GB2300153A - Suspension file having interengaging hooked channels - Google Patents

Abstract

A wallet 19 is attached to the hanger 1 of a suspension file by means of a strip member (18, Fig 2) having a flange 20 by interengagement of hook-shaped channels 6, 23. The flange 20 is guided into a position above the channel 6 by means of an upper channel 7 and associated protrusion (11, Fig 3A). The hanger 1 is attached to rails 24 of rectangular cross-section by means of tongues 13 formed in upper flange 2. Each tongue is inserted in the direction of arrow B into a slot defined between side wall 28 and bottom wall 25 after rotation of the hanger in the direction of arrow (A, Fig 3C). Subsequent twisting of the hanger is prevented by engagement of cranked flange (8, Fig 3C) with the bottom wall 25 of the rail.

Description

SUSPENDED FILING SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to suspendible hangers, coupling devices and support systems, particularly for suspending documents, files, pouches, wallets and the like, preferably from rails or other supporting members, within a suspended filing system. The invention also relates to suspended filing systems, including such means and devices.

Numerous suspended filing systems exist, in which pouches, wallets, hangers or tracks etc. are suspended below one or a plurality of parallel rails (usually two), by means of one or more hooks which pass over the rail, or rails, and allow a thus suspended article to freely slide along the supporting rail or rails. However, articles, held in conventional suspended filing systems in this way, are susceptible to being inadvertently dislodged from their supporting rails because, in some cases, even a slight transverse movement of an article, relative to a supporting rail, can be sufficient to lift its associated hook out of engagement with the rail. Hangers, which are arranged to hook onto a rail, or rails, and provide support to further articles, are particularly vulnerable to being dislodged when attempts are made to engage or disengage such further articles thereon or therefrom.It is an object of the present invention, in certain aspects, to provide apparatus which can be employed to assist in overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional suspended filing systems.

A further problem associated with hangers and like means, is that an unnecessary degree of manual dexterity is often required to positively engage an article, for suspension, with an associated hanger or like support means. Thus, a further object of the present invention, in certain aspects, is to provide a coupling device, which may be incorporated into a hanger for use in a suspended filing system, arranged to facilitate rapid and easy engagement of an article, for suspension, onto the hanger.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coupling device comprising first and second interengageable couplings, each provided with a hooked coupling means, the first coupling further comprising a guide member and the second coupling further comprising receiving means, wherein the guide member and receiving means are dimensioned and arranged such that, engagement of the guide member with the receiving means brings the hooked coupling means into mutual proximity and, thereby, facilitates their interengagement. An advantage of this aspect of the present invention, is that prior engagement of the guide member in the receiving means facilitates the subsequent engagement of small, or awkward hooked coupling means, particularly elongate such means provided along a rail member, or the edge of a bulky article.A significant advantage can be achieved when one of the couplings comprises an elongate but flexible strip member, extending along the edge portion of the bulky article. One of the couplings, advantageously, can be embodied by a hanger or rail within a suspended filing system, while the other can be provided along an article to be suspended therefrom. Preferably, the hanger or rail embodies the second coupling. Alternatively, one of the coupling's can be another form of support means, for example, means intended for holding a film transparency over or in front of a light box.

In an embodiment, the receiving means comprises means defining a slot facing the bight defined by the second coupling's hooked coupling means. Preferably, buffer means, arranged to limit the penetration of a guide member into the slot, are defined within the slot. The receiving means can further comprise means defining a guide surface extending from within the slot and towards the second coupling's hooked coupling means. The receiving means can be in the form of a channel. Thus, rapid subsequent engagement of the hooked coupling means can be achieved by, firstly, bringing the guide member of the first coupling into contact with the guide surface and sliding the former along said surface, into the slot and engagement with the buffer means.

In a preferred embodiment the slot is spaced from the second coupling's hooked coupling means by a distance greater than the width of the slot and, preferably, by a distance two or three times greater than the width of the slot. Preferably, the guide surface extends between the slot and the second coupling's hooked coupling means. More preferably, the slot is wider than the bight, defined by the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

In a further embodiment, the second coupling comprises an integrally formed channel sectioned member, in which the receiving means and the hooked coupling means comprise a pair of facing channel portions, which share a common side wall. Preferably, said common side wall provides the guide surface.

