SLOTWALL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20090014401A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Windquest Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Windquest Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Tallman, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US12/168,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/106.10
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein

Abstract

An assembly for hanging items from a wall is provided having a plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails, each having a first and a second opposing edge and one or more of which define a lip. One or more mounting brackets are provided for attaching to the rails. Each mounting bracket includes a base plate, and a mounting flange and a locking flange extending from the base plate. The mounting flange engages and is retained on the first edge of a rail and extends behind a lip of an adjacent rail. The locking flange is wedged over the lip of the mounting rail and held tightly in place by the snap-fit engagement of the locking flange over the lip.

Claims

1. A wall mounting assembly, comprising:

a slotwall assembly including at least two parallel rails spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance to define a gap there between, each of said parallel rails having a first and second opposing edges, at lease one of which defines a lip;

at least one mounting bracket assembly for attachment to one of said parallel rails, said at least one mounting bracket assembly including a generally planar body;

an L-shaped mounting flange extending from an upper portion of said body, said L-shaped mounting flange including a first member extending from said body at an angle to said body, a second member extending from an end of said first member and away from said body in a direction generally parallel to said body, and a curved member extending from an end of said second member in a direction generally counter to that of said first member; and

an S-shaped locking flange extending from said lower portion of said body, said S-shaped locking flange including a first portion extending from said body in a direction generally perpendicular to said body, a second portion extending upwardly from an end of said first portion, and third portion extending downwardly in an arcuate manner from an end of said second portion to form a ramp-surface leading edge for said locking flange.

2. The wall mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said body includes a first surface facing and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface including a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from said second surface, the mounting bracket including an accessory mounting means for supporting a variety of accessories thereon, said accessory mounting means welded to at least one of said protrusions.

3. The wall mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said S-shaped locking flange includes a cutout allowing said first portion of said S-shaped locking flange to flex relative to said body.

4. A wall hanger system, comprising:

a slotwall panel assembly mounted to the wall including, a plurality of parallel rails spaced equidistantly from one another and forming slots there between, each of said parallel rails including a top edge and a bottom edge; and

a mounting bracket assembly for suspending an article from said slotwall panel assembly, each said mounting bracket assembly including a generally planar body, a generally L-shaped mounting flange extending from one end of said body, and an S-shaped locking flange extending from an opposite end of said body, said L-shaped mounting flange adapted to be supported on said top edge of one of said plurality of rails, and said S-shaped locking configured to be wedged over said bottom edge of said one of said plurality of rails in snap-fit engagement.

5. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 4, wherein said S-shaped locking flange includes a first portion extending from said body and a second portion extending from an end of said first portion, said second portion extending upwardly from said first portion such that said S-shaped locking flange generally conforms to said bottom edge of each rail.

6. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 5, wherein said S-shaped locking flange includes a third portion curving downwardly from an end of said second portion to provide a ramped leading edge on said S-shaped locking flange to engage said bottom edge of said parallel rail and wedge said S-shaped locking flange over the bottom edge of said rail.

7. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 6, wherein said first portion of said S-shaped locking flange further includes a cutout for providing increased flexibility of said first portion of said S-shaped locking flange relative to said body and permitting said second portion and said third portion of said S-shaped locking flange to snap-fit over said lower bottom edge of said rail.

8. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 7, wherein said L-shaped mounting flange includes a first member extending generally perpendicular from said body and a second member extending upwardly from said first member, said second member extending behind said bottom edge of an adjacent rail.

9. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 8, wherein said body includes a rear surface and a front surface opposite said rear surface, said front surface including a plurality of protrusions, and an accessory mount welded to at least one of said protrusions.

10. The slotwall hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein said protrusions include a plurality of ribs formed along said front surface of said body.

11. A slotwall panel assembly, comprising:

a plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel rails separated from one another by a predetermined distance, each of said plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel rails including a first and a second opposing edge extending along each rail, at least one of said first and said second opposing edge including a lip;

at least one mounting bracket for attachment to one of said plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel rails, said mounting bracket including a base plate having an L-shaped mounting flange extending from an edge of said base plate, and a S-shaped locking flange extending from an opposite edge of said base plate, said L-shaped mounting flange including a first portion adapted to be supported on said first opposing edge of said rail, and a second portion adapted to extend behind said lip of said second opposing edge of an spaced apart adjacent rail;

said S-shaped locking flange including a first portion extending from said body, and a second portion extending from said first portion, said second portion extending upwardly from said first portion such that said second portion is adapted to extend around said lip of said second opposing edge in snap-fit engagement.

12. The slotwall panel assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said S-shaped locking flange includes a third portion curving downwardly from said second portion to form a ramp configured to engage said lip of said second opposing edge and lever said S-shaped locking flange over said lip.

13. The slotwall panel assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said S-shaped locking flange includes a cutout for providing flexibility to said S-shaped locking flange relative to said base plate.

14. The slotwall panel assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said base plate includes a rear surface to be oriented toward an exposed face of one of said parallel rails, and a front surface opposite said rear surface, said front surface having a hanger accessory welded thereto.

15. A hanger assembly for a wall, comprising:

a plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails, each having a first and second opposing edges, at least one of said first and second opposing edges defining a lip;

at least one mounting bracket assembly for attachment to one of said plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails, said at least one mounting bracket assembly including a base plate, a mounting flange extending from said base plate and configured to be retained on said first opposing edge of one of said plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails and extend behind said lip of an adjacent one of said plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails, and a locking flange extending from said base plate and configured to wedge over said lip of said one of said plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rails tightly engage said lip in snap-fit engagement.