Abstract:
The present invention pertains to a slatwall extrusion and assembly that supportably secures a hanger, shelf bracket or other hardware. The slatwall extrusion has a board with a downwardly facing lip that combines with a lower like-shaped board to form a uniform longitudinal slot that receives the upper end of a mounting bracket for the hardware. The lip of each board has a track with rim to form an upwardly facing groove. The track receives and supportably secures the lower end of the bracket. The lower end of lip and the track are spaced apart a predetermined uniform distance. The bracket snap fits over the rim and into the groove so that the bracket is securely held by and between the lip and the track. An embodiment of the invention takes the form of an extruded slatwall rail having an upper lip and a lower board with the track.

Description:
[0001]     This is a Continuation-In-Part of Design Patent Application Nos. 29/200,780 and 29/200,781 filed Mar. 4, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Slatwall is used to support or display a wide variety of products in an organized manner. The slatwall is typically mounted flush against a wall, and is particularly useful in retail stores, garages and the like where goods or items need to be displayed or stored, and a more finished look is desired but bulky cabinets or conventional shelving are inappropriate due to lack of space. Slatwall includes a number of horizontal boards or slats. Adjacent slats are spaced apart a given distance to form a number of uniform, horizontal slots. The slots are evenly spaced, one above the other, through the height of the slatwall. A number of hangers or supporting hardware are secured to the slatwall by inserting them into the slots. The hangers are generally cantilevered from the slatwall so that items can be hung from or supported by the hangers. The hangers or hardware can also be used to support a platform for displaying or storing smaller items such as shoes, packaged fasteners or the like.  
         [0003]     A problem with conventional slatwall is that the supporting hardware can be dislodged. When people walk by slatwall or quickly reach for an item on the slatwall, they can inadvertently bump one or more of the hangers with enough force to rotate and dislodge the hanger and cause it and the item it supports to fall to the ground. This can be particularly frustrating and embarrassing to customers and storekeepers in a retail store setting, and can damage the goods being displayed. When the slatwall is supporting heavy or sharp objects such as shovels, racks, saws, and the like as in a garage setting, the falling objects can cause injury. When many items are hung or supported by the slatwall at different heights and a person bumps one of the upper hangers, a cascading effect can result with several pieces of hardware and objects falling to the ground.  
         [0004]     Another problem with conventional slatwall hangers is the unreliable nature with which they grip the slatwall. Only a small portion of the hanger typically engages the slatwall to keep it from falling to the ground. Frequently, only one eighth (⅛) inch of the rim of the hanger engages the slatwall to prevent the hanger from rotating forward and falling to the ground. This small contact area produces concentrated stresses on the hanger and slatwall. These stresses can bend the rim of the metal or plastic hanger and cause the hanger to rotate forward or otherwise pop out of its supporting slot and fall to the ground. Similarly, these concentrated stresses can bend, chip or break the slatwall and cause the hanger to rotate forward and out of its slot. Normal wear and tear on the slatwall and the hangers can cause the assembly to function unreliably because the hangers are more easily dislodged and knocked from place during use. Hangers with slightly bent or worn rims will no longer grip the portions of some or all of the slots, particularly if the lip is worn or chipped. Wood slatwall is particularly problematic because the edges of the lips of the board forming the slot can chip under stress or through normal wear and tear, which permanently damages the slatwall so that hangers will continue to pop out at the damaged location. Slight variations in the uniformity of the slots due to manufacturing tolerances and installation error also cause the hangers to grip the slatwall less reliably in certain areas of the assembly.  
         [0005]     A further problem with conventional slatwall is that it can be difficult to rearrange the hangers and the items being displayed or stored on the slatwall. More permanent type fasteners such as nails or screws that secure the hangers to the slatwall need to be removed. This is a cumbersome process that damages the slatwall. Adding or removing even one hanger and item to the slatwall can require the removal and reattachment of several hangers. Repeated rearrangements of the hangers ultimately causes physical and aesthetic damage to the slatwall. Replacing or repairing the slatwall results in extra expenses and down time.  
