Patent Publication Number: US-8523126-B2

Title: Wall mountable accessory assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to assemblies for mounting wall mountable accessories such as grab bars, soap dishes and the like on supporting walls. It appears especially well-suited for grab bars mounted on bathing enclosure walls. 
     Grab bars and other bathroom accessories may be mounted at various locations in bathrooms. For example, in a shower stall having a seat, it may be desirable to place a grab bar near the seat so that a user has a fixed support to assist in sitting down or standing up. Similarly, grab bars are often positioned adjacent toilets to facilitate the elderly, the disabled, and others sitting down and standing up from the toilet. 
     However, many known grab bars are relatively heavy metal structures. These heavy metal structures may require complex mounting assemblies to keep them secured to the wall. Both the amount of material needed for the grab bar and a complex mounting system can add cost to the overall assembly. Further, given the complexity of mounting into the wall, once installed many of these grab bars are essentially permanent located, making temporary removal for cleaning or replacement of the bar for ornamental reasons difficult to do. 
     Moreover, grab bars must be precisely mounted on the wall and there is little room for error in the placement of mounting components. This has made installation of such fixtures troublesome, particularly in tight spaces. 
     Similar issues arise when mounting towel bars, soap dishes, and other bathroom accessories along bathroom vertical walls. 
     Hence, there still is a need to develop improved wall mountable accessory assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a wall mountable accessory assembly. It has at least one bracket having a rearward portion mountable to the wall and a frontal portion having a first recess which is forwardly open, the bracket also having a side catch groove structure. The wall mountable accessory also has a projection which has been laterally slid into the catch groove structure and interfit therewith. There is also a screw inserted in the first recess so as to thereby drive a portion of the wall mountable accessory forward and thereby inhibit relative movement between the wall mountable accessory and the bracket. 
     In preferred forms, the wall mountable accessory assembly may be a grab bar assembly. That assembly can have a grab bar with a second recess which is rearwardly open such that the screw is inserted in both recesses simultaneously. At least one or both of the recesses may be threaded. 
     Most preferably for grab bars, towel bars and the like there are at least two such brackets and at least two such screws mounting the wall mountable accessory relative to the wall. For smaller accessories like soap dishes or cup holders, a single bracket may suffice. 
     In other preferred aspects, the catch groove structure is in a form of an annular groove and the projection is in a form of a pair of opposed facing rails running longitudinally along the wall mountable accessory. Also, the wall mountable accessory can have an extruded metallic rail having an essentially hollow, essentially C-shaped, configuration, and the accessory can be longitudinally curved. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides a method of installing a grab bar to a support wall. One obtains a grab bar assembly of the above type. One then slides the rails into the side catch groove structure, and fixes the rails relative to the catch groove structure by inserting the set screw in the recess, thereby driving a portion of the grab bar forward. In one preferred form, the bracket and the grab bar can be slid together before the bracket is mounted to the wall. In another preferred form, the bracket can be attached to the wall before the rails of the grab bar are slid into the catch groove structure of the bracket. 
     Hence, the present invention can be understood to provide improved assemblies for mounting grab bars and other bathroom accessories. The accessories can be linked to their supporting bracket(s) by relative lateral sliding therebetween, and locked in place with a set screw. 
     However, by loosening the set screw the accessory can be removed from the bracket by reversing the lateral movement, or in compact situations (and with sufficient force) by forward movement away from the bracket. 
     This facilitates rough linking of the brackets and the grab bar (or the like) with respect to one another before the brackets are attached to the wall. This permits some lateral play between the components during positioning on the wall. Moreover, the accessory can be removed to facilitate cleaning or decorative replacement, without adversely affecting the support linkage of the brackets to a wall. 
     Also, the grab bars or the like can be made of extruded lightweight aluminum, yet still be sufficiently strong to support someone leaning against them. The bars can be fixed in place with the connection hidden from normal view thereafter. 
     These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of preferred embodiments of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as these preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodiments within the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left, frontal, upper perspective view of a shower stall having a grab bar assembly according to the present invention mounted on a rear wall of the shower stall; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged left, frontal, upper perspective view of a preferred grab bar of the present invention mounted on the  FIG. 1  shower stall; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the  FIG. 2  grab bar; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view according to line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded and rotated, partially fragmented, perspective view of one end of the  FIG. 2  grab bar assembly shown mounted on a wall; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial horizontal cross sectional view, partially fragmented and exploded, showing in enlarged fashion the grab rail in the process of being mounted to a bracket; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , with the parts more fully assembled, and showing more of the structure; 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing a second embodiment where a soap dish is supported by a single bracket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a grab bar assembly  10  according to the present invention is shown installed in a shower stall  12 . The specifics of the stall are not critical. As one example, there can be a shower stall  12  that has a removable seat  14  placed on one side thereof and the grab bar assembly  10  can be mounted nearby on a rear wall  16  of the shower stall  12 . 
