FIXTURE FOR MOUNTING AN ACCESSORY TO A WALL

Abstract

 Fixture (1) for mounting an accessory to a wall, such as a bathroom accessory. The fixture comprises a wall-mountable base (3) and a cover (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixture for mounting an accessory, in particular a bathroom accessory, such as a towel bar, a towel ring, a soap dish, or a shampoo rack, to a wall.

[0002] Bathroom accessories usually have a mounting end configured to be attached to a mounting plate mounted to the bathroom wall.

[0003] Bathrooms typically offer limited space for a person installing a bathroom accessory. The small size of set screws typically used for such purpose and the intended use location, usually adjacent the bathroom wall, may further complicate installation. An installer must screw the set screw utilizing a small screwdriver and having only limited clearance from the bathroom wall. The set screw can easily drop and be lost during installation. Particularly for hotels or cruise ships with large numbers of similarly furnished bathrooms, this can be very inefficient and time consuming.

[0004] In order to enable fast mounting wall mounted accessories, it has been proposed to lock the accessories using snap fit connections. Such snap fit connections typically result in a certain amount of play allowing relative movement of the mounting components.

[0005] In EP 2 944 240 A1 a fixture is disclosed using cooperating wedging surfaces to prevent relative movement of the mounted parts. In practice this system works very well and facilitates quick and easy installation of wall mounted accessories. However, it has been found desirable to provide a more robust system.

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved with a fixture for mounting an accessory to a wall, the fixture comprising a wall-mountable base and a cover. The cover comprises a cavity shaped to receive the base in a receiving position, the cover being slideable relative to the base between the receiving position and an interlocking position. The base and the cavity interlock when the cover is in the interlocking position. The fixture comprises a biasing element biasing the cover into the interlocking position.

[0007] This way the cover can be attached to the base in a robust and reliable manner essentially without relative movement.

[0008] In a specific embodiment, the base is slideable in a locking direction (L) between the receiving position and the interlocking position, the base having base wedging surfaces and the cover having cover wedging surfaces engaging the base wedging surfaces when the base is in the interlocking position. Due to the wedging action relative movement can effectively be prevented.

[0009] An effective wedging action in the locking direction may for example be obtained if the fixture has a central axis extending in the locking direction, while the base wedging surfaces and cover wedging surfaces make a tapering angle with the central axis.

[0010] A suitable wedging action in another direction can be obtained if the base wedging surfaces and the cover wedging surfaces make a sloping angle relative to a back face of the cover, the cover wedging surfaces forming an undercut in one or more side walls of the cavity. Particularly the undercut structure provides reliable interlocking.

[0011] In a specific exemplary embodiment the base wedging surfaces can be part of cams, the cavity being confined by edges with matching recesses receiving the cams when the cover is positioned over the base to receive the base in its receiving position. This way, the cover can easily be positioned over the base to receive the base and subsequently the cover can be moved to position the base in the interlocking position, particularly if the undercut cover wedging surfaces are adjacent the recesses in the edges of the cavity.

[0012] Optionally, the base has a first side edge crossing the central axis and engaging a side wall of the cavity when the base is in the interlocking position. The base may also have a second side edge opposite the front side edge, e.g., being essentially parallel to the first edge, e.g., both extending essentially perpendicular to the central axis, e.g., in a symmetrical configuration. The biasing element may for example engage the second side edge of the base. The first side edge of the base may for example be provided with a lip at the front side of the base, the lip being received in a matching recess in the side wall of the cavity when the base is in the interlocking position.

[0013] In a specific embodiment the biasing element may for example comprise an arm, which is tiltable about a tilting axis at a distance from the base, and a spring element biasing the arm towards a clamping position. In this clamping position the arm exerts a pushing force onto the base. The arm of the biasing element may for example engage an edge of the base with a curved surface. At the front side of the base the distance between the curved surface and the tilting axis is for example larger than the distance between the tilting axis and an outer tip of the arm, whereas near the back side of the base the distance between the curved surface and the tilting axis is smaller than the distance between the tilting axis and said outer tip of the arm. This help to prevent play and relative movement between the parts of the fixture.

[0014] In a specific exemplary embodiment the spring element may comprise a helical torsion spring with limbs resting in a spring receiving recess in the cavity of the cover, and a clamp section holding the arm of the biasing element (12). The clamp section can for example be a hook, hooking in a recess in the arm. The helical torsion spring may for example have a coil section at either side of the clamp section, the limbs extending from the ends of the coil sections facing away from each other. The limbs may for example have bent outer ends clamping against a side all of the spring receiving recess.

