초록 ▼

An assembly for storing elongated members, the assembly comprising an elongated support element and a pair of segments. The segments are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated support element from each other, and each of the segments defines a cradle for supporting an elongated member. The pair

An assembly for storing elongated members, the assembly comprising an elongated support element and a pair of segments. The segments are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated support element from each other, and each of the segments defines a cradle for supporting an elongated member. The pair of segments is joined together at a seam formed by locally heating and melting contacting edges of the segments to fuse them together. Moreover, the pair of segments is fixed to the elongated support element against movement in a longitudinal direction of the elongated support element. The elongated support element has a textured region of raised protrusions, indentations, or holes, over at least a portion of the surface thereof. Each cradle comprises a center portion located longitudinally between a pair of inclined portions. When an elongated member is supported in the cradle, the center portion of the cradle is convex about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated support element, such that water will drain laterally off of the cradle.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An assembly for storing elongated members, said assembly comprising: an elongated support element; and at least one cradle disposed in a convenient location along and upon an outer surface of the elongated support element for supporting an elongated member transversely to said support

We claim: 1. An assembly for storing elongated members, said assembly comprising: an elongated support element; and at least one cradle disposed in a convenient location along and upon an outer surface of the elongated support element for supporting an elongated member transversely to said support element; wherein each cradle is joined to said elongated support element by locally heating and melting an edge of said cradle against a portion of an outer surface of the elongated support element; and wherein said cradle comprises a center portion located longitudinally between a pair of inclined portions, that is convex about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support element, such that water will drain laterally off of said cradle. 2. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portions have a plurality of troughs formed in their surface to facilitate drainage of water toward said center portion. 3. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elongated support elements arranged in superposed relation to support a plurality of elongated members, each of said elongated support elements having a plurality of cradles fixed at locations along the length thereof. 4. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 1, wherein each cradle is defined by a pair of segments that are positioned end to end and are fixed at a desired location on said elongated support element. 5. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 1, wherein each cradle comprises at least one segment that has a duct corresponding in shape to the cross-section of said elongated support element, such that said segments can be slid over and supported on said elongated support element. 6. An assembly for storing elongated members, said assembly comprising: an elongated support element; and at least one cradle disposed on said elongated support element for supporting an elongated member transversely to said support element, each cradle being defined by at least one segment disposed on said elongated support element; wherein each segment is joined to said elongated support element by locally heating and melting an edge of said segment so as to fix said segment against movement in a longitudinal direction along said elongated support element, and wherein each cradle comprises a center portion located longitudinally between a pair of inclined portions, and is convex about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support element, such that water will drain laterally off of said cradle. 7. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of elongated support elements arranged in superposed relation to support a plurality of elongated members, each of said elongated support elements having a plurality of segments disposed along the length thereof that are fixed at portions of its outer surface. 8. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 6, wherein at least two segments are fixed so as to be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of a respective one of said elongated support elements. 9. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 6, wherein said cradle comprises a polymeric material. 10. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 9, wherein said elongated support element has a textured region over at least a portion of the outer surface thereof. 11. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 10, wherein the textured region is comprised of raised protrusions projecting from the outer surface of said elongated support element. 12. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 10, wherein the textured region is comprised of holes formed in the outer surface of said elongated support element. 13. The assembly for storing elongated members according to claim 10, wherein the textured region is comprised of indentions formed in the outer surface of said elongated support element. 14. A method of making an assembly for storing elongated members, said method comprising the steps of: providing an elongated support element, and at least two segments comprising a polymeric material disposed so as to be positioned upon said elongated support element; positioning the at least two segments on the elongated support element to define a cradle for supporting an elongated member at a desired location, the segments spaced selectively apart to accommodate elongated members of different diameters; and joining the segments to the support element by locally heating and melting a part of the polymeric material of the segments against a portion of an outer surface of the elongated support element. 15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said providing, positioning, and joining steps are repeated so as to provide a plurality of elongated support elements, each elongated support element having a plurality of segments positioned and joined thereon at a desired location, the plurality of segments spaced selectively apart to accommodate elongated members of different diameters. 16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein, in said joining step, a portion of each segment deforms and engages a textured region portion of an outer surface of the elongated support element so as to securely fix each segment against longitudinal movement at a desired location along the length of the elongated support element.