Interlocking modular article supporting system and component units therefor

Claim 2

A modular article supporting system comprising a plurality of interlocked component units; each said component unit including a body having opposed ends; said units being interlocked end to end to form said system; the opposed ends of adjacent units including cooperative, mating interference fit means for interlocking the adjacent units by sliding interference fit; the body of at least some of said component units including an article support station wholly contained within the dimensions of its respective unit, said article support station having a configuration and dimensions suitable to receive, guide and orient an article into a suitable position for support by said support station; and at least some of said component units including a mounting portion for facilitating the mounting of said system to a primary support.

Claim 3

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 1 including stop means associated with said interference fit means for establishing the full extent of sliding of the interference fit and thereby establishing the desired continuity of the exterior of the system from unit to unit.

Claim 4

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting portion included on at least some of the component units takes the form of an outwardly projecting wing-like mounting portion extending from an end of the unit.

Claim 5

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 3 wherein units of said system positioned adjacent to said wing-like mounting portions include notches formed in the body of such units, said notches conformingly engaging and concealing the wing-like mounting portions of adjacent units.

Claim 6

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the component units of said system comprise an end unit and at least one add-on unit, said end unit including a wing-like mounting portion at each end thereof and said at least one add-on unit including a wing-like mounting portion at only one end thereof.

Claim 7

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interference fit means at the opposed ends of adjacent units comprises a slot formed at the end of one unit and an interlock projection formed at the end of the other unit, and wherein said stop means comprises boundaries of said slot and interlock projection that determine the full extent to which the interlock projection may extend into the slot.

Claim 8

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said slot and interlock projection are disposed perpendicular to the unit ends.

Claim 9

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said slot and interlock projection extend vertically in the normal operative orientation of said system.

Claim 10

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interior configuration of said slot and the exterior configuration of said interlock projection are matching, said slot in cross section having a throat and an enlarged inner area and said interlock projection in cross-section having a constricted portion and an enlarged bulbous portion.

Claim 11

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bodies of the units forming said system have substantially flat front surfaces that are joined to present a substantially continuous front face of said system suitable for bearing indicia for tool identification, trademark information, or the like.

Claim 12

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of said units include at least one downturned, arm-like member for supportive engagement with a pegboard type structure.

Claim 13

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of said article support stations comprise at least one hole extending vertically through the body of the respective unit as such unit is oriented in its normal operative position.

Claim 14

A component unit for a modular article supporting system, said component unit comprising: a body having first and second opposed ends; said body including an article support station wholly contained within the dimensions of said unit and having a configuration and dimensions suitable to receive, guide and orient an article into a suitable position for support by said support station; said first end including a female opening having an interior configuration; and said second end including interlock projection means having an exterior configuration matching the interior configuration of said opening for interlocking said unit to an adjacent unit of a modular system by sliding interference fit of the projection means into the opening of the adjacent unit.

Claim 15

A component unit for a modular article supporting system, said component unit comprising: a body having first and second opposed ends; said body including an article support station wholly contained within the dimensions of said unit and having a configuration and dimensions suitable to receive, guide and orient an article into a suitable position for support by said support station; said first end including a female opening having an interior configuration; and said second end including interlock projection means having an exterior configuration matching the interior configuration of said opening for interlocking said unit to an adjacent unit of a modular system by sliding interference fit of the projection means into the opening of the adjacent unit.

Claim 16

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 including stop means associated with said opening and interlock projection means for establishing the full extent of the sliding of the interference fit.

Claim 17

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said unit is an end unit having a mounting portion at each end thereof.

Claim 18

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said unit is an add-on unit having a mounting portion at only one end thereof.

Claim 19

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 including: an outwardly projecting wing-like mounting portion extending from one of said ends for facilitating the mounting of the unit to a primary support; and notch means formed in said body and extending inwardly from the end opposite said mounting portion for conformingly engaging and concealing the wing-like mounting portion of an adjacent unit of a modular system.

Claim 20

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 including at least one downturned arm-like member attached to said unit for supportive engagement with a pegboard structure.

Claim 21

A component unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said support station comprises at least one hole extending vertically through the body of the unit as such unit is oriented in its normal operative position.

Claim 22

A modular article supporting system comprising a plurality of interlocked component units; each said component unit including a body having opposed ends; said units being interlocked end to end to form said system; the opposed ends of adjacent units including cooperative, mating interference fit means for interlocking the adjacent units by sliding interference fit, said interference fit means comprising a female opening at the end of one of the adjacent units and an interlock projection formed at the end of the other adjacent unit, the interior configuration of said opening matching the exterior configuration of said interlock projection; the opposed ends of adjacent units further including cooperative mounting means for facilitating the mounting of said system to a primary support, said mounting means including an outwardly projecting wing-like mounting portion extending from one of the adjacent units and a notch formed in the body of the other adjacent unit, said notch conformingly engaging and concealing the wing-like mounting portion; stop means associated with said interference fit means for establishing the full extent of sliding of the interference fit and thereby establishing the desired continuity of the exterior of the system from unit to unit; and the body of at least some of said component units including an article support station wholly contained within the dimensions of its respective unit, said article support station having a configuration and dimensions suitable to receive, guide and orient an article into a suitable position for support by said support station.

Claim 23

A modular article supporting system comprising a plurality of interlocked component units; each said component unit including a body having opposed ends; said units being interlocked end to end to form said system; the opposed ends of adjacent units including cooperative, mating interference fit means for interlocking the adjacent units by sliding interference fit, said interference fit means comprising a female opening at the end of one of the adjacent units and an interlock projection formed at the end of the other adjacent unit, the interior configuration of said opening matching the exterior configuration of said interlock projection; the opposed ends of adjacent units further including cooperative mounting means for facilitating the mounting of said system to a primary support, said mounting means including an outwardly projecting wing-like mounting portion extending from one of the adjacent units and a notch formed in the body of the other adjacent unit, said notch conformingly engaging and concealing the wing-like mounting portion; stop means associated with said interference fit means for establishing the full extent of sliding of the interference fit and thereby establishing the desired continuity of the exterior of the system from unit to unit; and the body of at least some of said component units including an article support station wholly contained within the dimensions of its respective unit, said article support station having a configuration and dimensions suitable to receive, guide and orient an article into a suitable position for support by said support station.

Claim 24

A modular article supporting system as claimed in claim 20 where the bodies of the units forming said system have substantially flat front surfaces that are joined to present a substantially continuous front face of said system suitable for bearing indicia for tool identification, trademark information, or the like.