Pegboard Hanger Assembly

Abstract

A pegboard hanger assembly that secures firmly to commercially available pegboards and accommodates for typical variations in board thickness and hole diameter while maintaining a firm, wobble-free connection. The pegboard hanger assembly includes: a hanger including a hanger base and a pin projecting from a rear surface thereof; and a grommet adapted to receive the pin. A rear-facing curved hook, made from a resiliently flexible material, inserts into a hole in the pegboard, creating a pre-load when fully installed. Pre-load is maintained by the interaction of (1) the pin protruding from the rear of the hanger base; (2) the grommet; and (3) the hole of the pegboard. Using two pegboard holes to create and maintain a clamping force (via pre-load) eliminates a majority of hanger wobble. The grommet, being made of an expandable and compressive material, accommodates a variety of commercially available pegboard hole diameters and creates a tight frictional fit between the pegboard, the hanger, the pin, and the grommet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pegboard hanger assembly for firmly mounting on a pegboard surface including a first hole and a second hole formed therethrough, the pegboard hanger assembly comprising:
 a hanger including
 a hanger base, 
 a pin projecting from a rear surface thereof and including a flanged end, and 
 a hook projecting from a rear surface of the hanger base, wherein the hook is resiliently flexible relative to the hanger base; and 
   a grommet adapted to be inserted into and located within the first hole formed through the pegboard surface, the grommet including a passage formed therethrough and an inwardly projecting shoulder formed within the passage of the grommet;   wherein the pin projecting from the hanger is insertable through the passage of the grommet and the flanged end of the pin is insertable through the shoulder of the passage of the grommet when the grommet is located on the first hole formed through the pegboard surface to secure the hanger on the pegboard surface,   said grommet including an expandable and compressive polymer material adapted to expand and create a compressive fit on an interior circumference of the hole formed through the pegboard surface when said pin is inserted though the passage of the grommet so that an outer circumference of said grommet engages in a tight frictional fit with an inner circumference of said first hole formed through the pegboard surface within which said grommet is located, and   wherein said hook is insertable through the second hole formed through the pegboard surface to further secure the hanger on the pegboard surface.   
     
     
         2 . The pegboard hanger assembly of  claim 1 , the hook including an upwardly projecting end insertable through the second hole of the pegboard surface. 
     
     
         3 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the upwardly projecting end curves towards the hanger base such that the upwardly projecting end contacts a back of the pegboard surface and creates a pre-load over a range of pegboard thicknesses when the hanger base is pressed flat against the pegboard, pre-load being maintained by the tight frictional fit between the grommet and the inner circumference of the first hole. 
     
     
         4 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 1 , the grommet further comprising a bevel formed around an open end of the passage through the grommet, wherein the bevel compresses during insertion of the pin, and wherein the bevel expands when the pin is fully installed, thereby locking the pin in place. 
     
     
         5 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable and compressive polymer material of the grommet exhibits elastic memory. 
     
     
         6 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory hook extending from a front face of the hanger base for supporting one or more items on the pegboard surface. 
     
     
         7 . The pegboard hanger assembly of  claim 1 , the grommet further comprising a split formed along a length of the grommet. 
     
     
         8 . A pegboard hanger assembly for firmly mounting on a pegboard surface including a first hole and a second hole formed therethrough, the pegboard hanger assembly comprising:
 a hanger including
 a hanger base, 
 a pin projecting from a rear surface thereof and including a flanged end and a flared portion located between the flanged end of the pin and the hanger base, and 
 a rear hook projecting from a rear surface of the hanger base, said rear hook including an upwardly projecting end, wherein the rear hook is resiliently flexible relative to the hanger base; and 
 an accessory attachment member positioned on a front face of the hanger base for supporting one or more items on the pegboard surface; and 
   a grommet adapted to be inserted into and located within the first hole formed through the pegboard surface, the grommet including a passage formed therethrough and an inwardly projecting shoulder formed within the passage of the grommet, said grommet including a bevel formed around an open end of the passage through the grommet;   wherein the pin projecting from the hanger is insertable through the passage of the grommet and the flanged end of the pin is insertable through the shoulder of the passage of the grommet when the grommet is located on the first hole formed through the pegboard surface to secure the hanger on the pegboard surface,   said grommet including an expandable and compressive polymer material adapted to expand when said pin is inserted though the passage of the grommet so that an outer circumference of said grommet engages in a tight compressive frictional fit with an inner circumference of said first hole formed through the pegboard surface within which said grommet is located, and so that said pin engages in a tight frictional fit with said grommet, the frictional fit between pin and grommet and the frictional fit between grommet and inner circumference of said first hole working to reduce side-to-side wobble and up-down-wobble,   said inwardly projecting shoulder of said grommet interacting frictionally with said flared portion of said pin so as to lock said pin in place within said grommet, said grommet locking radially into the hole, thereby creating a tight frictional fit between the pegboard hole and the hanger; and   wherein said rear hook is insertable through a second hole formed through the pegboard surface to further secure the hanger on the pegboard surface, said rear hook creating pre-load during installation of pegboard hanger assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The pegboard hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said accessory attachment member positioned on a front face of the hanger base includes a hook, a magnet, or a hook-and-loop fastener material. 
     
     
         10 . A pegboard hanger assembly for mounting on a pegboard surface including a first hole and a second hole formed therethrough, the pegboard hanger assembly comprising:
 a hanger including
 a hanger base, 
 a pin projecting from a rear surface thereof and including a flanged end and a flared portion located between the flanged end of the pin and the hanger base; and 
   a grommet adapted to be inserted into and located within the first hole formed through the pegboard surface, the grommet including a passage formed therethrough and an inwardly projecting shoulder formed within the passage of the grommet, said grommet including a bevel formed around an open end of the passage through the grommet;   wherein the pin projecting from the hanger is insertable through the passage of the grommet and the flanged end of the pin is insertable through the shoulder of the passage of the grommet when the grommet is located on the first hole formed through the pegboard surface to secure the hanger on the pegboard surface,   said grommet adapted to expand and compress when said pin is inserted though the passage of the grommet so that an outer circumference of said grommet engages in a tight frictional fit with an inner circumference of said first hole formed through the pegboard surface within which said grommet is located, and so that said pin engages in a tight frictional fit with said grommet, the frictional fit between pin and grommet and the frictional fit between grommet and inner circumference of said first hole working to eliminate side-to-side wobble and up-down-wobble,   said inwardly projecting shoulder of said grommet interacting frictionally with said flared portion of said pin so as to lock said pin in place within said grommet.   
     
     
         11 . The pegboard hanger assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a rear hook projecting from a rear surface of the hanger base, said rear hook including an upwardly projecting end, wherein the rear hook is resiliently flexible relative to the hanger base, wherein said rear hook is insertable through a second hole formed through the pegboard surface to further secure the hanger on the pegboard surface, said rear hook creating pre-load during installation of pegboard hanger assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising an accessory attachment member positioned on a front face of the hanger base for supporting one or more items on the pegboard surface, said accessory attachment member including a hook, a magnet, or a hook-and-loop fastener material. 
     
     
         13 . The pegboard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the grommet exhibits elastic memory.