Wall organizing system

Abstract

A wall organizing system includes a generally elongate track. A member is provided for attaching the track to a wall or other substantially vertical surface. At least one attaching member is slidably and selectively movable along the track between opposing lateral ends of the track for attaching to an item to be secured to the wall or other surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to organizing systems and, more specifically, to a wall organizing system suitable for use with tool bags and pouches, typically used with tool belts.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many efforts have been made by workers and do-it-yourselfers to improve the organization and storage of tools, items of hardware and other various objects. Numerous such systems have been proposed for mounting and storing objects on a wall because a wall presents a relatively large surface area that is not always utilized for this or any other purpose. Shelves of various types are examples of one such storage system. Hooks mounted on walls is another example. However, with the advent of new designs of tool belt and tool bags systems, there is a need for organizing and storing tool bags or pouches, particularly when these are not in use and are removed from the tool belt. Tool belts in storage systems of this type are described in the following U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/835,658 filed on Apr. 30, 2004 been published as number 20050242144, and a Ser. No. 10/838,601 filed on May 4, 2004 and published as number 20050263552. Because such tool belt storage systems make it possible to provide a user with an almost unlimited number of variations of tool bags or pouches, each customized for a specific user application, a user will typically have numerous such tool bags, pockets or pouches, while only using one or two at any given time. The remaining tool bags or pouches, normally removed from the tool belt when not in use, need to be organized and stored so that they can be easily identified, accessed and used as needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system that does not have the disadvantages inherent in known systems.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system as in the previous objects that is particularly useful in organizing and storing tool bags or pouches when these are not in use on a tool belt or the like.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system of the type under discussion, which renders it especially useful and easy to mount, remove and store a plurality of tool bags or pouches typically used on tool belts from a wall mounting system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects will become apparent when the drawings of the present invention are considered in detail along with the specification, taken with the drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall mounting strip in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wall mounting strip shown in FIG. 1, taken all along line 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a tool bag or pouch is mounted on the wall mounting or supporting bar or strip one the bag or pouch is not in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, in which similar or identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to FIG. 1, the wall mounting system in accordance with the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The mounting system 10 includes a support the bar 12. Also referring to FIG. 2, the support bar 12 may be formed out of extruded material, such as plastic or aluminum or any other material suitable for this purpose that will be evident to those skilled in the art. The support bar 12 includes a longitudinal upper portion or track 12a and a similar longitudinal lower portion or track 12b connected to each other by a rear connecting web 12c. A front plate 12d is spaced from the rear connecting web 12c a distance “d”. The front plate 12d is attached to the connecting wed 12c by means of a bridging or spacer portion 12e. The front plate 12b has an upper edge 12f and a lower edge 12g, the lower edge extending below the bridging portion 12e to facilitate the gripping of the lower edge, as will be evident from the description that follows. The upper portion or track 12a may be provided with spaced mounting holes 12h through which screws or other fasteners may be driven into the wall. However, it will be clear that any other attachment means may be used including but not limited to adhesives, Velcro®, etc.

One or more hooks 14 are mounted on the bar 12, and are preferably mounted for sliding movements along the bar. Each of the hooks 14 includes a generally C-shaped member that has a generally flat portion 14a, an upper curved portion 14b and a lower curved portion 14c. The upper curved portion slidably engages the upper edge 12f while the lower curved portion 14c slidably engages the lower edge 12g. On the front surface of the front plate 14a, as viewed in FIG. 1, is a resilient clip 16 suitable for engagement with the finger gripping mechanism, of the type to be described, as disclosed in the aforementioned pending patent applications.

It will be clear that the hooks slidably mate with the front plate 12d at the intermediate points shown between the free ends of the bar 12. Because the hooks 14 are made of a generally rigid material that have limited ability to bend or flex , the hooks need to be inserted on the front plate from one free end or the other. For this reason, and to provide a more ornamental and “finished” look, there are preferably provided end caps 18, 20 that can be removed. When the hooks, 14 are to be inserted or removed and positioned in place, as viewed in FIG. 1, one or both end caps can be removed and replaced during use of the device when inadvertent separation of hooks from the front plate 12b is to be avoided. In FIG. 1, therefore, the hooks 14 are free to slide and be repositioned at will, but cannot be separated or removed as long as the end caps are in place.

Referring to FIG. 3, suitable means may be provided for facilitating the removal and replacement of the end caps, 18, 20. This includes, for example, an opening 22 in the front plate 12d and locking detent 24, that is selectively receivable within the opening 22. The detent 24 is controlled by a spring-loaded button 26. When the button 26 is pushed in sufficiently the detent 24 moves out of the opening 22 against a biasing element (not shown), thereby unlocking the end 20 and allowing same to be removed. However, when the button 26 is released and the detent 24 moves into the slot 22 the end caps are locked in place.

In FIG. 3, a utility/storage module accessory is generally designated by the reference 28. The module or accessory includes a support member 30 in the form of a generally rigid support panel to which there is attached one or more pockets or other storage or retaining elements or components that provide storage compartments suitable for various applications. Thus, the support member 30, shown in FIG. 3, includes a separate receptacle wall 32 an additional exterior receptacles 34, as well as a band or strap 36. Securely attached to the support member or panel 30 is a finger grip mechanism 38 configured to cooperate with a clip 16. The details of the finger grip mechanism 38 are fully described in the above-mentioned applications. The support member 30 may be attached to the finger gripped mechanism 38 in any suitable or known ways, including rivets as shown. It should be noted, this connection, that clips, similar to clips 16 in FIGS. 1 or 3 can also be provided on tool belts or the like, so that the utility storage modules 28 can be equally mounted and supported on tool belts, as well as on wall mounting support bar 10. In this way, a utility storage module 28 may be stored on the support bar 10 when a worker does not use a given module, or needs to use differently configured modules. However, when the module is needed, it can easily be removed from the support bar 10 and attached to or mounted on a tool belt provided with similar or mating clips. Attachment of the module 28 to the support bar 10 is generally suggested by the arrow 40 in FIG. 3, indicating the general motion of the hand holding the finger grip mechanism 38. The details of the manner in which the finger grip mechanism 38 and the clip 16 cooperate is described in the a afore-mentioned pending patent applications. Those descriptions are incorporated fully as if set forth herein. In FIG. 4, the module 28 is shown as mounted or supported on the support bar 10. When a worker needs the module, he or she simply places his or her fingers underneath the finger grip mechanism 38 and lifts the module in a motion generally the reverse of the motion indicated by arrow 40 in FIG. 3.

Clearly, two or more modules may be placed on a single support bar 10. The number of modules that can be accommodated will clearly be a function of the length of the bar and how many clips 16 are provided. The invention can, therefore, assist a user in organizing modules or pouches that are selectively attached to tool belts or the like for specific work assignments. When the module is no longer needed or required, it can be returned to the support bar for storage.

In view of the foregoing, the will organizing system in accordance with the present invention helps organize tool pouches or pockets, both before and after use. The structure can be mounted in various convenient places, including garages, workshops and service vans or other vehicles. The system is expandable to home, office and workshop. The organizers can be built of metal, plastic or wood.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that the there is no intention to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Wall organizing system comprising a generally elongate track; means for attaching said track to a wall or other substantially vertical surface; at least one attaching means slidably and selectively movable along said track between opposing lateral ends of said track for attaching to an item to be secured to the wall or other surface.

2. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 1, further comprising stop means at each lateral end of said track to limiting movements of said attaching means between said lateral ends without separating from said track.

3. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 2, wherein said stop means are selectively removable from said track to allow for adding or removing attaching means from said track by sliding over one of said lateral ends.

4. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the items to be supported are tool pouches.

5. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 1, in combination with a tool pouch.

6. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 1, wherein said attachment means and said pouch are provided with mating snap lock connectors.

7. Wall organizing system as defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of attachment means independently slidably mounted on said track.