The present invention relates generally to an adjustable mount assembly for mounting to a wall, and more particularly to a telescoping mount assembly having a front cover member that is removable and telescopically adjustable between various positions for accommodating various thicknesses of building material on the wall.
Especially common in residential building structures, exterior walls are know to be covered with a siding material typically made of aluminum or plastic. Often, various exterior appendages of the home such as drying vents, exterior light fixtures and water spigots must be trimmed-out for aesthetic reasons. This is commonly done with two piece trim kits or mounting assemblies having a mounting bracket with a flange that is nail to the wall beneath the siding and a cover member that snap fits to the mounting bracket.
During construction of the building, once the mounting bracket is secured to the wall, the siding material is installed over the wall and typically abutted against the mounting bracket. After installation of siding, the cover member is snap fitted in an axial direction to the mounting bracket. A trim piece of the cover member projects radially outward to cover the abutment of the siding edges to the mounting bracket.
Although the trim piece is orientated over or external from the siding, ideally it is as flush with the siding for a pleasing appearance. Unfortunately, different sidings have different thicknesses hence achieving a flush appearance requires a different mounting assembly for each thickness of siding. Because the mounting assemblies are typically made of injection molded plastic, multiple injection molds would be required to produce an array of mounting assemblies (i.e. one for each siding thickness). Unfortunately, manufacturing of such an array is expensive and further complicates stocking of the product.
An adjustable mount assembly has a mounting bracket constructed and arranged to be attached to a sub-surface of a wall covered with siding material. A cover member of the assembly attaches telescopically to the mounting bracket via a shuttle. A multi-positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the mounting bracket and the shuttle and a single positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the shuttle and the cover member.
Features and advantages of the present invention include an adjustable mounting assembly capable of being used over a wide range of siding thicknesses. Further advantages include a robust design, reduction in overall manufacturing costs, improved and more efficient service for the client, and simplification in stocking of trim kits and the like.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
With reference to
Referring to
The front cover member 26 is disposed in parallel relation to the mounting bracket 24, the front cover member 26 covers the aperture 32. The front cover member 26 shown comprises a vent hood 36, by example and not meant to be limiting, for a dryer exhaust but for those skilled in the art it is known that the front cover member 26 does not require a vent hood 36. For example, the front cover member 26 could be planar, or the like.
The shuttle 28 connects the mounting bracket 24 and the front cover member 26 in the parallel relationship at various distances longitudinally along the axis 32. The shuttle 28 allows the distance to be adjustable. The shuttle 28 allows for convenient removal and/or replacement of the front cover member 26. In order to allow such a change, the shuttle 28 including a plurality of sidewalls 38, which defines an axially extending cavity 37, possesses a smaller, external perimeter measurement than the internal surface 54 measurement of the mounting bracket 24 such that the shuttle 28 snap-fit engages the mounting bracket 24 via a multi-positioning coupling feature 39. The shuttle 28 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves or ribs 40, one rib 40 is centrally located on each sidewall 38 near the bottom of the sidewall 38. The ribs 40 of the coupling feature 39 are designed to align with corresponding grooves 48, 50 and 52 of the coupling feature 39 located on an inner surface 54 of sidewalls or circumferentially continuous collar 55 of the mounting bracket 24, even though only one of the grooves 48, 50 and 52 on the inner surface 54 of each sidewall of the mounting bracket 24 shall be used at any particular time. The grooves 40 engage and lock the shuttle 28 to the mounting bracket 24. The shuttle 28 further includes a circumferentially continuous peripheral lip 42 that extends beyond the sidewalls 38. On the inner surface 44 of the shuttle 28 is a stop 46 for limiting the distance that the front cover member 26 can travel when it snap-fit engages the shuttle 28.
The inner surface 54 of the mounting bracket 24 has grooves 48, 50 and 52, located in vertical, parallel alignment on the center of each sidewall 54 of the inner surface 56 of the mounting bracket 24. The grooves 48, 50 and 52 cooperate with the grooves 40 on the shuttle 28 to allow the assembly 20 to be laterally adjustable in relation to the axis 32.
The front cover member 26 includes a plurality of sidewalls or circumferentially continuous sleeve 58 that possess a smaller external perimeter measurement than the inner surface 44 measurement of the shuttle 28. The continuous sleeve 58 generally defines an axially extending hole 57 in the member 26 that communicates with the cavity 37. This construction permits snap-fit engagement of the front cover member 26 and the shuttle 28 via a single-positioning coupling feature 59. The front cover member 26 supports a centrally located and radially projecting tab or groove 60 of the coupling feature 59 at the bottom of each sidewall 58. The tab 60 cooperates with the stop 46 of the feature 59 carried by the shuttle 28. When the front cover member 26 is inserted into the shuttle 28, the tabs 60 carried by the front cover member 26 are limited from further movement once the tabs 60 engage the stop 46 of the shuttle. This construction signals to the user of the assembly 20 that the front cover member 26 is snap-fit engaged with the shuttle 28.
Referring to
Assembly of the mounting bracket 24′ requires that the protruding projections 68 of the second portion 70 be inserted in the slots 66 of the first portion 62. Furthermore, assembly of the mounting bracket 24′ requires that the pins 76 of the second portion 70 be inserted in the apertures 72 of the first portion 62. This construction interlocks the first portion 62 and the second portion 76 to form the mounting bracket 24′. As previously asserted, the mounting bracket 24′ includes grooves 48′, 50′ and 52′ on the inner surface 54′ that are in vertical, parallel alignment. The grooves 48′, 50′ and 52′ cooperate with the rib 40′ on the shuttle 28′ to allow the assembly 22′ to be laterally adjustable in relation to the axis 32′. The shuttle 28′ in this embodiment is constructed and operates in the same manner as the shuttle 28 in the previous embodiment.
The front cover member 26′ used in this embodiment of the assembly 22 connects to the shuttle 28′ in the same manner as previously asserted. The front cover member 26′ shown in this embodiment lacks the vent hood 36 shown in the previous embodiment of the assembly 22. The omission of the vent hood 36 was shown for example only and not meant to be limiting.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that reference numerals are utilized merely for convenience and are not to be limiting in any way, and that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
This non-provisional patent application claims priority to and all advantages of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/676,386 that was filed on Apr. 29, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60676386 | Apr 2005 | US |