In an embodiment the guide member, preferably comprising flange means, extends away from the direction faced by the bight, defined by the first coupling's hooked coupling means. Preferably, the flange means is dimensioned and arranged such that engagement thereof in the slot, in contact with the buffer means and/or in a lamina relationship with the guide surface, of the second coupling, brings the hooked coupling means, of both couplings, substantially into alignment for interengagement. In this respect, it is preferred that the peripheral edge of the flange means is spaced from the first coupling's hooked coupling means by less than the distance between the buffer and the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

In a preferred embodiment, the first coupling comprises first and second substantially parallel overlapping flanges, joined to define a channel portion and to thereby provide the coupling's hooked coupling means; the first flange defines both the guide member and point means for said hooked coupling means. Preferably, the second coupling is provided with means for enabling it to be supported.

In a preferred embodiment, the first coupling is integrally formed with an article, or is provided with means for engaging an article to support the same.

In preferred forms of this aspect of the invention, both the first and second couplings comprise elongate rail members.

Preferably the couplings are interengageable via their hooked coupling means in a side-by-side relationship and are relatively slidable, whilst so arranged, in a lengthwise direction.

In a more preferred embodiment, stop means are provided to prevent relative sliding of the first and second couplings beyond a predetermined extent.

In an alternative embodiment, the first coupling means comprises one or a plurality of button members protruding from said means in such a way that a portion of each button member provides the guide member, and the hooked coupling means is embodied by a portion of the button member, cooperation with an adjacent portion of the remainder of the first coupling means.

Preferably, the button member is disc shaped and is attached to the remainder of the first coupling means by attachment means which, preferably, hold the button member spaced away from the remainder thereof. Preferably the attachment means are releasable.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a hanger arranged for suspension from a rail member, comprising bearing means, for bearing on the rail member to provide sliding support for the hanger, and releasable retaining means, for retaining the hanger in sliding engagement with the rail member, wherein the retaining means are arranged such that their engagement and disengagement is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, and, when engaged, they act to prevent the bearing means from being disengaged from the rail member, in a direction transverse to the rail member.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that, because the hanger cannot be disengaged from a rail member, in a direction transverse thereto, unless it is firstly twisted about such a transverse axis, it is less prone to being inadvertently dislodged from a rail member, when moved along the rail member or when an article, for suspension, is being engaged or disengaged from the hanger.

Preferably, the hanger is arranged such that, when suspended from a rail member by engagement of the bearing means with the rail member, the retaining means are engaged, and disengagement thereof is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, away from said suspended position. Thus, before the hanger can be disengaged from a rail member, it must be subjected to a positive twisting action away from a normal hanging position. An advantage of this feature is that disengagement is only possible after deliberate twisting.

In an embodiment, the retaining means comprises spur or notch means arranged to cooperate with a complimentary such means, in or on the rail member, for retaining the hanger in slidable engagement with the rail. Preferably, the retaining means comprises notch means and, in an embodiment, the hanger comprises a tongue member which provides the bearing means. More preferably, the tongue member cooperates in the definition of a recess in the hanger, with the bearing means located within said recess. When the retaining means comprises notch means, the notch means can be located outside said recess. Preferably, the bearing means comprises a surface of the tongue member extending from the root of the tongue member.

In preferred embodiments, the bearing means comprises a plurality of bearing surfaces separated by at least one notch and a plurality of bearing means can be provided, each for engaging a separate rail member. A plurality of releasable retaining means can be provided, each for engaging a separate rail member. Likewise, the hanger can comprise a plurality of tongue members, each for engaging a separate rail member.

In a further preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the hanger comprises abutment means, arranged to contact a rail member supporting the hanger and thereby resist twisting of the supported hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member and beyond a predetermined position relative to the rail member. Advantageously, said predetermined position is substantially the same as the rest position, adopted by the hanger when suspended from a rail member by engagement of the bearing means with the rail member, and the retaining means are released from engagement with the rail member, by twisting the hanger away from said predetermined position.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a hanger, arranged for suspension from a rail member, comprising bearing means, for bearing on a rail member and providing sliding support for the hanger, and abutment means, arranged to contact a rail member supporting the hanger and thereby to resist twisting of the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, beyond a predetermined position relative to the rail member.

