Closet shelf dust protection system

Abstract

A dust shield system which prevents dust from settling on clothing and other stored items without interfering with access to, or visibility of, garments and other items stored in a closet. The dust shield is removably attachable to a closet shelf and has an overhang which is sized to obstruct dust from settling on the shoulders of garments while allowing lateral access to, and visibility of, garments and other items without interference from the shield. Multiple overlapping shields having a standard size can be used to form an effective shield of any length. Alternatively custom shields can be made from a single length of shield material. Attachment directly to the garment shelf allows installation without detachment or alteration of the shelf. The dust shields can be made from decorative material, or transparent material to allow easy viewing of stored items. Other alternative embodiments allow shields to be used in conjunction with non-garment shelving.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A dust shield system for use with shelving having an upper shelf with a distal edge and a proximal edge, and a lower garment hanging rod, comprising: 
 at least one dust shield having a distal edge and a proximal edge;    attachment means to attach the distal edge of the dust shield to the distal edge of the upper shelf; and    the distal edge of the dust shield, when secured to the distal edge of the upper shelf, extending from approximately the distal edge of the upper shelf, past the proximal edge of the upper shelf, and downward such that the proximal edge of the dust shield ends approximately at the shoulder of garments suspended from the lower garment rod;    whereby airborne dust settling in a downward direction is obstructed from reaching the top portions of garments by the dust shield.    
     
     
         2 . A system, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of ties;    a plurality of apertures arranged near the distal edge of the dust shield, each aperture having a sufficient size to accommodate at least one tie; and    the ties having a sufficient length such that when inserted through an aperture, it can be tied around a wire on the upper shelf to secure the distal edge of the dust shield to the distal edge of the upper shelf;    whereby the distal edge of the upper shelf and the distal edge of the dust shield are secured together in substantial alignment.    
     
     
         3 . A system, as in  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the ties are fabricated from hook and loop material.  
     
     
         4 . A system, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of clamps; and    the clamps having a pressure such that when attached to a wire on the upper shelf and the distal edge of the dust shield, the distal edge of the dust shield is secured to the distal edge of the upper shelf;    whereby the distal edge of the upper shelf and the distal edge of the dust shield are secured together in substantial alignment.    
     
     
         5 . A system, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one first section of hook and loop material for securing to an upper shelf;    at least one second section of hook and loop material secured near the distal edge of the dust shield; and    the first and second sections of hook and loop material, when secured together, having a sufficient strength to securely hold the distal edge of the dust shield in substantial alignment with the distal edge of the upper shelf;    whereby the distal edge of the upper shelf and the distal edge of the dust shield are removably secured together in substantial alignment.    
     
     
         6 . A system, as in  claim 1 , wherein the dust shield is comprised of one or more single panels.  
     
     
         7 . A system, as in  claim 6 , wherein the dust shield is comprised of multiple panels which overlap and are secured together at their side edges.  
     
     
         8 . A system, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least two shelves arranged one above the other; and    at least one reduced size dust shield for attachment to the upper shelf, and having sufficient length to reach the approximate level of the lower shelf.    
     
     
         9 . A system for obstructing dust from settling on the top surfaces of garments, comprising: 
 a support rod for attachment above a garment hanger rod;    at least one dust shield having a distal edge and a proximal edge; and    attachment means to attach the dust shield to the support rod such that the proximal end of the dust shield reaches approximately to the shoulder of a garment suspended by a garment hanger attached to a garment hanger rod;    whereby airborne dust settling in a downward direction is obstructed from reaching the top portions of garments by the dust shield.    
     
     
         10 . A system, as in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment means further comprises: 
 a plurality of apertures in the distal edge of the dust shield; and    a plurality of ties, each tie sized to fit through the apertures, and further having a length suitable to allow it to be secured to the support rod.    
     
     
         11 . A system, as in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment means further comprises: 
 a sleeve formed in the dust shield, the sleeve having an internal diameter which is sufficient in size to allow a support rod to be inserted therethrough;    whereby the dust shield is held in place by the support sleeve inserted through the sleeve.    
     
     
         12 . A system, as in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment means further comprises at least one clamp having sufficient size to clamp the distal edge of the dust shield to the support rod; 
 whereby the dust shield is attached to the support rod by the clamp.    
     
     
         13 . A system, as in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment means further comprises at hook and loop material, the hook and loop material attached to the distal edge of the dust shield and having a corresponding section of hook and loop material to attach to the support rod; 
 whereby the dust shield is attached to the support rod by the hook and loop material.    
     
     
         14 . A system for obstructing dust from settling on the top surfaces of garments stored in closets having solid upper shelves, comprising: 
 at least one dust shield having a distal edge and a proximal edge; and    attachment means to attach the distal edge of the dust shield to the fascia of a closet such that the proximal end of the dust shield reaches approximately to the shoulder of a garment suspended by a garment hanger attached to a garment hanger rod in the closet;    whereby airborne dust settling in a downward direction is obstructed from reaching the top portions of garments by the dust shield.    
     
     
         15 . A system, as in  claim 14 , wherein the dust shield attaches to the front surface of the fascia.  
     
     
         16 . A system, as in  claim 14 , wherein the dust shield attaches to the rear surface of the fascia.  
     
     
         17 . A system, as in  claim 16 , wherein a bracket is used to attach the dust shield attaches to the rear surface of the fascia.  
     
     
         18 . A system, as in  claim 14 , wherein the attachment means further comprises hook and loop material, the hook and loop material attached to the distal edge of the dust shield and having a corresponding section of hook and loop material to attach to the fascia; 
 whereby the dust shield is attached to the support rod by the hook and loop material.    
     
     
         19 . A system, as in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 at least two shelves arranged one above the other; and    at least one reduced size dust shield for attachment to the upper shelf, and having sufficient length to reach the approximate level of the lower shelf.    
     
     
         20 . A system, as in  claim 19 , wherein the attachment means further comprises hook and loop material, the hook and loop material attached to the distal edge of the dust shield and having a corresponding section of hook and loop material to attach to the upper shelf; 
 whereby the dust shield is attached to the upper shelf by the hook and loop material.    
     
     
         21 . A system for obstructing dust from settling on the top surfaces of garments, comprising: 
 a rear dust shield having a distal edge and a proximal edge;    a forward dust shield having a distal edge and a proximal edge; and    attachment means to attach the distal edge of the rear dust shield to an open shelf approximately above a garment hanger rod used with the open shelf such that the rear shield drapes over the rear edge of garments hung from the garment hanger rod;    attachment means to attach the distal edge of the front dust shield to the open shelf approximately above a garment hanger rod used with the open shelf such that the front shield drapes over the front edge of garments hung from the garment hanger rod and ends approximately at the shoulder of garments hung from the garment hanger rod;    the rear dust shield and the front dust shield are substantially joined by the attachment means to form a continuous garment dust shield that provides a dust barrier for garments hung from the garment hanger rod, and dust is obstructed when settling in a downward direction toward the top edges of the garments;    whereby airborne dust settling in a downward direction is obstructed from reaching the top portions of garments by the dust shield.