U.S. patent application number 11/104835 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for system for holding implements.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dr. Brooks Innovations, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Brooks, Jeffrey S..
Application Number | 20050247653 11/104835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35320692 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brooks, Jeffrey S. |
November 10, 2005 |
System for holding implements
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. The channel-track has a depth sufficient to provide clearance
between the track-engaging element and the rail fasteners so that
the track-engaging element may be slidably moved along the
channel-track without interference with the rail fasteners. 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.
Inventors: |
Brooks, Jeffrey S.; (St.
Louis, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SENNIGER POWERS LEAVITT AND ROEDEL
ONE METROPOLITAN SQUARE
16TH FLOOR
ST LOUIS
MO
63102
US
|
Assignee: |
Dr. Brooks Innovations,
L.L.C.
Creve Coeur
MO
|
Family ID: |
35320692 |
Appl. No.: |
11/104835 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60568742 |
May 6, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/94.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/04 20130101; A47F
5/0846 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/094.01 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for holding one or more implements, said system
comprising a rail adapted to be mounted in a generally horizontal
position on a generally vertical mounting surface, said rail having
a channel-track extending lengthwise of the rail, an implement
holder having a track-engaging element receivable in said
channel-track and slidable along the channel-track to a selected
position on the rail, said channel-track comprising a bottom wall
adapted to be positioned generally adjacent said mounting surface,
a pair of spaced-apart side walls extending forward from said
bottom wall, and a slot at a front side of the channel-track
whereby when said track-engaging element of the implement holder is
received in the channel-track between the side walls thereof, said
element is adapted to project forward through the slot and to be
slidably moved along the slot to move said implement holder to said
desired position, a plurality of fastener holes spaced at intervals
along the bottom wall of the channel-track for receiving one or
more rail fasteners to mount the rail on said mounting surface,
said channel-track having a depth sufficient to provide clearance
between the track-engaging element and said one or more rail
fasteners when the rail is mounted on said surface whereby the
track-engaging element may be slidably moved along the
channel-track without interference with said one or more rail
fasteners.
2. A system as set forth in claim 1 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, and wherein said channel-track is disposed on the back
face of the rail panel.
3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongate rail
panel has an upper edge margin terminating in an upper edge
extending lengthwise of the rail panel, a lower edge margin
terminating in a lower edge extending lengthwise of the rail panel,
and opposite end edges, one side wall of said pair of side walls of
said channel-track, constituting a lower side wall, extending along
said upper edge margin of the rail panel at a location spaced below
said upper edge of the rail panel, and the other side wall of said
pair of said walls, constituting an upper side wall, being located
above said upper edge of the rail panel and having an inturned lip
generally opposing said upper edge of the rail panel, said lip and
upper edge of the rail panel defining said slot.
4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said channel-track
comprises an upper channel-track disposed generally adjacent said
upper edge of said rail panel, and wherein said system further
comprises a lower channel-track disposed generally adjacent said
lower edge of said rail panel and running generally parallel to
said upper channel track.
5. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said channel-track
comprises an upper channel-track disposed generally adjacent an
upper edge of said rail panel, and wherein said system further
comprises a lower channel-track disposed generally adjacent a lower
edge of said rail panel and running generally parallel to said
upper channel track.
6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein each rail has a
connection section at one configured for an overlapping fit with an
end of an adjacent rail thereby to join the rails end-to-end.
7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said connection section
of each rail is configured for a telescoping fit with said end of
said adjacent rail.
8. A system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising one or more
holder fasteners for mounting said implement holder on said rail
panel, said rail panel having a plurality of fastener holes therein
for receiving said one or more holder fasteners, said one or more
holder fasteners having a length such then when the one or more
holder fasteners are in place fastening said implement holder to
the rail panel, the one or more holder fasteners do not extend
rearward beyond said channel-track into said mounting surface.
9. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said one or
more rail fasteners is a screw having a head disposed inside said
channel-track and a threaded shank threadable into said mounting
surface.
10. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said implement holder
comprises a jar assembly comprising a jar having a bottom, one or
more sides, and a mouth, and a bracket having said track-engaging
element thereon, said bracket comprising a pair of generally
opposing, spaced-apart sides, and opposing jar supports on the
sides of the bracket for supporting said jar in an upright position
for storage of items in the jar.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said jar has a flange
structure projecting out from said one or more sides of the jar
adapted to rest on said jar supports.
12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said bracket further
comprises a top wall spanning said sides, said jar supports on the
sides of the bracket being spaced below said top wall and defining
a slideway for slidably receiving the flange structure of the jar
whereby the jar may be slidably moved in said slideway to a storage
position in which the mouth of the jar is disposed below the top
wall of the bracket.
13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein top wall is sized to
cover the mouth of the jar when the jar is in said storage
position.
14. A system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a detent
mechanism for releasably holding said jar in said storage
position.
15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said detent mechanism
defines a distance across the slideway less than an outside
diameter of the jar, one or both of said jar and detent mechanism
being resilient deformable to permit the jar to be slidably moved
into the slideway past the detent mechanism to an over-center
position in which the jar is releasably held against withdrawal
from the slideway.
16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said detent mechanism
comprises a pair of detents protruding inwardly from opposite sides
of the bracket into said slideway above said jar supports.
17. A jar assembly comprising a jar having a bottom, one or more
sides, and a mouth, and a bracket having a track-engaging element
thereon for engaging a track on a rail to permit sliding movement
of the bracket along the rail, said bracket comprising a pair of
generally opposing, spaced-apart sides, and opposing jar supports
on the sides of the bracket for supporting said jar in an upright
position for storage of items in the jar.
18. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said jar has a
flange structure projecting out from said one or more sides of the
jar adapted to rest on said jar supports.
19. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said bracket
further comprises a top wall spanning said sides, said jar supports
on the sides of the bracket being spaced below said top wall and
defining a slideway for slidably receiving the flange structure of
the jar whereby the jar may be slidably moved in said slideway to a
storage position in which the mouth of the jar is disposed below
the top wall of the bracket.
20. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein top wall is
sized to cover the mouth of the jar when the jar is in said storage
position.
21. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a
detent mechanism for releasably holding said jar in said storage
position.
22. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said detent
mechanism defines a distance across the slideway less than an
outside diameter of the jar, one or both of said jar and detent
mechanism being resilient deformable to permit the jar to be
slidably moved into the slideway past the detent mechanism to an
over-center position in which the jar is releasably held against
withdrawal from the slideway.
23. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said detent
mechanism comprises a pair of detents protruding inwardly from
opposite sides of the bracket into said slideway above said jar
supports.
24. A jar assembly comprising a jar having a bottom, one or more
sides, and a mouth, and a bracket comprising a back wall, a pair of
generally opposing, spaced-apart sides extending forward from the
back wall, and opposing jar supports on the sides of the bracket
for supporting said jar in an upright position for storage of items
in the jar.
25. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said back wall
has fastener openings therein for receiving fasteners to fasten the
bracket to a surface.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming
priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/568,742 filed May
6, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to devices for holding
tools, utensils, household products and other consumer items, such
items hereinafter being referred to generally as "implements". In
particular, this invention is an improvement on the invention
disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,557 which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Among the several objects of exemplary embodiments of this
invention may be noted the provision of a unique system for holding
and organizing various implements, including but not limited to
those noted above; the provision of an exemplary system which is
relatively inexpensive and easy to assemble and use; and the
provision of an exemplary system which can be expanded as needed to
accommodate greater numbers and/or different types of
implements.
[0004] In one aspect, a system of this invention for holding
implements comprises a rail adapted to be mounted in a generally
horizontal position on a generally vertical mounting surface. The
rail has a channel-track extending lengthwise of the rail. An
implement holder having a track-engaging element is receivable in
the channel-track and is slidable along the channel-track to a
selected position on the rail. Each channel-track comprises a
bottom wall adapted to be positioned generally adjacent the
mounting surface, a pair of spaced-apart side walls extending
forward from the bottom wall, and a slot at a front side of the
channel-track whereby when the track-engaging element of the
implement holder is received in the channel-track between the side
walls thereof, the track-engaging element is adapted to project
forward through the slot and to be slidably moved along the slot to
move the implement holder to its desired position. 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 on said
mounting surface. The channel-track has a depth sufficient to
provide clearance between the track-engaging element and the one or
more rail fasteners when the rail is mounted on said surface
whereby the track-engaging element may be slidably moved along the
channel-track without interference with the one or more rail
fasteners.
[0005] In another aspect, the invention is directed to a jar
assembly comprising a jar having a bottom, one or more sides, and a
mouth. The assembly also includes a bracket comprising a back wall,
a pair of generally opposing, spaced-apart sides extending forward
from the back wall, and opposing jar supports on the sides of the
bracket for supporting the jar in an upright position for storage
of items in the jar. Optionally, the bracket has a track-engaging
element thereon for engaging a track on a rail to permit sliding
movement of the bracket along the rail.
[0006] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in
part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a system of the present invention
comprising a rail with a jar assembly and a funnel-shaped holder
mounted on the rail;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the rail and jar assembly
along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 2a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing
coupling of the jar assembly and the rail;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective of a connection between two
rails;
[0011] FIG. 3A is a perspective of the connected rails of FIG.
3;
[0012] FIG. 3B is a vertical section of the rail and associated
connection along line 3B-3B of FIG. 3A;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective of a bracket of the jar assembly of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is front elevation of the bracket of FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view various components of the
system;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the jar assembly of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 7A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the funnel-shaped holder and
rail along line 8-8 of FIG. 1; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a vertical section of the larger funnel-shaped
holder along line 9-9 of FIG. 6.
[0020] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding numbers
throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show one
embodiment of a system of this invention, designated in its
entirety by the reference numeral 1. As shown, the system comprises
one or more rails, each generally designated 3, adapted to be
mounted in a generally horizontal position on a generally vertical
mounting surface 5 (FIG. 2). The mounting surface can be a
pegboard, wall studs, a wall or any other type of surface suitable
for mounting the one or more rails. In the illustrated embodiment,
each rail (only one is shown in FIG. 1) comprises an elongate rail
panel 9 and one or more channel-tracks on the rail panel, two such
channel-tracks being shown in FIG. 1, the upper channel-track being
designated 11 and the lower channel-track being designated 13. The
system also includes one or more implement holders, two exemplary
holders being illustrated in FIG. 1. One of the implement holders,
generally designated 17, is a jar assembly comprising a bracket,
generally designated 19, and a jar, generally designated 21,
removably mounted on the bracket for holding items for storage. The
bracket 19 has a track-engaging element 25 which may be slidably
engaged with the upper channel-track 11 so that it can be moved to
a selected position on the rail 3, as will be described in detail
hereinafter. The second implement holder, generally designated 31,
is funnel-shaped, as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,557, and
is attached to the rail 3 in a manner also to be described.
[0022] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the elongate rail panel
9 of the rail 3 is relatively thin (e.g., 0.1 in. thick), flat and
generally rectangular. The rail panel 9 has a front face facing
away from the mounting surface and a back face facing toward the
mounting surface. The rail panel 9 also has an upper edge margin
terminating in an upper edge 37 extending lengthwise of the rail
panel, a lower edge margin terminating in a lower edge 39 extending
lengthwise of the rail panel, and opposite (left and right) end
edges 41, 43. Other panel shapes are possible. The rail panel 9 has
a plurality of fastener holes 45 in it for receiving fasteners 47
to fasten the holders 17, 31 in selected positions.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the upper channel-track 11 of
the exemplary emodiment is disposed on the back face of the rail
panel 9. The channel-track 11 comprises a bottom wall 51 adapted to
be positioned generally adjacent the mounting surface 5, and a pair
of spaced-apart side walls, one hereinafter being referred to as an
upper side wall 53 and the other as a lower side wall 55. In the
illustrated exemplary embodiment, the lower side wall 55 is
connected to the upper edge margin of the rail panel 9 at a
location below the upper edge 37 of the rail panel, and the upper
side wall 53 is spaced above the upper edge 37 of the rail panel.