An advantage of aspects and embodiments of the invention which include abutment means, as aforementioned, is that the risk of inadvertent dislodgement of the hanger, from a supporting rail member, is reduced because the degree to which the hanger may be twisted, relative to the rail member, is reduced significantly and, in embodiments, the hanger can be prevented from twisting in a first direction (about an axis transverse to the rail member) away from its resting supported position.

In an embodiment, the bearing and abutment means can be arranged to contact opposed sides of a rail member portion and, preferably, said means are arranged to exert a grip on a rail member portion, located therebetween, in response to a twisting force applied to the hanger. Preferably, when supported from a rail member, the hanger is free to twist about an axis transverse to the rail member in only one direction away from said predetermined position.

Preferably, the hanger comprises a plurality of bearing and/or abutment means, each for engaging a separate rail member. More preferably, the abutment means are provided by a single continuous flange member.

In preferred embodiments, the hanger comprises an elongate rail member and, most preferably, hangers in accordance with the second and third aspect of the invention comprise a first or second coupling, preferably a second coupling, of a coupling device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the first or second coupling, preferably the second coupling, comprises a hanger in accordance with the second or third aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a support system comprising a hanger, in accordance with the second or third aspect of the invention, and a rail member.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the retaining means comprises spur or notch means, complimentary such means are provided in or on the rail member, and the arrangement is such that engagement and disengagement of the spur or notch means with said complimentary means, is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member.

Preferably, the hanger comprises a tongue member, which defines the bearing means and cooperates to define a recess in the hanger, the spur or notch means are located outside said recess, the rail member comprises means defining a bearing surface, and the arrangement is such that the means defining the bearing surface are accommodatable in the recess with the bearing means in sliding contact with the bearing surface and the spur or notch means engaged with said complimentary means in or on the rail member.

Preferably, the retaining means comprises notch means and the complimentary means comprises a flange portion of the rail member.

Preferably, the rail member is channel sectioned and, more preferably, the flange member and means defining the bearing surface comprise a pair of convergent flanges, preferably, extending across the opening of the channel.

In a preferred embodiment of this latter aspect of the invention, the rail member provides a substantially flat bearing surface for contacting the bearing means and supporting the hanger. In preferred embodiments, the rail member has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Preferably, the tonuge member is dimensioned and arranged to be unable to pass between the convergent flanges when in a upstanding position, relative to the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, but to be passable between said convergent flanges when twisted sufficiently away from said upstanding postion. In a preferred embodiment, the tongue member comprises a flange portion of the hanger and is unable to pass between said convergent flanges when perpendicular to the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, but is passable between said flanges when twisted out of said perpendicular relationship.

In a further preferred embodiment, the recess comprises a broader portion leading to a narrower portion, the latter bounded in part by the bearing means, arranged such that, when the hanger is offered up to rail member, transversely thereto, the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface can pass directly into the broader portion of the recess, but can only pass into the narrower portion and into engagement with the bearing means, when the hanger is arranged such that the tongue member is twisted out of said upright relationship with the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, sufficiently to allow the tongue member to pass between the convergent flanges.An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the arrangement acts to guide a hanger into engagement with one or a plurality of rail members, by providing a pathway for the rail member to follow from first contact, through to full engagement with a rail member or members.

Preferably, the recess opening is radiused to ease its engagement over the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface of the rail member.

The support system can further comprise supporting means for the rail member which, in an embodiment, comprises a frame work and/or means defining a cabinet.

The support system can comprise a plurality of supported rail members and can also include a plurality of hangers and first couplings.

It is preferred that the support system is a suspended filing system and that the coupling devices, hangers and rail members of the invention all comprise components of such a filing system. The hangers, preferably, also comprise second couplings of the inventive coupling device and articles, to be suspended therefrom, are provided with means embodying the first coupling of such a device.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a hanger in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a scrap side view of a wallet arranged for suspension from a hanger as illustrated in Figure 1; Figures 3a, b and c are end views of the hanger shown in Figure 1 and the wallet shown in Figure 2, in various stages of interengagement, a supporting rail is also shown in Figure 3c; Figure 4 is a scrap view of the hanger, shown in Figure 1, engaged with a supporting rail; and Figure 5 is a scrap view showing the hanger, shown in Figure 1, partly engaged with a supporting rail.

