Device for supporting objects

Abstract

A device for supporting a bathroom object having a main element with a first end attachable to a bathroom object and a second end attachable to a supporting surface and provided with a through-going opening through which a fastener can pass to engage in the supporting surface, and an additional element having a first side provided with an adhesive layer attachable to the supporting surface and a second opposite side into which a fastening element can be screwed, so that without the additional element the second end of the main element is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener, while with the additional element, the second end is connected by the fastener to the additional element and the additional element is connected to the supporting surface by the adhesive.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for supporting objects.

Devices of this type, including main elements with a first end attachable to a bathroom object and a second end attachable to a supporting surface to attach the object to the supporting surface are known.

It is believed that the existing devices can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting bathroom objects which is a further improvement of existing devices of this type.

In keeping with these objects one feature of the present invention resides in a device for supporting a bathroom object, comprising a main element having a first end attachable to a bathroom object and a second end attachable to a supporting surface to attach the object by said attaching element to the supporting surface, said second end being provided with a through-going opening through which a fastener can pass to engage in the supporting surface and to connect the second end to the supporting surface; and an additional element having a first side provided with an adhesive layer attachable to the supporting surface and a second opposite side into which the fastening element can be screwed to extend only over a part of a thickness of said additional element, so that without said additional element said second end of said main element is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener, while with said additional element interposed between said second end and the supporting surface, said second end is connected by a fastener to the additional element and said additional element is connected to the supporting surface by said adhesive.

A further feature of the present invention is that said additional element has a protruded portion facing said second end and engageable by said fastener.

A further feature of the present invention is that said second end has a hollow projection for guiding said fastener.

A further feature of the present invention is that a cover is attachable to said second end at a side facing away from said additional element.

A further feature of the present invention is that said cover has a projection cooperating with said hollow projection of said second end to hold said cover on said second end.

A further feature of the present invention is that the second end has a receptacle for fittingly receiving the cover.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a back view and a side view of a main element of the inventive device for supporting a bathroom object; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing all components of the inventive device for supporting a bathroom object, before assembling the device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device for supporting a bathroom object has a main element which is identified with reference numeral 1 and has a first end 2, to which a bathroom object can be attached for example by tight fitting of the bathroom object onto the main element 1 or by insertion into an opening of the first end.

The main element 1 so has a second end 3 attachable to a supporting surface 4, for example to a wall. The second end 3 has a throughgoing opening 5, which can be formed for example in a sleeve shaped projection 6 through which a fastener, for example a screw 7 can pass. The inner opening of the projection 6 can be threaded, so that the screw 7 is screwed through it. The opening also can be smooth so that the thread of the screw 7 cuts through the material, for example plastic material, of the projection 6.

In accordance with a first mode of operation of the device, the bathroom object is attached to the end 2 of the main element 1, the main element 1 is pressed by its second end 3 against the supporting surface 4, and the fastener 7 is passed through the opening 5 and screwed into the supporting surface 4, thus supporting the bathroom object on the supporting surface.

A cover 8 covers a pocket 9 in the second end 3 of the main element 1, so as to hide the head of the fastener 7. The cover 8 has a tubular projection 10, which is slotted and thereby expansible and tightly fittable onto the projection 6 of the element 1 to retain the cover 8 on the main element 1.

The device is provided also with an additional element 11 having an adhesive layer 12. The additional element is used when it is not desirable to drive the fastener 7 into the supporting surface 4. The additional element 11 has an opening 13, which can be formed for example in a sleeve-shaped projection 14. The projection 14 is fittable firmly into the opening 5.

In accordance with a second mode of operation, a bathroom object is attached to the end 2 of the main element 1, a fastening element 15, which can be formed as a shorter screw, is passed through the opening 5 and screwed into the opening 13 thus connecting the elongated element 1 and the additional element 11 with one another, and the additional element 11 is then adhesively attached to the supporting face 4, thus adhesively supporting the bathroom object on the supporting surface. The opening 13 can be threaded for screwing the screw 15 into it. It can be also smooth, so that the thread of the screw 15 cuts into the material, for example plastic material, of the projection 14.

The additional element 11 can have a receptacle 16 formed by a peripheral projection 17 of the additional element, so that the second end 3 of the main element 1 can be press-fitted into the receptacle 16 and firmly held in it.

It is to be understood that the opening 13 of the additional element can be formed in it without the projection 14.

With the present invention, therefore, an object can be corrected to the supporting surface selectively, either by a fastener such as a screw, or alternatively by an adhesive, with the use of the inventive device.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in device for supporting bathroom objects, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a bathroom object, comprising a main element for supporting the object on a supporting surface and having a first end attachable to a the bathroom object and a second end attachable to the supporting surface to attach the object by said main element to the supporting surface, said second end of said main element being provided with a through-going opening through which a fastener can pass to engage in the supporting surface and to connect the second end of the main element to the supporting surface; and an additional element for supporting the object on the supporting surface jointly with said main element and having a first side facing away from said main element and provided with an adhesive layer attachable to the supporting surface and a second opposite side facing toward said main element and into which the fastener can be screwed to extend only over a part of a thickness of said additional element, so that without said additional element said second end of said main element is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener and said main element alone supports the object on the supporting surface, while with said additional element interposed between said second end of said main element and the supporting surface, said second end of said main element is connected by the fastener to said additional element and said additional element is connected to the supporting surface by said adhesive layer and said additional element together with said main element support the object on the supporting surface.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional element has a portion facing said second end of said main element and engageable by said fastener.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said main element has a hollow projection provided with said through-going opening.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, further comprising a cover attachable to said second end of said main element at a side facing away from said additional element.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said cover has a projection cooperating with said hollow projection of said second end of said main element to hold said cover on said second end of said main element.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said additional element has a projection insertable into said hollow projection of said second end of said main element and having an opening for the fastener.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional element has a receptacle for fittingly receiving said second end of said main element.

8. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said hollow projection of said main element has an end surface which forms a stop for a head of the fastener.

9. (canceled)

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said main element has a hollow projection provided with said through-going opening, wherein said additional element at a side facing said main element has a projection insertable into said hollow projection of said second end of said main element and having an opening, wherein said fastener includes first and second fastening elements, wherein for connecting said second end of said main element to the supporting surface said first fastening element extends through said through-going opening of said hollow projection of said main element and into the supporting surface, and wherein for connecting said additional element to the supporting surface by said adhesive layer and connecting said main element to said additional element said projection of said additional element is inserted into said hollow projection of said main element and said second fastening element extends through said through-going opening of said hollow projection of said main element and into said opening of said projection of said additional element.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said second fastening element is shorter than said first fastening element.