Back to results
US 5,687,856 AGranted
Tool and implement hanging system
OwnerKen Kendrenainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention consists of a family of related tool holders, each of which contain angulated shoe segments which permit sliding along the similarly angulated rails of a set of interconnected track modules. These track sets are interlocked to result in a track of arbitrary width, and may be fastened to various wall or stud surfaces. The individual tool holding members may be disposed along and locked to the tracks at spacings determined by the size of the implement being secured. In addition to the track module, the family of modules includes a hook module, a multiganged hook module, a J-hook module, a screw driver plate module, a tray module and a handle grabber module. This later module includes a unique spring loaded paddle wall for gripping round or non-round objects.
Claims23
A hanging system for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means attached to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, and is positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- and
- a plurality of tool holding means for supporting specialized classes of tools, each said tool holding means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said each tool holding means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means.
2 more elements
A kit for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means for attachment to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, both edges being positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- tray support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate and disposed away from said wall surface, said tray support means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said tray support means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means;
- and
- horizontal plate support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, and disposed away from said wall surface, said horizontal plate support means having apertures formed thereon so as to vertically support tools of variable width away from said wall, said horizontal plate support means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said horizontal plate support means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means.
3 more elements
A kit for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means for attachment to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, and positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- and
- handle grabbing means comprising:
- a bottom plate mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, said bottom plate extending from the bottom end of said tool holding back plate horizontally away from the wall, said bottom plate having a front aperture disposed between first and second side edges of said bottom plate, said aperture having first and second inside perimeters substantially parallel to said first and second side edges of said bottom plate, a back inside perimeter substantially parallel to the back edge of said bottom plate, and an open front perimeter;
- a substantially vertical first side plate laterally positioned between the first and second side edges of said bottom plate and normal from the said tool holding back plate, said first side plate extending upward from the first side perimeter of the aperture;
- a spring loaded paddle disposed at the second side edge of said bottom plate, said spring loading producing a rotational torque about an axis essentially parallel to said second side edge of said bottom plate, so that said torque maintains said paddle in a horizontal position partially covering said aperture, whereby spring opposing rotation caused by insertion of a tool handle into said aperture produces an increased paddle torque bearing on said tool handle so as to maintain said handle within said aperture;
- and
- spring means to produce said spring loading.
7 more elements
A hanging system for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means attached to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge of said center body portion of each said track means having a first flat longitudinal flange, shaped to enter behind and colinearily interlock with the open said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, said first flat longitudinal flange being positioned so as to extend from said first end edge in a plane behind and essentially parallel to the plane of said center body portion so as to space said center body portion away from said wall, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, and is positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- and
- a plurality of tool holding means for supporting specialized classes of tools, each said tool holding means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said each tool holding means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means, wherein said plurality of tool holding means comprises multiple hook support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, said multiple hook support means being angulated upward from a horizontal plane normal to said wall and including scored partition means on the front side of said tool holding back plate for separating one or more hook support means from the remainder.
2 more elements
A hanging system for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means attached to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge of said center body portion of each said track means having a first flat longitudinal flange, shaped to enter behind and colinearily interlock with the open said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, said first flat longitudinal flange being positioned so as to extend from said first end edge in a plane behind and essentially parallel to the plane of said center body portion so as to space said center body portion away from said wall, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, and is positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- and
- a plurality of tool holding means for supporting specialized classes of tools, each said too 1 holding means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon an d disposed so that said each tool holding means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means, wherein said plurality of tool holding means includes handle grabbing means comprising:
- a bottom plate mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, said bottom plate extending from the bottom end of said tool holding back plate horizontally a way from the wall, said bottom plate having a front aperture disposed between first and second side edges of said bottom plate, said aperture having first and second inside perimeters substantially parallel to said first and second side edges of said bottom plate, a back inside perimeter substantially parallel to the back edge of said bottom plate, and an open front perimeter;
- a substantially vertical first side plate laterally positioned between the first and second side edges of said bottom plate and normal from the said tool holding back plate, said first side plate extending upward from the first side perimeter of the aperture;
- a spring loaded paddle disposed at the second side edge of said bottom plate, said spring loading producing a rotational torque about an axis essentially parallel to said second side edge of said bottom plate, so that said torque maintains said paddle in a horizontal position partially covering said aperture, whereby spring opposing rotation caused by insertion of a tool handle into said aperture produces an increased paddle torque bearing on said tool handle so as to maintain said handle within said aperture;
- and
- spring means to produce said spring loading.
7 more elements
A kit for supporting tools and implements against a wall surface, comprising:
- a plurality of track means for attachment to said wall surface, each said track means comprising a center body portion having bent top and bottom edges formed as rails and having first and second opposing end edges thereon, said first end edge being shaped to colinearily interlock with the said second end edge of the center body portion of an adjacent track means, both edges being positioned so as to provide a combined track means of selected length with continuous top and bottom rail edges;
- fastening means to attach said track means to said wall surface;
- shoe segment means comprising a relatively flat base plate having front and back sides with bottom, top, and end edges, said top and bottom end edges being bent toward the back side in order to form top and bottom clamps having asymmetric angles relative to the back side of said base plate and which are disposed so as to normally snap around and loosely clamp said top and bottom rails on said track means for sliding said shoe segment along said rails;
- tray support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate and disposed away from said wall surface, said tray support means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said tray support means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means;
- horizontal plate support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, and disposed away from said wall surface, said horizontal plate support means having apertures formed thereon so as to vertically support tools of variable width away from said wall, said horizontal plate support means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said horizontal plate support means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means;
- multiple hook support means mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, and having one or more tines curving upward from a horizontal plane normal to said wall, said multiple hook support means including scored partition means on the front side of said tool holding back plate for separating one or more hook support means from the remainder, said multiple hook support means having a back plate with said shoe segment mounted on the back side thereon and disposed so that said multiple hook support means may be normally snap attached to said rail edges of said track means at any track position and slid to a desired position along said track means, and handle grabbing means comprising:
- a bottom plate mounted on the front side of said tool holding back plate, said bottom plate extending from the bottom end of said tool holding back plate horizontally away from the wall, said bottom plate having a front aperture disposed between first and second side edges of said bottom plate, said aperture having first and second inside perimeters substantially parallel to said first and second side edges of said bottom plate, a back inside perimeter substantially parallel to the back edge of said bottom plate, and an open front perimeter;
- a substantially vertical first side plate laterally positioned between the first and second side edges of said bottom plate and normal from the said tool holding back plate, said first side plate extending upward from the first side perimeter of the aperture;
- a spring loaded paddle disposed at the second side edge of said bottom plate, said spring loading producing a rotational torque about an axis essentially parallel to said second side edge of said bottom plate, so that said torque maintains said paddle in a horizontal position partially covering said aperture, whereby spring opposing rotation caused by insertion of a tool handle into said aperture produces an increased paddle torque bearing on said tool handle so as to maintain said handle within said aperture;
- and
- spring means to produce said spring loading.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.