Releasable Bracket For Fastening To Slotted Wall Panel And Mounting System
20240049893 ยท 2024-02-15
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
A47F7/283
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
The present invention provides releasable brackets that can fasten to mounting panels. The invention also includes wall mounting assemblies. The brackets can be inserted into vertical slots in the mounting panel. The mounting panel can be mounted to a wall. The brackets are securely fastened to the mounting panel but can be removed if needed. The brackets have an outwardly extending arm that can be used to support and hold various items such as hand tools, power tools, utensils, and the like.
Claims
1. A bracket for locking in a mounting panel having a slot, the bracket comprising: an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion that are joined by a rear beam portion; the upper leg portion having an upper shoulder abutment and an upwardly extending finger portion, the upper shoulder abutment and finger portion forming an upper notch adapted to receive an upper edge of a slot on a mounting panel so that the upper leg portion can rotate in a first direction as the bracket is inserted into the slot; the lower leg portion having a lower shoulder abutment and a downwardly extending intermediate body portion, the lower shoulder abutment and intermediate body portion forming a lower notch adapted to receive a lower edge of the slot so that the lower leg portion can rotate in the same first direction as the upper leg portion; and the rear beam portion being deflected as the bracket is inserted into the slot and snapping back to its resting position as the bracket is locked in the slot.
2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the mounting panel has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the upper shoulder abutment is pressed against the interior surface of the mounting panel when the bracket is locked in the slot.
3. The bracket of claim 2, wherein the lower leg portion has an intermediate body portion, and the intermediate body portion of the lower leg portion is pressed against the exterior surface of the mounting panel when the bracket is locked in the slot.
4. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is made of an elastic material.
5. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the upper leg portion further includes an outwardly extending upper arm for supporting an article.
6. The bracket of claim 5, wherein the upper arm includes a hook support member for supporting the article.
7. The bracket of claim 5, wherein the upper arm includes a U-shaped support member for supporting the article.
8. The bracket of claim 5, wherein the upper leg portion includes a channeled portion for retaining a hook support member, the hook support member extending outwardly from the upper leg portion for supporting the article.
9. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the rear beam portion is joined to the upper leg portion by a rear connecting member.
10. The bracket of claim 1, wherein: the upper leg portion further includes an outwardly extending upper arm for supporting an article, and the upper arm includes a panel extending downwardly therefrom and a magnet is attached to the panel.
11. A wall mounting system, comprising a mounting panel for mounting on a wall, the mounting panel having a plurality of slots that extend vertically and are adapted for receiving brackets; a bracket for locking in a first slot of the plurality of slots, the bracket including: an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion that are joined by a rear beam portion; the upper leg portion having an upper shoulder abutment and an upwardly extending finger portion, the upper shoulder abutment and the finger portion forming an upper notch adapted to receive an upper edge of the first slot of the mounting panel so that the upper leg portion can rotate in a first direction as the bracket is inserted into the first slot; the lower leg portion having a lower shoulder abutment and a downwardly extending intermediate body portion, the lower shoulder abutment and intermediate body portion forming a lower notch adapted to receive a lower edge of the first slot so that the lower leg portion can rotate in the same first direction as the upper leg portion; and the rear beam portion being deflected as the bracket is inserted into the first slot and snapping back to its resting position as the bracket is locked in the first slot.
12. The wall mounting system of claim 11, wherein the mounting panel has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the upper shoulder abutment is pressed against the interior surface of the mounting panel when the bracket is locked in the first slot.
13. The wall mounting system of claim 12, wherein the lower leg portion has an intermediate body portion, and the intermediate body portion of the lower leg portion is pressed against the exterior surface of the mounting panel when the bracket is locked in the first slot.
14. The wall mounting system of claim 11, wherein the upper leg portion of the bracket further includes an outwardly extending upper arm for supporting an article.
