Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02622666 2008-02-22
GRAB BAR WITH INSERT
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a bar that is utilized in bathrooms, such as a grab
bar
for example, where the bar includes a removable decorative insert.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Grab bars are utilized in bathroom applications to provide support for an
individual during exit or entry in a bathtub or shower, for example. Typical
grab
bars include a linear/straight body member that is spaced apart from, and
parallel i;o,
a wall. The grab bar has end mounts that extend toward the wall such that the
grab
bar can be mounted to the wall. In some configurations, the linear/straight
body
member may include angled portions such that the grab bar can be gripped at
different orientations.
For use in hotels, homes, and other non-institutional-type environments, it is
often desirable to have a grab bar that presents an aesthetically appealing
appearance. Due to the time and labor involved with installing grab bars,
changiing
or replacing a grab bar to reflect a change in room decor can be expensive.
Thus, there is a need to provide a grab bar that can be easily adapted to
various decors without having to completely replace an entire grab bar
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A grab bar for use in a bathroom structure such as a shower or tub, for
example, includes a front facing side and a wall facing side that is opposite
from the
front facing side. A removable decorative insert is supported by the front
facing
side. The removable decorative insert is easily removed and replaced by other
decorative inserts as needed.
In one example, the body member is comprised of an extruded component
with a generally uniform wall thickness.
In one example, the body member includes a recess formed within the frcint
facing side that extends from a first end to a second end of the body member.
The
removable decorative insert is received within the recess.
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At least one mounting assembly is used to attach the wall facing side of the
grab bar to a wall structure. The removable decorative insert can be removed
and
replaced with other decorative inserts without having to detach the grab bar
and
mounting assembly from the wall structure.
In one example, an opening is formed within the wall facing side of the body
member. The opening receives a fastener that, when rotated, contacts a rear
facing
side of the removable decorative insert to push the removable decorative
insert out
of the recess such that the removable decorative insert can be replaced with
another
insert.
In one example, the recess includes at least one groove that extends along an
edge of the recess. A resilient member, such as a resilient tube for example,
is
resiliently retained within the groove. The resilient member is movable
between an
initial shape when the removable decorative is removed from the recess and a
compressed shape when the removable decorative insert is installed within the
recess. When installed, the resilient member holds the removable decorative
insert
securely in place.
The subject grab bar includes an insert that provides an aesthetically
pleasing
appearance for the grab bar as well as being easily interchangeable with other
inserts
to change the appearance of the grab bar. These and other features of the
present
invention can be best understood from the following specification and
drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grab bar assembly with a removable
decorative insert.
Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of the grab bar assembly of Figure 1 with
an end cap removed for clarity.
Figure 3 is an enlarged wall facing view of the grab bar assembly of Figure 1
showing a removal step for the removable decorative insert.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a base flange and post assembly.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the base flange and post assembly of
Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an end cap.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A grab bar 10 for attachment to a bathroom wall structure 12 is shown in
Figure 1. The grab bar 10 extends between first 14 and second 16 ends.
Mounting
assemblies 18 are positioned near each of the first 14 and second 16 ends such
that
the grab bar 10 can be secured to the bathroom wall structure 12. In the
example
shown in Figure 1, the grab bar 10 is a generally straight configuration;
however, the
grab bar 10 could include one or more angled portions or could have a non-
linear
configuration, such as an oval, triangular, or round shape for example.
Further,
while two mounting assemblies 18 are shown, it should be understood that a
single
mounting assembly could be used, or additional mounting assemblies could be
used,
depending upon the overall configuration of the grab bar.
The grab bar 10 is formed from a hollow body structure or member thiat
includes a wall facing side 20 and a front facing side 22 that is opposite the
wall
facing side 20. In one example, the body structure comprises an extruded
component made from aluminum or other material, and which includes a generally
uniform wall thickness from the first end 14 to the second end 16. Each
mounting
assembly 18 is attached to the wall facing side 20 near the first 14 and
second 16
ends as shown.
Each mounting assembly 18 includes at least a base flange and post assembly
24, a mounting fastener 26 and washer 28, and an o-ring 30. The mounting
fastener
26 is inserted through the grab bar 10, through the base flange and post
assembly 24,
and into the wall mount structure 12 to secure the grab bar 10 to the wall
mount
structure 12. End caps 32 are secured to the first 14 and second 16 ends of
the grab
bar 10.
