Hanger bracket

Abstract

This invention relates to a hanger bracket structure and, preferably, to a hanger bracket structure adapted for engagement with an apertured panel such as a perforated board. The hanger bracket structure generally comprises a planar back portion provided with means adapted to engage the spaced openings of an apertured board. The back portion is further provided with a forwardly extending hook receiving portion and forwardly extending laterally spaced resilient arms which serve to resiliently center the hook member such that when the hook member is laterally displaced, the resilient arms will return the hook member to the center position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Perforated boards customarily comprise panels of wood, metal or composition material containing apertures or holes uniformly spaced vertically and horizontally. Such perforated boards are eminently suitable for displaying merchandise of all types and, in particular, carded merchandise, due to the choice and variety of hanger arrangements afforded by the spaced apertures formed therein. Although a number of hanger brackets have been designed for use in conjunction with perforated boards, they are either of the type which retain the hook in a fixed position relative to the bracket, or the type which permits the hook to swing freely relative to the bracket. In the former, the hooks, being generally at eye level, pose somewhat of a safety hazard in that a customer may stumble or be bumped against the unyielding hooks and be subject to serious injury. Also, the hooks may be bent or broken.

A two-piece hook and bracket assembly is preferred over integral units because the two-piece arrangement provides greater display flexibility with a minimum of inventory. The same bracket may be used with different length hooks to accommodate different items of merchandise and allows the tiering of displays or the like on the same peg board. Both manufacturer and merchandiser need stock only one type bracket for use with several types or lengths of hooks. The costs, packaging, shipping and inventory costs may thus be reduced. However, in the two-piece assembly, wherein the hook member is detachably received in the hanger bracket, there is no provision for returning the hook when the hook member is laterally displaced. Prospective purchasers searching through racks of merchandise often leave the displays in disarray, thus necessitating time and effort on the part of store personnel to straighten and center the hooks in order to maintain an attractive display of merchanidise. During busy sales periods, store personnel often do not have the time to constantly rearrange the display; hence the display is often disarranged for considerable periods of time which neat, eye-pleasing displays are intended to promote.

Since in a two-piece assembly the hook portion may be easily removed from the body portion, loading the hook portion with carded merchandise or the like is facilitated. In addition, new merchandise may be conveniently loaded at the rear of the hook portion, the more dated merchandise being displayed at the front. Also, the two-piece assembly can be located beneath overhangs and under shelves and the like, which installations are impractical with an integral unit.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a hanger bracket structure wherein a hook member, removably received in the bracket, will be automatically returned to its center position whenever the hook member is laterally displaced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hanger bracket structure which reduces somewhat the extent of injury should a person's eye happen to accidentally contact the hook member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objects and others which will become apparent from the following detailed description are accomplished in accordance with the invention, which is illustrated, but by no means is it intended that it be limited, by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a preferred hanger bracket of the invention with an associated hook member fitted with a resilient tip portion shown in position on a perforated board.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the hanger bracket assembly of FIG. 1, with an associated hook member.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hanger bracket assembly of FIG. 2 with the hook member omitted for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the hanger bracket assembly of FIG. 2 with the hook member omitted for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the hanger bracket of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the hanger bracket of FIG. 5 shown positioned on a perforated board.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the hanger bracket of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the hanger bracket of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the hanger bracket of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein a hanger bracket generally designated at 10 with an associated hook member 11 is shown mounted on a perforated board 12. The hook member 11, preferably formed from metal rod, comprises a shank portion 13 and a downwardly depending end 14. The tip of the hook member is preferably fitted with a resilient plastic sleeve 33 comprising a flexible or universal portion 15 and having a bulbous enlargement 16 at its extremity. The resilient sleeve 33 serves to minimize the extent of eye damage should a person's eye accidentally contact the hook member.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the hanger bracket 10 comprises a substantially planar back portion 17. Mounted on the rear surface 18 of the back portion 17 are a pair of rearwardly and upwardly extending lugs 19 so spaced as to engage a corresponding pair of apertures 20 in the perforated board 12.

