Patent Publication Number: US-7210660-B2

Title: Pegboard adapter

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/458,637, filed Mar. 28, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an assembly that can be used for supporting objects on a cabinet wall. More particularly, this invention is directed to an apparatus that can mount to lances or support members on a wall of a metal cabinet which are typically used for mounting removable shelves to the cabinet. A pegboard adapter can mount to the lances so that a cabinet which previously only had shelves can now have the advantages of having a pegboard for receiving peg hooks. 
   Metal cabinets are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture available. Metal cabinets can be hung in work areas, e.g., metal or woodworking shops, garages, as well as many other places. Metal cabinets can also provide storage in vehicles such as trucks and vans. In addition to the versatility provided by metal cabinets regarding the location and placement of the cabinets, metal cabinets also provide versatility in what they store. Metal cabinets have been used to store threaded rod, wire, brake line, welding rods, as well as more common items such as tools and fasteners. To increase a metal cabinet&#39;s versatility, some of the shelves are removable so that larger or different items can be stored in the cabinet. The removable shelves are typically mounted on lances that are fastened to or punched out of a cabinet side wall. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An adapter which is selectively mountable to an associated wall of a cabinet includes a first wall having a plurality of openings for receiving associated peg hooks. The adapter further includes a second wall depending from a first end of the first wall and a third wall extending from the second wall and including an opening for mounting the adapter to the associated wall. The third wall is substantially parallel to the first wall. 
   A method for providing a removable peg board in a cabinet having a plurality of lances on a side wall of the cabinet includes providing a peg board adapter and mounting the peg board adapter to a wall of the cabinet. The peg board adapter includes a first wall having a plurality of openings for receiving peg hooks, a second wall depending from the first wall, and a third wall extending from the second wall such that the third wall is at least substantially parallel to the first wall. The third wall includes a mounting opening. The peg board is mounted to the cabinet by placing one of the lances through the mounting opening and supporting a portion of the third wall on the lance. 
   Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, one embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pegboard adapter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the pegboard adapter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the pegboard adapter of  FIG. 1 , prior to final metal forming; and 
       FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the pegboard adapter of  FIG. 1  mounted to a sidewall of a cabinet. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIGS. 1–4  illustrate a pegboard adapter  2  which is mountable to a cabinet wall. The pegboard adapter in the present application is made of a metal, preferably steel; however, the pegboard adapter could also be made of other suitable materials, such as plastic. 
   Specifically, the pegboard adapter  2  has a main wall  10  having first and second lateral side walls  12  and  14  which depend from and are substantially perpendicular to the main wall. Walls  12  and  14  are substantially parallel to each other. The pegboard adapter also includes a first flange  16  extending from and substantially perpendicular to the first wall  12 . A second flange  18  extends substantially perpendicular to and from the second wall  14 . The main wall  10  is spaced from and is parallel to the flanges  16  and  18 . Preferably, flanges  16  and  18  are positioned in the same plane. 
   Flanges  16 ,  18  include openings  30 ,  32 , respectively, for receiving a lance B (see  FIG. 4 ) mounted to or punched out of a cabinet wall. Openings  30 ,  32  are used to mount the pegboard adapter  2  to the cabinet. Openings  32  can be formed as slots which can be slid over lances adjacent a bottom wall of the cabinet. The slots assist in placement of the adapter over lances adjacent a bottom wall of the cabinet and allow the lower edge of flange  18  to abut or rest against the bottom wall of the cabinet. The specific number and placement of openings  30  or slots  32  is dependent upon the spacing and number of lances in the side wall of the cabinet. 
   Main wall  10  includes a plurality of openings  36  adapted to receive hooks or hangers. The size and shape of the openings  36  are such that the openings can receive standard pegs, hooks or hangers that can fit into a conventional pegboard. Furthermore, the amount of openings as well as the number of columns or rows can be determined to meet the needs of the user of the cabinet according to the number and types of items that will be hung from the peg board adapter. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the openings are shown to be equally spaced apart; however, the openings may also be spaced unequally along the wall without departing from the scope of the present invention. The lateral side walls  12  and  14  provide the spacing between the cabinet wall A and the main wall  10 . The lateral side walls  12  and  14  are shown as perpendicular to the main wall  10 ; however, the side walls  12  and  14  can be at any angle so long as adequate space is provided between the main wall  10  and the cabinet rear A. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the pegboard adapter  2  mounts on a cabinet wall A such that lances B protrude through openings  30  and slots  32 . The main wall  10  is adequately spaced from the cabinet wall A so that a hook or hanger C can protrude through one of the hook openings  36  and mount to the pegboard adapter  2  without contacting the cabinet rear wall A. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the pegboard adapter  2  can be manufactured and formed from a single sheet of metal. The metal can be formed so that openings  30  and slots  32  are punched or otherwise formed in the adapter. In the preferred embodiment, the holes  30  and the slots  32  are proximal the ends of the adapter. Holes  36  are formed along a central longitudinal axis  40  of the adapter  2 . Walls  12  and  14  may be formed by punching or pressing a metal blank such that the walls  12 ,  14  are substantially perpendicular to wall  10 . The walls are used to position the main wall  10  to be adequately spaced from the cabinet wall A to allow a peghook to protrude through the adapter without contacting the cabinet wall. 
   The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. For example, the openings  36  need not be aligned along a central longitudinal axis, they could be oriented in various positions on the main wall  10 . Also, the slots  32  may not be formed in the flange  18 , especially if the flange  18  will rest on a shelf in the cabinet. This specification is intended to include all such obvious modifications and alterations.