Patent Publication Number: US-2023151839-A1

Title: Method and system of affixing a plaque to a solid surface

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/116,376, filed Nov. 20, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for affixing a plaque to a solid surface and, more particularly, to a method for securing a bronze memorial plate to a granite shutter panel. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Plaques are commonly secured to the front of a mausoleum crypt, columbarium, or niche to memorialize a deceased person. For instance, a bronze memorial may be attached to the face of a granite shutter. Typically, the plaque or memorial includes two or more threaded studs that are inserted through bores drilled through the granite shutter. The threaded studs extend through the bore beyond the rear surface of the shutter. Washers are placed over the threaded studs and engage the rear surface of the shutter. Nuts are then typically threaded onto the threaded studs to engage the washers and secure the plaque to the face of the granite shutter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a method of affixing a plaque to a solid surface is provided. The method includes the steps of providing at least one opening in a face of the solid surface and inserting a plaque support into the at least one opening. The plaque support includes a body defining a passageway therethrough and having a first end and a second end. The first end has a flange portion. Further, at least one outer tab member extends radially outward toward the first end and at least one inner tab member extends radially inward toward the second end. The outer tab member engages the solid surface upon insertion of the plaque support into the at least one opening. The method further includes the steps of providing the plaque with at least one installation fastener and inserting the at least one installation fastener into the passageway of the plaque support such that the at least one inner tab member engages the at least one installation fastener. 
     The second end may have at least one lead tab extending radially inward. Further, the at least one lead tab may engage at least one installation fastener upon insertion of at least one installation fastener into the passageway of the plaque support. The flange portion of the plaque support may have an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening. The installation fastener may comprise a plurality of threads, such that, when it is inserted into the plaque support, at least one inner tab member engages at least one thread of the plurality of threads. 
     The opening in a face of the solid surface may be provided by drilling the opening. Additionally, the plaque support can be inserted into the opening by applying force to the first end of the plaque support. The plaque support may comprise steel or high carbon spring steel. Additionally, the flange portion of the plaque support may engage a face of the solid surface. 
     The installation fastener may be provided with the plaque by providing an opening on a mounting surface of the plaque, wherein the installation fastener is inserted into the opening. In one embodiment, the installation fastener may comprise a plurality of threads, and the opening on the mounting surface of plaque may comprise a threaded opening, wherein the installation fastener is threadably secured to the opening. 
     In another embodiment, the mounting surface of the plaque may comprise a circumferential lip. The circumferential lip may surround a recessed area, which is defined by the mounting surface. Additionally, a boss may be provided on the recessed area having a threaded opening for threadably securing the installation fastener thereto. 
     In another embodiment, a system for affixing a plaque to a solid surface is provided. The plaque support includes a body defining a passageway therethrough and having a first end and a second end. The first end has a flange portion. Further, at least one outer tab member extends radially outward toward the first end and at least one inner tab member extends radially inward toward the second end. The outer tab member engages the solid surface upon insertion of the plaque support into the at least one opening. The system also includes a plaque and an installation fastener for inserting into the passageway of the plaque support. The installation fastener is secured to the plaque, and the inner tab member engages the installation fastener when the fastener is inserted into the passageway of the plaque support. The plaque may comprise a mounting surface comprising at least one opening, wherein the installation fastener is inserted into the opening. Additionally, the mounting surface may comprise a circumferential lip surrounding a recessed area, which is defined by the mounting surface. Additionally, the mounting surface may comprise a boss which defines a threaded opening, and an installation fastener comprising a plurality of threads that may be threadably secured to the threaded opening of the boss. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of a plaque support according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of the plaque support shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the plaque support shown in  FIG.  1    taken along the line A-A in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a first step in a method of affixing a plaque to a solid surface according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of the step of  FIG.  4   , showing the plaque support of  FIG.  1    inserted into an opening of the solid surface; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a second step in the method of  FIG.  4   , showing a mounting surface of the plaque; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of a third step in the method of  FIG.  4   , showing the plaque being aligned with the solid surface; 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view of a fourth step in the method of  FIG.  4   , showing the plaque secured to the solid surface; and 
         FIG.  9    is a detail view of the cross-section shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, spatial orientation terms, if used, shall relate to the referenced embodiment as it is oriented in the accompanying drawing figures or otherwise described in the following detailed description. However, it is to be understood that the embodiments described hereinafter may assume many alternative variations and embodiments. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and methods illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures and described herein are simply exemplary and should not be considered as limiting. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 3   , a plaque support  10 , for use in a method of affixing a plaque to a solid surface, includes a cylindrical body  12  defining a passageway  15  therethrough. The plaque support  10  has a first end  20  and a second end  25 . A slot  29  extends longitudinally from the first end  20  to the second end  25 . The first end  20  has a flange portion  22  extending from the cylindrical body  12  and the second end  25  has at least one lead tab  27  extending radially inward, i.e., toward the passageway  15 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the plaque support  10  includes five lead tabs  27  extending from the second end  25 . The cylindrical body  12  also includes at least one outer tab member  30  extending radially outward toward the first end  20  and at least one inner tab member  35  extending radially inward toward the second end  25 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the plaque support  10  includes ten outer tabs  30  and three inner tabs  35 . The plaque support  10  may be constructed of steel, in particular, high carbon spring steel. Any other suitable material, however, may be used for the plaque support  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 - 9   , one embodiment of a method for affixing a plaque to a solid surface is disclosed. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , a solid surface  40  is provided having a first face  42  and a second face  44 . The solid surface  40  has two openings  46  in the first face  42 . In certain embodiments, the solid surface  40  is granite and the openings  46  are provided by drilling the first face  42  of the solid surface  40 . Two plaque supports  10 , as described above and shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , are inserted into each of the openings  46 . Although the openings  46 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , extend through the solid surface  40  from the first face  42  to the second face  44 , the openings  46  may be provided, such that they only extend a portion of the way into the solid surface  40 . During insertion of the plaque supports  10  into the openings  46 , the outer tabs  30  of the plaque support  10  engage the portion of the solid surface  40  defining the opening  46 . Because the outer tabs  30  extend radially outward toward the first end  20  of the plaque support  10 , the outer tabs  30  allow movement in a forward direction, i.e., where the first end  20  is trailing, but substantially prevent movement in a rearward direction, i.e., where the second end  25  is trailing. 
     Further, due to the engagement of the outer tabs  30  with the solid surface  40 , the insertion of the plaque supports  10  into the openings  46  may need to be assisted by using a rubber mallet (not shown) or other suitable tool. For example, a rubber mallet may be used to apply a force to the first end  20  of the plaque support  10 , thereby forcing the plaque support  10  into the opening  46 . The outer tabs  30  may be plastically or elastically deformed during insertion of the plaque support  10  into the opening  46 . The flange portion  22  of the plaque support  10  has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening  46 , such that the flange portion  22  engages the first face  42  of the solid surface  40  to prevent the plaque support  10  from extending all of the way through the opening  46  during subsequent steps discussed below. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , a plaque  50  is provided having a display surface  52  and a mounting surface  55 . In certain embodiments, the plaque  50  is a bronze memorial having ornamentation or other display indicia on the display surface  52 . The mounting surface  55  of the plaque  50  defines a recessed area  57  surrounded by a circumferential lip  59 . The recessed area  57  includes two bosses  62  each having a threaded opening  64 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , a pair of installation fasteners  70  is threadably secured to the threaded openings  64 . The plaque  50  with the installation fasteners  70  is then positioned, as shown in  FIG.  7   , so that the installation fasteners  70  are aligned with the respective passageways  15  of the plaque supports  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  and  9   , the installation fasteners  70  secured to the plaque  50  are then inserted into the passageway  15  of the plaque support  10 . After the installation fasteners  70  are completely inserted into the passageway  15 , such that the bosses  62  engage the first end  20  of the plaque support  10 , the circumferential lip  59  on the mounting surface  55  of the plaque  50  abuts the first surface  42  of the solid surface  40 . As shown more clearly in  FIG.  9   , the inner tabs  35  and the lead tabs  27  of the plaque support  10  engage the installation fastener  70 . In particular, the inner tabs  35  and the lead tabs  27  of the plaque support  10  engage the threads of the installation fastener  70 . The inner tab member  35  and the lead tabs  27  extend radially inward away from the first end  20  of the plaque support  10 , thereby allowing displacement of the installation fastener  70  in a forward direction, i.e., displacement from the first end  20  to the second end  25 , but substantially preventing displacement of the installation fastener  70  in a rearward direction, i.e., displacement from the second end  25  to the first end  20 . Accordingly, the plaque support  10  is secured within the opening  46  in the solid surface  40  via the outer tabs  30  through installation fasteners  70  and plaque  50  is secured through installation fasteners  70  to the plaque support  10  via the lead tabs  27  and the inner tabs  35 . Therefore, the method, as described above, enables the plaque  50  to be affixed to the solid surface  40  in a simple and reliable manner without requiring access to a second or rear face  44  of the solid surface  40 . 
     Although the method was shown in  FIGS.  1 - 9    and described above using a particular number of plaque supports  10 , openings  46 , bosses  62 , and installation fasteners  70 , the method may employ one or more plaque supports  10  and a corresponding number of installation fasteners  70  secured to the plaque  50  to affix the plaque  50  to the solid surface  40 . Furthermore, although the method was described with reference to securing bronze memorials to granite surfaces, the method may be used to secure any object to any solid surface. For example, the method may be used to affix architectural elements to a stone, brick, or other type of building surface. 
     While several embodiments of a method for affixing a plaque to a solid surface were described in the foregoing detailed description, those skilled in the art may make modifications and alterations to these embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive.