System for holding implements

• US 7,591,385 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trilogy Health Care Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dr. Brooks Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Brooks, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Jennifer E.
• Application Number:
  US11/568,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 211/89.01, 211/94.01, 211/70.6, 211/66, 211/90.01, 211/87.01, 108106-108, 220/751, 248/220.21, 248/224.7, 248/311.2, 248/274.1, 248/276.1, 248/287.1
• US Class Current: 211/94.01
• 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: B25H 3/04 Racks

Abstract

A system for holding one or more implements. The system includes a wall-mounted rail having a channel-track extending lengthwise of the rail, and an implement holder having a track-engaging element slidable in the channel-track to a selected position on the rail. Fastener holes are spaced at intervals along the bottom wall of the channel-track for receiving one or more rail fasteners to mount the rail. One implement holder comprises a jar assembly which includes a jar for storing items and a bracket mountable on the rail for holding the jar. Other implement holders may also be used, including an implement holder with a snap-lock fastener for releasable snap-fastening interconnection with the rail. A support places the holder at a different position relative to the rail. A wall mounted bracket may be used for supporting the holder.

Claims

1. A system for holding one or more implements, said system comprising:

a mount comprising a rail adapted to be mounted in a generally horizontal orientation on a generally vertical mounting surface;

said rail having a front face adapted to face away from said mounting surface, a back face adapted to face toward said mounting surface, and first and second spaced-apart edges extending generally horizontally and parallel to one another along the rail,

an implement holder configured to hold said one or more implements, the holder having a hook-shaped fastening formation engageable with the first edge of the rail and at least one snap-lock fastener engageable with the second edge of the rail for snap-fastening engagement with the rail to releasably fasten the holder at a fastened position on the rail with the hook shaped-fastening formation and snap-lock fastener exerting a clamping force against respective edges of the rail to grip a portion of the rail between said edges and thereby resist relative movement of the holder along the rail, and

wherein said holder comprises;

a funnel structure having an upper end that flares open upwardly for receiving said implement, a lower end that is narrower than said upper end, a rear wall with an inside surface and an outside surface, and opposite converging side walls which define, in conjunction with said rear wall, a funnel-shaped recess for holding said implement in a stored position;

said hook-shaped fastening formation projecting rearward from the rear wall for engagement with said first edge of the rail; and

said snap-lock fastener projecting rearward from the rear wall and positioned in spaced relation from the hook-shaped fastening formation for engagement with said second edge of the rail.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snap-lock fastener comprises a tab having a locking member thereon for engagement with said second edge of the rail, the tab being resiliently deflectable for deflection as the holder is moved past said second edge of the rail and thereafter snaps back toward an undeflected position wherein the locking member cannot move past said second edge.

3. A funnel-shaped holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking member comprises a protuberance on the tab.

4. A system for holding one or more implements, said system comprising

a rail adapted to be mounted in a generally horizontal orientation on a generally vertical mounting surface,

said rail having at least one channel-track extending along the rail, said channel-track comprising a bottom wall with a plurality of fastener holes therein along the channel-track for receiving one or more fasteners to mount the rail on said mounting surface,

first and second slots in the rail extending along the rail,

first and second edges on the rail extending generally horizontally and parallel to one another along said first and second slots, respectively,

an implement holder configured to hold said one or more implements,

the holder having track-engaging elements comprising at least one hook-shaped fastening formation adapted to extend into said first slot and to engage said first edge of the rail and at least one snap-lock fastener adapted to extend into said second slot and to engage said second edge of the rail whereby the at least one hook shaped-fastening formation and the at least one snap-lock fastener exert a clamping force against respective edges of the rail resisting relative movement of the holder along the rail,

said at least one channel-track having a depth sufficient to provide clearance between one of the track-engaging elements received in said channel-track and said one or more fasteners when the rail is mounted on said surface whereby the track-engaging element is movable along the channel-track without interference with said one or more rail fasteners.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rail comprises an elongate rail panel having a front face adapted to face away from said mounting surface and a back face adapted to face said mounting surface, wherein said channel-track is disposed on the back face of the rail panel, and wherein said first and second edges comprise upper and lower edges of said rail panel.