Modular storage system

Abstract

A storage system is provided with a first modular closet storage assembly packaged separately. The first modular closet storage assembly includes a pair of upright side supports to be supported upon an underlying support surface. A first plurality of horizontal cross members interconnects the pair of upright side supports. A second modular closet storage assembly is packaged separately. The second modular closet storage assembly includes only one upright side support to be supported upon the underlying support surface. A second plurality of horizontal cross members interconnects the only one upright side support to at least one of the pair of upright side supports of the first modular closet storage assembly.

1 . A storage system comprising:
 a first modular closet storage assembly packaged separately, the first modular closet storage assembly comprising:
 a pair of upright side supports to be supported upon an underlying support surface, and 
 a first plurality of horizontal cross members to interconnect the pair of upright side supports; and 
   a second modular closet storage assembly packaged separately, the second modular closet storage assembly comprising:
 only one upright side support to be supported upon the underlying support surface, and 
 a second plurality of horizontal cross members to interconnect the only one upright side support to at least one of the pair of upright side supports of the first modular closet storage assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1  further comprising;
 a first shelf supported by the pair of upright side supports and the first plurality of horizontal cross members; and 
 a second shelf supported by one of the pair of upright side supports, the only one upright side support of the second modular closet storage assembly, and the second plurality of horizontal cross members. 
 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein each of the upright side supports is further defined as an upright side support assembly comprising:
 a pair of elongate vertical rails, each with elongate grooves formed along a length, and a series of incrementally spaced apart slots formed within the grooves; and 
 at least one horizontal rail interconnecting the pair of elongate vertical rails. 
 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a plurality of connectors, each at a terminal end of one of the first plurality of horizontal cross members or one of the second plurality of horizontal cross members and sized to be inserted into one of the elongate grooves in one of the pair of elongate vertical rails; and 
 a plurality of fasteners to fasten the plurality of connectors to the pair of elongate vertical rails. 
 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 3  wherein each of the pair of elongate vertical rails and the at least one horizontal rail are hollow with mitered ends; and
 wherein the closet storage system further comprises a plurality of corner connectors, each sized to be received in an end of the at least one horizontal rail and an end of one of the pair of elongate vertical rails to interconnect the at least one horizontal rail to the pair of elongate vertical rails. 
 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of levelers, each fastened to one of the plurality of corner connectors. 
     
     
         7 . A method for retailing a closet storage system comprising:
 providing a first modular closet storage assembly with a pair of upright side supports, and a first plurality of horizontal cross members in a first package; and   providing a second modular closet storage assembly with only one upright side support, and a second plurality of horizontal cross members in a second package.   
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one shelf; and 
 a pair of connectors mounted to the at least one shelf so that the at least one shelf can translate relative to a pair of horizontal cross members of the first plurality of horizontal cross members and the second plurality of cross members, during installation and fasten to the pair of horizontal cross members. 
 
     
     
         9 . The storage assembly of  claim 8  wherein a pair of channels are formed in the shelf, each sized to receive one of the pair of connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The storage assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a first pair of retainers, each oriented in one of the pair of channels to receive and retain one of the pair of connectors. 
     
     
         11 . The storage assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a second pair of retainers, each oriented in one of the pair of channels to receive and retain one of the pair of connectors. 
     
     
         12 . The storage assembly of  claim 11  wherein the second pair of retainers are each deformable for manual release of the second pair of retainers. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pair of brackets connected for translation upon a pair of horizontal cross members of the first plurality of horizontal cross members and the second plurality of cross members, to attach the pair of brackets to the upright support surface. 
 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 13  wherein the pair of brackets are connected to a rear horizontal cross member of the pair of horizontal cross members. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 14  wherein a series of slots are formed into the rear horizontal cross member to receive the pair of brackets at various orientations along the rear horizontal cross member. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 15  wherein each of the pair of brackets has a widened aperture formed therethrough to receive a fastener to attach the pair of brackets to the upright support surface; and
 wherein a width of the widened apertures in combination with a spacing of the series of slots permits alignment of the pair of brackets and installation of the fasteners at a majority of a length of the rear horizontal cross member. 
 
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 13  further comprising a pair of decorative fascias, each sized to be supported upon one of the pair of horizontal cross members to conceal a front portion of the pair of horizontal cross members and the pair of brackets. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of decorative fascias, each sized to be supported upon one of the first plurality of horizontal cross members and the second plurality of horizontal cross members. 
 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of decorative fascias are extruded from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         20 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A storage system comprising:
 a first modular closet storage assembly packaged separately, the first modular closet storage assembly comprising:
 a pair of upright side supports to be supported upon an underlying support surface, each comprising a plurality of upright rails, each with elongate grooves formed along a length, and a series of incrementally spaced apart slots formed within the grooves, and 
 a first plurality of horizontal cross members to interconnect the pair of upright side supports; 
   a second modular closet storage assembly packaged separately, the second modular closet storage assembly comprising:
 only one upright side support to be supported upon the underlying support surface, comprising a plurality of upright rails, each with elongate grooves formed along a length, and a series of incrementally spaced apart slots formed within the grooves, and 
 a second plurality of horizontal cross members to interconnect the only one upright side support to at least one of the pair of upright side supports of the first modular closet storage assembly; 
   a first shelf with a first pair of channels formed therein, supported by the pair of upright side supports and the first plurality of horizontal cross members;   a second shelf with a second pair of channels formed therein, supported by one of the pair of upright side supports, the only one upright side support of the second modular closet storage assembly, and the second plurality of horizontal cross members;   a first pair of connectors mounted to the first plurality of horizontal cross members to be received in the first pair of channels during installation;   a second pair of connectors mounted to the second plurality of horizontal cross members to be received in the second pair of channels during installation;   a first pair of retainers, each oriented in the first pair of channels to receive and retain the first pair of connectors;   a second pair of retainers, each oriented in the second pair of channels to receive and retain the second pair of connectors;   a pair of brackets connected for translation upon a rear horizontal cross member of the first plurality of horizontal cross members or the second plurality of horizontal cross members, to attach the pair of brackets to an upright support surface;   a plurality of decorative fascias, each sized to be supported upon one of the first plurality of horizontal cross members or second plurality of horizontal cross members;   a plurality of drawer rails, each with hooks sized to be received within the series of slots to attach to the plurality of upright rails at various height orientations along the plurality of upright rails;   a drawer assembly connected the plurality of drawer rails to translate relative to the plurality of upright rails;   a pair of clothing rod brackets with a pair of fastener patterns to be fastened to the plurality of horizontal cross members at two different locations, with a receptacle provided on a distal end of each bracket, and a post extending from within each receptacle; and   a clothing rod sized to be received within the receptacles of the pair of clothing rod brackets, with a groove formed lengthwise in the rod to engage the post for alignment of the clothing rod.