A SNAP-ON FIXTURE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a snap-on fixture arrangement for a load bearing bathroom fitting, said arrangement comprising a base plate having at least one aperture through which a fastener passes to secure said base plate to a vertical surface of a bathroom, an upper first bearing surface spaced apart from, and above, a first snap member on said base plate, and an outer member comprising said fitting, the inner surface of said outer member which faces towards the base plate having a second bearing surface and a second snap member whereby said outer member can be engaged with said base plate by interengagement of said first and second bearing surfaces and said outer member is pivoted to move said second snap member to snap over said first snap member.

[0002] Load bearing bathroom fittings such as soap holders, bathroom shelves, towel racks, bath robe hooks, and the like must be secured to a vertical surface of a bathroom. It is highly desirable if the fitting can be arranged with a concealed fixture so that the fasteners used to connect the fitting to the vertical surface cannot be seen. This is particularly advantageous in bathroom fittings because the humid atmosphere of the bathroom often leads to corrosion, or discolouration, of metal fasteners.

[0003] It is also preferable if all the parts of the fittings can be moulded from plastics material.

[0004] A snap-on fixture arrangement of the above referenced type is known from AT-A-298 731.

[0005] Another known fixture arrangement (DE-U-86 15 166) being formed with a case-like holder designed to support video tape cassettes for quick and frequent access is also of a construction which is not appropriate to be used for the purpose of securely supporting a bathroom fitting that may receive substantial load.

[0006] According to the present invention, a snap-on fixture arrangement of the above referenced type is characterized in that said first bearing surface is of forwardly towards the outer member protruding curved shape, said first snap member is formed by a downwardly directed ridge on the lower end of said base plate, said second bearing surface is of rearwardly towards the base plate directed curved shape and said second snap member is formed by a lower resiliently deformable protrusion of said outer member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] An embodiment of the present Invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective, partly sectional view of a soap holder or shower shelf in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view during installation,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled fitting, and

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the two inter-engaged parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] As best seen in Fig. 1, the fitting comprises two parts, a base plate 1 and an outer member 2.

[0009] The base plate 1 has a pair of spaced apart apertures 3 arranged to each receive one of a corresponding pair of fasteners 4 by which means the base plate 1 can be secured to a vertical surface 5 (Figs. 2 and 3).

[0010] The base plate 1 is provided with two forwardly protruding curved bearing surfaces 6 as its upper extremities and two downwardly directed ridges 7 as its lower extremities. Preferably located intermediate the curved surfaces 6 and ridges 7 are a pair of load bearing bosses 8 which are generally rectangular in shape. However, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1 the bosses 8 can be deleted or be of reduced height if desired.

[0011] The outer member 2 is provided with a shelf 11 which extends outwardly and an inner surface 12 which faces towards the base plate 1 as best seen in Fig. 2. Along its upper edge, the outer member 2 is provided with a recess 13 having a rearwardly directed curved surface whilst along the lower edge of the outer member 2 there is provided a hook-shaped protrusion 14.

[0012] As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the base plate 1 is first secured to the vertical surface 5. Then the recess 13 is engaged with the curved surfaces 6 whilst the shelf 11 is inclined upwardly above the horizontal. Then the outer member 2 is pivoted in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 so as to engage the protrusion 14 over the ridges 7. This is the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0013] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the engaged position illustrated in Fig. 3, the bosses 8 can be dimensioned to bear on the inner surface 12 and thereby provide additional support to counteract any torque created by objects placed on the shelf 11.

[0014] Furthermore, as best seen in Fig. 2, the side edges 16 (only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2) of the outer member 2 extend rearwardly of the inner surface 12. Thus the side edges 16 cover the base plate 2 from view when viewed in the direction opposite to Figs. 2 and 3 thereby providing for a completely concealed fixture.

[0015] As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a small gap 15 is provided between the vertical surface 5 and protrusion 14 into which a screwdriver, or like device, can be inserted in order to disengage the protrusion 14 and ridges 7. This enables the fixture to be detached from the vertical surface 5 if desired. The gap 15 is ordinarily hidden from view by the shelf 11 and protrusion 14.

[0016] As seen in Fig. 4, in addition to the gap 15, one of the protrusions 14 is provided with a narrow locating slot 17 which mates with the corresponding one of a small lug 18 provided on each the ridges 7. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that since the ridges 7 and protrusions 14 are provided with the same profile, after engagement of the plate 1 and outer member 2, some mechanism should be provided to prevent the possibility of the outer member sliding horizontally (i.e. into and out of the page as illustrated in Fig. 3). This mechanism preferably takes the form of the positioning of the lug 18 in the locating slot 17.

