Wall-mounted storage systems

Abstract

Wall-mounted storage systems are provided. The wall-mounted storage systems may include a rail that is fastened to a surface, such as a wall, in a horizontal orientation. The rail serves as a structure from which various types of storage elements that together form a storage system may suspend. For example, a storage system may be a modular system including multiple cabinets. A first cabinet may suspend from the rail and a second cabinet may be fastened to the bottom of the first cabinet using pre-drilled apertures in the first and second cabinets. This provides a modular storage system by which various storage elements are more easily added to and removed from the system. The storage system provides the benefit of reducing the number of holes that need to be provided in the wall to receive fasteners and also provides for accurate and efficient alignment of the various storage elements in the storage system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular cabinet system comprising:
 a rail that is configured to be fastened to a wall in a horizontal orientation, the rail including an upwardly extending flange forming a recess between the rail and the wall;   a first cabinet that is configured to be removably mounted to the rail, wherein the first cabinet includes an engagement member that engages with the rail within the recess, wherein the engagement of the engagement member with the rail causes the first cabinet to suspend from the rail, and wherein the first cabinet includes a first top surface and a first bottom surface, the first bottom surface including one or more first apertures for receiving one or more fasteners; and   a second cabinet including a second top surface and a second bottom surface, wherein the second top surface also includes one or more second apertures for receiving the one or more fasteners, wherein the second cabinet is configured to attach to the first bottom surface of the first cabinet via the one or more fasteners provided through the one or more first apertures and the one or more second apertures, wherein the second cabinet is configured to suspend from the first cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cabinet further comprises a sidewall, the sidewall including an exterior storage element. 
     
     
         3 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior storage element comprises one or more channels configured to receive a storage accessory. 
     
     
         4 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 3 , wherein the storage accessory includes a hook, wherein the one or more channels are configured to receive the hook to removably attach the storage accessory to the exterior storage element. 
     
     
         5 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior storage element is removably attached to the sidewall of the first cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The modular cabinet system of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior storage element is integrated into the sidewall of the first cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . A storage system comprising:
 a primary rail that is configured to be fastened to a wall in a horizontal orientation, the primary rail including a first upwardly extending flange forming a first recess between the primary rail and the wall;   a first vertical member and a second vertical member that are configured to be removably mounted to the primary rail, wherein the first vertical member includes a first engagement member that engages with the primary rail within the first recess, wherein the second vertical member includes a second engagement member that engages with the primary rail within the first recess, and wherein the engagement of the first engagement member with the primary rail and the engagement of the second engagement member with the primary rail cause the first vertical member and the second vertical member to suspend from the primary rail;   a first secondary rail that is configured to be removably fastened between the first vertical member and the second vertical member in a horizontal orientation; and   a cabinet that is configured to be removably mounted to the first vertical member and the second vertical member below the first secondary rail.   
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third vertical member that is configured to be removably mounted to the primary rail such that the third vertical member also suspends from the primary rail.   
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second secondary rail that is configured to be removably fastened between the second vertical member and the third vertical member in a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet further comprises one or more standoffs provided on a bottom surface of the cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 7 , further comprising a first divider that is configured to be removably attached to the first vertical member and a second divider that is configured to be removably attached to the second vertical member. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 7 , further comprising a first divider and a second divider that are configured to be removably attached to the first vertical member and a third divider and a fourth divider that are configured to be removably attached to the second vertical member. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the first secondary rail includes a second upwardly extending flange forming a second recess in the first secondary rail, wherein the first secondary rail is configured to receive a storage accessory via an engagement of the storage accessory with the second recess. 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the storage accessory is a hook. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the first secondary rail further comprises a first bracket provided at a first end of the first secondary rail and a second bracket provided at a second end of the first secondary rail, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket include apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten the first secondary rail to the first vertical member and the second vertical member. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 7 , further comprising a shelf. 
     
     
         17 . An overhead storage system comprising:
 a rail that is configured to be fastened to a wall in a horizontal orientation, the rail including an upwardly extending flange forming a recess between the rail and the wall; and   a shelf system that is configured to be removably mounted to the rail, the shelf system comprising:
 a shelf; and 
 a first engagement member and a second engagement member that engage with the rail within the recess, wherein the engagement of the first engagement member and the second engagement member with the rail causes the shelf system to suspend from the rail. 
   
     
     
         18 . The overhead storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the shelf system further comprises a first vertical member and a second vertical member, wherein the first vertical member includes the first engagement member, and wherein the second vertical member includes the second engagement member, and wherein the shelf is affixed to the first vertical member and the second vertical member. 
     
     
         19 . The overhead storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are provided on the shelf such that the shelf suspends directly from the rail. 
     
     
         20 . The overhead storage system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first support member and a second support member, wherein a first end of the first support member and a first end of the second support member are affixed to the shelf, and wherein a second end of the first support member and a second end of the second support member are affixed to the wall or to one or more vertical members.