Patent Publication Number: US-6986430-B2

Title: System for holding and organizing articles

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mechanisms for holding and organizing articles and, in particular, it concerns a system that provides for easy addition of new holding elements to the system with out the need to disturb existing system elements, and further providing for easy adjustment of holding elements within the system. 
     One embodiment of a device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,284 to Taylor consists of a runner bar and springy clip halves, the clips being held in place by the friction of the spring effect between two legs of the clip base. Each of the clips of Taylor must be inserted into the runner bar at one of the two ends and then slid to the desired location along the length of the runner bar. This may prove to be a cumbersome process if a large number of clips need to be arranged along the length of a loge runner bar. Once a suitable arrangement of clips is deployed, articles may be held in place between two opposing clips. If a new article is to be added to the group of articles stored or held on the assembled device, it may require that some clips be removed from the end of the runner bar, the clips for the new article inserted into the runner bar and the previously removed clips reinserted. One can well imagine the inconvenience of this process if a large number of clips must be removed and reinserted. 
     One solution to overcome the problem of feed holding elements from an open end of a runner of rail is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,022 to Duarte. The Duarte device includes two panels each of which contain associated slots. One of the slots is configured with notches arranged to engage the engagement portion of the hanger element. Placement of the Duarte hangers is limited by the position of the notches, and therefore placement of the hangers is not continuously variable along the full length of the slot. 
     Another solution to overcome feeding holding elements from the end of a runner or rail is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,801 to the present inventor. The rails of this device are configured with a longitudinal slot. The holding elements are configured with a holder portion configured to extend perpendicular to the rail, with a gripper portion configured so as to fit through the slot. Once inserted in the slot the gripper is rotated so as to align with the rail along the edge of the slot. By tightening a screw, the gripper than grips the portion of the rail between the gripper and the base of the holder portion. This device suffers from the need to rotate the gripper so as to bring it into suitable alignment with the rail, both during installation of the holding element and when adjusting the position of the holding element on the rail. 
     There is therefore a need for a holding and storage system that provides easy attachment of holding elements to a base element substantially along the entire length of a slot provided in the base element such that a connecting portion of the holding element may be inserted into the slot at substantially any point along the length of the slot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system for holding and organizing articles that provides for easy addition of new holding elements to the system without the need to disturb existing system elements. 
     According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, A system for holding and storing articles comprising: (a) a support element configured with at least one slot, the slot being defined by spaced apart substantially parallel edges; and (b) at least one holder element configured with an article support portion and a position-retaining portion, the position-retaining portion configured so as to be elastically deformable between a relaxed state and a compressed state, such that in the compressed state the position-retaining portion is insertable through the slot, upon insertion through the slot, the position-retaining portion is released toward the relaxed state so as to engage the support element, thereby retaining the holder element in position on the support element, the engagement being at substantially any point along the slot. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is configured as a rail with a constant cross-sectional profile. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is an extruded rail configured from a material chosen from a list of materials including metals and plastics. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element is configured such that the article support portion independently supports an article. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the article support portion is configured as a hook. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element is configured as at least two associated holder elements arranged to support an article. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder elements are configured such that at least one the article support portion is springy such that, once deployed on the support element, the springiness is in a direction substantially parallel to the slot, whereby an article is supported between the two holder elements by the force of the spring tension of the at least one springy article support portion. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured so as to engage the edges of the slot. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured so as to grasp a region of each of the edges of the slot between at least two locking members. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the locking members include gripping edges. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured such that the holder element is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the edges of the slot in order to bring the locking members into alignment with the edges so as to allow the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is brought to the compressed state prior to the rotation. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element further comprises two notches each located opposite one another on sides of the holder element, each of the notches configured to accept insertion of the regions of the edges of the slot during the rotation, such that release of the position-retaining portion toward the relaxed state causes the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element further comprises a rearward wall configured with a parallel-sided groove aligned with the slot, the groove configured so as to restrict rotation of the holder element about the axis during the grasping. 
     There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a system for holding and storing articles comprising: (a) a support element configured with at least one slot, the slot being defined by spaced apart substantially parallel edges; and (b) at least one holder element configured with an article support portion and a position-retaining portion, the position-retaining portion configured so as to be elastically deformable between a relaxed state and a compressed state, such that in the compressed state the position-retaining portion is insertable through the slot, the holder element further configured such that upon insertion through the slot, the holder element is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the edges of the slot, thereupon the position-retaining portion is released toward the relaxed state so as to engage the support element, thereby retaining the holder element in position on the support element, the engagement being at substantially any point along the slot. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is configured as a rail with a constant cross-sectional profile. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is an extruded rail configured from a material chosen from a list of materials including metals and plastics. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element is configured such that the article support portion independently supports an article. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the article support portion is configured as a hook. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element is configured as at least two associated holder elements arranged to support an article. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder elements are configured such that at least one the article support portion is springy such that, once deployed on the support element, the springiness is in a direction substantially parallel to the slot, whereby an article is supported between the two holder elements by the force of the spring tension of the at least one springy article support portion. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured so as to engage the edges of the slot. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured so as to grasp a region of each of the edges of the slot between at least two locking members. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the locking members include gripping edges. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the position-retaining portion is configured such that the rotation brings the locking members into alignment with the edges of the slot so as to allow the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holder element further comprises two notches each located opposite one another on sides of the holder element, each of the notches configured to accept insertion of the regions of the edges of the slot during the rotation, such that release of the position-retaining portion toward the relaxed state causes the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element further comprises a rearward wall configured with a parallel-sided groove aligned with the slot, the groove configured so as to restrict rotation of the holder element about the axis during the grasping. 
     There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a method for holding and storing articles comprising: (a) providing a support element configured with at least one slot, the slot being defined by spaced apart substantially parallel edges; (b) providing at least one holder element configured with an article support portion and a position-retaining portion, the position-retaining portion configured so as to be elastically deformable between a relaxed state and a compressed state; (c) bring the position-retaining portion to the compressed state; (d) inserting the position-retaining portion through the slot; (e) rotating the holder element about an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the edges of the slot; (f) engaging the support element by releasing the position-retaining portion toward the relaxed state, thereby retaining the holder element in position on the support element, the engagement being at substantially any point along the slot; and (g) holding an article with at least one holder element. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is implemented as a rail with a constant cross-sectional profile. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the support element is implemented as an extruded rail configured from a material chosen from a list of materials including metals and plastics. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holding is accomplished by a single holder element. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the article support portion is implemented as a hook. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holding is accomplished using at least two associated holder elements arranged to support an article. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the holding is accomplished using the at least two holder elements configured such that at least one the article support portion is springy such that, once deployed on the support element, the springiness is in a direction substantially parallel to the slot, whereby an article is supported between the two holder elements by the force of the spring tension of the at least one springy article support portion. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the engagement is to the edges of the slot. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the engagement is implemented as grasping a region of each of the edges of the slot between at least two locking members. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the rotation brings the locking members into alignment with the edges of the slot so as to allow the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, the alignment further comprises two notches each located opposite one another on sides of the holder element, each of the notches configured to accept insertion of the regions of the edges of the slot during the rotation, such that release of the position-retaining portion toward the relaxed state causes the grasping. 
     According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided, providing the support element configured with a rearward wall, the rearward wall configured with a parallel-sided groove aligned with the slot, the groove configured so as to restrict rotation of the holder element about the axis during the grasping. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an embodiment of a rail constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation of the rail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top elevation of a first preferred embodiment of a clip constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, this embodiment being configured to springingly hold an article between two opposing such clips, the clip is shown here with the spring element of the position-retaining portion in a non-compressed state; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the clip of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top elevation of the clip of  FIG. 3  shown here with the spring element of the position-retaining portion in a compressed state; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the clip of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a detail of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of a clip constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, this embodiment configured with a hook; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are side elevations of step  1  of the deployment process of the clip of  FIG. 3  on the rail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of step  2  of the deployment process of the clip of  FIG. 3  on the rail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation of step  3  of the deployment process of the clip of  FIG. 3  on the rail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top elevation of two clips of  FIG. 3  opposedly deployed on the rail of  FIG. 1  so as to support an article between them; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevation of a clip of  FIG. 7  deployed on the rail of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a system for holding and organizing articles that provides for easy addition of new holding elements to the system without the need to disturb existing system elements. 
     The principles and operation of a system for holding and organizing articles that provides for easy addition of new holding elements to the system without the need to disturb existing system elements according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. 
     By way of introduction, the device of the present invention consists of a support element  2 , hereafter referred to as the “rail”  2  for brevity, to which are attached at least one holder element  30 , hereafter referred to as a “clip”  30  for brevity. A principle of the present invention is to provide a rail that includes a slot with substantially parallel edges. It is another principle of the present invention to provide a clip that is deployable on the rail by inserting the position-retaining portion of the clip through the slot, at substantially any point along the length of the slot, the clip is further configured so as to engage the rail at substantially any point along the length of the slot. While the embodiment of the rail herein described is a one-piece extruded rail configured preferably from metal, however the use of plastic is within the scope of the present invention. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the forward and rearward walls of the rail need not be configured as parts of an integral unit, as herein described, but rather may be separate associated pieces that perform the same function. It will be further apparent that the forward and rearward walls may be configured as associated panels, the forward panel may include a plurality of slots, and that the slots may be disposed at any given angle. The forward wall may also be formed from separated pieces that are spaced apart so as to form a slot between them. Alternatively, the slot may be provided in a single walled rail. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a rail  2  constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. The substantially parallel-sided slot  8  is configured in the forward wall  4  of the rail  2 . Optionally, the rearward wall  6  may be configured with a parallel-sided groove  10  aligned with the slot  8 . The groove  10  acts to stabilized the clip  30  when the clip  30  is deployed of the rail  2  (see  FIG. 11 ). In an embodiment in which the forward and rearward walls are configured as panels and the forward wall is configured with a plurality of slots, the rearward wall may be configured with a corresponding number of grooves each aligned with a corresponding slot. 
       FIGS. 3–6  are illustrative of a spring embodiment of a clip  30  constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. The clip  30  includes a position-retaining portion  32  and an article holding portion  50 . It should be noted that while the clip  30  described herein is a single integral unit, this is not intended as a limitation, but rather as a non-limiting example. 
     The position-retaining portion  32  of the clip  30  includes two notches  34  and  34 ′ each located opposite the other on the sides of the clip  30 . The two notches  34  and  34 ′ are configured to accept insertion of a portion of the forward wall  4  of the rail  2  when the clip  30  is rotated ( FIG. 10 ) into an article holding deployment as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The position-retaining portion  32  further includes a spring element  36  with a locking engagement regions  38  and  38 ′. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as detailed in  FIG. 6   a , the sides  44  of the notches  34  and  34 ′ are angled inwardly, thereby forming a first gripping edge  46  and  46 ′ (not shown). Further, the edge of the locking engagement regions  38  and  38 ′ are configured at an angle, thereby forming a second gripping edge  48  and  48 ′ (not shown). For operation of the spring element  36  an unlocking pad  40  is provided. When the spring tension of the clip  30  is at rest, as in  FIG. 3 , the two notches  34  and  34 ′ are not accessible from the side of the clip  30  on which the position-retaining portion  32  is configured. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the unlocking pad  40  is displaced toward the article holding portion  50  of the clip  30 , especially when the clip  30  is held between the thumb and forefinger of the user, the notches  34  and  34 ′ are exposed on both sides of the clip  30 . Thus, compression of the unlocking pad  40  brings the position-retaining portion  32  into an unlocked state. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8–11 , the steps of deployment of the clip  30  on the rail  2  is effected as follows:
         1—The position-retaining portion  32  of the clip  30  is inserted through the slot  8  in the forward wall  4  of the rail  2 . This step may include the upward rotation of the clip  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in order to complete the insertion. Optionally, it may be necessary to bring the position-retaining portion  32  into an unlocked state in order to be inserted through the slot  8 .   2—Once the position-retaining portion  32  of the clip  30  is inserted through the slot  8 , the clip  30  is rotated, in this embodiment and for purposes of non-limiting example, approximately 90 degrees such that regions of the edges of the forward wall  4  adjacent to, and above and below, the slot  8  are deployed within the two notches  34  and  34 ′. The direction of rotation may be either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the style of the clip  30  being deployed and the direction in which the particular clip must be deployed in order to meet the end use requirements of the user. That is, if two similar spring clips  30   a  and  30   b  are being deployed so as to springly hold an article  70  between them, as in  FIG. 12 , clip  30   a  is rotated counterclockwise and clip  30   b  is rotated clockwise. If a hook style clip  30   c , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , is being deployed, the clip is rotated in the direction that brings the hook into a proper use deployment. The non-limiting example of a hook style clip  30   c  is rotated counterclockwise to achieve a proper use deployment, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the range of sizes and styles of the article holding portion  50  of the clip  30  of the present invention is virtually limitless, therefore, the clips herein described are intended as non-limiting examples only.   3—After the clip  30  is rotated, the unlocking pad  40  is released and, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the regions of the forward wall that are now deployed within the notches  24  and  34 ′ are compressed between the wall of each of the notches  34  and  34 ′ and the corresponding locking engagement regions  38  and  38 ′. Further, the pressure of the spring tension forces the position-retaining portion  32  against the rearward wall  6  of the rail  2         

     To effect a change of clip position, the unlocking pad  40  is compressed and the clip  30  may be slid along the rail  2  in either direction to the desired location. 
     To remove a clip  30  from the rail  2 , the steps of deployment are simply reversed. That is, the unlocking pad  40  is compressed, the clip  30  is rotated and the position-retaining portion  32  of the clip  30  is removed through the slot  8 . 
     Some of the advantages of the present invention with regard to the addition of new clips  30  to the rail  2 , especially at points along a relatively full rail to which a new storage location is desired near the middle, will be readily apparent to any one who has faced this situation. 
     It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.