US3233852A

US3233852A - Supporting shelf assembly

Info

Publication number: US3233852A
Application number: US439772A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond J Azar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-03-15
Filing date: 1965-03-15
Publication date: 1966-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-08

Description

Feb. 8, 1966 R. J. AZAR SUPPORTING SHELF ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1965 INVENTOR.

Raymond J Azar [a flax His Atl'y Feb. 8, 1966 R. J. AZAR SUPPORTING SHELF ASSEMBLY 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1965 INVENTOR. Raymond J. Azar His AH'y United States Patent Ofi1C P atent'eci Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,852 SUPPORTING SHELF ASSEMBLY Raymond J. Azar, St. Louis, Mo. (2501 N. Keeler Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60639) Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,772 18 Claims. (Cl. 248-68) The present invention relates to a new and improved shelf assembly, and more particularly, to a supporting structure for elongated articles such as tubes and the like which provides one or more shelves for accommodating various objects, and to a bracket subassembly thereof.

The prior art is replete with various types of shelf assemblies which have principally been used in coat rooms, cafeterias and the like in supporting clothing garments and other objects. In general, these devices have served well for the purpose intended, but they also have had a number of disadvantages. Imperforate shelves have been used quite extensively as garment supports, but as will be apparent, they can be heavy and cumbersome, thus creating manufacturing, handling and assembly problems. Even where the weight of the shelf has been reduced such as has been done in cafeteria shelf assemblies, difficulties are still encountered in the assembly of the shelf supports, and the reduction in weight may, in certain instances, mean a loss in strength. As a result, there has been a long felt need for a simple, rugged, lightweight and easy to assemble supporting shelf assembly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved supporting shelf assembly which overcomes the above noted deficiencies.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved supporting shelf assembly which uses a minimum number of parts without sacrificing supporting strength.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved supporting shelf assembly which is of lightweight, yet rugged construction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a supporting shelf assembly which, because it is light weight and uses a minimum number of parts, can be manufactured under simple and economical techniques, packaged with a modicum of ease, and shipped at a minimum of expense.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved supporting shelf assembly wherein the components thereof are easy to handle, and can be assembled to one another in a minimum amount of time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide novel fastening arrangements for the supporting shelf assembly, both of the built in and attached variety, which aggressively and effectively maintain the supporting shelf assembly in assembled relationship.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved supporting shelf assembly which minimizes deposits of foreign particles such as dust, dirt and the like, is corrosive resistant while at the same time being easy to clean.

Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved supporting shelf assembly which is functional in design and use from the standpoint that it can be assembled to frame elements or directly to a wall support, and can be employed either by itself or with one or more similarly configured shelf supports, and is also pleasing in appearance.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment rack incorporating supporting shelf assemblies of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a bracket assembly, and showing a pair of elongated articles secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section, of the device shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, of one of the bracket assemblies shown in FIG. 1 with elongated articles secured thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the bracket assemblies with elongated articles in place as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an end portion of one bracket assembly provided with a novel fastening structure for attachment to complementary fastening means associated with a supporting panel;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the bracket assembly mounted to the supporting panel;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the novel fastening structure associated with the bracket assembly is accepted by complementary openings formed in the supporting panel;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the bracket assembly shown in FIG. 6 as viewed along the left-hand side thereof, and showing the manner in which the leg portions of the bracket body member are adapted to flex toward and away from each other;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the novel fastening structure associated with a bracket assembly engages the rear face of a supporting panel; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a supporting shelf assembly as it would be used in a cafe teria or other eating establishment.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there will be seen a garment rack 10 having one or more supporting shelf assemblies 20 for supporting hats and other clothing garments. The garment rack 10 in FIG. 1 is depicted as having a pair of vertically spaced supporting shelves 20, but it will be understood that the number of supporting shelf assemblies may be varied as desired. Each of the supporting assemblies 20 is adapted to be mounted to a pair of spaced brace elements 22 preferably in a manner to be described hereafter, the brace elements 22 being secured by suitable fastening means to a Wall, partition or the like. In certain instances, the upstanding brace elements 22 may be attached to a supporting stand or base as is well known, and this will permit supporting shelves 20 to be mounted in generally opposing relation on the brace elements 22.

While the supporting shelf assemblies 20 of the present invention are designed primarily for use in connection with garment racks and the like, it will be recognized that a supporting shelf assembly 20 can be mounted to an upstanding frame 24 in a cafeteria area 26 as seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings. The present invention eontemplates this and other possible uses of the supporting shelf assembly which will now be described in detail.

Each supporting shelf assembly 20 has a pair of spaced bracket members 30 having means for engaging and securing elongated articles 32 adjacent opposite ends thereof, and means for mounting each bracket member 30 to an upstanding frame such as the brace elements 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The means for engaging and securing elongated articles to the bracket member 30 is depicted in FIGS. 25 of the drawings, and the means for mounting the bracket members 30 to an upstanding frame can be seen in FIGS. 6-10 of the drawings.

Considering first the elongated article engaging and retaining means as seen in FIGS. 2-5 of the drawings, it will be observed that each bracket member 30 has a hollow body, and is preferably generally U-shaped in form having a bight end portion 34 from which depend a pair of flexible leg members 36, 33. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the

leg portions

36, 38 decrease in length from the end portion adjacent the brace elements to the end portion which is part of the outer free extremity of each bracket member.

In the preferred form of the invention, each bracket member has at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending openings, slots or cutouts extending through each of the

leg members

36, 38 and opening up into the bight end portion 34 to provide an open upper end adjacent the uppermost portion of the bracket member. Preferably, the transversely extending openings 40 are four in number, but this will vary depending upon the size of the elongated articles 32. In certain instances, the bracket member 39 may be provided with a single transversely extending opening for accommodating an elongated object and this will be discussed in detail below.

Each transversely extending opening 40 is complementary in configuration to the shape of an elongated article or object adapted to be received therein. In the drawings, the openings 40 are shown as being generally semi-cylindrical in form for accommodating the cylindrical tubular rods 32. As best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the depth of the openings 49 is such that the uppermost portion of the elongated articles 32 extends upwardly beyond the top surface of bight end portion 34 for reasons which will appear hereafter. The minimum distance X between generally opposed areas of marginal portions surrounding each opening 40 is larger than the transverse dimension Y of an elongated article to readily accept the same therewithin. It will be noted that innermost marginal portions 42 adjacent each opening as seen in FIG. 4 extend substantially vertically, the remainder of the marginal portions surrounding each opening curving in a gentle fashion therefrom to the outermost marginal portions 44 adjacent each opening. The area in the vicinity of the juncture between the outermost marginal portions 44 of each opening and the bight end portion 34 overlies a portion of the opening 4%, and is directed toward the innermost marginal portions 42 of each opening for reasons which will appear hereafter.

In assembling elongated articles 32 to a bracket member 30, it is important that the elongated articles be quickly and easily mounted within the openings 40, and thereafter effectively secured to the bracket members to prevent inadvertent removal of articles therefrom. By making the minimum distance X between generally opposed areas of marginal portions surrounding each opening 40 larger than the transverse dimension Y of the elongated articles, it will be apparent that the articles can be freely and easily positioned within the openings 44) with-out requiring great skill. In order to effectively secure the elongated articles 32 positioned within the openings 40 to the bracket member 3%, a yieldable locking means as best seen in FIGS. 2-3 is provided.

The yieldable locking means 50 comprises a generally arched washer body 52 adapted to be positioned intermediate a pair of elongated articles for securing the same to the bracket member 30. Each washer body 52 is resilient in character, and has a pair of reversely bent foot portions 54 at the free extremities thereof for underlying and engaging the bottom surface of the bight end portion 34. A faster assembly consisting of a headed screw 56 extending through openings provided in the bight end portion 34 and the arched washer 52, and a nut member 58 threaded upon the screw 56 coact to compress the arched washer 52 so as to extend the reversely bent foot sections. 54 from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in FIG. 3 where a portion of the reversely bent foot sections 54 extend beyond the innermost portions 42 of a pair of openings 49. The elongated articles 32 received within the openings 40 will thus be engaged and positioned against the outermost marginal portions 44 adjacent each opening to prevent removal of the articles from the bracket member 30. The portion of the arched washer body 52 which engages the elongated articles 30 is the area in the vicinity of the juncture between the reversely bent foot sections and the arched washer body.

In this manner, the arched washer 52 will cooperate with the laterally offset abutment 46 in the vicinity of the juncture between the outermost marginal portions 44 and the bight end portion 34 to effectively retain the elongated articles 32 within the openings 40.

It is to be specifically noted that the depth of the openings 40. is preferably such that the laterally oifset abutments 46 and the reversely bent foot sections 54 cooperate to engage the elongated articles 32 above the medium plane thereof so as to make removal of the articles from the openings quite difficult. It is also desirable that the depth of the openings 4% be related to the dimension of the elongated articles 32 in such a manner that the articles project above the upper surface of the bight end portion 34 as well as the head of the screw 56 so that the outermost portions of the elongated articles lie within the same plane.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that elongated articles can be rapidly and effectively secured to a bracket member by an unskilled workman. Preferably, the bracket member and elongated articles are made of a lightweight material such as aluminum to facilitate handling thereof and to make the entire supporting assembly corrosive resistant. As the elongated articles are spaced from each other in a supporting shelf assembly, deposits of foreign particles will be minimized, thus enhancing the desirability of the present construction.

It will be understood that the openings 40 and the elongated articles 32 may have any shape or configuration, and are not to be limited to the form shown in the drawings. It will also be understood that other types of fastening assemblies are contemplated. For example, the opening in the arched body 52 for receiving the screw 56 may have a construction similar to a sheet metal nut, thereby eliminating the necessity of using a nut member 58. Another possible example would be the use of a spring loaded toggle arrangement having portions which will resiliently engage and lock the elongated articles 32 within the openings.

Although the present invention has been described so far as preferably having at least a pair of elongated articles associated with each bracket member, it will be apparent that the yieldable locking means which is in the form of an arched washer 52 in the drawings need only be provided with a single means for engaging an elongated article. In the arched washer shown in the drawings, for example,- one of the reversely bent foot sections and a part of the washer body adjacent thereto can be eliminated, thereby providing only one elongated article retaining means.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the bracket members 36 are provided with the fastening structure shown in FIGS. 6-10 of the drawings for releasably mounting the bracket members to an upstanding frame such asthe brace elements 22 shown in FIG, 1 or the supporting panel 24 as shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings. As seen in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the leg portions 36, 38' diverge outwardly from the bight end portion 34, and are adapted to be deflected inwardly toward each other in mounting the bracket member 30 toa supporting member. Each of the

leg portions

36, 38 have, adjacent the largest end portion thereof, means for releasably securing the bracket to an apertured supporting panel which is shown in the form of a brace element 22 in FIGS. 610 of the drawings. In particular and as 'best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the

leg portions

36, 38 have first and second pairs of generally hook-shaped finger portions designated 60, 70 respectively for cooperation with first and second pairs of upper and lower apertures 80, respectively provided in the brace element 22. Each pair of upper and lower hookshaped finger portions 60-70 is provided with a

stem portion

62, 72 which extends away from the leg portions, and a

head portion

64, 74 which extends substantially normal to and downwardly from the stem portions. The innermost extremity of the upper and

lower head portions

64, 74 at 66, 76 is spaced from the end surface 37 which abuts against the front face of the supporting panel by a distance generally equal to the thickness of the supporting panel. This desired spacing of the elements will permit the end surfaces 37 to engage the front face of the supporting panel while the innermost extremities of the upper and

lower head portions

64, 74 abut against the rear face of the panel at 66, 76, As is readily apparent in FIG. of the drawings, this desired relationship of the elements will maintain the bracket member in a substantially horizontal position.

The longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the upper pair of apertures 80 and a portion of the lower pair of apertures 90 is larger than the maximum longitudinal and transverse dimension of the hook-shaped finger portions so as to permit the finger portions to be readily accepted within the apertures. It will be noted that the inwardly directed shoulders 92 in the vicinity of the upper part of each of said lower pair of apertures 90 reduces the longitudinal dimension of aproximately onehalf the transverse distance across the apertures. Preferably, the distance between the shoulders 92 and the lower part of each aperture 90 is slightly greater than the maximum longitudinal dimension of the stern portion 72 associated with each lower hook-shaped finger portion so as to afford a friction fit therewith in maintaining all of the hook-shaped finger portions in engagement with the rear face of the panel.

In mounting the bracket member 30 to the brace element 22, the

leg portions

36, 38 are first deflected from the full to approximately the dotted line position shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings to permit the upper hookshaped finger portions 60 to be aligned with the upper pair of apertures 80, and to enable the lower pair of hookshaped finger portions 70 to be positioned in alignment with that portion of the lower pair of apertures 90 having the greatest longitudinal dimension. Then, the hookshaped finger portions are inserted within their complementary apertures, and when this has been accomplished, the bracket member 30 is moved downwardly with respect to the brace element 22 to position the

innermost extremity

66, 76 associated with the upper and

lower head portions

64, 74 against the rear face of the panel while the end surfaces 37 on each of the

leg portions

36, 38 abut against the front face of the panel.

Either simultaneously with or after the downward shifting of the bracket member 30, the

leg portions

36, 38 are released and their inherent tendency to return from the dotted to the full line position shown in FIG. 9 will cause the stem portions 72 associate-d with each lower finger portion 70 to be moved in an underlying position relative to the inwardly directed shoulders 92 as best seen in FIG. 8. In this manner, the bracket member 30 is securely retained to its supporting panel in a position substantially normal thereto to provide a stable mounting for the elongated articles 32. The relative ease with which the bracket members 30 are mounted to supporting panels will enable assembly of the elongated articles 32 either before or after attachment of the bracket members 30 to the supporting panels.

