According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage system which includes a support structure; a number of body members; a mounting means arranged on each body member to permit each bod member to be mounted on the support structure; and at least one retaining member of a resiliently deformable material positioned on each of a pair of opposed sides of each body member, the retaining members being configured so that, when two body members are arranged proximate each other, an article can be retained in position between retaining members which faze towards each other The support structure may be an elongate support member which is fastenable to a backing structure.

The mounting means may include engaging formations, defined by each body member. The support member may include an engageable formation which is engaged by the engaging formation when each body member is mounted on the support member. The engaging formations may be configured so that each body member can be adjustably mounted on the support member.

The engaging formations may include a downwardly opening slot defined in each body member and an upwardly opening slot defined in each body member. A longitudinal upper edge of the support member may be receivable in each downwardly opening slot and a longitudinal lower edge of the support member may be receivable in each upwardly opening slot.

A locking means may be arranged on each body member to lock each body member to the support member once the position of the body member has been adjusted.

The locking means may include a locking device which is mountable on each body member and is displaceable relative to the body member. The locking device may be displaceable between a locked position in which the device acts on the support member and the body member to inhibit sliding of the body member relative to the support member1 and an unlocked position in which the body member can slide relative to the support member.

Each retaining member may include at least one projection which extends from the body member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a component for a storage system, the component including a body member; a mounting means which is arranged on the body member to permit the body member to be mounted on a support structure; and at least one retaining member of a resiliently deformable material positioned on each of a pair of opposed sides of the body member, the retaining members being configured so that, when two body members are arranged proximate each other, an article can be retained in position between retaining members which face towards each other.

The invention is now described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a first embodiment of a storage system, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the storage system of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a sectioned view of a component, also in accordance with the invention, for the storage system, taken through III-III in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a three dimensional view of a locking device of the component; Figure 5 shows a front view of the system of Figure 1, in use; Figure 6 shows a three dimensional view of a second embodiment of the storage system; Figure 7 shows a side view of the storage system of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the storage system; Figure 9 shows an exploded view of a component, also in accordance with the invention; Figure 10 shows an end view of one example of a retaining member of the component of Figure 9; Figure 11 shows an end view of another example of a retaining member of the component of Figure 9; and Figure 12 shows a front sectioned view of a component, also in accordance with the invention, for a storage system.

In Figures 1, 2 and 5, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a storage system, in accordance with the invention.

The storage system 10 includes a component 12, also in accordance with the invention, which is mountable on an elongate support member or rail 14 of extruded aluminium.

The component 12 includes a body 16 of a moulded plastics material. The body 16 has a pair of parallel, spaced

slots 18 defined therein. The slots 18 are dimensioned so that the body 16 is divided into a central portion 20, an upper arm 22 on one side of the portion 22 and a lower arm 24 on an opposed side of the portion 22.

A rubber retaining member 26 is located in each slot 18. The central portion 20 and the arms 22, 24 define projections 78 which extend into the slots 18. The members 26 each define complementary recesses 80 in which the projections 78 are received to retain the members 26 in their respective slots 18.

Each member 26 is dimensioned so that each member 26 defines a fin 28 extending from each side 30 of the body 16.

Further, each fin 28 is angled upwardly with respect to the body 16. It will be appreciated that two vertically spaced fins 28 which are oriented substantially parallel with respect to each other will extend from each side 30.

A mounting means 32 is arranged on the body 16 to permit the body 16 to be mounted on the rail 14.

The rail 14 defines a central, flat, recessed portion 34 which is bolted to a wall (not shown). The rail 14 also defines a lip 68 on each side of the central portion 34. Each lip 68 lies in a plane spaced from, but parallel to, a plane in which the central portion 34 is located. Thus, when the central portion 34 is bolted to the wall, the lips 68 are

spaced from the wall. A web 70 interconnects each lip 68 and the central portion 34.

The mounting means 32 includes a slot 38 defined in the first arm 22 and a slot 40 defined in the second arm 24. The plastics material of the body 16 is resilient so that the arms 22, 24 can be manipulated from a closed position shown in bold lines in Figure 2 to an open position shown in dotted lines.

In the closed position, an edge 36 of one lip 68 is received in each slot 38, 40. In the open position, the lips 68 are free of the arms 22, 24. The arms 22, 24 are configured so that the resilience of the material serves to bias the arms 22, 24 into their closed position.

A locking means in the form of a locking device 42 (Figure 4) is mounted on the body 16 to lock the body 16 to the rail 14.

