes are equally spaced along the first beam, the second beam, the third beam and the fourth beam. 
     
     
         3 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first front rail, the second front rail, the first rear rail and the second rear rail are flush with each respective first, second, third and fourth beam inside surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one closet storage element is selected from a shelf, a drawer and a laundry basket. 
     
     
         5 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein fasteners extend through selected ones of the plurality of through holes to secure the at least one closet storage element between the first and third beams and between the second and fourth beams. 
     
     
         6 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein a first slot is formed between facing surfaces of the first front rail and the first rear rail, and a second slot is formed between facing surfaces of the second front rail and the second rear rail. 
     
     
         7 . The modular closet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one closet module includes a first closet module and a second closet module. 
     
     
         8 . The modular closet of  claim 7 , wherein a first slot is formed between facing surfaces of the first front rail and the first rear rail of each of the first and second closet modules, and a second slot is formed between facing surfaces of the second front rail and the second rear rail of each of the first and second closet modules. 
     
     
         9 . The modular closet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a hanging rod bracket disposed in the first slot of the first closet module and in the second slot of the second closet module, the hanging rod bracket supported by fasteners extending through selected ones of the plurality of through holes; and   a hanging rod supported by the hanging rod bracket.   
     
     
         10 . The modular closet of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a hanging rod coupled to the first closet module by a first brace attached to a first end of the hanging rod and the hanging rod coupled to the second closet module by a second brace attached to a second end of the hanging rod, wherein the first brace and the second brace are configured to slide flush against the first closet module and the second closet module without horizontal displacement of the hanging rod when repositioning the hanging rod along a height between the first closet module and the second closet module.   
     
     
         11 . The modular closet of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners extending through the first brace and the second brace and extending into the first closet module and the second closet module, respectively, the plurality of fasteners fixing the height of the hanging rod between the first closet module and the second closet module, where removal of the plurality of fasteners permits repositioning of the hanging rod to a desired height without horizontal displacement of the hanging rod.   
     
     
         12 . A modular closet comprising:
 at least first and second closet modules, each of the at least first and second closet modules including:
 a first beam and a second beam extending parallel to each other with a first plurality of struts disposed between and interconnecting the first beam and the second beam, each of the first beam and the second beam having respective first and second beam inside surfaces, first and second beam outside surfaces, first and second beam front surfaces and first and second beam rear surfaces, wherein the second beam front surface faces the first beam rear surface; 
 a third beam and a fourth beam extending parallel to each other with a second plurality of struts disposed between and interconnecting the third beam and the fourth beam, each of the third beam and the fourth beam having respective third and fourth beam inside surfaces, third and fourth beam outside surfaces, third and fourth beam front surfaces and third and fourth bean rear surfaces, wherein the fourth beam front surface faces the third beam rear surface; 
 a plurality of through holes equally spaced along the first beam, the second beam, the third beam and the fourth beam, each of the plurality of through holes extending from the respective first, second, third and fourth beam inside surfaces to respective first, second, third and fourth beam outside surfaces; 
 a first front rail extending from and formed integrally with the first beam front surface, forming an L-shape with the first beam outside surface; 
 a first rear rail extending from and formed integrally with the second beam rear surface, forming an L-shape with the second beam outside surface; 
 a second front rail extending from and formed integrally with the third beam front surface, forming an L-shape with the third beam outside surface; 
 a second rear rail extending from and formed integrally with the fourth beam rear surface, forming an L-shape with the fourth beam outside surface; and 
 at least one closet storage element disposed between a first plane defined by the first and second beam inside surfaces and a second plane defined by the third and fourth beam inside surfaces, wherein 
   each of the first front rail, the second front rail, the first rear rail and the second rear rail are flush with each respective first, second, third and fourth beam inside surfaces.   
     
     
         13 . The modular closet of  claim 12 , wherein a first slot is formed between facing surfaces of the first front rail and the first rear rail of each of the at least first and second closet modules, and a second slot is formed between facing surfaces of the second front rail and the second rear rail of the at least first and second closet modules. 
     
     
         14 . The modular closet of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a hanging rod bracket disposed in the first slot of the first closet module and in the second slot of the second closet module, the hanging rod bracket supported by fasteners extending through selected ones of the plurality of through holes; and   a hanging rod supported by the hanging rod bracket.   
     
     
         15 . The modular closet of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a hanging rod coupled to the first closet module by a first brace attached to a first end of the hanging rod and the hanging rod coupled to the second closet module by a second brace attached to a second end of the hanging rod, wherein the first brace and the second brace are configured to slide flush against the first closet module and the second closet module without horizontal displacement of the hanging rod when repositioning the hanging rod along a height between the first closet module and the second closet module.   
     
     
         16 . The modular closet of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners extending through the first brace and the second brace and extending into the first closet module and the second closet module, respectively, the plurality of fasteners fixing the height of the hanging rod between the first closet module and the second closet module, where removal of the plurality of fasteners permits repositioning of the hanging rod to a desired height without horizontal displacement of the hanging rod.   
     
     
         17 . The modular closet of  claim 12 , wherein fasteners extend through selected ones of the plurality of through holes to secure the at least one closet storage element between the first and third beams and between the second and fourth beams.