Patent ID: 12207751

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With respect toFIGS.1-6, a mounting bracket100is provided for attaching hardware to a support structure, such as a wall or door. The mounting bracket100includes a body102having a plate portion104with a front surface106and a rear surface108. The body102may be formed of a plastic material such as, for example, polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), zinc, aluminum, nylon, and polyoxymethylene. The body102may be a molded body, for example, formed by an injection molding process, a stamped body, or a machined body.

In some forms, the body102is a single piece component. In other forms, the body102is formed from two or more pieces assembled to one another. The plate portion104has side edges105,107that taper inward from the front surface106to the rear surface108such that the width of the plate portion104at the front surface106is greater than at the rear surface108. For example, the side edges105,107of the plate portion104angle outwardly as the side edges105,107extend from the rear surface108toward the front surface106. This tapered configuration forms an inner rail or track that is used for securing hardware to the mounting bracket100as described in further detail below.

The plate portion104of the body102may have a generally hourglass shape having recessed portions109,111formed along the side edges105,107. Including the recessed portions109,111may reduce the amount of material used to form the body102. The recessed portions109,111may also receive a mating structure of the hardware component attached to the body102to inhibit the hardware component from moving relative to the body102. For example, the hardware component may have inwardly extending protrusions that extend into the recessed portions109,111and inhibit the hardware component from sliding vertically along the side edges105,107.

The mounting bracket100includes protrusions110,112extending obliquely from the front surface106of the body102. The protrusions110,112may have a substantially cylindrical shape. The protrusions110,112terminate at end faces110A,112A and include passages114,116extending through the protrusions110,112and through the rear surface108of the body102. As shown inFIGS.5-6, the passages114,116may extend obliquely to the front surface106and/or rear surface108of the body102. The passages114,116may extend at an angle of approximately 40-60 degrees relative to the rear surface108. As one example the passages114,116may extend at approximately a 50 degree angle relative to the rear surface108. Alternatively, the passages114,116may extend at different angles relative to the rear surface108. The passages114,116are sized to receive fasteners, including, for example, nails or screws, therethrough for securing the mounting bracket100to a mounting surface such as a wall or a door. The orientation of the passages114,116guides or directs the fasteners as they are extended through the passages114,116from the front surface106to the rear surface108and into the mounting surface such that the fasteners extend into the mounting surface at an angle. Extending the nails into the mounting surface at a downward angle (e.g., 50 degrees) increases the amount of weight the mounting bracket100can bear once mounted to the mounting surface. The first protrusion110extends from an upper portion of the body102, and the second protrusion112extends from a middle portion of the body102lower than the first protrusion110. More specifically, the first protrusion110may be located closer to a top surface118than the second protrusion112and may be off center of a longitudinal axis of the body102. The second protrusion also may be in the region of a necked portion of the hourglass shape of the body102. Locating at least the first protrusion110and the passage114at an upper portion of the mounting bracket100enables the mounting bracket100to support relatively heavier loads.

The body102of the mounting bracket100may further include mounting holes120,122that may also be used for mounting the mounting bracket100to a mounting surface. The mounting holes120,122may be used to mount the mounting bracket100to a mounting surface as an alternative mounting method or in addition to use of the passages114,116of the protrusions110,112for increased mounting strength. The mounting holes120,122extend from the front surface106and through the rear surface108. Fasteners may be extended through the holes120,122and into the mounting surface to secure mounting bracket100to the mounting surface. As an example, where the mounting surface is drywall, wall anchors may be inserted into the drywall and screws may be extended through the mounting holes120,122and into the wall anchors to attach the mounting bracket100to the wall. The rear surface108of the body102may have annular recesses124,126about the mounting holes120,122. The recesses124,126provide space to receive a portion of a wall anchor extending from the wall (e.g., a flange of the wall anchor) such that the rear surface108of the body102lays flat against the mounting surface. The first mounting hole120may be at an upper portion of the body102, and the second mounting hole122may be at the lower or middle portion of the body102below the first mounting hole120. Further, the mounting holes120,122may be off center of the longitudinal axis of the body102and may be aligned with one another along the body102. Including at least the first mounting hole120at an upper portion of the mounting bracket100enables the mounting bracket100to support relatively heavier loads.

The body102of the mounting bracket100includes support flanges128,130that extend outward from the sides of the body102. The support flanges128,130form a base132of the mounting bracket100with a greater width than the plate portion104extending upward from the base132. The support flanges128,130of the base132form a stop or support ledge133that hardware attached to the mounting bracket100contacts to support the hardware as described in further detail below. The lower portion of the body102has a support surface134that contacts hardware attached to the mounting bracket100. The support surface134engages the hardware to aid in keeping the hardware aligned with the mounting bracket100as described in further detail below. The support surface134may have a thickness that is the thickest portion of the body102. As shown inFIG.3, the thickest portion of the protrusions110,112have a thickness that is approximately equal to the thickness of the body102at the support surface134.

By way of example, the body102may have a length of approximately 1.75 inches, a width of approximately 0.91 inches, and a thickness at the support surface134of 0.3 inches. The side edges105,107may have a width at the front surface106of approximately 0.91 inches and a width of approximately 0.79 inches at the rear surface108. The support flanges128,130may have a height of approximately 0.1 inches.

To attach the mounting bracket100to a mounting surface, the rear surface108of the mounting bracket may be held in contact with the mounting surface at the desired mounting location. A first nail may be extended into the hole116and driven into the mounting surface, for example, by hammering the nail into the mounting surface with a hammer. A second nail may be extended into the hole114. The mounting bracket100may be pivoted about the first nail until the mounting bracket100to the desired orientation, for example, with a top surface118and/or the base132of the body102being level. Once the mounting bracket100is in the desired orientation, the second nail may be driven into the mounting surface.

With respect toFIGS.7-10, a rod support arm200is shown that may be removably attached to the mounting bracket100to mount the rod support arm200to a mounting surface. The rod support arm200includes an attachment leg202extending substantially vertically to an arm204that extends substantially horizontally to a cradle206. The cradle206has an arcuate shaped surface that is sized to receive and support a rod (e.g., a curtain rod or towel rod). The cradle206includes a threaded hole208and a screw210. The screw210may be rotated to extend the screw210into the cradle206to secure the rod within the cradle206to inhibit the rod from being unintentionally removed from the cradle206and/or from unintentional lateral movement of the rod within the cradle206. The screw210may be rotated in the opposite direction to withdraw the screw210from the cradle206to permit the rod to be inserted into or removed from the cradle206.

With respect toFIG.9, the attachment leg202includes sidewalls212,214that extend rearwardly from the attachment leg202. The sidewalls212,214each include end portions or opposing protrusions212A,214A that angle or toe inward to hook the tapered side edges105,107of the plate portion104of the mounting bracket100. The sidewalls212,214thus form an elongated slot216to receive at least the plate portion104of the mounting bracket100that the attachment leg202is able to slide along.

The attachment leg202contacts the support surface134of the lower portion of the body102. The support surface134engages the attachment leg202to inhibit the rod support arm200from pivoting relative to the mounting bracket100. For example, a load on arm204of the rod support arm200may apply a force to leg202so that leg202wants to pull away from the mounting bracket. The engagement between the leg202and support surface134counters this force. The size of the surface134is preferably large enough relative to the overall size of the mounting bracket100to absorb the load on the arm204.

With respect toFIG.10, to attach the rod support arm200to the mounting bracket100, the lower end of the attachment leg202may be aligned with the upper end of the plate portion104of the mounting bracket100to align the elongated slot216with the body102of the mounting bracket. The rod support arm200may slide downward on the body102in direction220with the sidewalls212,214wrapping partially about the plate portion104of the mounting bracket100until the lower end of the attachment leg202abuts the base132(as shown inFIGS.7-8). The sidewalls212,214engage the tapered side edges105,107of the body102. The sidewalls212,214may extend near the rear surface108of the body102so that the sidewalls212,214extend near the wall and conceal the mounting bracket102.

With respect toFIGS.11-13, a rod system250is shown that is mounted to a mounting surface by several mounting brackets100. The rod system250includes an inner rod252, an outer rod254, a left rod support arm256, a middle rod support arm258, and a right rod support arm260. The inner rod252is sized to be telescopically received in the outer rod254such that the inner and outer rods252,254together form an adjustable length rod. While the rod system250shown includes two rods, the rod system may include three, four, or more rods connected together to form an adjustable length rod. The inner and outer rods252,254may be supported by the left rod support arm256, the middle rod support arm258, and the right rod support arm260. The rod support arms256,258,260are similar in many respects to the rod support arm200discussed above such that the differences will be highlighted in the following discussion. The rod support arms256,258,260each include an attachment leg256A,258A,260A and arms256B,258B,260B like the rod support arm200. The attachment legs256A,258A,260A are configured to be slidably attached to a mounting bracket100like the rod support arm200discussed above.

The base132of each mounting bracket100is concealed in its respective attachment leg256A,258A,260A of the rod support arms256,258,260. More specifically, the attachment legs256A,258A,260A extend over the base132when attached thereto (seeFIG.13). For instance, with respect to the left rod support arm256, the attachment leg256A includes sidewalls274,276that extend rearward to inward extending portions278,280. The inward extending portions278,280are positioned to contact the base132of the mounting bracket100when the rod system250is mounted to the mounting brackets100. The ends272of the inward portions278,280serve as a stop to limit movement of the rod system250in direction270as the rod system250is mounted to the mounting brackets100. The inward portions278,280do not extend to the bottom of the attachment leg256A, which permits the attachment leg256A to extend below the base132of the mounting bracket100. This permits the mounting bracket100to be concealed by the rod support arm256when the rod support art256is attached to the mounting bracket100. The attachment leg256A of the left rod support arm256may also include a top wall277that contacts the top surface118of the mounting bracket100when the left rod support arm256is mounted to the mounting bracket100. The left rod support arm256may be lowered onto the mounting bracket100in direction270until the top wall277rests on the top surface118of the mounting bracket100. The attachment legs258A,260A of the middle and right rod support arms258,260are like that of the left rod support arms256such that the discussion of these similar aspects will not be repeated.

The arm256B of the left rod support arm256supports a socket262opening to the right side for receiving an end of the outer rod254. The socket262may be cylindrical and sized such that an end portion of the outer rod254is able to be inserted into the socket262. The arm260B of the right rod support arm260supports a socket264opening to the left side for receiving an end of the inner rod252. The socket264may be cylindrical and sized such that an end portion of the inner rod252is able to be inserted into the socket264. With the ends of the adjustable rod within the sockets262,264of the left and right rod support arms256,260, a curtain or drape may be drawn from the rods and over the left and/or right rod support arms256,260to the mounting surface (e.g., a wall). Drawing the curtain or drape to the wall is advantageous for more fully blocking light from entering a room, for example, by blocking light from entering the room around the sides of a curtain.

The middle rod support arm258includes a cylindrical ring266through which the outer rod252and/or inner rod252may extend. For example, the inner diameter of the cylindrical ring266may be sized such that the outer rod254and inner rod252are able to be inserted therethrough to be supported by the cylindrical ring266. In some forms, the inner diameter of the cylindrical ring266is smaller than the outer rod254such that the cylindrical ring266of the middle rod support arm258is sized to receive and support the inner rod252. The cylindrical ring266may include a threaded hole and a screw268for securing the inner rod252and/or outer rod254within the cylindrical ring266. The screw268may be rotated to extend the screw into the cylindrical ring266and against the rod252,254extending therethrough to clamp the rod252,254against the cylindrical ring266and to inhibit the rod252,254from sliding relative to the cylindrical ring266. The screw268may also be rotated to withdraw the screw268from the cylindrical ring266to permit the rod252,254to slide through the cylindrical ring266.

