Abstract:
An adjustable mount assembly has a mounting bracket constructed and arranged to be attached to a sub-surface of a wall covered with siding material. A cover member of the assembly attaches telescopically to the mounting bracket via a shuttle. A multi-positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the mounting bracket and the shuttle and a single positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the shuttle and the cover member.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This non-provisional patent application claims priority to and all advantages of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/676,386 that was filed on Apr. 29, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an adjustable mount assembly for mounting to a wall, and more particularly to a telescoping mount assembly having a front cover member that is removable and telescopically adjustable between various positions for accommodating various thicknesses of building material on the wall.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Especially common in residential building structures, exterior walls are know to be covered with a siding material typically made of aluminum or plastic. Often, various exterior appendages of the home such as drying vents, exterior light fixtures and water spigots must be trimmed-out for aesthetic reasons. This is commonly done with two piece trim kits or mounting assemblies having a mounting bracket with a flange that is nail to the wall beneath the siding and a cover member that snap fits to the mounting bracket.  
         [0004]     During construction of the building, once the mounting bracket is secured to the wall, the siding material is installed over the wall and typically abutted against the mounting bracket. After installation of siding, the cover member is snap fitted in an axial direction to the mounting bracket. A trim piece of the cover member projects radially outward to cover the abutment of the siding edges to the mounting bracket.  
         [0005]     Although the trim piece is orientated over or external from the siding, ideally it is as flush with the siding for a pleasing appearance. Unfortunately, different sidings have different thicknesses hence achieving a flush appearance requires a different mounting assembly for each thickness of siding. Because the mounting assemblies are typically made of injection molded plastic, multiple injection molds would be required to produce an array of mounting assemblies (i.e. one for each siding thickness). Unfortunately, manufacturing of such an array is expensive and further complicates stocking of the product.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND AD ADVANTAGES  
       [0006]     An adjustable mount assembly has a mounting bracket constructed and arranged to be attached to a sub-surface of a wall covered with siding material. A cover member of the assembly attaches telescopically to the mounting bracket via a shuttle. A multi-positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the mounting bracket and the shuttle and a single positioning coupling feature is preferably carried between the shuttle and the cover member.  
         [0007]     Features and advantages of the present invention include an adjustable mounting assembly capable of being used over a wide range of siding thicknesses. Further advantages include a robust design, reduction in overall manufacturing costs, improved and more efficient service for the client, and simplification in stocking of trim kits and the like. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable mounting assembly embodying the present invention mounted to a sub-surface of a wall covered with siding;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable mounting assembly;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the adjustable mounting assembly; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the adjustable mounting assembly mounted to a sub-surface of a wall.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an adjustable mount assembly  22  of the present invention is mounted to an exterior sub-surface  21  of a wall  23 . The assembly  22  is helpful for accommodating various thicknesses of building material or siding  20  disposed on the wall  23 . The assembly  22  is used for electrical outlets, light fixtures, etc., and the like.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the assembly  22  includes a mounting bracket  24  that is integrally formed, a front cover member  26 , and a shuttle or connector  28  for connecting the cover member  26  and the mounting bracket  24 . The mounting bracket  24  has a nailing flange  30  disposed perpendicular and extending circumferentially about an axis  32 . The flange  30  defines in-part an aperture  34 . The mounting bracket  24  is secured to the wall  23  by any means including but not limited to the use of fasteners and adhesives. The aperture  34  allows members running within the wall  23  to extend through the wall  23 . Such members may include but are not limited to piping, electrical cable, and duct work.  
         [0015]     The front cover member  26  is disposed in parallel relation to the mounting bracket  24 , the front cover member  26  covers the aperture  32 . The front cover member  26  shown comprises a vent hood  36 , by example and not meant to be limiting, for a dryer exhaust but for those skilled in the art it is known that the front cover member  26  does not require a vent hood  36 . For example, the front cover member  26  could be planar, or the like.  
         [0016]     The shuttle  28  connects the mounting bracket  24  and the front cover member  26  in the parallel relationship at various distances longitudinally along the axis  32 . The shuttle  28  allows the distance to be adjustable. The shuttle  28  allows for convenient removal and/or replacement of the front cover member  26 . In order to allow such a change, the shuttle  28  including a plurality of sidewalls  38 , which defines an axially extending cavity  37 , possesses a smaller, external perimeter measurement than the internal surface  54  measurement of the mounting bracket  24  such that the shuttle  28  snap-fit engages the mounting bracket  24  via a multi-positioning coupling feature  39 . The shuttle  28  also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves or ribs  40 , one rib  40  is centrally located on each sidewall  38  near the bottom of the sidewall  38 . The ribs  40  of the coupling feature  39  are designed to align with corresponding grooves  48 ,  50  and  52  of the coupling feature  39  located on an inner surface  54  of sidewalls or circumferentially continuous collar  55  of the mounting bracket  24 , even though only one of the grooves  48 ,  50  and  52  on the inner surface  54  of each sidewall of the mounting bracket  24  shall be used at any particular time. The grooves  40  engage and lock the shuttle  28  to the mounting bracket  24 . The shuttle  28  further includes a circumferentially continuous peripheral lip  42  that extends beyond the sidewalls  38 . On the inner surface  44  of the shuttle  28  is a stop  46  for limiting the distance that the front cover member  26  can travel when it snap-fit engages the shuttle  28 .  
