Modular storage system

Abstract

Modular concept and system for receiving, handling, storing, transferring and distributing materials more efficiently in establishments concerned with careful control of numerous manually handled small items. Basic structural components include an interconnecting unit which coacts with a slotted upright support to provide self-seating, self-stabilizing suspension of material carrying modules without manipulation of component parts. These components coordinate all functions of material distribution such as receipt, static storage and transfer; all apparatus used such as storage/retrieval apparatus, transfer and storage vehicles, and individual selector vehicles; and, all procedures at work station, dispensing station, and other end use areas.

Description

This invention relates to a modular system for use in the handling and transfer of materials from storage/retrieval areas, to work areas, to use areas, to post-use disposal or treatment areas, to supply areas and back to storage/retrieval areas for re-use.

Part of the inventive concept resides in the analysis of procedures in establishments such as hospitals and development of basic methods for improving economy and efficiency of such procedures. Container modules developed for receiving, carrying, storing, distributing, returning, and post-use disposal of the numerous items which must be carefully handled are an elemental part of the embodiment of the concept. Also basic to the concept is the system devised for ease of support, transfer, storage, and use of such container modules.

Important aspects of the inventive concept include an interconnecting support arrangement for easy-access support and removal of suspendible articles such as container modules or cabinets on an upright support and a coordinated storage, retrieval, and handling system for such articles.

In the inventive system a unique support structure cohesively interrelates components used for storage, retrieval, and handling of materials in a hospital, or like institution. A novel interconnecting unit coacts with such support structure to provide stable, cantilever-suspended support of such components without requiring manipulation of any securing or fastening means in any stage of such operations.

One representative embodiment of the invention is a modern modular system providing for easy handling, speed, convenience, and economy in distributing the numerous materials which must be carefully handled in providing personal services such as patient care.

The coordinated modular system of the present invention provides standard component parts for storage and retrieval areas, for mobile carriers, for transfer and work stations, and for ultimate use locations, e.g. in patient care areas. Handling of modular components is standardized yet flexible enough to adapt to changing needs at any use area of the installation. Support of such components during storage, transfer, or treatment is dependable during and between any of these functions.

In this modular system an upright support coacts with an interconnecting unit forming part of a module to be supported. The upright support and interconnecting unit provide stabilized secure positioning through a unique cantilever arrangement which relies only on gravity while precluding the danger of inadvertent dislodgment from the support or lateral tilting of the module. Further such advantages are obtained while maintaining ease of access to and removal of a module from the system. A further distinct advantage is that such access and removal can take place with the container module in a level position, i.e. without need for tilting.

This novel upright support of the invention can be mounted on a wall, form part of a rotatable storage/retrieval rack, can be mounted on mobile carriers, in elevators, at work stations, or located at any use areas as dictated by needs, and can also be pole mounted.

To describe more specifically aspects of the inventive system, the accompanying drawings depict embodiments in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage'retrieval area forming part of the system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile storage unit at a work station forming part of the system embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of wall mounted upright support means and supported articles forming part of the system embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of interconnecting means embodying the invention;

FIGS. 5-7 are perspective rear views of cabinets or container modules, such as those of FIG. 3, showing the location of interconnecting means on such articles;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a novel container module with unitary interconnecting means;

FIG. 9 is a front view of an upright support means embodying the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view in section taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line 11--11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a partial view in section showing the interaction of the interconnecting means and upright support means taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a partial rear view of the interconnecting and support arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial view in section showing a stacking feature for a container module of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view in elevation of a pole mounted upright support arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 17 is a front view in elevation of a pole mounted arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a combination frame means and upright support arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mobile carrier embodying the invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a mobile carrier with overhead support rail embodying the invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a cart embodying the invention, and

FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective partial view of a continuous conveyor rotary storage/retrieval unit and upright support arrangement embodying the invention.

Two important areas for modular handling in a hospital are a storage/retrieval area (FIG. 1) and a work station area (FIG. 2). These perspective views embody major portions of the invention and the concept of its unique modular system. At the storage/retrieval area of FIG. 1, a mobile carrier 30 for delivery of modules about a hospital is loaded and/or unloaded at a continuous-conveyor type rotary storage-retrieval apparatus 32. The upright support means of the invention, both with and without container modules, are shown in the transfer cart and rotary storage-retrieval unit.