The hanger 1 comprises an elongate strip member, formed by extrusion from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with a uniform cross-section (as illustrated in Figures 3a-3c) throughout a majority of its length. The hanger 1 can be formed from alternative materials, including aluminium alloys and polypropylene. The hanger comprises first 2 and second 3 substantially parallel, spaced apart and overlapping flanges, joined by a bridging portion 4. The long peripheral edge of the second flange 3 is turned back upon itself to provide a hook-like gutter portion 5 defining a channel 6. The channel 6 faces the opening slot of a second channel 7, defined between the first and second flanges 2 and 3, in co-operation with the bridging portion 4. Said second channel 7 is of greater width than the channel 6, provided by the gutter portion 5.

A cranked flange 8 extends away from the second flange 3, from the junction of the latter and the bridging portion 4.

A peripheral portion 9 of the cranked flange 8 is spaced further from the first flange 2 than the second flange 3, in a transverse direction, and is substantially parallel to the first and second flanges 2 and 3. An elongate depression 10 and complimentary blister 11 extend along the length of the first flange 2; the blister being located within the second channel 7.

A pair of irregular recesses 12 are formed in the first flange 2, opening away from the second channel 7. Tongue portions 13 of the first flange 2 extend into each recess 12. Each tongue portion 13 has inner and outer radiused peripheral corners 40 and 41 and comprises a narrow root portion 14, defined between a notch 15, formed in the peripheral edge of the first flange 2 remote from the second channel 7, and a bearing surface 30 facing the base 16 of each recess 12. Each notch 15 has radiused corners 42 about its entrance and the outer radiused corner 41 of each tongue portion 13 faces a larger radiused corner 43 across the opening of each recess 12.

A wallet 17, shown in Figure 2, comprises an elongate strip member 18, formed by extrusion from polypropylene and a flexible envelope 19, formed from thin transparent polypropylene sheeting. The strip member 18 comprises first 20 and second 21 substantially parallel, spaced apart and overlapping flanges, joined by a bridging portion 22. Said first and second flanges 20 and 21 and the bridging portion 22 cooperate to define a hook-like channel 23 of similar dimensions and proportions to the channel 6 defined by the gutter portion 5 of the hanger 1. The envelope 19 is attached, by heat welding, to the second flange 21 of the strip member 18, on the side of the second flange 21 which extends into the hook-like channel 23.

In Figures 3c and 4 the hanger 1 is shown in engagement with a rail member 24. The rail member 24 is formed from steel, has a rectangular channel like cross-section and comprises first 25 and second 26 substantially parallel rectangular walls, joined together by a similarly dimensioned rectangular wall 27. A rectangular flange 28 extends from the elongate peripheral portion of the second wall 26 which is remote from the third wall 27, partway towards the first wall 25 and substantially parallel to the third wall 27.

The slot, defined between the rectangular flange 28 and the first wall 25 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the root portion 14 of the tongue 13, provided on the hanger 1, in the position illustrated in Figures 3c and 4. In alternative embodiments, the rail is formed from another metal, such as an aluminium alloy.

Each tongue 13, notch 15 and recess 12 is formed in the hanger 1 by a cutting tool (not shown). The portion of that tool which forms the portion of each recess 12 lying between its base 16 (adjacent to the bridging portion 4) and associated tongue 13 is, perforce, narrower than ideal because the tool must fit between the cranked flange 8 and the first flange 2, so as to perform its task. In order to provide the tool with sufficient strength, it is formed, therefore, with a buttressing portion that cuts a notch 29 into the edge of each tongue 13, which faces the base 16 of the recess 12.

The complete suspended filing system comprises a pair of parallel rail members 24 supported in a cabinet (not shown) in a parallel spaced apart relationship, so as to be simultaneously engageable by the pair of tongue members 13 on a hanger 1. The orientation of each rail is as shown in Figures 3c and 4.

