Modular Storage Assemblies and Components Thereof

Abstract

A pole cup for a hang rod may include a wall-mountable member, and a cradle extending from the wall-mountable member. The cradle may include a substantially u-shaped sidewall defining a cavity for securely receiving an end of the hang rod such that the hang rod is retained in a downward first direction, in a lateral second direction, and in a lateral third direction opposed to the second direction, when the hang rod is positioned within the cavity. A pair of ribs extend from a cavity-facing surface of the substantially u-shaped sidewall. A modular storage assembly may include a hang rod and a pole cup. A method of installing a modular storage assembly may include mounting to a wall at least one bracket configured to support a shelf, installing trim for the shelf, and mounting a pole cup to a wall via the wall-mountable member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pole cup for a hang rod, comprising:
 a wall-mountable member; and   a cradle extending from the wall-mountable member, the cradle comprising a substantially u-shaped sidewall defining a cavity for securely receiving an end of the hang rod such that the hang rod is retained in a downward first direction, in a lateral second direction, and in a lateral third direction opposed to the second direction, when the hang rod is positioned within the cavity,   wherein a pair of ribs extend from a cavity-facing surface of the substantially u-shaped sidewall, the pair of ribs being configured to retain the hang rod in an upward fourth direction opposed to the first direction, when the hang rod is positioned within the cavity, and wherein the ribs are sized and shaped to allow for the end of the hang rod to be snap fit into the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The pole cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wall-mountable member is substantially planar. 
     
     
         3 . The pole cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wall-mountable member comprises at least one aperture extending therethrough for accommodating a fastener to mount the pole cup to a wall. 
     
     
         4 . The pole cup of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity-facing surface of the substantially u-shaped sidewall is substantially smooth other than the pair of ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The pole cup of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially u-shaped sidewall does not contain any aperture extending therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The pole cup of  claim 1 , wherein the pole cup is formed of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . A modular storage assembly, comprising:
 a hang rod; and   the pole cup of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         8 . The modular storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the hang rod has a cross-sectional diameter, and   the cavity has a diameter measured across the substantially u-shaped sidewall, the diameter of the cavity being substantially equal to the diameter of the hang rod.   
     
     
         9 . The modular storage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the diameter of the hang rod is 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.5 inches, or 1.75 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The modular storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the wall-mountable member comprises at least one aperture extending therethrough, and   the assembly further comprises at least one fastener configured to be positioned in the aperture to mount the pole cup to a wall.   
     
     
         11 . The modular storage assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fastener is a screw or nail. 
     
     
         12 . A modular storage assembly, comprising:
 a shelf;   a wall-mounted bracket configured to support the shelf;   a trim in communication with an end of the shelf; and   the pole cup of  claim 1 ,   wherein the trim comprises a visual indication of an installation position for the pole cup.   
     
     
         13 . The modular storage assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the visual indication is molded in the trim. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a modular storage assembly, comprising:
 mounting to a wall at least one bracket configured to support a shelf;   installing trim for the shelf; and   mounting the pole cup of  claim 1  to a wall via the wall-mountable member,   wherein the pole cup is mountable subsequent to installation of the trim.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trim comprises a visual indication of an installation position for the pole cup. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the visual indication is molded in the trim. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising installing a shelf on the at least one bracket and in communication with the trim. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising installing a hang rod by positioning an end of the hang rod in the cradle.