In the FIG. 2 environment, such upright supports on transfer/storage vehicle 34 and work station 36 support standardized container modules which embody the invention.

FIG. 3 also presents a general arrangement view of a wall mounted array of modules. Upright supports 41, 42 and 43 are mounted on wall 44 supporting vertically elongated cabinet 45, horizontally elongated cabinet 46, drawer cabinet 47, and container module 48. Each of the supported articles 45-48 is mounted on one or more of the upright supports by one or more interconnecting units of a type shown in detail in FIG. 4.

Interconnecting unit 50 of FIG. 4 includes a rigid base portion 51 with interface surface 52. Projecting from interface surface 52 is a horizontally elongated hanger bar 53 having a downwardly depending lip 54 in spaced relationship from surface 52. Load-bearing surface 55 is between surface 52 and lip 54.

Stabilizing means which coact with the elongated hanger bar 53 in providing lateral stability are spaced below that element. Preferably a pair of stabilizing projections 56, 57 are provided; they extend from surface 52 in the same direction as hanger 53. The stabilizing projections 56 and 57 have respective confronting faces 58 and 59 which diverge relative to each other in projecting from surface 52. The coaction of hanger bar 53 and spaced projections 56, 57 contributes to both the ease of handling and the stability characteristics of the invention without requiring manipulative fastening means.

The stabilizing projections 56 and 57 extend downwardly below a bottom edge 60 of base 51. This provides an inverted U-shaped recess 61 in the bottom edge of each of the stabilizing projections which is utilized in stacking container modules.

The confronting surfaces 58, 59 of the stabilizing projections are spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the hanger bar 53. The spacing between these confronting surfaces, at a location contiguous to surface 52, is essentially the same as the distance between side walls of the upright support means on which container modules are supported. These confronting faces diverge so as to guide a module, when suspended, to a centralized position on an upright support. By dimensioning the elongated hanger bar such that its length, contiguous to surface 52, approximates the distance between the side edges of slot openings in an upright support shifting of the hanger bar within the opening is prevented. In addition, the engagement of the confronting surfaces 58, 59 with sidewalls of the upright support prevents shifting or tilting of the supported article.

For stable suspension of the vertically elongated cabinet 45 of FIG. 5 on an upright support, two interconnecting units 63, 64 are secured to rear wall 65 of the cabinet. Interconnecting units as shown in FIG. 4 can be unitary with an article, or can be cemented or otherwise bonded to a rear wall of an article to be supported; such interconnecting units can be formed from plastic material or fabricated from metal sheet material of suitable gage.

For hanging cabinet 47 on an upright support, a single interconnecting unit 66 is used on rear wall 67 of the cabinet.

As shown in FIG. 7, horizontally elongated cabinet 46 utilizes two interconnecting units 68, 69 secured to or unitary with rear wall 70, in horizontally spaced relationship. The spacing between the vertical center lines of interconnecting units 68, 69 equals the spacing between the vertical center lines of supports 42 and 43 of FIG. 3 to provide for horizontal, stable mounting of cabinet 46 on such upright supports.

Handling ease is one of the important benefits of the modular system of the present invention. This aspect is exemplified by the container module of FIG. 8. Container module 48 embodies a unitary interconnecting unit. For this unitary construction the container module 48 is molded with its rear wall 75 presenting coacting elements of the interconnecting means. The arrangement of elements is functionally identical to that of FIG. 4. However the base surface for this unitary interconnecting unit is the surface of a pair of ribs 76 and 77 which project slightly rearwardly from rear wall 75 of container module 48 and provide a bearing surface for contact with an upright support. These hold the container module in a disposition such that the interior floor of the container module has a downwardly inclined slope of about 21/2.degree. in approaching the rear wall. This maintains materials in the container module during movement, e.g. about a rotary storage/retrieval unit. Bearing surfaces 76, 77 also space container modules, when in opposed relationship on back-to-back upright supports, to prevent contact between stabilizing projections of the opposed modules. Applicant's copending application entitled "Enclosure Structure for Modular System", filed Aug. 7, 1972, Ser. No. 278,362, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,528, describes specifics of a container module for use in the present system.

