Flexible lightweight overhead storage rack

Abstract

Pairs of elongated rigid rollers are spaced apart and supported by flexible webbing hung from rafters or a ceiling or interior roof of a vehicle. The rollers have a rubberized coating to secure surfboards, kayaks, ladders, or other long objects while loading, unloading, and storing the objects. A more or less vertical pair of webbing supports hang by rings on hooks from rafters or a ceiling. Other strips of webbing are attached horizontally and in a criss-crossed pattern between spaced apart pairs of vertical webbing supports. The webbing may be adjustable in length.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hanging storage device comprising: 
 at least one pair of rigid horizontal support members spaced apart to accommodate at least one elongated external object supported therebetween;    a pair of flexible hanging support elements attached to and supporting each member of the at least one pair of horizontal support members at, each of the pair of flexible hanging support elements having a top attaching means.    
     
     
         2 . The hanging storage device of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least one pair of rigid horizontal support members comprises a roller being capable of receiving an external object rolled onto the roller and supported by the roller.  
     
     
         3 . The hanging storage device of  claim 2  wherein the flexible hanging support elements further comprise a series of grommets installed therein and the roller comprises a hollow rigid cylinder, which cylinder receives at each end a solid cylindrical block inserted within the cylinder with a tight friction fit, and a shoulder bolt having a smooth portion at each end screwed into the cylindrical block, the smooth portion of the shoulder bolt capable of being supported rotatably within the metal grommets in the flexible hanging support elements and the roller is capable of rotating within the flexible hanging support elements.  
     
     
         4 . The hanging storage device of  claim 3  wherein the exterior of the roller comprises a rubberized high friction surface to assist in retaining external objects thereon during loading, unloading, and storing.  
     
     
         5 . The hanging storage device of  claim 3  wherein the flexible hanging support elements comprise nylon webbing.  
     
     
         6 . The hanging storage device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one flexible stabilizing element connected between the two pair of flexible hanging support elements to maintain a tension force therebetween for stabilization.  
     
     
         7 . The hanging storage device of  claim 1  further comprising an array of flexible stabilizing elements connected between the two pair of flexible hanging support elements to maintain a tension force therebetween for stabilization.  
     
     
         8 . The hanging storage device of  claim 7  where in the array of flexible stabilizing elements comprises a number of elongated webbing means angularly intersecting and interconnected by pivotable means to create triangulated stabilization means.  
     
     
         9 . The hanging storage device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible hanging support elements further comprise a means to adjust the length of the flexible hanging support elements.  
     
     
         10 . The hanging storage device of  claim 9  wherein the flexible hanging support elements further comprise a means for attachment a roof structure of a vehicle and the hanging supports are capable of being adjusted to secure the at least one elongated external object for transporting.  
     
     
         11 . The hanging device of  claim 1  wherein the rigid horizontal support members are capable of being aligned together and the flexible hanging support elements folded up and further comprising an elongated storage container capable of receiving the aligned horizontal support members and folded hanging support elements therein for transportation and storage.  
     
     
         12 . The hanging device of  claim 1  further comprising elongated rigid flat elements positioned between and supported by the at least one pair of rigid horizontal support members, the flat elements being capable of receiving and supporting external objects thereon.