Mounting system with wedge

[0001] It is often times desirable to mount a sign, display or other object onto a supporting structure. For example, in order to access the area behind such a sign (e.g., to restock a shelf), it is desirable to mount the sign to a structure (such as a storage rack or a pallet rack) by some type of movable or flexible arrangement. In one such arrangement, the sign is mounted to a rack by a hinge; that is, the sign is pivotally mounted to the rack by a hinge arrangement such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/680,909 to Padiak et al., which application is commonly assigned with the present application and is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The hinges, however, must be adequately secured to the support structure. One way in which the hinge is secured to the supporting structure is by flexible extensions or fingers that extend rearwardly from the base or mounting portion that are snugly fitted into an opening in the supporting structure. In this arrangement, the extensions engage the sides of the opening. Barbs at the end of the fingers lock the mounting portion to the support. To disengage the mounting element, the extensions are squeezed together or the mounting portion is twisted side to side, to loosen the fingers and disengage the barbs.

[0003] However, there are drawbacks to this mounting system. For one, after repeated engagement and disengagement, the fingers can become weakened and fatigued, and as a result lose their resiliency and thus the ability to spring back after being pushed through the opening in the supporting structure. As a result, the mounting element and the object (e.g., the sign) may not be secured to the supporting structure as desired.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting system that secures the mounting element to the supporting structure. Desirably, such a mounting system permits installation of the mount (hinge) without the need for tools. More desirably, such a mount is readily installed and locks into place, but is also readily removed, when desired.

[0005] A mount is configured for securing an associated object, such as a sign, to a supporting structure, which supporting structure has a wall defining an opening therein, having an outer surface and an inner surface.

[0006] The mount includes a mounting element adapted to receive the object. The mounting element has a body having an opening therein that is defined by edges and has a predetermined shape. Preferably, the opening is a rectangular opening. The body has a pair of resilient fingers that extend rearwardly from the body. The fingers define portions of the edges of the opening in the body. That is, the fingers extend rearwardly from the body at the edges of the opening. A preferred resilient finger has an inclined surface and defines a barb on the finger.

[0007] A wedge has a base and a pair of resilient legs depending from the base. The wedge has a predetermined shape and is adapted for receipt in the body opening. The mounting element is positioned with the resilient fingers in the supporting structure wall opening with the fingers locked to the supporting structure wall. The wedge is received in the body opening to interfere with the mounting element fingers flexing inward and to secure the mounting element to the support structure.

[0008] In a preferred arrangement, the wedge legs each include a channel formed therein between the base and a free end of each leg. Preferably, the legs each include an inclined surface extending from the free end and forming a lip of the channel.

[0009] In a present mount, the opening in the body is rectangular and the wedge has a rectangular cross-sectional shape for mating receipt in the rectangular opening. The fingers are disposed on opposite sides of the rectangular opening and the wedge is disposed in the opening between the fingers.

[0010] The mount can be used to mount or support, for example, a sign. One such sign is a pivoting sign in which case a pivoting portion is mounted to the mounting element. A pivot pin is used to mount the pivoting portion to the mounting element.

[0011] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

[0018] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described some embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0019] It should be understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0020] Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a mounting system 10 with a wedge 12 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Such a system 10 permits readily mounting, for example, a sign S having a hinged or other mount 14 to a support structure, such as the vertical posts or uprights 16 of a storage (pallet) rack system 18.

[0021] As seen in FIG. 1, a portion of the supporting structure (e.g., the rack upright 16) has an opening 20 formed in a wall 22 thereof. The wall 22 is defined by inner and outer wall surfaces, 22a,b, respectively. In this embodiment, the opening 20 is shown as a square. However, the opening 20 can be other suitable shapes and sizes, as is known in the art, such as, e.g., rectangular or teardrop. The exemplary mount 14 includes a first fixed or mounting portion 24 and a second pivoting portion 26 that are connected to one another by a pivot pin 28. The mount and pivot portions 24, 26 can be connected in myriad ways as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, including those shown in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 10/680,909 to Padiak et al. Preferably these portions are fabricated and manufactured easily and inexpensively. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot portion 26 is secured to a mountable object (not shown), such as, e.g., a sign, display or other suitable object by a fastener, such as a screw through an opening 30 in the pivoting portion 26, or by an adhesive, clips, hooks or the like.

[0022] As is known in the art, the mount portion 24 can include a pair of mounting extensions or fingers 32a,b that extend rearwardly from the body 34 of the mount portion 24. Each of the mounting fingers 32a,b includes a rearwardly extending wall 36a,b having inwardly facing surfaces 38a,b that are spaced from one another so that the inwardly facing surfaces 38a,b oppose each other. Each finger 32a,b also has an outward facing surface 40a,b that has a lip or barb 42a,b formed thereon. Preferably, the surface 44a,b between the end of the finger 46a,b and the barb 42a,b is inclined. The fingers 32a,b, along with the edges of the body between the fingers as indicated at 48, define an opening 50 in the body 34.

[0023] The fingers 32a,b are configured for insertion into the opening 20 in the upright (support) 16 such that the outwardly facing surfaces 40a,b engage opposite sides of the opening 20. In this manner, the barbs 42a,b engage the opposite edges of the opening 20 and secure the hinge 14 to the post 16. The barbs 42a,b engage the support opening 20 at an inner surface 22a of the wall 22 at the opening 50 when the mount body 34 rests on the outside surface 22b of the post 16. In this manner, the wall 22 that defines the opening 20 is “sandwiched” between the barb 42a,b and the mount body 34. In that the hinge 14 is formed from a polymer, the fingers 32a,b are typically flexible and are readily inserted into the opening 20 with the inclined surfaces 44a,b facilitating insertion and receipt of the fingers 32a,b in the opening 20. The fingers 32a,b can be flexed inward to release or disengage the fingers 32a,b from the post wall 22 to remove the mount 14 from the post 16.

[0024] A locking wedge 56 is positioned in the mount opening 50. The wedge 56 has a base 58 and a pair of legs 60a,b extending or depending from the base 58. The legs 60a,b, which are connected to one another by the base 58, have an outer wall 62a,b and an inner wall 64a,b. The outer walls 62a,b each include an inclined surface 66a,b extending from a free end 68a,b of the leg toward the base 58.

[0025] The legs 60a,b each include a notch or channel 70a,b formed in the outer wall 62a,b, between the base 58 and the free end 68a,b. The notches 70a,b, along with the inclined outer wall 66a,b define a lip or barb 72a,b on the leg 60a,b. The notches 72a,b are configured to engage the post wall 22 when the wedge 56 is inserted into the mount opening 50. The barbs 72a,b are disposed to retain the wedge 56 in position in the mount opening 50 and engaged with the post wall 22 when the wedge 56 is inserted into the mount opening 50.

[0026] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the wedge 56 is inserted into the mount opening 50 and into the post opening 20. The wedge legs 60a,b lock into place in the post 16 by engagement of the notches 72a,b with the post wall 22. In addition, the wedge 56 fits snug up against the mount fingers 32a,b and interferes with inward flexing of the fingers 32a,b. As such, the wedge 56 prevents loosening of the mount 14 by preventing the mount fingers 32a,b from flexing inward and coming free from the post 16.

[0027] The hinge 14 and wedge 56 are formed from polymeric materials, such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, and are formed as injection molded parts. Other materials and processes for using and molding these materials will be recognized and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0028] All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

[0029] In the disclosures, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

[0030] From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.