GB1595578A

GB1595578A - Element support assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1595578A
Application number: GB5047376A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hyman L S
Current assignee: Hyman L S
Priority date: 1976-12-03
Filing date: 1976-12-03
Publication date: 1981-08-12

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ELEMENT SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES (71) 1, LAURENCE SAMUAL HYMAN, of 13 St. Micheal's Terrace, Wood Green, London, N 22, of British Nationality, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to article support assemblies and is more particularly concerned with tool racks.

Broadly according to the present invention there is provided an article support assembly including a channel element adapted for mounting upon a wall or other support surface such that the channel mouth opens upwardly, the channel being arranged to receive as a push or resilient fit a tongue or leg member provided on an article receiving element having a support platform adapted to receive and positionaly locate any article supported thereby, the plane of said support platform being so inclined to the tonge or leg member that on engagement of the tongue or leg member with the channel the support platform is inclined upwardly.

Conveniently, the channel element is sufficiently long enough as to be able to accept two or more of the article receiving parts or to accept such parts in more than one position.

In a preferred construction the article receiving part platform is provided with at least one article receiving and locating tapered slot and the plane of the platform is so inclined with respect to the tongue or leg that on engagement of the tongue or leg in the support channel the narrower part of the slot is lower than the wider parts of the slot.

With this arrangement the articles engaged in the slot tend to move towards the apex of the slot to such location that the articles engage with the side edges of the slot.

Conveniently, the article receiving part can be of elongate form in that the platform is provided with a plurality of the slots and in that two or more of said tongues or legs are provided at convenient locations along the length of the part.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a channel element which is intended to be mounted on a support surface, Figure 2 is an isometric view of an article receiving part of an assembly of the invention Figure 3 illustrates the part of Figure 2 when mounted in the channel element of Figure 1, Figures 4 and 5 each illustrate modified forms of the article receiving part of the assembly of the invention, Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the assembly of the invention, and Figure 7 is an isometric view of a further modification of an article receiving part.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 a support element 1 includes a narrow U-shaped channel .element having side walls 2 and 3.

Conveniently the wall 2 is longer than the wall 3 so that the wall 2 can be utilised for mounting the element upon a support surface such as a wall. The leg 2 can be apertured to receive screws or the like.

Alternatively, the walls 2 and 3 could be of the same length and the wall 2 provided with apertured mounting lugs (not shown).

The channel member is intended to receive as a push rit the tongue or leg 4 of an article receiving part 5. The part 5 has an article receiving plate or platform 6. A Vee or otherwise tapered slot 7 is provided in the platform 6. The plane of the platform is inclined to the tongue or leg 4 so that when the leg is arranged substantially vertical the platform is inclined at an angle of 500 to 700 to the vertical.

Figure 3 shows the leg 4 of the part 5 engaged in the U-shaped channel member 1, which latter is in turn mounted upon a support wall or other support surface schematically shown at 8 in Figure 3. A tool 9 is schematically indicated in the Figure 3.

If desired, the channel member can be long enough to accept the part 5 in a variety of positions or to be able to accept a plutality of individual parts 5.

The parts can all be of the same size or differently sized in respect of the platforms.

If desired each part 5 can be provided with more than one Vee shaped slot 7. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 4.

In addition, the Figure 4 illustrates a further modification involving apertures 10 which as shown in the Figure are of a triangular shape. If desired, the apertures could be of shapes other than triangular, for example circular.

The slots 7 form a line of slots separated by a series of tooth like parts terminating in a short front edge 11, and having side edges 12. The apertures 10 are intended to receive one handle of a double handled article or tool such as those operating with a scissors action. In practice all of the edges 11 will lie along a common line which is intended to be horizontal when the part 5 is engaged in the channel member 1.

In a further variation the parts 5 could be provided with two or more tongues or legs 4.

Such a variation is shown in Figure 5. The arrangement of Figure 5 can be used with a correspondingly dimensioned channel member or in conjunction with suitably spaced shorter elements which do not extend for the full length of an article receiving part 5.

