Patent Application
20110155875
This invention relates to aperture boards that receive hooks and other accessories for storing items. More particularly, this invention relates to a keyed twist-lock fastener for holding a hook or other accessory to an aperture board.
Aperture boards, also referred to as pegboards, have long been used for hanging storage of items. These aperture boards, which typically attach to a wall or other vertical surface, include an array of apertures for receiving hooks and other accessories. The hooks generally have an insertion portion that passes through an aperture in the board and makes contact with the back side of the board. The contact of the insertion portion to the back of the board holds the hook to the board when a downward vertical load is applied to the hook.
A problem with prior aperture board hook designs is the tendency for the hook to come loose from the board when an item hanging on the hook is removed. The removal of the hanging item sometimes causes a lifting force or rotational force or both to be applied to the hook, which may cause the insertion portion of the hook to come loose from the aperture.
What is needed, therefore, is a fastener mechanism for an aperture board that provides for easy attachment of a hook or other accessory, and which holds firmly to the board when a hanging item is engage with or removed from the hook.
The above and other needs are met by an aperture board assembly that includes a panel having an array of apertures, a modular array of receivers attached to the panel, and hook assemblies for detachably engaging the receivers. Each aperture in the array is spaced from an adjacent aperture according to a first spacing, and each receiver of the modular array is spaced from an adjacent receiver according to the first spacing. The modular array is attached to the panel so that each receiver is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. Each hook assembly passes at least partially through an aperture in the panel and into a receiver aligned with the aperture. The hook assembly detachably engages the receiver as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.
In some embodiments, the panel of the aperture board assembly includes opposing edge channels, and the modular array is slidingly received within the edge channels. In some embodiments, a second modular array of receivers may be attached to the panel so that each receiver of the second modular array is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. The two modular arrays of receivers may be disposed adjacent each other or they may be spaced apart in different regions of the panel.
In some embodiments, each receiver in the modular array includes one or more spring clips configured to detachably engage the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver. Preferably, there are two or more spring clips in each receiver which are equally spaced apart around a perimeter of the receiver. In a preferred embodiment, each spring clip includes a pair of opposing spring fingers disposed in a spring clip aperture. Each pair of opposing spring fingers of this embodiment detachably engages the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.
In some embodiments, the hook assembly includes a spoked key which passes through an aperture in the panel and into the corresponding receiver aligned with the aperture. The spoked key has a number of radially extending spokes, the number of which equals the number of spring clips in the receiver. In a most preferred embodiment, the spoked key has three radially extending spokes, and each receiver has three spring clips which detachably engage the three spokes. Each pair of opposing spring fingers detachably engages a corresponding spoke of the spoked key as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.
Preferably, one or more of the apertures in the panel are spoked apertures having a spoked shape, and the spoked key of the hook assembly matches the spoked shape of the apertures.
In a preferred embodiment, each receiver in the modular array includes a back plate, and the hook assembly includes one or more springs which engage the back plate of the receiver as the hook assembly passes into the aperture. In this embodiment, the engagement of the one or more springs against the back plate urges the hook assembly away from the back plate. The one or more springs of the hook assembly may comprise spokes which are configured to match the spoked shape of the spoked apertures in the panel.
The modular array of receivers may include means, such as a slotted hole, for attaching the first modular array to a wall. Preferably, the slotted hole or other means are hidden from view when the panel is attached to the modular array.
In some embodiments, the hook assembly includes a shank with one or more accessories attached to the shank. The accessories may be, for example, hooks, posts, loops, brackets, fasteners, or hangers. The hook assembly may also include a flange configured to substantially hide an aperture in the panel from view when the hook assembly is engaged with a receiver aligned with the aperture.
In another aspect, the invention provides a hook assembly for use on an aperture board. In preferred embodiments, the hook assembly includes a shank for receiving items to be hung on the aperture board, a flange disposed rearward of the shank, a spoked key disposed rearward of the flange, and one or more springs disposed rearward of the spoked key. The flange is configured to substantially hide from view the aperture in the panel into which the hook assembly is inserted. The spoked key has a number of radially extending key spokes which may be aligned with radially extending spokes of a spoked aperture in the aperture board. The one or more springs are configured to urge the hook assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the aperture board when the spoked key is inserted into an aperture in the aperture board. In some embodiments, the one or more springs include, radially extending spring spokes, the number of which match the number of key spokes.
In a preferred embodiment, the shank and flange of the hook assembly are integrally formed as a single piece of plastic, and the spoked key, and springs are attached to the single-piece shank and flange by ultrasonic welding.
Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
As shown in
In one embodiment, the hook shank 20, flange 22 and attachment post 28 are formed as one piece of ABS plastic, such as by injection molding. The spoked key 24 and spring 26 of this embodiment are preferably formed as separate pieces, such as by injection molding, with each having a keyed hole matching the keyed attachment post 28. The hook assembly 16 of this embodiment is assembled by sliding the spoked key 24 and spring 26 onto the attachment post 28 and ultrasonically welding them in place. In other embodiments, the spoked key 24 and spring 26 may be attached to the shank 20 or flange 22 using a threaded fastener or other fastener means.
Although plastic is a preferred material for the components of the hook assembly 16, each component may be formed of other materials, such as metal, wood or ceramic, to achieve a desired strength or ornamental appearance. Thus, it will be appreciated that the hook assembly 16 is not limited to any particular material or mode of construction.
As used herein, the phrase “hook assembly” refers to any hook, post, loop, bracket, fastener, hanger, or other accessory that may be attached to the aperture board assembly 10. Thus, the phrase “hook assembly” is an all-inclusive term, and is not limited to hooks only.
Although a preferred embodiment of the receiver includes three spring clips spaced at 120 degree increments around the perimeter, other numbers of spring clips could be provided in other embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments may include two spring clips separated by 180 degrees, or four spring clips separated by 90 degrees. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular number of spring clips or any particular angular spacing between spring clips.
Similarly, alternative embodiments of the spoked key of the hook assembly may include two spokes spaced at 180 degrees or four spokes spaced at 90 degrees or other numbers of spokes. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular number of spokes or any particular angular spacing between spokes in the spoked key.
In a preferred embodiment, cups 38 are provided at each end of the modular array 18, each cup 38 having an aperture/slot for receiving a screw or other fastener for attaching the array 18 to a wall or other surface. Preferably, the depth of the cups 38 are set such that the edge channels 40 of the front panel 12 may slide between the wall and the back edge of the array 18 when the array 18 is attached to the wall. With this configuration, one or more arrays 18 may be attached to the wall, and then the front panel 12 may slide onto and be supported by the array(s) 18.
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the spring 26 includes spokes 46 (or leaves or petals) which press against the back plate 36 as described above. In alternative embodiments, the spring 26 may be a helical spring or other spring mechanism. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular type of spring mechanism for providing the counter-pressure described above.
It will be appreciated that further embodiments may include tabs 48 or posts 50 at both ends of one or more of the modular arrays to allow three or more arrays to be attached together in an end-to-end configuration.
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
