Method and apparatus for improved electroplating and painting racks

A retaining tip for releasable attachment to a rod having a cross-section in which two arms are attached to one another at one end of each by a circular wound helical spring. The other end of each arm is configured to retain parts or objects which are to be processed. The circular spring may be mechanically opened to receive the circular rod and then released to frictionally engage the rod. Clips utilizing a similar design are used to join cross members to build up an electroplating or painting fixture. An alternative support rack is constructed by means of releasable attachment of side bar members to cross bars.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 656,253, filed on Oct. 1, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,591,420 issued May 27, 1986, and U.S. patent application No. 828,030, 
filed on Feb. 10, 1986, now abandoned, which is copending and both of 
which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
The invention relates to an improved method for constructing racks for 
supporting objects during processing and to the specific apparatus of the 
improved racks. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Fixtures of the type used, for example, in the fields of painting and 
electroplating represent a major investment for businesses that engage in 
the painting or electroplating of objects. It has heretofor been necessary 
to fabricate the fixtures or racks, as they are called in the art, to meet 
the precise physical support requirements of the objects or parts to be 
processed. This "specialization" of rack design is especially cumbersome 
to the custom paint or electroplating shop of the type which accepts job 
contracts. Such a shop or business must of necessity not only maintain an 
extensive inventory of special and general purpose racks, but still must 
maintain the means, either by in-house fabrication facilities or by 
purchase, to obtain additional specialty racks or fixtures. 
Fixtures heretofore used in electroplating and painting have also had the 
problem of being inefficiently constructed. The inefficiencies lie in two 
distinct areas. First there is the inefficiency of welded, brazed or 
mechanically fastened means for holding the part supporting members to a 
main conducting bar which is usually made from copper. In a typical 
construction found in the prior art, copper bars of approximately one-half 
inch square cross-section (12.5 mm by 12.5 mm) are joined at right angles 
in a cross shape by drilling and tapping the bars and through bolting at 
the intersection. The process of drilling and tapping removes a portion of 
the electrical conduction path of the copper bars causing inefficiencies 
and non-uniform electrical current distribution in the bars. This also 
results in less current being transmitted to the parts held in the 
fixture. Object/part holders, or tips as they are called in the art, are 
attached to the conducting bars in a similar fashion. 
Second is the inefficiency of construction. The labor intensive steps of 
drilling, tapping or even of brazing the bar intersection joints and tips 
into the fabricated rack or fixture considerably add to the cost of the 
final fixture and to the costs which must be charged by the business. Even 
minor modification of the rack to suit new purposes can be an involved and 
labor intensive process. Additionally, inventoried racks represent a large 
amount of copper which is not being efficiently utilized, but which has 
heretofor been stored with the inventoried racks. 
An additional problem encountered on fixtures or racks which are used to 
position, support or retain objects to be electroplated or especially 
painted, is that materials of the process (i.e., paint or coating 
materials) build-up on the fixture and can drip, under the action of 
gravity, on the objects being processed. 
Therefore, there is a need for a method of constructing fixtures or racks 
in which the bars and tips from which the racks are constructed may be 
easily connected and disconnected from one another. There is also a need 
for an apparatus for attaching bars and tips to one another such that both 
the bars and the tips can be reused. There is also a need for a method and 
apparatus for constructing electroplating racks in which the conducting 
bars and tips may be joined together without the removal of, interference 
with or reduction of the electrical path, while maintaining good 
electrical contact between the respective bars and tips. 
There is also a need for a utility type of bar from which objects to be 
painted or electroplated may be suspended which protects the objects from 
dripping paint or materials which build-up on the fixture or rack. 
There is additionally, a need for easily constructed, easily stored and 
reusable painting racks and fixtures for reasons similar to those stated 
above, since the problems of the electroplating industry are shared by the 
painting industry, whether electrostatically charged painting systems are 
utilized or not. 
Further, there is a need for painting and/or electroplating racks and 
fixtures which are easily assembled yet can be broken down into unit 
construction pieces for easy, low volume, shipping from fabricator to 
user. 
Electroplating racks additionally are subject to being themselves plated. 
This problem has been solved in the prior art by covering the completely 
fabricated rack with a plastic or similar coating which is impervious to 
the electroplating bath and is electrically non-conductive, Unfortunately, 
the solution of the electroplating bath is often partially lost by being 
siphoned between the rack and its protective coating by a strong capillary 
action. This also leads to destruction of the rack as the solution is 
passed directly over the metal surfaces. 
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method for, preventing the 
initiation of such siphoning by capillary action. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary aspect of the present invention lies in the provision of a 
retaining tip made of a spring material. The tip has two arms which are 
joined to one another at one end by a circular wound helical spring of at 
least 180 degrees, the diameter of the circular winding being small 
relative to the length of the arms. 
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of utilizing the 
above described retaining tip in the construction of a rack by placing the 
circular winding of the circular wound spring around a circular 
cross-sectioned bar so that the two are in tight contact. 
An additional aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of a 
bar or rod around which a circular wound helical spring bearing retaining 
tip is placed, in which the bar or rod has essentially any cross-sectional 
shape including circular, square, triangular hexagonal or rectangular, the 
inside diameter of the said circular wound helical spring corresponding to 
the diameter of the bar or rod. 
A further aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of 
object supporting end shapes to the arms of the above described retaining 
tip, the ends opposite or distal from those at which the arms are joined 
at the spring. The object supporting ends are configured to the parts or 
objects to be supported or retained. 
Another aspect of the present invention lies in the provision of retaining 
tips which are easily and quickly removed from the circular 
cross-sectioned bars of a basic rack or fixture so that different tips may 
be located at random desired locations on the basic rack. 
A further aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of a 
protective coating on a rack or fixture tightly retained by a compressed 
wire for the prevention of establishing capillary flow of electroplating 
bath solution between the coating and the rack structure. 
Another aspect of the present invention lies in the provision of a 
releasably lockable apparatus for joining two bar members. The apparatus 
has two arm members which are joined one to the other at one end of each 
by a circular wound helical spring of at least 180 degrees. The arms are 
curved or bent in a way to return them to the axis of the helix of the 
spring. The other ends of the arms, distal from the spring end are 
configured to releasably and lockably engage one another. 
A further aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of a 
removeable electrically conductive shape which is the means for 
electrically connecting the electroplating rack to a D.C. power source. 
Another primary aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of 
releasable attachment of the cross-bar members and side rod members which 
constitute the frame of a support rack so that the members may be shipped 
disassembled for later assembly and for flexibility in the configuration 
of the assembled rack. 
A further aspect of the present invention resides in a releasable 
attachment method by which cross-bar members are configured to utilize 
sockets attached to the side rod members of a support rack. 
An additional primary aspect of the present invention resides in disposing 
a support plate over the cross-bar/cross-support members of the fixture to 
deflect the path of materials dripping from the fixture away from the 
objects being processed. 
Another aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of a 
retaining clip for use with the support plate for closely and efficiently 
spacing objects to be processed. 
A further aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of 
retaining clips configured to releasably engage a support plate which is 
disposed over the cross-support members. This retaining clip utilizes two 
opposed angular shapes to engage the edges of the support plate. The wire 
material of the retaining clip between the two angular shapes may be 
further utilized to engage the surface of the support plate, especially 
when the support plate has been configured as an angle shape, the angle 
being considered a part of the original surface of the support plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings, FIG. 2 describes a retaining tip generally 
shown 10, according to the present invention. An arm 12 is joined to a 
second arm 14 at one end of each arm by a circular wound helical spring 
16. Additionally, each arm 12 and 14 terminates at its other or distal end 
in an object holding shape 18 and 20. The apparatus 10 is preferrably 
fabricated from a single piece of spring wire by forming the circular 
wound helical spring 16 at substantially the center of a wire piece. The 
diameter of the spring winding 16 is small compared to the length of the 
wire piece. The spring winding must be greater than 180 degrees (.pi. 
radians) since spring is sized to receive a rod by fully surrounding the 
rod with the spring, as is more fully described below. It is preferrably 
that the spring be formed to be a helix of at least 450 degrees (5/2 .pi. 
radians) but less than 540 degrees (3 .pi. radians), and with additional 
windings of 360 degrees (2 .pi. radians) as is necessary to obtain the 
requisite gripping strength of the spring winding to a rod, as is more 
fully described below. 
The wire from which retaining tip 10 according to the present invention is 
preferred to be fabricated varies according to the use to which the 
retaining tip is to put. In the case of electroplating processes, the tip 
would retain a part or parts to be electroplated in an electroplating bath 
or solution of the types known to those familiar with the art. A retaining 
tip for use in electroplating processes should be fabricated from type 
302, type 304 or type 316 stainless steels or at least from one of the 
austenitic stainless steels. Steels having a high carbon content will tend 
to be subject to hydrogen embrittlement under the conditions of an 
electroplating conditions and these alloys are to be avoided. However, if 
the retaining tip is to be utilized in a parts painting fixture or rack, a 
mild carbon steel having spring properties is acceptable, as for example 
mild spring steel. It is not a requirement that the wire, from which a 
retaining tip according to the present invention is fabricated, be of any 
particular gauge or diameter. The requirement is that the fabricated 
retaining tip be capable of supporting the object or part for which it has 
been designed. Typical wire sizes range in diameter from 0.032 inch to 
3/16 inch (0.8 mm to 4.8 mm), but greater or smaller diameters may be 
utilized in the practice of the present invention. 
With reference to drawing FIG. 1, a fixture 30 according to the present 
invention is depicted in partial cut-away. Fixture 30 is also uniquely 
configured for use in holding objects or parts during an electroplating 
process. A central support rod 32 has retaining tips 34,36, 38 and 40 
according to the present invention attached to it Retaining tips 34,36,38 
and 40 are substantially similar to retaining tip 10 (FIG. 2) described 
above, differing primarily in the shape of the object or part holding 
shape residing at the ends of the arms distal from the circular wound 
spring. The object holding shape is configured to retain a part for which 
the tip is designed. 
Clearly depicted in FIG. 1 is the means for securing the retaining tip 34 
to the central rod 32. It will be understood that all of the retaining 
tips are attached by the process hereafter described. The circular wound 
helical spring 42 joins the two arms 44 and 46 which have also been bent, 
the object retaining shapes 48,50 beginning at the bend in the arms and 
continuing to the end of the arms distal from the spring. An object 52 is 
shown in dotted line to depict the means of object retention. The object 
retaining shapes vary according to the requirements of the object to be 
retained and supported by the retaining tip. 
Circular wound spring 42 surrounds central rod 32 when it has been properly 
located as described below. The diameter of circular wound spring 42 when 
the spring is at rest is less than but substantially the same as that of 
the rod 32, so that when in place on rod 32, spring 42 firmly grasps rod 
32. Spring 42 is placed over rod 32 by "opening" the spring, by which is 
meant that arms 44 and 46 are grasped and separated such that the circular 
wound helical spring 42 is slightly unwound by a few degrees thus 
increasing the diameter of the circular wound spring. The increased 
diameter circular winding is then placed over the end 54 of central rod 32 
and moved the desired distance along central rod 32. Once the proper or 
desired location on rod 32 has been reached, the arms 44 and 46 are 
released thus allowing the circular winding to partially relax and firmly 
grasp the surface of central rod 32. The spring winding is not fully 
relaxed to its rest position, thereby allowing a residual of grasping 
force by which the spring engages the rod surface. In this way, tips may 
be placed and easily moved along the central rod 32 to achieve optimal 
results from the fabricated fixture without removal of any metal or the 
use of drill and tap connections. In the preferred embodiment, the 
gripping power of the partially relaxed circular winding around the 
central rod is sufficient to prevent the retaining tip from even rotating 
about the axis of the central rod. This is achieved by correlating the at 
rest diameter of the circular would spring to the diameter of the rod. 
In an electroplating fixture, the tightness of the grip of the circular 
winding of a retaining tip according to the present invention against the 
central rod is critical so that proper electrical conduction can be 
obtained. It will also be recognized that a central rod may also be a 
series of cross members in a "tree" shape to economize space and to 
provide other locations for tips on the rod members. 
It will be appreciated that a circular cross-sectioned rod will provide 
greater electrical connection to a helical wound spring than will other 
shapes in which only points of contact are achieved. However, electrical 
connection is achieved with all shapes when contact is made between the 
helical spring and the shaped rod. Additionally, it will be recognized 
that gripping strength is, in part, a function of the number of points of 
contact between the inside of the helical wound spring and the rod upon 
which it is disposed, as well as the spring parameters of the helical 
wound spring itself. 
The frictional gripping strength of the circular wound helical spring of a 
retaining tip to the rod or bar, regardless of cross-sectional 
configuration, of the rod or bar, is a carefully monitored and planned 
part of the fabrication and design of such a connection. In 
electroplating, it is important that the retaining tip according to the 
present invention not move relative to the rod, even before the object to 
be electroplated is placed upon the retaining tip. In the context of the 
present invention, relative movement of the retaining tip to the rod upon 
which it is mounted refers to both the axial and radial movement or 
displacement. Both are undesirable and the gripping strength must be 
sufficient to prevent both. 
Turning again to FIG. 1, the method and apparatus of an improved 
electroplating or painting rack with the above characteristics can be 
appreciated and understood further. 
Once a central rod has been provided with the required retaining tips, it 
is usual in the art of electroplating fixture fabrication to provide a 
protective coating 56 around the metal parts of the fixture. The 
protective coating is to protect the metal from the corrosive effects of 
the electroplating bath or solution, but more importantly is to protect 
the expensive dissolved metal salts of the bath from being plated onto the 
fixture rather than the objects desire to be plated. Protective coating 56 
is preferrably a vinyl, polyethylene or a polyvinylchloride compound 
material that may be applied by dip coating in molten plastic. The primary 
characteristics of the coating are non-electrical conducting and chemical 
resistance. The preferred material may vary depending upon the chemicals 
present in the electroplating bath. The coating is then cut-away from the 
metal at the object retaining shapes of the tips and at the end 58 of the 
central rod at which it is electrically connected to an electrical power 
source. In this way a path for electrical current from a D.C. power source 
to the object is established through the fixture. To protect from the loss 
of electroplating bath or solution by capillary action between the coating 
56 and central rod 32 (through the retaining tips), a releasably lockable 
spring wire 60 is provided around the protective coating 56 at the end of 
the central rod near the point of connection to the electrical power 
source. The spring wire 60 is a wire that fully surrounds the protective 
coating 56 and that is releasably locked by engagement of the wire ends. 
The wire is tightened in locking so that the wire deforms the protective 
coating 56 into the surface of central rod 32 thus cutting off any 
capillary flow of liquids between the coating and the rod it surrounds. In 
this way no liquid may be lost by this route. 
Retaining clamp 62 and retaining clamps 100 and 102 are the same apparatus 
and are alternative forms of the retaining tip described in FIG. 2 above. 
In retaining clamp 62, two arm members 64 and 66 have been curved toward 
and past the axis of the circular winding of spring 68 so as to be able to 
retain an object between the arms and the rod over which remaining clamp 
62 is utilized. In the example shown in FIG. 1, retaining clamp 62 is on 
central rod 32 to retain conductor hanger 70 between arms 64, 66 and 
central rod 32, thereby preventing either axial or rotational movement of 
the conductor hanger relative to the rod. The ends of arms 64 and 66 
distal from spring 68 have been further configured to engage each other 
after passing rod 32 the engagement point 72 is releasably lockable for 
removal of conductor hanger 70 from central rod 32. The retaining clamps 
62 is mounted on central rod 32 in the manner previously described by 
separating arms 64 and 66. 
It should be noted that conductor hanger 70 in an electroplating fixture 
configuration represents a large amount of the conducting material, 
usually copper, that is committed to the fixture. By removeably attaching 
conductor hanger 70 to the balance of the fixture, the conductor hanger 
may be interchangeably utilized on other fixtures, thereby conserving the 
amount of copper committed to fixture inventory at an electroplating 
process and providing the mechanical support for the entire fixture and 
its contents of arts in the electroplating bath. 
