US3476344A - Grooved panel and fixture combination - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 4, 1969 J PACE GROOVED PANEL AND FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed April 24, 1968 m2 05 FIG. 11. /04

//v VEA/TOR EDWARD J. PA CE 5y Ms A 770RA/E rs HAEE/ 5, K/gcfi, RUSSELL & Ka e/v United States Patent O us. or. 248-216 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fixture for attachment to a vertically grooved wall panel, or to a grooved ceiling panel. The fixture includes a generally fiat, elongated supporting plate having a width less than the width of the groove and a length greater than the width of the groove, whereby the plate may be inserted into the groove while oriented longitudinally thereof, and whereby the plate maythen be rotated about an axis generally perpendicular thereto to cause the ends of the plate to embed themselves in the side walls of the groove. In the ceiling fixture version, this results in so orienting the supporting plate that one side thereof faces generally downwardly to provide a large bearing area. In the wall fixture version, the supporting plate, as a final step in installation, is angularly displaced about an axis extending longitudinally thereof until one side of the plate faces generally downwardly to provide a large bearing area also. In either version, the load to be supported by the plate engages a load carrying member connected to the supporting plate by a shank member projecting from the generally downwardly facing side of the plate.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to fixtures for attachment to grooved panels, or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a wall fixture for attachment to a wall or wall panel provided with outwardly facing vertical grooves each having an outwardly facing inner wall and two spaced side walls, and to a ceiling fixture for attachment to a ceiling or ceiling panel provided with downwardly facing horizontal grooves each having a downwardly facing inner wall and twospaced side walls. The vertically grooved wall or wall panel and the grooved ceiling or ceiling panel are made of wood, or a material having generally similar characteristics as to penetrability, bearing strength, and the like.

Still more specifically, the invention contemplates a fixture which is attached by embedding the ends of a generally flat, elongated supporting plate thereon in the side walls of the desired groove. Thus, the fixture may be attached to the wall or ceiling without marring same in any way. If desired, the fixture may subsequently be removed without any visible evidence that it was ever attached.

The supporting plate has a width less than the width of the groove in which it is to be installed and a length greater than the width of the groove, whereby the plate may be inserted into the groove into a first position wherein the plate is oriented longitudinally of the groove and generally parallel to the inner wall thereof, and whereby the plate may then be rotated about an axis generally perpendicular thereto into a second position wherein the plate is oriented transversely of the groove and generally parallel to the inner wall thereof and wherein the ends of the plate are embedded in the side walls of the groove in a plane adjacent and generally parallel to the inner wall of the groove. Projecting from one side of the supporting plate, substantially midway between the ends thereof, is a shank member to which is 3,476,344 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 connected a load carrying member suitable for'the type of load to be supported. V v

A wall fixture of the foregoing general nature is disclosed in Patent No. 3,313,509, granted Apr 11, 1 967 to John I. Lockert. In the Lockertwall fixture, the hereinbefore-mentioned second position of the supporting plate is in its final position. Thus, the supporting plate, in its final position, is oriented substantially vertically adjacent the inner wall of its groove. ,With this construction, therefore, any vertical load applied to the load carrying member connected to the supporting plate causes the supporting plate to tend to shear the material of the panel since the only bearing area provided by the plate is its relatively thin lower edge. If any substantial load is applied to this wall fixture, the vertical supporting plate may shear its way downwardly along a path generally parallel to the inner wall of the groove. Also, if the. shear stress applied to the material of the panel is generally parallel to the grain of a wooden panel, the panel may split adjacent the side walls of the groove. In such a case, if the grain of the wood extends downwardly and forwardly, the supporting plate may even slice its way downwardly and forwardly out of the wood.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION With the foregoing background, the primary object of the invention is to provide a wall or ceiling fixture wherein one side of the supporting plate faces at least generally downwardly, instead of horizontally, to provide it with a relatively large bearing area in engagement with the material of the panel. Preferably, the supporting plate is substantially horizontal in its operative position so that it is provided with a downwardly facing bearing area substantially equal to the sum of the areas of the ends of the plate which are embedded in the side walls of the groove.

