TOWEL RING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring portion is mounted to the base to support a towel. The first towel ring portion has a radius. A second towel ring portion is pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel. The second towel ring portion has a radius that is generally equivalent to the first towel ring portion radius. The first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate to towel ring assemblies.

BACKGROUND

A towel ring is disclosed in FIG. 5 of Edwards et al. US Patent Application Publication No. US 2015/0014505 A1.

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment, a towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring is mounted to the base to support a towel. A second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel.

According to at least another embodiment, a towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring portion is mounted to the base to support a towel. A second towel ring portion is pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel. The first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.

According to at least another embodiment, a towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring is mounted to the base to support a towel. The first towel ring has a radius. A second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel. The second towel ring has a radius that is generally equivalent to the first towel ring radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towel ring assembly according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the towel ring assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of the towel ring assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the towel ring assembly of FIG. 1, illustrated in an expanded position; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the towel ring assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Towel ring assemblies are hardware assemblies that are mounted to upright support surfaces, such as a wall, to support towels. Towel ring assemblies are typically mounted to the support surface adjacent a sink, tub or shower for to support a towel for ready access near an appropriate fixture. The support surfaces for mounting these assemblies may be limited due to the space permitted in an applicable bathroom, kitchen or the like. The support surfaces may be further limited due to wall mounted accessories, such as mirrors and lighting, fixtures and appliances.

A towel ring assembly 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The towel ring assembly 10 is illustrated in a collapsed position in FIGS. 1-3 for supporting a single article. The towel ring assembly 10 is illustrated in an expanded position in FIG. 4 for supporting multiple articles such as two towels.

The towel ring assembly 10 includes a post 12 with a base 14. The base 14 cooperates with hardware to mount and support the towel ring assembly 10 upon an upright support surface such as a wall. FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the towel ring assembly 10. The towel ring assembly 10 may include a hardware mounting plate 16, which may be fastened to the wall by a plurality of fasteners, such as threaded fasteners 18. The towel ring assembly 10 may also include a plurality of drywall anchors 20 to receive the fasteners 18 and secure the mounting plate 16 to drywall. Once the mounting plate 16 is fastened to the wall, the base 14 can be assembled upon the mounting plate 16 and retained to the mounting plate 16 by a set screw 22 as is known in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the towel ring assembly 10 includes a pair of towel ring portions 24, 26. The first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26 cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring 24, 26 as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 to support a single article. The first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portions 26 are also expandable, as shown in FIG. 4, to support multiple articles, such as two towels. In the collapsed manner, the towel ring assembly 10 provides an appearance of a conventional towel ring assembly. In the expanded position of FIGS. 4, the towel ring assembly 10 provides an ornamental appearance similar to the collapsed position that is compact and supports multiple towels. By providing these options, a consumer may alter the quantity of towels without having an open ring when only one towel is supported. This flexibility also permits the addition and subtraction of towels based on occupants, visitors, seasonal decorations without having to add an additional towel ring.

The towel ring assembly 10 includes a towel ring receptacle 28 mounted to the end of the post 12 to space the towel ring portions 24, 26 away from the wall. Referring again to FIG. 5, a distal end 30 of the post is shaped to match a curvature of the receptacle 28. Additionally a socket 32 is formed in the post distal end 30 to receive a plug 34 on the receptacle 28 to seat the receptacle 28 upon the post 12. A fastener 36 may extend through the distal end 30 of the post 12 to fasten the receptacle 28 to the post 12.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the first towel ring portion 24 has a proximal end 38 that is mounted to the receptacle 28. The first towel ring portion 24 may be stationary relative to the receptacle 28, and consequently stationary relative to the base 14 and the wall. In the depicted embodiment, the first towel ring portion 24 and the receptacle 28 are formed integrally. The first towel ring portion 24 extends from the receptacle 28 in a first circumferential direction, which is counter-clockwise in the Figures.

Referring now to all of the Figures, a proximal end 40 of the second towel ring portion 26 is received within the receptacle 28 to extend away from the receptacle 28 in an opposed circumferential direction (counter-clockwise) to that of the first towel ring portion 24. The second towel ring portion 26 is pivotally connected to the receptacle 28 to pivot relative to the base 14 up to approximately twenty degrees away from the first towel ring portion 24. Referring now to FIG. 5, a bushing 42 is provided in the receptacle 28 to receive the second towel ring portion proximal end 40 to reduce friction therebetween. Another set screw 44 may be provided to extend through the receptacle 28 to engage the bushing 42 and limit rotation of the bushing 42 and the second towel ring portion 26. For example, the set screw 44 may be tightened to limit rotation of the second towel ring portion 26 absent a predetermined external force to permit manual adjustment of the second towel ring portion 26. Alternatively, the set screw 44 may be tightened to apply a force upon the bushing 42 and the second towel ring portion 26 sufficient to lock the second towel ring portion 26 relative to the first towel ring portion 24. According to another alternative, a spring-loaded pin may be provided to permit the user to lock the second towel ring portion 26 relative to the first towel ring portion 24.

Referring again to all 5 of the Figures, the first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26 have a generally equivalent radius and partially overlap each other to collectively provide an entire circle and provide an ornamental appearance of a continuous ring. The proximal ends 38, 40 of the first and second towel ring portions 24 and 26 are aligned at the receptacle 28. In other words, a pivot axis 46 (FIG. 5) of the second towel ring portion 26 is tangential to the first towel ring portion 24, and also tangential to the second towel ring portion 26. The pivot axis 46 is oriented centrally relative to, and intersecting the proximal ends 38, 40 of the first and second towel ring portions 24 and 26.

