The present invention relates to a wall-mounted support assembly and, more particularly, to a wall-mounted support assembly for supporting a variety of bathroom accessories such as towel bars, towel rings, soap dishes, shampoo racks, and the like, wherein the support assembly includes an accessory post assembly removably secured to a wall mounting bracket, the accessory post assembly including a cantilevered flange defining a latch for engaging a catch assembly of the mounting bracket.
Bathroom accessories such as towel bars, towel rings, soap dishes, and shampoo racks are typically attached to a bathroom wall with a support assembly that utilizes a mounting bracket attached to the wall with one or more fasteners. An accessory support has an end portion sized and shaped to receive and support a specific bathroom accessory. For example, the accessory support end portion may be sized and shaped to receive and support one end of a towel bar or may be sized and shaped to receive a towel ring or may be sized and shaped to receive a mounting projection of a soap dish. The accessory support is typically secured to the mounting bracket utilizing a set screw.
Because of the limited space in many bathrooms, installation of an accessory support is difficult. The small size, orientation, and location of the set screw adjacent the bathroom wall adds further difficulty to the installation process. The installer must manually screw the set screw into the mounting bracket utilizing a small screwdriver and having limited clearance from the bathroom wall. Additionally, the set screw is prone to being lost or dropped during installation. Finally, the set screw has fine threads and may be overtightened during installation. Overtightening the set screw can cause the mounting bracket threads to be stripped and compromise the integrity of the accessory support to the mounting bracket.
One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a wall-mounted support assembly for supporting a bathroom accessory, the support assembly adapted to be affixed to a wallboard and extending along a central axis transverse to a surface of a wallboard when the support assembly is affixed to a wallboard. The wall-mounted support assembly comprises: a mounting bracket; a fastener assembly adapted to affix the mounting bracket to a wallboard; an accessory post assembly including an accessory post and a post adapter permanently affixed to the accessory post, the accessory post includes a wall defining a central body and a distal portion extending axially from an end of the central body, the distal portion configured to support a bathroom accessory, the accessory post wall defining an open interior region and an access opening extending through the wall, the post adapter disposed within the interior region of the accessory post wall and including an axially extending pedestal that includes a cantilevered flange disposed between a pair of axially extending slots, the cantilevered flange having a latch at a free end of the flange and an intermediate region spaced from the free end, the intermediate region being aligned with the accessory post wall access opening; and the mounting bracket including a radially extending annular rim for abutting a wallboard when the support assembly is mounted to a wallboard, the mounting bracket annular rim defining a catch mechanism including a latch opening and a boss protruding axially from the rim, the latch opening and boss of the catch mechanism adapted to allow the latch to pass through the latch opening and engage the boss to releasably secure the accessory post assembly to the mounting bracket.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a wall-mounted support assembly for supporting a bathroom accessory. The support assembly is adapted to be affixed to a wallboard and the support assembly extending along a central axis transverse to a surface of a wallboard when the support assembly is affixed to a wallboard. The support assembly comprises: a mounting bracket; a fastener assembly adapted to affix the mounting bracket to a wallboard; an accessory post assembly including an accessory post and a post adapter permanently affixed to the accessory post, the accessory post includes a wall defining a central body and a distal portion extending axially from an end of the central body, the distal portion configured to support a bathroom accessory, the accessory post wall defining an open interior region and an access opening extending through the wall, the post adapter disposed within the interior region of the accessory post wall and including an axially extending pedestal that includes a cantilevered flange disposed between a pair of axially extending slots, the cantilevered flange having a latch at a free end of the flange and an intermediate region spaced from the free end, the intermediate region being aligned with the accessory post wall access opening; the mounting bracket including a radially extending annular rim for abutting a wallboard when the support assembly is mounted to a wallboard, the mounting bracket annular rim defining a catch mechanism including a latch opening and a boss protruding axially from the rim; to releasably attach the accessory post assembly to the mounting bracket, the accessory post assembly is axially aligned with the mounting bracket and is moved axially toward the mounting bracket such that the post adapter latch passes through the catch mechanism latch opening and engages the boss of the catch mechanism; and to detach the accessory post assembly from the mounting bracket, the intermediate region of the cantilevered flange is contacted through the accessory post access opening and deflected radially inwardly and the accessory post assembly is moved axially away from the mounting bracket such that the post adapter latch passes through the catch mechanism latch opening and disengages from the catch mechanism.