Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Xerox Corporation

Richard J Ernst

John P Grimm

Mark S Timmerman

John F Horvath

Mark Edward Gonciarz

Cyndie S Hackl

James E Surjan

Eldridge Presnell

Jeffrey C Warmolts

Francis C Peterson

Cheryl L Panasik

Michael Stephen Popovich

Sigismund G Paul

Edward D Yates

Donald Buytaert

George B Dowse

Elbert Eugene Williams, Jr

Frederick A Kish

Harish C Gupta

William J Blucher

Michael A Rancich

James W Robinson

George G Dewey

David W Mueller

George Matthew Davis

Naim Mansour

Keith R Christiansen

Martin J Nilsen

Michael C Dill

David W Jablonski

Donald J Broomfield

Don T Van Allman

Kent B Godsted

Brian Hyuk Joon Chung

Craig Joseph Zurko

David J Forsell

Aaron V Monje

Daniel Lee Downey

Frederick G Sevald

Marian Olma

Peter G Ham

James C Irwin

Terry R Walker

Joseph J Dunk

Bruce A Pippard

Melissa L Sledz

A rod hanger for securing a rod to a substrate includes a mounting portion configured for engaging the substrate, a rod receiving portion configured for receiving the rod and a connecting element configured for vertically displacing the mounting portion and the rod receiving portion. In addition, at least one anti-rotation element configured for engaging the substrate is provided on the mounting portion.

Rod hanger for securing a rod to a substrate

A substrate-mountable holder system, comprising a base having a hook, a first front surface and a second front surface with a groove therebetween, wherein the groove includes a rearward facing face having a step. The system also includes a second portion for operatively engaging the first portion, the second portion including a tongue component positionable within the groove, wherein the tongue component includes a forward facing face having a step. The base also may include at least one notch extending inward from the rear surface, the notch having a first surface at a first depth relative to a rear surface of the base and a second surface at a second, deeper depth relative to the rear surface, and the cover may have at least one ear for releasably engaging the at least one notch.

Wall mountable holder system

In one aspect, a storage system is disclosed. The storage system may include a base having a lower or accessory portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion has at least one lower projection extending outward from a front surface and wherein the upper portion has at least two upper projections extending outward from the front surface and spaced from the lower projection. The system may also include at least one accessory configured to engage the lower portion. The system further may include at least one shelf or cover configured to engage the two upper projections. In a further aspect, another storage system is disclosed, wherein the storage system may include a base having an upper ledge portion, wherein a portion of the upper ledge portion is spaced a predetermined distance from a wall. The base further may include a lower portion and an accessory portion between the upper ledge portion and the lower portion. The system further may include at least one accessory configured to engage the accessory portion. The system also may include at least one shelf or cover configured to couple to the base.

Storage system

A substrate-mountable holder system, comprising: a first portion comprising a base having first and second front surfaces, a rear surface, a top and a bottom, a hook extending from proximate the bottom, a lobe extending rearwardly from a rear surface proximate the top, a pad extending rearwardly from the rear surface, an opening for receiving an anchor extending through the base, the opening between the lobe and the pad; and a second portion for operatively engaging the first portion; wherein the first and second portions each include at least one, and preferably a plurality of, interfacing protrusions and indentations for engaging the second portion with the first portion. Each of the protrusions and indentations on the first and second portions may be proximate the bottom of their respective portions. The system further may include a self-drilling drywall anchor having a bore, and a fastener for operatively engaging the first portion and the bore.

A fastener mountable to a rigid substrate such as a fiber cement panel and also mountable to the panel and an underlying support, such as a metal or wooden stud. The fastener may include a drilling portion having a reaming portion for reaming out the material within the panel, a fastening portion for engaging the panel and, if encountered, the underlying support, and a tapered portion between the drilling and fastening portions. The drilling portion may have a length generally equal to, or slightly longer than, a length of the panel so that reaming out of the panel may be completed before engagement of the fastener threads with the interior of the panel begins.

Self-drilling fastener

Hook

A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface and a pad spaced from the lobe, the opening between the lobe and pad, for controlling deformation of the first portion. The first and second portions also may have a plurality of releasably engaging detents to lock the second portion in place, and the bottom of the second portion may angle rearward so as to bear against the substrate when the second portion is installed. Moreover, the first portion may include a barb on the lobe and/or one or more tangs extending from a recess in the rear surface of the first portion to embed in the substrate and inhibit rotation of the holder system.

A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface to bias the bottom of the first portion toward the substrate to aid in more stable mounting of the first portion and further may include a tang projecting rearwardly from proximate the bottom for engagement with the substrate or a second fastener spaced proximate the first fastener to inhibit rotation of the system when installed. In addition, the first portion and the cover may have various features to fasten the cover securely to the first portion and provide the appearance of a unitary structure.

In one aspect, a holder assembly includes a substrate-mountable holder having a metal base having a centerline, the base having a plurality of openings to receive a plurality of fasteners, a generally symmetrical wireform having a pair of legs with a portion therebetween, the portion welded to the base, each leg having a first segment extending parallel to the base and a second segment extending outwardly of the base. First segment of each leg may be generally parallel to the centerline, or first segment may be angled with respect to the centerline. Second segment of legs may extend generally linearly outwardly of the base or may have radii of curvature.

Wall mountable holder

An object-mounting aid such as a wire guide, comprising a first leg at a proximal end and a second leg at a distal end, with a hinge therebetween, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg. The hinge may allow the second leg to pivot relative to the first leg so as to increase or decrease a gap between the second leg and the mounting surface, which may make it easier to position a wire on the second leg and may allow the second leg to serve as a ramp surface for the wire. The first leg includes a channel configured to receive and couple to a portion of a mounting device, e.g., by frictional engagement, which may be assisted through the use of detents on the guide. In addition, the guide may include a notch on the rear face of the first leg, the notch shaped so as to mirror or otherwise interface with at least a portion of the holder.

Wire guide

An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetrating portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a sleeve opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body and includes a flexible shaft extending from the body. The pin portion has an actuating element extending transversely from the shaft. The pin portion further includes an opening in the body, spaced from the flexible shaft. Once the pin portion is in place in the anchor, a secondary locking pin is inserted through the pin portion body opening into the hollow wall or ceiling to prevent rotation of the pin portion relative to the anchor portion.

Hollow wall fastener

A self-drilling fastener for use in a friable material with or without an underlying member at the point of use comprises an elongated body, a threaded exterior, an enlarged head with torque transmitting surfaces, proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, and a drilling tip generally opposite enlarged head. Proximal portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior having root and crest diameters and a thread height, where the crest diameter is about twice the root diameter. Intermediate portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter substantially smaller than proximal portion crest diameter and a thread height substantially smaller than proximal portion thread height. Distal portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior with a root that tapers toward the drilling tip, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the proximal portion crest diameter, and a thread height substantially smaller than the proximal portion thread height portion.

Drywall fastener

A holder having a baseplate with a tang extending rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners and a plurality of legs extending from the baseplate, the tang being heat treated or work hardened to harden the tang and facilitate its detachment for non-friable substrate applications. Work hardening may be accomplished, for example, by heating and quenching the tang to increase both its hardness and its brittleness to a level that allows the tang to be broken off with an impact force but not when inserted into a friable substrate so that the holder retains greater functionality.

A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material or a semi-rigid material comprises a body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive a fastener, a proximal end, a drilling end, a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end having high threading having a crest diameter for engaging the friable or semi-rigid material, and a drilling portion adjacent the drilling end, an additional thread proximate the proximal end, the additional thread continuing between turns of the high threading, and a head at the proximal end having an outer diameter that is smaller than the crest diameter. The anchor additional thread is configured to engage either the friable material or, additionally, to firmly engage the semi-rigid material.

Self-drilling anchor

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Richard J Ernst