         [0006]     The present invention is intended to solve these and other problems.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention pertains to a slatwall extrusion and assembly that supportably secures a hanger, shelf bracket or other hardware. The slatwall extrusion has a board with a downwardly facing lip that combines with a lower like-shaped board to form a uniform longitudinal slot that receives the upper end of a mounting bracket for the hardware. The lip of each board has a track with rim to form an upwardly facing groove. The track receives and supportably secures the lower end of the bracket. The lower end of lip and the track are spaced apart a predetermined uniform distance. The bracket snap fits over the rim and into the groove so that the bracket is securely held by and between the lip and the track. A stiffening web is used to strengthen the lip. An embodiment of the invention takes the form of an extruded slatwall rail having an upper lip and a lower board with the track. The hardware is easily positioned along the slatwall by sliding it along the track.  
         [0008]     One advantage of the present slatwall extrusion is that it reliably secures the hardware or hanger to the slatwall. The track and groove secure the lower end of the hardware, and prevent the lower end from rotating forward into a release position. By securing the lower end, the track helps prevent inadvertent dislodgement of the hardware, as well as any shelving or goods being supported by that hardware. The hardware remains in place even if inadvertently bumped by a person walking by the slatwall display assembly or a person reaching to grab an item hanging or otherwise supported by the slatwall. The track significantly improves the overall performance and satisfaction of the slatwall assembly. Displayed and stored goods are kept in place and are less likely to be damaged. Customers and storekeepers do not need to keep picking up slatwall hardware and display items, and heavy or sharp items are less likely to fall and injure people.  
         [0009]     Another advantage of the present slatwall extrusion invention is its increased contact area between the upper end of the hanger bracket and the lip of the slatwall. This increased contact area improves the strength and reliability of the extruded slatwall, assembly and rail. The track lifts the mounting bracket so that its upper end rises in the slot to increase the contact area between the upper end of the bracket and the lip of the slatwall. A full half (½) inch of the bracket engages the inside surface of the lip of the upper board. This increased contact area reduces the stresses on the lip, the surrounding portions of the slatwall, and the bracket so that they do not bend and allow the hanger to pop out of the slot during use. As a result, much heavier objects can be more reliably hung or supported from hardware or hangers without risk that they will pop out during use, even if inadvertently bumped.  
         [0010]     A further advantage of the present slatwall extrusion invention is that hangers can be easily secured in place, rearranged and removed. The mounting bracket of a piece of hardware is easily snap-fit in place between the cooperating lip, slot and track. The uniform spacing of the longitudinally extending lip, slot and track allow the hangers, shelving brackets and other hardware to slide horizontally along the length of the slatwall and assembly so that they can be positioned or repositioned at a desired location without removing and resecuring them. The mounting bracket snap fits in place without the need of any tools. The hangers are easily removed from the slatwall with a screwdriver or other similar flat headed tool, or they can be slid off the end of the slatwall or assembly. No nails or screws are required to secure the hardware to the slatwall, so the slatwall remains physically sound and aesthetically pleasing even after many rearrangements of the display items.  
         [0011]     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification, claims and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slatwall assembly formed by several horizontal sections of slatwall with hangers such as hocks and shelf brackets that are secured in place to the slatwall invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a slatwall extrusion forming two adjacent boards, where each board forms a lower lip that includes a support track.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly with a hanger secured to a slot formed by adjacent boards with the hanger secured between the lower lip of the upper board and the track of the lower board.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly formed by a first alternate embodiment of the slatwall extrusion with a stiffening web in the lip and the track extending from the web and offset from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly formed by a second alternate embodiment of the slatwall extrusion with the stiffening web in the lip and the track extending from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a single board embodiment of the present slatwall extrusion invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a side sectional view of the single board embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A .  
         [0019]      FIG. 6C  is a side sectional view of the single board embodiment of  FIG. 6A  with a stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the web.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6D  is a side sectional view of the single board embodiment of  FIG. 6A  with the stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a side sectional view of a three-board embodiment of the present slatwall extrusion invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a side sectional view of the three-board embodiment with a stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the web.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7C  is a side sectional view of the three-board embodiment with the stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a side sectional view of a four-board embodiment of the present slatwall extrusion invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a side sectional view of the four-board embodiment with a stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the web and offset from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8C  is a side sectional view of the four-board embodiment with the stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a backless embodiment of the present slatwall extrusion invention without a continuous rear wall spanning from its upper end to its lower end.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9B  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly formed by the backless embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A .  