     The grab bar assembly  10  can be positioned such that the grab bar assembly  10  serves as support assistance for those sitting down or standing up from the removable seat  14 . Even if the removable seat  14  is removed from the shower stall  12 , the grab bar assembly  10  will be located such that it may provide support assistance to an individual standing upright in the shower stall  12  or entering or exiting the shower stall  12 . 
     In the shower stall  12  shown, the rear wall  16  of the shower stall  12  is a slightly curved surface and the grab bar assembly  10  is also longitudinally curved to match the rear wall  16 . It should be appreciated, however, that the grab bar assembly  10  could be mounted to any wall inside or outside of a shower stall. Further, if the wall to which the grab bar assembly is mounted is planar, then the grab bar assembly may be configured to be straight. 
     Turning next to  FIGS. 2 through 9 , the grab bar assembly  10  includes a pair of brackets  18 , a grab bar  20 , and a set screw  22  for each of the brackets  18  which is inserted between the grab bar  20  and the corresponding bracket  18 . 
     Each of the brackets  18  has a rearward portion  24  and a frontal portion  26 . The rearward portion  24  is mountable to a wall such as the rear wall  16 . In the particular embodiment shown, the bracket  18  can include a disc-shaped flange  28  with two mounting holes  30  on either side of a forwardly-extending neck  32 . The two mounting holes  30  receive fasteners  34  such as nuts and bolts, screws, or the like which can be used to mount the bracket  18  to the rear wall  16 . 
     When mounted, the neck  32  extends forward from the disc-shaped flange  28  to a head  36  proximate the frontal portion  26  of the bracket  18 . The head  36  is connected to the grab bar  20 . The head  36  includes a forwardly-opening recess  38  formed on a forwardly-facing surface  40  of the head  36 . This forwardly-opening recess  38  receives one of the set screws  22  from a generally lateral direction during installation. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , this forwardly-opening recess  38  has the shape of a half-pipe and tapers as it extends inwardly from a periphery  42  of the head  36 . The head  36  further includes a catch groove structure which, in the form shown, is an annular groove  44 . The annular groove  44  is in a plane essentially perpendicular to the direction of neck extension and is slightly rearwardly offset from the forwardly-facing surface  40  in which the forwardly-opening recess  38  is formed. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 9 , the grab bar  20  is a curved extrusion, preferably comprising aluminum, having an essentially hollow C-shaped cross section. The cross section of the grab bar  20  includes a generally elliptical or oval shaped portion  46  with a rearward mating portion  48  formed in the convex side of the grab bar  20 . The rearward mating portion  48  is recessed into the grab bar  20  and is shaped so as to receive the heads  36  of the brackets  18 . The rearward mating portion  48  runs the length of the grab bar  20  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , and is typically hidden from the plain view of the user when the grab bar assembly  10  is mounted in the shower stall  12 . 
     The rearward mating portion  48  includes a pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  or projections. The pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  are formed on the outer side of the extrusion of the grab bar  20  and run longitudinally along the grab bar  20 . This pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  are spaced so as to interfit in the annular groove  44  of the head  36  of the bracket  18 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , between the pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50 , the rearward mating portion  48  also includes a rearwardly-facing surface  52  with a rearwardly-opening recess  54  formed longitudinally therein. This rearwardly-opening recess  54  has, as the forwardly-opening recess  38  of the bracket  18 , a half pipe shape, albeit an axially bowed half pipe shape. When aligned with the forwardly-opening recess  38 , the rearwardly-opening recess  54  forms the second half of the hole for receiving the set screw  22 . 
     The inside of the extrusion of the grab bar  20  also includes two longitudinally extending ridges  58  which may be used to help wedge and thereby retain an end cap  60  in position at the hollow ends of the grab bar  20 . When attached, the end cap  60  helps to obscure the view of the set screw  22  as well as the rearward mating portion  48  from the side. 
     The set screw  22  includes a threaded body  62  and a head  64  which may receive a screw driver or the like for tightening or loosening the set screw  22 . The set screw  22  is inserted between the forwardly-opening recess  38  and the rearwardly-opening recess  54 . As the forwardly-opening recess  38  is tapered, as the set screw  22  is inserted, the set screw  22  moves the grab bar  20  forward relative to the bracket  18 . By driving the grab bar  20  forward, the projections or pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  of the grab bar  20  are pushed into the side wall of catch groove structure (e.g., the annular groove  44 ). 
