Hanging storage unit with shelves and hooks

Abstract

A storage unit of the type that may be hung on a door includes parallel side frames constructed of separate pieces connected at joints. Shelves formed by wire mesh baskets extend between the side frames and include rigid wires that span the joints to structurally strengthen them. Special hanger brackets for the side frames span doors that have a standard thickness and can be severed and screwed to the top edge of a door that is thicker than standard. Special hooks can be hung on the rim wires of the baskets or on a larger hanger bar. Clips on the hooks allow them to be clipped to the sides or front wires of the baskets to hold them in place.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Storage apparatus for mounting on a generally vertical surface such as a door, comprising: 
 a pair of side frames applicable to said surface to extend generally vertically thereon spaced apart from one another, each side frame including a plurality of rigid frame members connected end to end with a joint formed between adjacent ends of said frame members; and    a storage unit for storing articles, said storage unit extending between said side frames and being connected thereto and said storage unit having rigid portions thereof which span the joint between adjacent frame members on each side frame and are connected to said frame members at locations on opposite sides of the respective joints.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said rigid portions of said storage unit include generally horizontal wires connected with said frame members on opposite sides of the respective joints and a rigid wire interconnecting said horizontal wires.    
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , including a notch in each frame member, said horizontal wires fitting closely in said notches to connect said rigid portions of said storage unit to said frame members on opposite sides of said joints.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , including for each joint: 
 an upper notch in the frame member located above the joint, said upper notch having an entry slot and a groove adjacent to and below said slot;    a lip adjacent to and in front of said groove; and    a lower notch in the frame member located below the joint, one of said horizontal wires being insertable through said slot and into said groove and the other of said horizontal wires fitting in said lower notch, with said lip acting to retain said one wire in said groove of the upper notch.    
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , including: 
 a pair of support arms having ribs thereon adapted to fit closely in said upper notches of the respective frame sides to connect said arms with the frame sides; and    a rack structure extending between said support arms to mount said rack structure to said surface for holding shoes or other articles, whereby said frame sides can interchangeably support said storage unit and said rack structure.    
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said storage unit comprises a basket constructed of a plurality of interconnected wires; and    said rigid portions of said storage unit include upper and lower wires of said basket connected to said frame members above and below the respective joints and additional wires of said basket interconnecting said upper and lower wires.    
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , including upper and lower notches in said frame members located respectively above and below said joint, said upper wire fitting closely in said upper notch and said lower wire fitting closely in said lower notch to connect said rigid portions of said storage unit to said frame members on opposite sides of said joints.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein each of said upper notches includes: 
 an entry slot; and    a groove adjacent to and below said slot, each frame member having a lip below said slot and in front of said groove to hold said upper wire in the groove when said lower wire is in said lower notch.    
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , including: 
 a pair of support arms having ribs thereon adapted to fit closely in said upper notches of the respective frame sides to connect said arms with the frame sides; and    a rack structure extending between said support arms to mount said rack structure to said surface for holding shoes or other articles, whereby said frame sides can interchangeably support said basket and said rack structure.    
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein each frame side includes a bottom leg, and including: 
 a hanger bar extending between said bottom legs of said frame sides; and    a plurality of hooks each having an S-shaped configuration with one portion thereof fitting on said bar to hang the hook thereon and another portion thereof adapted to receive articles hung thereon.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said one portion of each hook can be fitted on a wire of said basket with said other portion located and oriented to receive articles hung thereon; and    each hook includes a clip thereon that can be detachably clipped to another wire of said basket to secure the hook in place.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said basket comprises: 
 a plurality of bottom wires arranged in a crossing pattern to provide a bottom of the basket, said lower wires being formed on opposite ends of one of the wires of said bottom wires;    a plurality of side wires connected to form opposite sides of the basket extending above said bottom thereof; and    a plurality of front wires connected to form a front of the basket extending above said bottom thereof, said basket having an open back between said upper wires.    
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said storage unit includes sides and a front connected with said sides at a pair of corner areas; and    each of said corner areas includes a beveled portion of the storage unit disposed to angle between said sides and front.    
     
     
         14 . Storage apparatus for mounting on a generally vertical surface such as a door, comprising: 
 a pair of opposite frame sides spaced apart and mounted on said surface;    a plurality of baskets each constructed of a plurality of interconnected wires including a rim wire forming a top rim of the basket and a plurality of spaced apart front and side wires extending generally downwardly from said rim wire; and    a plurality of hooks each having a generally S-shaped configuration with one portion thereof applicable to said rim wire to hang thereon and another portion thereof adapted to receive articles, each hook having a clip for detachably clipping the hook to said front and side wires to hold the hook in place.    
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , including a hanger bar extending between said frame sides and having a larger diameter than said rim wire, said one portion of each hook fitting closely on said hanger bar with said other portion located and oriented to receive articles hung thereon.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein each clip is constructed and arranged to engage said surface to hold said other portion of the hook at a selected position when the hook is hung on said hanger bar.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein each clip includes a plurality of fingers projecting from the hook to grip said front and side wires between said fingers.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each finger has a lug projecting therefrom to interlock with said front and side wires when gripped between said fingers.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said fingers include top and bottom fingers spaced vertically apart and a center finger spaced laterally from said top and bottom fingers, said clip being applicable to a selected front or side wire with said top and bottom fingers gripping one side thereof and said center finger gripping an opposite side thereof.  
     
     
         20 . Storage apparatus for hanging on upper edges of doors having first and second thickness wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness, said apparatus comprising: 
 a frame presenting a capacity thereon for receiving and storing articles, said frame having an upper end;    a hanger bracket coupled to said upper end of the frame and having a top plate and a down turned flange and a front leg extending from said top plate at locations to engage opposite surfaces of a door having said first thickness when the bracket is applied to span the upper edge of such door, thereby suspending said frame on a door having said first thickness;    a breakable portion of said top plate constructed to be severed to detach said flange from the bracket;    a fastener applicable to said top plate and the upper edge of a door having said second thickness when said breakable portion is severed to detach said flange from the bracket, thereby suspending said frame from a door having said second thickness.    
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , including a line of weakness on said top plate along which said breakable portion of said top plate can be severed.