The front facing side 22 of the grab bar 10 includes a recess 34 that extends
from the first end 14 to the second end 16. In one example, the recess 34
extends
along an entire length of the grab bar 10 from an end face of the first end 14
to an
end face of the second end 16. A decorative insert 36 is received within the
recess
34. The decorative insert 36 includes a front face 38 and a rear face 40. The
frant
face 38 includes a decorative surface that provides an aesthetically appealing
appearance for the grab bar 10.
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A fastener 42 is located near the first end 14 of the grab bar 10 and is used
to
remove the decorative insert 36 from the recess 34 such that another
decorative
insert 36' can be installed within the recess 34. This will be discussed in
greater
detail below. The other decorative insert 36'can have the same or similar
appearance to the first decorative insert 36, or can have a different
appearance. As
such, the grab bar 10 includes a removable decorative insert 36 that can be
easily
replaced with a different decorative insert 36' without having to detach and
replace
the entire grab bar assembly.
In one example, the decorative insert is made of recycled plastic, which is
laminated on both sides with wood grain, faux stone, or faux marble using a
"Formica" type material such as that which is used on kitchen counter tops. In
this
example, the design would generally have a flat surface; however, other design
elements and materials could be used to form the decorative insert 36. For
example,
the decorative insert 36 could have a textured surface. Optionally, materials
such as
glow in the dark (GITD) polymers could be used alone or in combination with an
aggregate material. Such a configuration would give guidance and provide a
mare
clearly seen handhold in dark or low-light environments.
The decorative insert 36 is resiliently retained within the recess 34 by at
least
one resilient member 44. This attachment interface is shown in greater detail
in
Figure 2. The recess 34 in the grab bar 10 is defined by a bottom surface 50
and by
first 52 and second 54 wall surfaces that extend outwardly from the bottom
surface
50 toward the front facing side 22 of the grab bar 10. In each of the first 52
and
second 54 wall surfaces, a groove 56 is formed. The grooves 56 extend along a
length of the grab bar 10 and are generally parallel to the recess 34. In one
example,
the grooves 56 extend along an entire length of the first 52 and second wall
surfaces;
however, the grooves could also be configured to extend only along a specified
portion of the wall surfaces. Further, while two grooves 56 are shown, it
should be
understood that only a single groove, or additional grooves, may be formed
dependent upon the shape, size, etc. of the grab bar 10.
One resilient member 44 is received within each of the grooves 56. In one
example, the resilient member 44 comprises a resilient tube; however, other
types of
resilient members could also be used. The resilient member 44 is movable
between
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an initial position when the decorative insert 36 is not installed within the
recess 34
and a compressed position when the decorative insert 36 is installed within
the
recess 34. The resilient member 44 is hollow and is defined by an outer
peripheral or
circumferential surface 60 and an inner peripheral or circumferential surface
62.
When the resilient members 44 are installed within the grooves 56, prior to
the
decorative insert 36 being installed, over half of the outer peripheral
surface 60 is in
contact with a groove surface that defines the grooves 56. The groove surface
is
sized to be slightly less than the outer diameter of the resilient members 44.
As
such, the resilient members 44 are installed by being rolled into the grooves
56, and
are held in place by spring tension between the resilient member 44 itself and
the
groove surface of the grooves 56. In other words, the resilient member 44 is
slightly
compressed when installed within the groove 56, and this compression force is
sufficient to hold the resilient member 44 in place.
Once the resilient members 44 are installed, the decorative insert 36 can be
inserted into the recess 34. Installing the decorative insert 36 compresses
the
generally round shape of the resilient members 44 into a generally D-shaped
cross-
section, i.e. the resilient members 44 are further compressed when the
decorative
insert 36 is installed. This additional compressive force, in conjunction with
the
frictional resistance between the resilient members 44 and the decorative
insert 36,
securely holds the decorative insert 36 in place.