The upper side wall 53 has an inturned lip 61 generally opposing
the upper edge 37 of the rail panel to define an upper slot 63 at
the front side of the upper channel-track 11 extending the full
length of the channel-track. The bottom wall 55 of the
channel-track 11 has a plurality of fastener holes 67 (FIG. 2A)
spaced at intervals (preferably but not necessarily regular
intervals such as every {fraction (1/2)} in.) along the
channel-track for receiving one or more rail fasteners 71 to secure
the rail to the mounting surface. These fasteners 71 may be common
screws, for example, each having a head and a threaded shank
extending from the head. Advantageously, a depth D (FIG. 2A) of the
channel from the plane of the slot 63 to the bottom wall 51 of the
channel-track 11 is such that when the rail fasteners 71 are in
place securing the rail to the mounting surface 5, there is
sufficient clearance C (FIG. 2A) to permit implement holders (e.g.,
17) having track-engaging elements (e.g., 25) to be slidably moved
to their desired positions without interference with the heads of
the fasteners. This clearance is preferably at least {fraction
(1/8)} in., but this dimension may vary. The back surface of the
bottom wall 51 of the channel-track 11 has a pair of parallel ribs
77 thereon which contact the mounting surface 5 when the rail is
secured thereto (see FIG. 2). The fastener holes 67 are located
between these ribs 77 in the embodiment shown in the drawings.
[0024] The lower channel-track 13 is similar to the upper-channel
track 11, also being disposed on the back face of the rail panel 9,
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower channel-track 13 has a bottom
wall 81 with parallel ribs 82 (FIG. 2) which contact the mounting
surface 5 and parallel upper and lower side walls 83, 85. The lower
side wall 85 has an inturned lip 89 which opposes the lower edge 39
of the rail panel to define a lower slot 91 which runs the length
of the lower channel-track 13. Similar to the upper channel-track
11, the bottom wall 81 of the lower channel-track has fastener
openings 95 spaced at intervals along the wall, and sufficient
clearance is provided to enable passage of a track-engaging element
of a holder past a fastener 71 in one of the openings 95 as the
holder is moved along the lower channel-track 13.
[0025] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper and lower
slots 63, 91 in respective channel-tracks 9, 11 are enlarged to
form one or more pairs of vertically aligned notches 101 at certain
locations between the ends of the rail. (Only one such pair of
notches 101 is shown in FIG. 3, but others may be provided.) Each
notch 101 permits entry of a track-engaging element (e.g., 25) of
an implement holder (e.g., 17) through a respective slot 63, 91 and
into a respective channel-track 11, 13, thereby permitting the
holder to be slidably moved to a selected position on the rail 3.
Alternatively, the track-engaging element may be inserted into the
channel-track from an end of the rail, assuming the end is
accessible and not blocked by a connection to another rail or in
some other way.
[0026] The rail panel 9 of the rail 3 and the upper and lower
channel-tracks 11, 13 may be integrally formed (e.g., molded) as a
single piece or formed as separate pieces and then connected in
suitable fashion. The various components may be of plastic or other
suitable material.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-3B, multiple rails 3 may be
connected together end to end to increase the capacity of the
system (e.g., the number of holders used). To facilitate such
connection, each rail 3 includes a connection section 113 at one
end (the left end as viewed in FIG. 3) configured for an
overlapping fit with the opposite (right) end of an adjacent rail.
