Patent Application
20080169395
The present invention relates generally to a hook assembly, and in particular, to a hook assembly that is reconfigurable.
J-shaped hooks are commonly used for holding various items. For example, such hooks are often installed inside a trailer. Typically, each hook is permanently installed at a single, fixed location. For example, a straight rod can be inserted through aligned holes in a C-shaped channel, with the lower end of the rod bent, e.g., twice, after insertion to form a hook portion. The hook is thereby permanently installed and cannot be removed from the channel, or moved longitudinally along its length. As such, if the hook is damaged, e.g., broken or bent, it can be difficult and expensive to repair or replace.
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be considered to be a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the embodiment of a hook assembly described below may be connected to any component. For example and without limitation, the hook assembly can be mounted on any wall or mounting surface, such as a trailer wall, or on a rack, frame or other support structure.
In one embodiment, the hook assembly includes a mounting member having vertically spaced upper and lower flanges. The upper flange has a first opening and the lower flange has a second opening aligned with the first opening in the vertical direction. The first opening has a first shape and the second opening has a second shape, with the first shape being different than the second shape. A hook member includes a head portion and a hook portion. The hook member is removeably secured to the mounting member through the first and second openings. The hook portion of the hook member is moveable through the first and second openings as the hook member is moved from a disengaged position to an engaged position, with the head portion engaging the upper flange.
In another aspect, one embodiment of the hook assembly includes a mounting rail extending in a longitudinal direction. The mounting member includes a retainer slideably coupled to the mounting rail, with the retainer slideable along the mounting rail in the longitudinal direction to a plurality of positions. The retainer has an opening defining a substantially vertical axis. A hook member is removeably secured to the retainer through the opening. The hook is moveable through the opening from a disengaged position to an engaged position while the retainer is coupled to the mounting rail.
In another aspect, a method of assembling a hook assembly includes mounting a mounting member to a surface defining a plane and successively threading a hook portion and a shaft portion of a J-shaped hook member through an opening in the mounting member without breaking the plane with the hook member. The method also includes engaging the mounting member with a head portion of the hook member.
The various aspects and embodiments provide significant advantages. In particular, a hook member can be easily installed and removed without any additional shaping or forming of the hook member. In addition, in one embodiment, the hook member can be fixed at a plurality of rotational positions relative to a vertical axis. In one embodiment, the hook member can be moved to a plurality of longitudinal positions. In one embodiment, the position of the hook member is infinitely adjustable along the longitudinal direction. As such, the various embodiments provide additional flexibility in positioning the hook member, both by rotating and translating the hook member. In addition, the hook member can be easily and inexpensively replaced without any tools.
The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The various preferred embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The mounting rail has a C-shaped cross section with upper and lower flanges 12, 14 forming a pair of opposite tracks 16 in one embodiment. A rear wall 7 of the mounting rail 2 is mounted to a support member having a surface defining a plane 5, such as a wall or frame, for example in a trailer. The mounting rail 2 is secured to the support member with mechanical fasteners extending through openings in the mounting rail or by other mechanical means, adhesives, welding, or combinations thereof. The mounting rail 2 is preferably positioned in a horizontal orientation, although it should be understood that it can be arranged in other orientations, including a vertical or oblique orientation. In one embodiment, the mounting rail 2 includes a plurality of lightening holes 18 formed in the rear wall 7, which do not adversely affect the strength of the rail. Of course, the mounting rail can be formed without the holes 18, or with other holes having different shapes and patterns.