To attach the rod system250to the mounting surface, the mounting brackets100may be mounted to a mounting surface (e.g., a wall) as described above at locations along the mounting surface for the left, middle, and right rod support arms256,256,260. The elongated slot216of the attachment legs of the rod support arms256,256,260may be aligned with the upper end of the corresponding mounting bracket100. The rod system250may be moved downward in direction270to insert the plate portion104of the mounting brackets100into the elongated slot216. The rod system250may be lowered in direction270until ends272of the angled end portions278,280of the attachment legs of the rod support arms256,256,260contact the base132of the mounting brackets100and/or the top wall277of the rod support arms256,258,260contact the top surface118of the mounting bracket100.

With respect toFIGS.14-19, a mounting bracket300is shown according to another embodiment. The mounting bracket300is similar in many respects to the mounting bracket100ofFIGS.1-6such that the differences will be highlighted in the following discussion. The mounting bracket300includes a body302having a plate portion304with a front surface306and a rear surface308. The side edges305,307of the plate portion304are tapered from the front surface306to the rear surface to form an inner rail to permit hardware (e.g., the rod support arm200) to be slid over the mounting bracket300to attach the hardware to a mounting surface as described above. The side edges305,307may be profiled such that the body302has a generally hourglass shape.

The front side of the body302of the mounting bracket300has an upper portion310and a lower portion312that span the width of the body302. The upper portion310is spaced apart from the lower portion312by a middle portion311. The upper portion310and the lower portion312have a support surfaces310A,312A, respectively, that contact the hardware mounted thereto to keep the hardware aligned with the body302and to absorb load applied to an accessory mounted to the mounting bracket300. The thickness of the body310A,312A may be the thickest portion of the plate portion304of the body302. The middle portion311is recessed or inset from upper portion310and the lower portion312such that the middle portion311has a smaller thickness than the body302at the support surfaces310A,312A of the upper portion310and lower portion312.

The support surfaces310A,312A contact the hardware attached to the mounting bracket300to aid in keeping the hardware aligned with the mounting bracket300. For example, when the rod support arm200is attached to the mounting bracket300, an inner surface of the attachment leg202of the rod support arm200contacts or rests against the support surfaces310A,312A which counters the load on the arm204and, thus, inhibits the attachment leg202from pulling unnecessarily on the upper portion of the mounting bracket300. The surface area of the support surface312A of the lower portion312may be greater than the surface area of the support surface310A of the upper portion310. Providing a lower support surface312A with an increased surface area absorbs and counters the force applied on the leg202by the moment arm load of the arm204. In other words, a load applied to the arm204(e.g., on the cradle206) forces the lower end portion of the leg202against the support surface312A which, in turn, counters such force applied to the leg202. This enables the rod support arm200to be longer than the mounting bracket300without unintentionally detaching the mounting bracket300from the support structure, such as a wall.

The upper portion310has the support surface310A with an upper ramped surface310B and a lower ramped surface face310C that slope rearwardly as they extend away from the support surface310A. The upper ramped surface310B may extend laterally across a substantial portion of the width of the body302. The upper ramped surface face310B defines a hole314that extends through the body302of the mounting bracket300to the rear surface308. The hole314includes a countersunk surface that may receive at least a portion of a head of a fastener inserted therethrough.

The lower portion312has a ramped surface312B extending from the middle portion311of the body302to the support surface312A of the lower portion312. The ramped surface312B defines a hole316that extends through the body302of the mounting bracket300to the rear surface308. The hole316includes a countersunk surface that may receive at least a portion of a head of a fastener inserted therethrough.

The angled faces310B,312B may extend obliquely relative to the rear surface308of the body302, for example, at an approximately 45-degree angle relative to the rear surface308of the body102. The holes314,316may extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the angled faces310B,312B such that a fastener, such as a nail, may be extended through the hole314and downwardly into the mounting surface at an angle in the range of about 30-60 degrees. One angle could be approximately 40-degrees.

The inset middle portion311is between the lower ramped surface310C of the upper portion310and the ramped surface312B of the lower portion312. The middle portion311provides room for a user to insert a fastener into the hole316of the lower portion312and engage the fastener with a tool to drive (e.g., with a nail and a hammer) the fastener into the mounting surface. For example, the smaller thickness of the middle portion311provides clearance to receive a head of a hammer, for instance, when hammering a nail through the hole316. The middle portion311also provides a space for the head of the fastener so that the head of the fastener does not extend outward from the mounting bracket100, which could interfere with attaching hardware to the mounting bracket300. The angled upper face310B also provides space for the head of a fastener such that the head of the fastener does not extend outward from the mounting bracket100. The hole314of the upper portion310may extend through an upper portion of the body302to provide increased support to hardware mounted on the mounting bracket300.

The holes314,316may also be laterally offset from one another. For example, the first hole314may extend through a right side of the body302, and the second hole314may extend through the center or a left side of the body302. Having the holes314,316laterally offset from one another allows the fasteners extended therethrough to extend in different vertical planes to avoid obstacles, for example, in a wall. For example, where a fastener extended through hole314encounters an obstacle within the wall, a fastener extended through hole316may avoid the obstacle being laterally offset from the hole314. The holes314,316may also be laterally offset from the holes320,322to provide mounting holes at varying locations across the width of the body302. This provides an installer with flexibility when attaching the mounting bracket300to a mounting surface by allowing the installer to select to use any of the mounting holes314,316,320,322to avoid obstacles in the mounting surface. The mounting holes314,316may also be vertically offset so that fasteners extended therethrough extend into the mounting surface at different heights which may similarly be used to avoid obstacles in the mounting surface. The mounting holes320,322may also be vertically offset from one another and/or from the holes314,316to similarly increase the probability that at least one hole that avoids an obstacle in the mounting surface.

The lower portion312may have a generally hourglass shape having recessed portions303,309formed along the side edges305,307. Including the recessed portions303,309may reduce the amount of material used to form the body312. The recessed portions303,309may also receive a mating structure of the hardware component attached to the body302to inhibit the hardware component from moving relative to the body302. For example, the hardware component may have inwardly extending protrusions that extend into the recessed portions303,309and inhibit the hardware component from sliding vertically along the side edges305,307.

By way of example, the body302may have a length of approximately 1.75 inches, a width of 1 inch, and a maximum thickness of 0.45 inches. The holes314,316may extend at an approximately 40-degree angle relative to the rear surface308.

To attach the mounting bracket300to a mounting surface, a fastener may be extended through the second hole316of the mounting bracket300and into the mounting surface. The mounting bracket300may be pivoted about the nail extending through the second hole316to rotate the mounting bracket300to the desired orientation, for example, until a top end318of the mounting bracket300is level. A fastener may then be extended through the first hole314and into the mounting surface to secure the mounting bracket300to the mounting surface. Alternatively, the first hole314may be used first, and then after orientation about the fastener in the first hole314, the second hole316may be used.

The body302of the mounting bracket may further include mounting holes320,322that may also be used for mounting the mounting bracket300to a mounting surface. The mounting holes320,322may be used to mount the mounting bracket300to a mounting surface as an alternative mounting method or in addition to use of the holes314,316for increased mounting strength. The mounting holes320,322extend from the front surface306and through the rear surface308. Fasteners may be extended through the holes320,322and into the mounting surface to secure mounting bracket300to the mounting surface. The rear surface308of the body302may have recesses324,326formed about the mounting holes320,322. The recesses324,326provide space to receive a portion of a wall anchor extending from the wall (e.g., a flange of the wall anchor) such that the rear surface308of the body302lays flat against the mounting surface.

The front surface306of the body302may further include recesses325,327formed about the mounting holes320,322to provide space to receive a head of a fastener (e.g., a screw). When the mounting bracket300is secured to the wall with fasteners via the holes320,322, the head of the fasteners may be received within the recesses325,327so that they do not extend outward beyond the support surfaces310A,312A. The lower recess327is positioned along the side of the body such that the recess327opens to the side of the body327.

The first mounting hole320may be at an upper portion of the body302, and the second mounting hole322may be at a middle or lower portion of the body302below the first mounting hole120. Including at least the first mounting hole320at an upper portion of the mounting bracket300enables the mounting bracket300to provide increased load capacity to support hardware mounted on the mounting bracket300. The mounting holes320,322may also be laterally offset from one another. For example, the first mounting hole320may extend through a left side of the body302, and the second mounting hole322may be extend through a right side of the body302. Offsetting the holes from one another across the width of the body302may aid in avoiding obstacles in the mounting surface as described above.

The body302of the mounting bracket300includes support flanges328,330that extend outward from the sides of the body302. The support flanges328,330form a base332of the mounting bracket300that has a greater width than the plate portion304extending upward from the base332. The support flanges328,330of the base332form a stop or support ledge that hardware attached to the mounting bracket300contacts to support the hardware attached thereto.

With respect toFIGS.20and21, a rod system400is provided according to another embodiment that may be mounted to a mounting surface via mounting brackets such as mounting brackets100,300described above. The rod system400includes attachment brackets402described in further detail below that may slide onto the mounting brackets100,300. The rod system further includes an inner rod404, an outer rod406, and a rod support arm408that may be connected to the attachment brackets402. While the rod system400shown includes two rods, the rod system may include three, four, or more rods connected together to form an adjustable length rod. The inner rod404includes a first straight portion410that extends to a curved portion412that extends to a second straight portion414. An end of the first straight portion410may be attached to a tube portion432of the attachment bracket402as described below. The first straight portion410may include an attachment hole411for attaching the inner rod404to the attachment bracket402.

The outer rod406has a first straight portion416that extends to a curved portion418that extends to a second straight portion420. An end of the first straight portion416of the outer rod406may be attached to a tube portion432of the attachment bracket402as described below (seeFIGS.22-24). The first straight portion416may include an attachment hole417for attaching the outer rod406to the attachment bracket402.

With the inner rod404and outer rod406curving to connect to the attachment bracket402of the wall, a curtain or drape suspended by the inner and outer rods404,406may be drawn around the curved portions to the wall to aid in blocking light from entering the room. The rods404,406also may be used as a towel bar or rack. The second straight portion414of the inner rod404may be telescopingly received in the second straight portion420of the outer rod406to adjust the overall length of the rod system400.

The rod support arm408includes a tube portion422having an end that may be attached to the tube portion432of the attachment bracket402. The tube portion422may include an attachment hole426. The tube portion422extends to a rod receiver such as cylindrical ring424. In some forms, the rod receiver is a cradle such as that shown in the rod support arm200ofFIG.7. The ring424is like the ring266of the middle support arm258ofFIG.11and may be sized to receive and support the second straight portion420of the outer rod406and/or the second straight portion410of the inner rod404. The rod support arm408may provide increased support to the inner and outer rod404,406to support the weight of a curtain, drape, towels, and/or other objects suspended from the rods404,406and to inhibit or reduce the sagging of the rods404,406between the outer attachment brackets402. While one rod support arm408is shown, in other embodiments, two or more rod support arms408may be positioned along the length of the inner and outer rods404,406to provide support to the rods404,406.

With respect toFIGS.22-24, the attachment bracket402includes a base430and the tube portion432extending from the base430. In some forms, the base430and the tube portion432are formed unitarily as a single piece. In some forms, the base430and the tube portion432are formed separately and attached together, for example, via a fastener, welding, or an adhesive. The base430may have a generally cylindrical or disc shape although other shapes and configurations may be used to provide a desired aesthetic or ornamental design to the rod system400. A rear portion of the base430may include a slot434for receiving a portion of the mounting brackets100,300that is similar in many respects to the attachment leg256A of the left rod support arm265ofFIG.11. The slot434includes sidewalls436having end portions438that extend inward over the slot434and toward one another. The end portions438of the sidewalls may extend inward to catch the tapered edges of the plate portion104of the mounting bracket100similar to the angled end portions212A,214A of the sidewalls212,214of the rod support arm200ofFIG.6. This prevents the attachment bracket402from pulling away from the mounting bracket100.

