Disclosed 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 system includes holding “clips” that are deployable on the system “rail” by inserting a portion of the clip throug
Disclosed 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 system includes holding “clips” that are deployable on the system “rail” by inserting a portion of the clip through a slot in the rail, at substantially any point along the length of the slot. The clip, upon being inserted into the rail, then lockingly engages the rail at substantially any point along the length of the slot.
대표청구항▼
1. A holding-and-organizing apparatus for holding and storing articles, the apparatus comprising: a) at least one support element having a forward wall configured with at least one slot, said slot being defined by spaced apart substantially parallel edges, said forward wall having a wall thickness,
1. A holding-and-organizing apparatus for holding and storing articles, the apparatus comprising: a) at least one support element having a forward wall configured with at least one slot, said slot being defined by spaced apart substantially parallel edges, said forward wall having a wall thickness, wherein an inner space is formed behind said forward wall; andb) at least one holder element comprising: i. a base having two sides, a first end and a second end;ii. a position-retaining mechanism; andiii. an article support arm having an article holding portion, wherein said position-retaining mechanism includes a pair of springy lower walls that extend from each of said sides of said base, away from said base and both in the same direction, starting at and proximal to said first end of said base, and wherein a lower gap is formed between said springy lower walls;wherein said position-retaining mechanism further includes a pair of unlocking leaves, wherein each said unlocking leaf extends from a respective said springy lower wall;wherein a ridge is formed on an external surface of each said springy lower wall, at a border line between said springy lower wall and said respective unlocking leaf, and wherein a width measured between two respective ridges is larger than a width between a plurality of external virtual lines formed on the external surface of each said springy lower wall immediately adjacent to said respective ridges, and wherein an upper gap is formed between said unlocking leaves, and wherein said upper gap and said lower gap facilitate motion of said unlocking leaves towards each other and thereby motion of said springy lower walls towards each other;wherein all said ridges have substantially equal distance from respective said base sides; andwherein said inner space is configured to receive a portion of said position-retaining mechanism; andwherein said springy lower walls are configured so as to be elastically deformable between a relaxed state and a compressed state, such that in said compressed state said position-retaining portion is insertable through said slot into said inner space, and wherein upon insertion of said springy lower walls through said slot, as the ridges pass the edges of the slot, said springy lower walls are released toward said relaxed state and said ridges engage with a plurality of inner rims of said slot and an inner surface of said front wall proximal to said inner rims of said slot, and wherein the external surface of said unlocking leaves, proximal to said ridge, engage said edges of said slot, thereby retaining said holder element in position on said support element at substantially any point along said slot. 2. A The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said springy lower walls diverge slightly from each other as said pair of springy lower walls extend away from said base. 3. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said unlocking leaves diverge slightly from each other as said pair of unlocking leaves extend away from said base. 4. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said unlocking leaves are made of laterally flat springy material, and wherein a flat dimension of said unlocking leaves is parallel to said sides of said base. 5. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said article holding portion is configured so as to be elastically deformable. 6. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said article support arm includes an arm-lower-wall and said article holding portion, and wherein at least said article holding portion is made of laterally flat material. 7. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said arm-lower-wall extends from said second end of said base, in the same direction as said unlocking leaves. 8. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said article holding portion extends from said arm-lower-wall. 9. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said article support arm is substantially longer than said unlocking leaves. 10. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said arm-lower-wall is narrower than said flat article holding portion, forming a stopper on both sides of said flat article holding portion at a virtual boundary line between said arm-lower-wall and said article holding portion. 11. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said stopper is spatially situated more distal from said base than said ridge, by a distance that is substantially equal to a wall thickness of said arm-lower-wall. 12. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said stopper is spatially situated such that upon said insertion of said position-retaining portion through said slot and said springy lower walls are released toward said relaxed state so as to said ridges engage with the inner rims of said slot and the inner surface of said front wall proximal to said inner rims of said slot, and wherein the external surface of said unlocking leaves, proximal to said ridge, said stopper blocks the further insertion of said position-retaining portion through said slot. 13. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one support element is configured as a rail with a constant cross-sectional profile. 14. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said at least one support element is an extruded rail configured from metals and plastics. 15. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 13, wherein open ends of said at least one support element are enclosed by fitted rail-plugs. 16. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 13, wherein at least two of said support elements are interconnected by a fitted mediating-plug. 17. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said article holding portion is configured to independently support an article. 18. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said article holding portion is configured as a hook. 19. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one holder element is configured as at least two of said associated holder elements arranged to support an article. 20. The holding-and-organizing apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said holder elements are configured such that at least one said article holding portion comprises a springiness such that, once deployed on said support element, said springiness is in a direction substantially parallel to said slot, whereby an article is supported between said two holder elements by the force of a spring tension of said at least one springy article holding portion.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
McAuley William A. (Lincoln RI), Display panel assembly.
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