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of releasably attaching and detaching an accessory post assembly of a wall-mounted support assembly from a mounting bracket of the wall-mounted bathroom accessory support assembly wherein the mounting bracket is affixed to a wallboard. The steps of the method comprise: a) providing a wall-mounted support assembly including: the mounting bracket; a fastener assembly adapted to affix the mounting bracket to a wallboard; the accessory post assembly including an accessory post and a post adapter permanently affixed to the accessory post, the accessory post includes a wall defining a central body and a distal portion extending axially from an end of the central body, the distal portion configured to support a bathroom accessory, the accessory post wall defining an open interior region and an access opening extending through the wall, the post adapter disposed within the interior region of the accessory post wall and including an axially extending pedestal that includes a cantilevered flange disposed between a pair of axially extending slots, the cantilevered flange having a latch at a free end of the flange and an intermediate region spaced from the free end, the intermediate region being aligned with the accessory post wall access opening; and the mounting bracket including a radially extending annular rim for abutting a wallboard when the support assembly is mounted to a wallboard, the mounting bracket annular rim defining a catch mechanism including a latch opening and a boss protruding axially from the rim, the latch opening and boss of the catch mechanism adapted to allow the latch to pass through the latch opening and engage the boss to releasably secure the accessory post assembly to the mounting bracket; b) attaching the accessory post assembly to the mounting bracket by axially aligning the accessory post assembly with the mounting bracket and moving the accessory post assembly toward the mounting bracket such that the post adapter latch passes through the catch mechanism latch opening and engage the boss of the catch mechanism to attach the accessory post assembly to the mounting bracket; and c) detaching the accessory post assembly from the mounting bracket by contacting and deflecting radially inwardly the intermediate region of the cantilevered flange through the accessory post access opening and moving the accessory post assembly axially away from the mounting bracket such that the post adapter latch passes through the catch mechanism latch opening and disengages from the catch mechanism to detach the accessory post assembly from the mounting bracket.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts unless described otherwise throughout the drawings and in which:
The present disclosure provides for a wall-mounted support assembly for bathroom accessories, shown generally at 10 in
As used herein, the term wallboard 204 is broadly used to refer to any type of building material suitable to form the wall 204a of a bathroom to which the mounting bracket 20 would be mounted. For example, the wallboard 204, as used herein, would broadly include walls constructed of building materials such as drywall, beadboard, tile, tileboard, plaster, paneling, etc., used in constructing a bathroom wall. As would be understood by one of skill in the art, the fastener assembly 50 may be modified as necessary depending on the bathroom wall material utilized such that a suitable mounting of the mounting bracket 20 to the wall 204a is achieved.
As is best seen in
The specific bathroom accessory supported by the distal portion 78 of the accessory post 62 in
Advantageously, the support assembly 10 of the present invention provides for a secure attachment structure between the accessory post assembly 60 and the mounting bracket 20 that is both easy to attach and is easy to release. Schematic depictions of alignment, attachment and detachment of the accessory post assembly 60 and the mounting bracket 20 are shown in
Accessory Post Assembly 60
As can best be seen in
The tamper resistant fastener or screw 64 may be, for example, a tamper resistant machine screw (such as Grainger Industrial Supply product number 5JY99-#6-32×0.375″ long tamper resistant machine screw or equivalent). Alternately, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a number of permanent attachment structures and/or connectors and/or fasteners could be used to permanently affix the post adapter 100 and the accessory post 62 including adhesives, molding, ultrasonic and other methods of welding, riveting, among others known to those of skill in the art. Additionally, as would be recognized by one of skill in the art, the post adapter and accessory post may be fabricated as a single piece unit. It is the intent of the present disclosure to cover all such configurations and attachment structures/connectors/fasteners and such configurations and attachment structures are alternate embodiments of the present disclosure.
Accessory Post 62
As can best be seen in
As can best be seen in
When assembling the post adapter 100 and the accessory post 62 so that they are permanently affixed, proper alignment of the cantilevered flange 104 and the access opening 86 is assured by three alignment ribs 88 projecting from the inner surface 85 of the accessory post wall 66 which interfit into mating slots 130 formed in an outer surface 132 of a generally cylindrical pedestal 102 of the post adapter 100. The interfit of the alignment ribs 88 and the slots 130 assure proper rotational alignment of the accessory post 62 and the post adapter 100 prior to the accessory post 62 and the post adapter 100 being permanently affixed with the tamper resistant fastener 64.
Post Adapter 100
The post adapter 100 includes the lower or proximal pedestal 102 and the radially narrower, upper or distal cylinder 120, both centered about the central axis CA. As discussed above, the tamper resistant fastener 64 passes through the opening 124 in the distal end 122 of the upper or distal cylinder 120. The lower pedestal 102 of the post adapter 100 also includes the latch mechanism 103 of the accessory post assembly 60. The pedestal 102 includes a pair of axially extending slots 105 (best seen in
The cantilevered flange 104 of the lower pedestal 102 includes an L-shaped latch 106 at a free end 108 (proximal end) (
When the accessory post assembly 60 is attached to the mounting bracket 20, contacting or bearing surfaces of the L-shaped latch 106 and the rib 32 of the mounting bracket 20 prevent relative axial movement between the accessory post assembly 60 and the mounting bracket 20. Specifically, a bearing surface 116 of the L-shaped latch 106 bears against a mating bearing surface 34 of the rib 32 to inhibit axial movement of the accessory post assembly 60 relative to the mounting bracket 20 in the distal direction D (in a direction away from the wallboard 204). Axial movement of the accessory post assembly 60 relative to the mounting bracket 20 in a distal direction is not a concern because contact of the accessory post base 74 with the surface 205 of the wallboard 204 would inhibit any axial movement in the proximal direction P (in a direction toward the wallboard).
