Patent Application
20130305624
The field of the invention is wall mounting devices.
The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Various wall mounting devices for handing and storing items on a wall are known. US 2009/0134290 to Begic, for example, describes a slatwall mounting system that includes a wall mountable rail member (e.g., panel) and a bracket member. The rail member has slots for receiving the bracket member. The bracket member has a hook portion for hanging items thereon, and a cam for securely engaging a slot on the rail member.
As another example, US 2010/0122505 to Jakiel describes a slatwall system for mounting on a wall. The system comprises a plurality of wall panels that interlock with one another via tongue and groove attachments. The panels also have slots for engaging brackets.
Other examples of wall mounting devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,784, U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,957, U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,043, AU2008200650, and CN201515932U.
These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
While wall mounting devices and methods are generally known, there remains a need to improve such devices and methods in order to optimize space utilization and reduce the number of installation steps. There also remains a need to simplify the installation process so that one person can easily perform the installation.
Thus, there is still a need for improved wall mounting devices and methods.
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods in which a wall mounting assembly includes a plurality of brackets and a plurality of panels. Each bracket is made of two frame members coupled at a hinge. The frame members have a hook for engaging a recess or slot on a panel. The bracket also has an elongated member extending from the frames for hanging or fastening items to a wall.
Each panel has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacent panels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. In one aspect of some embodiments, the slots near the edges of the panel are angled. Each panel also has two T-slots for receiving the hooks of the brackets. The brackets can lock onto the t-slots by rotating (e.g., bending) the two frame members on the bracket, which causes the hooks to lock into the slots on the panel.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
a is a side view of a plurality of panels for a wall mounting assembly.
b is a close-up side view of a first panel engaged with a second panel.
c is a close-up side view of a first panel disengaged with a second panel.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide many advantageous technical effects including improved methods and devices for mounting components to walls.
a shows a side view of a plurality of panels 700 for a wall mounting assembly. Panels 700 include a first panel 710 engaged with a second panel 720. Panel 710 and panel 720 are substantially identical. Trim panels 740 and 760 engage panels 720 and 710 at their lower and upper edges, respectively.
First panel 710 has first major surface (i.e., a front surface) and a second major surface (i.e., a back surface). On the first major surface is a first t-shaped slot 711 and a second t-shaped slot 712 running parallel to one another along the length of panel 710. Slots 711 and 712 are separated by distance 713. Panel 710 has a height 714. The height of panel 710 is extended by a distance 715 when trim panel 760 is engaged with panel 710. Trim panel 760 has a height of 716.
The first and second major surfaces of panel 710 are joined by a first edge (i.e., a top edge) and a second edge (i.e., a bottom edge), each having an acute angle (e.g., acute angle 719).
The first major surface of first panel 710 has a first angled slot 717 near the second edge of panel 710. Second major surface of panel 710 has a second angled slot 718 near the first edge of panel 710. The top edge of panel 710 is sized and dimensioned to engage the lower angled slot on an adjacent panel, whereas the bottom edge is sized and dimensioned to engage the upper angled slot on an adjacent panel.
b shows a close-up side view of the engagement of the lower edge of first panel 710 with the upper edge of second panel 720. When the two edges are engaged, there is a hollow channel 721 disposed therebetween due to the angle of angled edge 719 and the shape of first angled slot 717.
c shows a close-up side view of first panel 710 disengaged with trim panel 760. Engagement is achieved by overlaping the edge of panel 710 with the edge of panel 760, and pushing panel 710 forward and downward. Panel 710 can remain substantially parallel with panel 760 during the engagement. The angled configurations of the slots and edges on the panels eliminate the need to tilt the panels to achieve an engagement.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application No. 13/683,835 filed Nov. 21, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/563424 filed on Nov. 23, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61563424 | Nov 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13683835 | Nov 2012 | US |
| Child | 13953676 | US |
