GB2248013A - "Support assembly" - Google Patents

Abstract

A support arrangement, particularly for a shelf includes a primary member 10 and a secondary member 20, the primary member comprising an internal channel 11 having an outwardly facing channel opening, the secondary member comprising a blade portion 27 movable within the channel opening, wherein a pair of wedges 30 are retained within the channel and are separable by the blade portion into locking engagement with the channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT AND ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a support arrangement and assembly, particularly a stepless support arrangement and assembly.

A known support arrangement consists of a pair of members, namely a primary member adapted for fixed attachment to a vertical wall or other structure, and a secondary member adapted for removable attachment to the primary member. The secondary member is typically used to carry a shelf, and for this purpose has a flat supporting surface or platform; in use the supporting surface is arranged to lie in a substantially horizontal plane in common with the corresponding supporting surface of one or more other support arrangements fixed at spaced positions along the wall, so that a shelf placed on the supporting surfaces is both parallel to and perpendicular to the wall.

"Vertical" (and thus "horizontal") in this specification are used in relation to the gravitational direction.

The primary members will usually be of extended length so that more than one secondary member may be located on each of the primary members, to carry more than one shelf.

In order that each support surface can lie in a substantially horizontal plane which is common to all the respective support surfaces, without need for packing pieces or the like to compensate for an incorrect fixed height of the primary member, we have already introduced a stepless support arrangement, as disclosed in our British Patents 1,485,987 and 1,554,755.In the support arrangement disclosed in those patents, each primary member is of channel section, and each secondary member includes a strengthening flange with a blade portion, together with a pair of pivotally-mounted and separable wedges which when the secondary member is in use lie along and within the channel section, being of greater section at positions spaced from the pivot so that these greater sections can be forced apart by the blade portion into locking engagement with opposed internal faces of the channel, whereby the respective secondary member can be locked in position at any selected position along the channel.

In a particular known support arrangement disclosed for use in pairs or other multiples, as a shelf support, the internal channel is of uniform dimensions throughout its length and has an outwardly facing slot formed by a pair of opposing lips. The secondary member includes a generally triangular flange, with a blade portion adapted to extend into the channel through the lips. The blade includes a pair of projections extending outwardly from its upper edge to engage the inner surfaces of the lips, whilst the blade itself engages the rear surface of the channel, so as in combination to provide a resisting couple to cantilever loading of the shelf.The wedges which support the primary member against movement in the channel have mutually diverging facing surfaces on opposite sides of the flange, and as above described are thus of greater section at a position spaced from the pivot i.e. from the projections.

We have now recognised that the support arrangements disclosed in our earlier British Patents 1485987 and 1554755 can be yet further improved.

One improvement we now propose is to provide the wedges separately from the secondary member. Because the wedges will not now be part of the secondary member, their dimensions are now less constrained by the remainder of the secondary member than are those of the known wedges. The supporting arrangement is thus a three-member arrangement, of primary member, secondary member and locking member.

A second improvement we now propose is to permit the wedges to be moved independently of the secondary member. Thus we no longer connect the wedges to the secondary member, and in particular do not provide pivot pieces on each wedge. Thus the wedges can be made more robust, and perhaps of a different material.

It will be understood that although it is usual to leave the primary members affixed in position to a wall, even when the support assembly is altered, often the known secondary members need to be removed as when the shelving is to be replaced by free-standing display units, for instance in a shop or store. The known wedges can be damaged or lost during removal or storage. In our proposed support arrangement the locking member(s) can be left in situ in the channel, and are thus both protected by and stored within the channel. Alternatively if the primary members are removed i.e. unscrewed from the wall, then since these primary members are usually of metal neither they nor the secondary members nor the wedges are likely to be damaged.

A third improvement we propose is to make the wedges with a section which is wider at a position further spaced from the channel slot than at a position nearer the channel slot, so that the blade of the secondary member can be gripped with a wedging action over its whole depth and not just at a region spaced from the projections. The gap between the opposed faces of the locking member into which the blade projects is thus tapered perpendicular to the taper on our earlier arrangements.

The opposed faces can be connected and then the locking member can be a friction fit in the channel section; or the opposed faces can be on separate locking member pieces, and then the pieces can be secured as by adhesive to the respective internal surfaces of the channel. Thus the side members forming the locking member and carrying the opposed faces can be connected or not, and the side members for different secondary members can be connected or not.

Thus according to one feature of our invention we provide a support arrangement which includes a primary member and a secondary member, wherein the primary member comprises an internal channel having an outwardly facing channel opening and the secondary member comprises a blade portion movable within the channel opening, characterised in that a pair of wedges is retained within the channel, the wedges being separable by the blade portion into locking engagement with the channel.

The wedges are usefully joined to form a unitary locking member, and the primary member is of extended length with inturned lips so that the channel opening is a slot. Thus according to a further feature of our invention we provide a support arrangement which includes a primary member having an internal channel of uniform internal dimensions throughout its length and having an outwardly facing channel slot formed by a pair of opposing lips, a secondary member having a blade portion, and at least one locking member located within the channel member, the locking member having a recess aligned with the channel slot and sized to receive and engage the blade portion.

Usually a number of locking members will be located within the channel, one for each secondary member. With the wedges joined as a unitary member, we have found that each of the unitary locking members can be of uniform cross section throughout its length, usefully being of extruded plastics material. The wedge recess is preferably of truncated V-form in cross-section, having its narrower portion spaced away from the channel slot; the locking member can thus normally be a sliding fit in the channel section, but the recess side members can be spread apart and/or deformed resiliently upon insertion of the blade, into locking engagement with opposed channel walls. The recess side members in this condition, being stressed by the blade, react on the blade to help maintain it against lateral swinging i.e. at 90 degrees to the upright channel and in a substantially horizontal plane.

The upper ends of recess side members can be used to locate the projections on the secondary member at a desired position along the channel, prior to locking engagement of the blade by the above-mentioned resisting couple. In alternative embodiments, part of the primary member may fit between the wedges with sufficient frictional resistance to prevent the primary member slipping downwards relative to the channel, but still permitting manual adjustment of the primary member in position. Thus the locking member may have a uniform width of recess gap from front to rear (i.e. from adjacent the channel lips to towards the channel rear wall), a decreasing recess gap, and with fingers or other protrubrances projecting inwardly of the gap.These locking member embodiments will assist and add to the locking couple; in a less preferred embodiment we rely only on such locking, for instance for a primary member without one or both blade projections, or for a channel having no inturned lips, or with cut-outs spaced along said inturned lips.

The locking member can be of a length coterminous with the channel, and then may have either the preferred continuous wedge recess or spaced-apart recesses.

For the shorter length locking members, desirably the or each locking member is adjustable in position along the length of the primary member, within the channel. This is a valuable feature, especially when two or more support arrangements are to be used in conjunction, as for supporting a shelf horizontally.

Shopfitters in particular require a simple method to adjust the position of one or of all the secondary members quickly, without need for packing pieces or the like. Thus according to yet a further feature of the invention we provide a support arrangement which includes a primary member adapted for attachment vertically to a wall or other structure, said primary member including an internal channel of uniform dimensions throughout its length and having an outwardly facing channel slot, and at least one locking member located within the channel and having a locking slot aligned with the channel slot, the locking member being slidable within the channel.

Preferably the channel slot is formed by a pair of opposing lips, which help retain the locking member in the channel when the blade of the secondary member is removed. The locking slot is narrower than the channel slot, and is sized closely to receive the blade of the secondary member to force the side members of the locking member, which define the locking slot, apart and into locking engagement with the adjacent walls of the channel.

Usefully a part of the secondary member can be inserted through the channel slot, to abut an end of the locking member to re-position it along the channel. This part will be shaped for ease of entry into the channel slot, for ease of production, for strength, and perhaps also for appearance. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member includes an extension which projects through the channel slot, for finger adjustment of the locking member along the slot. Usefully the extension is formed integrally with the locking member, but in alternative embodiments can be secured thereto or be releasably mounted thereon. Thus the extension can be shaped to insert into the wedge recess to spread apart the wedge side members to locate the locking member at the desired position along the channel section.

The extension can be in the form of a stud against which the lower edge of the blade can abut for accurate positioning of the flange prior to locking. An advantage of this arrangement is that the flange need not to be swung out of the channel slot for secondary member height adjustment, since the locking member and secondary member can easily be moved if the couple from the secondary member on the primary member is reduced.

In the known arrangements, to insert a secondary member it has to be fed through one end of the channel of the primary member; the primary member cannot therefore extend down to the floor and/or up to the ceiling, as may be desired for effective merchandising display, effective use of wall space and/or aesthetic appearance: furthermore, if a long primary member is required, utilising two channel lengths, it is difficult accurately to align them so that their respective internal channels properly mate, as will be needed if a secondary member is to be fed from one end of the channel to the other. We therefore now propose a modified secondary member.

Thus according to yet another feature of our invention we provide a support arrangement comprising (a) a primary member adapted for attachment vertically to a wall or other structure, said primary member including an internal channel of uniform dimensions throughout its length and having an outwardly facing slot formed by a pair of opposing lips, and (b) a secondary member having a flange, said flange including a blade portion adapted to extend into said channel through said lips, a pair of projections extending outwardly from the upper edge of said blade portion for engaging the inner surfaces of said lips, said blade portion being recessed adjacent said pair of outwardly extending projections.

For removal of the secondary member, the secondary member is tilted upwardly to disengage the blade from the locking member and channel slot, whereupon the blade recess permits rotation of the secondary member to bring both projections into alignment with the channel slot, whereupon the secondary member can be withdrawn from the primary member, substantially perpendicularly to the channel slot. Each secondary member can be re-introduced into the channel by a reverse action. In an alternative removal method, the secondary member can first be moved axially along the channel until the blade disengages from the locking member, and is then tilted until the blade clears the channel slot, whereupon the secondary member is rotated for removal, as above.

In a preferred embodiment the locking member has its side members interconnected by a full-length rear wall, and the flange has its blade in vertical alignment with the inner (rear) end of the projections; in use, the blade thus engages the rear wall of the locking member, which is thereby sandwiched between the blade and the channel rear wall. In an alternative embodiment, the locking member has its side walls connected by a part-length rear wall, joined only at the upper end of the side walls, and the blade extends rearwardly beyond the end vertical line of the projections; in use the blade projects below this part length rear wall and into direct contact with the channel rear wall.

The upper extremities of the locking member can be used to regulate the height of the secondary member in the channel prior to insertion of the blade (for locking the side walls against the channel), in preference to to regulating the height by abutment against the (lower) stud. Thus the projections abut the upper extremities, with then a small gap between the lower edge of the blade and the stud.

Normally a shelf is subsequently secured as by screws to the platform of each secondary member, for a fabricated shelving assembly. However, we forsee that with the improvements we have proposed, that our support arrangement has other applications.

Thus a "hanging rail" is required in many shops, or even offices and factories, as for coat hangers, dress-hangers or for towels; and a U-shaped bar can be made fittable onto secondary members adjustably supported in height on a pair of primary members.

Usefully the connection between the ends of the bar and the secondary members can be a known quick-release coupling.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Fig.l is a perspective view of a support arrangement according to the invention; Fig.2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment according to the invention; Fig.3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig.2, fully assembled.

Fig.4 is a plan view of a combination primary member and contained locking member for use in the embodiment of Fig.3; Fig.5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a support arrangement according to the invention; Fig.6 is a plan view of a combination primary member and contained locking member for use in the embodiment of Fig.5; Fig.6a is of an alternative combination primary member and contained locking member to that of Fig.6; Fig.7 is a side elevation of an alternative secondary member in accordance with the invention; Fig.8 is a front elevation of an alternative locking member for use with the secondary member of Fig.7; Fig.9 is a front elevation of three secondary members in accordance with Fig.7, used to carry a shelf; and Fig.l0 is a part-sectioned plan view of a rail carried by a pair of support arrangements designed according to the invention.

Fig.l is of a she3f support assembly having three support arrangements 1 each comprising a respective but identical primary member 10a,10b,10c, and respective but identical secondary members 20a,20b,20c. Two of the support arrangements 1 are in use to carry shelf 2, by way of supporting surface or platform 21 on the secondary members 20a,20b. In this embodiment, for additional security the shelf 2 is further located on the secondary members by screws 3, received in tapped holes 4 (Fig.2) in platform 21.

As viewed in Fig.2, each primary member 10 is of a channel section 11 of extended length and of uniform dimensions throughout its length, with rear wall 12, side walls 13,14, and opposing lips 15 forming a channel slot. Each secondary member 20 is necked at 22 to provide two lateral projections 23, each with a front face 23a; neck 22 is narrower than the gap between.

lips 15. Secondary member 20 includes a generally triangular strengthening flange 24 depending from the central region of the platform 21 and has a blade portion 27 which also is narrower than the gap between lips 15, so that it also can enter into the channel section 11 and slide within the channel slot.

In use, when the shelf 2 is loaded, the secondary member 20 tends to tilt in the direction "A", so that engagement occurs between faces 23a of projection 23, and the inside sufaces of opposing lips 15 on the primary member 10; and between blade rear surface 27a and the internal rear channel wall 12. A resisting couple is formed, to accept the weight on the shelf, which is then transmitted to the wall 5 by screws 16.

In this embodiment each primary member 10 is fixed in vertical orientation to wall 5 below a canopy 6, with its upper end spaced from the canopy 6; in a similar but alternative embodiment the first members 10 are fixed to a room or shop wall but again below and spaced from a ceiling. Thus in these embodiments the lateral projections 23 can if desired be inserted into the channel section from the upper end of member 10; however, in an alternative embodiment, and as more fully described below, with a secondary member 20 having its flange 24 recessed as at 25 (Fig.2) or 26 (Fig.7), the secondary member can additionally or alternatively be positioned in the primary member from the front (generally left to right as viewed in Fig.2), or an extra secondary member can be so positioned between two existing (upper and lower) secondary members, perhaps to carry an extra shelf.

Retention member 30 is positioned in channel 11. It includes a slot 31 into which blade 27 can fit, specifically into which blade 27 can be received and engage, whereby to spread legs 33, 34 apart and into locking engagement with the respective channel side walls 13,14 of primary member 10.

In this embodiment, the locking member legs or side walls 33,34 are connected over their full length by rear wall 32, so that in use rear blade surface 27a engages the inner face of rear wall 33, being disposed in vertical alignment with the inner (right hand as viewed in Fig.2) end of the projections 23, so that in use platform 21 is horizontal.

The locking member is of an extruded plastics material, but in an alternative embodiment is a moulded component. Legs 33,34 forming the wedge side members are resiliently deformable and/or able to flex about rear wall 32, to ensure locking engagement.

In this embodiment the locking member is of uniform cross section throughout its length, in one embodiment with legs of uniform thickness in cross-section and in another embodiment with legs which increase in cross-section towards the rear wall 32 i.e with a narrowing recess able to more tightly grip the blade as the blade is inserted, and to react against the blade the better to restrain lateral (horizontal) swinging of the secondary member.

Although the cross-section of the wedge recess can also vary along the length of the channel section, this is not of great advantage; with the "horizontal" wedge perpendicular to the channel slot we thus avoid the need to make the legs with a longitudinal tapering (wedge) cross-section, though that alternative, and that of a thickened legs portion alongside the blade, and that of a thicker rear wall part, to accommodate wear, is not excluded. The dimensions of the locking member can thus be selected more easily to permit ease of blade entry, suitable wear resistance, strength against rupture, and for ease of manufacture; the appearance of the locking member may also be improved.

Stud 36 is a press fit between side walls 33,34. In an alternative embodiment it is a forward extension of locking member 30. The lower edge of the blade 27 can rest against the upper edge of the stud, or (preferably) the lower face of each projection 23 can rest against the upper edge of respective wall 33,34, in each case to define the position of the secondary member in the channel prior to engagement of the blade 27 in the locking member 30. Thus adjustment of the height of a secondary member can be a one-person operation, perhaps a one-handed operation if the person's other hand is used to relieve the secondary member of the weight of (and on) the shelf 2.

Fig.3 is a plan view of the assembled support arrangement of Fig.2; whilst Fig.4 is a plan view of the primary member 10 and contained locking member 30 awaiting insertion of the secondary member 20.