         [0029]      FIG. 9C  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly formed by the backless embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A  with a stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the web.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9D  is a side sectional view of the slatwall assembly formed by the backless embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A  with the stiffening web in its lower lip and the track extending from the lower end of its lip.  
         [0031]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a rail extrusion incorporating the present invention, where the rail includes an upper lip and a lower board that are spaced to define the slot, and where the track extends from the lower end of the board.  
         [0032]      FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the rail of  FIG. 10A  with a stiffening web in its lower board, and where the track extends from the web and is offset from the lower end of the board.  
         [0033]      FIG. 10C  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the rail of  FIG. 10A  with a stiffening web in its lower board, and where the track extends from the lower end of the board.  
         [0034]      FIG. 11A  is a side sectional view of  FIG. 10A  showing the rail extrusion secured to a supporting wall and with a hanger positioned for insertion into its slot.  
         [0035]      FIG. 11B  is a side sectional view of the rail of  FIG. 11A  showing the hanger rotated so that its upper end is inserted into the slot of the rail.  
         [0036]      FIG. 11C  is a side sectional view of the rail of  FIG. 11B  showing the hanger just prior to being snap fit into the track of the rail.  
         [0037]      FIG. 11D  is a side sectional view of the rail of  FIG. 11C  showing the hanger after being snap fit to rail. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, the drawings show and the specification describes in detail the preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the drawings and specification are to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention. They are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0039]     Residential, commercial and industrial buildings typically have walls  5  with a number of uniformly spaced vertical studs  6 . The studs  6  are usually covered by an outer drywall layer  7  or other covering. The present invention pertains to a slatwall extrusion  10  used to form a slatwall assembly  12  having a number of like-shaped slats or boards  15  as generally shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Each extrusion  10  has a uniform cross-sectional shape that extends along its length form one side  10   a  to the other  10   b . Each board  15  has a generally hollow interior or core  15   a . Each extrusion  10  can have a single board  15  as in  FIG. 6A  or two or more boards  15  as in  FIGS. 2, 7A  and  8 A. In other words, each board  15  can be a separate piece that is individually secured to the wall  5 , or a number of integrally joined boards can be included in a single extrusion  10 . The boards  15  of a multi-board extrusion  10  are uniformly spaced and parallel.  
         [0040]     The slatwall assembly  12  is formed by a number of like-shaped extrusions  10 . The extrusions  10  are horizontally aligned so that each board  15  is uniformly spaced from and is parallel to its adjacent boards. Two adjacent boards  15  form a working set  16  that includes an upper board  17  and a lower board  18 . Fasteners  8  or an adhesive coating are used to secure the slatwall extrusions  10  to the studs  6  or wall covering  7 . Screws  8  are preferred for strength and removability. The slatwall assembly  12  and its individual extrusions  10  are used to mount or display a variety of objects off the floor of the building in an organized manner. The objects can be similar, such as in a display for a number of shoes, or they can vary in size, shape, weight and type, such as in a garage to mount shovels, racks, saws, garden tools, etc. The slatwall extrusions  10  are preferably extruded plastic having a desired combination of rigidity, strength, durability, and aesthetic appearance.  
         [0041]     Each slatwall extrusion  10  has a rear wall  21  with front and rear surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  that span the height of the extrusion. In one embodiment, the rear wall  21  extends continuously from the top of the extrusion to its bottom as in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The continuous rear wall  21  includes a segment  22  that forms the rear wall of each board  15  in that extrusion  10 . The rear wall  21  also includes upper and lower tabs  23  and  24  that position separate adjacent extrusions  10  into abutting engagement and horizontal alignment as in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The upper tab  23  includes an offset  23   a  at its upper end to snuggly receive the lower tab  24  of an adjacent extrusion  10 . The upper end of tab  23  and the lower end of tab  24  are parallel to the boards  15  of the extrusion. When separate extrusions  10  are properly aligned and secured to a wall  5 , the boards  15  of the separate extrusions forming the assembly  12  are in substantially parallel and horizontal alignment. The tabs  23  and  24  of separate adjacent extrusions  10  also combine to form a slot segment between the adjacent boards of separate extrusions as shown in  FIG. 3 . The rear wall  21  of the multi-board extrusions  10  shown in  FIGS. 2, 7A  and  8 A  10  have one or more slot forming segments  25  that integrally join adjacent boards  15  of that extrusion. The single-board  15  extrusion  10  shown in  FIG. 6A  does not include this segment. The extrusions  10  in the assembly  12  are secured to the wall  5  so that the rear surface  21   b  of each extrusion  10  and board  15  lays flush against the vertical wall studs  6  or wall covering  7 .  
         [0042]     Each board  15  in the extrusion  10  and assembly  12  has a substantially similar shape. Each like-shaped board has a front wall  27  with a front surface  27   a  that is generally parallel to the rear wall  21 . The front wall  27  defines the height or width of the board  15 , which is preferably about three (3) inches. The front wall  27  also defines the depth or thickness of the board  15 , which is preferably about one-half (½) inch. Each like-shaped board  15  also includes opposed upper and lower sidewalls  28  and  29 . These walls  21 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  combine to define the hollow interior  15   a  of the board  15 . The upper wall  28  is generally perpendicular to the front and rear walls  21  and  27 . The lower side wall  29  extends perpendicularly from the front and rear walls  21  and  27 , but includes an offset to form a lip  30 .  
         [0043]     The lip  30  is an integral part of its respective board  15 . When secured to the wall  5 , the lip  30  extends in a downward direction. Each lip  30  is formed by a lower portion of the front wall  27  and the bottom wall  29  of the board  15 . The bottom wall  29  includes a substantially horizontal lower end wall  32  with surface  32   a , and has a substantially vertical inner wall  33  with surface  33   a . The lower wall  32  has a width or depth dimension of about one-quarter (¼) inch. The inside wall  33  has a width or height dimension of about one-half (½) inch. Each lip  30  has a generally hollow interior  30   a  that is part of the hollow interior  15   a  of the board  15 . For increased rigidity, the lip  30  includes a stiffening web  35  that is preferably horizontal or perpendicular the rear and front walls  21  and  27  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 C,  6 D,  7 B,  7 C,  8 B and  8 D. Each of the walls  21 ,  27 ,  28 ,  32  and  33  and the web  35  has a uniform thickness of about one-sixteenth ( 1/16) inch.  
         [0044]     Each board  15  includes an outwardly extending track  40  to support a piece of hardware, as discussed below. The track  40  is an integral part of each board  15  and each extrusion  10 . Each track  40  extends along the length of the extrusion  10 . Each track  40  is in substantially linear alignment with and is parallel to the lower end  32  of its corresponding lip  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 ,  6 B,  7 A and  8 A. The track  40  can also be positioned to extend linearly from the stiffening web  35  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 6C ,  7 B or  8 B. Each track  40  includes a horizontal rail  42  having a forward end  42   a  and an upper surface  42   b . The forward end  42   a  of the rail  42  has an upwardly extending rib  43 . The rib  43  has a tip  43   a , a curved outer surface  43   b  and a flat vertical inner surface  43   c . The rail  42  extends from the front surface  21   a  about one-eighth (⅛) inch. The height of the rib  43  is about one-sixteenth ( 1/16) inch from upper surface  42   b  to tip  43   a . Similar to the walls of the board  15 , the rail  42  has a thickness of about one-sixteenth ( 1/16) inch, except at its forward end  42   a  where the track and rim have a combined height of about one-eight (⅛) inch. The surface  21   a  of the front wall  21  of the board  15  combines with the upper surface  42   b  of the rail  42  and the inner surface  43   c  of the rib  43  to form a groove  45 .  
