Slot wall hanger

Abstract

A dual-purpose hanger for mounting an article to a slot wall or to an upright post includes a main body portion defining a first plane, first and second retaining elements spaced from one another extending from a first side of the main body portion and configured for engagement with non-common slots in the upright post, and a transverse flange defining a second plane extending from a second side of the main body portion opposite the first side and configured for engagement with the slot wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dual-purpose hanger for mounting an article to a slot wall having horizontally oriented panels with slots between adjacent panels, or to an upright post having vertically oriented slots formed in a face thereof, the dual-purpose hanger comprising: 
 a main body portion defining a first plane;    first and second retaining elements extending from a first side of the main body portion transverse thereto, the first and second elements being spaced from one another and configured for engagement with non-common slots in the upright post; and    a transverse flange extending from a second side of the main body portion opposite the first side, the flange defining a second plane and configured for engagement with the slot wall.    
     
     
         2 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the main body portion decreases in length from the first retaining element to the second retaining element.  
     
     
         3 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the main body portion decreases in length in two steps.  
     
     
         4 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first retaining element and the second retaining element are longitudinally configured on adjacent edges of the main body portion.  
     
     
         5 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first retaining element has a circular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the slotted post, the circular retaining lip having a width greater than a width of the vertically oriented slots in the upright post face.  
     
     
         6 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the second retaining element has a rectangular retaining lip defining a shoulder for engaging an interior surface of the slotted post.  
     
     
         7 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first and second retaining elements have maximum widths and wherein the first and second retaining elements are oriented so that the widths are transverse to one another.  
     
     
         8 . The hanger in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the flange is approximately the same width as the main body portion.