U.S. patent application number 10/735441 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-02 for arrangement for attaching a hygienic article.
Invention is credited to Faisst, Magdalena, Moosmann, Hubert.
Application Number | 20040169117 10/735441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32319127 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040169117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Faisst, Magdalena ; et
al. |
September 2, 2004 |
Arrangement for attaching a hygienic article
Abstract
An arrangement for attaching a hygienic article such that its
height will be adjustable incorporates a wall-mounting rod that may
be attached to the wall using brackets. The wall-mounting rod
incorporates a guiding profile, along which a slide may be slid.
The brackets are configured such that they leave the guiding
profile clear in order that a slide may be slid past the locations
where they engage the wall-mounting rod without hindrance.
Inventors: |
Faisst, Magdalena;
(Schiltach, DE) ; Moosmann, Hubert; (Schiltach,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPHAN P. GRIBOK
DUANE MORRIS LLP
ONE LIBERTY PLACE
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
32319127 |
Appl. No.: |
10/735441 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/297.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/066 20130101;
E03C 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/297.21 |
International
Class: |
A47F 001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2002 |
DE |
10260205.0 |
Claims
1. An arrangement for attaching hygienic articles such that their
height will be adjustable having 1.1 a wall-mounting rod (1, 21,
31) that 1.1.1 has a continuous, guiding profile for guiding a
slide (6) extending over its full length, 1.2 at least one bracket
(2, 34) for fastening the wall-mounting rod (1, 21, 31) to a wall
or similar that 1.2.1 leaves that part of the guiding profile used
for guiding the slide (6) clear.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, where the bracket (2, 34)
may be attached to the wall-mounting rod (1, 21, 31) in the
vicinities of its ends.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, where the
bracket (2, 34) may be attached to the wall-mounting rod (1, 21,
31) by inserting it into same, latching it onto same, or
similar.
4. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims having
several, at least partially identically shaped brackets (2,
34).
5. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
the at least one bracket (2, 34) is configured for attachment to
two sections (1a, 1b, 31a, 31b) of a wall-mounting rod that are to
be coaxially arranged.
6. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
the at least one bracket (2, 34) has two attachment sections (2a,
2b), one each on or near each of its ends, one (2a) of which is
configured for attaching a terminating collar (3) or some other
terminating component (4) for terminating the wall-mounting
rod.
7. An arrangement according to claim 6, where the attachment
section (2a) for attaching the terminating component has a device
for the form-fit, or interference-fit, attachment of a terminating
component (3, 4).
8. An arrangement according to claims 6 and 7, where both
attachment sections (2a, 2b) have means for guiding the sections
(1a, 1b, 31a, 31b) of the wall-mounting rod.
9. An arrangement according to any of claims 6-8, where the two
attachment sections (2a, 2b) are separated by a land (8) that may
also form a joint, if desired.
10. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
the wall-mounting rod (1, 21) has a groove (5), preferably on the
front surface of the wall-mounting rod (1, 21), forming a guiding
profile.
11. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
a lower terminating component (4) has an extension of the groove
(5).
12. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
the wall-mounting rod (1, 21) forms a length of hollow, profiled
stock and the bracket (2, 34) engages the interior (22) of its
hollow profile (1, 21, 31).
13. An arrangement according to any of the foregoing claims, where
the accessory items may be attached to the bracket (2, 34, 40), in
particular, to the land (8, 41) separating its two attachment
sections, where the land may be broadened for this purpose, if
necessary.
Description
[0001] The invention is based on an arrangement for attaching a
hygienic article, for example, a hand-held shower head, such that
its height will be adjustable. Vertical wall-mounting rods that are
normally mounted at a short distance from a wall are usually
employed for this purpose. A pair of brackets, one each at the
upper end and lower end of the rod, are employed for mounting it on
the wall. These brackets simultaneously form the end caps of the
wall-mounting rod. A slide guided on the wall-mounting rod, and to
which the shower head is fastened, may be slid along the full
length of the wall-mounting rod, but cannot be slid off its upper
or lower end.
[0002] Also known are guides in the form of lengths of elaborately
profiled stock that are usually configured in the form of hollow
profiled structures, where a guide for the slide may be formed by a
groove on their front or rear surface.
[0003] The problem addressed by the invention is creating an
arrangement for attaching adjustable hygienic articles that will
yield greater freedom in the manner in which they are attached.
[0004] In order to solve that problem, the invention proposes an
arrangement having those features stated in claim 1. Elaborations
on the invention are covered by the subclaims.