Details of an upright support, such as the wall mounted support 41 from FIG. 3, are shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. An upright support of the present invention is advantageously fabricated from a single sheet of material, typically sheet metal. Upright support 41 has a front, or "interface", wall 80. Connected to front wall 80 at corner junctions 82 and 83 (FIG. 11) are sidewalls 84 and 85, respectively.

Top wall 86 (FIG. 10) is connected to front wall 80 at juncture 87. Hook means for bracket mounting of the upper end of support 41 depend from such top wall. For maximum stability, the hook means extend across the full width of support 41. The hook means depends downwardly from juncture 88 and comprises rear wall portion 89 and rounded juncture 90. The latter juncture is formed by bending the rear wall inwardly toward front wall 80 and then upwardly through an angle greater than 90.degree.. Interfitting this hook structure as shown with bracket leg 91 provides secure attachment of the upper end of an upright support to a wall. Bracket 92 is secured to wall 44 by wall lugs such as 94.

The peripheral walls of the upright support, i.e. top wall 86 and sidewalls 84, 85, are each of the same depth so that the rear edges of the sidewalls and the rear face of back wall 89 engage wall 44 to lend stability to the mounting. A securing means is applied through aperture 98 (FIG. 9) for the purpose of preventing swinging movement.

Bracket 92 is horizontally elongated to provide an extended bearing surface at least equal to the width of the juncture 90; and it can be of extended length, e.g. circumscribing a room, for hanging a plurality of upright supports in predeterminedly spaced relationship. The lower end of upright support 41 need only be stabilized against swinging by inserting a suitable fastening means through opening 93 (FIG. 9). The installation ease provided by this structure is an important contribution of the invention and can be used for other installations, e.g. pole mountings.

A plurality of slots 95-103 (FIG. 9) are formed in front wall 80. Each such opening is horizontally elongated, vertically aligned, and predeterminedly spaced from each other by the same distance. This spacing is preferred and part of the teachings of the standardized modular system being described. Other spacing arrangements can be utilized.

Referring to slot 98 of FIG. 9, each such opening has spaced apart side edges 104 and 105, a top edge 106 and a bottom edge 107. The openings are generally rectangular in configuration and the side edges 104 and 105 are spaced the same distance from the respective sidewalls 84 and 85 for centralized mounting of articles on an upright support.

The bottom edge 107 of each opening is defined by a horizontal ledge 108 (FIG. 10) joined to front wall 80 at bend 110. A downwardly depending lip 112 extends from the horizontal ledge 108 at juncture 114. Horizontal ledge 108 provides an extended surface of stable load support. These elements of an upright support are advantageously formed by fabricating a single sheet of metal providing a unitary structure.

The interaction of hanger bar 116 with upright support 41 provides suspension-support of a container module as shown in FIG. 12. Flange 118 of the hanger bar 116 extends behind the leg 120 depending from horizontal ledge 122. The downwardly facing surface 124 of the hanger bar, between the flange and base surface, comes to rest on the top surface of the horizontal ledge 122 to support container module 48. Note however that surface 126, between flange 118 and horizontal surface 124, slopes downwardly away from surface 124. This sloping surface 126 facilitates easy mounting of an article on a support since the hanger 116 can merely be inserted through an opening until the bottom of the flange 118 just clears the rear edge of horizontal ledge 122 formed at bend 128. From there on, the weight of the article being suspended causes surface 110 to ride against bend 128 and pull the module rearwardly.

The rear elevational view of FIG. 13 shows the manner in which the hanger bar 116 and the stabilizing projections 132 and 134 cooperated with the upright support to provide stable suspension. Hanger 116 carries the weight of the container unit, cabinet, or other article, and projections 132, 134 prevent tilting or twisting of such modules. An easy-access, suspended, stable support is provided without manipulating fasteners. The article can be readily removed by lifting slightly and movement away from the upright support. Note that such movement can be solely in a horizontal plane and that no tilting of the container module is required for either suspension or removal.

