Kit for making a mounting device for a dry wall surface

Abstract

A kit is provided for making a mounting device for attachment to a dry wall surface to hang an article which does not require the installer to locate or use a sub-structure base such as a wall stud or ceiling joist. The kit comprises a hook having a threaded portion on one end, a plurality of screws, a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts for installation into the dry wall structure, and a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device has a plurality of holes formed therein. The hook is installed in one of the holes in the stabilizing device. The remaining holes are used in attaching the stabilizing device to the dry wall structure. That attachment is made by inserting the screws through the remaining holes to engage the toggle bolts which are installed in the dry wall structure. Two such mounting devices are especially useful in hanging a bicycle from a dry wall ceiling structure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a kit for making a mounting device for attachment to a dry wall structure, e.g., a ceiling, to hang an article. More particularly, a kit in accordance with the present invention does not require the installer to locate or use a sub-structure base such as a wall stud or a ceiling joist to provide stability.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A common dilemma encountered by an owner of a bicycle is where to store the bicycle when it is not in use. One solution to this problem which appears to be popular is to try to hang the bicycle from the dry wall ceiling of a garage using large hooks having a threaded portion. Problems have existed, however, in taking this approach.

First, if the threaded portion of the hook is screwed into only the dry wall material (i.e., sheetrock), that connection will not remain stable and the hook will become loose over time. Movement of the bicycle on and off the hook will cause the hook to move in the dry wall material. Since dry wall material is tends to crumble, the connection between the threaded portion of the hook and the dry wall material becomes unstable, with the result that the hook becomes loose and unable to carry much, if any, load.

One attempt to solve the aforesaid problem is to install the hooks by screwing them into joists. However, locating a joist can not only be tedious and at times frustrating, but also often results in several unsightly and unwanted holes being made in the dry wall material in the process of trying to locate a joist. Moreover, one popular way to hang a bicycle is by its wheels. However, the spacing between the centers of the front and rear wheels of a bicycle is seldom an integral multiple of the spacing between joists in a garage which results in: (a) the bicycle being hung in somewhat of a cocked position if it is hung by its wheels on hooks which are both screwed into joists; or (b) the bicycle being hung by only one wheel from a hook that is screwed into a joist. In these two circumstances, the location of the joists dictates where the bicycle will be hung.

A need has existed for a mounting device for a dry wall structure that could be installed at a location that is not dictated by the location of a stud or a joist. That need has been satisfied by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a kit is provided for making a mounting device for attachment to a dry wall surface to hang an article. Utilization of a kit in accordance with the present invention does not require the installer to locate or use a sub-structure such as a wall stud or ceiling joist.

A kit according to the present invention comprises a hook having a threaded portion on one end thereof, a plurality of screws, a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts for installation into the dry wall structure, and a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device has a flat surface that contacts the dry wall structure when the stabilizing device is attached to the dry wall structure and has a plurality of holes formed therein. One of the holes in the stabilizing device is for receiving the threaded portion of the hook. The remaining holes are spaced apart and are for use in attaching the stabilizing device to the dry wall structure. That attachment is made by the insertion of the screws through the remaining holes to engage the toggle bolts installed in the dry wall structure.

In one embodiment, the stabilizing device is fabricated from high density polyethylene plastic. The stabilizing device may however, also be fabricated from wood. The stabilizing device may have any desired shape for décor preference or to satisfy load requirements, and may, for example, be a rectangular-shaped solid, a circular shaped solid, a triangular-shaped solid or a diamond-shaped solid.

An embodiment of the present invention which utilizes high density polyethylene plastic for the stabilizing device may further comprise a plurality of screw cap covers. When mounting the stabilizing device, each screw is inserted through a screw cap cover prior to engagement of the screw with the toggle bolt. The screw cap cover is closed after installation is completed.

In an embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention where the stabilizing device is made of wood, the holes for use in attaching the stabilizing device may be countersunk and the kit further comprises two washers for use with the screws where the washers are sized to fit in the countersunk second holes in the stabilizing device. This embodiment of a kit according to the present invention also comprises two decorative wooden button caps for installation in the countersunk holes to cover the heads of the screws.

A kit in accordance with the present invention which is especially useful for making two mountings for hanging a bicycle comprises two hooks, a plurality of screws, a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts and two stabilizing blocks as described above. The two stabilizing blocks are attached to dry wall ceiling and are spaced apart a distance equal to the wheel base of the bicycle, i.e., distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the back wheel of the bicycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the items comprising an embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view in partial cross-section of a mounting made with the kit of FIG. 1 which is attached to a dry wall structure.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a bicycle hanging from two mountings made with a kit in accordance with the present invention that are attached to a ceiling dry wall structure.