It will be understood that in using the various constructions described above the combined effect of the inward and downward tapering of the slots 7 will cause any article engaged in the slots to tend to move to a location in the slot in which it is engaged in which engages with the side edges 12 of the slot.

It will be seen from the Figures that the formation of the slots provides for an easy entry of a tool or other article into the engaged position, and furthermore because of the Vee shaping of the slots a relatively wide range of individual sizes of tool or other article can be engaged in any of the slots.

With a view to facilitating the use of the arrangements of the invention with a wide range of differently sized articles or tools the arrangements of the present invention can be made in a variety of sizes which are chosen so as to provide a graded range of dimensional possibilities.

To provide for such a range the various dimensions and angles which have been identified in the various Figures so far considered and in the remaining Figures can be as set out in the Table provided at the end of this specification. It will be understood that the numerical values given in the Table are by way of example only.

The above described embodiments including the circular or triangular apertures are particularly suitable for supporting tools which are bifurcated or forked and which may operate with a scissors-like action. Such tools include for example, scissors, pliers, pincers, and shears. As is shown in Figure 5 the mounting of such bifurcated articles can be facilitated by providing each tooth formed between the adjacent pairs of slots 7 with a shorter vee slot 13 for locating the position of the other handle of the tool.

Referring now to Figure 6 this shows a spring attachment 15 adapted for engagement with the apex of the slots thereby to provide an element for supporting the bottom or some other region of an article or tool supported in the slot or in an adjacent slot. The attachment is conveniently formed from a springable material and has a clip 16 at the end that engages the slot 7. The other end thereof is conveniently deformed to a hook shape as shown at 17.

Figure 7 illustrates a variation in which the tongue or leg 4 is folded upwards to provide a first portion 18 and then downwards to provide a second portion 19.

The resulting arrangement is such that the portion 19 serves as the part that engages with the channel.

In additional variations of the channel the walls 2 and 3 or one of the walls can be provided with inwardly directed pips or given a crinkled surface. These pips or crinkles can aid in the gripping of the article receiving parts.