Note also in FIG. 13 that the confronting diverging surfaces 136 and 138 of the respective stabilizing projections are spaced apart at their outer ends a greater distance than at their ends contiguous to the base surface of the interconnecting unit. At the juncture of the stabilizing projections with the base surface of the interconnecting unit, the distance between the confronting-diverging surfaces 136, 138 is substantially exactly the same as the distance between the outside surfaces of support side walls 84 and 85. These surfaces 136 and 138 therefore act to prevent any lateral movement, tilting or dislodgement of the article due to lateral forces or off center forces applied to the top of the article being supported. They also provide a self-seating feature resulting from the described divergence.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, hanger bar 116 has a length which, at its outer extremity is less than the distance between the side edges of the opening. The side ends 140 and 142 of the hanger bar 116 are generally planar and vertical but converge slightly toward each other in projecting from the base means which facilitates insertion into a slot means.

Contiguous to the base surface, side ends 140, 142 are spaced so as to contact the slot side edges to help provide lateral stability. By these measures, combining the hanger bar and stabilizing projection features described, an article equipped with the interconnecting unit of the present invention is readily suspended and secured in stable position by its own weight. Four stability points prevent lateral shifting of the container on the support, two of these points are formed by the confronting surfaces 136, 138 of the stabilizing projections contacting respective sidewalls 84, 85 and two additional points are formed by the end surfaces 140 and 142 of the hanger bar 116 contacting the respective side edges 144, 146 slot opening 148.

FIG. 15 highlights another contribution of the interconnecting unit. Recess 149 in the bottom of each stabilizing projection provides for stable stacking of a plurality of the container modules when free of an upright support. Tapering top edge 150 of a lower container module extends into the recess 148 of the stabilizing projections. Conforming configurations of rim 150 and recess 148 facilitate easy stacking as well as providing stability.

Adaptability of the coacting interconnecting unit and upright support to various locations is an important contribution of the present invention. Pole mounting of an upright support or supports is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The poles can be rigidly mounted, or spring loaded, between the ceiling and floor. The slotted upright supports can be mounted singly with a back surface cover or, as shown in FIG. 16, a pair of the upright supports can be mounted in back to back relationship to receive container modules from opposite sides of the mounting. A pair of poles 152, 154, as best seen in FIG. 17, are secured together in spaced relation by a hanger bracket 156. The latter is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the respective poles.

In FIG. 16 hanger brackets 158, 160 are secured to each side of the poles for back to back mounting of upright supports. These hanger brackets receive a rear wall ledge of an upright support in the manner described in relation to FIG. 10. The lower end of each upright support is secured to the spaced poles, e.g. by bolts 162, 163 as shown in FIG. 17. This attachment and the fixed hanger bracket or brackets secured to the poles above function to maintain the poles in properly spaced relationship. Such pole mounting can be utilized in storage areas, work areas, patient's rooms, elevators, and the like.

Considering again the structures of FIGS. 5 and 9, it should be understood that the spacing between the hanger bars of interconnecting units at the rear of cabinet 45, or similar elongated articles, will be the same as the spacing between selected openings of upright support 41. For example, openings 97 and 101 can be used to provide stable mounting for vertically elongated cabinet 45.

To facilitate mounting large cabinets of the type shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, lift openings, such as the openings 164 and 166, shown on the cabinets of FIGS. 5 and 7, respectively, are provided. These openings provide for either hand lifting the cabinets, or alternatively, with heavy articles, provide a recess for the insertion of a lifting hook of a suitable lifting mechanism. Considering the container module of FIG. 8, handgrips, such as 168, are provided on each side to facilitate lifting, mounting, and removal of the container module, as well as to provide access when such modules are in stacked relationship.

An important component of the modular system of the present invention is the frame structure with upright supports of FIG. 18. In this embodiment, two upright supports 170, 171 are secured to frame means 174. Upright supports 170, 171 are predeterminedly spaced to accommodate two rows of container modules in side-by-side relationship. The frame structure, with varying numbers of upright supports, can be used with various portable or fixed units. The upright supports and frame structure individually and in combination are fabricated to avoid any pockets for collection of water during washing, e.g. upright supports 170, 171 are channel-shaped in cross section and are open from top to bottom, even when a cover plate is added to the open side of the channel. The channel members are secured to upright legs, such as 174, 175 leaving the channel open vertically.