         [0045]     Each set  16  of adjacent boards  17  and  18  in the assembly  12  has the same lip/track height. The upper surface  42   b  of the track  40  of each lower board  15 ,  18  is spaced a uniform distance from the lower end  32  of the lip  30  of its adjacent upper board  15 ,  17 . The adjacent boards  15  of a multi-board extrusion  10  are integrally formed to have this lip/track height. The tabs  23  and  24  of the extrusions  10  are structured and sized so that when two adjacent extrusions are properly assembled and fastened to the wall  5 , the lowest board  15 ,  17  of the upper extrusion and the upper board  15 ,  18  of the adjacent lower extrusion form a working set  16  with this lip/track height. In the embodiments shown, the lip/track height is about two and five-eights (2-⅝) inches. The lip/track height is uniform along the length of the extrusion  10  and assembly  12 .  
         [0046]     Each set  16  of adjacent boards  17  and  18  forms a slot  50  that is generally L-shaped when viewed in cross-section as in  FIG. 3 . Each slot  50  extends uniformly along the length of the extrusion  10  and assembly  12  from one side  10   a ,  12   a  to the other  10   b ,  12   b . The L-shaped slot  50  has a narrow portion  52  and a wide or tall portion  54 . The narrow portion  52  forms an opening through the front of the extrusion  10  or assembly  12  between the adjacent boards  15 . The narrow portion  52  is located between the lip  30  of the upper board  17  and the upper sidewall  28  of the lower board  18 , and more particularly between the plains formed by the front surface  21   a  of the front wall  21  and the inside surface  33   a  of the lip  30 . The narrow portion  52  has a width or height dimension of about three-eighths (⅜) of an inch, and a depth dimension extending into the slatwall  10  of about one-quarter (¼) inch. The wider portion  54  is located between the inside surface  33   a  of the lip  30  and the rear wall  24 . The wider portion  54  has a width dimension of about seven-eighths (⅞) inch, and a depth dimension of about one-eighth (⅛) inch. The total depth of the slot  50  is about three-eighths (⅜) inch. Although the slats  15  are shown and described to have only a lower lip  30  so as to form an L-shaped slot  50 , it should be understood that the upper sidewall  28  of the slat  15  could also have an upwardly extending lip so as to form a T-shaped slot without departing from the broad aspects of the invention. When the track  40  extends from the lower end  32  of the lip  30  as in  FIG. 3 , the lip/track height is roughly the height of one board  15  and the narrow portion  52  of one slot  50 .  
         [0047]     Another embodiment of the slatwall extrusion  90  is shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . In this embodiment, the rear wall  21  does not extend continuously from the top of the extrusion  90  to its bottom. The segment  22  of the rear wall  21  that would otherwise form the rear wall of its board or boards  15  is missing. This backless slatwall extrusion  90  is otherwise generally shaped and sized similar to the extrusion  10  having a continuous rear wall  21 . The backless slatwall extrusion  90  can also include a stiffening web  35  in its lip  30  as in  FIGS. 9C and 9D . The track  40  is in parallel alignment with and extend from the stiffening web  35  as in  FIG. 9C , or is in parallel alignment with and extends from the lower end  32  of the lip  30  as in  FIGS. 9B and 9D . Although not shown, the upper and lower tabs  23  and  24  of the rear wall  21  can have the structure shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  or the structure shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B .  
         [0048]     A further embodiment of the invention is an extruded slat rail  100  shown in FIGS.  10 A-C. The slat rail  100  has a continuous rear wall  121 , a lower board  126  and an upper lip  130 . The rear wall  121  has front and rear surfaces  121   a  and  121   b . The rear wall  121  spans the height of the extruded rail and extends continuously from the top of the extrusion to its bottom. The rear wall  121  includes a segment  122  that forms the rear wall of its board  126  and a segment  125  that forms the rear wall of its corresponding slot  50 . The board  126  has a front wall  127  with a front surface  127   a  that is generally parallel to the rear wall  121 . The front wall  127  defines the height or width of the board  126 , which is preferably about two and three-eighths (2-⅜) inches. The front wall  127  also defines the depth or thickness of the board  126 , which is preferably about one-half (½) inch. The board  126  includes opposed upper and lower sidewalls  128  and  129  that are generally perpendicular to the front and rear walls  121  and  127 . These walls  121 ,  127 ,  128  and  129  combine to define the hollow interior  126   a  of the board  126 . The rail extrusion  100  is secured to the wall  5  so that its rear surface  121   b  and board  126  lay flush against the vertical wall studs  6  or wall covering  7 .  