With the foregoing construction, there is no tendency for the supporting plate to shear its way downwardly and, accordingly, the supporting plate is capable of sustaining much heavier loads, which are important features of the invention.

The foregoing relatively large, downwardly facing, hearing area for the supporting plate may be achieved in the ceiling fixture of the invention merely by rotating the supporting plate about an axis generally perpendicular thereto into the second position hereinbefore discussed, which is an important feature.

An important object in connection with the wall fixture of the invention is to angularly displace the supporting plate, after it has been rotated into its second position, into a third position wherein it is oriented at a predetermined angle to the inner wall of the groove and has its ends embedded in the material of the panel in a plane extending outwardly from the inner wall of the groove at this predetermined angle, which is at least of the order of 45. With this construction, the supporting plate is prevented from tending to shear the material of the panel and is provided with a relatively large bearing area capable of sustaining a substantial load, which are important features of the invention.

More specifically, an important object of the invention is to provide a wall fixture wherein: the shank member projects centrally from one side of the plate and is oriented at an angle to the inner wall of the groove when the plate is in its second position, whereby the outer end of the shank member may be swung toward the inner wall of the groove so as to angularly displace the plate into its third position, wherein it is oriented at a predetermined angle to the inner wall of the groove and is embedded in the material of the panel in a plane extending outwardly from the inner wall of the groove at such predetermined angle to provide a relatively large bearing area; and wherein a load carrying member is connected to the outer end of the shank member and is oriented at an angle to the shank member, and extends outwardly away from the inner wall of the groove when the supporting plate is in its third position.

Another object is to provide a fixture wherein the shank member is generally perpendicular to the supporting plate, and wherein the load carrying member connected to the outer end of the shank member is oriented at an angle of at least of the order of 45 to the shank member.

Another. and important object of the invention is to provide stop means on either the shank member or the load carrying member for engagement with the inner wall of the groove to prevent angular movement of the supporting plate beyond its third position, wherein it faces generally downwardly so that the embedded ends thereof provide it with a relatively large bearing area.

, Another and quite important object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the foregoing nature wherein the stop means includes means for penetrating the inner wall of the groove when the supporting plate is in its third position, and to provide such a penetrating means having a downwardly facing bearing area which acts in concert with the downwardly facing bearing area provided by the ends of the supporting plate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the supporting plate with a relatively sharp longitudinal edge capable of easily penetrating the material of the panel upon angular displacement of the supporting plate from its second position into its third position.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in this art in the light of the present disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating successive steps in the installation of a wall fixture of the invention in a vertical groove in a wall or wall panel;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 55 and 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a supporting plate and attached shank member of the fixture of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating another embodiment of a wall fixture of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIGS. 5 and 8, but illustrating still another embodiment of a wall fixture of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a ceiling fixture of the invention installed in a downwardly facing groove in a ceiling or ceiling panel.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a wall fixture of the invention for installation in a vertical groove 22 in a wall or wall panel 24, the latter being formed of wood, or a material having similar characteristics.

The wall fixture 20 includes a generally fiat, elongated supporting plate 26 having a width slightly less than the width of the groove 22 and having a length considerably greater than the width of the groove. Preferably, the length of the supporting plate is at least of the order of twice the width thereof, its size being dependent on the load to be supported. As shown in FIG. 7, the supporting plate 26 is generally airfoil shaped in transverse cross section and has a relatively sharp longitudinal edge 28, which will be referred to hereinafter as the forward edge of the supporting plate for a reason which will become apparent.

The wall fixture 20 also includes a shank member 30 which is located substantially midway between the ends of the supporting plate 26 and which projects substantially perpendicularly from one side 32 of the supporting plate.

Projecting substantially perpendicularly from the shank member 30, and connected to the outer end 34 thereof, is a load carrying member 36 shown as terminating at its outer end in a portion 38 which is upturned when the wall fixture is installed. The load carrying member 36 extends in the direction of the width of the supporting plate 26 and is substantially parallel to the side 32 thereof, the member 36 facing in the same direction as the sharpened forward edge 28 of the supporting plate. In the particular construction illustrated, the wall fixture 20 is of integral construction, i.e., all of the parts thereof are formed from the same piece of material.

Considering the manner in which the wall fixture 20 is attached to the wall panel 24, it is first oriented in the position shown in FIG. 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the supporting plate 26 is inserted into the groove 22 into a first position wherein the plate is oriented longitudinally of the groove and is generally parallel to and in engagement with the inner wall of the groove. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3, the Wall fixture 20 is rotated through an angle of about an axis generally perpendicular thereto, i.e., about the axis of the shank member 30, into a second position wherein the supporting plate is oriented transversely of the groove and generally parallel to the inner wall thereof and wherein the ends of the plate are embedded in the side walls of the groove in a plane adjacent and generally parallel to the inner wall of the groove. The direction in which the wall fixture 20 is rotated, in angularly displacing the supporting plate 26 from its first position into its second position, is such that the sharpened forward edge 28 faces upwardly.

Finally, referring to FIG. 4 of the drawing, the wall fixture 20 is swung downwardly so that the outer end 34 of the shank member 30 is displaced toward and into engagement with the inner wall of the groove 22, the shank member now lying entirely within the groove and in engagement with the inner wall thereof. As this is done, the supporting plate 26 is angularly displaced, about an axis extending lengthwise thereof, into a third position wherein it is oriented substantially horizontally. The sharpened forward edge 28 of the supporting plate penetrates and moves upwardly and forwardly through the material of the panel 24 adjacent the side walls of the groove 22 to permit this, the action of the sharpened edge being a cutting action to prevent splitting. As will be apparent from FIG. 5, the outer end 34 of the shank member 30, and, in fact the entire length of the shank member, are seated against the inner wall of the groove 22 to serve as a stop means preventing angular displacement of the supporting plate 26 beyond its third position.

As will be apparent, with the foregoing construction for the wall fixture 20, the side 32 of the supporting plate 26 is substantially horizontal and faces downwardly so that the areas of the ends of the supporting plate in engagement with the material of the wall panel 24 on opposite sides of the groove 22 provide a large bearing area resisting downward movement of the supporting plate under the influence of a downward load applied to the load carrying member 36. It will be noted that the vertical stress developed in the material of the wall panel 24 on opposite sides of the groove 22 therein is a compressive stress, there being no shear stress applied to the panel 24 in the vertical direction. This factor, combined with the large downwardly facing bearing area provided by the substantially horizontal supporting plate 26, renders the wall fixture 20 capable of sustaining a load much higher than can be sustained with a small bearing area acting in downward shear.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the width of the shank member 30, and width of the portion of the load carrying member 36 within the groove 22, are substantially equal to, but slightly less than, the width of the groove, so that these parts fit snugly within the groove to stabilize the wall fixture 20 laterally in the horizontal direction.

The particular construction illustrated for the wall fixture 20 renders it suitable for use as a hook from which to suspend a load, or as a shelf bracket capable of use with at least one additional, horizontally spaced, wall fixture 20- to support a shelf, not shown.

Turning to FIG. 8 of the drawing, illustrated therein is another wall fixture 40 installable in the vertical groove 22 in the wall panel 24. The wall fixture 40 includes a supporting plate 46 similar. to the supporting plate 26 and similarly equipped with a sharpened forward edge 48. A similar shank member 50 projects from one side 52 of the supporting plate 46, and the outer end 54 of the shank member 50 has a load carrying member 56 welded, or otherwise secured, thereto. In the particular construction illustrated, the load carrying member 56 is a vertical plate terminating in an upturned portion 58, the configuration of the load carrying member 56 being such as to support a shelf, not shown.

-An important feature of the wall fixture 40 is that the shank member 50 terminates in a' stop surface 60 which abuts the'inner wall of the groove 22 to prevent angular displacement of the supporting plate 46 beyond its third position, i.e., beyond the position thereof shown in FIG. 8. The stopsurface 60 is provided with a projecting blade 62 which penetrates the inner wall of the groove 22 and whichhas a downwardly facing area of substantial size in engagement with thematerial of the panel 24. The blade 62 thus provides an additional downwardly-facing bearing'area which supplements thedownwardly-facing bearing areaprovided by the supporting plate 46, thereby rendering the wall fixture 40 capable'of sustaining an even higher load. Preferably, the blade 62 is substantially coextensive with the groove 22, in the direction of the width of the groove, to obtain as large a supplementary bearing area as possible.

The procedure in installing the wall fixture 40 is identical to that hereinbefore described in connection with the wall fixture 20. Consequently, a further description is not required.

'Turning'to FIG. 9 of the drawing, illustrated therein is another wall fixture 70 for installation in the vertical groove 22 in the wall panel 24. The wall fixture 70 includes a supporting plate 76 similar to the supporting plate 26 and similarly provided with a sharpened forward edge 78. A longitudinally centered. shank member 80 projects generally perpendicularly from the side 82 of the supporting plate 76 and terminates at its outer end 84in a load carrying member 86 which makes an angle at least of the order of 45 with the shank member 80. In the particular construction illustrated, the entire wall fixture 70 is formed of a single length of metal, and an extensionof the load carrying member 86, which is generally horizontal when the wall fixture is installed, extends upwardly, and is then doubled back downwardly, to form an .upstanding loop 88. This loop is adapted to. fit into a vertical hole 90 in a shelf 92 one edge of which rests on the load carrying member 86. With this construction, the shelf 92 is restrained against horizontal movement by the loop 88, as well as being supported by the load carrying member 86.

The single length of metal of which the Wall fixture 70 is made is also doubled back under the load carrying member 86, and terminates in a stop portion 94 which abuts the inner wall of the groove 22 to prevent angular displacement of the supporting plate 76 beyond its third position, i.e., beyond the position thereof shown in FIG. 9 of the drawing. The stop portion 94 terminates in a rearwardly projecting blade 96 similar to the blade 62 of the wall fixture 40 and serving the same function.

The wall fixture 70 is installed in the groove 22 in the wall panel 24 in the same manner as the wall fixture 20, so that a detailed description is not required. It will be noted that since the load carrying member 86 makes an angle of less than with the shank member 80, the supporting plate 76, in its third position, makes an angle of less than 90 with the vertical, such angle being at least of the order of 45". Consequently, the downwardlyfacing bearing area provided by the embedded ends of the supporting plate 76 is not the full area of the embedded ends, but is the downwardly projected area thereof. However, such bearing area is nevertheless relatively large and renders the wall fixture 70' capable of sustaining a high load, particularly since the downwardly-facing bearing area provided by the supporting plate 76 is supplemented by that of the blade 96.

Turning to FIG. 11, illustrated therein is a ceiling fixture 100 installed in a downwardly-facing horizontal groove 102 in a ceiling or ceiling panel 104. The ceiling fixture 100 has in common with the wall fixtures 20, 40 and 70 the principle of providing a large downwardlyfacing bearing area for compressive engagement with the material of the panel 104.

More particularly, the ceiling fixture 100 includes a supporting plate 106 similar to the supporting plate 26. A longitudinally centered shank member 110 projects generally perpendicularly from one side 112 of the plate 106. The shank member 110 terminates at its outer end 115 in a load carrying member 116 terminating in a hooklike end having a load carrying portion 118 oriented nearly perpendicularly to the shank member 110.

To install the ceiling fixture 110, the supporting plate 106 is inserted upwardly into the groove 102, with the supporting plate oriented longitudinally of the groove, until the supporting plate engages the inner, i.e., upper wall of the groove, the supporting plate being in a plane parallel to the inner wall of the groove under such conditions. Then, the ceiling fixture 100 is turned 90, about an axis perpendicular thereto, until the supporting plate 106 is perpendicular to the groove 102 so that its ends are embedded in the side walls of the groove. This corresponds to the second position of the supporting plate 26 of the wall fixture 20, i.e., the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. If desired, the angular and positional relationships between the shank member 110 and the load carrying portion 118 are such that the supporting plate 106 is angularly displaced slightly about an axis extending longitudinally thereof in positioning the load carrying portion 118 directly beneath the supporting plate. This results in orienting the supporting plate 106 at a slight angle to the horizontal, as shown in FIG. 11, so as to firmly secure it in place in the horizontal direction.

As will be apparent, the ceiling fixture 100 provides a relatively large downwardly-facing bearing area in compressive engagement with the material of the ceiling panel 104, due to the fact that the embedded ends of the supporting plate face generally downwardly. The ceiling fixture 100 is capable of sustaining a substantial load,

although not as high a load as the wall fixture 20, for

example, because of the fact that there is nothing analogous to the stop means provided by the shank member 30 to prevent the ceiling fixture 100 from swinging somewhat in the plane of the groove 102.

Thus, as will be apparent from the foregoing, the present invention provides wall and ceiling fixtures all capable of supporting substantial loads through the use of plates having ends which are embedded in side walls of grooves and which have large downwardly-facing bearing areas applying compressive stresses to the materials of the panel in which the grooves are formed. The basic load carrying capacity provided in this manner can be supplemented as hereinbefore discussed in connection with the wall fixtures 20, 40 and 70, and particularly the wall fixtures 40 and 70.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fixture for attachment to a panel provided with a groove having an inner wall and side walls, the combination of:

(a) a generally fiat, elongated supporting plate having a width less than the width of the groove and a length greater than the width of the groove, whereby said plate may be inserted into the groove into a first position wherein said plate is oriented longitudinally of the groove and generally parallel to the inner wall thereof, and whereby said plate may then be rotated about an axis generally perpendicular thereto into a second position wherein said plate is oriented transversely of the groove and generally parallel to the inner wall thereof and wherein said plate is embedded in the material of the panel in a plane adjacent and generally parallel to the inner Wall of the groove;

(b) a shank member projecting from one side of said plate and oriented at an angle to the inner wall of the groove when said plate is in said second position, whereby the outer end of said shank member may be swung toward the inner wall of the groove so as to angularly displace said plate into a third position wherein it is oriented at a predetermined angle to the inner wall of the groove and is embedded in the material of the panel in a plane extending outwardly from the inner wall of the groove at said predetermined angle; and

(c) a load carrying member connected to said outer end of said shank member and oriented at an angle to said shank member, and extending outwardly away from the inner wall of the groove when said plate is in said third position.

2. A fixture according to claim 1 including stop means on one of said members and engageable with the inner wall of the groove for preventing angular movement of said plate beyond said third position thereof.

3. A fixture as defined in claim 2 wherein said shank member is located centrally of said plate in the direction of the length thereof.

4. A fixture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shank member projects generally perpendicularly from said one side of said plate, and wherein said load carrying member is oriented at an'angle of at least of the order of 45 to said shank member.

5. A fixture according to claim 4 wherein said load carrying member is generally perpendicular to said shank member.

6. A fixture as defined in claim 3 wherein said stop means includes means for penetrating the inner wall of the groove when said plate is in said third position.

7. A fixture as set forth in claim 3 wherein one longitudinal edge of said plate is sharpened to penetrate the material of the panel upon angular displacement of said plate from said second position into said third position.

8. In combination with a panel provided with a groove having an inner wall and side walls, a fixture attached to said panel, and including:

(a) a generally fiat, elongated supporting plate having a width less than the width of said groove and a length greater than the width of said groove, the ends of said supporting plate being embedded in said side walls of said groove, respectively, and the plane of said plate being oriented at an angle of at least of the order of 45 to the vertical, whereby one side of said plate faces at least generally downwardly to provide a relatively large bearing area in engagement with the material of said panel; (b) a shank member projecting from said one side of said plate and located centrally of the length of said plate; and (c) a load carrying member connected to the outer end of said shank member and oriented at an angle to said shank member, and spaced outwardly from said groove.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said plate is oriented substantially horizontally and faces substantially directly downwardly.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said shank member is substantially perpendicular to said one side of said plate and wherein said load carrying member is substantially perpendicular to said shank member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1961 Inamsley 248-341 4/1967 Lockert 248-224 X US. Cl. X.R.

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