Each of the first and second towel ring portions 24, 26 has a generally round cross section with a central axis that is tangential with the pivot axis 46 of the second towel ring portion 26. The round cross sections of the first and second towel ring portions 24, 26 combine to collectively provide a round cross section for the continuous towel ring. Both towel ring portions 24, 26 extend approximately 270 degrees from the receptacle 28 so that each towel ring portion 24, 26 provides a lower region to support the corresponding towel. This arcuate length of each towel ring portion 24, 26 overlaps the other by approximately 180 degrees.

In order to maintain a continuous cross section, each of the towel ring portions 24, 26 has a recess 48, 50 respectively to receive the other towel ring portion 24, 26. See FIGS. 3-5. The recesses 48, 50 are formed so that each of the first and second towel ring portions 24, 26 has a half-circle cross section in the region of overlap so that both half-circles combine for a continuous round cross section of the continuous towel ring. The recess 48 of the first towel ring portion 24 has a flat forward face 52 to receive a flat rearward face 54 of the pivotal second towel ring portion 26.

The first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26 may be formed from a metal alloy. An elastomeric pad 56 may be mounted upon the flat forward face 52 to damp contact between the first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26.

The recess 48 of the first towel ring portion 24 extends from a distal end 58 (FIGS. 3-5) of the first towel ring portion 24 to an end of the overlap region at an abutment surface 60 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5). Likewise, the recess 50 of the second towel ring portion 26 extends from a distal end 62 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) of the second towel ring portion 26 to an end of the overlap region at an abutment surface 64 (FIG. 3). The distal end 58 of the first towel ring portion 24 fits along the abutment surface 64 of the second towel ring portion 26; and the distal end 62 of the second towel ring portion 26 fits along the abutment surface 60 of the first towel ring portion 24. The towel ring portions 24, 26 collapse to provide a continuous towel ring in both ornamental look and function.

While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A towel ring assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;

a first towel ring mounted to the base to support a towel wherein the first towel ring is stationary and not pivotal relative to the base; and

a second towel ring pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel.

2. (canceled)

3. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base about an axis that is tangential to the second towel ring.

4. The towel ring assembly of claim 3 wherein the first towel ring intersects a pivot axis of the second towel ring.

5. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the second towel ring has a round cross section; and

wherein the second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base about a pivot axis that is tangential to a central axis of the second towel ring cross section.

6. The towel ring assembly of claim 5 wherein the first towel ring has a round cross section; and

wherein the first towel ring is mounted to the base so that a central axis of the first towel ring cross section is tangential with the central axis of the second towel ring.

7. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bushing in engagement with the base and the second towel ring.

8. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting plate;

a fastener to fasten the mounting plate to the base; and

a fastener assembly to fasten the mounting plate to the support surface.

9. A towel ring assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;

a first towel ring portion mounted to the base to support a towel, wherein the first towel ring is not pivotal relative to the base; and

a second towel ring portion pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel, wherein the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.

10. The towel ring assembly of claim 9 wherein the first towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a first circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring; and

wherein the second towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a second circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring that is opposite of the first circumferential direction.

11. The towel ring assembly of claim 10 wherein the second towel ring portion partially overlaps the first towel ring portion.

12. The towel ring assembly of claim 11 further comprising an elastomeric bumper mounted on one of the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion and oriented to engage the other of the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion to minimize contact therebetween.

13. The towel ring assembly of claim 11 wherein the continuous towel ring has a consistent cross section; and wherein the first towel ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of overlap with the second towel ring portion to receive the second towel ring portion and collectively provide the consistent cross section of the continuous towel ring.

14. The towel ring assembly of claim 13 wherein the second towel ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of overlap with the first towel ring portion to engage the first towel ring portion and collectively provide the consistent cross section of the continuous towel ring.

15. The towel ring assembly of claim 14 wherein the cross section of the continuous towel ring is round; and

wherein the reduced cross section of the first towel ring portion is a half-circle with a flat forward face along the first towel ring portion for receipt of the second towel ring portion.

16. The towel ring assembly of claim 15 wherein the reduced cross section of the second towel ring portion is a half-circle with a flat rearward face along the second towel ring portion for receipt upon the first towel ring portion.

17. The towel ring assembly of claim 16 wherein the reduced cross section of the first towel ring portion extends along the region of overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of overlap and an abutment surface at the distal end of the first towel ring portion.

18. The towel ring assembly of claim 17 wherein the reduced cross section of the second towel ring portion extends along the region of overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of overlap to receive the abutment surface of the distal end of the second towel ring portion, and an abutment surface at the distal end of the second towel ring portion to be received within the abutment recess of the first towel ring portion.

19. The towel ring assembly of claim 9 wherein the first towel ring portion has a radius; and

wherein the second towel ring portion has a radius equivalent to the first towel ring portion radius.

20. A towel ring assembly comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;

a first towel ring mounted to the base to support a towel, the first towel ring having a radius; and

a second towel ring pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel, the second towel ring having a radius that is equivalent to the first towel ring radius, wherein the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring;

wherein the first towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a first circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring;

wherein the second towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a second circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring that is opposite of the first circumferential and direction;

wherein the second towel ring portion partially overlaps the first towel ring portion by approximately 180 degrees; and wherein the first towel ring portion extends from the base approximately 270 degrees only, and wherein the second towel ring portion extends from the base approximately 270 degrees only.

21. (canceled)

22. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the first towel ring is formed integrally with the base.