To engage a hanger 1 on the pair of rail members 24, it should be offered up from below the rail members 24, such that each rail member 24 enters one of the hanger's pair of recesses 12 and the corners between the first and third walls 25 and 27, of each rail member 24, contact the first flange 2, inside each recess 12, adjacent to the larger radiused corners 43, and each rectangular flange 28 contacts an outer radiused peripheral corner 41 of a tongue portion 13. A so located rail member 24 is shown in Figure 5. The hanger 1 should then be rotated about an axis transverse to the rail members 24 and extending through the points of contact between the rectangular flanges 28 and the outer peripheral corners 41 of the tongue portion 13, in the direction of arrow A, in Figure 3c.After sufficient rotation, when the first flange 2 of the hanger 1 has reached the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3c, that is to say when the bases 16 of the recesses 12 contact the first walls 25 of the rail members 24 and the rectangular flanges 28 are lifted from the tongue portion 13, the hanger 1 should be pushed, lengthwise, in the direction of arrow B, in Figures 1 and 4, such that the tongues 13 enter into the channels, defined within the rail members 24, and come into abutment with the third walls 27 of the rail members 24. The hanger 1 should then be released and allowed to fall into the position shown in solid lines in Figures 3c and 4, with the rectangular flanges 28 of the rail members 24 located within the notches 15 of the hanger 1, and the hanger 1 being supported through the tongues 13 bearing on the first walls 25 of the rail members 24.

Rotation of a so engaged hanger 1 relative to the rail members 24, in a direction opposed to that of arrow A in Figure 3c, is prevented by the engagement of the peripheral portion 9 of the cranked flange 8 with the underside of the first walls 25 of the rail members 24. Attempts to twist the hanger 1 in a direction opposed to that of arrow A cause said peripheral portion 9 and the tongues 13 to grip said first walls 25 and, thereby, to resist both said twisting and sliding of the hanger 1, lengthwise along the rail members 24 in the direction of arrow C, in Figure 3c.

Once suspended from the rail members 24 in the aforementioned manner, a hanger 1 cannot be dislodged unless it is firstly twisted in the direction of arrow A and then moved lengthwise in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow B. Accordingly, a hanger 1 is most unlikely to be inadvertently dislodged from the rail members 24. Moreover, the ability of a suspended hanger 1 to resist sliding and twisting, in the aforementioned manner, greatly facilitates the engagement and subsequent suspension of a wallet 17 from the hanger 1.

To engage a wallet 17 with a hanger 1, the wallet 17 should be offered up to the hanger 1 so that the first flange 20, of the strip member 18, contacts the second flange 3 of the hanger 1, as shown in Figure 3a. The first flange 20 should then be pushed into the second channel 7, until it contacts the bridging portion 4 and elongate blister 11, as shown in Figure 3b, leaving the channels 6 and 23 in a facing relationship. The strip member 18 should then be allowed to drop, in the direction indicated by arrow D, in Figure 3b, so that the first flange 20, of the strip member 18, enters the channel 6 and the upturned part of gutter portion 5 enters the channel 23. The final rest position of the supported wallet 17 is shown in Figure 3c.In this last position, the first flange 20 of the strip member 18 is held in a snug but slidable relationship with the hanger 1, by the hook like gutter portion 5, second flange 3 and elongate blister 11 of the hanger 1. As the wallet 17 is engaged with the hanger 1 (the latter being suspended from the rail members 24), the twisting force applied to the hanger 1, by the approaching wallet 17, causes the peripheral portion 9 of the cranked flange 8 and the tongues 13 to grip the first walls 25 of the rail members 24 in the manner previously described and the hanger, thus, is prevented from twisting and sliding relative to the rail members 24.

Disengagement of the wallet 17 can be effected by reversing the aforementioned engagement procedure.

A short tab 30 extends into the channel 23, at a location adjacent to one end of the strip member 18. When the strip member 18 is engaged with a hanger 1, in the aforementioned manner, the portion of the strip member 18 carrying the tab 30 is located outside the hanger 1 and such that attempts to slide the strip member 18 relative to the hanger 1 in the direction illustrated by arrow B in Figure 2, would bring the tab 30 into contact with the hook-like gutter portion 5, to prevent further such sliding.

In an alternative arrangement a wallet 19 is not provided with the strip 18 but with a plurality of buttons extending along the edge portion thereof where the strip 18 is shown in Figure 2. Said buttons which, preferably, are disc shaped, are dimensioned so as to be engageable and disengageable from a hanger 1, for retention therein within the first and second channels 6 and 7, in the same way as the first flange 20 of the strip member 18, as shown in Figures 3a-3c.

