Support apparatus
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to shelving systems and methods that are adaptable to a number of applications, including building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems, shelving units for holding children's games and toys, closet organizers with hangers and shelves, storage systems in a garage or workshop, storage shelves over a garage door, and as a shelving unit for audio and visual equipment. The shelving unit includes a means for attachment to an overhead member, such as a steel beam, wood rafter, wood joist, wood beam, or ceiling, a generally J or L shaped bar, the ability to raise or lower the J or L shaped bar to provide for storage at different heights, an extension member removably coupled to the J or L bar, and wherein the extension member has a length that provides for storage space of different widths. In another aspect, an inverted shelving stand is provided. In still a further aspect, a U shaped swiveling hanging unit is provided.
1. A modular stand configured to support a HVAC system above a support surface, the modular stand having an axial dimension and a transverse
dimension, the stand comprising:
first and second inverted U-bars axially spaced apart from each other, each of the
first and second inverted U-bars including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting
legs; a generally horizontal beam extending in a transverse direction, a first bend having a radius of curvature extending
from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a
second bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second
supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam;
a plurality of support pegs attached to and extending from each horizontal beam in an axial direction at a position inward of the first and second supporting legs;
first and second cross rails extending in the axial direction between the first and second inverted U-bars, the first and second cross rails transversely spaced apart from
each other, the first and second cross rails each having an inverted generally U-shaped cross section defining a channel;
the first cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar, wherein the corresponding pegs are inserted within the channel of the first cross rail; and
the second cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar, wherein the corresponding support pegs are inserted within the channel of the second cross rail; wherein the horizontal beams and the first and second cross rails are adapted to support the HVAC system, and the legs are adapted to elevate the HVAC system above the support surface.
2. The modular stand of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the first cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the first cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the second cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the second cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar; and
wherein the axial dimension and the transverse dimension are devised and sized to receive and support a modular HVAC system.
3. The modular stand of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bearing plate attached to the bottom of each of the supporting legs.
4. The modular stand of claim 1 , further comprising: a means for attaching the supporting legs to a surface.
5. The modular stand of claim 1 , further comprising: apertures in each of the first and second cross rails configured to receive mounting hardware for removably attaching the HVAC system to the stand.
6. The modular stand of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cross beams are formed of a hat channel material.
7. The modular stand of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third inverted U-bar axially spaced apart from the second inverted U-bar, the third inverted U-bar including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a generally horizontal beam; a first bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam; and a
plurality of support pegs attached to the horizontal beam, each support peg attached to the horizontal beam at a transverse position inward of the first and second supporting legs and extending in the axial direction;
third and fourth cross rails extending in the axial direction between the second and third inverted U-bars, the third and fourth cross rails transversely spaced apart from each other, the third and fourth cross rails each defining a channel;
the third cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on a third one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar; and
the fourth cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on a fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar.
8. The modular stand of claim 7 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the third cross rail to the third one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the third cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the fourth cross rail to the fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar; and
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the fourth cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar.
9. The modular stand of claim 7 , wherein the first and second cross rails each have an axial length which is the same as an axial length of each of the third and fourth cross rails.
10. The modular stand of claim 7 , wherein the first and second cross rails each have an axial length which is greater than an axial length of each of the third and fourth cross rails.
11. The modular stand of claim 7 , further comprising:
a fourth inverted U-bar axially spaced apart from the third inverted U-bar, the fourth inverted U-bar including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a generally horizontal beam; a first bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam; and a plurality of support pegs attached to the horizontal beam, each support peg attached to the horizontal beam at a transverse position inward of the first and second supporting legs and extending in the axial direction;
fifth and sixth cross rails extending in the axial direction between the third and fourth inverted U-bars, the fifth and sixth cross rails transversely spaced apart from each other, the fifth and sixth cross rails each defining a channel;
the fifth cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on a third one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar; and the sixth cross rail having a first end receiving and supported on a fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar.
12. The modular stand of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the fifth cross rail to the third one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the fifth cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the sixth cross rail to the fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar; and
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the sixth cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar.
13. A kit having component parts capable of being arranged in a
disassembled or partially disassembled form and of being assembled into a modular stand having an axial dimension and a transverse dimension, the modular stand adapted to support an HVAC system above a surface, said kit comprising:
first and second inverted U-bars axially configured to be arranged in spaced apart relation from each other, each of the first and second inverted U-bars including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a generally horizontal beam configured to extend in a transverse direction, a first bend
having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second bend having a radius of curvature
extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the
horizontal beam;
a plurality of support pegs attached to and extending in an axial direction from each horizontal beam at a position inward of the first and second supporting legs when assembled;
first and second cross rails configured to extend in the axial direction between the first and second inverted U-bars, the first and second cross rails configured to be
transversely spaced apart from each other, the first and second cross rails each having an inverted generally U-shaped cross section defining a channel;
the first cross rail having a first end adapted to receive and be supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar and a second end receiving and supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar, wherein the corresponding support pegs are configured to be inserted within the channel of the first cross rail; and
the second cross rail having a first end adapted to receive and be supported
on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar and a second end
receiving and supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar, wherein the corresponding pegs are configured to be inserted within the channel of the second cross rail; wherein the horizontal beams and the first and second cross rails are adapted to support the HVAC system, and the legs are adapted to elevate the HVAC system above the support surface.
14. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners for removably securing the first end of the first cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners for removably securing the second end of the first cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners for removably securing the first end of the second cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the inverted first U-bar;
one or more fasteners for removably securing the second end of the second
cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar; and
wherein the axial dimension and the transverse dimension are devised and sized to receive and support a modular HVAC system.
15. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising:
third and fourth cross rails each having an axial length different than an axial
length of each of the first and second cross rails and interchangeable with the first and second cross rails.
16. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third inverted U-bar configured to be axially spaced apart from the second inverted U-bar,
the third inverted U-bar including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a generally horizontal beam; a first bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam; and a plurality of support pegs attached to the horizontal beam, each support peg attached to the horizontal beam at a position inward of the first and second supporting legs and extending in the axial direction;
third and fourth cross rails configured to extend in the axial direction between the second and third inverted U-bars, the third and fourth cross rails configured to be transversely spaced apart from each other, the third and fourth cross rails each defining a channel;
the third cross rail having a first end configured to receive and be supported on a third one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar and a second end configured to receive and be supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar; and
the fourth cross rail having a first end configured to receive and be supported on a fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar and a
second end configured to receive and be supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar.
17. The kit of claim 16 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners for removably securing the first end of the third cross rail to the third one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners for removably securing the second end of the third cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners for removably securing the first end of the fourth cross rail to the fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar; and
one or more fasteners for removably securing the second end of the fourth cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar.
18. The kit of claim 16 , further comprising:
a fourth inverted U-bar configured to be axially spaced apart from the third inverted U-bar,
the fourth inverted U-bar including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a
generally horizontal beam; a first bend having a radius of curvature extending from an
upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second
bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam; and a plurality of support pegs attached to the horizontal beam, each support peg attached to the horizontal beam at a transverse position inward of the first and second supporting legs and extending in the axial direction;
fifth and sixth cross rails configured to extend in the axial direction between the third and fourth inverted U-bars, the fifth and sixth cross rails configured to be transversely spaced apart from each other, the fifth and sixth cross rails each defining a channel;
the fifth cross rail having a first end adapted to receive and be supported on a third one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar and a second end adapted to receive and be supported on a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar; and
the sixth cross rail having a first end adapted to receive and be supported on a fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar and a second end adapted to receive and be supported on another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar.
19. The kit of claim 18 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the fifth cross rail to the third one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the fifth cross rail to the corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar;
one or more fasteners removably securing the first end of the sixth cross rail to the fourth one of said plurality of support pegs on the third inverted U-bar; and
one or more fasteners removably securing the second end of the sixth cross rail to the other corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the fourth inverted U-bar.
20. A method of making a modular stand for supporting an HVAC system above a surface, the method comprising:
forming first and second inverted U-bars axially spaced apart from each other, each of the first and second inverted U-bars including first and second transversely spaced apart supporting legs; a generally horizontal beam extending in a transverse direction, a first bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the first supporting leg to a first end of the horizontal beam; and a second bend having a radius of curvature extending from an upper end of the second supporting leg to a second end of the horizontal beam;
attaching a plurality of support pegs to each horizontal beam, each of the plurality of support pegs extending in an axial direction at a position inward of the first and second supporting legs;
providing first and second cross rails, the first and second cross rails each having an inverted generally U-shaped cross section defining a channel;
the first and second cross rails extending in the axial direction between the first and second inverted U-bars, the first and second cross rails transversely spaced apart from each other;
attaching a first end of the first cross rail to a corresponding one of said plurality of support
pegs on the first inverted U-bar and connecting a second end of the first cross rail to a corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar by inserting the corresponding support pegs within the channel of the first cross rail; and
attaching a first end of the second cross rail to another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the first inverted U-bar and connecting a second end of the second cross rail to another corresponding one of said plurality of support pegs on the second inverted U-bar by inserting the corresponding support pegs within the channel of the second cross rail;
wherein the horizontal beams and the first and second cross rails are adapted to support the HVAC system, and the legs are adapted to elevate the HVAC system above the support surface.