Mounting tracks for overhead storage system

Abstract

An overhead rack system is provided that may be mounted to the ceiling of a structure such as a garage for storing items in an organized manner off the floor. Overhead rack system is designed to make use of a garage's previously unused ceiling space, allowing home owners to store their items overhead and out of the way. The system is ideally configured for storing large or heavy items that otherwise can quickly fill a garage's available floor space.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An overhead storage rack system comprising:
 a rack member having a plurality of rail members coupled together to form a substantially rectangular frame member;   a plurality of ceiling mounts for securing the overhead rack system to one or more ceiling joists of a structure, said ceiling mounts configured to span two or more ceiling joists when secured to said structure, each said ceiling mount having a raised portion extending along its length, said raised portion configured to receive a mounting track u-bend secured to an upper bracket member; and   a plurality of telescoping mounting track members having,
 an upper bracket member constructed of a square tube material, said upper bracket member removably coupled to one of said plurality of ceiling mounts using a mounting track u-bend secured to said upper bracket member, said mounting track u-bend sized to fit over said raised portion of said ceiling mount and configured to be removably coupled thereto, and 
 a lower extension assembly constructed of a square tube material, said lower extension assembly configured to fit within the interior of the upper bracket member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto, said lower extension assembly coupled to a rail member of said rack member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The overhead storage system of  claim 19 , wherein at least two of said rail members each comprise a first side rail platform having an end adjacent an end of a second side rail platform and coupled together by a rail connector, said rail connector sized to overlap both said first and second side rail platforms at said adjacent ends 
     
     
         21 . The overhead storage system of  claim 19 , further comprising a first plurality of support bracket members, each support bracket member removably coupled to a lower end of a lower extension assembly of one of the plurality of telescoping rack mounting tracks and a rail member of said rack member. 
     
     
         22 . The overhead storage system of  claim 21 , wherein each of said support bracket members further comprises a C-mount support bracket having a wall and rail bracket, a rack member support mount and a lower extension assembly mount, wherein said wall and rail bracket is configured to receive a portion of a side rail platform within a u-shaped portion of said wall and rail bracket and wherein said lower extension assembly mount is configured to secure said C-mount support bracket to said rack mounting track. 
     
     
         23 . The overhead rack system of  claim 19 , wherein said rack member has a channel running along its perimeter configured to receive and support a drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon. 
     
     
         24 . The overhead rack system of  claim 23 , further comprising a drop-in grid assembly supported by the channel of said rack member, said drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon. 
     
     
         25 . An overhead storage rack system comprising:
 a rack member having a plurality of rail members each comprising a front face having a substantially similar width, said plurality of rail members coupled together to form a substantially rectangular frame member, at least two of said rail members each comprising a first side rail platform having an end adjacent an end of a second side rail platform and coupled together by a rail connector, said rail connector sized to overlap both said first and second side rail platforms at said adjacent ends;   a plurality of ceiling mounts for securing the overhead rack system to one or more ceiling joists of a structure, said ceiling mounts configured to span two or more ceiling joists when secured to said structure, each said ceiling mount having a raised u-shaped portion extending along its length, said raised u-shaped portion configured to receive a mounting track u-bend secured to an upper bracket member; and   a plurality of telescoping mounting track members having,
 an upper bracket member constructed of a square tube material, said upper bracket member removably coupled to one of said plurality of ceiling mounts using a mounting track u-bend secured to said upper bracket member, said mounting track u-bend sized to fit over said raised u-shaped portion of said ceiling mount and configured to be removably coupled thereto, and 
 a lower extension assembly constructed of a square tube material, a proximal end of said lower extension assembly configured to fit within the interior of the upper bracket member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto, a distal end of said lower extension assembly coupled to a rail member of said rack member. 
   
     
     
         26 . The overhead storage system of  claim 25 , wherein at least two of said rail members each comprise a first side rail platform having an end adjacent an end of a second side rail platform and coupled together by a rail connector, said rail connector sized to overlap both said first and second side rail platforms at said adjacent ends 
     
     
         27 . The overhead storage system of  claim 25 , further comprising a first plurality of support bracket members, each support bracket member removably coupled to a lower end of a lower extension assembly of one of the plurality of telescoping rack mounting tracks and a rail member of said rack member. 
     
     
         28 . The overhead storage system of  claim 27 , wherein each of said support bracket members further comprises a C-mount support bracket having a wall and rail bracket, a rack member support mount and a lower extension assembly mount, wherein said wall and rail bracket is configured to receive a portion of a side rail platform within a u-shaped portion of said wall and rail bracket and wherein said lower extension assembly mount is configured to secure said C-mount support bracket to said rack mounting track. 
     
     
         29 . The overhead rack system of  claim 25 , wherein said rack member has a channel running along its perimeter configured to receive and support a drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon. 
     
     
         30 . The overhead rack system of  claim 29 , further comprising a drop-in grid assembly supported by the channel of said rack member, said drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon. 
     
     
         31 . A method of providing an overhead rack system comprising:
 providing a rack member having a plurality of rail members coupled together to form a substantially rectangular frame member;   providing a plurality of ceiling mounts for securing the overhead rack system to one or more ceiling joists of a structure, said ceiling mounts configured to span two or more ceiling joists when secured to said structure, each said ceiling mount having a raised portion extending along its length, said raised portion configured to receive a mounting track u-bend secured to an upper bracket member; and   providing a plurality of telescoping mounting track members having,
 an upper bracket member constructed of a square tube material, said upper bracket member removably coupled to one of said plurality of ceiling mounts using a mounting track u-bend secured to said upper bracket member, said mounting track u-bend sized to fit over said raised portion of said ceiling mount and configured to be removably coupled thereto, and 
 a lower extension assembly constructed of a square tube material, said lower extension assembly configured to fit within the interior of the upper bracket member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto, said lower extension assembly coupled to a rail member of said rack member. 
   
     
     
         32 . The overhead storage system of  claim 31 , wherein at least two of said rail members each comprise a first side rail platform having an end adjacent an end of a second side rail platform and coupled together by a rail connector, said rail connector sized to overlap both said first and second side rail platforms at said adjacent ends 
     
     
         33 . The overhead storage system of  claim 31 , further comprising providing a first plurality of support bracket members, each support bracket member removably coupled to a lower end of a lower extension assembly of one of the plurality of telescoping rack mounting tracks and a rail member of said rack member. 
     
     
         34 . The overhead storage system of  claim 33 , wherein each of said support bracket members further comprises a C-mount support bracket having a wall and rail bracket, a rack member support mount and a lower extension assembly mount, wherein said wall and rail bracket is configured to receive a portion of a side rail platform within a u-shaped portion of said wall and rail bracket and wherein said lower extension assembly mount is configured to secure said C-mount support bracket to said rack mounting track. 
     
     
         35 . The overhead rack system of  claim 31 , wherein said rack member has a channel running along its perimeter configured to receive and support a drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon. 
     
     
         36 . The overhead rack system of  claim 35 , further comprising providing a drop-in grid assembly supported by the channel of said rack member, said drop-in grid assembly configured for supporting items to be stored thereon.