     As the projections of the grab bar  20  and the catch groove structure of the bracket  18  are pushed against one another, this effectively locks the bracket  18  relative to the grab bar  20 . The increased force between the two components increases lateral resistance to movement by increasing normal force, which in turn increases the frictional force which would need to be overcome in order to slide the grab bar  20  laterally. 
     It is contemplated that in some forms, during the insertion of the set screw  22 , the pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  of the grab bar  20  may deflect inward as the set screw  22  drives the rearwardly-opening recess  54  toward the center of the extrusion. This deflection may result in an additional retaining or clamping force being applied by the pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  to the annular groove  44  of the bracket  18 . 
     While the set screw  22  has a threaded body  62 , it is contemplated that neither, one, or both of the forwardly-opening recess  38  and the rearwardly-opening recess  54  may have mating threads. Depending on the particular materials selected for the bracket  18  and the grab bar  20 , the body  62  of the set screw  22  may dig into or deform one or more of the surfaces in a manner sufficient to wedge the set screw  22  between the bracket  18  and the grab bar  20 , thereby providing sufficient frictional force for mounting. If both of the bracket  18  and the grab bar  20  are sufficiently rigid that the set screw  22  would not deform either of the recesses  38  and  54 , then at least one of the recesses  38  and  54  would need to have a set of threads formed therein to receive the set screw  22 . 
     The grab bar assembly  10  may be installed according to the method now described. As shown best in  FIG. 5 , the heads  36  of one or more brackets  18  are laterally interfit with the rearward mating portion  48  of the grab bar  20 . In this regard, the pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  on the grab bar  20  are laterally slid into the annular groove  44  of bracket  18 . 
     Before the set screw  22  is tightened in place, the brackets  18  are still laterally slideably moveable within the rearward mating portion  48  of the grab bar  20 . Once the brackets  18  have been moved to the desired position along the grab bar  20  and the forwardly-facing recess  38  has been rotationally aligned with the rearwardly-facing recess  54 , then the set screw  22  is tightened between the bracket  18  and the grab bar  20  at the recesses  38  and  54 . As the set screw  22  is tightened, the set screw  22  pushes or wedges the grab bar  20  away from the bracket  18  as is best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     As the set screw  22  is tightened, the force with which the pair of opposed inwardly facing rails  50  is pressed against the walls of the annular groove  44  is increased, thereby increasing the frictional resistance to lateral sliding of the brackets  18  along the grab bar  20 . This essentially locks the grab bar  20  to the brackets  18 . Of course, the set screw  22  might be loosened thereafter to allow removal of the grab bar  20  to facilitate cleaning behind the grab bar  20 , or to permit replacement with a differently decorated bar. 
     As the rearward mating portion  48  extends the length of the grab bar  20 , this provides space to insert a screwdriver or the like to tighten the set screw  22 . Once the set screw  22  is in place, the end cap  60  may be inserted into the extruded open end of the grab bar  20 , thereby capping the opening and concealing the channel that serves as the rearward mating portion  48 . 
     Advantageously, this construction allows for rough placement of the components relative to one another prior to affixing the brackets to the wall. This permits installation in relatively tight positions. 
     It should further be appreciated that while two brackets  18  are shown as being used to mount a grab bar  20 , that more or less brackets may be used to mount a selected wall mountable accessory to a wall. For example, in some cases it may be desirable, either for aesthetics or for structural support, to have three or more brackets. Likewise, a single bracket may be sufficient to mount some types of accessories to a wall. 
     As one example,  FIG. 10  depicts a soap dish accessory  66  mounted to a wall  16  using an analogous construction, albeit using only one bracket  18 . The soap dish accessory  66  has a basin part  68  with a rear mounting portion  70  attached thereto. This mounting portion  70  has a structure much like the portion of the grip rail depicted in  FIG. 6 , apart from the linkage to the dish. 
     Thus, there is a projection that is slid into a catch groove structure of the bracket, and again, a set screw  22  that is inserted between two recesses of the bracket  18  and the mounting portion  70  to wedge them apart, thereby mounting them with respect to one another. Instead of a soap dish, a wide variety of other bathroom accessories could be mounted in this fashion (e.g. tumbler holder, robe hook, towel ring, etc.). 
     In sum, the present invention provides a wall mountable accessory assembly having a variety of highly desirable features. The bracket and accessory are easily and quickly connected to one another. The assembly provides for simple, intuitive installation even in tight or confined areas. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it should be appreciated that various other modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention should not be limited to just the described embodiments. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     The invention provides improved wall mountable accessory assemblies and methods of mounting them to bathroom or other walls.