US 6,050,426 · Granted 2000-04-18
The Wall Track That Turned Hanging Shelves Into a Puzzle
This patent describes a metal track you screw to a wall, with a special L-shaped groove that lets you snap brackets into it and hang shelves, hooks, or other stuff without drilling new holes every time. It's the system behind modular wall storage that lets you rearrange your setup whenever you want.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a wall-mounted track with a specially shaped L-groove that accepts matching L-shaped brackets. What's protected here is the specific geometry of the groove — the lower seating face where the bracket rests, the upper retaining slot that locks the bracket in place, and the alignment features below. Anyone making a bracket-and-track system with this same L-shaped locking mechanism would potentially infringe.
Why it matters
This patent protects a foundational design for modular wall storage systems. By locking the bracket geometry into a specific L-shaped groove, it creates a repeatable, tool-free way to hang and rehang items without new fastener holes. This kind of standardized interface became the backbone of adjustable shelving and pegboard-style systems that dominate retail storage today.
Real-world use
Every time you snap a shelf bracket into a wall-mounted track in a garage, closet, or retail display, you're using the mechanical principle this patent locks down — the bracket's L-shape sliding into the groove and catching on the retaining slot.
Original USPTO abstract
A storage system for articles. The storage system includes a track for mounting on the wall. The track is formed with a mounting portion which is sized and shaped to permit a fastener to pass through the track and into a wall. A L-shaped groove is formed having a lower seating face and upper retaining slot. Below the groove is a mid section which may include a material saving recess. A lower alignment means is also provided. A hanger bracket is provided with an upper L-shaped portion sized and shaped to be inserted into said groove and shaped to fit into said upper retaining slot while resting on said seating face to retain said bracket on said track. In one embodiment an outwardly extending hook element is provided, and a pair of fasteners is used to secure the bracket to the track.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,050,426
- Filing date
- 1997-05-14
- Grant date
- 2000-04-18
- Assignee
- Leurdijk; Jan B.
- Inventor(s)
- LEURDIJK; JAN B.
- CPC class
- A47B96/067
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