Slot wall hanger

Abstract

A dual-purpose hanger for mounting an article to a slot wall or to an upright post includes a main body portion defining a first plane, first and second retaining elements spaced from one another extending from a first side of the main body portion and configured for engagement with non-common slots in the upright post, and a transverse flange defining a second plane extending from a second side of the main body portion opposite the first side and configured for engagement with the slot wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a dual-purpose hanger. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a dual-purpose hanger having retaining elements and a transverse flange for mounting an article to an upright post or to a slot wall, respectively.

[0002] Article display is vitally important in the retail industry. The principle function of an article display is to bring particular products to consumers' attention. Display articles can be mounted in a variety of ways. Two common ways to mount articles are to a slot wall or an upright post. Slot walls have horizontally oriented panels with slots for hangers located between adjacent panels. In contrast, upright posts have vertically oriented slots for hangers in their faces.

[0003] Typically, hangers are fabricated with either retaining elements to facilitate attachment to upright posts, or flanges to facilitate attachment to slot walls, not both. Though such hangers may provide an effective means of attaching article displays to bases, they are not very versatile because separate hangers with different designs are required to attach displays to upright posts and to slot walls. The cost of purchasing independent sets of hangers, one set to mount articles to an upright post, and another set to mount articles to a slot wall, can be relatively expensive.

[0004] Further, hangers require ready installation. Separate sets of hangers designed for attachment to only one type of base require separate sets of distinct parts for fastening. Installation of these mono-purpose hangers may entail a large number of parts, and a significant investment of labor. Therefore, in instances where many articles are to be placed on display, mono-purpose hangers may not be acceptable.

[0005] Accordingly, there exists a need for a dual-purpose hanger that provides both retaining elements allowing article attachment to an upright post, and a flange allowing article attachment to a slot wall. Such a hanger is cost-effective to manufacture and requires minimal hardware for installation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A dual-purpose hanger is configured for use in mounting articles to slot walls having horizontally oriented panels with slots between adjacent panels, and to upright posts having non-common, vertically oriented slots formed in faces thereof. The hanger includes a main body portion, first and second retaining elements, and a transverse flange. The first and second retaining elements are spaced from one another extending from a first side of the main body portion, and configured for engagement with an upright post. The transverse flange defines a second plane extending from a second side of the main body portion opposite the first side, and is configured for engagement with a slot wall.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the hanger's main body portion decreases in length in two steps, beginning at the first retaining element and continuing to the second retaining element. Preferably, the hanger's main body portion includes an indented slot located at a point at which the flange extends from the main body portion.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the first and second retaining elements are longitudinally configured on adjacent edges of the main body portion. Preferably, the first retaining element has a circular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the upright post. Preferably, the second retaining element has a rectangular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the upright post.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment, the flange is approximately the same width as the main body portion.

[0010] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a dual-purpose hanger for mounting articles to slot walls and to upright posts embodying the principles of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the dual-purpose hanger of FIG. 1, showing the hanger installed on a slot wall.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the dual-purpose hanger of FIG. 1, showing the hanger installed on an upright post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.

[0016] It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, "Detailed Description Of The Invention", relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0017] Referring to the figures and in particular FIG. 1 there is shown a dual-purpose hanger 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The dual-purpose hanger includes a main body portion 12 defining a first plane 14, first and second retaining elements 16, 18 respectively, spaced from one another and extending from a first side 20 of the main body portion The hanger 10 includes a transverse flange 22 defining a second plane 24 extending from a second side 26 of the main body portion 12. The flange 22 is formed integral with the body 12 by a leg portion 25.

[0018] In a present embodiment, the main body portion 12 decreases in length in two steps 28, 30, from the first retaining element 16 to the second retaining element 18. In a current embodiment, the first retaining element 16 and the second retaining element 18 are longitudinally configured on adjacent edges 32, 34 of the main body portion 12.

[0019] In a present embodiment, the first retaining element 16 has a circular retaining lip 36 defining a shoulder. The second retaining element 18 has a rectangular retaining lip 38 defining another shoulder. The first and second retaining elements 16, 18 are oriented generally transverse to one another such that maximum widths W.sub.16, W.sub.18 of the elements 16, 18 are oriented generally transverse to one another. The first and second retaining elements 16, 18 allow attachment of the dual-purpose hanger 10 to an upright post 58.

[0020] In a current embodiment, the main body portion 12 has an indented slot 40 located at a point 42 at which the flange 22 extends from the main body portion 12. The flange 22 is approximately the same width as the main body portion 12. The flange 22 allows attachment of the dual-purpose hanger 10 to a slot wall 44.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, the flange 22 of the dual-purpose hanger 10 is shown engaged to a slot wall 44 having horizontally oriented panels 46 with slots 48 between adjacent panels 50, 52. In use, the flange 22 is inserted into the slot 48 between the panels 50, 52 so that the flange 22 rests on a rear surface of the upper of the adjacent panels. In this manner, the leg portion 25 rests on an upper edge 49 of the lower panel, which, with the flange 22 behind the upper panel and main body 12 resting on the lower panel secures the hanger 10 to the slot wall 44.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, the first and second retaining elements 16, 18 of the dual-purpose hanger 10 are shown engaged to non-common slots 54, 56 of an upright post 58 having vertically oriented slotted openings 60. The circular retaining lip 36 of the first retaining element 16 is shown engaged to an interior surface 62 of the upright post 58. The rectangular retaining lip 38 of the second retaining element 18 is also shown engaged to the interior surface 62 of the upright post 58 spaced from the first element 16. In use, the hanger 10 is held so that the first element 16 is vertically oriented. In this manner, it can be inserted into the upper 54 of non-common slots 54, 56 in the post 58. The hanger 10 is then rotated so that the first element 16 is vertically above the main body 12. This "locks" element 16 into its slot 54. The hanger 10 is then urged upward so that element 18 can be inserted into its slot 56 and then urged downward so that element 18 "locks" into slot 56.

[0023] All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

[0024] In the present disclosure, the words "a" or "an" are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

[0025] From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-purpose hanger for mounting an article to a slot wall having horizontally oriented panels with slots between adjacent panels, or to an upright post having vertically oriented slots formed in a face thereof, the dual-purpose hanger comprising: a main body portion defining a first plane; first and second retaining elements extending from a first side of the main body portion transverse thereto, the first and second elements being spaced from one another and configured for engagement with non-common slots in the upright post; and a transverse flange extending from a second side of the main body portion opposite the first side, the flange defining a second plane and configured for engagement with the slot wall.

2. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the main body portion decreases in length from the first retaining element to the second retaining element.

3. The hanger in accordance with claim 2 wherein the main body portion decreases in length in two steps.

4. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first retaining element and the second retaining element are longitudinally configured on adjacent edges of the main body portion.

5. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first retaining element has a circular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the slotted post, the circular retaining lip having a width greater than a width of the vertically oriented slots in the upright post face.

6. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second retaining element has a rectangular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the slotted post.

7. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining elements have maximum widths and wherein the first and second retaining elements are oriented so that the widths are transverse to one another.

8. The hanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flange is approximately the same width as the main body portion.