In the Fig.5 embodiment, the locking member 130 extends the full length of the channel section. Thus to permit the projections 23 to enter, the channel section 111 is made substantially deeper (left to right as viewed in Fig.6), permitting the projections to be accommodated in front of the locking member. It will in consequence be necessary to modify the design of the secondary member, to make the blade 27 extend further to the right, sufficient to ensure that the platform 21 is substantially horizontal in use. Locking member can be a press-fit in the channel section, or can be bonded thereto.

In the embodiment of Fig.6a, the legs 134,133 of the locking member are not joined. These legs will thus need to be bonded or otherwise secured against axial movement relative to the channel section. An advantage of this embodiment is that the blade can abut directly the rear wall 11 of the channel section rather than by way of the rear wall 132 of the locking member, but it will be necessary to use a secondary member with a blade even further extended (to the right) than that of Fig.6 In the alternative secondary member 120 of Fig.7, the edge 127a of blade 127 is shown extending rearwardly beyond the vertical line of projections 23, and is adapted to abut directly against the rear channel wall 12, again so that in use the platform 21 will be substantially horizontal i.e. perpendicular to the rear wall of member 10.

In a modified locking member 230 as seen in Fig.8, suitable for use with the secondary member 120 of Fig.4, the lower portions in use of the arms 133, 134 are not connected so that blade 127 projects through the slot 135 and engages directly with the rear wall 12 of channel 11. Alternatively stated, a shorter locking member has two downwardly depending opposed (arm) extensions.

Although the above secondary members can be fed in known manner into an end of the channel 11 and then along the channel to a desired position, to be locked in that position by the insertion of blade 27,127 between legs 33,34; 133,134, we prefer embodiments which permit front loading and unloading of the secondary members. For this purpose, in the embodiment of Fig.2, the flange 24 is undercut at 25. In the embodiment of Fig.7, the flange is undercut at 26.

The cross-section of the secondary member 120 of Fig.7 is seen in Fig.9. In this embodiment the secondary member is a unitary member, preferably an Aluminium extrusion; in an alternative embodiment, a further T-section 121 member is mounted, as by welding, atop the platform 21, again to define open-ended horizontal opposed channels 122,123 in secondary members 120a,120c, into which shelf 2 can be slid; in an alternative embodiment the T-section 121 is of plastics and is screwed to platform 21, to provide extra resilience should the shelf prove a tight fit, and perhaps to improve the appearance i.e. colour matching of the support arrangement. Normally the secondary members will be at a standard spacing, so that the shelf will be supported only at its ends, but if required one or more intermediate secondary members 120b can be used as shown.In an alternative embodiment, the extra mounted member is of U-section, lying on its side and facing a similar U-section.

For front loading, in stage one, the secondary member is turned through 90 degrees, with the projections 23 aligned with channel slot 16, and the projections are fed through the outwardly facing slot 16 defined by opposing lips 15 in a direction perpendicular to the normal position in use; in stage two, the secondary member is rotated 90 degrees to the position shown in Fig.3. To reduce the necessary depth of undercut, it may be arranged that the secondary member in stage one needs first to be upwardly tilted to prevent interference between the rear blade surface and the lips 15.Thus these embodiments have the advantage that the secondary members e.g. brackets 20, can be fitted and removed from the front of the member 10 which can therefore extend upwardly near to an obstruction such as a ceiling or wall overhang; or be secured in substantial but not necessarily exact vertical alignment with another secondary member.

In Fig.10, a pair of secondary members 320a,320b are fitted within respective primary members 310a,310b; in an alternative embodiment the primary members used can have the same dimensions as the primary members 10 of Fig.l. Each secondary member is adapted to help carry a U-shaped bar or rail 60, by way of a quick-fit coupling 61, in this embodiment of the press-on and pull-off type. Rail 60 can thus be secured to the respective brackets 320a,320b to form a towel rail, or coat rail or equivalent. The facility to use an alternative type of secondary member within a common primary member such as 10 or 110 (differing perhaps only in external dimensions), permits the multiple use of a series of affixed primary members 10, which as above described occupy little space and so will normally be left permanently affixed to the wall 5 of a shop or dwelling.

The brackets 320a,320b can be removed and replaced, as with secondary members 20, to allow a varied disposition of shelving, rails or other fittings, which furthermore can be adjustably positioned in height either jointly or one relative to the other. The locking member 30,130 can again permit single-handed adjustment once the weight on the shelf 2 or rail 60 is taken by the other hand i.e. it may not be necessary for height adjustment to unload or even remove the shelf or bracket.

Claims (22)

1. A support arrangement which includes a primary member and a secondary member, wherein the primary member comprises an internal channel having an outwardly facing channel opening and the secondary member comprises a blade portion movable within the channel opening, characterised in that a pair of wedges is retained within the channel, the wedges being separable by the blade portion into locking engagement with the channel.

2. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the wedges are joined to form a unitary locking member adapted to grip opposed sides of the blade portion.

3. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the unitary locking member has an outwardly facing recess aligned with the channel opening and sized to receive and engage the blade portion, the recess being continuous throughout the length of the locking member.

4. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-3 characterised in that the primary member is of an extended length greater than its depth, the primary member having inturned lips whereby the channel opening is a slot.

5. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-3 characterised in that the internal channel is of uniform internal dimensions throughout its length.

6. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 2-5 characterised in that a number of locking members are retained within the channel section, the locking members being spaced apart one from another along the length of the primary member, whereby the blade portion of a number of secondary members can separately be gripped, or one blade portion can be located and gripped at separate positions along the channel length.

7. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 3 or of any of claims 4-6 when dependent upon claim 3 characterised in that the outwardly facing recess is of truncated V-form in cross section, with its narrower portion spaced further away from the channel slot than its wider portion.

8. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 2-7 characterised in that the locking member is a sliding fit in the channel section, the locking member having opposed limbs forming the pair of wedges and which can be spread apart and/or deformed resiliently upon insertion of the blade portion therebetween into locking (non-sliding) engagement with the opposed channel walls.

9. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that the locking member has opposed ends, and in that the secondary member has parts engageable with one of the ends whereby the secondary member can be positioned and then locked at a desired position along the length of the channel.

10. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 9 when dependent upon claim 7 characterised in that the blade portion has a first position wherein the blade portion and locking member can be moved in mutual engagement along the channel and a second position wherein the locking member is retained against movement relative to the channel section and to the blade portion.

11. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-10 characterised in that the wedges react upon the blade portion to sustain the blade against lateral swinging perpendicular to the channel opening.

12. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-11 characterised in that the blade portion is a sliding fit in the channel section.

13. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-12 characterised in that the primary member includes a rear wall connecting two side walls and which together define the channel, characterised in that the blade portion has an edge, the wedges being shaped so that the edge can engage the rear wall, the blade portion having side faces connected to the edge and which can simultaneously press each of the wedges towards the respective side wall.

14. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 2-13 characterised in that the locking member includes an extension which projects through the channel opening, for finger adjustment of the locking member along the opening, along the length of the primary member.

15. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the extension is integrally formed with the lockng member.

16. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 2-15 characterised in that the locking member is of extruded plastics material.

17. A support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-16 characterised in that the primary member can be secured to an upstanding planar wall.

18. A support arrangement comprising (a) a primary member adapted for attachment vertically to a wall or other structure, said primary member including an internal channel of uniform dimensions throughout its length and having an outwardly facing slot formed by a pair of opposing lips, and (b) a secondary member having a flange, said flange including a blade portion adapted to extend into said channel through said lips, a pair of projections extending outwardly from the upper edge of said blade portion for engaging the inner surfaces of said lips, said blade portions being recessed adjacent said pair of outwardly extending projections.

19. A primary member of channel form and which carries internally a pair of opposed wedges, suitable or use in a support arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-18.

20. A support assembly which includes a plurality of support arrangements as claimed in any of claims 1-18 positioned side by side, and a shelf carried by extensions of at least two of the blade portions.

21. A support arrangement constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1-4, to Figs.5 and 6, to Fig.5 and 6a, or to Figs. 7-9.

22. A support assembly constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig 10 of the accompanying drawings.