15. A bracket for locking in a slot of a mounting panel, the bracket comprising: a first leg portion having a first shoulder abutment and a first finger portion, the first shoulder abutment and the first finger portion having a first notch therebetween, the first notch being adapted to receive a first end of the slot; a second leg portion having a second shoulder abutment and a second finger portion, the second shoulder abutment and the second finger portion having a second notch therebetween, the second notch being adapted to receive a second end of the slot, opposite the first end of the slot; and a rear beam portion that joins the first leg portion to the second leg portion, the rear beam portion being adapted to elastically deflect such that a distance between the first notch and the second notch can vary when the rear beam portion deflects, the rear beam portion being elastically deflectable to reduce the distance when the bracket is inserted into the slot and to increase the distance when the rear beam portion returns toward a resting position as the bracket is locked in the slot.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The novel features that are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, example embodiments of the present invention, together with attendant advantages, are best understood by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
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[0020]
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[0024]
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[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] In the Figures, like reference numerals are used to designate like elements.
[0034] Referring to
[0035] In one embodiment, the bracket (10) can include two pieces. For example, there may be a first piece or main body member including the upper leg portion (12), lower leg portion (14), rear beam portion (16), rear connecting member (11), and support member as described further below. There may be a second piece such as a secured magnet (17) that may be held, e.g., in the upper leg portion (12) as shown in
[0036] In the embodiment shown in
[0037] The rear beam portion (16) may be an intermediate segment extending between the upper and lower leg portions (12, 14). In one embodiment, the rear beam portion (16) is joined to the upper leg portion (12) by a rear connecting member (11). As shown in
[0038] As further shown in
[0039] In practice, to insert the bracket (10) into the slot (27) of the mounting panel (20), a person may grasp the bracket (10) with their thumb and index finger and squeezes the lower foot portion (31) to deform the rear beam portion (16) so that the bracket (10) can be easily fitted into the slot (27). Then, the person may press against the bracket (10) to push the bracket (10) into the slot (27) until it snaps in place in the slot (27). The bracket (10) may be made of, or include, an elastic material. Various polymers such as poly(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) (ABS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) may be used to form the bracket. Polymers such as polycarbonate (PC) may also be used. Plastics or metals having different tensile strength, flex modulus, impact durability, and other properties may be used depending on the desired support strength of the bracket. In one embodiment, the rear beam portion (16) is formed of, or includes, and elastic material that allows the bracket (10), e.g., the rear beam portion (16) to elastically or reversibly bend as it is being inserted into the slot (27). When the rearward part of the bracket (10) is inserted into the slot (27) the rear beam portion (16) can be partially deflected, e.g., towards the upper arm (40). As shown in
[0040] As the bracket (10) snaps into the slot (27), the deflected rear beam portion (16) snaps back to (or towards) its original (or undeflected) position, e.g., so as to move away from the upper arm (40), to bring the lower notch (30) into contact with a lower edge (33) of the slot (27). In addition, the upper edge (21) of the slot (27) comes to rest against the seating surface of the upper notch (25). Furthermore, the upper shoulder abutment (18) is pressed flush against the interior surface (19) of the mounting panel (20) as shown in
[0041] Likewise, as the bracket (10) is inserted into the slot (27), the lower notch (30) of the lower leg portion (14) makes contact with the lower edge (33) of the slot (27). The lower shoulder abutment (26) slides against the lower edge (33) of the slot (27). The bracket (10) snaps into place as the rear beam member (16) snaps back to (or towards) its original position and the seating surface of the lower notch (30) comes to rest against the lower edge (33) of the slot (27). That is, in locking the bracket (10) to the mounting panel (20), the lower leg portion (14) is rotated in the same first direction, e.g., clockwise in
[0042] Rotating the upper and lower leg portions (12, 14) of the bracket (10) in the same direction over the edges of the slot (27) as the bracket (10) is being inserted into the slot (27) is advantageous. It may allow for the bracket (10) to be snap-fitted into the slots (27). Furthermore, as described above, the elastic properties of the bracket (10) allow it to bend, e.g., elastically deform, while it is being inserted into the slot (27). The bracket (10) then snaps back, e.g., elastically restores, to its resting position, thus locking the bracket (10) in place. As shown in
[0043] As described above, the brackets (10) of the present invention can be inserted into the slot (27) of the mounting panel (20) and locked in place. Another advantage of the present invention is the brackets (10) may be easily removed from the mounting panel. In practice, the person may press their thumb upwardly against the bottom portion (37) of the lower leg portion (14). The bottom portion (37) may have small nubs (39) to provide a good gripping surface. This pressing action causes the rear beam portion (16) to deflect. The rear beam portion (16) is partially deformed as the lower leg (14) is pressed upwardly. The bracket (10) moves upwardly so the seating surface of the lower notch (30) disengages from, e.g., is no longer in contact with the lower edge (33) of the slot (27). That is, the bracket (10) is raised and cleared from the lower notch (30). The bracket (10) thus may move freelyit is no longer tightly secured to the mounting panel (20). The bracket (10) may be removed easily from the mounting panel (20).