In the illustrated embodiment, the connection section 113 of the
rail comprises a connection panel 115 offset in a rearward
direction relative to the rail panel 9, and upper and lower
connection channel-tracks 117, 119 which are enlarged in transverse
cross section relative to the rail channel-tracks 11, 13. The
arrangement is such that the right end of each rail 3 is configured
for an overlapping (e.g., telescoping) fit with the connection
section 113 at the left end of an adjacent rail. When the rails of
this embodiment are thus connected, the rail panels 9 of the two
rails 3 are generally co-planar and closely adjacent or butted up
against one another, and the upper and lower rail channel-tracks 9,
13 of the two rails are closed adjacent or butted up against one
another to provide a substantially uninterrupted or seamless
continuation of the rail panels, rail channel-tracks and slots from
one rail to the next (see FIG. 3). The rails are held in fixed
position relative to one another after they are connected by
fastening each rail to the mounting surface 5 using the
aforementioned rail fasteners 71. The overlapping telescoping
connection between the rails 3 may also be accompanied by a
friction-fit between the parts. The connection panel 115 of the
connection section 113 has fastener holes 131 in it for securing an
implement holder at this location, if desired. The bottom walls of
the connection channel-tracks 117, 119 also have fastener holes 121
for receiving fasteners (e.g., 71) to secure the rail 3 to the
mounting surface 5.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the jar 21 of the jar assembly 17
has a bottom 151, a cylindric side wall 153 defining an open mouth
155 at the upper end of the jar, and a circular peripheral flange
structure 161 projecting out from the side wall of the jar at its
mouth. The jar may have other shapes (e.g., rectangular) without
departing from the scope of this invention. Further, the flange
structure 161 may be formed as one continuous flange or one or more
flange segments. In one embodiment, the jar 21 is made of a
resilient material (e.g., resilient molded plastic), but it may
also be rigid. The jar may have any suitable capacity.
[0029] The bracket 19 of the jar assembly 17 shown in FIGS. 2 and
4-6 includes a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel side walls
171, a top wall 173 spanning the side walls, and a back wall 175.
The track-engaging element 25 comprises a J-shaped member or hook
extending up from the top wall 173 adjacent its back edge. In other
embodiments, the track-engaging element 25 may have other shapes
and may be at other locations on the bracket 19. The entire bracket
19, including the track-engaging element 25, may be a one-piece
molded unit of a suitable plastic material, for example. To mount
the bracket 19 on the rail, the track-engaging element 25 may be
inserted into and through the enlarged notch 101 in the upper slot
63 and then slidably moved along the channel-track 11 to a selected
position. The bracket 19 may be secured in that position by one or
more fasteners (e.g., screws 181 in FIG. 6) extending through
selected one or more mounting openings 183 in the back wall 175 of
the bracket into the rail panel. The screws 181 preferably have a
length such that they do not screw into the mounting surface 5. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the mounting openings 183 in the
back wall 175 of the bracket 19 are in the form of slots extending
up from the lower edge of the back wall. This configuration allows
for some range of adjustment of the elevation of the bracket
relative to the rail 3, as needed or desired.
[0030] As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, the side walls 171 of the
bracket 19 are formed with opposing jar supports 191, and the back
wall 175 of the bracket is formed with a jar support 193. All of
these supports 191, 193 are spaced below the top wall 173 of the
bracket and define a slideway 195 for slidably receiving the jar
21. In the illustrated embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), the jar supports
191 comprise ledges projecting from respective back and side walls
171, 175 for supporting portions of the flange structure 161 on the
jar. The flange structure 161 is adapted to rest on the jar
supports when the jar is slidably moved into the slideway 195 to a
storage position below the top wall of the bracket, which serves as
a cover for the jar (FIGS. 1 and 2). The front portion of each side
wall support 191 is sloped to provide a lead-in ramp 199 to
facilitate movement of the jar into the slideway 195.