A hook receiving portion 21 extends forwardly from the front surface 22 of the back portion 17, the hook receiving portion 21 having a substantially vertically extending aperture 23 formed therein adapted to receive the downwardly depending end 14 of the hook member 11. The hook member 11 shown in FIG. 2 may have a plain tip or a bulbous enlargement 32, which bulbous enlargement serves to retain the merchandise on the hook member.

Extending forwardly from the front surface 22 of the back portion 17 are a pair of laterally spaced apart arms 24, said arms 24 preferably extending beyond the plane of the hook receiving portion 21 and the opposing ends 34 of arms 24 adapted so as to resiliently engage the opposite sides of the shank portion 13 of the hook member 11 when the downwardly depending end 14 of the hook member 11 is inserted in the aperture 23 of the hook receiving portion 21. The arms 24 thereby center the hook member 11 in relation to the hanger bracket 10 and further function so as to return the hook member 11 to the centered position whenever the hook member 11 is laterally displaced. The opposing ends 34 of each arm 24 are tapered from bottom to top as shown in FIG. 4 which serve to lock the hook member 11 in place, to prevent the hook member from becoming accidentally disengaged from the bracket portion.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a further modification of the invention wherein the bracket 25 is provided with a pair of studs 26, in addition to a pair of lugs 27. Both the studs 26 and the lugs 27 being adapted to engage the spaced perforations 20 on a perforated board 12. The remaining sections of the bracket being identical with those described hereinabove.

FIG. 7 depicts a variation of the hanger bracket of FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein a hanger bracket 29 is provided with only one lug 30 and one stud 31.

Of course, one need not employ the hanger bracket of the invention in conjunction with a perforated board, particularly in those instances where a more permanent fixture is desired. In this latter instance, the hanger bracket may be secured to a wall or the like by mounting screws or by adhesive means. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the hanger bracket 28 is provided with neither lugs not studs, the remaining portions of the bracket being identical with those described hereinabove. If desired, screw or nail receiving holes (not shown) may be provided in the planar portion of the bracket 28 or an adhesive backing may be provided.

FIG. 9 depicts yet another variation whereby the hanger bracket may be mounted, wherein the bracket 36 is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending member 35 which extends laterally substantially the width of the planar portion, and defining a generally U-shaped channel whereby the bracket may be clipped to the top edge of a display board or the like.

Irrespective of the mounting means employed, it is to be appreciated that the crux of the invention resides in the provision of the forwardly extending resilient arms which maintain the detachable hook member in a centered position relative to the bracket member and return the hook member to the centered position whenever the same is laterally displaced.

Both the bracket and hook member may be fabricated from any suitable material, however, it is preferred that the bracket be molded from a suitable resilient plastic material, such as for example, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, and the like, and the hook member made of metal.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a hanger bracket for use in conjunction with a hook member, said hook member having a downwardly depending portion and a shank portion, said hanger bracket having a substantially planar back portion and having a hook receiving portion formed integrally with and extending forwardly of said back portion, said hook receiving portion containing a substantially vertically extending aperture adapted to receive the downwardly extending portion of the hook member, the improvement comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced, arcuately shaped, resilient arms, integrally formed with and extending forwardly of said back portion and beyond said hook receiving portion, the end portions of said arms terminating in opposed spaced relationship to center the hook member in relation to the hanger bracket to return the hook member to said center position whenever the hook member is laterally displaced.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the opposed ends of said arms are tapered from bottom to top to restrain horizontally upward movement of said hook member.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said back portion is provided with integrally formed means adapted to engage the perforations of a perforated board.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said perforation engaging means comprise a pair of spaced rearwardly and upwardly extending lugs.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said back portion is provided with an integrally formed rearwardly and downwardly extending clip member extending laterally substantially the width of the back portion.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the hanger bracket is molded from a resilient plastic material.