US2987288A

US2987288A - Supporting panel in combination with a holding device

Info

Publication number: US2987288A
Application number: US793184A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald L Shanks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-02-13
Filing date: 1959-02-13
Publication date: 1961-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-06

Description

D. L. SHANKS June 6, 1961 SUPPORTING PANEL IN COMBINATION WITH A HOLDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1959 S ates Patent O SUPPORTING PANEL IN COlVIBINATION WITH A HOLDING DEVICE Donald L. Shanks, 188 Adams St., Abington, Mass. Filed Feb. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 793,184 7 Claims. (Cl. 248-224) This is a continuation in part of my pending patent application, Serial No. 558,944, filing date January 13, 1956, now abandoned, for a Retainer Device to Hold Articles.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved holding device which is firmly, yet removably, attached to a supporting panel, in any number, and which will hold articles of various sizes and shapes.

Another object is to so form said holding device with relation to said supporting panel, that it will bear on the latter at a plurality of points thus making a firm and secure attachment of the device to the panel that will so remain even in inverted position.

A further object is to so construct said panel and holding device that they may be manufactured on a quantity production basis economically and simply.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

'FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my supporting panel with a plurality of holding devices mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of my retaining device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of my retaining device.

As illustrated, my supporting panel 10 may be formed of relatively thin, but firm, flat sheet metal. It preferably has two attaching portions referred to as a lower portion 12 and an upper portion 14 which may be attached to a main support such as a partition in a fishing tackle box, a wall or door of a building, an automobile dashboard, etc.,, as by an adhesive or nails or screws, etc. A front portion 16 is shown projecting forwardly of said lower and upperportion 12 and1 4. A lower connecting portion 18 and an upper connecting portion 29 extend angularly forward from said lower and upper attaching portions 12 and '14.

. Slots or notches 24, spaced apart, are provided in said connecting

portions

18 and 20,'as shown, and they'preferably extend a slight distance into said front portion 16 as well as fully across said connecting

portions

18 and 20 and slightly into said attaching

portions

12 and 14.

Said panel support 10 receives one or more retaining devices 28, made of spring steel, for instance, which extend into an alined pair of lower and upper slots 24 as shown. Said device 28 preferably has an upper end portion 30 that extends a short distance rearwardly towards said panel 10, and from which a relatively long retainer portion 32 extends downwardly in position of use and which preferably slants slightly forward and upward away from said panel 10. A connector or spacer 2,987,288 Patented June 6, 1961.

portion 34 extends from said retainer portion 32 inwardly to a point next to said panel front portion 16. Said

portions

30, 32 and 34 provide the retainer means of my device 28.

A front bearing portion 36 extends from said spacer portion 34 upwardly slanting slightly upward and for: ward. An upper connecting bearing portion 38, shown in the form of a loop, extends rearwardly from said front bearing portion 36 and rests on the upper edge of said panel front portion 16 where a said slot 24 terminates. A rear portion 40 extends downwardly from said connecting portion 38, extending slightly forward towards said front bearing portion 36 so that a relatively small space 42 is left between it and the lower end of said front bearing portion 36 to thus provide only a space enough to snugly receive said panel front portion 16, thereby providing a double bearing there.

A lower hearing or connector portion 42 extends from said rear bearing portion 40 in a forwardly and downwardly slanting direction a short distance forward of said front portion 16 from which preferably extends rearwardly a finger release portion 44. Said lower bearing portion 42 enables one to firmly attach my device to said panel 10 since said lower bearing portion '42 snaps into place against said panel lower edge. Said release portion 44 also provides simple means to enable a persons finger to push said lower connecting portion 42 and said release portion 44 through a said slot and away from said panel front 16, so my device can be separated from said supporting panel 10. Since it may be desirable to change the positions of said retaining devices 28 on a said supporting panel 10, said release portion 44 makes the removal operation easier.