Additionally shown in FIG. 1 is a handle 76 which utilizes friction clips 
78 and 80 to tightly engage conductor hanger 70. Friction clips 78 and 80 
are releasable by disengaging lock points 82 and 84 respectively. By means 
of the wire shape 86, the assembly acts as a handle for carrying fixtures 
from place to place in the electroplating facility. A loosely attached 
sleeve 88 surrounds wire 86. In this way, one holding a fixture by sleeve 
88 is prevented from holding the fixture in any way other than the 
vertical since the sleeve will allow wire 86 to move according to the 
weight distribution of the rack. 
With reference to the drawings, FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of a 
fixture according to the present invention. A fixture 90 such as that 
shown may be utilized for other purposes than electroplating, as for 
example in retaining objects to be painted. A central rod 92 has a handle 
or hanger 94 which is preferably a simple bend in the central rod. It will 
be appreciated that a handle 94 may take other forms or even be removably 
attached as in FIG. 1. Cross members 96 and 98 are releasably attached to 
central rod 92 by locking clips 100 and 102 according to the present 
invention, respectively. Retaining clamps 100 and 102 are similar in 
construction to retaining clamp 62 described in FIG. 1 and act to tightly 
retain the cross members to the central rod. It will be appreciated that 
the retaining clamps may also be utilized with the circular wound helical 
spring disposed about the central rod. 
Retaining tips 104, 106, 108 and 110 according to the present invention are 
depicted located on cross members 96 and 98. It will be appreciated that 
the retaining tips are firmly and tightly grasping the surface of the 
cross members so that they may be rotated initially to positions other 
than those shown in FIG. 3 and remain in those rotated positions even with 
the weight of parts or objects hanging from the object retaining ends of 
the retaining tips. In this way, the object to be, for example, painted 
may be fixedly oriented in any desired position relative to the fixture 
for optimal painting and workplace efficiency. 
Alternative Embodiment of Support Rack 
Turning now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a support rack 200 
which accords to the present invention the support rack is more clearly 
understood. Primary support rods 202 and 204 define the sides of the 
support rack. Utility cross support 210, more fully described below, and 
cross support rods 212, 214 and 216 are releasably attached to primary 
support rods 202 and 204 by socket means 218, which is also more fully 
described below. Additionally, hanger assembly 220 is connected to primary 
rods 202 and 204 by similar socket means 222. 
It will be appreciated that the various elements of support rack 200, 
namely primary support rods 202 and 204; cross support rods 210, 212, 214 
and 216; and hanger assembly 220 may be disassembled and shipped from the 
site of original fabrication to the paint shop or electroplating facility 
for easy storage and reassembly. Further, as will be more fully described 
below, the cross support rods are of varying configuration limited only by 
the imagination as applied in accordance with the present invention and 
the resulting support rack may differ by the combination and quantity of 
cross support rod configurations chosen for use on a given project of 
painting or electroplating. 
To more fully appreciate the aspects of support rack 200 according to the 
present invention, reference will be made sequentially to the various 
members or elements of the rack heretofore mentioned. 
Turning now to FIG. 5, the hanger assembly is more fully understood. FIG. 5 
is a perspective view of the hanger assembly 220 depicted in FIG. 4 in a 
storage condition according to the present invention. Reference will be 
made to both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in the following description: Hanger 
assembly 220 utilizes hook number 230 which bears an approximately 180 
degree hook shape 232 at one end of a metal rod and bears the housing 234 
of a pivotal connection means at the other end. Housing 234 is preferrably 
a piece of sheetmetal fixedly attached to hook number 230 and which bears 
bolt means 236 as a place of pivotal connection to arm members 238 and 
240. Arm members 238 and 240 are essentially identical. Each is a metal 
rod approximately 1/4 inch in diameter which has been formed into closed 
loop 242 at one end and bend 244 and 246 configured to utilize socket 222 
the releasable attachment method more fully described below. The closed 
loop is pivotally through--connected over bolting means 236 and can be 
folded to the storage condition as shown in FIG. 5, around the pivotal 
connection which is defined by housing 234 and bolt means 236. When 
un-folded, as shown in FIG. 4, arm members 238 and 240 engage the edge of 
housing 234 defining the maximum extent to which pivotal motion is 
permitted. Therefore, the extent of pivotal motion is regulated by the 
size of housing 234, and the spacing between the engaged surface of 
housing 234 and the center of rotation of bolt means 236. The diameter of 
the metal rods from which arm members 238 and 240 are made is also a 
factor in the regulation of the extent of pivotal motion of the hanger 
assembly. 