[0005] According to the theory underlying the invention, the at
least one bracket for mounting the wall-mounting rod will be
confined to its proper function. Its task is holding the
wall-mounting rod in place without simultaneously forming the stops
at the top or bottom of the rod. If such stops are desired, stops,
for example, collars, may be attached to the, in this case, free
ends of the profiled rod or to the bracket. If a wall-mounting rod
is fastened to the wall using such a bracket at both its upper and
lower end, it will still be possible to remove just its terminating
collars, slide out the slide, and replace the slide.
[0006] The invention is, for example, applicable to wall-mounting
rods where the slide rides on their outer surface. Only a narrow
section on the slide will need to be left free for clearing the
bracket.
[0007] Another configuration of the wall-mounting rod made feasible
by the invention is assembling it from several coaxial sections,
which will allow assembling wall-mounting rods having differing
lengths from individual, modular components. In the simplest case,
this may be accomplished by consecutively attaching the sections of
the wall-mounting rod using one or two brackets for each section.
Their alignment may be accomplished by virtue of their having been
mounted on the wall alone.
[0008] The invention proposes configuring the brackets such that
they may be attached to the wall-mounting rod near its ends.
[0009] In particular, it may be provided that the brackets may be
are attached to the wall-mounting rod by inserting them therein,
latching them thereon, or other means of attachment, without use of
tools, and without need for attaching them to the wall-mounting rod
using screws. Fastening the wall-mounting rod to the brackets may
be accomplished by fastening a pair of wall brackets onto the wall
using screws such that the wall-mounting bracket bridges them.
[0010] According to the invention, the arrangement may have
several, at least partially identical brackets. The brackets may
also be reversed before being attached to the wall-mounting rod, if
necessary.
[0011] As has been mentioned above, the wall-mounting rod may be
assembled from individual sections. Since the brackets leave the
guiding length of profiled stock unobstructed, the slide may then
be slid over the intersection of two sections. Under an elaboration
on the invention, it may then be provided that at least one bracket
is configured for joining two sections of the wall-mounting rod to
be arranged coaxially. The alignment and orientation of the two
sections of the wall-mounting rod may also be accomplished using a
bracket. Only a single bracket will then need to be present at the
joint of the two sections of the wall-mounting rod.
[0012] Under an elaboration on the invention, the at least one
bracket may have a pair of attachment sections, one on each end,
one of which is configured for attaching a terminating collar or
other means of terminating the wall-mounting rod. This
configuration may differ from that intended for attaching it to the
section of wall-mounting rod, since the section of wall-mounting
rod will still be supported by another bracket at its other end.
The section of the bracket for attaching the terminating collar or
the end cap of the wall-mounting rod may be used for securely
attaching this component; in particular, its attachment section may
have a device for form-fit or interference-fit attachment of the
terminating component.
[0013] Nevertheless, in this case as well, it may also be provided
that both attachment sections of a bracket have means for guiding
the sections of the wall-mounting rod.
[0014] According to the invention, it may be provided that the pair
of attachment sections of a bracket are separated by a land that
forms a split joint when all components have been assembled. The
land may be configured in the form of a narrow, circumferential
protrusion that will also provide certain opportunities for
designing the assembly's appearance. In some cases, the land may
also be broadened, particularly if other components are to be
attached thereto.
[0015] In order to fasten the bracket to the wall, a hole for
inserting a screw may be present, where this hole is preferably
arranged within the attachment section intended for attaching the
terminating component.
[0016] The wall-mounting rod may, for example, have a groove
forming the guiding profile on either its rear surface or, in
particular, on its front surface. The bracket will then also leave
this groove unobstructed. For example, a lower terminating
component may have an extension of the groove in order that, in
this case as well, the slide may be slid out of the groove without
removing any parts from the wall-mounting rod.
[0017] A shower hose that may be subsequently readily withdrawn
from the groove may also be accommodated in the groove, beneath the
slide.
[0018] The wall-mounting rod itself may be formed from a length of
hollow, profiled stock whose inner surface is engaged by the
attachment sections of the bracket.
[0019] Additional holders for auxiliary items, for example, a
holder for a toothbrush glass, may be attached to the bracket at,
for example, the intersection of two sections of the wall-mounting
rod.
[0020] Other features, details, and benefits of the invention are
as stated in the following description of preferred embodiments of
the invention, the claims, and the abstract, whose wordings are
herewith made part of the content of the description by way of
reference thereto, and as shown in the accompanying figures, which
depict:
[0021] FIG. 1 a schematized view of a wall-mounting rod consisting
of two sections and having a bracket for attaching a shower
head;
[0022] FIG. 2 enlarged views of individual components of the
bracket assembly;
[0023] FIG. 3 a sectioned view of a profiled wall-mounting rod of
another embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 4 a partially longitudinally sectioned view of the
joint of two sections of the wall-mounting rod having a circular
cross-section;
[0025] FIG. 5 a top view of the bracket of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 a frontal view of another bracket.
[0027] FIG. 1 depicts a wall-mounting rod that is to be assembled
from an upper section 1a and a lower section 1b. Both sections 1a,
1b of the wall-mounting rod have the same cross-section, but, in
the case of the example shown here, differing lengths. An
approximately U-shaped bracket 2 is depicted at the joint of the
two sections 1a, 1b, which are shown here separated. The land has a
hole, through which a screw that may be used for fastening the
bracket 2 to, for example, a wall, may be inserted. A bracket 2 is
also present at the upper end of the upper section 1a of the
wall-mounting rod, and another is present at the lower end of the
lower section 1b of the wall-mounting rod. Its upper end is to be
terminated by an end cap 3, while a terminating component is to be
attached thereto in the vicinity of its lower end. The front
surface of the wall-mounting rod, i.e., that surface thereof that
faces away from the wall, incorporates a continuous groove 5 having
a constant cross-section extending from top to bottom, within which
a slide 6 having a holder 7 for a hand-held shower head is guided
such that its position is adjustable.
[0028] The bracket 2 is configured such that it leaves the groove 5
unobstructed in order that the slide 6 may be readily slid out of
the upper section 1a of the wall-mounting rod and into the lower
section 1b of the wall-mounting rod.
[0029] Assembly takes place in the following order: Firstly, the
central bracket 2 is fastened to the wall using a screw. The upper
section 1a of the wall-mounting rod is then set onto the slide such
that the upper portion of the latter engages the profile in the
section 1a of the wall-mounting rod, as shall be explained below.
The upper bracket 2 is then attached to the upper section 1a of the
wall-mounting rod and fastened to the wall using a screw. The end
cap 3 is then set onto the upper end of the wall-mounting rod.
[0030] Finally, the lower section 1b of the wall-mounting rod is
slid onto the fully assembled bracket 2 and the lower bracket is
fastened to the wall using a screw. The lower terminating component
4 may then be fastened to the lower bracket 2.
[0031] One could also start at the bottom, in which case, the
sections of the rod may be slid onto the brackets from above and
will not slip down during the period before the next bracket has
been fastened in place. In particular, preassembled rods may be
extended upward or downward.
[0032] The individual components of this arrangement of
wall-mounting rods are depicted in FIG. 2, where only a single,
rather short, section 1a has been shown for the sake of
simplicity.
[0033] Let us now turn to the bracket 2. The upper bracket 2 shown
in FIG. 2 has an upper attachment section 2a and a lower attachment
section 2b. These two attachment section 2a, 2b are separated by a
land 8 running around both the inner surface and outer surface of
the bracket 2. A hole 9 for inserting a screw is arranged on the
rear wall of the upper attachment section 2a. A flexible protrusion
10 that is capable of flexing inward is formed on the sidewall of
the attachment section 2a. This protrusion extends from a guiding
surface 11 that lies in the same plane as the guiding surface 12 on
the other side of the land 8.
[0034] This land may be extended transverse to the longitudinal
axis of the wall-mounting rod, i.e., may be broadened. That portion
thereof that is clearly visible, which may also be used as a design
feature, may then also be used for providing fasteners, to which
other items, for example, storage trays, holders for toothbrush
glasses, or similar, may be attached.
[0035] A similarly configured arrangement, i.e., a flexible
protrusion 10 and guiding surfaces 11 that extend into the guiding
surface 12 of the lower attachment section 2b, is present on the
opposite, outer surface of the upper attachment section 2a, which
is concealed from view in the figure.
[0036] The upper attachment section 2a of the upper bracket 2 shown
in FIG. 2 accommodates the aforementioned end cap 3, which has a
hole 13 in its sidewall that is engaged by the flexible protrusion
10 from within, thereby yielding a form-fit detention of the end
cap 3.
[0037] FIG. 1 depicts a shortened representation of the profile of
the wall-mounting rod 1a, which is a fully enclosed hollow profile.
The sidewalls of the bracket 2 engage the inner surfaces of the
hollow profile. Their mating guiding surfaces 12 are thus located
on the inner surfaces of the profile. Inserting the bracket into
the profile may, in some cases, yield a tight fit in order that the
bracket 2 will be held in place in the profile once it has inserted
therein.
