Abstract:
Wall mounting assemblies and methods are disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket that has two frame members coupled at a hinge. Each frame member has a hook for engaging a recess or slot on a panel. The assembly further includes a panel that has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacent panels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. Each panel has two slots for receiving the bracket. Bending the two frame members on the bracket causes the bracket&#39;s hooks to lock into the slots on the panel.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application No. 13/683,835 filed Nov. 21, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/563424 filed on Nov. 23, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention is wall mounting devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0004]    Various wall mounting devices for handing and storing items on a wall are known. US 2009/0134290 to Begic, for example, describes a slatwall mounting system that includes a wall mountable rail member (e.g., panel) and a bracket member. The rail member has slots for receiving the bracket member. The bracket member has a hook portion for hanging items thereon, and a cam for securely engaging a slot on the rail member. 
         [0005]    As another example, US 2010/0122505 to Jakiel describes a slatwall system for mounting on a wall. The system comprises a plurality of wall panels that interlock with one another via tongue and groove attachments. The panels also have slots for engaging brackets. 
         [0006]    Other examples of wall mounting devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,784, U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,957, U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,043, AU2008200650, and CN201515932U. 
         [0007]    These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
         [0008]    While wall mounting devices and methods are generally known, there remains a need to improve such devices and methods in order to optimize space utilization and reduce the number of installation steps. There also remains a need to simplify the installation process so that one person can easily perform the installation. 
         [0009]    Thus, there is still a need for improved wall mounting devices and methods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods in which a wall mounting assembly includes a plurality of brackets and a plurality of panels. Each bracket is made of two frame members coupled at a hinge. The frame members have a hook for engaging a recess or slot on a panel. The bracket also has an elongated member extending from the frames for hanging or fastening items to a wall. 
         [0011]    Each panel has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacent panels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. In one aspect of some embodiments, the slots near the edges of the panel are angled. Each panel also has two T-slots for receiving the hooks of the brackets. The brackets can lock onto the t-slots by rotating (e.g., bending) the two frame members on the bracket, which causes the hooks to lock into the slots on the panel. 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bracket for a wall mounting assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 2  in a first (engaging) position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 2  in a second (disengaging) position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 2  in a second (disengaging) position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a plurality of panels for a wall mounting assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7   a  is a side view of a plurality of panels for a wall mounting assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7   b  is a close-up side view of a first panel engaged with a second panel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7   c  is a close-up side view of a first panel disengaged with a second panel. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly being used to store items. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bracket and two bracket covers. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the bracket and bracket covers of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bracket with a rotatable hook. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed. 
         [0027]    One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide many advantageous technical effects including improved methods and devices for mounting components to walls. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly  100 . Assembly  100  includes a panel  110  and a plurality of brackets  120 ,  130 , and  140 . Brackets  120 ,  130 , and  140  removably and repositionably engage slots on panel  110 . Assembly  100  is useful for storing items on a wall. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a bracket  200 . Bracket  200  has a first frame member  210  and a second frame member  220  that are rotatably coupled via hinge  230 . First frame member  210  has an L-shaped hook  240  for engaging a recess or slot. Bracket  200  also has an elongated member  260  extending therefrom, for hanging an item. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the bracket  200 . This view reveals an L-shaped hook  250  on second frame member  220 .  FIG. 3  shows bracket  200  in a first position, also referred to as an engaging position. In the engaging position, hooks  240  and  250  are downward and upward facing, respectively, and can be used to grab two recesses (e.g., slots) on a wall or panel. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of bracket  200 .  FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3  except that second frame member  220  has been rotated with respect to first frame member  210 , about hinge  230 .  FIG. 4  shows bracket  200  in a second position, also referred to as a disengaging position. In the disengaging position, hook  250  is angled outward so that a recess can be disengaged. Second frame member  220  has an angled handle portion  221  that allows a user to grip and rotate second frame member  220 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the back side of bracket  200  in the disengaging position. First frame member  210  has an opening  211  through which hook  250  is disposed. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a plurality of disengaged panels  600  for a wall mounting assembly. Panel  610  and panel  620  engage one another to form a wall mountable panel for attaching brackets. Trim panels  630 ,  640 ,  650 , and  660  provide a border around panels  610  and  620 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7   a  shows a side view of a plurality of panels  700  for a wall mounting assembly. Panels  700  include a first panel  710  engaged with a second panel  720 . Panel  710  and panel  720  are substantially identical. Trim panels  740  and  760  engage panels  720  and  710  at their lower and upper edges, respectively. 
         [0035]    First panel  710  has first major surface (i.e., a front surface) and a second major surface (i.e., a back surface). On the first major surface is a first t-shaped slot  711  and a second t-shaped slot  712  running parallel to one another along the length of panel  710 . Slots  711  and  712  are separated by distance  713 . Panel  710  has a height  714 . The height of panel  710  is extended by a distance  715  when trim panel  760  is engaged with panel  710 . Trim panel  760  has a height of  716 . 
         [0036]    The first and second major surfaces of panel  710  are joined by a first edge (i.e., a top edge) and a second edge (i.e., a bottom edge), each having an acute angle (e.g., acute angle  719 ). 
         [0037]    The first major surface of first panel  710  has a first angled slot  717  near the second edge of panel  710 . Second major surface of panel  710  has a second angled slot  718  near the first edge of panel  710 . The top edge of panel  710  is sized and dimensioned to engage the lower angled slot on an adjacent panel, whereas the bottom edge is sized and dimensioned to engage the upper angled slot on an adjacent panel. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7   b  shows a close-up side view of the engagement of the lower edge of first panel  710  with the upper edge of second panel  720 . When the two edges are engaged, there is a hollow channel  721  disposed therebetween due to the angle of angled edge  719  and the shape of first angled slot  717 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7   c  shows a close-up side view of first panel  710  disengaged with trim panel  760 . Engagement is achieved by overlaping the edge of panel  710  with the edge of panel  760 , and pushing panel  710  forward and downward. Panel  710  can remain substantially parallel with panel  760  during the engagement. The angled configurations of the slots and edges on the panels eliminate the need to tilt the panels to achieve an engagement. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly  800  being used to store items, such as container  810 . Assembly  800  includes a plurality of panels and brackets (e.g., bracket  820  and panels  830 ). 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a bracket  900  and two bracket covers  910  and  920 . Covers  910  and  920  can be sized, dimensioned, colored, and otherwise configured to resemble the back of a smart phone or some other consumer product. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of bracket  900 . Covers  910  and  920  removably couple with bracket  900  by slidably engaging the edges of bracket  900 . Bracket  900  has two holes  930  for removably receiving elongated member  940 . Holes  930  can have threads, snap-fitting protrusions, or some other means for removably securing elongated member  940  in place. In this manner, bracket  900  can be exchangeably used with different configurations of elongated members, hangers, shelving, and the like. 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a bracket  1100  that has a rotatable hook  1110 . Hook  1110  can rotate outward as shown by arrow  1120 . 
         [0044]    As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0045]    The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary. 
         [0046]    All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0047]    Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims. 
         [0048]    As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. 
         [0049]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.