[0015] The rear side of the cover will typically be flush with the rear side of the base when the base is received within the cover's cavity, so the cover will join the wall tightly without a visible gap.

[0016] When the cover is moved between the receiving position and the interlocking position, the sliding movement will typically be parallel to the wall on which the fixture is mounted.

[0017] The fixture is particularly useful for mounting bathroom accessories in a building, such as a hotel or cruise ship, or a bungalow park, with a large number of similar bathrooms. The system can also be used for mounting other types of accessories, such as wardrobe or kitchens accessories, to a wall.

[0018] The invention is further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1A:

shows an exemplary embodiment of a fixture according to the invention in exploded view;

Figure 1B:

shows the fixture of Figure 1A from a different viewing angle;

Figure 2:

shows the back side of the assembled fixture in perspective view;

Figure 3:

shows the fixture wall mounted in cross section;

Figure 4:

shows a rear view of the cover;

Figure 5:

shows the cover of Figure 4 with a base in its receiving position;

Figure 6:

shows the cover of Figure 4 with a base in its interlocking position;

Figure 7:

shows the cover with the cavity in perspective view;

Figure 8:

shows the front side of the base in perspective view;

Figure 9:

shows the back side of the base in perspective view;

Figure 10:

shows the back side of the cover holding the biasing element;

Figure 11:

shows the torsion spring of the biasing element;

Figure 12:

shows the arm of the biasing element.

[0019] Figures 1A and 1B show in exploded view a fixture 1 with a base 2 mounted on a wall 3 and a cover 4 to be mounted onto the wall fixed base 2. The cover 4 serves to carry a bathroom accessory, such as a towel bar (not shown).

[0020] Figure 2 shows the backside of the fixture 1 with the base 2 being received within a matching cavity 10 at the backside 11 of the cover 4. The fixture 1 comprises a biasing element 12 fixating the relative position of the base 2 and the cover 4, as will be explained in more detail hereafter. The base 2 has a back side 13 which is flush with the back side 11 of the cover 4 when the fixture 1 is assembled. In this respect, the backside 11, 13 is the side facing the wall after the fixture 1 is mounted to that wall.

[0021] The base 2 is shown separately in Figures 8 and 9. The base 2 has an essentially flat front face 14 (Figure 8) and a flat back face 13 (Figure 9) which is parallel to the front face 14. A number of through holes 16 extend through the base 2 to allow passage of fastening means, in particular bolts 18 for mounting the base 2 (see Figure 4). The base 2 also has a smaller first edge 20, a larger second edge 21, a central axis X and two side edges 22, 23 symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the central axis X and extending between the first and second edges 20, 21. The side edges 22, 23 converge towards the first edge 20 giving the base 2 a tapering outline. The second side 21 has a concavely curved surface 24.

[0022] An elongated lip 25 extends along the first edge 20 at the side of the front face 14.

[0023] The two opposite tapering side edges 22, 23 of the base 2 are both provided with three cams 27 with base wedging faces 28 sloping outwardly from the rear face 13 to the front face 14 of the base 2. Hence, these base wedging faces 28 follow the taper angle of the tapering side edges 22, 23 of the base 2, and also slope outwardly towards the front face 14.

[0024] The back side of the cover 4 is shown in Figure 5. The outline of the cavity 10 corresponds to the outline of the base 2 but is extended at the non-tapering sides. The cavity 10 has two side walls 31, 32 with the same tapering angle as the side edges 22, 23 of the base 2 and at corresponding mutual distances. The side walls 31, 32 of the cavity 10 are provided with recesses 34 matching with the shapes and sizes of the cams 27 of the base 2. Between these recesses 34 are undercut stops 36 with an undercut angle (see, e.g., Figure 7) corresponding to the sloping angle of the cams 27 of the base 2. The undercut stops 36 provide cover wedging faces 38 with the same sloping and tapering angles as the base wedging faces 28 of the cams 27 of the base 2. In this respect the slope angle α (see Figure 10) is the angle between the wedging surface 28, 38 and the back side of the fixture 1, whereas the tapering angle β is the angle between the wedging surface 28, 28 and the central axis X of the base 2 in front view. All wedging surfaces 28, 38 make the same tapering and sloping angles α, β.