FIGS. 4-6 are perspective views of alternative shapes for the stabilizing device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the items comprising another embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the stabilizing device of FIG. 7 taken along the line 8-8′ in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view in partial cross-section illustrating a mounting made with the kit of FIG. 7 where the mounting is attached to a dry wall structure.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Some embodiments of the invention are described so as to give an understanding of the invention. It is intended that the embodiments described herein should be regarded as illustrative, and not limiting, of the invention.

With reference first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a kit 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Kit 100 comprises a hook 101 having a threaded portion 101a at one end thereof which permits the threaded portion to be self-drilling and a hook portion 101b. Hook 101 is commonly available at hardware stores and the hook portion 101b may be coated with a vinyl material. Kit 100 also comprises a plurality of screws 102 and a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts 103 for installation into a dry wall structure to receive the screws 102. A kit in accordance with the present invention may, for example, comprise two screws 102 and two self-drilling toggle bolts 103 as shown in FIG. 1. Screws 102 are sized to be able to engage the threaded portion in the toggle 103a (FIG. 2) of toggle bolt 103.

Kit 100 further comprises a stabilizing device 104 which may, for example, be fabricated from high density polyethylene plastic. The use high density polyethylene plastic should result in a stabilizing device which is durable, since polyethylene plastic will not warp, bow, swell or deteriorate due to moisture.

Stabilizing device 104 has a plurality of holes, i.e. 104a, 104b and 104c, which are formed therein. Holes 104a and 104b are spaced apart as illustrated in FIG. 1 and permit the screws 102 to pass through the stabilizing device 104 to engage toggle bolts 103, when the toggle bolts are installed in a dry wall structure. Hole 104c in stabilizing device 104 is for receiving the threaded end 101a of hook 101 once the stabilizing device 104 is mounted to a dry wall structure.

An embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a plurality of screw cap covers 105 and two such screw cap covers are illustrated in FIG. 1

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting device for attachment to a dry wall structure may be made using the kit 100 as follows: Stabilizing device 104 has a flat surface 104d that contacts a dry wall structure 107 when the stabilizing device is installed. The locations in the dry wall structure 110 where it is desired to install the toggle bolts 103 may conveniently be marked by inserting a screw 102 through holes 104a and 104b and making indentations in dry wall structure 107. Toggle bolts 103 may then be installed at those locations in dry wall structure 107 using a screwdriver. Screws 102 may then be passed through holes 104a and 104b to engage the installed toggle bolts 103. If screw cap covers 105 are utilized, screws 102 are first passed through the covers 105 before the screws engage toggle bolt 103. The insertion of screws 102 causes toggles 103a to rotate and the screws 102 may then engage the threaded portions of toggle bolts 103 to secure stabilizing device 104 to dry wall structure 107. The threaded portion 101a of hook 101 may then be screwed into hole 104c.

With reference now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. This embodiment comprises a hook 101, a plurality of screws 102, and a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts 103, all as described above. This embodiment also comprises a stabilizing device 204 which may, for example, be fabricated from wood. Stabilizing device 204 has a plurality of holes 204a, 204b and 204c formed therein. Holes 204a and 204b may be countersunk as shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the kit 200 may further comprise a plurality of washers 205 for use with screws 102. Washers 205 are sized to fit into countersunk holes 204a and 204b. This embodiment may also comprise a plurality of decorative button caps 206 for insertion in holes 204a and 204b to cover the heads of screws 102, when they are installed.

Referring to FIG. 9, a mounting device that was made with kit 200 is shown attached to dry wall structure 107. This mounting device in FIG. 9 is made in substantially the same manner as the mounting device illustrated in FIG. 2 using the kit of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 illustrates the use of washers 205 and button caps 206 in the mounting device.

Stabilizing devices 104 and 204 may be made in desired shape. In one embodiment, stabilizing devices 104 and 204 may, for example, be rectangular-shaped solids as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. In other embodiments, stabilizing devices 104 and 204 may be a circular-shaped solid 400 as shown in FIG. 4, a diamond-shaped solid 500 as shown in FIG. 5, or a triangular-shaped solid 600 as shown in FIG. 6. The circular-shaped solid 400 has a plurality of holes 401 for the insertion of screws and hole 402 for receiving the threaded end of hook 101. Diamond-shaped solid 500 may comprise four holes 501 for the insertion of screws to engage the installed toggle bolts, and hole 502 for receiving the threaded end of hook 101. Lastly, the triangular-shaped solid 600 may have three holes 601 for the insertion of screws and hole 602 for receiving the threaded portion of hook 101.

