Patent Publication Number: US-2023151837-A1

Title: Releasable mounting device

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This patent application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2021/050278, filed 3 Mar. 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 62/985,412, filed 5 Mar. 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This document relates to apparatuses for supporting articles. More specifically, this document relates to releasable mounting devices for supporting articles on a vertical surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various facets of the detailed description, but not to define or delimit any exemplary embodiments. 
     Releasable mounting devices for supporting articles are disclosed. According to some exemplary embodiments, a releasable mounting device includes a metal sheet having a rear surface, a front surface opposite the rear surface, and a side edge extending between the front surface and the rear surface. At least a first hole extends through the sheet from the front surface to the rear surface. A plurality of hooked barbs extend integrally from the front surface, and a plurality of grooves are formed in the front surface. Each hooked barb is associated with a respective one of the grooves. 
     In some examples, the front surface includes a recess, and the hole is defined between the recess and the rear surface. The recess can be free of hooked barbs. The rear surface can include a protrusion that is opposite the recess, and the hole can be defined between the recess and the protrusion. 
     In some examples, the metal sheet is in the shape of a circle. The hole can be positioned centrally on the metal sheet. 
     The mounting device can further include a fastener for passage through the hole to mount the metal sheet to a surface. 
     Vertical surface-mounted assemblies are also disclosed. According to some exemplary embodiments, a vertical surface-mounted assembly includes a releasable mounting device including a metal sheet having a rear surface that is in abutment with a vertical surface, a front surface opposite the rear surface, and a side edge extending between the front surface and the rear surface. At least a first hole extends through the sheet from the front surface to the rear surface. A plurality of hooked barbs extends integrally from the front surface, and a plurality of grooves is formed in the rear surface. Each hooked barb is associated with a respective one of the grooves. The assembly further includes a fastener having a head and a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft extends through the hole and is embedded in the vertical surface, and the head abuts the front surface. The assembly further includes an article having a loop fastener device secured thereto. The loop fastener device includes a plurality of loops. The barbed hooks are releasably secured in the loops to releasably secure the article to the vertical surface. 
     In some examples, the front surface includes a recess and the hole is defined between the recess and the rear surface. The head can be nested in the recess. The recess can be free of hooked barbs. The rear surface can include a protrusion that is opposite the recess, and the hole can be defined between the recess and the protrusion. The protrusion can be in abutment with the vertical surface. 
     In some examples, the loop fastener device includes a base sheet supporting the plurality of loops. The base sheet and loops can be polymeric. 
     Methods for supporting an article on a vertical surface are also disclosed. According to some exemplary embodiments, a method of supporting an article on a vertical surface includes a. positioning a rear surface of a metal sheet against a vertical surface; b. fastening the metal sheet to the vertical surface; c. securing a loop fastener device to an article; and d. positioning the loop fastener adjacent a front surface of the metal sheet and hooking barbed hooks of the front surface into loops of the loop fastener device. 
     In some examples, step b. includes passing a threaded shaft of a fastener through a hole of the metal sheet. Step b. can further include nesting a head of the fastener in a recess of the front surface. 
     In some examples, step b. includes fastening the metal sheet to the vertical surface centrally on the metal sheet. 
