Support bar

Claim 2

A load support system, comprising: first and second support elements horizontally spaced apart one from another, each said support element having a vertically-elongated opening therein, each said opening having substantially the same dimension and having a lower and an upper edge which are in substantially horizontal alignment, elongate load support bar means having axially relatively-movable members and vertically-elongate one-piece mounting elements fixedly mounted at opposite ends of said load support bar means, each said mounting element having a transversely-extending notch formed in the lower end thereof to enable the mounting element to hook over said lower edge of the elongate opening, said notches being located relative to said support bar means such that a straight line drawn between the notches extends parallel to the axis of the support bar means, each said mounting element having a transverse dimension which is the same as that of the elongate opening, so that the side edges of the opening engage the side faces of the mounting element when located therein; one of said mounting elements having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting element which is substantially equal to the length of the elongate opening, so that the top edge of the opening engages the upper face of said one mounting element when located thereon, and the other of said mounting elements having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting element which is less than the length of the elongate opening, and latch means mounted to said support bar means adjacent said other one of the mounting elements, said latch means having a spring biased bolt element extending therefrom into the opening between the upper extremity of the other mounting element and the upper edge of the opening to engage the side edges and upper edge of the opening and lock said support bar means to said support elements in a horizontal position, said spring biased bolt being retractable from the opening against the spring bias to enable said other mounting element to be unhooked from the opening and thereby the support bar means to be released from the support elements.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by vertical channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in vertical alignment.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by horizontal channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in parallel.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said load support bar means comprises a tubular bar member and a sleeve telescopingly received in one end thereof in slidable non-rotatable relationship therewith.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said load support bar means comprises a rectangularly cross-section bar member and a sleeve telescopingly received in one end thereof in slidable relationship therewith.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by vertical channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in vertical alignment.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by horizontal channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in parallel.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4, wherein said tubular bar member has at least one locking bar means mounted thereon to lock a plurality of garment hangers received on said tubular bar member thereto.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8, wherein said locking bar means comprises a pair of longitudinally-spaced apart ring members rotatably mounted on the tubular bar member and a rod member joining the ring members and spaced apart from the outer surface of the elongate bar, whereby in its non-locking position, the rod member is located opposite the open throat of C-shaped garment hanger hooks received on the tubular bar member and, in its locking position, the rod is rotated to be located in engagement with a neck of the garment hanger hooks on the opposite side from the throat.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9, wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by vertical channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in vertical alignment.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9, wherein said first and second support elements are constituted by horizontal channel-shaped members having a plurality of said elongate openings therein in parallel.

Claim 13

In a motor-vehicle trailer having an enclosed storage area and upright side walls, the improvement which comprises a load support system located in said enclosed storage space comprising: a first plurality of parallel channel-shaped support elements fixedly attached to one side wall of the trailer and a second plurality of parallel channel-shaped support elements fixedly attached to the other side wall of the trailer in transverse alignment with the first plurality of support elements, a plurality of vertically-extending slots formed in said support elements throughout substantially the vertical height of the support elements to constitute a plurality of attachment points in the length and height of the trailer, at least one elongate support bar means located in said trailer, said support bar means having axially relatively-movable members and vertically-elongate one-piece mounting members at opposite ends of said load support bar means, each said mounting member having a transversely-extending notch formed in the lower end thereof to enable the mounting member to hook over said lower edge of the vertically-extending slots, said notches being located relative to said support bar means such that a straight line drawn between the notches extends parallel to the axis of the support bar means, each said mounting member having a transverse dimension which is the same as that of the slot, so that the side edges of the slot engage the side faces of the mounting member when located therein; one of said mounting members having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting member which is substantially equal to the length of the slot, so that the top edge of the slot engages the upper face of said one mounting member when located thereon, and the other of said mounting members having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting member which is less than the length of the slot, and latch means mounted to said support bar means adjacent said other one of the mounting members, said latch means having a spring biased bolt element extending therefrom into the slot between the upper extremity of the other mounting member and the upper edge of the slot to engage the side edges and upper edge of the slot and lock said support bar means to said support elements in a horizontal position, said spring biased bolt being retractible from the slot against the spring bias to enable said other mounting member to be unhooked from the opening and thereby the support bar means to be released from the support elements.

Claim 14

In a motor-vehicle trailer having an enclosed storage area and upright side walls, the improvement which comprises a load support system located in said enclosed storage space comprising: a first plurality of parallel channel-shaped support elements fixedly attached to one side wall of the trailer and a second plurality of parallel channel-shaped support elements fixedly attached to the other side wall of the trailer in transverse alignment with the first plurality of support elements, a plurality of vertically-extending slots formed in said support elements throughout substantially the vertical height of the support elements to constitute a plurality of attachment points in the length and height of the trailer, at least one elongate support bar means located in said trailer, said support bar means having axially relatively-movable members and vertically-elongate one-piece mounting members at opposite ends of said load support bar means, each said mounting member having a transversely-extending notch formed in the lower end thereof to enable the mounting member to hook over said lower edge of the vertically-extending slots, said notches being located relative to said support bar means such that a straight line drawn between the notches extends parallel to the axis of the support bar means, each said mounting member having a transverse dimension which is the same as that of the slot, so that the side edges of the slot engage the side faces of the mounting member when located therein; one of said mounting members having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting member which is substantially equal to the length of the slot, so that the top edge of the slot engages the upper face of said one mounting member when located thereon, and the other of said mounting members having a vertical height from the upper extremity of the notch therein to the upper extremity of the mounting member which is less than the length of the slot, and latch means mounted to said support bar means adjacent said other one of the mounting members, said latch means having a spring biased bolt element extending therefrom into the slot between the upper extremity of the other mounting member and the upper edge of the slot to engage the side edges and upper edge of the slot and lock said support bar means to said support elements in a horizontal position, said spring biased bolt being retractible from the slot against the spring bias to enable said other mounting member to be unhooked from the opening and thereby the support bar means to be released from the support elements.