[0017] The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A snap-on fixture arrangement for a load bearing bathroom fitting, said arrangement comprising a base plate (1) having at least one aperture (3) through which a fastener (4) passes to secure said base plate (1) to a vertical surface (5) of a bathroom, an upper first bearing surface (6) spaced apart from, and above, a first snap member on said base plate (1); and an outer member (2) comprising said fitting, the inner surface of said outer member which faces towards the base plate having a second bearing surface (13) and a second snap member whereby said outer member (2) can be engaged with said base plate (1) by inter-engagement of said first and second bearing surfaces (6, 13) and said outer member (2) is pivoted to move said second snap member to snap over said first snap member, characterized in that said first bearing surface (6) is of forwardly towards the outer member protruding curved shape, said first snap member is formed by a downwardly directed ridge (7) on the lower end of said base plate (1), said second bearing surface (13) is of rearwardly towards the base plate directed curved shape and said second snap member is formed by a lower resiliently deformable protrusion (14) of said outer member (2).

2. A fixture arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said base plate (1) is generally H-shaped in configuration, each upright of said H having said forwardly protruding curved bearing surface (6) at its upper edge and said downwardly directed ridge (7) at its lower edge.

3. A fixture as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least one said ridge (7) is provided with a downwardly directed lug (18).

4. A fixture as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said lower protrusion (14) is provided with a locating slot to receive said lug.

5. A fixture as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said base plate (1) is provided with a forwardly protruding load bearing boss (8) located between said upper curved bearing surface (6) and said downwardly directed ridge (7), said boss (8) being dimensioned to bear against the inner surface (12) of said outer member (2) with said ridge (7) and protrusion (14) engaged.

6. A fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said outer member (2) has a peripheral side edge (16) which abuts said bathroom vertical surface (5) with said ridge (7) and protrusion (14) engaged to thereby substantially conceal said base plate (1) from view.

7. A fixture as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the or each protrusion (14) is dimensioned to form a gap (15) between said protrusion (14) and said bathroom vertical surface (5) with said ridge (7) and protrusion (14) engaged.

Ansprüche

1. Schnappbefestigungsanordnung für eine tragende Badezimmerarmatur, wobei die Anordnung umfaßt eine Grundplatte (1) mit zumindest einer Öffnung (3), durch die ein Befestigungselement (4) zum Festlegen der Grundplatte (1) an einer vertikalen Fläche (5) eines Badezimmers führt, einer oberen, ersten Stützfläche (6) in einem Abstand von und oberhalb eines ersten Schnappelementes auf der Grundplatte (1); und ein die Armatur aufweisendes äußeres Element (2), wobei die der Grundplatte zugewandte Innenfläche des äußeren Elementes eine zweite Stützfläche (13) und ein zweites Schnappelement aufweist, wodurch das äußere Element (2) mit der Grundplatte (1) in Eingriff gebracht werden kann, in dem die erste Stützfläche (6) und die zweite Stützfläche (13) miteinander in Eingriff gebracht werden und das äußere Element (2) zum Bewegen des zweiten Schnappelementes zum Schnappen über das erste Schnappelement geschwenkt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Stützfläche (6) eine in Richtung auf das äußere Element nach vorne vorspringende, gekrümmte Form aufweist, das erste Schnappelement von einer nach unten gerichteten Leiste (7) am unteren Ende der Grundplatte (1) gebildet ist, die zweite Stützfläche (13) eine nach hinten, in Richtung auf die Grundplatte ausgerichtete, gekrümmte Form aufweist und das zweite Schnappelement von einem elastisch deformierbaren Vorsprung (14) des äußeren Elementes (2) gebildet ist.

2. Befestigungsanordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Grundplatte (1) eine im allgemeinen H-förmige Konfiguration aufweist, wobei jeder aufrecht stehende Balken des H an seinem oberen Rand die nach vorne vorspringende, gekrümmte Stützfläche (6) und an seinem unteren Rand die nach unten gerichtete Leiste (7) aufweist.

3. Befestigung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest eine Leiste (7) mit einem nach unten gerichteten Ansatz (18) versehen ist.

4. Befestigung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der untere Vorsprung (14) mit einem die Stellung festlegenden Schlitz zum Aufnehmen des Ansatz versehen ist.

5. Befestigung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Grundplatte (1) mit einem nach vorne vorspringenden, tragenden Beschlag (8) versehen ist, der zwischen der oberen, gekrümmten Stützfläche (6) und der nach unten gerichteten Leiste (7) angeordnet ist, wobei der Beschlag (8) so dimensioniert ist, daß er sich gegen die Innenfläche (12) des äußeren Elementes (2) abstützt, wenn die Leiste (7) und der Vorsprung (14) sich im Eingriff befinden.

6. Befestigung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das äußere Element (2) einen umfänglichen Seitenrand (16) aufweist, der gegen die vertikale Badezimmerfläche (5) stößt, wenn die Leiste (7) und der Vorsprung (14) sich im Eingriff befinden, um dadurch die Grundplatte (1) im wesentlichen vor einer Ansicht zu verbergen.

7. Befestigung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der oder jeder Vorsprung (14) so dimensioniert ist, daß ein Spalt (15) zwischen dem Vorsprung (14) und der vertikalen Badezimmerfläche (5) gebildet wird, wenn die Leiste (7) und der Vorsprung (14) sich in Eingriff befinden.

Revendications

1. Un agencement de fixation encliquetable pour un accessoire de salle de bain supportant des charges, ledit agencement comprenant: une plaque de base (1) munie d'au moins une ouverture (3) à travers laquelle passe un organe de fixation (4) pour fixer ladite plaque de base (1) à une surface verticale (5) d'une salle de bain, d'une première surface supérieure de portage (6) espacée et, au-dessus, un premier organe d'encliquetage sur ladite plaque de base (1): et un organe extérieur (2) comprenant ledit accessoire, la surface intérieure dudit organe extérieur (1) qui fait face à la plaque de base présentant une seconde surface de portage (13) et un second organe d'encliquetage, de telle manière que ledit organe extérieur (2) puisse être engagé sur ladite plaque de base (1) par interengagement desdites première et seconde surfaces de portage (6, 13) et que l'on fasse pivoter ledit organe extérieur (2) pour déplacer ledit second organe d'encliquetage afin qu'il vienne s'encliqueter sur ledit premier organe d'encliquetage, caractérisé en ce que ladite première surface de portage (6) présente vers l'organe extérieur une forme incurvée en saillie vers l'avant, en ce que ledit premier organe d'encliquetage est formé par une arête (7) dirigée vers le bas, à l'extrémité inférieure de ladite plaque de base (1), en ce que ladite seconde surface de portage (13) présente vers la plaque de base une forme incurvée dirigée vers l'arrière et en ce que ledit second organe d'encliquetage est formé par une partie inférieure en saillie (14) dudit organe extérieur (2), susceptible d'être déformée élastiquement.

2. Un agencement de fixation tel que revendiqué à la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite plaque de base (1) présente une configuration en forme générale de H, chaque branche verticale dudit H comportant ladite surface de portage (6) incurvée et en saillie vers l'avant à son bord supérieur et ladite arête dirigée vers le bas (7) à son bord inférieur.

3. Une fixation telle que revendiquée à la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce qu'au moins ladite arête (7) est munie d'une patte (18) dirigée vers le bas.

4. Une fixation telle que revendiquée à la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ladite partie inférieure en saillie est munie d'une fente de positionnement pour recevoir ladite patte.

5. Une fixation telle que revendiquée dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite plaque de base (1) est munie d'un bossage de portage de charge faisant saillie vers l'avant, disposé entre ladite surface supérieure de portage incurvée (6) et ladite arête (7) dirigée vers le bas, ledit bossage (8) étant dimensionné pour venir porter contre la surface intérieure (12) dudit organe extérieur (2) lorsque ladite arête (7) et ladite partie en saillie (14) sont encliquetées.

6. Une fixation telle que revendiquée à la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit organe extérieur (2) comporte un bord latéral périphérique (16) qui vient en butée sur ladite surface verticale de salle de bain (5) lorsque ladite arête (7) et ladite partie en saillie (14) sont encliquetées, de manière à cacher sensiblement à la vue ladite plaque de base (1).

7. Une fixation telle que revendiquée à la revendication (2), caractérisée en ce que la ou chaque partie en saillie (14) est dimensionné de façon à former un intervalle (15) entre ladite partie en saillie (14) et ladite surface verticale de salle de bain (5) lorsque ladite arête (7) et ladite partie en saillie (14) sont encliquetées.

Drawing