Interlocking hanging system

• US 5,125,518 A
• Filed: 08/12/1991
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Accessories, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Accessories, LLC
• Inventors: Ward, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lechek, Sarah A.
• Application Number:
  US07/743,919
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 211/87, 211/88, 211/71, 211/94, 211/90
• US Class Current: 211/87.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/08 Disposition of racks, clips , holders, containers or the like for supporting specific articles B60R7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

An interlocking hanging system including a mounting bracket which may be secured to a supporting structure, a support panel which attaches to and hangs from the mounting bracket, and one or more article holders, such as hooks or trays, which attach to and hang from the support panel. The support panel attaches to the mounting bracket, as do the article holders to the support panel, by upwardly extending arcuate hooks which pivotally corkscrew into and mate with horizontal channel structures, each with an inwardly extending lip, on the mounting bracket and support panel, respectively. The mounting bracket, support panel, and article holders are horizontal extrusions, allowing the article holders and support panel to be adjustably positioned horizontally within the support panel and mounting bracket, respectively. A plurality of horizontal channel structures and lips on the support panel allows vertical positioning of article holders as desired, and one or more extension panels, similar to the support panel, may be cascadably hung from the support panel. Non-concentric inner and outer radii of the various horizontal channel structures provide secure attachment at full insertion of the arcuate hooks, yet allow easy removal. The article holders may be removed from one hanging system and taken to another compatible hanging system, allowing transport of items such as bait, nails, etc. from one location to another. The article holders may be removably secured to the support panel using VELCRO or double-sided tape, and the mounting bracket may contain recessed strip lighting for illumination.

Claims

1. An interlocking hanging system for attachment to a supporting structure, said hanging system comprising, in

a. a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket comprising:

i. attachment means for securing said mounting bracket to said supporting structure;

ii. a transverse lateral arcuate surface forming a substantially horizontal channel; and

,

iii. a lip member extending downwardly and inwardly into the substantially horizontal channel;

b. a support panel, said support panel comprising;

i. a vertical panel member, said vertical panel member comprising at least one attachment receptacle, each said attachment receptacle comprising;

(a) a transverse lateral arcuate surface forming a substantially horizontal channel; and

,

(b) a lip member extending downwardly and inwardly into the substantially horizontal channel; and

,

ii. an arcuate hook member extending upwardly from said vertical panel member for mating insertion into the substantially horizontal channel of said mounting bracket and for interlocking engagement with the lip member of said mounting bracket; and

,

c. at least one article holder, each said article holder having an arcuate hook member extending upwardly for mating insertion into the substantially horizontal channel of said at least one attachment receptacle and for interlocking engagement with the lip member of said at least one attachment receptacle.

2. The hanging system as recited in claim 1 in which said vertical panel member comprises a plurality of said attachment receptacles, and in which said hanging system comprises a plurality of said article holders.

3. The hanging system as recited in claim 2 in which one of said article holders additionally comprises a rear side and an outwardly extending hanging member for receipt of an article.

4. The hanging system as recited in claim 2 in which one of said article holders additionally comprises a rear side, a front side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom for receipt of an article.

5. The hanging system as recited in claim 4 in which the widths of said bottom and said front and rear sides are less than the width of said vertical panel member.

6. The hanging system as recited in claim 3 or claim 4 in which each said article holder additionally comprises means for removably securing the rear side of each said article holder to said support panel.

7. The hanging system as recited in claim 2 in which one of said article holders additionally comprises a rear side, a front side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom for receipt of a first article;

and in which another of said article holders additionally comprises a rear side and an outwardly extending hanging member for receipt of a second article.

8. The hanging system as recited in claim 1 in which said support panel additionally comprises a support brace for spacing said support panel a certain distance from said supporting structure.

9. The hanging system as recited in claim 1 in which said mounting bracket additionally comprises a shoulder for resting contact with said vertical panel member when said arcuate hook member extending upwardly from said vertical panel member is in interlocking engagement with the lip member of said mounting bracket.

10. The hanging system as recited in claim 1 in which said hanging system additionally comprises an extension panel, said extension panel comprising:

a. a vertical panel member, said vertical panel member comprising at least one attachment receptacle, each said attachment receptacle comprising;

i. a transverse lateral arcuate surface forming a substantially horizontal channel; and

,

ii. a lip member extending downwardly and inwardly into the substantially horizontal channel; and

,

b. an arcuate hook member extending upwardly from said vertical panel member for mating insertion into the substantially horizontal channel of one said attachment receptacle of said vertical panel member of said support panel and for interlocking engagement with the lip member of said one said attachment receptacle of said vertical panel member of said support panel.

12. The hanging system as recited in claim 1 or claim 11 in which said mounting bracket additionally comprises a recessed channel for receipt of a light.

13. The hanging system as recited in claims 1, 7, or 11, in which at least one said transverse arcuate surface forming its associated said substantially horizontal channel is defined by a larger outer radius rotating about a first point, and in which the lip member associated with each said associated substantially horizontal channel comprises a convex arcuate surface defined by an inner radius rotating about a second point, said second point being offset from the first point and chosen so that a cavity, defined by said transverse arcuate surface and said convex arcuate surface, varies in width from a narrower first width at an inner extreme region of the cavity to a wider second width away from said inner extreme region, said narrower first width being substantially the same as, and not smaller than, the thickness of a portion of the associated arcuate hook member which is for mating insertion into said substantially horizontal channel, said thickness of said portion of said associated arcuate hook member being defined by a larger first radius and a smaller second radius, said larger first and smaller second radii being concentric, said larger first radius being substantially the same as, and not larger than, said large outer radius defining said associated substantially horizontal channel.

11. An interlocking hanging system for attachment to a supporting structure, said hanging system comprising, in combination:

a. a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket comprising

i. attachment means for securing said mounting bracket to said supporting structure;

ii. a transverse lateral arcuate surface forming a substantially horizontal channel; and

,

iii. a lip member extending downwardly and inwardly into the substantially horizontal channel;

b. a support panel, said support panel comprising;

i. a vertical panel member, said vertical panel member comprising a plurality of attachment receptacles, each said attachment receptacle comprising;

(a) a transverse lateral arcuate surface forming a substantially horizontal channel; and

,

(b) a lip member extending downwardly and inwardly into the substantially horizontal channel;

ii. an arcuate hook member extending upwardly from said vertical panel member for mating insertion into the substantially horizontal channel of said mounting bracket and for interlocking engagement with the lip member of said mounting bracket; and

,

iii. a support brace for spacing said support panel a certain distance from said supporting structure; and

,

c. a plurality of article holders, each said article holder comprising;

i. a rear side;

ii. means for removably securing the rear side of each said article holder to said support panel; and

,

iii. an arcuate hook member extending upwardly for mating insertion into the substantially horizontal channel of said at least one attachment receptacle and for interlocking engagement with the lip member of said at least one attachment receptacle at a selected position along said substantially horizontal channel of said at least one attachment receptacle;

in which one of said article holders additionally comprises a front side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom for receipt of a first article; and

in which another of said article holders additionally comprises an outwardly extending member for receipt of a second article;

further in which said mounting bracket additionally comprises a shoulder for resting contact with said vertical panel member when said arcuate hook member extending upwardly from said vertical panel member is in interlocking engagement with the lip member of said mounting bracket.