Board for pegboard system

This pegboard is injection molded of plastic yielding a unitized flat panel, and rearwardly projecting peripheral flanges and cross webs terminating along a single plane, suited to provide clearance for a cooperating hook between a panel rear face and a flat mounting surface. The pegboard has rows and columns of holes of both nominal ⅛ inch and ¼ inch diameters on one inch centers, to accommodate both conventional nominal size hooks. The respective rows and columns of the different size holes are alternately arranged offset from one another vertically and horizontally, allowing either size hook mounting virtually anywhere on the panel. Locating structures on the rear side of the pegboards provide accurate back to back squared registry positioning of two like pegboards, for cool-down after molding without shape distortion and for stable twin-pack packaging for retail sales.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pegboard systems are commonly used for storing tools or varied items, spaced off a vertical wall of a garage, workshop or the like. A conventional pegboard system is comprised of a flat sheet or panel with many holes arranged in equally spaced crossing rows and columns, and rigid hooks each suited to be easily inserted through one or more hole(s) to be secured to the panel at almost any location. Each hook will have a forward portion shaped to receive and hold the item to be stored, and a shank and upturned rear tab that can be inserted into or through the hole(s) to become interlocked on the panel.

As the rear hook tab protrudes beyond the rear face of the panel, the panel must be supported slightly forward of the wall, conventionally by separate furring stripes located around the perimeter of the panel. This makes fabrication and/or installation of the pegboard panel more difficult, such as merely screwing a flat panel against a wall surface.

The pegboard Systems come in two common sizes: the panels of one system having holes of nominal ⅛ inch diameter to receive hooks of nominal ⅛ inch diameter wire gauge, and the panels of the other system having holes of nominal ¼ inch diameter to receive hooks of nominal ¼ inch diameter wire gauge. Depending on the source of the pegboard systems, the nominal sizes of the hooks, hole diameters and panel thickness will actually vary, where for example a ⅛ inch hook wire gauge might be between 0.12–0.16 inch diameter, the nominal ⅛ inch hole might be up to 0.20 inch diameter, the nominal ¼ inch hook might be between 0.20–0.24 inch diameter, and the nominal ¼ inch hole might be up to 0.30 inch diameter. The panels of each system also might vary, but nominally might be ⅛ inch and ¼ inch thick.

Of interest to this invention, the panel holes of either hook size system are all of the same size, meaning that a separate panel is required for the use of each hook size. Although ⅛ inch hooks can generally be fitted on the ¼ inch panels, excessive free play can result in unstable support of the hook which can be easily dislodged and/or drop its supported item. However, ¼ inch hooks typically cannot be fitted on the ⅛ inch boards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to and an object of this invention is to provide a pegboard system having a flat panel or sheet and unitized peripheral flanges and cross webs rearwardly projected off of the rear face of the panel, where the rear edges of the flanges and webs are generally disposed along a plane spaced rearwardly of and parallel to the panel rear face so as to allow installation of the panel onto any flat mounting surface without furring strips while yet providing hook tab clearance between the panel rear face and mounting surface.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a pegboard panel of molded plastic, where the panel, flanges and cross webs are integrally formed as part of a single unit.

Another invention object of the invention is to provide stable cool-down of the molded pegboard panel by clamping two like panels in squared registry with the rear flange and cross web faces against one another during the cool-down; where the locating structures for establishing the squared two panel registry can further stabilize them for packaging as a twin pack for subsequent retail sales.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pegboard panel having rows and columns of holes of both the nominal ⅛ inch and the ¼ inch diameters, to accommodate on a single board both nominal ⅛ inch and ¼ inch diameter hooks.

A more specific object of the invention is to offset the respective rows and columns of the different size holes from one another, such as by one-half inch to be centered between the conventional hole rows and columns on one inch centers, so that either size hook can be located virtually anywhere on the panel in appropriate hole(s) thereat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The pegboard10illustrated is comprised as a rectangular planar panel12having peripheral edges13,14, and having front and rear faces15,16. Peripheral flanges19,20are projected rearwardly off of the panel12at the edges13,14, and intermediate cross webs21,22are projected rearwardly off of the rear panel face16disposed parallel and normal to and extended to the different respective peripheral flanges. The peripheral flanges19,20and intermediate cross webs21,22have rear faces25that lie generally along a single plane spaced rearwardly from the rear panel face16by a distance sufficient to allow hook insertion onto, removal from, or secured mounting on the panel12as needed.

The pegboard panel12, in the regions28between the rearwardly projected flanges19,20and crossing intermediate webs21,22, has small holes30arranged in horizontal rows31and vertical columns32, and has large holes34arranged in horizontal rows35and vertical columns36. This hole arrangement is suited to allow the pegboard panel12to accept both small and large item carrying hooks38and39. The holes30,34might respectively have to the nominal ⅛ or ¼ inch diameters.

More specifically with respect to the subject invention, the respective rows and columns of the different size holes30,34are alternately arranged and are offset from one another both horizontally and vertically by approximately the “A/2” distance. This further provides that the different size holes are alternately arranged and centered along diagonally angled patterns40,41disposed on approximately 45 degree angles from the horizontal rows31,35and vertical columns32,36.

Every hook38,39basically has a front portion42,43disposed to lie against the front panel face15, a shank44,45angled normally and rearwardly off of the front portion42,43and disposed to extend through the panel thickness, and a rear tab4647upturned off of the shank and disposed to lie against the rear panel face16. The pegboard thickness at the hole will be less than the length of the shank44,45. Thus, the tab46,47and shank44,45can be inserted into or through the hole(s)30,34upon the rotation of the hook first counterclockwise (inFIGS. 4,5) and then approximately one-quarter turn clockwise so that it interlocks onto the panel as illustrated. The hook tab46,47protrudes beyond the rear face16of the panel12during this hook manipulation, and butts against and protrudes away from the rear panel face when the hook is supported on the panel. The hook also has a holding portion48,49projecting transversely and forwardly off of the front portion42,43and shaped in a manner suited to hold the item desired, shown here merely as being curved forwardly and upwardly to its end spaced from both the hook front portion and panel front face.

Part of this invention is forming the pegboard10of plastic, by injection molding. This results the pegboard panel and all flanges and webs unitized, and forming all holes also in this single molding process. However, after the pegboard is ejected from the molding apparatus, it is hot and somewhat flexible and must be held squared up with the front panel faces flat and planar until cooled sufficiently to be stable. This invention provides a stabilized cool-down process, and requiring that all of the pegboards are the same with the flanges and intermediate webs symmetrically located relative to the pegboard center. Thus, when two pegboard are in back to back contacting position, the rear faces of the flanges and webs contact and create a squared registry condition with the front panel faces15flat and planar.

The structures50for easily locating this stabilized cool-down position includes webs52,53,54,55, radiating from an open central space56, that are formed off the rear panel face near each corner of the panel. A pin58(FIG. 6) is provided suited to be fitted snuggly but removably into each space56, projecting then normally away from the front face15. A hot first post fabrication pegboard can be laid front face down on a flat surface (not shown) and one end of the four locating pins58can be inserted into the spaces56. A second hot post fabrication pegboard can then be positioned with its locating spaces56over and onto the yet exposed other ends of the pins58. The two squared up and in registry panels can then be clamped together at the corners, as illustrated by arrows60inFIG. 8, until sufficient cool-down has occurred, such as to room temperature.

After cool-down, the paired panels can be unclamped but they will yet be held in squared registry by the locating structures50and pins58, with the front faces15exposed outwardly. At this point, printed flat sheet product promotional material (not shown) can be laid against either front face15and the entire assembly can be wrapped in transparent cellophane or the like62to form a twin pack package suited for subsequent retail sales. When the package ultimately is opened, locating pins58can be discarded, and the two pegboards can be mounted where needed for end use.

Each pegboard10can be secured to a vertical wall or like surface65by passing mounting screws (not shown) through any of the panel holes, at appropriate locations (to hit wall studs or the like) and in sufficient numbers to support the carried weight of the pegboard and loaded hooks. When so mounted, the rear faces25of the flanges and webs butt against mounting surface65to space and support the rear panel face16therefrom for needed hook clearances, and further to reinforce and provide solid panel support at the crossing webs21,22(which might be at 6–10 inch spacings) to add to the maximum carried loads.

Although not necessary, the panel12adjacent the larger holes34optionally might be reinforced by adding to the panel thickness around these holes, such as at rearwardly protruding bosses68(seeFIG. 5).

While specific structures have been illustrated, minor changes could be made without departing from the spirit of the inventive teaching. Accordingly, the invention is to determined by the scope of the following claims.