When it is desired to remove the bracket members 3%) from the supporting panel, it is a simple matter to deflect the

leg portions

36, 38 from generally the full to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 9 to enable upward shifting of the bracket members 30 relative to their supporting panels and subsequent withdrawal by separation therefrom. No supplementary fastening means or special tools are required in effecting assembly and disassembly of the bracket members as will be apparent from the preceding discussion.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the present invention contemplates an improved supporting shelf assembly wherein the bracket subassembly thereof is provided with built in fastening means facilitating fast and effective assembly of bracket members to supporting panels and attachment of elongated articles to bracket members. The arrangement and make-up of the various elements of the supporting shelf assembly provides a stable and rigid construction, and yet is lightweight and employs a minimum number of parts.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the structural details of the supporting shelf assembly and its bracket subassembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket assembly for securing at least a pair of elongated articles, comprising a hollow body member having at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending slots for accepting elongated articles, and a resilient strut member for engaging and aggressively urging said elongated articles against marginal portions adjacent said slots to prevent inadvertent removal of said articles from said hollow body member.

2. A supporting assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow body member having at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending slots, a corresponding number of elongated articles each being of smaller predetermined size than the corresponding slot with which it is to be associated and received therein, and resilient locking means for engaging and aggressively urging said elongated articles against marginal portions adjacent said slots to prevent inadvertent removal of said articles from said hollow body member.

5. A bracket assembly for securing at least a pair of elongated articles, comprising a hollow body member having at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending openings each provided with an open upper end at the uppermost portion of said hollow body member, and spring biasing means interposed between each pair of openings for engaging and aggressively urging elongated articles against marginal portions adjacent said openings to prevent inadvertent removal of elongated articles therefrom.

4. An article assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow body member having at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending openings each being provided with an open upper end at the uppermost portion of said hollow body member, a pair of elongated articles each positioned in one of said openings, the marginal portions of said hollow body member adjacent each opening being generally complementary in shape to said elongated articles, the minimum distance between generally opposed marginal portions adjacent each opening being larger than the maximum transverse dimension of said elongated articles to readily accept the same therewithin, the outermost marginal portions in the vicinity of the open upper end of each opening including a laterally offset abutment extending toward the innermost marginal portion adjacent each opening, and a resilient strut member interposed between each pair of openings and being extensible beyond the innermost marginal portions adjacent each opening for engaging and aggressively urging said elongated articles against said outermost marginal portions and in underlying relationship to said laterally offset abutments to prevent inadvertent removal of said article from said hollow body member.

5. A bracket assembly comprising a generally U- shaped body member having a pair of spaced, generally parallel leg portions connected by a bight end portion at one end thereof, at least a pair of spaced, transversely arranged slots extending partially through each leg portion and having an open upper end in the vicinity of said bight end portion, marginal portions of said hollow body member adjacent each slot being generally complementary in shape to a pair of elongated articles adapted to bemounted therein, the minimum distance between generally opposed areasof said marginal portions designed to be larger than the transverse dimension of elongated articles to readily accept the same therein, outermost marginal portions adjacent each slot in the. vicinity of the open upper end thereof having a laterally offset abutment directed toward an innermost marginal portion adjacent each opening, and a resilient locking element extensible beyond the innermost marginal portions adjacent each slot for engaging and aggressively urging elongated articles against said outermost marginal portions and in underlying relationship to said laterally offset abutments to prevent inadvertent removal of said articles from said hollow body member.

6. In combination, a generallyU-shaped body men her having a pair of depending leg portions joined to each other by a bight end portion, at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending substantially semi-cylindrical slots provided in said leg portions and intersecting said bight end portion to present an open upper end for each of said fslots, a pair of elongated substantially cylindrical tubular elements positioned in said slots, the minimum distance between generally opposed marginal portions surrounding each slot being larger than the maximum transverse dimension of said tubular elements to afford ready reception of the same within said slots, and resilient locking means attached to said bight end portion intermediate said slots, said resilient locking means having an inoperative position out of engagement with said tubular elements and means for positioning said resilient locking means in operative condition against said tubular elements to aggressively urge said tubular elements against outermost marginal portions adjacent each slot to prevent removal therefrom.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said resilient locking means comprises an elongated arched washer having reversely bent footsections at the free extremities thereof, said foot sections adapted to rest against the lower face of said bight end portion throughout various relative positions of said arched washer, the juncture between said reversely bent foot sections and said arched washer serving to engage said tubular elements.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for positioning said arched washer against said tubular elements comprises a fastener assembly operatively associated with said bight end portion and said arched washer, said fastener assembly being operative to compress said arched washer for directing the reversely bent foot sections thereof toward said tubular elements.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the innermost marginal portions adjacent each slot extend in a substantially vertical direction to facilitate the assembly of said tubular elements within the slots of said U-shaped body member.

19. A supporting shelf assembled to spaced upstanding frames comprising, in combination, a pair of hollow bracket members each mounted to an upstanding frame in spaced relation to each other, each hollow bracket member having at least a pair of spaced, transversely extending slots generally aligned ,with the slots in said other hollow bracket member, a corresponding number of elongated articles positioned in the aligned slots of said hollow bracket members, and resilient locking means for engaging and aggressively urging said elongated articles against marginal portions adjacent said slots to prevent inadvertent removal of said articles from the hollow bracket members.

11. The supporting shelf assembly defined in claim 10 wherein each hollow bracket member is provided with means for releasably securing the same to the upstanding frame with which it is associated.

12. The supporting shelf assembly as defined in claim frames in vertically spaced relation to said first pair. of

bracket members, said ,second pair ,of bracket members receiving and holdingat least a pair-of elongated articles in the same manner as said firsttpair of hollow bracket members.

13. The supporting shelf assembly as defined in claim it) and including a second pair of identically configured bracket members mounted to said upstanding frames in generally opposing relation to said first pair. of bracket members for receiving and holding elongated articles in the same manner as said first pair of hollow bracket members.

14. A bracket assembly for securing at least one elongated article, comprising a hollow body member having at least one transversely extending slot for accepting an elongated article, and resilient locking means for engaging and aggressively urging said elongated article against marginal portions adjacent said slot to prevent inadvertent removal of said article from said hollow body member.

15. In combination, an apertured supporting panel, and a bracket member mounted on said panel, said bracket member comprising a generally U-shaped element having a pair of resilient leg portions depending from a bight end portion and diverging outwardly therefrom, said leg portions having means at one end thereof for releasably securing said bracket to the apertured supporting panel and including first and second pairs of generally hook-shaped finger portions provided on said leg portions in spaced relation to each other, said apertured panel having first and second pairs of upper and lower apertures for accepting said hook-shaped finger portions, the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the upper pair of apertures and a portion of the lower pair of apertures being larger than the maximum longitudinal and transverse dimension of said hook-shaped finger portions, said hook-shaped finger portions adapted to be inserted through said apertures and capable of being moved to a position of engagement with the rear face of said panel, the minimum distance be tween the resilient leg portions at the free extremities thereof being greater than the maximum distance between the lower pair of apertures whereby to cause said leg portions to be deflected when assembled to said aperture supporting panel, said lower pair of apertures having a portion adapted to engage and maintain the hook-shaped finger portions on said resilient leg portions in engagement with the rear face of said panel.

16. In'combination, an apertured supporting panel, and a bracket member mounted on said panel, said bracket member comprising a generally U-shaped element having a pair of resilient leg portions depending from a bight end portion and diverging outwardly therefrom, said leg portions having means at one end thereof for releasably securing said bracket to the apertured supporting panel and including first and second pairs of upper and lower generally hook-shaped finger portions provided on said leg portions in spaced relation to each other, each hook-shaped finger portion having a stem means extending away from said leg portions and a head means extending downwardly from said stem means, said aperture supporting panelhaving first and second pairs of upper and lower apertures for accepting said hook-shaped finger portions, the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the upper pair of apertures and a portion of the lower pair of apertures being larger than the maximum longitudinal and transverse dimension of said hook-shaped finger portions, said hook-shaped .finger portions adapted to be inserted through said apertures and capableof being moved to a position of engagement with the rear-face of said apertured supporting panel, said lower pair of apertures being spaced apart from each other by a distance less than the spacing between at least thelower pair-of hook-shaped finger portions whereby to cause said leg portions to be deflected when assembled tosaid aperture supporting panel, each of said lower pair of apertures having means associated therewith for engaging and maintaining the hook-shaped finger portions of said resilient leg portions in engagement with the rear face of said panel.

17. The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein said last mentioned means comprises an inwardly directed shoulder in the vicinity of the upper part of each of said lower pair of apertures, the distance between the shoulder and the lower part of each aperture being slightly greater than the maximum longitudinal dimension of each lower finger portion stern means, but aifording a friction fit therewith to maintain the hook-shaped finger portions of said U-shaped element in engagement with the rear face of said panel.

18. The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein the distance between the innermost extremities of said hookshaped finger portions and the end surface of said leg portions is slightly larger than the thickness of said supporting panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.