         [0017]     The inner surface  54  of the mounting bracket  24  has grooves  48 ,  50  and  52 , located in vertical, parallel alignment on the center of each sidewall  54  of the inner surface  56  of the mounting bracket  24 . The grooves  48 ,  50  and  52  cooperate with the grooves  40  on the shuttle  28  to allow the assembly  20  to be laterally adjustable in relation to the axis  32 .  
         [0018]     The front cover member  26  includes a plurality of sidewalls or circumferentially continuous sleeve  58  that possess a smaller external perimeter measurement than the inner surface  44  measurement of the shuttle  28 . The continuous sleeve  58  generally defines an axially extending hole  57  in the member  26  that communicates with the cavity  37 . This construction permits snap-fit engagement of the front cover member  26  and the shuttle  28  via a single-positioning coupling feature  59 . The front cover member  26  supports a centrally located and radially projecting tab or groove  60  of the coupling feature  59  at the bottom of each sidewall  58 . The tab  60  cooperates with the stop  46  of the feature  59  carried by the shuttle  28 . When the front cover member  26  is inserted into the shuttle  28 , the tabs  60  carried by the front cover member  26  are limited from further movement once the tabs  60  engage the stop  46  of the shuttle. This construction signals to the user of the assembly  20  that the front cover member  26  is snap-fit engaged with the shuttle  28 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of the assembly  22 ′ is shown. In this embodiment of the assembly  22 ′, the mounting bracket  24 ′ is not integrally formed as shown in the previous embodiment of the assembly  22 ′. The mounting bracket  24 ′ is used in the same manner as the previous discussed mounting bracket  24  but the construction is different. Particularly, the mounting bracket  24 ′ includes a first portion  62  and a second portion  70 . The first portion  62  has a plurality of interconnecting sidewalls  64 , or interconnecting collar segments, that resemble the shape of a letter “U” when the first portion  62  and the second portion  70  are not connected. Slots  66  are formed on the sidewalls  64  that define open end connection locations of the U-shaped first portion  62 . The slots  66  are constructed to receive protruding projections  68  formed on the sidewalls  64  that define open end connection locations of the U-shaped second portion  70 . The first portion  62  also includes four parallel aligned apertures  72  in a first segment  73  of the flange  30 ′, more particularly, two apertures  72  are parallel aligned and located on each side of the first segment  73  adjacent the slots  66  formed on the sidewalls  64 . The apertures  72  are formed to mate with two parallel aligned pins  76  located on each side of a second segment  75  of the flange  30 ′ adjacent the protruding projections  68  formed on the sidewalls  64  of the second portion  70 .  
         [0020]     Assembly of the mounting bracket  24 ′ requires that the protruding projections  68  of the second portion  70  be inserted in the slots  66  of the first portion  62 . Furthermore, assembly of the mounting bracket  24 ′ requires that the pins  76  of the second portion  70  be inserted in the apertures  72  of the first portion  62 . This construction interlocks the first portion  62  and the second portion  76  to form the mounting bracket  24 ′. As previously asserted, the mounting bracket  24 ′ includes grooves  48 ′,  50 ′ and  52 ′ on the inner surface  54 ′ that are in vertical, parallel alignment. The grooves  48 ′,  50 ′ and  52 ′ cooperate with the rib  40 ′ on the shuttle  28 ′ to allow the assembly  22 ′ to be laterally adjustable in relation to the axis  32 ′. The shuttle  28 ′ in this embodiment is constructed and operates in the same manner as the shuttle  28  in the previous embodiment.  
         [0021]     The front cover member  26 ′ used in this embodiment of the assembly  22  connects to the shuttle  28 ′ in the same manner as previously asserted. The front cover member  26 ′ shown in this embodiment lacks the vent hood  36  shown in the previous embodiment of the assembly  22 . The omission of the vent hood  36  was shown for example only and not meant to be limiting.  
         [0022]     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that reference numerals are utilized merely for convenience and are not to be limiting in any way, and that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.