Concealed bracket mounting arrangement

Abstract

The present invention is a concealed bracket wall mounting arrangement. The disadvantage of axial spinning and disengagement present in prior art concealed bracket mountings is eliminated by the disclosed mounting arrangement. A mounting bracket having angled walls for mounting on a generally flat surface is disclosed. A fixture base is disclosed that engages with the walls of the mounting bracket at multiple positions to prevent spinning and disengagement of the mounting base.

Description

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to mount fixtures to a surface so that a mounting bracket physically attached to the surface is concealed from view for aesthetic reasons. Fixtures such as toilet paper dispensers, towel bars, hooks for jackets or towels, and the like may be mounted using this type of concealed mounting arrangement.

In a typical prior art concealed mounting arrangement, a bracket is physically attached to a surface, using screws for example. A fixture base is placed over the bracket and typically secured using a set screw. The set screw is preferably hidden from view.

A disadvantage of prior art concealed bracket mounting arrangements is that they are susceptible to axial spinning and rattling of the fixture base, as well as disengagement of the fixture base from the mounting bracket. Therefore, a concealed bracket mounting that resists spinning and disengagement of the mounting base is desired.

SUMMARY

A concealed bracket mounting arrangement is disclosed. The preferred two part arrangement includes a generally rectangular bracket having at least one hole for mounting to a generally flat surface, and four angled walls. A fixture base having a sloped protrusion engages one wall of the bracket. A set screw protrusion engages a second wall, and the set screw protrusion has a set screw that secures the fixture base to the bracket when tightened. The fixture base includes opposed stabilizing protrusions for engaging opposed bracket walls. The stabilizing protrusions resist spinning of the fixture base upon the mounting bracket as well as disengagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a presently preferred embodiment. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentality shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a mounting bracket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a fixture base for mounting on the mounting bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the mounting bracket and a fixture base mounted on a generally flat surface;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away perspective view of the assembled concealed bracket mounting arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line A/A of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line B/B of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting bracket 10 in accordance with a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mounting bracket 10 has at least one aperture 16 through the generally flat portion 12 of the mounting bracket 10 allowing the mounting bracket 10 to be secured to the surface 20 with a fastener such as a screw, bolt, or nail. A plurality of apertures 16 is preferred for providing multiple fastening sites to secure and level the mounting bracket 10. In some applications, it is preferable to have slotted apertures 16 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The apertures 16 are preferable located on centerline with the x and y axis of the mounting bracket 10.

The mounting bracket 10 preferably contains several ribs 14 for added strength and rigidity. Perimeter walls 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, and 18₄ extend up from the generally flat surface 12 and away from the x and y axis. The angle and height of the walls 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, and 18₄ are dimensioned to compliment the fixture base, described in detail below with reference to FIG. 2, thereby securely engaging the fixture base with the mounting bracket 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, the rear side of a fixture base 30 is exemplified as circular, but it may be of any shape and may contain any desired ornamental design. The fixture base 30 includes an interior protrusion 32, which extends inwardly to define an inwardly sloped shoulder, (see FIGS. 4 and 5.) When the fixture base 30 is positioned upon the mounting bracket 10, the sloped surface of protrusion 32 fits snuggly between the host surface 20 and wall 18₁ of bracket 10. A second protrusion 34, opposite protrusion 32, houses a set screw 36 for engaging wall 18₂, (see FIG. 4.) To secure the fixture base 30, set screw 36 is tightened against wall 18₂ of bracket 10.

Fixture base 30 has opposed protrusions 38₁, 38₂, (see FIGS. 2 and 6) that are generally perpendicular to a plane through protrusions 32 and 34. Protrusions 38₁, 38₂abut walls 18₃, 18₄, respectively, to define a stabilizing contact and resist rotation of the base 30. Although a gap may exist between protrusions 38₁, 38₂and walls 18₃, 18₄ for ease of installation, any gap must be sufficiently small so that the base 30 can not slide laterally to allow disengagement of the protrusion 32 from wall 18₁. Preferably, the gap between protrusions 38₁, 38₂and walls 18₃, 18₄, respectively, is approximately 1 millimeter.

The fixture base 30 has a receptacle 40 for receiving various fixtures (not shown). These fixtures include towel bars, hooks, shelves, dispensers, soap trays, tooth brush holders, toilet papers holders, and any other fixture that would benefit from a concealed mounting arrangement. Receptacle 40 may be threaded, or other attachment means may be used. Alternatively, the fixture may be integral to the fixture base 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the assembly of mounting base 30 and mounting bracket 10 onto a generally flat surface 20 is shown. While two screws are shown for fastening the mounting bracket 10 to a generally flat surface 20, other fastening devices may be used. Referring to FIG. 4, the assembled concealed bracket mounting arrangement is shown. The mounting bracket 10 can be seen in phantom as it is covered by the mounting base 30. Cross sectional views AA and BB are shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, opposing walls of the mounting bracket are notched to receive the stabilizing protrusions of the fixture base. This may be advantageous where the fixture base is an unusual shape or dimension.

While the concealed mounting arrangement described herein may be constructed from a variety of materials, including a variety of high temperature thermoplastics, the presently preferred material of construction is thin gage sheet metal. A variety of metals may be used, including aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and carbon steel.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A concealed mounting arrangement comprising:

a mounting bracket having at least three walls, one of which is angled, and an interior portion that separates the walls and defines at least one aperture; and

a fixture base having a face and a back portion, wherein the back portion includes a sloped protrusion for engaging the angled wall in a complimentary fashion, and opposed stabilizing protrusions that engage the remaining walls and resist rotation of the fixture base on the bracket.

2. The concealed mounting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fixture base further comprises a set screw protrusion for engaging one of the remaining walls via a set screw.

3. The concealed mounting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is thermoplastic.

4. The concealed mounting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bracket is notched to receive the stabilizing protrusions of the fixture base.

5. A concealed mounting arrangement comprising;

a generally rectangular bracket, wherein the bracket has at least one aperture through which the bracket is mountable to a generally flat surface, four walls angled away from the flat surface; and

a fixture base having a inwardly sloped protrusion for engaging a first of said walls, a set screw protrusion for engaging a second of said walls opposite said first wall by way of a set screw, and two opposing stabilizing protrusions for engaging said remaining two walls.

6. The concealed mounting arrangement of claim 5, wherein the bracket is thermoplastic.

7. The concealed mounting arrangement of claim 5, wherein the bracket is notched to receive the stabilizing protrusions of the fixture base.