Removal of the decorative insert 36 is shown more clearly in Figure 3. An
opening 66 is formed within the wall facing side 20 of the grab bar 10 to
receive the
fastener 42. In one example, the grab bar 10 is drilled and tapped at the
first end 14
to receive the fastener 42, which in the example comprises a nylon machine
screw;
however, other types of hole and fastener configurations could also be used.
Further, the position of the opening 66 could be varied, or additional
openings could
be used, as needed. By turning the fastener 42, the fastener 42 makes contact
with
the rear side 40 of the decorative insert 36 to avoid marring a surface finish
on the
rear side 40. As the fastener 42 is further rotated, pressure is applied to
the insert 36,
forcing an end portion 68 of the decorative insert 36 to rise out of the
recess 34 as
indicated at 70. Once the decorative insert 36 is sufficiently out of the
recess 34, the
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end portion 70 can be grabbed and pulled completely out of the recess 34 for
replacement.
The base flange and post assembly 24 that is used to secure the grab bar 10
to the wall mount structure 12 is shown in greater detail in Figures 4-5. The
base
flange and post assembly 24 includes a base portion 72 to be associated with a
surface of the wall mount structure 12, a post portion 74 that extends
outwardly from
the base portion 72 toward the wall facing side 20 of the grab bar 10, and a
sleeve
portion 76 that surrounds the post portion 74, and which is spaced apart from
the
post portion by an air gap 78. In one example, the base flange and post
assembly 24
comprises a single-piece component. This generally hollow configuration of the
base flange and post assembly 24 provides a material cost savings.
An end surface 80 of the post portion 74 is comprised of a knurled surface
that interfaces with the grab bar body and the end cap 32. This knurled end
surface
80 serves as a press-fit location between the grab bar 10 and the end cap 32.
Additionally, the base flange and post assembly 24 includes a thin-walled
section 82
that extends across the air gap 78 from an inner surface of the sleeve portion
76 to an
outer surface of the post portion 74. The thin-walled section 82 is generally
perpendicular to the post portion 74. This thin-walled section 82 prevents
water
infiltration from the front of the grab bar 10 to the wall. The remaining
points of
entry for water are sealed off by the washer 28 and o-ring 30.
The end cap 32 is shown in greater detail in Figure 6. One end cap 32 is
installed within the first end 14, and another end cap 32 is installed within
the
second end 16. Each end cap 32 includes a front side 90 and a rear side 92. An
end
cap recess 94 is formed with the front side 90, which aligns with the recess
34 in the
grab bar 10. The end cap recesses 94 receive end portions of the decorative
insert
36.
The end cap 32 includes an abutment surface 96 that abuts against an end
face of a respective one of the first 14 and second 16 ends. The end caps 32
also
include an extension tab 98 that extends inwardly toward the grab bar 10
beyond the
abutment surface 96. The extension tab 98 includes a through hole 100 triat
cooperates with the knurled end surface 80 of the post portion 74 to securely
hold
the end cap 32 in place. An axis of the through hole 100 is positioned such
that it is
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aligned with an axis of the base flange diameter at the same time the abutment
surface 96 makes contact with the end faces of the grab bar 10. To ensure that
tlhe
end cap 32 is in proper alignment with these end faces, alignment tabs 102 are
formed within the end cap 32. Each alignment tab 102 engages an inner surface
of
the hollow body member that defines the grab bar 10. It should be understood
that
Figure 6 shows one example of an end cap, and that other end cap
configurations
could also be used.
As described in detail above, the grab bar 10 is designed to hold replaceable
decorative inserts 36 in a recess 34 formed within the grab bar 10. The insert
can be
formed from many different materials, and can have smooth, textured, or other
surface configurations to provide a desired aesthetic appearance. The insert
can be
easily removed and replaced with other inserts as needed without having to
detach
and replace the entire grab bar assembly. The base flange and post assembly 24
is
ideally configured with a hollow structure to provide a more cost effective
design
solution without affecting the strength of the attachment joint. Further, the
base
flange and post assembly 24 are press fit into the grab bar 10 and end cap 32
to hold
these components together during shipment. The stack-up of the base flange and
post assembly 24, the body of grab bar 10, and end caps 32 are such that all
components are in compression once the mounting fasteners are in place.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a
worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain
modifications would
come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims
should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
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