Patent Application
20220053960
The present disclosure relates to a rod holder system and a method of mounting a rod, for example, a shower curtain rod, a curtain rod, and/or a clothing rod. Typically, rods are mounted in one of three methods. The most common method involves directly mounting the rod to a wall or surface, this method requires drilling holes and mounting fasteners in the wall. The mount is on the outside of the wall and is subject to damage and abuse.
Another common method is utilizing a tension spring rod, which uses outward spring or thread bias to secure the rod in place. However, this method does not result in a securely fastened connection and often results in the rod becoming loose and falling. As should be appreciated, a falling rod is a danger and potential cause of injury for a user.
A third method involves inserting the rod into a separate holding device, the holding device is typically held onto the wall by suction pressure. Similar to the tension spring rod, this method does not result in secure and reliable retention of the rod.
As can be seen above, there is not currently a method of securing a rod that results in a study connection, where the rod is able to be easily removed without unsightly wall damage.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.
Disclosed is a rod holder system for use with shower rods, curtain rods, clothing rods, and the like. Generally, the rod holder system includes an exterior flange, a female portion, which receives a rod, and a male portion that is generally inserted into or formed within a pair of opposed walls or surfaces.
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present inventions will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the inventions, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the inventions is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the inventions as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventions relate. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present inventions may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
The rod support device 100 may be used to support shower rods, curtain rods, clothing rods, and/or any similar type rod device. Generally, the rod support device 100 includes an external flange 105, a male portion 110, and a female portion 115. In one example, the external flange 105 is circular. However, in other examples, the external flange 105 may be rectangular, triangular, and/or a custom shape decided by a consumer in order to better suit the decor of a room. The male portion 110 is generally mounted to the external flange 105 and retains a cylindrical shape. The male portion 110 is designed to be mounted inside of a wall in order to provide a secure base for the rod support device 100. The female portion 115 is generally cylindrical in order to secure a rod, however, in the event that the rod has ends that are not circular in shape, the female portion 115 may be altered accordingly. For example, if the rod has square ends, the female portion may be rectangular so as to better secure the rod. Similarly, a diameter 120 of the female portion 115 is adjustable based on the intended usage and rod size. For example, if the rod has a diameter of 2 inches, then the diameter 120 of the female portion 115 will be approximately 2.05 inches to create a tight fit with the rod. In other examples, the diameter 120 of the female portion 115 may range from 0.1-12 inches in diameter.
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In contrast, with the circular shaped support devices (see e.g.
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Multiple variations in the method of mounting the rod support device are envisioned, however, in the interest of space an example embodiment and method of mounting will be explained here. To begin a user selects an installation location for the rod support device and marks the intended location on the first surface 1110. Next, the user uses a tool, such as a hole saw or a core drill, to create an opening in the wall 1105 sized according to a diameter 1120 and depth 410 of the male portion 110. The diameter 1120 is variable based on whether the rod support device includes the one or more circumferential ribs 405. In an example where the rod support device includes the one or more circumferential ribs 405, the diameter 1120 is sized according to the diameter of the circumferential ribs 405. In an example where the rod support device does not include any circumferential ribs 405, the diameter 1120 is sized according to the diameter of the male portion 110. The opening may change location based on the intended usage of the rod holder system 100. For example, the opening may be drilled through the drywall and into the framing of the wall for higher strength applications. In another example, the opening may be drilled into the drywall only for lower stress applications and more flexibility in placement. In yet another example, the opening may be drilled through tile, fiberboard, and into framing for extreme stress applications.
Once the opening has been properly sized, the user selects the rod support device variant that best fits the intended use. For example, the user may select a rod support device without circumferential ribs for usage applications where the rod holder system is placed in the framing of the wall. In another example, the user may select a rod support device with circumferential ribs in an application where the rod support device is placed in only drywall. In yet another example, the user may select a rod support device with circumferential ribs in an application where the rod support device is placed through tile, fiberboard, and into the framing of the wall.