As is best seen in
Mounting Bracket 20
The mounting bracket 20 of the support assembly is best seen in
As is best seen in FIGS. 6 and 16-19, the mounting bracket 20 further includes an axially extending cylindrical collar 36 extending axially from the annular rim 24. The boss 30 exends radially outwardly from the cylindrical collar 36 and axially in a distal direction from the annular rim 24. The cylindrical collar 36 defines one side of the latch opening 28 and the boss 30 defining a remainder of the opening 28. The rib 32 includes a surface 34 which contacts and acts as a bearing surface for the mating bearing surface 116 of the L-shaped latch 106 of the accessory post assembly latch mechanism 103.
As is best seen in
As is best seen in
Fastener Assembly 50
The fastener assembly 50 includes the wall anchor 54 disposed in an opening 206 in the wallboard 204. A threaded portion of the mounting screw 52 passes through a central opening 42 of the mounting bracket 20 and extends into the wall anchor 54 to affix the mounting bracket 20 to the wallboard 204. The mounting screw 52 is substantially coaxial or congruent with the central axis CA. The washer 56 abuts a radially inwardly extending waist 44 within the sleeve 22 of the mounting bracket 20 and provides a bearing surface for a head of the mounting screw 52. Again, as mentioned previously, the term wallboard 204 broadly refers to any building material suitable for constructing a bathroom wall 204a including, for example, drywall, tile, tileboard, paneling, beadboard, plaster, etc. Depending on the particular material of the wallboard 204, the fastener assembly 50 may be modified, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to properly secure the mounting bracket 20 to the wallboard 204.
Attaching Accessory Post Assembly 60 to Mounting Bracket 20
To affix the accessory post assembly 60 to the mounting bracket 20, the accessory post assembly 60 is oriented with respect to the mounting bracket 20 such that the accessory post assembly 60 is axially aligned with the mounting bracket 20 and the cantilevered flange 104 of the accessory post assembly latch mechanism 103 is in rotational aligned with the catch mechanism 26 of the mounting bracket 20. For rotational alignment purposes, the access opening 86 in the side wall 66 of the accessory post 62 provides a visual cue to where the cantilevered flange 104 is positioned with respect to the accessory post.
After alignment, the accessory post assembly 60 is moved axially in a proximal direction P toward and engages the mounting flange 20 such that a snap fit engagement between the L-shaped latch 106 of the post adapter 100 and the rib 32 of the mounting bracket 20 secures the accessory post assembly 60 to the mounting bracket 20. Specifically, as the L-shaped latch 106 of the cantilevered flange 104 passes through the opening 28 of the mounting bracket catch mechanism 26, the radially outward extending projection 112 (
Detaching Post Assembly 60 from Mounting Bracket 20
To release the accessory post assembly 190 from the mounting bracket 120, a narrow tool 210 such as a rod or a working end of a screwdriver is inserted through the access opening 86 of the accessory post 62 to deflect the cantilevered flange 104 of the latch mechanism 103 of the post adapter 100 and cause the L-shaped latch 106 to deflect radially inwardly and disengage from the rib 32 of the catch mechanism 26 of the mounting bracket 20. Since the access opening 86 is aligned with the intermediate region 110 of the cantilevered flange 104, the end of the tool 210 will contact and seat in the intermediate region 110. Pushing radially inwardly on the intermediate region 110 causes the cantilevered flange 104 and, specifically, the L-shaped latch 104 to deflect radially inwardly. Sufficient inward movement of the intermediate region 110 causes the L-shaped latch 104 to disengage from the rib 32 of the mounting bracket 20 thereby allowing the accessory post assembly 60 to be moved axially away in the distal direction D from engagement with the mounting bracket 20.
As used herein, terms of direction and/or orientation such as proximal, distal, axial, axially, radial, radially, rotational, rotatationally, upper, lower, inward, outward, etc., are provided for convenience purposes and relate generally to the orientation shown in the Figures. Such direction and/or orientation terms are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure or the claims appended hereto.
What have been described above are examples of the present disclosure/invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components, assemblies, or methodologies for purposes of describing the present disclosure/invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present disclosure/invention are possible. Accordingly, the present disclosure/invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120145854 A1 | Jun 2012 | US |