[0031] The bracket 19 also includes a detent mechanism for
releasably holding the jar 21 in its storage position below the top
wall 173 of the bracket. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7A,
this detent mechanism comprises a pair of detents 201 in the form
of opposing bosses or projections on the side walls 171 of the
bracket 19 above the jar supports 191. These detents define a
distance D2 (FIG. 7A) across the slideway 195 less than an outside
diameter of the jar 21 (e.g., less than the diameter of the
peripheral flange structure 161). The jar 21 and/or the detents 201
are resiliently deformable to permit the jar to be slidably pushed
(preferably but not necessarily with a twist) into the slideway 195
past the detent mechanism (i.e., in a direction toward the back
wall 175 of the bracket 19) to an over-center position (FIG. 7) in
which the maximum diameter of the jar, in this case the flange
structure 161 of the jar, is located to the rear of the detents
201, thereby allowing the detents to snap back toward their
original position for releasably holding the jar against withdrawal
from the slideway. To remove the jar, it is simply pulled in a
forward direction (preferably but not necessarily with a twist)
with sufficient force to resiliently deform the detents 201 and/or
the jar 21 to allow the jar to move forward past the detents and
out of the slideway 195, either partially or entirely.
[0032] In other embodiments (not shown), multiple jars of different
capacities may be used in conjunction with the same bracket 19, or
multiple brackets 19 may be provided each having its own dedicated
jar of appropriate size. Any number of jar assemblies (from one to
two or more) can be mounted on the rail(s) 3.
[0033] In still other embodiments, the bracket 19 may be made
without a track-engaging element 25. In this case, the bracket is
simply secured to the rail 3 by one or more fasteners 181 extending
through suitable openings (e.g., 183) in the back wall of the
bracket into selected holes 45 in the rail panel 9.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the funnel-shaped holder 31 is
of relatively small size but otherwise has the shape and functional
characteristics described in my aforementioned patent. The holder
is formed with a standoff 213 on the back wall 215 of the holder
which is adapted to lie flat against the rail panel 9 for
stability. One or more fasteners (e.g., screws 47) may be used to
secure the holder 31 to the rail panel 9 in any desired position
along the rail, with each fastener extending through holes 217 in
the back wall 215 and standoff 213 of the holder into a selected
fastener hole 45 in the rail panel 9. The holder fasteners 47 are
preferably dimensioned such that when threaded in place, they do
not extend rearward beyond the bottom wall 51 of the upper
channel-track 11 or the bottom wall 81 of the lower channel-track
13, so that they do not penetrate the rail mounting surface 5. The
holder 31 may be a one-piece molded part.
[0035] The rail 3 is also suited for mounting a larger
funnel-shaped holder, generally designated 225 in FIGS. 6 and 9.
This holder 225 has a pair of upper track-engaging elements 227
slidable in the upper channel-track 11 and a lower track-engaging
element 231 (FIG. 9) slidable in the lower channel-track 13. In one
embodiment, the track-engaging elements 227, 231 are J-shaped
members or hooks integrally formed with the back wall 235 of the
holder, but the track-engaging elements may have other shapes and
locations. Reference may be made to my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
6,305,557 for further details regarding the design and operation of
this type of holder. When the holder 225 is mounted on the rail 3,
the track-engaging elements 227, 231 extend forward through
respective slots 63, 91. The holder 225 may be slidably moved into
a desired position along the rail 3, there being sufficient
clearance in the channel-tracks 11, 13 between the rail fasteners
71 and the track-engaging elements 227, 231 as discussed above.
Once in place, the holder 225 may be secured to the rail panel 3 by
inserting fasteners (not shown) through one or more fastener holes
241 in the back wall 235 of the holder and then threading them into
one or more selected aligned fastener holes 45 in the rail panel 9.
The holder fasteners are preferably dimensioned such that when
threaded in place, they do not extend rearward beyond the bottom
wall 51 of the upper channel-track 11 or the bottom wall 81 of the
lower channel-track 13, so that they do not penetrate the rail
mounting surface 5.
[0036] When introducing elements of the present invention or the
preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and
"said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are
intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional
elements other than the listed elements.
[0037] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several
objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous
results attained.
[0038] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended
that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the
accompanying drawing[s] shall be interpreted as illustrative and
not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *