Patent Application
20080029665
A mounting mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 20 in the accompanying drawings. The mounting mechanism 20 can be used to attach bathroom accessories such as paper holders, robe hooks, towel bars, and towel rings to a wall (not shown). The bathroom accessories each include a hub generally indicated by the character H in
As shown in
The first portion 22 includes a body 32 having a first side 34, a second side 35, an upper wall 36, a lower wall 38, and sidewalls 40 and 42. The body 32 also has apertures 44, 45, and 46 provided therethrough for receiving the mechanical fasteners 26. The mechanical fasteners 26, as discussed above, are used to attach the first portion 22 to the wall. For example, as depicted in
The second side 35 of the body 32 includes recesses 47, 48, and 49 provided adjacent the apertures 44, 45, and 46, respectively. The recesses 47, 48, and 49 are provided to accommodate drywall anchors (not shown) used to receive the mechanical fasteners 26. The recesses 47, 48, and 49 accommodate portions of the drywall anchors that may protrude beyond the plane of the wall and allow the second side 35, and, hence, the body 32 to interface flushly with the wall. In doing so, the recesses 47, 48, and 49 also allow the hub H, when the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 are engaged with one another, to interface flushly with the wall
As depicted best in
A tab or catch 54 depends from the lower wall 38 of the first portion 22. In one embodiment, the tab 54 includes a base section 56, a tongue 57, and a shoulder 58 that is formed between the base section 56 and the tongue 57. As discussed below, the tab 54 is provided to constrain movement, primarily upward movement of the hub H and, hence, the bathroom accessory relative to the first portion 22 and the wall. The tab 54 can be provided to engage complimentary structures formed on the hub H and/or second portion 24 to constrain such movement. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention as discussed below, the shoulder 58 is provided to engage a complimentary structure formed on the hub H to constrain such movement.
The second portion 24 includes a body 62 having a first side 64, a second side 65, an upper wall 66, and sidewalls 70 and 72. The space defined by the upper wall 66 and sidewalls 70 and 72 is sized to accommodate the first portion 22. That is, to facilitate engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another, the space provided between the upper wall 66 and sidewalls 70 and 72 is capable of accommodating the first portion 22. Furthermore, the body 62 has apertures 74 and 75 provided therethrough for receiving the mechanical fasteners 28. As discussed above, the mechanical fasteners 28 are used to attach the second portion 24 to the hub H.
As depicted best in
As depicted in
To engage the first portion 22 and the second portion 24, the hub H and, hence, the second portion 24, is initially positioned adjacent the first portion 22 so that the first portion 22 is received within the space defined by the upper wall 66 and sidewalls 70 and 72 of the second portion 24. Thereafter, downward movement of the hub H and, hence, the second portion 24 relative to the first portion 22 moves the first projection 50 and the second projection 51 into the first aperture 80 and the second aperture 81, respectively, and moves the first projection 82 and the second projection 83 into the first aperture 52 and the second aperture 53, respectively. Receipt of the first projection 50 and the second projection 51 into the first aperture 80 and the second aperture 81, respectively, and of the first projection 82 and the second projection 83 into the first aperture 52 and the second aperture 53 serves in effectuating engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another.
During engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another, the upper wall 66 is supported by the upper wall 36, and the body 62 is supported by the lower wall 38. Such engagement serves to constrain movement, primarily downward movement of the second portion 24 and the hub H relative to the first portion 22 and the wall. Also, during engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another, the sidewalls 40 and 42 contact the sidewalls 70 and 72, respectively, and such engagement serves to constrain movement, primarily side-to-side movement of the second portion 24 and the hub H relative to the first portion 22 and the wall. Furthermore, receipt of the first projection 50 and the second projection 51 within the first aperture 80 and the second aperture 81, respectively, and receipt of the first projection 82 and the second projection 83 within the first aperture 52 and the second aperture 53, respectively, constrains movement, primarily outward, side-to-side, and downward movement of the second portion 24 and the hub H relative to the first portion 22 and the wall. Therefore, when the first portion 22 is attached to the wall, and the second portion 24 is attached to the hub H, the engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another serves in securely attaching the hub H and the bathroom accessory to the wall.
As depicted best in
The contact of the shoulder 58 with the shoulder S, by constraining movement, primarily upward movement of the hub H relative to the first portion 22, serves to maintain engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 by retaining the first portion 22 within the confines of the space provided between the upper wall 66 and the sidewalls 70 and 72 of the second portion 24. As such, the tab 54 and shoulder S serve as a locking mechanism to constrain movement, primarily upward movement of the second portion 24 and the hub H relative to the first portion 22 and the wall. In doing so, the tab 54 and shoulder S maintain the engagement of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 with one another and, hence, serve in securely attaching the hub H and the bathroom accessory to the wall.
To release engagement of the shoulder 58 with the shoulder S, a tool can be used to move or deflect the tab 54. The tab 54 is moveable from an engagement position (i.e., where the shoulder 58 and the shoulder S contact one another) to a release position (i.e., where the shoulder 58 and the shoulder S do not contact one another). For example, the head of a slotted or flat-head screw driver can be inserted into the notch N between the hub H and the tongue 57. In doing so, the head of the slotted or flat-head screw driver can be used to deflect the tongue 57, thereby deflecting the tab 54 to the release position. Once engagement of the shoulder 58 and shoulder S is released, the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 can be disengaged from one another, so that the hub H and the bathroom accessory can be removed from attachment to the wall.
While the terms upward, downward, outward, and side-to-side have been used for explanatory purposes, those terms are applicable when mounting mechanism 20 is oriented in the direction shown in the drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting mechanism 20 can be oriented in other directions and those terms would be applicable relative to the mounting direction of the mounting mechanism 20. Furthermore, while in accordance with the Patent Statutes, only the best mode and exemplary embodiments have been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.
