Abstract:
A hardware mounting bracket is provided with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with hardware supported thereon. A hardware mounting assembly, hardware for mounting to a support surface, and method for mounting hardware are also provided.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Various embodiments relate to hardware to mount to a support surface; hardware mounting assemblies to mount the hardware; hardware mounting brackets; and methods for installing hardware. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Hardware, such as hooks, towel bars, toilet paper roll bars, lighting towel rings, rope hooks, shelving, and the like, are typically mounted to a support surface, such as a wall. The prior art has provided various brackets, assemblies, hardware, and methods for mounting hardware to walls. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to at least one embodiment, a hardware mounting bracket is provided with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with hardware supported thereon. 
         [0004]    According to at least another embodiment, a hardware mounting assembly is provided with a hardware mounting bracket with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with hardware supported thereon. An aperture is formed in the bracket body. A fastener extends through the aperture to fasten the hardware mounting bracket to the support surface. 
         [0005]    According to at least another embodiment, a hardware assembly is provided with a hardware mounting assembly with a hardware mounting bracket with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with hardware supported thereon. An aperture is formed in the bracket body. A fastener extends through the aperture to fasten the hardware mounting bracket to the support surface. A hardware mounting base has a cavity to receive the bracket body, with a first recess formed within the base sized to receive the rigid retainer, and a second recess formed within the base sized to receive the at least one biasing retainer, to mount the hardware base to the hardware mounting assembly and to conceal the hardware mounting assembly. 
         [0006]    According to at least one embodiment, a hardware mounting bracket is provided with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to directly engage hardware supported thereon. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment, a method to mount hardware to a wall, fastens a bracket body to a wall. Hardware is placed upon a first retainer on the bracket body. The hardware is pressed against the bracket body so that at least one elongate biasing retainer on the bracket body is received within a retention slot in the hardware. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a hardware assembly according to an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a base of the hardware assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the hardware assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial section side view of the hardware assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial section perspective view of the hardware assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a fastener of the hardware assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hardware mounting bracket according to another embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the hardware mounting bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a bottom end view of the hardware mounting bracket of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the hardware mounting bracket of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-5 , a hardware assembly  20  is illustrated according to an embodiment. The hardware assembly  20  includes hardware  22  and a hardware mounting assembly  24 . The hardware  22  depicted includes a hook  26  with a post  28  and a base  30 . The hardware mounting assembly  24  is employed for mounting the hardware  22  to a support surface, such as a wall, for example a generally planar wall. Of course, various support surfaces are contemplated. The hook  26  may be mounted to the support surface for hanging a towel, a bathrobe, a clothing hanger or the like. Although the hook  26  is illustrated, various domestic and commercial hardware is contemplated, such as a towel bar, a toilet paper roll bar, towel rings, rope hooks, lighting, shelving, and the like. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the base  30  has a cavity  32  formed therein for receiving and concealing the hardware mounting assembly  24 . The base  30  includes a first receptacle  34  with a recess  36  which is generally tapered in a depth direction, while have a generally consistent cross-section for providing a flat retention feature facing centrally relative to the base  30 . A second receptacle  38  is also provided in the base  30  with a recess  40  that generally untapered with an arcuate profile, spaced apart from, and facing the first recess  36 . The receptacles  34 ,  38  are aligned in a vertical direction of the hardware  22  so for vertical alignment of the hardware  22  once installed. 
         [0021]    Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the hardware mounting assembly  24  includes a bracket  42 . The bracket  42  has a body  44 , which may be formed from a metallic alloy, such as a zinc alloy, for example. The body  44  has a mounting surface  46  for engaging the support surface. The mounting surface  46  may be generally planar for mating with the wall. For the depicted embodiment,  FIG. 3  illustrates a plurality of longitudinal projections or ribs  48  extending from the mounting surface for collectively providing a planar contact through a plurality of line contacts each provided by one of the ribs  48 . In comparison to an area contact, the plurality of line contacts reduces friction for assisting alignment of the bracket  42  during installation. Alternatively, the ribs  48  may be inserted into the wall by pressing the bracket  42  in order to temporarily fasten the bracket  42  to the support surface. Additionally, the ribs  48  provide traction to inhibit rotation of the hardware mounting assembly  24 , and consequently the hardware  22 , relative to the wall. 
         [0022]    With reference again to  FIG. 1 , the hardware mounting assembly  24  may include a fastener assembly  50 , such as an expansion anchor. The anchor  50  may include an expansion sleeve  52  with a flange  54  that rests upon the wall as the sleeve  52  is inserted into the wall. Accordingly, appropriate clearance for the flange  54  is provided within a pocket  56  in the ribs  48  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 1 , the anchor  50  includes a threaded fastener  58  which extends through a round aperture  60  in the bracket body  44 . The threaded fastener  58  fastens the bracket  42  to the sleeve  52  thereby expanding the sleeve  52  and locking the sleeve  52  within the wall. The sleeve  52  may be used for fastening to drywall, tiles, plaster and other materials that support compressive loading. Alternatively, the threaded fastener  58  can be used without the sleeve  52  for fastening the bracket  42  directly to a support surface such as paneling, a stud or the like. 
