Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6497396
-
Patent Number
6,497,396
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, November 22, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 24, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ramirez; Ramon O.
- Sterling; Amy J.
Agents
- Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 248 304
- 248 690
- 248 470
- 248 489
- 248 2051
- 248 2173
- 248 303
- 248 23191
- 248 23131
- 411 601
-
International Classifications
- F16B4500
- A47G116
- E04G300
- A47F508
-
Abstract
A fastening device for supporting various objects on a brick wall, block wall, tile wall or a wall having grooves therein, wherein the fastening device may comprise a clip member and a mounting member, wherein the clip member has a first arm portion, a second arm portion, an intermediate portion and a biasing mechanism, and wherein the mounting member extends downward from the clip member and may take the form of an S-shaped hook member. Alternatively, the mounting member may include a cam member. The fastening device may also be provided with a plurality of tangs on the exterior of the clip member and a living hinge that connects the first and second arm portions of the clip member. To accommodate different sizes of mortar joints the clip member may include a notch that allows for the alteration of the clip member to fit within different sizes of mortar joints. Another embodiment may include a second mounting member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fastening device, and more specifically to a fastening device for supporting various sized objects along a brick or block wall having a spring-action clip member and a mounting device.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Some conventional fastening devices comprise a clip and a retainer, wherein the clip has two flat legs extending outward from a bend in an untensioned state. To install the clip within a mortar joint, the legs are forced together, the clip is positioned between two adjacent bricks and received within a mortar joint, and the legs are released such that the free ends of the legs engage the adjacent bricks. The disadvantage of this type of conventional fastening device is that it is made to hold only lightweight objects such as plants and vines along a brick wall and is not able to support heavier objects such as pictures and wreaths.
Another conventional type fastening device comprises two spring biased arms and a hook member, wherein the arms extend horizontally from the hook member and are received within the horizontal mortar joint, and the hook member is also received within the vertical mortar joint. To install this type of fastening device, the arms are compressed such that they can fit within the horizontal mortar joint. Once within the horizontal mortar joint, the arms are released resulting in the arms engaging the adjacent bricks. The disadvantage of this type of fastening device is that the fastening means cannot be used with various sizes of mortar joints in that if the bricks are spaced too close together the hook member and the arms will not fit within the mortar joint.
None of the prior art teaches or suggests a fastening device that can support objects having various sizes and weights along a brick wall without being easily disengaged from the brick wall and a device that may be used with various sizes of mortar joints to support objects along a brick wall.
Accordingly, the need exists for a fastening device that can support objects having various sizes and weights along a wall having grooves without being easily disengaged from the wall.
There is also a need for a fastening device that may be used with various sizes of mortar joints to support objects along a wall having grooves.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a fastening device for stablely supporting various sizes of objects along a wall having grooves, wherein the brick wall and mortar joints may be of various sizes and shapes.
The present invention further provides a fastening device having a clip member including a first arm portion, a second arm portion, an intermediate portion, and a biasing mechanism, and a mounting member that extends downwardly from the clip member such that when an object is attached to the mounting member the weight of the object increases the friction between the first and second arm portions and the structure to which the device is attached. The clip member may be concave and have tangs extending from the exterior portion thereof.
The present invention further provides for the clip member having notches such that the clip member can be altered to fit within various sizes of mortar joints.
The present invention provides for the mounting member to take many forms such as, for example, a hook member having an S-shaped portion.
The present invention further provides a fastening device having an engagement member including a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and an intermediate portion wherein the intermediate portion is a living hinge that allows for the first arm portion to frictionally engage the mortar joint. The fastening device of the present invention may be made from plastic; however, suitable metals may also be used.
The present invention further provides a fastening device having a clip member including a first arm portion, a second arm portion, an intermediate portion, and a biasing mechanism, and a mounting member including a cam body, wherein the cam is received within the clip member and when rotated forces the first arm portion and the second arm portion into frictional engagement with adjacent bricks of the brick wall. The cam may be non-circular, for example, the cam may be oblong having a plurality of slots.
Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the following description of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the present invention to be readily understood and practiced, preferred embodiments will described in conjunction with the following figures wherein:
FIG. 1
is a side view of the fastening device of the present invention, wherein the fastening device is shown engaging a mortar joint between two bricks;
FIG. 2
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention having multiple tangs;
FIG. 3
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention having a notch wherein the mounting member has an S-shaped portion;
FIG. 4
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a side view of yet another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention having a living hinge;
FIG. 6
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a cam member of the fastening device of the present invention shown in
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
a
is a side view of the fastening device of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
and engaging a mortar joint between two bricks;
FIG. 8
b
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention;
FIG. 8
c
is a front view of the cam member shown in
FIG. 8
b;
FIG. 8
d
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention;
FIG.8
e
is a front view of the fastening device shown in
FIG. 8
d
FIG. 8
f
is a side view of yet another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention;
FIG. 8
g
is a front view of the fastening device shown in
FIG. 8
f;
FIG. 8
h
is a side view of the fastening device shown in
FIGS. 8
f
and
8
g
attached to a grooved wall;
FIG. 9
is a side view of a second mounting member of the present invention that may be used with the fastening devices shown in
FIGS. 1-5
;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening device of the present invention having a knob member;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of another embodiment of a second mounting member of the present invention that may be used with the fastening device shown in
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 12
is a sectional view of the second mounting member shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 13
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening device of present invention;
FIG. 13
a
is a sectional view of a portion of the tubular member of the fastening device shown in
FIG. 13
; and
FIG. 14
is a perspective view of another embodiment of a second mounting member of the present invention that may be used with the fastening device shown in FIG.
13
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below in terms of a fastening device for supporting objects along a wall having grooves. It should be noted that describing the present invention in terms of a fastening device for supporting objects along a wall having a groove, such as a brick wall is for illustrative purposes only and the advantages of the present invention may be realized using other structures and technologies.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views,
FIG. 1
is a side view of the fastening device
10
of the present invention, wherein the fastening device
10
is shown engaging a mortar joint
12
between two bricks
14
. The fastening device
10
comprises a clip member
16
and a mounting member
18
. The clip member
16
comprises a first arm portion
20
, a second arm portion
22
, and an intermediate spring portion
24
having a biasing mechanism, wherein the first arm portion
20
, the second arm portion
22
and the intermediate portion
24
form a curvi-linear member. Engagement portions
30
and
32
are formed on the clip member
16
as tangs
34
and
35
which engage the lower and upper bricks
14
, respectively, and are urged into engagement with the mortar joint
12
and bricks
14
and/or blocks by the spring action of intermediate portion
24
of the clip member
16
. The mounting member
18
can take the form of a hook member
28
and an elongated portion
27
that extends in the downward direction A proximate the brick wall
14
. The fastening device
10
is plastic, but the fastening device
10
may also be made from suitable metals.
To attach the fastening device
10
to a brick wall, the free ends of the first arm portion
20
and the second arm portion
22
are forced together, such that the clip member
16
is transformed from a relaxed state to a tensioned state and the clip member
16
in this tensioned state is inserted within the mortar joint
12
between two adjacent bricks
14
. Then the first and second arm portions are released such that the free ends of the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
engage the adjacent bricks
14
. The desired object (not shown) is then hung on the hook member
28
. The object's weight on the hook member
28
creates a downward force driving the second arm portion
22
and tangs
34
into the lower brick
14
and first arm portion
20
into the upper brick
14
. The fastening device
10
can be used to support a variety of objects along the wall.
FIG. 2
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of the present invention having multiple tangs
37
on the second arm portion
22
. To alleviate the problem associated with varying mortar depths between bricks
14
and/or blocks, the tangs
37
may be provided in one of two locations
36
or
38
along the second arm portion
22
as well as a variety of other location on the fastening device
10
. In a shallow joint location
38
would be operative and the tang
37
would engage the mortar joint
12
and/or brick
14
, while in deeper joints, location
36
would be operative and the tang
37
would engage the mortar joint
12
and/or the brick
14
.
FIG. 3
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device
60
of the present invention having a notch
40
, wherein the notch
40
may be provided along the clip member
16
to, in essence, vary the location of upper engagement point
42
or
44
of the second arm portion
22
such that they would engage the mortar joint
12
and/or brick
14
. Thus, in order for the upper engagement point
44
to engage the mortar joint
12
and/or brick
14
, no action is necessary. However, if the mortar joint
14
is shorter and engagement point
42
is to be used, the plastic is snapped off at the notch
40
and upper engagement point
42
engages the mortar joint
12
and/or the upper brick
14
.
FIG. 4
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of the present invention. The clip member
16
of this embodiment comprises a first arm portion
50
having a gripper
46
, a second arm portion
52
having a gripper
48
, an intermediate spring portion
55
that is concave and has a biasing mechanism. The mounting member
18
may be an S-shaped hook member
28
that is spring biased. This embodiment points the grippers
46
and
48
into the mortar joint
12
and/or brick
14
resulting in engagement points
50
′ and
52
′ of the grippers
46
and
48
, respectively, engaging the mortar joint
12
and/or the brick
14
while the gripper
46
forces the gripper
48
into the lower brick
14
.
FIG. 5
is a side view of yet another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of the present invention having a living hinge
57
and a closed-loop mounting member
60
. The fastening device
10
comprises a clip member
16
and a mounting member
18
. The clip member
16
further comprises an upper member
54
, a lower member
51
, a living hinge
57
connecting the upper member
54
and the lower member
51
, and an engagement member
56
which may take the form of a hook. The living hinge
57
provides for the upper member
54
to pivot about the living hinge
57
. Thus, the upper member
54
may be pivoted about the living hinge
57
and then positioned within the mortar joint
12
where the upper member
54
is released. The upper member
54
then engages the mortar joint
12
and/or the bricks
14
. Also, engagement member
56
engages the lower brick member
14
. As such, it is the movement of upper member
54
to the right or the left about living hinge
57
that forces the engagement member
56
into the lower brick
14
. The closed-loop mounting member
60
supports objects (not shown). For example, objects may be threaded through the closed-loop mounting member
60
.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
,
FIG. 6
is a side view of another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of the present invention that includes a cam member
64
shown in FIG.
7
. The fastening device
10
comprises a clip member
16
, shown in
FIG. 6
, and a mounting member
18
, shown in FIG.
7
. The clip member
16
further comprises a first arm portion
20
, a second arm portion
22
, and an intermediate spring portion
24
having a biasing mechanism. The first arm portion
20
, the second arm portion
22
and the intermediate spring portion
24
substantially form a U-shaped member defining a cavity
74
. The first arm portion
20
and the second arm portion
22
have serrated surfaces
62
As shown in
FIG. 7
, the mounting member
18
further comprises a cam member
64
, a rod member
66
and a stop
68
, wherein the cam member
64
may be non-circular shaped such as, for example, oblong, and the cam member
64
may have at least one slot
70
. Although not shown, the cam member
64
may have any number of slots
70
. Also, the stop member
68
may take a variety of forms.
FIG. 8
a
is a side view of the fastening device
10
of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
and engaging a mortar joint
12
between two bricks
14
. To attach the fastening device
10
to a brick wall, the free ends of the first arm portion
20
and the second arm portion
22
are forced together, such that the clip member
16
is transformed from a relaxed state to a tensioned state and then the clip member
16
in the tensioned state is inserted within the mortar joint
12
between two adjacent bricks
14
such that the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
extend parallel to the bricks
14
and within the mortar joint
14
, as shown in
FIG. 8
a
. Then the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
are released such that the free ends of the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
engage the adjacent bricks
14
. The cam member
64
is then inserted between the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
such that it is received within cavity
74
and the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
are further forced to engaged the bricks
14
. The slot
70
allows for the cam member
64
to decrease in size and to be inserted into various sizes of mortar joints
12
. The serrated surfaces
62
of the first and second arm portions
20
and
22
help grip the bricks
14
. The desired object (not shown) is then hung on the rod member
66
and is prevented from being disengaged from the mounting member
18
by stop
68
. The fastening device
10
can be used to support a variety of articles in the mortar joints
12
between bricks
14
and/or blocks. The cam member
64
can also be used alone to hold lighter objects. The cam member
64
may be sized and proportioned such that the cam member
64
may be placed within a mortar joint and rotated such that it engages the adjacent bricks and thus, is connected to the wall.
FIGS. 8
b
and
8
c
illustrate another embodiment of the fastening device
140
of the present invention comprising a cam member
142
and a mounting member
144
. The cam member
142
has a cup portion
146
defining a recess
148
and having a plurality of thin flat threads
150
along the entire edge of the cup portion
146
. The threads
150
may be straight or slightly angled. The cup portion
146
has a biasing mechanism; as can be seen in
FIG. 8
c
, the cup portion
146
has a plurality of spring members
160
molded within the cup portion
146
. The cross-section of the cup member
146
may be oblong; however, the cup portion
146
may also be a variety of other shapes. The spring members
160
may take the form of dense plastic such as, for example, polycarbonate, wherein once the cup portion is flexed or stretched the spring mechanism will return the cup portion to its original shape. The mounting member
144
comprises a rod member
152
and a stop
154
, wherein the stop
154
may take any number of shapes and sizes depending on the size and shape of the object being attached to the grooved wall.
To attach the fastening device
140
to a grooved wall, the cup portion
146
is turned relative to the mortar joint (not shown) thus, by turning the cup portion
146
relative to the mortar joint, the cup portion
146
is screwed into the mortar joint. As the cup portion
146
is turned relative to the mortar joint the threads
150
bite into the adjacent bricks and thus grip the bricks. The spring members
160
bias the threads
150
against the bricks. Once attached to the grooved wall, an object can be mounted on the rod member
152
.
FIGS. 8
d
and
8
e
illustrate another embodiment of the fastening device
170
of the present invention. The fastening device
170
comprises a mounting member
172
and an engagement portion
174
. The mounting member
172
has a rod member
176
and a stop member
18
similar to the mounting member illustrated in
FIG. 8
b
and described above. The engagement portion
174
comprises a flexible spiral portion
180
fixedly attached to the rod member
176
. The spiral portion
180
radiates from the rod member
176
. Although the spiral portion
180
is shown as having three turns
182
that are substantially circular in shape, the spiral portion
180
may be many shapes such as square, rectangular or oval. To attach the fastening device
170
to the grooved wall (not shown), the engagement portion
174
is inserted within the groove that may be a mortar joint between two adjacent bricks as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8
a
. The spiral portion
180
deforms such that it engages and is biased against the adjacent bricks. An object (also not shown) may then be attached to the mounting member
172
. As with the other embodiments of the fastening device of the present invention, the fastening device may be made from plastic; however, suitable metals may also be used.
FIGS. 8
f
and
8
g
illustrate yet another embodiment of the fastening device
200
of the present invention. The fastening device
200
comprises a mounting member
202
and an engagement portion
204
. The mounting member
202
comprises a rod member
206
and a S-shaped hook member
208
that is spring-biased such that it may flex and grip an object (not shown). The S-shaped hook member
208
is similar to the hook member shown in FIG.
4
. The engagement portion
204
comprises a several flexible circular portions
210
concentric with and spaced along the rod member
206
. Although not illustrated the circular portions
210
may be a variety of shapes such as square, rectangular or oval and may also be positioned at various places along the rod member
206
. Furthermore, the circular portions
210
do not have to be concentric with the rod member
206
; the circular portions
210
may be off-center with respect to the rod member
206
.
FIG. 8
h
is a side view of the fastening device
200
shown in
FIGS. 8
f
and
8
g
attached to a grooved wall
218
having adjacent bricks
220
and a mortar joint
222
. To attach the fastening device
200
to the grooved wall
218
, the engagement portion
204
is inserted within the groove between the bricks
220
as shown in
FIG. 8
h
such that the circular portions
210
deform and thus, engage and are biased against the bricks
220
and are thereby attached to the grooved wall
218
. Once the fastening device
200
is securely attached to the grooved wall
218
, an object (not shown) may be mounted on the mounting device
202
. If the groove of the wall between adjacent bricks is shallow, the user may snip off a portion of the end
205
of the rod member
206
with a pair of scissors or wire cutters such that the fastening device
200
better fit within the mortar joint. Depending on the depth of the groove of the mortar joint, the user may eliminate some of the circular portions
210
when the user snips off a portion of the end
205
of the rod member
206
FIG. 9
is a side view of a second mounting member
80
of the present invention that may be used with the fastening devices
10
shown in
FIGS. 1-5
. The second mounting device
80
comprises an S-shaped body
81
having two leg members
82
fixedly connected thereto. Each of the two leg members
82
are L-shaped in that each of the two leg members
82
have a first portion
84
and a second portion
86
. The two leg members
82
define a cavity
88
. The S-Shaped body
81
has a first curved portion
90
and a second curved portion
92
that are flexible. The first curved portion
90
defines a first recess
94
and the second curved portion
92
defines a second recess
96
wherein the first recess
94
and the second recess
96
may be a variety of sizes depending on object sizes. The second mounting member
80
may be plastic, however, suitable metals may be used.
The second mounting member
80
may be releasably connected to any one of the fastening members
10
shown in
FIGS. 1-5
by, for example, using barbs. Although not shown, the second mounting member
80
may also be permanently attached to any of the fastening devices shown in
FIGS. 1-5
. The mounting member
18
of the fastening devices
10
, shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, may be slideably received within the cavity
88
. The leg members
82
are flexible such that they grip the hook member
28
. The first curved portion
90
and the second curved portion
92
are also flexible such that they may grip various sized objects. The objects (not shown) may be received within the first and second recesses
94
and
96
. The mounting member
18
and the second mounting member
80
may simultaneously support objects.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of the present invention having a knob member
102
and
FIGS. 11 and 12
are perspective and sectional views, respectively, of another embodiment of a second mounting member
100
of the present invention that may be used with the fastening device
10
shown in FIG.