The tube portion432may include a threaded hole440for receiving a fastener such as screw442. The screw442may be used to secure the inner and outer rods404,406and the rod support arm408to the attachment bracket402. For example, with respect to the inner rod404, an end of the first straight portion410may receive the tube portion432of the attachment bracket402. The inner rod404may be slid and rotated relative to the tube portion432until the attachment hole411and the threaded hole440of the tube portion432are aligned. The screw442may be extended through the attachment hole411and threaded into the threaded hole440of the tube portion432to secure the inner rod404to the attachment bracket402. The outer rod404and rod support arm408may similarly be attached to the attachment bracket402using the respective attachment holes417,426.

In use, the mounting brackets100,300may be mounted to the mounting surface (as discussed above) at the desired locations for the ends of the rod system400and the rod support arm408. The second straight portion420of the outer rod406may be extended through the ring424of the rod support arm408. The second straight portion414of the inner rod404may be inserted into the outer rod406. The first straight portion410of the inner rod404may be connected to the tube portion432of an attachment bracket402. The first straight portion416of the outer rod406may be connected to the tube portion432of an attachment bracket402. The tube portion422of the rod support arm408may be connected to the tube portion432of an attachment bracket402. The slots434of the attachment brackets402may be aligned with the corresponding mounting brackets100,300secured to the mounting surface and lowered to receive the mounting bracket100,300into the slots434of the attachment brackets402.

With respect toFIGS.25-27, a mounting bracket500is shown according to another embodiment. The mounting bracket500is similar in many respects to the mounting bracket300ofFIGS.14-19such that the differences will primarily be highlighted in the following discussion. For conciseness and clarity, the references numeral used for features of the mounting bracket300of the embodiment ofFIGS.14-19that correspond to similar features of the mounting bracket500of the embodiment ofFIGS.25-27will be used with the prefix changed from a “3” to a “5.” For example, a feature of the mounting bracket300referenced by the reference numeral “310” will be shown with reference numeral “510” with regard to the mounting bracket500.

In mounting bracket500, the lower ramped surface510C of the upper portion510of the body502defines a hole540that extends through the body502from the front surface506to the rear surface508. The hole540includes a countersunk surface that may receive at least a portion of a head of a fastener546inserted therethrough. The lower ramped surface510C may extend obliquely relative to the rear surface508of the body502, for example, at an approximately 45-degree angle relative to the rear surface308of the body102. The hole540may extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the lower ramped surface510C such that a fastener, such as a nail, may be extended through the hole540and upwardly into the mounting surface at an angle in the range of about 30-60 degrees. One angle could be approximately 40-degrees.

Extending the fastener546upwardly into the mounting surface aids to inhibit the upper end of the rear surface508of the body502of the mounting bracket500from pulling away or separating from the mounting surface, for example, when a load is applied to the mounting bracket500. In other words, the upwardly extending fastener546inhibits the mounting bracket500from pivoting away from the mounting surface about the lower end of the body502. For example, in one test, mounting the mounting bracket500to a wall using the hole540in addition to holes514,516was found to increase the amount of weight the mounting bracket500can hold by about 90% compared to using only holes514,516. In this test, the rod support arm200was attached to the mounting bracket500and a load applied to the cradle until the mounting bracket500failed and began to pull away from the wall. Loads were applied with the mounting bracket500secured to the wall using only holes514,516and using holes514,516, and540to compare the two mounting configurations. A load was hung from the center of the cradle206of the rod support arm200which is about 2.8125 inches from the mounting bracket500. The weight of the load was increased until the mounting bracket500pulled away from the wall. The mounting bracket500was able to hold up to about 10 lbs. when mounted using only holes514,516and was able to hole up to about 19 lbs. when mounting using holes514,516, and540.

The inset middle portion511between the lower ramped surface510C of the upper portion510and the ramped surface512B of the lower portion512provides room for a user to insert a fastener into the hole540of the upper portion510and engage the fastener with a tool to drive (e.g., with a nail and a hammer) the fastener into the mounting surface. For example, the smaller thickness of the middle portion511provides clearance to receive a head of a hammer, for instance, when hammering a nail through the hole540. The middle portion511also provides a space for the head of the fastener so that the head of the fastener does not extend outward from the mounting bracket500, which could interfere with attaching hardware to the mounting bracket500.

The hole540may be used along with hole514and/or hole516to mount the mounting bracket500to the mounting surface. To attach the mounting bracket500to a mounting surface, fasteners542,544may be extended through the holes514,516of the mounting bracket500and into the mounting surface as discussed with respect to the mounting bracket300above. A fastener546may then be extended through the hole540and into the mounting surface at an angle (e.g., approximately a 90-degree) to the fasteners542,544to secure the mounting bracket500to the mounting surface. As shown inFIG.27, the fasteners542,544extend through holes514,516downwardly from the rear surface508while the fastener546extends through hole540and upwardly from the rear surface508. Alternatively, the hole540may be used first, and then after orientation about the fastener546in the hole540, the holes514,516may be used. Additionally, one or more of holes514,516,540may be used with hole520and/or hole522to mount the mounting bracket500to the mounting surface.

While the mounting bracket500described above includes two downwardly extending holes514,516and one upwardly extending hole540, the mounting bracket500may further include additional mounting holes through which fasteners may be extended to mount the body to a mounting surface (e.g., a wall). For instance, the body502may include two, three, or more mounting holes that extend upwardly, for example, similar to hole540. The upwardly extending mounting holes may extend through the upper portion510, middle portion511, and/or lower portion512of the body500. Additionally or alternatively, the body502may include three or more holes that angle downwardly through the body, for example, similar to holes514,516. The downwardly extending mounting holes may extend through the upper portion510, middle portion511, and/or lower portion512of the body502. Additionally or alternatively, the body502may include additional mounting holes that extend through the body502perpendicular to the rear surface508to direct a fastener perpendicular to the wall. Such perpendicular extending mounting holes may extend through the upper portion510, middle portion511, and/or lower portion512of the body502and may, for example, guide a fastener extended therethrough perpendicularly into the mounting surface similar to holes514,516,540. Thus, in some forms, the mounting bracket500may have mounting holes that extend upwardly, downwardly, and perpendicularly through the body502to direct fasteners upwardly, downwardly, and perpendicularly into the mounting surface to secure the mounting bracket500thereto.

With respect toFIG.28, the mounting bracket500is shown with the hole516shifted laterally from the center of the mounting bracket500. Shifting the hole516may provide additional clearance for inserting the fasteners544,546into holes516and540. For example, shifting the hole516further out of alignment with hole540provides an installer with more clearance for a tool (e.g., a hammer) for inserting the fastener546into hole540once fastener544has been extended into hole516. Moreover, shifting hole516may make it easier to mold the body502as the portion of the mold forming holes516,540are able to be withdrawn from the holes516,540without interference.

In other embodiments, the other mounting holes of the mounting bracket500may also be shifted laterally across the body502of the mounting bracket500. For example, the position of the hole514and hole520may be swapped. In another example, hole514is positioned at the center of the mounting bracket500. In other embodiments, the positions of one or more of the ramped surfaces510B,510C,512A may be shifted upward or downward along the length of the body500, for example, to adjust the position of the mounting holes514,516,540and thus the position through which a fastener extends from the body502into the mounting surface.

Uses of singular terms such as “a,” “an,” are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms. It is intended that the phrase “at least one of” as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to encompass A, B, or both A and B.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.