With reference to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a kit in accordance with the present invention that is especially suitable for hanging a bicycle 300 from a dry wall ceiling 302 comprises twice the items in kit 100 of FIG. 1 or twice the items in the kit 200 of FIG. 7. In other words, a kit suitable for hanging a bicycle may comprise two hooks, four screws, four self-drilling toggle bolts and two stabilizing devices. Such a kit permits two mounting devices 301 to be attached to dry wall ceiling 302 without requiring the installer to locate or use ceiling joists for stability. With the present invention, the spacing between the mounting devices shown in FIG. 3 is approximately equal to the wheel base of bicycle 300.

Claims

1. A kit for making a mounting device for attachment to a dry wall surface to hang an article, comprising:

a hook having a threaded portion on one end thereof;

a plurality of screws;

a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts for installation into the dry wall structure and for engagement with the screws; and

a stabilizing device having a flat surface that contacts the dry wall structure when the stabilizing device is attached to the dry wall structure and having a plurality of holes formed therein, where one of the holes is for receiving the threaded portion of the hook and where the remaining holes are for use in attaching the stabilizing device to the dry wall structure by the insertion of the screws through the remaining holes to engage the toggle bolts when installed in the dry wall structure.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing device is fabricated from a high density polyethylene plastic.

3. The kit of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of screw caps through which the screws are inserted and which cover the heads of the screws when installed.

4. The kit of claim 2, wherein the stabilizing device is a rectangular-shaped solid.

5. The kit of claim 2, wherein the stabilizing device is a circular-shaped solid.

6. The kit of claim 2, wherein the stabilizing device is a triangular-shaped solid.

7. The kit of claim 2, wherein the stabilizing device is a diamond-shaped solid.

8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing device is fabricated from wood.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the stabilizing device is a rectangular-shaped solid.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the stabilizing device is a circular-shaped solid.

11. The kit of claim 8, wherein the stabilizing device is a triangular-shaped solid.

12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the stabilizing device is a diamond-shaped solid.

13. The kit of claim 8, wherein the holes in the stabilizing device through which the screws are inserted are countersunk and wherein the kit further comprises:

a plurality of washers for use with the screws, the washers being sized to fit in the countersunk holes; and

a plurality of caps for insertion into the countersunk holes in the stabilizing device.

14. A kit for making mounting devices for attachment to a dry wall ceiling structure from which to hang a bicycle, comprising:

two hooks where each hook has a threaded portion on one end thereof;

a plurality of wood screws;

a plurality of self-drilling toggle bolts for insertion into the ceiling dry wall structure to receive said screws; and

two stabilizing devices, each said stabilizing device having (i) a flat surface that contacts the dry wall structure when the stabilizing device is attached to the dry wall structure and (ii) a plurality of holes formed therein, where one of the holes is for receiving the threaded portion of the hook and where the remaining holes are for use in attaching the stabilizing device to the dry wall structure by the insertion of the screws through the remaining holes to engage the toggle bolts when installed in the dry wall structure.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the stabilizing device is fabricated from a high density polyethylene plastic.

16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of screw caps through which the screws are inserted and which cover the heads of the screws when installed.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the stabilizing device is a rectangular-shaped solid.

18. The kit of claim 15, wherein the stabilizing device is a circular-shaped solid.

19. The kit of claim 15, wherein the stabilizing device is a triangular-shaped solid.

20. The kit of claim 15, wherein the stabilizing device is a diamond-shaped solid.

21. The kit of claim 14, wherein the stabilizing device is fabricated from wood.

22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the stabilizing device is a rectangular-shaped solid.

23. The kit of claim 21, wherein the stabilizing device is a circular-shaped solid.

24. The kit of claim 21, wherein the stabilizing device is a triangular-shaped solid.

25. The kit of claim 21, wherein the stabilizing device is a diamond-shaped solid.

26. The kit of claim 21, wherein the holes in the stabilizing device through which the screws are inserted are countersunk and wherein the kit further comprises:

a plurality of washers for use with the screws, the washers being sized to fit in the countersunk holes; and

a plurality of caps for insertion into the countersunk holes in the stabilizing device.