The device 42 is in the form of rod 44. One end 46 of the rod 44 defines a hook 48 and an opposed end 50 of the rod 44 extends at about 900 to the remainder of the rod 44. A projection 54 extends from the rod 44 and is positioned proximate the hook 48 and parallel to the end 50. A locating formation in the form of an annular projection 66 extends from the rod 44 about halfway between the end 50 and the projection 54.

A surface 56 of the body 16, which is directed towards the rail 14, defines a channel 58 which extends vertically from the upper arm 22 to the lower arm 24. The channel 58 opens at an outer side 60 of the upper arm 22 and at an outer side 62 of the lower arm 24. The rod 44 is located in the channel 58 with the end 50 located proximate the outer side 60 of the arm 22 and the projection 54 located proximate the outer side 62 of the arm 24.

A recess 64 is also defined in the surface 56 to extend transversely to the channel 58. The recess 64 is dimensioned so that the annular projection 66 can be received in the recess 64 to locate the rod 44 relative to the body 16.

The channel 58, the end 50 and the projection 54 are configured so that when the arms 22, 24 are manipulated into the open position, the end 50 and the projection 54 can be received in the channel 58. Further, when the arms 22, 24 move into the closed position, the rod>44 can be rotated, via the hook 48, so that the end 50 and the projection 54 abut the sides 60, 62 respectively, thereby urging the arms 22, 24 into engagement with the edges 36, and retaining the arms 22, 24 in their closed position.

The rod 44 defines a raised portion 72 on each side of the annular projection 66. The raised portions 72 are positioned so that, when the rod 44 is rotated to lock the body 16 on the rail 14, the raised portions 72 bear against

the lips 68 to facilitate locking. The surface 56 defines a pair of bearing formations 74 which are configured to bear against the webs 70 when the arms 22, 24 are in their closed position.

In use, the rod 44 is rotated so that the end 50 and the projection 54 can be received in the channel 58. The arms 22, 24 are then urged apart and manipulated so that one edge 36 is positioned in each slot 38, 40. The component 12 is then positioned where desired and the rod 44 is rotated so that the end 50 and the projection 54 bear against the sides 60, 62 respectively and the raised portions 72 bear against the lips 68.

The system 10 includes a number of the components 12.

When two components 12 are positioned adjacent each other (Figure 5), a zone 82 is defined between the components 12, into which an article 84 to be stored is urged. The resilience of the rubber fins 28 permits the fins 28 to deform so that the article 84 can be received in the zone 82 and retained in the zone 82. The hook 48 permits articles to be hung from the component 12.

A line 76 is demarcated on the central portion 34 of the rail 14 to indicate to a user where holes should be drilled for bolting the rail 14 to the wall.

In Figures 6 and 7, reference numeral 90 generally indicates a second embodiment of a storage system in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 to 5, like numerals refer to like parts unless otherwise specified.

The arms 22, 24 are biased into a position indicated by the dotted lines 92 in Figure 7 when the end 50 and the projection 54 are aligned with the channel 58. This permits the body 16 to be slid into a desired position on the rail 14.

The outer side 60 of the upper arm 22 has a clip formation 94 on each side of the channel 58 and projecting upwards from the side 60. The formations 94 each define a recess 96. The outer side 62 of the lower arm 24 also has a clip formation 98 on each side of the channel 58 and projecting downwards from the side 62. The formations 98 each define a recess 100. When the rod 44 is rotated to lock the body 16 to the rail 14, the end 50 is received in the recess 96 and the projection 54 is received in the recess 100. The recess 96 is dimensioned so that it serves to urge the arms 22, 24 towards each other to bear against the lips 68. It follows that the body 16 can be slid into a desired position and then locked in place by rotation of the rod 44.

In Figure 8, reference numeral 110 generally indicates part of a third embodiment of a storage system in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 to 7, like numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

The body 16 does not have the arms 22, 24. Instead, an upper portion 116 of the body 16 defines the slot 38. The upper lip 68.1 of the rail 14 is slidably received in the slot 38. A lower portion 120 of the body 16 defines the slot 40.

The lower lip 68.2 of the rail 14 is slidably received in the slot 40. The body 16 is mounted on the rail 14 by sliding the body 16 onto the rail 14 from an end of the rail 14.

The locking device 42 of the system 110 includes an over-centre mechanism 112 instead of the rod 44. The mechanism 112 has a cam wheel 114 which is pivotally mounted on the body 16 via a pivot pin 113. A flexible, rubber shoe 126 is mounted on the body 16 and has a profile which corresponds with that of the recessed portion 34 and the webs 70 of the rail 14. The shoe 126 is displaceable between a locked position in which the shoe 126 bears against the recessed portion 34 and the webs 70 and an unlocked position in which the shoe 126 is displaced from the recessed portion 34 and the webs 70. The shoe 126 is configured to be biased into its unlocked position.

A periphery 124 of the wheel 114 abuts the shoe 126.

The wheel 114 is connected to the hook 48. The wheel 114 and the hook 48 are configured so that, when the hook 48 together with the wheel 114 are pivoted towards the rail 14 into a position in which the hook 48 is operative, the wheel 114 acts on the shoe 126 to displace the shoe 126 into its locked position. The wheel 114 is dimensioned so that, in its locked

position, the shoe 126 bears against the rail 14 causing the lips 68 to bear against a surface 130 of the body 16 defining the slots 38, 40. This causes the body 16 to be locked with respect to the rail 14. When the hook 48 is pivoted away from the rail 14, the shoe 126 is permitted to move into its unlocked position.

Thus, to adjust the position of the body 16, a user moves the hook 48 into the position indicated by the dotted lines 128. The shoe 126 is moved into its unlocked position and the body 16 can be slid along the rail 14. When the body 16 is in a desired position, the hook 48 is pivoted towards the rail 14 and the shoe 126 moves into its locked position.

With the system 110, the retaining members 26 can be fastened to the body 16 in any suitable manner but preferably in the manner described below with reference to Figures 9 to 11.

In Figure 9, reference numeral 140 generally indicates a component, also in accordance with the invention, for a storage system. With reference to Figures 1 to 8, like numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

The component 140 also includes the over-centre mechanism 112. However, the shoe 126 is of a plastics material. Further, the shoe 126 is connected to an end 142 of a push-rod 144. The wheel 114 acts on an opposed end 146 of

the push-rod 144 in the same manner as the wheel 114 acts on the shoe 126 of the system 110.

The push-rod 144 includes a pair of spaced, parallel, flat bars 145. A cross bar (not shown) is positioned between the bars 145. A pair of opposed pinch formations 148 are defined on inner surfaces 149 of the bars 145. The cross bar is slidably mounted in a slot 150 defined in the body 16 and extends towards a rear end 152 of the body 16 where the wheel 114 is mounted.

The component 140 has two retaining members 26, one of which is shown in Figure 9, mounted on each side of the body 16. Each retaining member 26 includes a base 154 of rubber. An upper, horizontal edge 156 of each base 154 has a downwardly opening channel 158 defined thereon. A lower, horizontal edge 160 of each base 154 has an upwardly opening channel 162 defined thereon.

The component 140 also includes a pair of mounting plates 164. One of the mounting plates 164.1 has a pair of diagonally opposed pins 166 extending therefrom. The other mounting plate 164.2 has a pair of diagonally opposed openings 168 defined therein. The body 16 has a pair of passages 170 defined therein. One pin 166 is received through each passage 170 and is an interference fit in each opening 168. In this manner, the plates 164 are mounted on the body 16.

An upper edge 172 of each plate 164 is received in the channel 158 of the base 154. A lower edge 174 of each plate 164 is received in the channel 162 of the base 154. The plates 164 are then mounted on the body 16 as described above. It will be appreciated that a side wall 176 defining each channel 158, 162 is sandwiched between each plate 164 and the body 16.

Each base 154 has a plurality of upwardly extending fins 178 extending therefrom. Each base 154 and its associated fins 178 are integrally formed.

Instead of the fins 178, each base 154 can have a ribbed outer surface 180 as shown in Figure 10. Still further, each base 154 can have two, longitudinally extending ridges 182 defined thereon. It will be appreciated that since the retaining members 26 are of rubber they deform to accommodate the article 84. Furthermore, rubber is resilient. The article 84 is thus retained in position as a result of the resilience of the rubber rather than the shape of the retaining members 26.

In Figure 12, reference numeral 190 generally indicates a component, also in accordance with the invention, for a storage system. With reference to Figures 1 to 11, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

The component 190 is substantially the same as the component 90. However, the component 190 only has one retaining member 26 positioned on each side 30 of the body 16.

Each retaining member 26 is in the form of a rubber pad 192.

An inner surface 194 of each pad 192 has a pair of horizontally extending recesses 196. Each side 30 of the body 16 has a pair of horizontally extending projections 198 extending therefrom. The projections 198 are a press-fit in the recesses 196.

An outer surface 200 of each pad 192 has a plurality of upwardly extending serrations 202 defined thereon.

The applicant believes that the invention provides a storage system which is relatively easy to install and can be used to store different types of articles and especially those articles which do not have openings to permit hanging of the articles.