Slotwall mounting bracket

Abstract

A slotwall bracket includes a generally planar body, an upper mounting flange, and a lower locking flange for preventing the bracket from being accidentally moved or removed from a slotwall panel. The mounting flange is generally L-shaped, and is supported on the upper surface of a horizontal rail in the slotwall. When the bracket is installed, the locking flange snap fits onto the lower surface of the horizontal rail to retain the bracket on the slotwall.

1 . A slotwall bracket for mounting on a slotwall, comprising: 
 a generally planar body having an upper portion and a lower portion;    a mounting flange extending from said upper portion of said body, said mounting flange adapted to hook into an upper slotwall groove in the slotwall; and    a locking flange extending from said lower portion of said body, said locking flange adapted to extend into a lower slotwall groove, said locking flange adapted to snap fit onto said slotwall.    
   
   
       2 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said body includes a first surface facing said slotwall and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface including a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from said second surface, said bracket including an accessory mounting means for supporting a variety of accessories from said slotwall bracket, said accessory mounting means welded to at least one of said protrusions.  
   
   
       3 . 
 The slotwall bracket of  claim 1  wherein said mounting flange is generally L-shaped, including a first member extending generally perpendicular from said body and a second member extending upwardly from said first member, said first member adapted to be supported on a first portion of the slotwall groove, said second member extending behind a second portion of the slotwall groove.    
   
   
       4 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 1  wherein said locking flange includes a first portion extending generally perpendicularly from said body, and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion, said second portion adapted to fit around a portion of the slotwall.  
   
   
       5 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 4  wherein said locking flange includes a third portion, said third portion extending from said second portion and curving downwardly from said second portion to provide a ramped leading edge on said locking flange.  
   
   
       6 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 4  wherein said first portion of said locking flange defines a cutout, said cutout increasing the flexibility of said locking flange relative to said body.  
   
   
       7 . A slotwall and mounting bracket system, comprising: 
 a slotwall panel including a first horizontal rail, each said rail including a top edge and a bottom edge; and    a bracket including a generally planar body, a generally L-shaped mounting flange extending from said body, and a locking flange extending from said body, said mounting flange adapted to be supported on said top edge of said horizontal rail, said locking flange adapted to be snap fitted about said bottom edge of said horizontal rail.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said locking flange includes a first portion extending from said body and a second portion extending from said first portion, said second portion extending upwardly from said first portion such that said locking flange fits around a portion of said downwardly extending lip.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said locking flange includes a third portion, said third portion curved downwardly from said second portion to provide a ramped leading edge on said locking flange.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said first portion includes a cutout, said cutout increasing the flexibility of said locking flange relative to said body.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said L-shaped mounting flange includes a first member extending generally perpendicular from said body and a second member extending upwardly from said first member, said second member extending behind the downwardly extending lip of a second said horizontal rail.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said body includes a rear surface facing said slotwall and a front surface opposite said rear surface, said front surface including a plurality of protrusions, said bracket further including an accessory mount welded to at least one of said protrusions.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said protrusions are a plurality of ribs extending along said front surface of said body.  
   
   
       14 . A slotwall bracket for mounting on a slotwall panel, said slotwall panel including a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rails, each of said rails including a top edge, a bottom edge, and a lip extending downwardly from said bottom edge, said slotwall bracket comprising: 
 a base plate including a generally planar body;    an L-shaped mounting flange extending from said body, a first portion of said mounting flange adapted to be supported on the top edge of a first horizontal rail, a second portion of said mounting flange adapted to extend behind the downwardly extending lip of a second horizontal rail; and    a locking flange extending from said body, said locking flange including a first portion extending from said body, and a second portion extending from said first portion, said second portion extending upwardly from said first portion such that said second portion is adapted to snap fit about the downwardly extending lip of the first horizontal rail.    
   
   
       15 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 14  wherein said locking flange includes a third portion, said third portion curving downwardly from said second portion to form a ramped leading edge for said locking flange.  
   
   
       16 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 14  wherein said locking flange includes a cutout, said cutout increasing the flexibility of said locking flange relative to said body.  
   
   
       17 . The slotwall bracket of  claim 14  wherein said body includes a rear surface facing said slotwall and a front surface opposite said rear surface, said front surface including at least one protrusion, said bracket further including an accessory mount, said accessory mount welded to said at least one protrusion.