[0025] The cams 27 of the base 2 slidingly fit in the recesses 34 of the side edges of the cavity 10. After the base 2 is mounted to a wall, the cover 4 can be fit over the base 2 in such way that the cams 27 of the base slide into the recesses 34 in the side edges 31, 32 of the cavity 10 until the cover 4 abuts the wall. The base 2 is now in its receiving position within the cavity 10 of the cover 4, as shown in Figure 5. Since the cams 27 of the base 2 slope with the same angle as the undercuts 36 in the sides 31, 32 of the cavity 10, the base 2 is slideable within the cavity 10 in a locking direction L parallel to the central axis X from the position shown in Figure 5 to an interlocking position shown in Figure 6. Since the base 2 is mounted to a wall, it is actually the cover 4 sliding over the wall mounted base 2. The sliding movement is parallel to the wall to which the fixture 1 is mounted.

[0026] In the interlocking position of Figure 7, the sloping cams 27 engage the matching sloping undercut surfaces of the undercut stops 36 of the cavity side walls 31, 32 and the lip 25 on the first edge 20 of the base 2 is received in a matching recess 37 in the side wall of the cavity 10 (see Figure 3).

[0027] Besides a wedging action between the cams 27 and the undercuts 36, there is also a wedging action in a second direction between the tapering side edges 22, 23 of the base 2 and the matching converging side edges 31, 32 of the cavity 10. Due to the combination of these mutually orthogonal wedge actions the cover 4 is firmly attached to the base 2 essentially without relative movement.

[0028] The cover 4 is biased to hold the base 2 in its interlocking position by means of the biasing element 12. This biasing element 12 compromises a helical torsion spring 40 shown separately in Figure 11, and an arm 41 shown separately in Figure 12. The arm 41 is tiltable by or against the action of the torsion spring 40 about a tilting axis T, indicated in Figure 4, where the tilting axis T extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The torsion spring 40 has a symmetrical built-up with a single wire 42 forming two coil sections 43 and a clamp section 44 between the coil sections 43 for clamping the arm 41. At the ends of the coil sections 43 facing away from each other the wire 42 forms limbs 45. The limbs 45 have bent outer ends 46 pointing away from each other.

[0029] The arm 41 is a rectangular plate with a locked recess 47 for receiving the clamp section 44 and two recesses 48 for receiving the respective coil sections 43. The biasing element 12 is assembled by hooking the clamp section 44 into the locked recess 47 of the arm 41. The biasing element 12 can then be positioned into the cavity 10 of the cover 4, which is provided with a spring receiving recess 49 (Figures 3 and 10) receiving the limbs 45 of the torsion spring 40 such that the bent outer ends 46 of the limbs 45 clamp against a wall of the spring receiving recess 49. This way the biasing element 12 is fixated within the cavity 10 and will remain in place when the cover 4 is held vertical, e.g., when the cover 4 is put over the base 2.

[0030] When the cover 4 is put over the base 2 in the receiving position the base pushes the biasing element down. In this position the arm 41 of the biasing element 12 is pushed down into the spring receiving recess 49 in the bottom of the cavity 10 against the action of the torsion spring 40. Only the clamp section 44 of the biasing element 12 projects out of the spring receiving recess 49, just below the second edge 21 of the base 2. The cover 4 is then moved downward so the wall mounted base 2 slides relative to the cover 4 into the locking direction L into its interlocking position, as shown in Figure 4.

[0031] The second edge of the base 2 has a curved surface 24. This curved surface 24 has a cross sectional contour, particularly shown in Figure 3. Near the front side of the base (2) engaging the bottom of the cavity 10, the distance between the contour 24 and the tilting axis (T) is larger than the distance between the tilting axis (T) and an outer tip (50) of the arm. Near the back side of the base (2) facing the wall when the base is wall mounted, the distance between the contour and the tilting axis (T) is smaller than the distance between the tilting axis (T) and said outer tip (50) of the arm (41).

[0032] When the cover 4 is moved down, the base 2 slides relative to the cover 4 into the interlocking position. During this movement the biasing element 12 is gradually released and the arm 41 of the biasing element 12 tilts upwardly. When the base 2 arrives at the interlocking position the tip 50 of the arm 41 pushes against the curved surface 24 at a position where the distance between the contour 24 and the tilting axis T matches the distance between the tip 50 of the arm 41 and the tilting axis T. This way, the arm 41 resiliently forces the base 2 into its interlocking position.

[0033] The force exerted by the biasing element 12 has a vertical component pulling the tapering side edges 22, 23 of the base 2 against the side edges 31, 32 of the cavity 10, and a horizontal component pulling the undercut sections 36 of the cavity 10 against the respective cams 27 of the base 2. This way, relative movement between the base 2 and the cover 4 is essentially prevented.

[0034] The cover 4 is provided with a small opening or pin hole 51 in its side wall allowing access, e.g., by a pin, to the biasing element 12. To release the cover 4 from the base 2, a pin can be inserted into this pin hole 51 to push down the arm 41 of the biasing element 12. The cover 4 can then be moved upwardly until the base 2 is back in its receiving position. In this position the cams 27 of the base 2 do not engage the undercut sections 36 of the cover 4 anymore and the cover 4 can be removed from the base 2.

[0035] In the shown embodiment, the biasing element 12 is positioned at the lower side of the base 2, so the pin hole 51 is out of sight at the lower side of the cover 4. In alternative embodiments the biasing element 12 can be at a top side or at any other side, as long as it pulls the respective wedging surfaces of the base 2 and the cover 4 against each other.

Claims

1. Fixture (1) for mounting an accessory to a wall, the fixture comprising a wall-mountable base (2) and a cover (4),
the cover comprising a cavity (10) shaped to receive the base (2) in a receiving position, the cover being slideable relative to the base when the base is in the cavity (10) between the receiving position and an interlocking position;
wherein the base (2) and the cavity (10) interlock when the cover is in the interlocking position;
the fixture (1) comprising a biasing element (12) biasing the cover into the interlocking position.

2. Fixture according to claim 1, wherein the base (2) is slideable between the receiving position and the interlocking position in a locking direction (L), the base having base wedging surfaces (28) and the cover having cover wedging surfaces (38) engaging said base wedging surfaces (28) when the base (2) is in the interlocking position.

3. Fixture according to claim 2, wherein the fixture (1) has a central axis (X) extending in the locking direction (L), wherein said base wedging surfaces (28) and cover wedging surfaces (38) make a tapering angle β with the central axis.

4. Fixture according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the base wedging surfaces and the cover wedging surfaces (38) make a sloping angle α relative to a back face of the cover (4), the cover wedging surfaces forming an undercut in one or more side walls of the cavity.

5. Fixture according to claim 2, 3 and 4, the base wedging surfaces (28) being part of cams (27) at side edges of the base (2), the cavity (10) being confined by edges with matching recesses (34) receiving the cams when the cover is positioned over the base to receive the base (2) in its receiving position.

6. Fixture according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the cover wedging surfaces (38) are adjacent the recesses (34) in the edges of the cavity (10).

7. Fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the base (2) has a first side edge (20) crossing the central axis (X) and engaging a side wall of the cavity (10) when the base is in the interlocking position, and a second side edge (21) opposite the front side edge (20), wherein the biasing element (12) engages the second side edge of the base.

8. Fixture according to claim 7, wherein the first side edge (2) of the base (2) is provided with a lip (25) at the front side of the base (2), said lip being received in a matching recess (37) in the side wall of the cavity (10).

9. Fixture according to any preceding claim, the biasing element (12) comprising an arm (41) tiltable about a tilting axis (T) at a distance from the base (2), and a spring element (40) biasing the arm towards a clamping position, wherein the arm (41) exerts a pushing force onto the base (2) when the arm is in the clamp position.

10. Fixture according to claim 9, wherein the arm (41) engages an edge of the base (2) with a curved surface (24), wherein at the front side of the base (2) the distance between the curved surface (24) and the tilting axis (T) is larger than the distance between the tilting axis (T) and an outer tip (50) of the arm (41), whereas near the back side of the base (2) the distance between the curved surface (24) and the tilting axis (T) is smaller than the distance between the tilting axis (T) and said outer tip (50) of the arm (41).

11. Fixture according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the spring element (40) comprises a helical torsion spring with limbs (45) resting in a spring receiving recess (49) in the cavity (10) of the cover (4), and a clamp section (44) holding the arm (41) of the biasing element (12).

12. Fixture according to claim 11, the helical torsion spring having coil sections at either side of the clamp section, the limbs (45) extending from the ends of the coil sections facing away from each other.

13. Fixture according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the limbs (45) have bent outer ends (46) clamping against a side wall of the spring receiving recess (49).

Drawing