Abstract:
An aperture board assembly includes a panel having an array of apertures, a modular array of receivers attached to the panel, and hook assemblies for detachably engaging the receivers. The modular array is attached to the panel so that each receiver is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. Each hook assembly passes at least partially through an aperture in the panel and into a receiver aligned with the aperture. Each receiver in the modular array includes spring clips that are equally spaced apart around a perimeter of the receiver. Each spring clip includes a pair of opposing spring fingers disposed in a spring clip aperture. Each pair of opposing spring fingers detachably engage the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to aperture boards that receive hooks and other accessories for storing items. More particularly, this invention relates to a keyed twist-lock fastener for holding a hook or other accessory to an aperture board. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Aperture boards, also referred to as pegboards, have long been used for hanging storage of items. These aperture boards, which typically attach to a wall or other vertical surface, include an array of apertures for receiving hooks and other accessories. The hooks generally have an insertion portion that passes through an aperture in the board and makes contact with the back side of the board. The contact of the insertion portion to the back of the board holds the hook to the board when a downward vertical load is applied to the hook. 
         [0003]    A problem with prior aperture board hook designs is the tendency for the hook to come loose from the board when an item hanging on the hook is removed. The removal of the hanging item sometimes causes a lifting force or rotational force or both to be applied to the hook, which may cause the insertion portion of the hook to come loose from the aperture. 
         [0004]    What is needed, therefore, is a fastener mechanism for an aperture board that provides for easy attachment of a hook or other accessory, and which holds firmly to the board when a hanging item is engage with or removed from the hook. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The above and other needs are met by an aperture board assembly that includes a panel having an array of apertures, a modular array of receivers attached to the panel, and hook assemblies for detachably engaging the receivers. Each aperture in the array is spaced from an adjacent aperture according to a first spacing, and each receiver of the modular array is spaced from an adjacent receiver according to the first spacing. The modular array is attached to the panel so that each receiver is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. Each hook assembly passes at least partially through an aperture in the panel and into a receiver aligned with the aperture. The hook assembly detachably engages the receiver as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the panel of the aperture board assembly includes opposing edge channels, and the modular array is slidingly received within the edge channels. In some embodiments, a second modular array of receivers may be attached to the panel so that each receiver of the second modular array is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. The two modular arrays of receivers may be disposed adjacent each other or they may be spaced apart in different regions of the panel. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, each receiver in the modular array includes one or more spring clips configured to detachably engage the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver. Preferably, there are two or more spring clips in each receiver which are equally spaced apart around a perimeter of the receiver. In a preferred embodiment, each spring clip includes a pair of opposing spring fingers disposed in a spring clip aperture. Each pair of opposing spring fingers of this embodiment detachably engages the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the hook assembly includes a spoked key which passes through an aperture in the panel and into the corresponding receiver aligned with the aperture. The spoked key has a number of radially extending spokes, the number of which equals the number of spring clips in the receiver. In a most preferred embodiment, the spoked key has three radially extending spokes, and each receiver has three spring clips which detachably engage the three spokes. Each pair of opposing spring fingers detachably engages a corresponding spoke of the spoked key as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver. 
         [0009]    Preferably, one or more of the apertures in the panel are spoked apertures having a spoked shape, and the spoked key of the hook assembly matches the spoked shape of the apertures. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, each receiver in the modular array includes a back plate, and the hook assembly includes one or more springs which engage the back plate of the receiver as the hook assembly passes into the aperture. In this embodiment, the engagement of the one or more springs against the back plate urges the hook assembly away from the back plate. The one or more springs of the hook assembly may comprise spokes which are configured to match the spoked shape of the spoked apertures in the panel. 
         [0011]    The modular array of receivers may include means, such as a slotted hole, for attaching the first modular array to a wall. Preferably, the slotted hole or other means are hidden from view when the panel is attached to the modular array. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the hook assembly includes a shank with one or more accessories attached to the shank. The accessories may be, for example, hooks, posts, loops, brackets, fasteners, or hangers. The hook assembly may also include a flange configured to substantially hide an aperture in the panel from view when the hook assembly is engaged with a receiver aligned with the aperture. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, the invention provides a hook assembly for use on an aperture board. In preferred embodiments, the hook assembly includes a shank for receiving items to be hung on the aperture board, a flange disposed rearward of the shank, a spoked key disposed rearward of the flange, and one or more springs disposed rearward of the spoked key. The flange is configured to substantially hide from view the aperture in the panel into which the hook assembly is inserted. The spoked key has a number of radially extending key spokes which may be aligned with radially extending spokes of a spoked aperture in the aperture board. The one or more springs are configured to urge the hook assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the aperture board when the spoked key is inserted into an aperture in the aperture board. In some embodiments, the one or more springs include, radially extending spring spokes, the number of which match the number of key spokes. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the shank and flange of the hook assembly are integrally formed as a single piece of plastic, and the spoked key, and springs are attached to the single-piece shank and flange by ultrasonic welding. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts an aperture board with hook assemblies attached thereto; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C depict a hook assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  depicts the backside of an aperture board having a single modular array of receivers; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  depicts the backside of an aperture board having two modular arrays of receivers; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict views of a modular array of receivers; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a back side view of receivers in a modular array; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-section view of a hook assembly locked into a receiver; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D depict views of a modular array of receivers; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C, and  7 D depict views of a modular array of receivers; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C depict views of an assembly of modular arrays of receivers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an aperture board assembly  10  includes a front panel  12  having an array of keyed apertures  14  for receiving hook assemblies  16 . As described in more detail below, a hook assembly  14  attaches to the front panel  12  by inserting a keyed portion of the hook assembly  16  into the keyed aperture  14  and rotating the hook assembly  16  to lock it in place. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A-2C  depict an embodiment of a hook assembly  16 . The hook assembly  16  preferably includes a hook shank  20 , a flange  22 , a spoked key  24 , a spring  26 , and a keyed attachment post  28  ( FIG. 3C ) extending from the backside of the flange  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2C , a preferred embodiment of the spoked key  24  includes three spokes  44  spaced at 120 degrees. Similarly, a preferred embodiment of the spring  26  includes three spokes  46  spaced at 120 degrees. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the hook shank  20 , flange  22  and attachment post  28  are formed as one piece of ABS plastic, such as by injection molding. The spoked key  24  and spring  26  of this embodiment are preferably formed as separate pieces, such as by injection molding, with each having a keyed hole matching the keyed attachment post  28 . The hook assembly  16  of this embodiment is assembled by sliding the spoked key  24  and spring  26  onto the attachment post  28  and ultrasonically welding them in place. In other embodiments, the spoked key  24  and spring  26  may be attached to the shank  20  or flange  22  using a threaded fastener or other fastener means. 
         [0029]    Although plastic is a preferred material for the components of the hook assembly  16 , each component may be formed of other materials, such as metal, wood or ceramic, to achieve a desired strength or ornamental appearance. Thus, it will be appreciated that the hook assembly  16  is not limited to any particular material or mode of construction. 
         [0030]    As used herein, the phrase “hook assembly” refers to any hook, post, loop, bracket, fastener, hanger, or other accessory that may be attached to the aperture board assembly  10 . Thus, the phrase “hook assembly” is an all-inclusive term, and is not limited to hooks only. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict the rear side of two embodiments of the aperture board assembly  10 . The embodiment of  FIG. 3A  includes a single modular receiver array  18  which is slidingly received within edge channels  40  disposed along the outer edge of the front panel  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the front panel  12  is formed of sheet metal, and the edge channels  40  are formed by bending the sheet metal. However, it will be appreciated that the front panel  12  may be formed of plastic, wood, or other materials. The embodiment of  FIG. 3B  includes two modular receiver arrays  18  which are slidingly received in a stacked configuration within the edge channels  40 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict front and rear views, respectively, of an embodiment of a modular receiver array  18 . The array  18  is preferably formed of ABS plastic in an injection molding process. However, the array  18  could be formed of metal or other suitable materials. The array  18  includes receivers  30  which are preferably equally spaced along its length. When viewed from the front, each receiver  30  comprises a circular depression or cup about to inch deep having a back plate  36 . In the embodiments depicted in the figures, each receiver  30  includes three spring clips  42  equally spaced at 120 degree increments. Each spring clip  42  comprises a pair of spring fingers  32  disposed within a spring clip aperture  34 . For reasons discussed in more detail below, the inside edges of the spring fingers  32  bulge inward toward the center of the receiver  30 . 
         [0033]    Although a preferred embodiment of the receiver includes three spring clips spaced at 120 degree increments around the perimeter, other numbers of spring clips could be provided in other embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments may include two spring clips separated by 180 degrees, or four spring clips separated by 90 degrees. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular number of spring clips or any particular angular spacing between spring clips. 
         [0034]    Similarly, alternative embodiments of the spoked key of the hook assembly may include two spokes spaced at 180 degrees or four spokes spaced at 90 degrees or other numbers of spokes. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular number of spokes or any particular angular spacing between spokes in the spoked key. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, cups  38  are provided at each end of the modular array  18 , each cup  38  having an aperture/slot for receiving a screw or other fastener for attaching the array  18  to a wall or other surface. Preferably, the depth of the cups  38  are set such that the edge channels  40  of the front panel  12  may slide between the wall and the back edge of the array  18  when the array  18  is attached to the wall. With this configuration, one or more arrays  18  may be attached to the wall, and then the front panel  12  may slide onto and be supported by the array(s)  18 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5A , when the front panel  12  is attached to the array  18 , the keyed apertures  14  in the front panel  12  align with the receivers  30  in the array  18 .  FIG. 5A  is a view of the backside of three adjacent receivers  30 , with the locations of the corresponding keyed apertures  14  in the front panel indicated by dashed lines. In the center receiver  30 , a hook assembly  16  has been inserted, the spoked key of which is shown in dashed outline. In the right-hand receiver  30 , a hook assembly  16  has been inserted and rotated 60 degrees. In this position, each spoke  44  of the spoked key engages the inward bulges of the spring fingers  32  of a corresponding spring clip  42 , urging the fingers  32  outward. Once the hook assembly  16  is rotated and locked into this position, a significant rotational force is needed to dislodge the spokes  44  from the spring fingers  32 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5B  depicts a cross-section view corresponding to section A-A of  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the spokes  46  of the spring  26  press against the back plate  36  of the receiver  30 , thereby providing counter-pressure so that the front surfaces of the spoked key  24  press firmly against the backside of the front panel  12 . This counter-pressure ensures a firm and stable attachment of the hook assembly  16  to the front panel  12 . 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the spring  26  includes spokes  46  (or leaves or petals) which press against the back plate  36  as described above. In alternative embodiments, the spring  26  may be a helical spring or other spring mechanism. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular type of spring mechanism for providing the counter-pressure described above. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D depict a third modular array of receivers  18   a  having a pair of tabs  48  extending from one end.  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C, and  7 D depict a fourth modular array of receivers  18   b  having a pair of posts  50  disposed near one end. The end of the fourth array  18   b  adjacent the posts  50  is open so as to receive the tabs  48  of the third array  18   a  when the third and fourth arrays are joined to form an assembly  18   c  of modular arrays as shown in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C. Each tab  48  has a hole which aligns with a blind hole in one of the posts  50  when the two arrays  18   a  and  18   b  are joined. The third array  18   a  and fourth array  18   b  may be attached together by passing self-threading screws or other fasteners through the holes in the tabs  48  and into the holes in the posts  50 . 
         [0040]    It will be appreciated that further embodiments may include tabs  48  or posts  50  at both ends of one or more of the modular arrays to allow three or more arrays to be attached together in an end-to-end configuration. 
         [0041]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.