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 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    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 
       [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system that does not have the disadvantages inherent in known systems. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a wall mounting system that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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 
         [0009]    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: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wall mounting strip in accordance with the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the wall mounting strip shown in  FIG. 1 , taken all along line  2 - 2 ; and 
           [0012]      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 
       [0013]    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 . 
         [0014]    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  12   a  and a similar longitudinal lower portion or track  12   b  connected to each other by a rear connecting web  12   c . A front plate  12   d  is spaced from the rear connecting web  12   c  a distance “d”. The front plate  12   d  is attached to the connecting wed  12   c  by means of a bridging or spacer portion  12   e . The front plate  12   b  has an upper edge  12   f  and a lower edge  12   g , the lower edge extending below the bridging portion  12   e  to facilitate the gripping of the lower edge, as will be evident from the description that follows. The upper portion or track  12   a  may be provided with spaced mounting holes  12   h  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. 
         [0015]    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  14   a , an upper curved portion  14   b  and a lower curved portion  14   c . The upper curved portion slidably engages the upper edge  12   f  while the lower curved portion  14   c  slidably engages the lower edge  12   g . On the front surface of the front plate  14   a , 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. 
         [0016]    It will be clear that the hooks slidably mate with the front plate  12   d  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  12   b  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. 
         [0017]    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  12   d  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. 
         [0018]    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 . 
         [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    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.