     In some examples, step a. includes positioning a protrusion of the rear surface against the vertical surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of an example releasable mounting device; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear view of the releasable mounting device of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the releasable mounting device of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged partial front view of the releasable mounting device of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a partial side view of the releasable mounting device of  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  7    shows an article supported by the releasable mounting device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various apparatuses or processes or compositions will be described below to provide an example of an embodiment of the claimed subject matter. No embodiment described below limits any claim and any claim may cover processes or apparatuses or compositions that differ from those described below. The claims are not limited to apparatuses or processes or compositions having all of the features of any one apparatus or process or composition described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses or processes or compositions described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process or composition described below is not an embodiment of any exclusive right granted by issuance of this patent application. Any subject matter described below and for which an exclusive right is not granted by issuance of this patent application may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such subject matter by its disclosure in this document. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a releasable mounting device  10  for supporting articles is shown. The releasable mounting device  10  includes a metal sheet having a front surface  12 , a rear surface  14  opposite the front surface  12 , and a side edge  16  extending between the front surface  12  and rear surface  14 . In the example shown, the metal sheet is generally circular; however, other shapes are possible, such as rectangular strips. The metal sheet can be formed by stamping, and can be made from a flat, light-weight metal, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass and bronze. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , a plurality of hooked barbs  18  extend integrally from the front surface  12 . The hooked barbs  18  can be, for example, gouged into the metal sheet using a process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,463,502 (Arbesman et al.). This gouging process can leave a plurality of grooves  20  formed in the front surface  12 , where material is removed to form the barbs  18 . Each groove  20  is associated with a respective one of the barbs  18 . In the example shown, each hooked barb has a pointed tip  22 . The hooked barbs  18  can have a height of, for example, between 0.010 inches to 0.125 inches (as measured from the front surface  12 ). The hooked barbs  18  and grooves  20  can optionally be arranged in rows, which can be parallel. Optionally, all hooked barbs  18  within a given row can be pointed in one direction, and all hooked barbs  18  in an adjacent row can be pointed in the opposite direction. Optionally, the hooked barbs  18  can be of different heights, and can be hooked to different degrees. This can allow for more firm attachment to a loop fastener device (described below) 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , a hole  24  extends through the metal sheet, from the front surface  12  to the rear surface  14 . The hole  24  can receive a fastener, such as a screw as described below, to secure the metal sheet to a vertical surface such as a wall. In the example shown, the hole  24  is positioned centrally on the metal sheet. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , in the example shown, the front surface  12  includes a generally flat periphery  26  and a centrally positioned recess  28 , and the rear surface  14  includes a generally flat periphery  30  and a protrusion  32  opposite the recess  28 . The recess  28  includes an angled annular wall  34  and a flat base portion  36 . The protrusion  32  also includes a flat base portion  38 , which is opposite the flat base portion  36  of the recess, and an angled annular wall  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , in the example shown, the hole  24  is defined between the recess  28  and the protrusion  32 , and the recess  28  provides a space into which a head of fastener can nest. The recess  28  is free of barbs  18 . 
     The releasable mounting device  10  can be used to releasably mount articles to vertical surfaces such as walls, by mating with a loop fastener secured to the article, as will be described below. Such articles can include, for example, household articles and/or tools. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , an article  42  is shown supported on a wall  44  by the releasable mounting device  10 . The article  42  has a loop fastener device  46  secured thereto. The loop fastener device  46  can include a plurality of loops  48  supported by a base sheet  50 . The loop fastener device  46  can be made from a different material than the metal sheet; for example, the loop fastener device  46  can be polymeric or can be a textile. In some particular examples, the loop fastener device  46  is a material sold under the brand name Velcro®. The loop fastener device  46  can be secured to the article in any suitable fashion, including using a fastener such as a screw, or using an adhesive. 
     Referring still to  FIG.  7   , as a first step for supporting article  42  on wall  44 , releasable mounting device  10  is placed against the wall  44  with the flat base portion  38  abutting the wall  44 . Next, the metal sheet is fastened to the wall  44 , for example, using a fastener  46 . The fastener  46  has a head  48  and a threaded shaft  50 . The threaded shaft  50  can be passed through the hole.  24  and embedded in the wall  44  until the head  48  is nested in the recess  28  (not labelled in  FIG.  7   ). The head  48  may lay flush with the periphery  26  (not labelled in  FIG.  7   ) of the front surface  12  (not labelled in  FIG.  7   ), allowing for better engagement between releasable mounting device  10  and loop fastener device  10 . 
     The article  42 , with the loop fastener device  46  secured thereto, can then be secured to the mounting device  10 . The article  42  is lifted and oriented so that the loop fastener device  46  is adjacent the front surface  12  of the metal sheet  10 . The loop fastener device  46  can then be pressed into the metal sheet  10 , so that the barbed hooks  18  hook into the loops  48  of the loop fastener device  46 . This hook-and-loop system can be capable of withstanding substantial shear forces. In one example, this hook-and-loop attachment system is capable of withstanding 175 lbs. The article  42  may be dismounted from the wall  44  by separating the loop fastener device  46  from the releasable mounting device  10 , which may accomplished by a lifting and peeling motion of the loop fastener device  46  relative to releasable mounting device  10 . 
     While the above description provides examples of one or more processes or apparatuses or compositions, it will be appreciated that other processes or apparatuses or compositions may be within the scope of the accompanying claims. 
     To the extent any amendments, characterizations, or other assertions previously made (in this or in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child) with respect to any art, prior or otherwise, could be construed as a disclaimer of any subject matter supported by the present disclosure of this application, Applicant hereby rescinds and retracts such disclaimer. Applicant also respectfully submits that any prior art previously considered in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child, may need to be revisited.