Pegboard attachment adapter

Abstract

The pegboard attachment adapter has a base plate having pegboard attachment members fixed to its rear surface. Multiple holes, which may be threaded, are disposed in the base plate. The base plate holes provide custom placement of an item on the base plate even when the base plate is in a fixed location on the pegboard. Threaded base plate holes provide precise centering of an item. Base plate spacers are adapted to fit the base plate holes. A hollow shank extending upward from external threaded portion of the base plate spacer has internal threads. A screw matching the spacer's internal threads is used to securely fasten an object to the base plate via the spacer. Alternatively, fasteners may be utilized to attach an object to the base plate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/136,362, filed Aug. 29, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to wall-mounted storage systems, and in particular, to a pegboard attachment adapter for attaching articles to a pegboard.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Pegboards generally comprise a sheet of resin-bonded wood chips or other synthetic composition. Multiple holes are formed therein, the holes generally being of 3/16-inch diameter. Hooks and various clamps are hung therein to support objects that can be mounted thereon. The hooks are usually formed of 1/4 inch steel wire.

[0006] A common fault of this type installation is that the hooks are generally not designed to support a variety of objects that a user may desire to store on a pegboard, such as encased utility boxes, compartmentalized drawers, compartmentalized utility boxes, various types of workshop lighting, and other items that are typically designed for mounting directly onto walls, wall studs or other supports.

[0007] Thus, a pegboard attachment adapter solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The pegboard attachment adapter has a base plate that may be welded to elongate pegboard attachment members having hooked ends to attach the adapter to a pegboard. Alternatively, the base plate and pegboard attachment members may be of unitary construction. Multiple holes, which may be threaded, are formed in the base plate. The base plate holes allow for custom placement of an item on the base plate even though the base plate may be in a fixed location on the pegboard.

[0009] The base plate holes allow for precise centering of an item. Base plate spacers are provided and may have appropriately sized external threads to fit the base plate threaded holes, or some other attachment mechanism for securing the spacers to the base plate, e.g., a self-tapping screw, spring-biased legs that spread out after insertion through the pegboard similar to a wall anchor, etc. A hollow shank extending upward from the externally threaded portion of the base plate spacer is internally threaded. A screw matching the spacer's internal threads is used to securely fasten an object to the base plate via the spacer. In additional embodiments a fastener is either slidably or non-slidably engaged in a single orifice within the base plate.

[0010] These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a rear, perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is an environmental, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter of FIG. 4.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a rear, perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a pegboard attachment adapter according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter of FIG. 8.

[0020] FIG. 10 is an environmental perspective view of the pegboard attachment adapter of FIG. 8, shown attached to a pegboard.

[0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention relates to a pegboard attachment adapter 5 having a base plate 15, which may vary in size and shape depending on a particular design. Pegboard attachment members 10 are fixed to the rear surface of the base plate 1 5. Alternatively, the base plate 15 and pegboard attachment members 10 may be of unitary construction, being molded or forged in one piece. The attachment members 10 are elongated rods having an offset shank or hook at their upper end that can be inserted through holes in the pegboard PB and raised to bear against the rear surface of the pegboard PB, and an elbow at the lower end that can be inserted into another hole in the pegboard PB to prevent the attachment member 10 from moving laterally.

[0023] Multiple holes 20, which may be threaded, are formed in the base plate 15. The holes 20 may be varied in spacing and diameter, depending upon a particular design. The plurality of holes 20 in base plate 15 allows for custom placement of an item on the base plate 15, even though the base plate 15 is in a fixed location on pegboard PB. The holes 20 on the base plate 15 allow for precise centering of an item, as centering becomes important when the item is indirectly fastened to a pegboard PB through the base plate 15.

[0024] The base plate holes 20 may be threaded, but they need not be threaded, depending on the design of base plate spacers 25. For a base plate 15 designed with holes 20 that are threaded (as shown in FIG. 2), base plate spacers 25 have externally threaded posts 27 extending from one end for engaging the base plate threaded holes 20. An annular flange around the base of the spacer 25 prevents inserting the spacer 25 too far into the hole 20. Base plate spacer 25 functions as an anchor for attachment of objects to base plate 15. In lieu of dual threaded base plate spacer 25 an appropriately sized threaded or non threaded fastener may be utilized to anchor an object to base plate 15.

[0025] Base plate spacer 25 has a hollow shank 29 extending therefrom, the hollow shank 29 being internally threaded. A threaded fastener 35 having matching threads to the internally threaded bore 33 defined by shank 29 can be used to fasten an object to the base plate 15 to provide a secure mounting of the object to the pegboard PB.

[0026] In use, the attachment members are hooked into the pegboard PB to position base plate 15 at a desired location. One or more spacers 25 are inserted into the holes 20 defined in the base plate 15 by threading posts 27 into holes 20 in any desired location or pattern. Finally, screw(s) 35 is extended through mounting holes in the item to be stored on the pegboard PB and secured in threaded bore 33 defined in the shank 29 of spacer 25, providing a convenient method of attaching items for which no conventional pegboard hook is available to the pegboard. Moreover, the object may be easily detached without leaving a hole or mess in the pegboard PB or wall behind the pegboard PB, thereby obviating the necessity of covering or patching the pegboard PB or substrate.

[0027] Thus, a simple fastener is capable of securing an item to the base plate 15. An item may be fastened to the base plate 15 either with the base plate 15 already mounted on pegboard PB, or the item may be secured to the base-plate 15 in an unmounted configuration and then the entire assembly can be mounted to the pegboard by aligning ends of attachment members 10 with holes in pegboard PB.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a pegboard attachment adapter 45 can be mounted on the pegboard PB. A base plate 150 has an elongate slot 159a through which a fastener 502 may be disposed and adjusted laterally by sliding within the perimeter of the slot 159a. The fastener 502 may then be secured by a lock washer 505 and a large thin nut 510 as it is threaded through hollow, internally threaded bolt receiver 500 (shown in FIG. 5). With the aforementioned configuration, it should be clearly understood that the fastener 502 can securely hold an object in place on the pegboard PB.

[0029] As most clearly shown in FIGS. 5-6, the base plate 150 is adapted for attachment of a slider assembly. The slider assembly is comprised of a sliding plate 522 retained on the base plate 150 by a rear retaining plate 520 and a front retaining plate 524, the flanged retaining plates 520, 524, being fixedly attached to the base plate 150. Holes 582 on retaining plate 520 and through holes 526 and 527 on retaining plate 524 are provided for fastening the two metal flange plates together in alignment with base plate pins 22, the metal slide plate 522 being slidably disposed between the retaining plates 520 and 524.

[0030] Slider plate 522 has a central aperture 592 through which hollow bolt receiver 500 is disposed. Bolt receiver comprises a stud or shank 501 extending from the center of a disk, the shank being internally threaded. The internally threaded bolt receiver 500 has protrusions 563 on the disk that fit in complementary dimples 565 disposed on the slider plate 522 to keep the bolt receiver 500 from being rotated when bolt 502 is threaded into the bolt receiver 500.

[0031] The internally threaded shank 501 of the bolt receiver 500 may also be externally threaded to accommodate optionally internally threaded slider aperture 592. When the bolt receiver 500 is disposed through the slider plate 522 and elongate slot 599 of front retaining plate 524, plates 520 and 524 are secured to the base plate 150 via threaded fasteners S extending through holes 580 and 525, and then engaging threaded bores 66. Additionally, plate 524 has alignment holes 527 that receive alignment pins 23 on base 150.

[0032] A plurality of elbow attachment members 100 extend from an upper rear portion of base plate 150. A plurality of cylindrical attachment members 105 extends from a lower rear portion of base plate 150.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, in yet another non-sliding embodiment, front retaining plate 724 has a central aperture 799 through which bolt receiver 500 may be disposed. The base plate 750 has a base plate central aperture 159b that is aligned with bore 799 of plate 724 to accept the bolt receiver 500.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 8, yet another embodiment of a pegboard attachment adapter, designated as 85, has a substantially unitary slider plate 8500 including a threaded stud 8501 that extends therefrom, the slider plate 8500 fitting inside a U shaped channel defined in elongate base plate 8750 and the stud 8501 being slidable within the extent of an elongate slot 8159 defined in the base plate 8750.

