US2723816A

US2723816A - Article supporting device

Info

Publication number: US2723816A
Application number: US328080A
Authority: US
Inventors: Drysdale Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-12-26
Filing date: 1952-12-26
Publication date: 1955-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1955 R. DRYSDALE ARTICLE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1952 INVENTQR ROEEAT 0/?)0'0445 TORNEYS Tia.2.

This invention relates to devices for supporting articles,

and more particularly to devices for engaging supporting thin flexible articles such as blueprints or the like.

Persons familiar with architectural or engineeringbffices will best appreciate the problem "er stoi'ing large,

quantities of tracings, drawings or blueprints so'as'to preserve the same in good condition, and yet have them readily available for inspection. Rolling of the drawings is obviously not a satisfactory,jsolution, andtherefore, within a relatively short period ,of time, there has been developed a type of clasp adapted for engagement with the paper drawing or print and arranged to be hung on a rail or rails. While these clasp devices have acquired some degree of commercial success, they possess certain inherent shortcomings and relatively high manufacturing cost which have prevented their more widespread acceptance. I i

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device arranged to engage edge portions of a drawing or the like and which is. readily adapted for large scale economical mass production methods.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described in which means are provided for positively and efiectively enclosing opposed surface portions therebetween whereby said device and the article clamped therein may be integrally handled and supported.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above type particularly adapted to be releasably and slidably connected to a horizontal rail or rack so that by using a pair of such devices on spaced portions of a drawing, the latter may be hung from a pair of similarly spaced rails for ready sliding movement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device as above described in which improved clamping means are utilized for securing the device and its associated article to a horizontal supporting member, such clamping means positively preventing accidental dislodgment of the device from said member, while at the same time permitting ready deliberate removal when it is necessary to examine or work on the article supported thereby.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type referred to whose overall thickness is reduced to a minimum, thereby permitting a large number of such devices to be hung on a single length of support rod.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set United States Patent to be secured to a drawing or like article generally identified by the numeral 11, and releasably support such drawing on one or preferably a pair of parallel spaced rails or rods 12. As will be understood, with the rails being horizontally disposed, the drawings or blueprints 11 will lie in generally vertical planes, and a large quantity of such drawings may be hung in a compact manner, in much the same manner as a large number of articles of wearing apparel may be supported on a plurality. of

clothes hangers in a closet. Such an arrangementis not only convenient for storage, but has the further advantage of rendering thevindividual drawings readilyidentifiable andaccessible for withdrawal and use. As here shown,

the rails 12 are shown as cylindrical in form with the ends thereof mounted to a cross-bar 13 of a standard 14 the latter being of a height sufiicient to render the height of the supported articles at a convenient distance from the ground. However, the exact constructional details of the rail assembly is not important towards an understanding of the invention which is concerned with the means for operatively interconnecting the drawing 11 with the rails 12. i

As here shown, my improved article supporting device includes a pair of cooperating

clamp members

16 and 17 between which the article or drawing 11 is adapted to be placed. Both of the members are, of generally fiat rectangular construction, and clamp 17 is provided at its upper edge with a U-shaped reversed bent portion 18, this portion receiving the upper edge of clamp 17. It will be noted that the recess defined by portion 18 is wider than the thickness ofclamp 17, thus permitting relative opposed movement between the'ciamps. Provided in the upper surface of the bent portion 18 is an .elongated slot 19 through which a tab 21 extends. This tab is formed integrally with clamp 16 and is coplanar therewith, the width of the tab being substantially less than the transverse width of the clamp members. The upper portion of tab 21 is provided with a book 22, the latter having an arcuate form permitting slidable engagement with rails 12.

Means are utilized to cooperate with hook 22 to prevent accidental dislodgment of the device from the rails while still permitting free sliding movement therealong.

Such means include a second book member 23 of substantially the same shape as book 22, and pivotally secured to tab 21 by a rivet 24 or any other suitable connection. As will be seen from Figure I, hook 23 may be swung into a locking position (as shown in the left hand side of the figure) wherein an enclosure 26 is provided for rail 12, and preventing removal of the device from the rail, to an open position (as viewed in the right hand side of the figure) wherein the device may be readily removed.

In order to secure the drawing 11 or other supported article to the clamps, the article is inserted between

members

16 and 17 until the upper edge of the article engages the inner peripheral surface of portion 18. At this time, if the metal or other material comprising the

members

16 and 17 is sufliciently thin, one or more staples 31 may be punched through the members and article, securing them together. However, if the material is too heavy to readily permit such an operation, one or more pairs of spaced holes 32 may be provided in the respective clamp members, the spacing of the holes in each pair corre sponding to the spacing of the deformable staple portions.

Patented Nov. 15, 1955 Then, 'it is only required'that the staple pierce the drawing 11, but the same interengagement with

members

16 and 17 will be effected.

To further insure retention of the drawing, I prefer to provide on

clamp members

16 and 17, cooperating

arcuate offset portions

36 and 37 respectively, such portions extending for the entire transverse width of the members. In this manner, a crimp is placed in the drawing, making accidental removal thereof from the clamps a remote possibility.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of my improved device will be clear, and it will be readily understood howthe drawings may be stapled or otherwise secured to a pair of spaced devices thereby permitting the hanging of the drawings from rail members without the usual danger of accidental removal. It will also be appreciated that the devices are very flat, thereby allowing a large number of drawings equipped with such devices to be hung in a minimum space.

I claim:

1. An article supporting device including a pair of cooperating members between which a relatively fiat article is adapted to be placed and clamped therebetween, one of said members having an integral tab extension thereon extending from a medial portion thereof, the other of said members having a bent edge portion defining a groove for receiving an edge portion of said first mentioned member, means on said portion defining a slot for slidably receiving said tab extension whereby both of said members may be supported by said tab extension, a hook-like member disposed at the distal end of said extension, and means for securing an article between said members.

2. A device for supporting a relatively fiat thin article including a pair of substantially planar similar clamp members between which an article may be placed, one of said members having a flange adjacent an upper edge thereof with an opening in said flange, means defining a hook-like element operatively connected to the other of said members and extending through said opening for supporting the both of said members, a second hook like element, and means pivotally connecting said latter element to said first element whereby said elements may be selectively positioned to provide an enclosure and to be openedto permit removal of said device from a support element.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said clamp members are provided with aligned apertures arranged to receive a fastener element to fasten an article therebetween.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said clamp members are provided with substantially parallel crimped portions of generally arcuate form.

5. A device of the character described for clamping and supporting a relatively fiat article comprising a relatively fiat first member of generally rectangular shape,

a second member substantially the same as said first member, means adjacent a longitudinally extending edge of said second member defining with said member a longitudinally extending groove in which an edge portion of said first member is adapted to be seated whereby opposed planar portions of said members may be positioned in contiguous relationship, said means including a longitudinally extending slot opening generally normal to the plane of said second member, a tab formed integrally with said first member and extending through said slot, said tab having a generally U-shaped hook formed at the upper end thereof whereby said hook and member may be hung from a horizontal support element.

6. A device as characterized in claim 5 in which a second hook is provided, said second hook being pivotally secured to said tab and in opposed relation to said first hook, said second hook being selectively movable from and towards said first hook so as to provide a releasable enclosure, and means in said first and second members adapted to receive a fastener.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said first and second members are provided with complementary offset portions extending generally longitudinally thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS