System for holding implements

Abstract

A system for holding one or more implements. The system includes a wall-mounted rail having a channel-track extending lengthwise of the rail, and an implement holder having a track-engaging element slidable in the channel-track to a selected position on the rail. Fastener holes are spaced at intervals along the bottom wall of the channel-track for receiving one or more rail fasteners to mount the rail. The channel-track has a depth sufficient to provide clearance between the track-engaging element and the rail fasteners so that the track-engaging element may be slidably moved along the channel-track without interference with the rail fasteners. One implement holder comprises a jar assembly which includes a jar for storing items and a bracket mountable on the rail for holding the jar. Other implement holders may also be used.

1 . A system for holding one or more implements, said system comprising 
 a rail adapted to be mounted in a generally horizontal position on a generally vertical mounting surface, said rail having a channel-track extending lengthwise of the rail,    an implement holder having a track-engaging element receivable in said channel-track and slidable along the channel-track to a selected position on the rail,    said channel-track comprising a bottom wall adapted to be positioned generally adjacent said mounting surface, a pair of spaced-apart side walls extending forward from said bottom wall, and a slot at a front side of the channel-track whereby when said track-engaging element of the implement holder is received in the channel-track between the side walls thereof, said element is adapted to project forward through the slot and to be slidably moved along the slot to move said implement holder to said desired position,    a plurality of fastener holes spaced at intervals along the bottom wall of the channel-track for receiving one or more rail fasteners to mount the rail on said mounting surface,    said channel-track having a depth sufficient to provide clearance between the track-engaging element and said one or more rail fasteners when the rail is mounted on said surface whereby the track-engaging element may be slidably moved along the channel-track without interference with said one or more rail fasteners.    
   
   
       2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said rail comprises an elongate rail panel having a front face adapted to face away from said mounting surface and a back face adapted to face said mounting surface, and wherein said channel-track is disposed on the back face of the rail panel.  
   
   
       3 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said elongate rail panel has an upper edge margin terminating in an upper edge extending lengthwise of the rail panel, a lower edge margin terminating in a lower edge extending lengthwise of the rail panel, and opposite end edges, one side wall of said pair of side walls of said channel-track, constituting a lower side wall, extending along said upper edge margin of the rail panel at a location spaced below said upper edge of the rail panel, and the other side wall of said pair of said walls, constituting an upper side wall, being located above said upper edge of the rail panel and having an inturned lip generally opposing said upper edge of the rail panel, said lip and upper edge of the rail panel defining said slot.  
   
   
       4 . A system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said channel-track comprises an upper channel-track disposed generally adjacent said upper edge of said rail panel, and wherein said system further comprises a lower channel-track disposed generally adjacent said lower edge of said rail panel and running generally parallel to said upper channel track.  
   
   
       5 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said channel-track comprises an upper channel-track disposed generally adjacent an upper edge of said rail panel, and wherein said system further comprises a lower channel-track disposed generally adjacent a lower edge of said rail panel and running generally parallel to said upper channel track.  
   
   
       6 . A system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein each rail has a connection section at one configured for an overlapping fit with an end of an adjacent rail thereby to join the rails end-to-end.  
   
   
       7 . A system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said connection section of each rail is configured for a telescoping fit with said end of said adjacent rail.  
   
   
       8 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising one or more holder fasteners for mounting said implement holder on said rail panel, said rail panel having a plurality of fastener holes therein for receiving said one or more holder fasteners, said one or more holder fasteners having a length such then when the one or more holder fasteners are in place fastening said implement holder to the rail panel, the one or more holder fasteners do not extend rearward beyond said channel-track into said mounting surface.  
   
   
       9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said one or more rail fasteners is a screw having a head disposed inside said channel-track and a threaded shank threadable into said mounting surface.  
   
   
       10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said implement holder comprises a jar assembly comprising a jar having a bottom, one or more sides, and a mouth, and a bracket having said track-engaging element thereon, said bracket comprising a pair of generally opposing, spaced-apart sides, and opposing jar supports on the sides of the bracket for supporting said jar in an upright position for storage of items in the jar.  
   
   
       11 . A system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said jar has a flange structure projecting out from said one or more sides of the jar adapted to rest on said jar supports.  
   
   
       12 . A system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said bracket further comprises a top wall spanning said sides, said jar supports on the sides of the bracket being spaced below said top wall and defining a slideway for slidably receiving the flange structure of the jar whereby the jar may be slidably moved in said slideway to a storage position in which the mouth of the jar is disposed below the top wall of the bracket.  
   
   
       13 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  wherein top wall is sized to cover the mouth of the jar when the jar is in said storage position.  
   
   
       14 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a detent mechanism for releasably holding said jar in said storage position.  
   
   
       15 . A system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said detent mechanism defines a distance across the slideway less than an outside diameter of the jar, one or both of said jar and detent mechanism being resilient deformable to permit the jar to be slidably moved into the slideway past the detent mechanism to an over-center position in which the jar is releasably held against withdrawal from the slideway.  
   
   
       16 . A system as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said detent mechanism comprises a pair of detents protruding inwardly from opposite sides of the bracket into said slideway above said jar supports.  
   
   
       17 . A jar assembly comprising 
 a jar having a bottom, one or more sides, and a mouth, and    a bracket having a track-engaging element thereon for engaging a track on a rail to permit sliding movement of the bracket along the rail,    said bracket comprising a pair of generally opposing, spaced-apart sides, and opposing jar supports on the sides of the bracket for supporting said jar in an upright position for storage of items in the jar.    
   
   
       18 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said jar has a flange structure projecting out from said one or more sides of the jar adapted to rest on said jar supports.  
   
   
       19 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said bracket further comprises a top wall spanning said sides, said jar supports on the sides of the bracket being spaced below said top wall and defining a slideway for slidably receiving the flange structure of the jar whereby the jar may be slidably moved in said slideway to a storage position in which the mouth of the jar is disposed below the top wall of the bracket.  
   
   
       20 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein top wall is sized to cover the mouth of the jar when the jar is in said storage position.  
   
   
       21 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a detent mechanism for releasably holding said jar in said storage position.  
   
   
       22 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said detent mechanism defines a distance across the slideway less than an outside diameter of the jar, one or both of said jar and detent mechanism being resilient deformable to permit the jar to be slidably moved into the slideway past the detent mechanism to an over-center position in which the jar is releasably held against withdrawal from the slideway.  
   
   
       23 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said detent mechanism comprises a pair of detents protruding inwardly from opposite sides of the bracket into said slideway above said jar supports.  
   
   
       24 . A jar assembly comprising 
 a jar having a bottom, one or more sides, and a mouth, and    a bracket comprising a back wall, a pair of generally opposing, spaced-apart sides extending forward from the back wall, and opposing jar supports on the sides of the bracket for supporting said jar in an upright position for storage of items in the jar.    
   
   
       25 . A jar assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said back wall has fastener openings therein for receiving fasteners to fasten the bracket to a surface.