[0035] The rear portion of the slider plate 8500 has sidewalls 8502 that extend perpendicularly away from the central planar portion of the slider plate 8500. When the adapter 85 is attached to pegboard PB, the slider plate sidewalls 8502 constrain movement of the slider plate 8500 along the axis of the stud 8501.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of L-shaped tabs 8100 (in the example shown there are three such members) extend upward from the upper elongate edge of the base plate 8750. Two attachment tabs 8105 extend outward from opposing end portions of the lower elongate edge of base plate 8750.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 10, the interval space between the L-shaped tabs 8100 is dimensioned so that they align properly with holes 6 of pegboard PB. Similarly, the interval space between the outward extending attachment tabs 8105 is dimensioned so that the tabs align properly with holes 6 of pegboard PB.

[0038] As most clearly shown in FIG. 10 the upper L shaped tabs 8100 hook behind the pegboard holes 6 to keep the adapter base plate 8750 from pivoting away from the pegboard PB. The lower outwardly extending attachment tabs 8105 fit in a lower set of pegboard holes 6 to constrain lateral movement of the base plate 8750 while it is attached to the pegboard PB. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the slider plate 8500 can be adjusted within aperture 8159 by aligning the shank 8501 with index markings 8900 on front of the base plate 8750. The slider 85 is then secured in position by placement of washer 505 on shank 8501 and tightly threading nut 510 onto shank 8501. An L shaped tongue 8762 that extends from base plate 8750 further stabilizes attachment of base plate 8750 to pegboard PB by providing more contact surface area with the pegboard PB.

[0039] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A pegboard attachment adapter, comprising: a substantially rigid base plate defining a mounting surface having a plurality of holes defined therein and an opposing rear surface; a plurality of attachment members, each of the attachment members having at least one hooked end adapted for engaging a hole defined in a pegboard, the attachment members being fixed to the rear surface of the base plate; at least one elongated spacer having a first end removably secured within one of the holes defined in the base plate, and having a second end defining a threaded bore; and a mounting screw releasably engaging the bore defined in the spacer, the mounting screw being adapted for attaching an item to be stored on the pegboard to the spacer.

2. A pegboard attachment adapter, comprising: a substantially rigid base plate defining a mounting surface having a plurality of holes defined therein and an opposing rear surface; a plurality of attachment members, each of the attachment members having at least one hooked end adapted for engaging a hole defined in a pegboard, the attachment members being fixed to the rear surface of the base plate; and at least one fastener removably secured within one of the holes defined in the base plate, the fastener being adapted for attaching an item to the base plate.

3. A pegboard attachment adapter, comprising: a substantially rigid base plate defining a mounting surface having an elongate slot defined therein and an opposing rear portion; a plurality of attachment members, each of the attachment members having at least one hooked end adapted for engaging a hole defined in a pegboard, the attachment members being fixed to the rear portion of the base plate; a sliding member, slidably disposed along a rear planar section of the base plate; and at least one fastener secured within the sliding member, the fastener being adapted for attaching an item to the base plate.

4. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, wherein the at least one fastener is removably secured within the sliding member.

5. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hooked end of said attachment member extends from an upper rear portion of the base plate.

6. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, further comprising stabilizing attachment members extending from a lower rear portion of the base plate, said stabilizing attachment members being adapted for engaging holes defined in the pegboard.

7. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, wherein the at least one fastener secured within the sliding member is an elongate threaded stud extending forward from a front planar surface of the sliding member.

8. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, further comprising index markings disposed on the mounting surface of the base plate, said index markings indicating a lateral position along the elongate slot in order to aid precise lateral positioning of the fastener secured within the sliding member.

9. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 3, further comprising an L shaped tongue extending from the base plate, thereby providing more contact surface area with the pegboard when the base plate is attached to said pegboard.

10. The pegboard attachment adapter according to claim 7, further comprising: a washer disposed over the stud; a nut threadably engaging the stud, thereby securing the sliding member to the base plate.