Attic-mounted storage compartment and method therefor

Abstract

An attic mounted storage compartment, comprising a housing having an opening at a lower portion thereof. The compartment is adapted to be mounted between two neighboring ceiling joists, so that storage items may be raised therethrough for positioning within the housing. The compartment includes a lift apparatus, which is used to lift storage items into the housing. The lift apparatus may be manually operated or motor driven. Two preferred types of storage items useable with the compartment are bicycles and storage boxes sized to conform to the general shape and size of the housing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An attic mounted storage compartment comprising, in combination: 
 a housing dimensioned to fit within an attic above ceiling joists;    wherein said housing has an opening at a lower portion thereof, wherein said opening has a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists;    means for coupling said housing to said neighboring ceiling joists;    a lift apparatus positioned proximate an upper portion of said housing; and    at least one lift line coupled at one end to said lift apparatus and being adapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to a storage item.    
     
     
         2 . The attic mounted storage compartment of  claim 1  wherein said lift apparatus is comprises a manually-operated pulley.  
     
     
         3 . The attic mounted storage compartment of  claim 1  wherein said lift apparatus is motor-driven.  
     
     
         4 . The attic mounted storage compartment of  claim 1  wherein said storage item is a bicycle.  
     
     
         5 . The attic mounted storage compartment of  claim 1  wherein said storage item is a box.  
     
     
         6 . The attic mounted storage compartment of  claim 1  wherein said opening for said housing has an external width of approximately 22,5 inches and a height of approximately 3 feet.  
     
     
         7 . A method for storing items in an attic mounted storage compartment, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing dimensioned to fit within an attic above ceiling joists;    wherein said housing has an opening at a lower portion thereof, wherein said opening has a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists;    coupling said housing to said neighboring ceiling joists;    providing a lift apparatus positioned proximate an upper portion of said housing;    providing at least one lift line coupled at one end to said lift apparatus and being adapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to a storage item;    coupling said second end of said at least one lift line to said storage item; and    lifting said storage item until said storage item is within said housing.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said lift apparatus is comprises a manually-operated pulley.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said lift apparatus is motor-driven.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said storage item is a bicycle.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said storage item is an upwardly-open storage box.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing two said lift lines;  
 providing a hook at each said second end of said two lift lines;  
 coupling each said hook to a bicycle; and  
 raising said bicycle until it is positioned within said housing.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 lowering said upwardly-open storage box;  
 positioning items within said upwardly-open storage box;  
 raising said upwardly-open storage box until it is positioned with said housing.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said opening for said housing has an external width of approximately 22.5 inches and a height of approximately 3 feet.