The frame structure of FIG. 18 is secured to the unique conveyance structure of FIG. 19 forming part of the modular system of the invention. Mobile carrier 178 provides full-open side access for addition or removal of container modules. The chassis for carrier 178 is, preferably, a metal tubular structure and substantially symmetrical in configuration so that elements are interchangeable.

Viewed in side elevation the chassis has a substantially U-shaped configuration. Viewed from leading or trailing ends, the movable carrier chassis presents an inverted U-shaped configuration.

The tubular structure of the chassis is continuous and can be made of like configuration elements which are joined together telescopically or otherwise secured. Upper portions of the leading and trailing ends include transverse members 180 and 181. From the lateral ends of these transverse members, the tubular structure is formed into handle means 182, 183, 184, and 185. These handle means have a predetermined angular relationship to the transverse members. An angled relationship of 15.degree. from the vertical for such handle means has been determined to best facilitate movement and manipulation of the carrier while materially reducing wrist fatigue for the operator.

From these angled handle means, downwardly depending leg members 186, 187, and 188 extend substantially vertically to meet with horizontally extending members 190 and 191 along the lower extremity of the chassis.

The maximum width of the movable carrier is determined by the lower extremity of the handle means from which the legs 186, 187, and 188 depend. Bumper pads 192, 193, and 194 are secured to these downwardly depending legs below the handle means.

Substantially identical brace plates located at the leading and trailing ends and along the lower portion of the chassis add stability. These include brace plates 196 and 197 at the leading and trailing ends and brace plates 198 and 199 along the lower portion of the movable carrier. These brace plates are substantially rectangular in configuration with planar surfaces confronting the interior of the carrier.

The brace plates can be interchangeable and are secured to the tubular structure by bolting or other securing means. Welded-on brace members can be substituted for selected brace plates and this practice is especially suitable for bottom brace members 198, 199 for supporting casters. The frame means 200 for upright supports 201, 202 is secured to the brace plates at the leading and trailing ends of the chassis of the movable carrier and to brace members along the bottom surface. The framed upright support structure is positioned contiguous to one lateral side of the mobile carrier for carrying container modules on one surface only.

In the mobile storage unit of the present invention, which is ordinarily used in work areas where passage through narrow doorways is not required, the frame means can be centrally located longitudinally to permit carrying container modules on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the carrier on upright supports mounted back-to-back within the frame means 174. Side overhang of modules can be acceptable with such storage units.

Caster means are secured to the lower portion of the movable carrier and ordinarily the movable carrier 178 is moved manually along a floor surface. However, the present system concept includes an addition to such a carrier to be used when the entire carrier is to be lifted and conveyed from overhead. Overhead lift bar 201 is supported by and connected through side members 202, 203 to brace plates along the leading and trailing ends and along the bottom of the mobile carrier as shown in FIG. 20. The lift bar is centrally located longitudinally to approximate the center of gravity of the structure with any tilting of the carrier upon lifting being due to the frame means 200. Any such tilting would tend to maintain materials within the container modules.

A cart for selection and conveyance of two or three container modules is shown in FIG. 21. The chassis of this smaller cart is tubular and, in side view, has a generally L-shaped configuration. An upper transverse member 210 meets with angled handle means 211, 212 which join downwardly depending members 213, 214. Such handle means are angled laterally and rearwardly as shown. Brace plate 215 is joined to the chassis by connector means 216 through 219. Joined to this brace plate means is the upright support 220 with slotted apertures 222 and 224. At the upper end of upright support 220 cutaway portion 226 permits addition of a third container module in stacked relationship to the module carried by slotted aperture 222. Cover means 227 for the lower leg portion 228 of the selector cart includes nylon bumper pads along leading and side edges. Casters are provided for the selector cart.

An added benefit of the modular handling system of the present invention stems from adaptation of the upright supports to continuous-conveyor types of structures. In rotary storage-retrieval means 230 of FIG. 22 upright supports 231 and 232 are connected to a continuous conveyor system 234. At the lower end of upright supports 231, 232, guide wheel support legs 235, 236, 237, and 238 extend outwardly from such supports. These leg support guide wheels shown for guiding the lower end of such supports around guide track 242.

