System, method and apparatus for attic rafter extension for storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9435113-B2
Application number	US-201514717224-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A support structure may have a base having surfaces including a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and sides. A first top slot may be formed in the top and may extend at least partially between the front and the rear. A second top slot may be formed in the top and may extend at least partially between the sides. In addition, a bottom slot may be formed in the bottom. A system for attic storage can include an attic having attic joists. A plurality of support structures, each comprising a base, may be mounted to the attic joists. At least two conventional lumber studs may be included and may extend between adjacent ones of the bases. In addition, a plurality of lumber panels may be mounted to at least one of the bases and the lumber studs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support structure, comprising:
a base mounted to an attic joist, the base having surfaces including a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and sides;
a first top slot formed in the top and extending at least partially between the front and the rear;
a second top slot formed in the top and extending at least partially between the sides; and
a bottom slot formed in the bottom.

2. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second top slots intersect and extend completely across the top, and the top comprises a third top slot for a total of only three slots in the top.

3. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the top comprises a third top slot and a fourth top slot, and none of the top slots intersect each other.

4. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the slots are orthogonal to each other.

5. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the second top slot extends completely across the top from side to side, and the bottom slot is the only slot in the bottom, and the bottom slot extends completely across the bottom from front to back, or from side to side.

6. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a density of between about 0.5 lb/ft 3 and about 25 lb/ft 3 .

7. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the base has an insulation rating of between about R0.5/inch and about R9/inch.

8. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
a nail pull strength of between about 10 lbs and about 350 lbs; and
a screw hold strength of between about 25 lbs and about 1000 lbs.

9. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the base has a compressive strength of between about 15 lbs/ft 2 and about 600 lbs/ft 2 .

10. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one of an inorganic material, an organic material, an organic material other than wood, fungal material, mycelium foam, an open cell structure, a closed cell structure, a polymeric foam, a rigid polyurethane, polystyrene, polypropylene, a cellular plastic and a rigid plastic.

11. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first top slot comprises a top front slot that extends from the front to adjacent a center of the top, and a top rear slot that extends from the rear to adjacent the center of the top.

12. The support structure of claim 11 , wherein the top front slot is separated from the top rear slot by the second top slot.

13. The support structure of claim 11 , wherein the top front slot extends along the front from the top to adjacent a center of the front, and the top rear slot extends along the rear from the top to adjacent a center of the rear.

14. An attic storage kit, comprising:
at least four support structures, each comprising a base configured to be mounted to a respective attic joist, and each of the bases comprises:
surfaces including a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and sides;
a first top slot formed in the top and extending at least partially between the front and the rear;
a second top slot formed in the top and extending at least partially between the sides; and
a bottom slot formed in the bottom; and the attic storage kit further comprises:
a container comprising a bag or a box for containing the at least four support structures; and
at least one of fasteners, lumber, hardware, an installation tool or a template for installation.

Assignees

• Certain Teed Corp

Inventors

• Brandt Andrew Clyde
• Pacana David M
• Lembo Michael

Classifications

• E04B5/12

  with wooden beams (E04B5/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04F15/02044 Primary

  Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer (E04F15/02133, E04F15/0215 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04F2015/02066

  with additional fastening elements between furring elements and flooring elements · CPC title

• E04B2103/04

  of plastics, fibrous material or wood · CPC title

• B65D85/70

  for materials not otherwise provided for · CPC title