The mounting member 4 is preferably configured as a retainer having an insert portion 8 and a mounting portion 10. As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in
The mounting portion 10 further includes a mounting platform 30 having a opening 32 formed therethrough. The opening 32 preferably has a polygonal shape, including for example and without limitation a star shape, a hexagon shape, a pentagon shape, a square shape, etc. The opening can also be configured as a D-shape, or any shape that mates with another cross-section so as to prevent relative rotation between the two members. In another embodiment, where rotation is desired, the opening can have a circular cross-section. Beneath the mounting platform, the mounting portion includes a U-shaped socket 54 that receives and stabilizes a shaft 34 of a hook member. The socket 54 has an interior surface with a shape substantially the same as the exterior surface of the shaft 34. For example, the interior surface has a radius substantially the same as the radius of the shaft 34. Of course, the radius of the shaft may be slightly smaller than the radius of the interior surface so as to avoid an interference fit.
Referring to
The hook member, and in particular the head portion 50, includes a cap 44 and a locator 46 positioned beneath the cap. The locator 46 has a shape that mates with the shape of the opening 32 in the mounting portion, for example a mating, but not necessarily identical, polygonal shape. The cap 44 has a width or surface area greater than the opening 32, such that it bears against the top of the mounting portion once the hook member is installed on the mounting member.
Referring to
An opening 130 is formed in the rear wall 128. A screw 132 is inserted through the opening and secures the mounting portion 110 to the insert member 110. When tightened, the screw further locks the mounting member in place relative to the mounting rail.
The slot 126 in the lower flange can be oriented in a number of different ways. For example and without limitation, the slot can be elongated perpendicular to the mounting rail, for example as a D-shaped opening 134 as shown in
As shown in
In one sequence of installation, where the retainer clip is omitted, the mounting portion 110 is first secured to the retainer 108 by tightening the screw 132. The hook 6 is thereafter installed as described below. In another embodiment, where the retainer clip 144 is used, the hook 6 is first installed through the mounting portion 110 and retainer clip 144 and then the screw 132 is tightened. If necessary, a separate screw can be used to secure the retainer clip to the mounting rail 2, for example by flipping the retainer clip 144 upside down such that the mounting flange 80 and hole therethrough are located adjacent a bottom side of the mounting rail. In this way, the retainer clip can be left loose, and rotated as necessary, while the hook 6 is installed, with the mounting portion already secured to the mounting rail in a rigid condition. Once the hook is installed, the retainer clip is then secured to the mounting rail with another fastener, or by other means including for example and without limitation a snap fit, bent-tab, detent, welding and the like, or combinations thereof.
Preferably, a plurality of mounting members 4 are arranged along the length of the mounting rail 2 at predetermined, desired locations. In operation, the installer selects one or more hook members 6 from an inventory. The hook members may be different lengths, have different hook portions, etc. as desired. The installer then installs each hook by threading the free end 52 of the hook portion 48 through the opening(s) 32, 124, 126, then threading the shaft 34 through the opening(s) 32, 124, 126 and finally positioning the locator 46 in the opening 32, 124 at a desired rotational setting. During the threading operation, the hook member 6 is moved from a disengaged position to an engaged position without breaking the plane 5 with any portion of the hook member 6. As shown in
To change the angular position of the hook member 6 relative to the mounting rail 2, the installer, or operator, simply lifts the hook upwardly such that the locator 46 is disengaged from the opening 32, 124, whereinafter the hook member can be rotated to a new desired position, with the hook member 6 then being released or moved from the disengaged position to an engaged position. In this way, the hook member(s) can be easily moved to any desired position, both along the mounting rail and also rotationally relative to the rail. For example, if the hook members are not needed for tie down, they can simply be rotated to a parallel position adjacent the mounting rail such that they do not interfere with the operator. Of course, if needed, the hook member(s) can also be removed entirely from the mounting rail and stored in another location.
Referring to the embodiment of
In operation, and during installation, the hook portion 48 is first threaded through the slot 66 in the upper flange 62 and then through the opening 68 in the lower flange 64 until the locator 46 is engaged with the locator portion 70 of the slot. Again, the hooks can be easily moved from an engaged position to a disengaged position and back again as desired without breaking the plane 5. In this embodiment, the location of the hook members is predetermined by the location of the slots 66 and openings 68 formed in the mounting rail.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof, which are intended to define the scope of the invention.