         [0049]     The lip  130  is integrally joined to the board  15  via the slot forming segment  125  of the rear wall  121  and a spacer wall  137  that extends forward a distance of about one-eighth (⅛) inch. When secured to the wall  5 , the lip  130  extends in a downward direction. The lip  130  is formed by a front wall  131  with a front surface  131   a , a lower end wall  132  with a surface  132   a , an inside wall  133  with an inside surface  133   a , and an upper sidewall  134 . The bottom wall  132  has a width or depth dimension of about one-quarter (¼) inch. The inside wall  133  has a width or height dimension of about one-half (½) inch. Each lip  130  has a generally hollow interior  130   a.    
         [0050]     The track  40  of the rail  100  has the same structure discussed above. The outwardly extending track  40  is an integral part of the rail  100  and extends the length of the rail. The track  40  is in substantially linear alignment with and is parallel to the bottom sidewall  129  of its board  126  as shown in  FIG. 10A . The board  126  can include a horizontal stiffening web  35  as shown in  FIGS. 10B and 10C . The track  40  can be positioned to extend from the stiffening web  135  as shown in  FIG. 10B  or the bottom sidewall  129  of the board as in  FIG. 10C . The components and dimensions of the track are similar to those discussed above. Each wall  121 ,  127 ,  128 ,  129 ,  131 ,  132 ,  133  and  134  of the extruded rail  100  as well as its track rail  42  has a uniform thickness of about one-sixteenth ( 1/16) inch. Again, the lip/track height is the distance between the upper surface  42   b  of the track  40  and the lower end  132  of the lip  130 . This lip/track height remains substantially constant along the length of the rail  100 .  
         [0051]     Hangers  60  are supportably secured by the cooperating lip  30 ,  130 , track  40  and slot  50  of the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12 , backless extrusion  90  or rail  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 11 A-D, each hanger  60  has a mounting bracket  61  for mounting it to the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12  or rail  100 . The mounting bracket  61  has inside and outside surfaces  62  and  63 , an upper portion  64  with a ledge or offset  65  and an upper most end  66 , a middle portion  67  that is generally flat, and lower portion  68  with a lower most end  69 . The upper portion  64  has a length or height dimension of slightly less than the length of the lip  30  or about one-half (½) inch. The combined length or height dimensions of the middle and lower portions  67  and  68  of the hanger is about the combined height of one board  15  and a narrow portion  52  of slot  50 , or about two and a half (2-½) inches. The hanger  60  has an effective height for the purpose of securing it to the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12 , backless extrusion  90  or rail  100 . For the hangers  60  shown, the effective height of the hanger is determined by the effective height of the bracket  61 . Given that the upper end  66  of the bracket  61  does not engage the wall  29  forming the top of the slot  50 , the height of the lower and middle portions  67  and  68  of the bracket  61 , the distance between its offset  65  and lower end  69 , forms the effective height of the hanger  60  or bracket  61 . This effective hardware height is substantially equal to the lip/track height of the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12 , backless extrusion  90  and rail  100 . Were the upper end  66  of the bracket  61  to engage the wall  29  forming the top of the slot  50 , then the effective hanger height would be the distance between the upper and lower ends  66  and  69  of the bracket.  
         [0052]     The hanger  60  has a hang rod  71  for supporting the goods or a shelf. The hang rod  71  has one end  72  that is secured to the middle portion  67  of the bracket  61 , a cantilevered middle portion  73  that extends generally horizontally when the hanger is secured to the slatwall  10 , and an inclined end  74  that is angled up to keep the goods from sliding off the hanger  60 . The cantilevered support  60  creates a torque that causes the middle and lower portions  67  and  68  of the bracket  61  to push against the front wall  27  of the lower board  18 , and the upper portion  64  to push against the inside surface  33   a  of the lip  30  of the upper board  17 . When the hanger is in its secured position as in  FIG. 3 , the hanger  60  and the weight of the goods it supports rests on the track  40 . The lip  30  and slot  50  formed by a set  16  of boards  17  and  18  combine with the upper portion  64  of the bracket  61  to prevent the bracket from rotating forward out of the slot  50  and out of supporting engagement with the track  40 . Although the hanger  60  is shown and described to have a particular shape, it should be understood that other hangers or pieces of hardware with other shapes, such as a hook or shelf bracket, could be used to support the goods, or a rack, tray or shelf for the goods, without departing from the broad aspects of the invention. For example, the mounting bracket  61  could be replaced by other components, or the upper portion  64  of the bracket could be formed by the hang rod  71 .  
         [0053]     The hangers are secured to adjacent boards  17  and  18  of the slatwall extrusion  10 ,  90  or assembly  12  in a multi-step process. These same steps are used to secure the hangers  60  to the slatwall rail  100 . First, the hanger  60  is angled backward into a tilted position  81  as in  FIG. 11A . The upper stepped portion  64  is inserted into the slot  50  until the upper most portion  66  clears the narrow outer portion  52  and enters the wider inner portion  54 . The hanger  60  is then rotated forward by hand or otherwise into a generally vertical engaged position  82  as in  FIG. 11B . The hanger  60  now engages the slatwall  10  but is not secured to the slatwall. Although the hanger  60  cannot rotate any further forward, it can be rotated backward, which could cause it to become dislodged from the slatwall. Next, the hanger  60  is slid upward until the upper surface of the stepped portion  64  engages the lower end  32 ,  132  of the lip  30 ,  130 . The hanger  60  is now in a pre-snap fit position  83  and is ready to be secured by and between the lip  30 ,  130  and track  40  of adjacent boards  17  and  18  or the rail  100  as in  FIG. 11C . The lowermost end  69  of the hanger  60  is just below the tip  43   a  of the rib  43  of the track  40 . As discussed above, the front  43   b  of the rim  43  of the track  40  is rounded so that pushing the lower most end  69  of the hanger towards the lower board  18 ,  126  causes the hanger  60  to move a little further up and elastically bends the track  40 ′ down to allow the lower most end  69  to snap fit into the groove  45 . The weight of the hanger  60  and the object it supports causes the hanger to slide down onto the rail  42  so that the weight of the hanger and the object are supported by the track  40 . The hanger is now in its secured position  84  as in  FIG. 11D . The lowermost end  69  of the hanger  60  is in groove  45  and abuttingly engaging the rail  42 , its flat middle and lower portions  67  and  68  flushly engage the front surface  27   a  of the front wall  27 , and its upper stepped portion  64  is inserted in slot  50  with its flat outer surface  63  flushly engaging the inside surface  34   a  of the lip.  
         [0054]     The secure position  84  increases the load carrying capacity of the hangers  60  and allows for easy positioning and removal of the hangers. As discussed above, the inside surface  43   c  edge of the upper end of the rib  43  is flat and not rounded. The lowermost end  69  cannot be easily knocked out so that the hanger  60  remains in its secure position  84  even when the hanger or object is bumped. In addition, when the hanger  60  is in its secured position  84 , a majority of the outer surface  63  of the vertical segment of the upper stepped portion  64  abuttingly engages the inside surface  33   a ,  133   a  of the lip  30 ,  130  of the upper slat  17  or rail  100 . By having the hanger  60  extend higher up in the slot  50  so that it presses against an upper portion of the lip  30 ,  130 , less torque is produced on the upper portion of the lip so that the lip more effectively resists outward bending and better retains its shape under load. In addition, the higher contact area requires more bending of the lip  30 ,  130  before the uppermost end  66  of the hanger  60  will clear the lower end  32  of the lip, which would allow the hanger to rotate forward and out of the slot  50 . Thus, the higher contact increases the holding strength of the slatwall  10 , assembly  12  and rail  100 , and their weight carrying capacity. Although the hanger  60  is held firmly in place by the cooperating track  40  and slot  50  of the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12  and rail  100 , the hanger  60  is free to slide from side to side along their length. This sliding allows the hangers  60  to be easily positioned or repositioned at a desired lengthwise location along the slatwall extrusion  10 , assembly  12  or rail  100 . In addition, the hanger  60  can be easily removed from the track  40  and slot  50  by simply sliding the hanger to the end of the slatwall and off on of the side ends  10   a  or  10   b , or  100   a  or  100   b.    
         [0055]     While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the broad aspects of the invention.