         [0023]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 , and  3 - 5 , a rectangular aperture  62  may be formed through the body  44 . A tack  64  may also be provided for being received within the aperture  62 . The tack  64  is also illustrated in  FIG. 6  and can be formed from sheet metal with a point  66  for piercing the support surface. The tack  64  also includes a bent portion forming a head  68  for engaging the bracket body  44 . Referring back to  FIGS. 1 , and  3 - 5 , the tack  64  is utilized for fastening the bracket body  44  to the wall. The tack  64  may be utilized for additional fastening in combination with the fastener assembly  50 . The two fastener  50 ,  64  combination inhibits rotation of the hardware mounting assembly  24  and the hardware  22 . Additionally, the tack  64  may be employed for convenient one-handed fastening of the hardware mounting assembly  24  once aligned by manually pressing the head  68  against the bracket body  44 . The tack  64  can secure the body  44  against the wall to free the installer&#39;s hand(s) for subsequent fastening with the fastener assembly  50 . 
         [0024]    The bracket  42  includes a first retainer  70  extending from the bracket body  44 . The first retainer  70  is rigid and is narrower than the body  44 . The first retainer  70  is tapered relative to the body  44  for receipt within the first recess  36  of the base  30 . The tapered engagement urges the base  30  against the wall for firm mounting. The first retainer  70  provides a recess  72  between the first retainer  70  and the support surface for receiving a portion of the first receptacle  34  therein for providing an interlocking engagement. 
         [0025]    A second retainer  74  extends from another end of the bracket body  44 . The second retainer  74  is an elongate leaf spring that is received within the second recess  40 . The leaf spring  74  has a pair of bent enlarged ends  76 , each received in one of a pair of receptacles  78  in the bracket body  44 . The leaf spring  74  is arcuate and forms a profile of an ellipse extending from each lateral side of the body  44  and wrapping about the end of the body  44 . The recesses  36 ,  40  are spaced in the base  30  such that the leaf spring  74  is under compression once assembled to load the base  30  such that the tapered recess  36  is forced against the tapered retainer  70 . Additionally, the leaf spring  74  and the arcuate recess  40  permit a surface contact for distributing the load from the leaf spring  74 . By providing an area contact, as opposed to a point contact of the prior art, a secure connection is provided that is loaded to inhibit rattling or other unwanted movement of the hardware  22  relative to the bracket  42 . Additionally the leaf spring  74  directly contacts the base  30  to eliminate additional components while further preventing any rattling or unwanted movement between interconnected components. According to at least another embodiment, more than one leaf spring  74  is provided, such as two leaf springs  74 . According to another embodiment the second retainer  74  is provided by two leaf springs  74 , which may be offset, coterminous, or otherwise suitably arranged. 
         [0026]    Thus, the hardware mounting assembly  24  of the hardware assembly  20  provides a simplified mounting system. Optionally, the user installs the expansion sleeve  52 . The user aligns the bracket  42  along the wall and presses the tack  64  into the wall. The user fastens the threaded fastener  58  to the wall or the sleeve  52 . The user places the second recess  40  of the hardware  20  upon the leaf spring  74  of the bracket  42 . The user slides the base  30  of the hardware  20  upward, compressing the leaf spring  74  until the first recess  36  is above the first retainer  70 . Once the first retainer  70  aligns with the first recess  36 , the base  30  is pivoted against the wall. The leaf spring  74  expands within the second recess  40  thereby pressing the first recess  36  into engagement with the first retainer  70 . The base  30  conceals the hardware mounting assembly  24  without any exposed fasteners, such as set screws which are viewable in some prior art designs. 
         [0027]    Additionally, the hardware  22  can be uninstalled without use of tools. The user slides the base  30  upward, compressing the leaf spring  74 . The user pivots an upper end of the base  30  away from the first retainer  70 . Then the user slides the base  30  down, expanding the leaf spring  74  and subsequently disengaging the second recess  72  from the leaf spring  74 . Then the user removes the hardware  22  from the mounting assembly  24 . 
         [0028]    The leaf spring  74  provides a continuous load directly across a surface to provide a secure mounting that minimizes unwanted movement. The hardware  22  can be removed and reinstalled multiple times without loss of function. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate a hardware mounting assembly  80  according to another embodiment for use with the hardware  22 . The hardware mounting assembly  80  includes an integrally formed bracket  82 , with both a bracket body  84  and leaf spring  86 . The hardware mounting assembly  80  is formed from a polymeric material that is rigid enough to provide the bracket body  84  with a first narrowed retainer  88 . The hardware mounting assembly  80  is formed from a polymeric material that is also resilient enough to provide the leaf spring  86 . Similar to the prior embodiment, the bracket body  84  includes an array of ribs  90  formed lengthwise on a back surface for alignment and traction. Additionally apertures  92 ,  94  are formed through the bracket body  84  for receipt of fasteners for fastening the bracket  82  to a support surface. The integral polymeric bracket  82  provides a simplified, low cost alternative hardware mounting assembly  80 . 
         [0030]    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.