After the user selects the proper rod support device, the method of mounting is determined. Some examples of common mounting methods include using a fastener, adhesive, and/or using a combination of fasteners and adhesive. To list some non-limiting examples, the user may elect to mount a rod support device without circumferential ribs by using adhesive. In this case, the user will apply adhesive to the inside surface 605 of the exterior flange 105, around the circumference of the male portion 110, and to the exterior surface 610 of the base 210. The adhesive may be a resin, a hot melt adhesive, contact spray adhesive, acrylic adhesive. anaerobic adhesive, epoxy adhesive, conductive adhesive, pressure adhesive, and/or any combination thereof. In the case where the user elects to use the rod support device with the fastener aperture, the rod support device is mounted by securing a fastener 1115 through the fastener aperture 205 and into the framing 1106 of the wall 1105. The fastener 1115 may be a screw, rivet, bolt, nail, and/or any combination thereof. In another example, the user may elect to secure the rod support device using a combination of adhesive and fasteners. In this case, the adhesive is applied to the inside surface 605 of the exterior flange 105 and the fastener 1115 is secured into the framing 1106 of the wall 1105 through the fastener aperture 205.
Preferably, the rod, with its material characteristics and cross-sectional moment(s) of inertia, at 4 feet in length will have a center downward buckling failure force that is less than one-half of the downward shear failure force of each support device (installed). The support devices are used in pairs, mounted in opposing walls.
The manufacturers may mold the shower stall 1805 with various shapes and designs of the integrated rod support device 1800. For example, the manufacturer may mold the shower stall 1805 with a circular integral rod support device, similar to that in
Turning now to
In alternative embodiments rather than a flush outer wall and the recess within the wall or tile, the support device, (for example 1900 in
While examples of the inventions are illustrated in the drawings and described herein, this disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. The present disclosure is exemplary in nature and all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are included. The detailed description is included herein to discuss aspects of the examples illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the inventions. No limitation of the scope of the inventions is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described examples, and any further applications of the principles described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventions relate. Some examples are disclosed in detail, however some features that may not be relevant may have been left out for the sake of clarity.
Where there are references to publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein, they are understood to be incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.
Singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, and the like include plural referents unless expressly discussed otherwise. As an illustration, references to “a device” or “the device” include one or more of such devices and equivalents thereof.
Directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top” “bottom”, “fore”, “aft”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc., are used herein solely for the convenience of the reader in order to aid in the reader's understanding of the illustrated examples. The use of these directional terms does not in any manner limit the described, illustrated, and/or claimed features to a specific direction and/or orientation.
Multiple related items illustrated in the drawings with the same part number which are differentiated by a letter for separate individual instances, may be referred to generally by a distinguishable portion of the full name, and/or by the number alone. For example, if multiple “laterally extending elements” 90A, 90B, 90C, and 90D are illustrated in the drawings, the disclosure may refer to these as “laterally extending elements 90A-90D,” or as “laterally extending elements 90,” or by a distinguishable portion of the full name such as “elements 90”.
The language used in the disclosure are presumed to have only their plain and ordinary meaning, except as explicitly defined below. The words used in the definitions included herein are to only have their plain and ordinary meaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusive of all consistent dictionary definitions from the most recently published Webster's and Random House dictionaries. As used herein, the following definitions apply to the following terms or to common variations thereof (e.g., singular/plural forms, past/present tenses, etc.):
“About” with reference to numerical values generally refers to plus or minus 10% of the stated value. For example, if the stated value is 4.375, then use of the term “about 4.375” generally means a range between 3.9375 and 4.8125.
“Adhesive” generally refers to any non metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate parts that binds them together and resists their separation. For example, an adhesive can bond both mating surfaces through specific adhesion (e.g., molecular attraction), through mechanical anchoring (e.g., by flowing into holes in porous surfaces), and/or through fusion (e.g., partial solution of both surfaces in the adhesive or its solvent vehicle). Some non-limiting examples of adhesives include liquid adhesives, film adhesives, resin adhesives, rubber adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, mastics, metal-to-metal adhesives, plastic adhesives, rubber adhesives, sprayable adhesives, and hot melt adhesives, to name just a few.
“And/or” is inclusive here, meaning “and” as well as “or”. For example, “P and/or Q” encompasses, P, Q, and P with Q; and, such “P and/or Q” may include other elements as well.
“Circumference” generally refers to the perimeter of a circle or ellipse. That is, the circumference would be the arc length of the circle, as if it were opened up and straightened out to a line segment. Something said to be around the circumference would be located around the outside of the circle or ellipse.
“Fastener” generally refers to a hardware device that mechanically joins or otherwise affixes two or more objects together. By way of nonlimiting examples, the fastener can include bolts, dowels, nails, nuts, pegs, pins, rivets, screws, and snap fasteners, to just name a few.
“Female” means here a description of a structure that connects to another structure that includes hollow portions for receiving portions of a corresponding male connector.
“Flange” generally refers to a projecting flat rim, collar, or rib on an object, serving to strengthen or attach or to maintain position on a rail.
“Friction Fit” or “Interference Fit” generally refers to a form of fastening between two tight fitting mating parts that produces a joint, which is held together by friction after the parts are pushed together.
“Horizontal” generally refers to a plane or direction. An item that moves in the sideways direction is generally said to move horizontally. For example, a lever fixed on one end to a rod that is able to move to the left and right is said to move horizontally.
“Male” means here a description of a structure that connects to another structure that includes portions that fill or fit inside the hollow portion of a corresponding female connector.
“Metal” generally refers to a material that is both ductile and malleable. Additionally, metal refers to a generally hard and hardy material, often used in construction and fabrication. Some examples of metals are: steel, aluminum, iron, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and tool steel to name a few.
“Mounted” means physically attached to or held in place by. This may be by fasteners, adhesives, conduits, brackets, over molded plastic, or otherwise.
“Multiple” as used herein is synonymous with the term “plurality” and refers to more than one, or by extension, two or more.
“Optionally” as used herein means discretionary; not required; possible, but not compulsory; left to personal choice.
“Plastic” has the meaning, polymer or monomer material.
“Polymer” means here a material characterized by a molecular structure formed from the repetition of subunits bonded together. Examples include, but are not limited to, plastics or rubber.
“Predominately” as used herein is synonymous with greater than 50%.
“Rib” as used herein means a raised ridge above another surface. It may be contiguous or interrupted.
“Telescope” or “Telescoping” generally refers to an object that includes sections that are able to fit or slide into each other, so that the object can be made longer or shorter at will. For example, a telescoping rod may include 2 sections of slightly different diameters enabling the rod halve or double its length by pulling the sections apart or pushing them together.
“Thickness” generally refers to the measure of the distance between opposite sides of an object. As used here, the thickness of an object that is positioned between two surfaces is measured from between the two sides of the object that contact the surfaces.
“Tile” generally refers to a thin slab of clay, concrete, or other material used in construction or decoration. Tile may be rectangular, circular, triangular, and/or hexagonal. Additionally, tile may be used on roofs, in bathrooms, kitchens, and/or a variety of places where a hard and resilient material is needed. Some common tile types are: ceramic tile, glass tile, porcelain tile, cement tile, marble tile, mosaic tile, granite tile, and/or limestone tile to name a few.
“Vertical” generally refers to a plane or direction. An item that moves upward or downward is generally said to move vertically. For example, an item that is able to move up and down is said to move vertically.
“Wall” means here is structure that forms a solid surface. It may be a portion of a house, room, or otherwise. A wall may be planar or multiplanar and may be constructed of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to metal, concrete, wood, or plastic.
“Wall Thickness” generally refers to the measured distance between the opposing outside surfaces of an object.