Claims (61)

1. A coupling device comprising first and second interengageable couplings, each provided with a hooked coupling means, the first coupling further comprising a guide member and the second coupling further comprising receiving means, wherein the guide member and receiving means are dimensioned and arranged such that engagement of the guide member with the receiving means brings the hooked coupling means into mutual proximity and, thereby, facilitates their interengagement.

2. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises means defining a slot facing a bight defined by the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

3. A coupling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein buffer means, arranged to limit penetration of the guide member into the slot, are defined within the slot.

4. A coupling device as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the receiving means further comprises means defining a guide surface extending from within the slot and towards the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

5. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means is in the form of a channel.

6. A coupling device as claimed in any of claims 2-5, wherein the slot is spaced from the second coupling's hooked coupling means by a distance greater than the width of the slot and, preferably, by a distance two or three times greater than the width of the slot.

7. A coupling device as claimed in any of claims 4-6, wherein the guide surface extends between the slot and the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

8. A coupling device as claimed in any of claims 2-9, wherein the slot is wider than the bight defined by the second coupling's hooked coupling means.

9. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the second coupling comprises an integrally formed channel sectioned member, in which the receiving means and the hooked coupling means comprise a pair of facing channel portions sharing a common side wall.

10. A coupling device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said common side wall provides the guide surface.

11. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide member extends away from the direction faced by a bight, defined by the first coupling's hooked coupling means.

12. A coupling device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the guide member comprises flange means.

13. A coupling device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the flange means is dimensioned and arranged such that engagement thereof in the slot and in contact with the buffer means and/or in a lamina relationship with the guide surface, of the second coupling, brings the hooked coupling means, of both couplings, substantially into alignment for interengagement.

14. A coupling device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first coupling comprises first and second substantially parallel overlapping flanges, joined to define a channel portion and to thereby provide the coupling's hooked coupling means; the first flange defines both the guide member and point means for the hooked coupling means.

15. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the second coupling is provided with means for enabling it to be supported.

16. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first coupling is integrally formed with an article, or is provided with means for engaging an article to support the same.

17. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second couplings are in the form of elongate rail members.

18. A coupling device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the couplings are interengageable via their hooked coupling means in a side by side relationship and are relatively slidable, whilst so arranged, in a lengthwise direction.

19. A coupling device as claimed in claim 18, further comprising stop means arranged to prevent relative sliding of the first and second couplings beyond a predetermined extent.

20. A hanger, arranged for suspension from a rail member, comprising bearing means, for bearing on a rail member and providing sliding support for the hanger, and abutment means, arranged to contact a rail member supporting the hanger and thereby to resist twisting of the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, beyond a predetermined position relative to the rail member.

21. A hanger, arranged for suspension from a rail member, comprising bearing means, for bearing on the rail member to provide sliding support for the hanger, and releasable retaining means, for retaining the hanger in sliding engagement with the rail member, wherein the retaining means are arranged such that their engagement and disengagement is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, and, when engaged, they act to prevent the bearing means from being disengaged from the rail member, in a direction transverse to the rail member.

22. A hanger as claimed in claim 21 and arranged such that, when suspended from a rail member by engagement of the bearing means with the rail member, the retaining means are engaged, and disengagement thereof is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member, away from said suspended position.

23. A hanger as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the retaining means comprises spur or notch means arranged to cooperate with a complementary such means, in or on the rail member, for retaining the hanger in slidable engagement with the rail.

24. A hanger as claimed in claim 23, wherein the retaining means comprises notch means.

25. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 21-24, wherein the hanger comprises a tongue member, which provides the bearing means.

26. A hanger as claimed in claim 25, wherein the tongue member cooperates in the definition of a recess in the hanger, with the bearing means located within said recess.

27. A hanger as claimed in claim 23 and 26, wherein the notch or spur means are located outside said recess.

28. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 25-27, wherein the bearing means comprises a surface of the tongue member extending from the root of the tongue member.

29. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 20-28, wherein the bearing means comprises a plurality of bearing surfaces separated by at least one notch.

30. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 20-29, comprising a plurality of bearing means, each for engaging a separate rail member.

31. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 21-30, comprising a plurality of releasable retaining means, each for engaging a separate rail member.

