Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02129392 2001-02-06
68432-182
MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR FIXTURES
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bracket system for
securing fixtures of various kinds, particularly bathroom
fixtures to a wall or similar supporting surface.
Back4round of the Invention
In securing fixtures such as bathroom fixtures to a
wall it is desirable for aesthetic purposes to effect the
connection between the fixture and the wall by means that are
visually undetectable. It is further desirable to insure that
such connection is secure and to accomplish such connection in
a simple and expedient manner. The present invention provides
such a mounting system.
Summary of the Invention
In a broad aspect, the invention resides in a fixture
comprising a separate bracket portion adapted for mounting on a
wall and a fixture portion comprising a body section and a
shank section, the bracket portion comprising at least one side
wall, a front wall adapted to lie adjacent said wall, a socket
defined by said at least one side wall and said front wall,
said socket having an open end opposite said front wall and
being adapted to receive said shank section of said fixture
portion, a set screw receiving hole extending through said side
wall, and a mounting screw extending through said front wall
and securing said bracket portion to said wall, a set screw,
the shank section of said fixture portion having a groove
extending therearound adapted to receive the set screw thereby
securing said shank section in said socket.
In summary this invention seeks to provide a wall
fixture consisting essentially of: a separate bracket portion
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adapted for mounting on a room wall, and a fixture portion
comprising a body section and a shank section, the bracket
portion comprising at least one side wall, a front wall adapted
to lie adjacent said room wall, a socket defined by said at
least one side wall and said front wall said socket having an
open end opposite said front wall, a generally smooth, circular
cross-sectional shape, and being adapted to receive said shank
section of said fixture portion therein, a single set screw
receiving hole extending perpendicularly through said side
wall, a single mounting screw hold extending through said front
wall, and a single room wall mounting screw extending through
said hole extending through said front wall and directly
engaging said room wall thereby securing said bracket portion
to said room wall, a single set screw having a substantially
taped end extending through said set screw receiving hole, the
shank section of said fixture portion having a single V-shaped
groove extending circumferentially therearound adapted to
receive said substantially tapered end of the set screw thereby
securing said shank section in said socket, said shank section
having a circular cross-section shape which is complementary to
the cross-sectional shape of said socket and an anti-rotation
pad between the room wall and the front wall of said bracket
portion.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towel rack mounted
to a wall;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the towel
rack illustrated in Fig. l; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
Fig. 1.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The instant invention is directed to a bracket for
securing fixtures, such as bathroom fixtures, to a wall or
other supporting
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surface. As illustrated in the drawings the bracket is comprised
of a decorative collar 10 having a side wa11~18 and a front wall
17. Front wall 17 has an aperture 19 extending therethrough
adapted to receive mounting screw 60 which holds collar 10 to a
wall 50. Aperture 19 is preferably frustoconical in shape so that
screw head 61 is retained Within wall 17 and is preferably flush
with the interior surface of wall 17. Aperture 19 is in
communication with socket 11 defined by side wall 18 and front wall
17. Socket 11 has an open end 16 Side wall 18 has side opening 14
extending therethrough. Side opening 14 is internally threaded and
is adapted to threadedly receive externally threaded set screw 30.
Opening 14 is perpendicular to wall 18 and to the longitudinal axis
of collar 10.
The socket 11 is adapted to receive a shank portion 42 of
outer fixture member 44. Outer fixture member 44 consists of body
portion 41 and shank portion 42. Preferably the cross-sectional
shape of shank 42 is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of
socket 11. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings both the
shank portion 42 and the body portion 41 have a circular cross-
section. As best illustrated in Fig. 3 the outer diameter of body
portion 41 is larger than the outer diameter of shank portion 42
thereby forming shoulder 45 between body portion 41 and shank
portion 42. Shank portion 42 has an annular V-shaped groove 43
extending therearound.
As illustrated in Fig. 3 with the shank portion 42 disposed in
socket 11 set screw 30 is disposed in groove 43. More particularly
set screw 30 abuts against the forward edge of groove 43 thus
pulling shank 42 into socket 11 (to the left in Fig. 3) and keeping
the shank 42 disposed in socket 11 with the shoulder 45 seated on
top surface 15 of wall 18.
An anti-rotation pad 70 is provided intermediate the wall 50
and the front face 12 of wall 17 of collar 10. The anti-rotation
pad 70 has a central aperture 71 to allow passage of screw 60
therethrough. The pad 70 can be comprised of rubber or other
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68432-182
similar non-slippery material and keeps collar 10 from rotating
while it is being attached to wall 50 and after said attachment.
In assembling the mounting bracket of the instant invention
the front face 12 of front wall 17 of collar 10 is placed against
wall 50 with anti-rotation pad 70 interposed between wall 50 and
the front face 12 of front wall 17. Fastening screw 60 is passed
through the socket 11, opening 19 in wall 17, opening 71 in pad 70,
and screwed into the wall 50, thus drawing the collar 10 firmly
into contact with the wall. The shank portion 42 of fixture member
-44 is then inserted into socket 11, the fixture member 44 serving
to conceal the screw 60 by which the collar 10 is secured to the
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wall 50. Once the shank portion 42 is disposed in socket 11 set
screw 30 is screwed into opening 14. As set screw 30 is screwed
into and advances in opening 14 its tip extends into groove 43 and
abuts against forward edge 48 of groove 43 thus further pulling
shank portion 42 into socket 11 (to the left in Fig. 3) until
further movement is prevented by shoulder 45 abutting top surface
15 of wall 18. The set screw 30 serves to firmly secure the
fixture to the collar. Even if the set screw is not fully
tightened the shank portion 42 will not fall out of the socket 11
because the tip of set screw 30 will still be in contact with the
forward edge 48 of groove 43 thus keeping the shank portion within
socket I1.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the fixture is
a towel rack comprising two fixture members 44 which are adapted to
engage collars l0 and a cross bar 49 connecting the two fixture
members 44 upon which towels are hung.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.
The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
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