10
. The fastening device
10
comprises a clip member
16
and a mounting member
18
similar to that shown in
FIG. 4
except that the mounting member
18
further includes a knob member
102
fixedly connected thereto. The knob member
102
has a rod member
104
and a bulbous portion
106
connected thereto.
Referring to
FIGS. 11 and 12
, the second mounting member
100
comprises two C-shaped members
108
and
109
and two semi-circular legs
110
fixedly connected to the second mounting member
100
. The C-shaped member
108
defines recess
112
and the C-shaped member
109
defines recess
113
, wherein the recesses
112
and
113
may be different sizes. The two semi-circular legs
110
each have an overhang portion
114
and define opening
115
. The second mounting member
100
is flexible. In use, the fastening device
10
is attached to a wall (not shown) as described above. The knob member
102
is received within the opening
115
such that the second mounting member
100
is releasably attached to the fastening device
10
. The flexible semi-circular legs
110
grip the knob member
108
and hold the second mounting member
100
in position with respect to the fastening device
10
. Objects (not shown) may be received within the recesses
112
and
113
and gripped by the flexible C-shaped members
108
and
109
.
FIGS. 13 and 13
a
illustrate another embodiment of the fastening device
10
of present invention. The fastening device
10
comprises a clip member
16
and a mounting member
18
similar to that shown in
FIG. 4
except that the mounting member
18
further includes a tubular member
122
fixedly connected thereto. The tubular member
122
defines a cavity
124
and has a circular overhang
126
.
FIG. 14
illustrates another embodiment of a second mounting member
120
of the present invention that may be used with the fastening device
10
shown in FIG.
13
. The mounting member
120
comprises two C-shaped members
121
and
123
similar to C-shaped members
108
and
109
described above and illustrated in
FIGS. 11 and 12
except that the second mounting member
120
does not have semi-circular legs
110
, but does comprise prongs
128
fixedly connected to the second mounting member
120
. Each of the prongs
128
has a tang
130
on one end thereof. The second mounting member
120
is flexible and may be plastic, but may also be a suitable metal. After the fastening member
10
is attached to a wall (not shown), as described above, the prongs
128
are flexed towards one another and inserted into the cavity
124
. Once released, the tangs
130
of the prongs
128
engage the overhang
126
of the tubular member
122
and fixedly connect the second mounting member
120
to the fastening device
10
. The second mounting member
120
may receive objects (not shown) within recesses
125
and
127
such that the flexible C-shaped members
121
and
123
will grip the objects. As stated above, the second mounting member
120
and the fastening device
10
may simultaneously support and hold objects. Although not shown, the tubular members
122
may be eliminated and the mounting member
18
may have a hole therein that may receive the prongs
128
.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The foregoing description and the following claims are intended to cover such modifications and variations.
Claims
- 1. A one-piece fastening device, comprising:a clip member integrally comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion and an intermediate portion, said first arm portion and said second arm portion each connected to said intermediate portion and each having a free end, said clip member being structured to have a biasing function such that said first arm portion and said second arm portion can move from a relaxed position to a tensioned position; and a mounting member integral to the clip member and integrally connected to and extending in a downward direction from said intermediate portion such that when an object is attached to said mounting member the weight of the object increases the friction between said free ends of said first arm portion and said second arm portion and a structure to which said device is attached.
- 2. The one-piece fastening device of claim 1, wherein said clip member is concave.
- 3. The one-piece fastening device of claim 1, wherein said fastening device is plastic.
- 4. The one-piece fastening device of claim 1, wherein the structure is a brick wall having a plurality of bricks and a plurality of mortar joints and said fastening device is recessed within one of the plurality of mortar joints such that said free ends engage at least one of the plurality of bricks.
- 5. The one-piece fastening device of claim 4, wherein said mounting device has a hook integral thereto.
- 6. The fastening device of claim 5, wherein said hook member has an elongated portion, said elongated portion is connected to said clip member at one end thereof and connected to said hook at the other end thereof, said elongated portion extends proximate to the face of the plurality of bricks.
- 7. The one-piece fastening device of claim 5, wherein said hook has an S-shaped portion that is spring-biased and integral thereto.
- 8. A one-piece fastening device, comprising:a mounting member for supporting an object; and an engagement portion integral to the mounting member, wherein said engagement portion has two free ends and deforms and engages and is biased against a structure such that said fastening device is secured to the structure.
US Referenced Citations (8)