[0038] A second bracket 2 that is shown in the lowermost drawing of
FIG. 2 is then attached to the lower end of the section 1b of the
wall-mounting rod. However, in this case, it has been depicted
rotated through 180.degree., since the attachment section 2a is now
intended to accommodate the terminating component 4, which is
configured similarly to the end cap 3, except that it has a through
hole.
[0039] The wall-mounting rod has the aforementioned continuous
groove 5, which is dimensioned such that the shower hose of the
shower head inserted into the holder 7 may be emplaced in this
groove 5, on its front surface 14. Since the brackets 2 engage the
interior of the profiled wall-mounting rod, they leave the
cross-section of the groove 5 totally arbitrary. The groove 5 forms
the profiled surfaces for guiding the slide 6. The outer edges of
the land 8 are contoured such that they match the contour of the
outer surface of the profiled wall-mounting rod. No portion of the
land thus extends into the profiled cross-section of the groove
5.
[0040] The two brackets shown in FIG. 2 are identically configured,
even though they are differently arranged. One of their two
attachment sections is specially designed for attaching a
terminating component, but may be used for inserting the bracket
into the interior of the profiled wall-mounting rod 1, and thus
guiding the bracket therein. Although the guiding surfaces 12 on
attachment section 2a for the profiled wall-mounting rod 1 are
somewhat shorter than those on the remainder thereof, they are
wholly adequate for guiding it. The flexible protrusion 10 may be
bent back in order that it will be out of the way. A form-fit
retention in the lateral direction is unnecessary in the case of
the wall-mounting rods, since they are held in place at both ends
by the respective brackets 2.
[0041] There is no need for a bracket 2 to have two attachment
sections 2a for attaching terminating components, since cases where
two terminating elements are to be attached immediately adjacent
to, and abutting against, one another never occur.
[0042] The lower terminating component 4 (cf. FIG. 1) is configured
such that it has practically the same profile as the wall-mounting
rod, except that its profile is not open at the rear. The
terminating component 4 extends the groove 5. The hose may hang
down through this terminating component.
[0043] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment where the wall-mounting
rod 21 is also configured in the form of a length of hollow,
profiled stock have a groove 5 that forms the profiled surfaces for
guiding the slide on its front surface. In the case of this
embodiment, a bracket may also be shaped such that both of its
attachment sections engage the interior 22 of the hollow profiled
stock. The bracket may also be shaped such that it has a pair of
lateral lobes that engage the pair of profiled channels 23 on the
lateral surfaces of the wall-mounting rod 21. However, a
configuration where they engage the interior of the hollow profiled
stock is preferred.
[0044] Whereas the two embodiments that have thus far been treated
relate to hollow profiled stock where a groove provides the
profiled, guiding surfaces, FIGS. 4 and 5 depict a simplified
embodiment having a wall-mounting rod having a circular
cross-section, where a slide rides on the outer surface of the
wall-mounting rod. The bottom end of the upper section 31a of the
wall-mounting rod has a short, narrow slot 32. The lower section
31b of the wall-mounting rod has a similar slot 32 in the vicinity
of its upper end. The bracket 34 incorporates a cylindrical
retaining section 35 whose outer diameter equals the inner diameter
of the wall-mounting rod 31. The retaining section 35 is joined to
a retaining plate 37 that has screw holes 38 by a narrow land 36.
The bracket 34 is screwed onto the wall and the two sections 31a,
31b of the wall-mounting rod are then slid onto the retaining
section 35 from above or below, yielding a continuous,
wall-mounting rod, onto which a slide having a slot mating to the
land 36 may be slid over the bracket 34 and onward, until it
reaches a certain position.
[0045] Let us now turn to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 depicts a frontal view of
a bracket 40 that may be used for mounting a wall-mounting rod
according to FIGS. 1 through 3. Whereas the bracket shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 has a very narrow land 8, that shown here has a broadened
land 41. A pair of short appendages 42 that are symmetrically
arranged about the bracket's longitudinal centerline project
outward from the land 41. A receptacle 43, which is shown here in a
simplified representation only, that might, for example, be
configured in the form of a short, cylindrical jack, into which a
lug of, for example, a tray, might be inserted from above, is then
arranged on the free end of each appendage 42. The bracket that
fastens the wall-mounting rod to the wall may thus take on the
additional function of providing facilities for attaching other
items.
[0046] A pair of holes may be provided on the rear wall of the
bracket for fastening it to the wall, whereas, in the case of the
embodiment described earlier, only a single hole was present.
* * * * *