At the upper end the upright supports are caster connected to continuous rail 250. Angle members such as 252 over upright support 232 are substantially the same width as a container module and provide protective shielding to prevent foreign matter from falling in the modules. An angle member ordinarily positioned over upright support 231 is not shown for purposes of better view of the structure. The upper ends of upright supports are secured to continuous conveyor links. As shown, upright support 231 is connected to link 234 by legs 236, 238. The links of the continuous conveyor are pivotally connected together.

The interconnecting unit of FIG. 4 and the container module of FIG. 11 can be formed from a thermoplastic material by known molding or casting techniques. High strength plastic materials such as high density polyethylene, high-impact polystyrene, polypropylene, or similar structural plastics are suitable. NORYL type structural foams available from General Electric Company, Selkirk, N.Y., such as FN 215 and SE 100 have desirable molding properties, with NORYL FN 215 being preferred for fire safety reasons.

The upright supports described can be fabricated from sheet metal of suitable gage, e.g. 18 gage aluminum sheet. The tubular structure of the carrier chassis and the brace plates are preferably fabricated from metal. Suitable materials for the various components will be within the skill of the art based on the present disclosure. Also changes or additions to structural details can be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed. Therefore the scope of the present invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, support structure means and interconnecting unit means,

the support structure means comprising

elongated vertically-oriented support means presenting a substantially vertical frontal interface with a substantially vertical sidewall extending rearwardly from each lateral edge of the frontal interface,

the frontal interface defining a plurality of elongated slots extending in a direction across such interface between its lateral edges and predeterminedly spaced longitudinally along such support means,

horizontally-oriented load support means located at each such slot, and

means for maintaining such elongated support means in an upright position,

the interconnecting unit means comprising

rigid base means with elongated hanger means and stabilizing means projecting in the same direction from the rigid base means,

the elongated hanger means and stabilizing means being positioned in predetermined fixed relationship on such base means with the hanger means horizontally-oriented at a location upwardly spaced from the stabilizing means when the base means is in an upright position,

the elongated hanger means having a longitudinal dimension at a location contiguous to the rigid base means approximately equal to the longitudinal dimension of the elongated slot means, and

the elements of the interconnecting unit, when in an upright position, coacting with such support structure means to removably position and stabilize the interconnecting unit on the upright support structure with the elongated hanger means inserted into the elongated slot means and suspended cantilever fashion on the horizontally extending load support ledge means with lateral contact surfaces of the stabilizing means contacting lateral surfaces in angled relationship to the frontal interface of the support structure means to provide lateral stability.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which

the stabilizing means comprises a pair of stabilizers,

with each of the stabilizers being positioned along a horizontal plane and symmetrically disposed with relation to the elongated hanger means,

the width dimension between exterior surfaces of the lateral sidewalls of the elongated support means being substantially equal to the distance along the horizontal plane between the lateral contact surfaces of the pair of stabilizers at a location contiguous to the rigid base means with each of the stabilizers contacting a lateral sidewall.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the elongated hanger means comprises

a continuous hanger bar including a flange means spaced from the base means by a horizontally-oriented load carrying surface, such flange means depending in the direction of the stabilizing means.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which continuous hanger bar flange means includes a surface confronting the base means, which surface is in angled relation to the horizontally-oriented load carrying surface and slopes downwardly from the load carrying surface in a direction away from the base means.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which the continuous hanger bar has lateral end faces of substantially planar configuration, such lateral end faces converging toward each other in extending rearwardly from the base means to provide a shorter longitudinal dimension for the continuous hanger bar at a location spaced from the rigid base means than the longitudinal dimension of the continuous hanger bar at the location continguous to the rigid base means.

6. The structure of claim 2 in which the lateral contact surfaces of the pair of stabilizers projecting from the rigid base means comprise confronting faces which diverge from each other in projecting outwardly away from the rigid base means.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which the means for maintaining such elongated support means in an upright position comprises

hanger means located contiguous to one longitudinal end of the elongated support means,

such hanger means being unitary with the elongated support means and depending from a rear wall of the elongated support means.

8. The structure of claim 1 in combination with

pole mounting means, and

bracket means for securing the elongated support means to the pole mounting means.

9. The structure of claim 1 in which the support means further includes

cover means extending between rearward edges of the lateral side walls.

10. The structure of claim 1 including a plurality of support means positioned in back-to-back relationship presenting horizontally-oriented slots on opposed external surfaces of such combined support means.