TABLE Dimension Range Typical Value a t" to 2" 1+" b i" to 2" c 0 to i d 1" to + e 2" upwards 10D f + to 2" g I 1,, h - 1" 12" to 48" 24" l"to2" 1+" k +"to l+" 1" I 1" to 2" 1+" A 50" to 70" 60 B 45" to 500 450 It will be understood that the values given in the above table are by way of example only.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An article support assembly including a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. which latter is in turn mounted upon a support wall or other support surface schematically shown at 8 in Figure 3. A tool 9 is schematically indicated in the Figure 3. If desired, the channel member can be long enough to accept the part 5 in a variety of positions or to be able to accept a plutality of individual parts 5. The parts can all be of the same size or differently sized in respect of the platforms. If desired each part 5 can be provided with more than one Vee shaped slot 7. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 4. In addition, the Figure 4 illustrates a further modification involving apertures 10 which as shown in the Figure are of a triangular shape. If desired, the apertures could be of shapes other than triangular, for example circular. The slots 7 form a line of slots separated by a series of tooth like parts terminating in a short front edge 11, and having side edges 12. The apertures 10 are intended to receive one handle of a double handled article or tool such as those operating with a scissors action. In practice all of the edges 11 will lie along a common line which is intended to be horizontal when the part 5 is engaged in the channel member 1. In a further variation the parts 5 could be provided with two or more tongues or legs 4. Such a variation is shown in Figure 5. The arrangement of Figure 5 can be used with a correspondingly dimensioned channel member or in conjunction with suitably spaced shorter elements which do not extend for the full length of an article receiving part 5. It will be understood that in using the various constructions described above the combined effect of the inward and downward tapering of the slots 7 will cause any article engaged in the slots to tend to move to a location in the slot in which it is engaged in which engages with the side edges 12 of the slot. It will be seen from the Figures that the formation of the slots provides for an easy entry of a tool or other article into the engaged position, and furthermore because of the Vee shaping of the slots a relatively wide range of individual sizes of tool or other article can be engaged in any of the slots. With a view to facilitating the use of the arrangements of the invention with a wide range of differently sized articles or tools the arrangements of the present invention can be made in a variety of sizes which are chosen so as to provide a graded range of dimensional possibilities. To provide for such a range the various dimensions and angles which have been identified in the various Figures so far considered and in the remaining Figures can be as set out in the Table provided at the end of this specification. It will be understood that the numerical values given in the Table are by way of example only. The above described embodiments including the circular or triangular apertures are particularly suitable for supporting tools which are bifurcated or forked and which may operate with a scissors-like action. Such tools include for example, scissors, pliers, pincers, and shears. As is shown in Figure 5 the mounting of such bifurcated articles can be facilitated by providing each tooth formed between the adjacent pairs of slots 7 with a shorter vee slot 13 for locating the position of the other handle of the tool. Referring now to Figure 6 this shows a spring attachment 15 adapted for engagement with the apex of the slots thereby to provide an element for supporting the bottom or some other region of an article or tool supported in the slot or in an adjacent slot. The attachment is conveniently formed from a springable material and has a clip 16 at the end that engages the slot 7. The other end thereof is conveniently deformed to a hook shape as shown at 17. Figure 7 illustrates a variation in which the tongue or leg 4 is folded upwards to provide a first portion 18 and then downwards to provide a second portion 19. The resulting arrangement is such that the portion 19 serves as the part that engages with the channel. In additional variations of the channel the walls 2 and 3 or one of the walls can be provided with inwardly directed pips or given a crinkled surface. These pips or crinkles can aid in the gripping of the article receiving parts. TABLE Dimension Range Typical Value a t" to 2" 1+" b i" to 2" c 0 to i d 1" to + e 2" upwards 10D f + to 2" g I 1,, h - 1" 12" to 48" 24" l"to2" 1+" k +"to l+" 1" I 1" to 2" 1+" A 50" to 70" 60 B 45" to 500 450 It will be understood that the values given in the above table are by way of example only. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An article support assembly including a

channel element adapted for mounting upon a wall or other support surface such that the channel mouth opens upwardly, the channel being arranged to receive as a push or resilient fit a tongue or leg member provided on an article receiving element having a support platform adapted to receive and positionally locate any article supported thereby, the plane of said support platform being so inclined to the tongue or leg member that on engagement of the tongue or leg member with the channel the support platform is inclined upwardly.

2. An article support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel element is sufficiently long enough as to be able to accept two or more of said article receiving elements or to accept such article receiving elements in more than one position.

3. An article support assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support platform is provided with at least one article receiving and locating tapered slot, whereby on engagement of the tongue or leg member in the support element channel the narrower part of the slot is lower than the mouth of the slot, the arrangement being such that on engagement of an article to be supported in the slot the article is movable towards the ex of the slot to such location that the particle engages with the side edges or walls of the slot.

4. An article support assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the article receiving element is of elongate form and the platform is provided with two or more of said slots, and wherein two or more of said tongues or leg members are provided at convenient locations along the length of the article receiving element.

5. An article support assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein an aperture is provided in the platform in the tooth or like members defined between each adjacent pair of slots, the apertures serving to locate one of the handles or the like of a tool or other article which is bifurcated, forked or operable with a scissors action and has two handles.

6. An article support assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein a second tapered slot is provided in each said tooth or like member, the arrangement being such that the other of said handles can engage in the second tapered slot on engagement of the said one handle in the associated aperture.

7. An article-support assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, and including a spring element having a first part engageable with the article receiving element at the apex of any of said first mentioned slots, and a second part for providing additional support for an article being supported by the device.

8. An article support assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tongue or leg member is shaped so as to provide a hook part whereby the second element can be engaged with the first element with the narrower part of the article receiving slot or slots located below the mouth of the channel.

9. An article support assembly constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, Figures 1 and 3, Figures 1 and 5, Figures 1 and 7 or the arrangement of Figure 7 as used with the element of Figure 2, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.