[0044] As the bracket (10) is removed from the slot (27), the lower notch (30) is raised slightly so that it clears the lower edge (33) of the slot (27). Thus, the bracket is free to rotate, e.g., counter-clockwise in
[0045] As described above, the small nubs (39) may provide gripping surface to more easily allow the bracket (10) to be released by pressing the thumb or other finger on the grip and raising the bracket (10) past the lower notch (30). The angle of the bottom portion (37) may be such that it wedges the person's thumb/finger between the bracket (10) and mounting panel (20). This action may help disengage the bracket (10) from the slot (27).
[0046] The mounting panel (20), which may also be referred to as a board or mounting board, of the present invention may include a series of vertical slots (27). The panel (20) may also contain holes (23) to accept traditional aperture/peg board brackets. The panel (20) may contain any number of slots (27) or holes (23) and the slots/holes may be arranged in any suitable pattern, e.g., a geometric pattern. The mounting panel (20) is normally made of metal, and the slots (27) may have different dimensions for receiving different sizes of brackets (10) as discussed further below. The mounting board (20) may be mounted on a wall or other appropriate structure. The slots (27) may be adapted for receiving the brackets (10) of the present invention as described above.
[0047] As discussed above, the upper leg portion (12) of the bracket (10) includes the upper arm (40). The lower leg portion (14) may also contain the outwardly extending lower arm (42). Referring to
[0048] In another example, as shown in
[0049] Referring to
[0050] In
[0051] Turning to
[0052] In
[0053] In
[0054] Turning to
[0055] In
[0056] The support member of the present invention can be used for supporting and holding various objects such as, e.g., hand tools such as socket rails and rachets, calipers, wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, cutters, power tools, lawn and garden supplies, sports equipment, utensils, kitchen tools and gadgets, arts and crafts supplies, office supplies, retail displays and advertising, and the like.
[0057] The reference (call-out) numbers and corresponding elements as described above are summarized in below Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Reference Number Element 10 Bracket 11 Rear connecting member 12 Upper leg portion 14 Lower leg portion 16 Rear beam portion 17 Secured magnet 18 Upper rear shoulder abutment 19 Interior surface of panel 20 Panel 21 Upper edge 22 Upwardly extending finger portion 23 Hole 25 Upper notch 26 Lower shoulder abutment 27 Slot 28 Lower intermediate portion 30 Lower notch 31 Lower foot portion 33 Lower edge 35 Exterior surface of the panel 37 Bottom portion 38 Intermediate panel 39 Small nubs 40 Outwardly extending upper arm 41 Panel extending downwardly 42 Outwardly extending lower arm 43 Upper panel 44 Elongated hook support member 45 Lower panel 46 Support member (Screwdriver bracket) 47 Hook member 48 Support member (Plier's bracket) 49 Hook member 50 Support member (Caliper bracket) 52 Channeled portion 53 Notches 54 Support member (? drive socket bracket) 55 Projecting nob 56 Support member (? drive socket bracket) 57 Grooved segments 58 Support member (wrench) 59 Metal rod 60 Support member (? drive socket bracket) 61 Angled panel 63 Pocket 64 Vertical flat panel 70 Upper panel 72 Upper V-notch 74 Lower V-notch 76 Lower panel 78 Intermediate panel
[0058] It should be understood the terms, first, second, top, bottom, above, below, upper, lower, intermediate, upwardly, downwardly, right, left, anterior, posterior, and the like are arbitrary terms used to refer to one position of an element based on one perspective and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.
[0059] It also should be understood that the mounting panels, brackets, systems, assemblies, constructions, materials, and the like described and illustrated herein represent only some embodiments of the present invention. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and additions can be made to the mounting boards, brackets, systems, assemblies, constructions, materials, and the like herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all such embodiments be covered by the appended claims.