32. A hanger as claimed in claim 25, comprising a plurality of tongue members, each for engaging a separate rail member.

33. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 21-32 further comprising abutment means, arranged to contact a rail member supporting the hanger and thereby resist twisting of the supported hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member and beyond a predetermined position relative to the rail member.

34. A hanger as claimed in claim 33, wherein said predetermined position is substantially the same as that adopted by the hanger when suspended from a rail member by engagement of the bearing means with the rail member, and the retaining means are arranged for release from the rail member by twisting the hanger away from said predetermined position.

35. A hanger as claimed in claim 20, 33 or claim 34, wherein the bearing and abutment means are arranged to contact opposed sides of a rail member portion.

36. A hanger as claimed in claim 35, wherein the abutment and bearing means are arranged to exert a grip on a rail member portion, located therebetween, in response to a twisting force applied to the hanger.

37. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 20 or 33-36, wherein, when supported from a rail member, the hanger is free to twist about an axis transverse to the rail member in one direction away from said predetermined position.

38. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 33-37, comprising a plurality of abutment means, each arranged for engaging a separate rail member.

39. A hanger as claimed in claim 38, wherein the abutment means are provided by a single continuous flange member.

40. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 20-39, comprising an elongate rail member.

41. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 20-40, comprising a first or second coupling, preferably a second coupling, of a coupling device as claimed in any of claims 1-19.

42. A coupling device as claimed in any of claims 1-19, wherein the first or second coupling, preferably the second coupling, comprises a hanger as claimed in any of claims 2040.

43. A support system comprising a hanger as claimed in any of claims 20-41 and a rail member.

44. A support system as claimed in claim 43, wherein the retaining means comprises spur or notch means, complimentary such means are provided in or on the rail member, and the arrangement is such that engagement and disengagement of the spur or notch means with said complimentary means, is effected by twisting the hanger about an axis transverse to the rail member.

45. A support system as claimed in claim 44, wherein the hanger comprises a tongue member, which defines the bearing means and cooperates to define a recess in the hanger, the spur or notch means are located outside said recess, the rail member comprises means defining a bearing surface, and the arrangement is such that the means defining the bearing surface are accommodatable in the recess with the bearing means in sliding contact with the bearing surface and the spur or notch means engaged with said complimentary means in or on the rail member.

46. A support system as claimed in claim 44 or 45, wherein the retaining means comprises notch means and the complimentary means comprises a flange portion of the rail member.

47. A support system, as claimed in any of claims 43-46, wherein the rail member is channel sectioned.

48. A support system as claimed in claim 46 or claim 47, wherein the flange member and means defining the bearing surface comprise a pair of convergent flanges, preferably, extending across the opening of the channel.

49. A support system as claimed in claim 48, wherein the rail member provides a substantially flat bearing surface for contacting the bearing means and supporting the hanger.

50. A support system as claimed in claim 47, wherein the rail member has a substantially rectangular cross section.

51. A support system as claimed in any of claims 48-50, wherein the tongue member is dimensioned and arranged to be unable to pass between the convergent flanges when in an upstanding position, relative to the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, but to be passable between said convergent flanges when twisted sufficiently away from said upstanding position.

52. A support system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the tongue member comprises a flange portion of the hanger and is unable to be passed between said convergent flanges when perpendicular to the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, but is passable between said flanges when twisted out of said perpendicular relationship.

53. A support system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the recess comprises a broader portion leading to a narrower portion, the latter bounded in part by the bearing means, arranged such that, when the hanger is offered up to a rail member, transversely thereto, the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface can pass directly into the broader portion of the recess, but can only pass into the narrower portion and into engagement with the bearing means, when the hanger is arranged such that the tongue member is twisted out of said upright relationship with the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface, sufficiently to allow the tongue member to pass between the convergent flanges.

54. A support system as claimed in any of claims 50-53, wherein the recess opening is radiused to ease its engagement over the flange embodying the means defining the bearing surface of the rail member.

55. A support system as claimed in any of claims 43-54, further comprising supporting means for the rail member.

56. A support system as claimed in claim 55, wherein the supporting means comprises a frame work and/or means defining a cabinet.

57. A support system as claimed in claim 55 or claim 56, comprising a plurality of supported rail members.

58. A support system as claimed in claim 55 or 56, comprising a plurality of hangers and first couplings.

59. A coupling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

60. A hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

61. A support system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.