It will be appreciated that the hanger assembly, in the storage condition, 
is easily stored or shipped since it takes up significantly less volume or 
space than in the unfolded operational condition. 
It will be appreciated that the diameter of the metal rods from which the 
arm and hook members of the hanger assembly are constructed and the 
sheetmetal gauge of the housing are functions of the planned weight of the 
finished rack with parts to be processed in place. Since the hanger 
assembly may be used interchangeably on any number of rack assemblies as 
previously described, it is preferred that the hanger assembly be designed 
for the heaviest rack anticipated. 
Turning now to the socket connection method for connecting cross support 
rods 210, 212, 214, or 216 or hanger assembly 220 to primary support rods 
202 and/or 204, reference is made to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 depicts socket 
connection 250 which is a novel means for interconnecting the various 
elements of a support rack. Socket 252, which is preferably a rectangular 
piece of sheetmetal of relatively thin gauge which has been formed in to 
an oval sufficient to receive the diameter a primary support rod 258 and 
the diameter of an approximately 90 degree bend portion 256 in the end of 
a cross support rod 260. The junction 262 where the socket material ends 
meet to close the oval shape is preferably located on the circumference of 
primary support rod 258 at a point distal from the cross support rod 256 
point of contact with the primary support rod, all as shown in FIG. 7. 
Further, socket 252 is located along the length of primary support rod 258 
as necessary to space cross-support rods to form a rack like the one in 
FIG. 4. Once properly located, socket 252 is fixedly attached to primary 
support rod. The preferred means of attachment is spot welds 254. 
It will be appreciated that socket 252 may also be formed around or for use 
with rods of dissimilar diameter. 
The socket connection 250 is then completed by the insertion of 90 degree 
bend portion 256 of cross support rod 260. The 90 degree bend portion 256 
is to have a relatively close tolerance yet not binding fit into socket 
252. It is inserted and removed by grasping cross-support rod 260 at a 
point near socket connection 250 and moving in a direction parallel to 
primary support rod 258. It will be appreciated that the tolerance of the 
fit between socket 252 and 90 degree bend portion 256 is lower as the 
length of socket 252 and the length of 90 degree bend portion 256 
increases. It will be appreciated that application of pressure in any 
direction on a cross-support rod so connected at a place substantially 
away from socket connection 250 will cause 90 degree bend portion 256 to 
bind in socket 252 and against the length of primary support rod 258 
causing a tight connection. The weight of a cross support rod with or 
without objects to be processed in place is sufficient to bind the socket 
connection. 
Returning to FIG. 4, cross-support rods 212, 214, and 216 are metal rods 
which bear at each end a 90 degree bend portion configured to a socket 
located on primary support rods 202 and 204. In constructing a rack, the 
cross support rods are interconnected to primary support rods to form a 
rectangular shaped rack. Disposed along the length of cross support rods 
212, 214 and 216 are a plurality of tip holding members 270, 274 or 276. 
Tip holding members 270, 274 or 276 are made of metal rods of wire shapes 
configured to receive retaining tips as for example retaining tips 34 and 
36 of FIG. 1, or retaining tips 10, 104 or 106 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Tip 
holding member 274 is fixedly attached to cross support rod 214, and 
permits the removable retaining tips to be positioned away from the axis 
of cross support rod 214. In this way, objects held by the retaining tips 
do not touch the cross support rod. Tip holding member 276 is similar in 
function to tip holding member 274, but is shown in a different plane 
relative to its cross support rod. Tip holding member 270 is an example of 
configuring the tip holding member to receive a specialized retaining tip. 
The means of attaching those retaining tips to tip holding members 270, 
274 or 276 having been previously described. 
Turning now to FIG. 8, a novel utility cross support rod 210 according to 
the present invention may be more fully understood. As has been previously 
described, utility cross support rod 210 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 8 has use in 
preventing the dripping of processing materials, as for example paint, 
from the rack to the objects being processed, painted. Additionally, as 
will become clear, the retaining clip designed for use on utility rod 210 
permits a closer spacing of parts on the rack. 
Utility cross support rod 210 has a standard circular cross section metal 
rod 280 as do most cross support rods according to the present invention, 
rod 280 is provided with 90 degree bend portions on each end to engage 
sockets 302 and 304 of FIG. 4. Further, rod 280 has support plate 284 
disposed over substantially its entire length between primary support rods 
202 and 204. It is preferred that support plate 204 be fixedly attached to 
rod 280 as by weld bead 282. Further it is preferred that support plate 
284 be made of sheetmetal of moderate gauge (i.e., 11 gauge, 1/8 inch or 
3.0 mm). It will be appreciated that the actual metal thickness chosen 
should support the parts being processed with minimal deflection along the 
length of the utility support rod. Further, it is preferred that support 
plate 284 be shaped as an angle piece disposed over rod 280 as shown in 
FIG. 8. 
Retaining clip 285 is a piece of wire 290 configured as follows. For a two 
object supporting retaining clip, two angular shapes 286 and 288, being 
mirror images of each other and spaced apart along the length of the wire 
near the middle of wire 290, are configured to the edges of support plate 
284. The space between the angular shapes 286 and 288 is dictated by the 
spatial distance between the edges of angle shape 284 and the shape of 
wire 290. In FIG. 8, wire 290 is configured to grasp support plate 284 at 
three points thus defining the plane of retaining clip 285. 
It is preferred that angular shapes 286 and 288 are 90 degree bends toward 
the edge of support plate 284. In the two object supporting shape, wire 
290 continues past angular shapes 286 and 288 in reverse bend of 
approximately 90 degrees. This last bend is a matter of choice. 
In the single object supporting shape for the retaining clip, not shown, 
the second bend does not occur, and the object is supported directly below 
support plate 284. It is in the one object supporting shape that support 
plate 284 acts to protect the object and prevent the materials of 
processing to drip on the object being processed. 
At the ends of wire 290 in any shape or configuration of retaining clip 
285, wire 290 is configured to retain an object or objects to be 
processed. End configurations 294 and 296 are typical. Other object 
retaining configurations have been described above. 
A further refinement is the provision of paired notches 300 (FIGS. 4 and 8) 
in support plate. Paired notches 300 enable specific spacing of retaining 
clips 285. Of course, retaining clip 285 must be correspondingly modified 
to account for the shorter distance between the edges of support plate 284 
caused by pair notches 300. The improved spacing is clearly evident on 
utility cross support rod 210 of FIG. 4. 
To further understand the benefits of retaining clip 285, the method of 
installation and removal is described. To install retaining clip 285 on 
utility cross support rod 210, reference is made to FIG. 8. Wire 290 is 
grasped between angular shape 288 and object retaining shape 294 with the 
thumb placed on the wire between angular shapes 288 and 286. Angular shape 
288 is hooked into paired notch 300 and by levering wire 290 over the top 
of support plate 284, angular shape 286 is snapped into paired notch 300. 
Removal is even simpler. The wire 290 is grasped as before and angular 
shape 288 is merely levered off the paired notch 300. The method of 
installation and removal shows that the retaining clips may be spaced as 
closely as desired along the utility cross support rod closer spacing than 
that provided by other racks known in the art. 
It will be apparent from the above description that this invention provides 
for an improved method for constructing electroplating and painting racks. 
One improved rack or fixture provides for a socket connection for easy 
assembly and disassembly of the rack and ease of alteration to meet 
specific processing need. Further, it is apparent from the above 
description that a utility cross support bar having a support plate and 
removeable retaining clips configured to the support plate provides for 
closer spacing of parts to be processed. This because the retaining clips 
are installed and removed only in a plane perpendicular to the utility 
cross support rod. 
It will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications may be made 
in the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from 
the scope thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be 
construed in an illustrative and not in a limitative sense, the scope of 
the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.