Said retaining device 28 may be made of a single piece of spring steel. Its size, construction and relationship to said panel projecting portion 16 is such that there are four bearing portions of said device on said panel, namely, where said upper connecting portion 38 contacts said panel front portion upper edge, where said front bearing portion 36 contacts the front surface of said panel front portion, where said rear portion 40 contacts the rear surface of said front portion, and where said lower bearing portion 42 contacts the lower edge of said panel front portion 16. v

In FIG. 7 a modified form of retainer portion '46 is shown which slants diagonally forward and on which articles such as cups may be hung.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, lower and upper portions extending angularly rearward from said front portion each having a slot therein which slots are in substantially vertical alinement, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly ofisaid front portion, a first bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardly and bearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing portion through a said slot in said upper portion and being adjacent said front portion, a rearwardly extending portion extending from said connector portion downwardly to said lower angular portion, and another portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion through a said slot in said lower portion forwardly and being adjacent said front portion.

2. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, lower and upper portions extending angular- 1y rearward from said front portion each having a slot therein which slots are in substantially vertical alinement, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion, a first bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardly and hearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing portion through a said slot in said upper portion and bearing against said front portion, a rearwardly extending portion'extending from said connector portion aownw r'siytq said lower angular portion; and another connector portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion through a said slot in said lower portion rearwardly and bearing against said front portion.

3. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, a lower and an upper portion extending'angularly rearward from said front portion each having a slot therein which slots are in substantially vertical aline- Inent, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion, a first bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardly and'fon wardly and bearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing portion rear: wardly through a said slot in said upper portion and bearing against said front portion, a rearw-ardly extending portion extending from said connecter portiondownwardly and forwardly to said lower angular portion, and another bearing portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion through a said slot in' said lower portion forwardly and downwardly and bearing against said front portion. i

4. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, a lower and an upper portion extending angularly rearward from said front portion, said panel having a lower slot and an upper slot therein in substantial alinernent, said lower slot extending from a point in said front portion upwardly and into said lower angular portion and said upper slot extending from another point in said front portion upwardly and intofsaid upper angular portion, said slots being in substantially vertical alinement, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion, a"first'bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardlyand bearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing' p ortion through said upper slot and 'bearing against said front portions rearwardly extending portion extending from said bonaeaorpqmba downwardly to said lower ang ular portion, and another bearing extending from said rearwardly extending portion through said lower slot'forwardly and bearing against said front portion. 7 V i d 5; A supporting panel in combination with a retaining 7 tion, said slots being in substantially vertical alinement, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion, a first bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardly and bearing againstfthe front surface of said front portion, a connector portionextending from said first bearing portion through said upper slot and bearing against said front portion, a rearwardly extending portion extending from said connector portion downwardly and forwardly to said lower angular portion and bearing against the rear surface of said front portion, and another bearing portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion through said lower slot forwardly and bearing against said front portion.

6. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, a lower and an upper portion extending angularly rearward from said front portion, and two attaching portions extending angularly from-said lower and upper portions, said panel having a lower slot and an upper slot therein in substantial alinement, said lower slot extending from a point in said front portion upwardly and through said lower angular portion, and said upper slot extending from another point in said front portion upwardly and through said upper angular portion, said slots being in substantially vertical alinement, said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion,'a first bearing portion extending from said retainer means upwardly and bearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing portion through said upper slot and bearing against said front port-ion at the point of termination of said upper slot therein, a rearwardly extending portion extending from said connector portion downwardly to said lower angular portion, and another bearing portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion through said lower slot forwardly and bearing against said front portion at the point of termination of "said lower slot therein.

7. A supporting panel in combination with a retaining device, said panel, in position of use, embodying a front portion, a lower and an upper portion extending angular- 1y rearward from said front portion, said panel having a lower slot and an upper slot therein in substantial alinement, said lower slot extending from a point in said front portion upwardly and into said lower angular portion and said upper slot extending from another point in said front portion upwardly and into said'upper angular portion, said slots being in substantially vertical alinement,

said device embodying retainer means extending forwardly of said front portion and embodying atspacer portion extending rearwardly, a first bearing portion extending from said spacer portion upwardly and bearing against said front portion, a connector portion extending from said first bearing portion through said upper slot and bearing against said front portionI'a rearwardly extending portion extending from said connector portion downwardly to said lower angular portion, and another bearing portion extending from said rearwardly extending portion, through said lower slot forwardly and bearing againstsaid front portion. 7

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS