U.S. patent application number 10/909506 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for mantel mounting system.
Invention is credited to Michael D. Warren.
Application Number | 20060021287 10/909506 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35730565 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060021287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Warren; Michael D. |
February 2, 2006 |
Mantel mounting system
Abstract
A fireplace mantel mounting system including a mantel and a
laterally adjustable support. The mantel and the support include
cooperating hardware sets enabling the mantel to be hung on the
support. The support defines a horizontal slot for receiving
fasteners for attaching the support to a wall. The horizontal slots
permit lateral adjustment of the support facilitate centering of
the support on a fireplace opening. After the support is attached
to the wall in the proper position, the mantel is hung on the
support by way of the cooperating hardware sets.
Inventors: |
Warren; Michael D.;
(Cascade, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARNER NORCROSS & JUDD LLP
900 FIFTH THIRD CENTER
111 LYON STREET, N.W.
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49503-2487
US
|
Family ID: |
35730565 |
Appl. No.: |
10/909506 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/36.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 19/005 20130101;
F24B 1/198 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/036.3 |
International
Class: |
E04F 19/00 20060101
E04F019/00; F24B 1/198 20060101 F24B001/198 |
Claims
1. A mantel mounting system comprising: a support including a cross
member having opposite ends and first and second support legs
extending downwardly from said opposite ends, said support defining
receiver means for receiving fasteners therethrough at a plurality
of horizontal locations for attaching said support to a wall; a
mantel including a shelf portion overlying said cross member and
first and second mantel legs extending downwardly from said shelf
and overlying said support legs; and attachment means for attaching
said mantel shelf portion to said cross member, and for attaching
said first and second mantel legs to said first and second support
legs respectively.
2. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said receiver
means comprises at least one horizontal slot in said cross
member.
3. The mantel mounting system of claim 2 wherein said receiver
means further comprises at least one horizontal slot in each of
said first and second support legs.
4. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said attachment
means comprises prongs and receptacles capable of retaining said
prongs.
5. The mantel mounting system of claim 1 wherein said attachment
means are included on all of said mantel shelf portion, said first
mantel leg, and said second mantel leg.
6. The mantel mounting system of claim 5 wherein said attachment
means are included on all of said cross member, said first support
leg, and said second support leg.
7. The mantel mounting system of claim 6 wherein said first and
second mantel legs include first and second ends respectively
adjacent said shelf portion, and said first and second support legs
include first and seconds ends respectively adjacent said cross
member.
8. A mantel mounting system comprising: a bracket including a cross
member and first and second bracket legs, said cross member
including a longitudinal length; said cross member defining at
least one slot extending along a substantial portion of said
longitudinal length for adjustably attaching said bracket to a
wall, said bracket including a plurality of prongs or receptacles,
at least one of said prongs or receptacles on each of said cross
member, said first bracket leg and said second bracket leg; and a
mantel including a shelf and first and second mantel legs, said
mantel including a plurality of prongs or receptacles with at least
one of said prongs or receptacles on each of said shelf, said first
mantel leg and said second mantel leg, said prongs and said
receptacles spaced apart on said bracket and said mantel such that
said each of said prongs aligns with one of said receptacles and
can engage said receptacle to support said mantel on said
bracket.
9. The mantel mounting system of claim 8 wherein said first and
second mantel legs and said first and second bracket legs have
first and second ends, said first end of said mantel legs adjacent
to said shelf, said first end of said bracket legs adjacent to said
cross member, wherein at least one of said prongs and said
receptacles located near said second ends.
10. The mantel mounting system of claim 8 further including a slot
in each of said bracket legs, said slot extending transversely
across each of said legs.
11. A shelf mounting system comprising: a bracket having a
longitudinal length, said bracket defining a slot extending along a
portion of said longitudinal length, said bracket including a
plurality of first shelf support means, said first shelf support
means spaced apart along said longitudinal length; and a shelf
having a longitudinal length, said shelf including a plurality of
second shelf support means, said second shelf support means spaced
apart along said longitudinal length, said first and second shelf
support means disposed on said bracket and said shelf such that
they align and can be engaged to support said shelf on said
bracket.
12. The shelf mounting system of claim 11 wherein said first and
second support means are comprised of prongs and receptacles that
interfit to support said shelf on said bracket.
13. The shelf mounting system of claim 12 wherein said bracket and
said shelf include first and second ends, at least one of said
first and second shelf support means located proximate to each of
said first and second ends.
14. A method for mounting a mantel on a wall comprising the steps
of: positioning a support on a wall, the support defining at lest
one aperture for receiving fasteners at a plurality of horizontal
locations, the support further including first hardware; inserting
fasteners through selected ones of the apertures in the cross
member and into desired wall locations; and providing a mantel
having second hardware aligned with the first hardware; and
attaching the mantel to the support by engaging the second hardware
with the first hardware.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the support includes a cross
member and a pair of opposite support legs extending downwardly
from the cross member, each of the support legs and the cross
members defining a horizontal slot.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first hardware comprises a
plurality of receivers and the second hardware comprises a
plurality of hooks.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to fireplace mantels and
shelves, and more particularly to a system for mounting such
mantels and shelves on a wall.
[0002] Fireplaces are commonly installed in a wide variety of
structures including homes and commercial buildings. They are
generally located behind a wall with a fireplace opening extending
through the wall to the fireplace hearth.
[0003] It is customary to affix and/or otherwise provide a mantel
on the wall over the fireplace opening. Mantels often include a
shelf located over the fireplace opening, and a pair of side pieces
extending down from the shelf on either side of the fireplace
opening. It is sometimes also desirable to provide additional
shelving and/or bookcases around the fireplace opening for
supporting and displaying for example, photographs and books.
[0004] Unfortunately, affixing mantels and/or shelves to the wall
can be difficult and time consuming. One known method includes
attaching a number of individual hooks to the wall at the locations
of the wall studs. The method also includes attaching a number of
hooks on the back of the mantel that interfit with the hooks on the
wall. Once each of the hooks is properly positioned and affixed to
the wall, the hooks on the mantel are aligned with the hooks on the
wall and the mantel is hung on the wall. This method suffers in
that it can be cumbersome and time consuming to properly position
the hooks on the wall and the mantel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present
invention comprising a mantel and a mounting support for the
mantel. Cooperating mounting hardware is mounted on both the mantel
and the support at standard locations, so that the mantel can be
easily mounted on the support. The support includes means for
permitting the support to be mounted on a wall at a plurality of
lateral locations, facilitating the rapid mounting of the support
centered on the fireplace opening.
[0006] In one embodiment, the support is an elongated board or
plate defining one or more elongated horizontal slots. The slots
are adapted to receive conventional fasteners for attaching the
support to a wall in a plurality of lateral locations.
[0007] In another embodiment, the mounting hardware includes a
plurality of cleats and brackets that are aligned on the mantel
shelf and on the support so that the cleats can be inserted into
the brackets to support the shelf on the wall.
[0008] In another embodiment, the mantel includes a shelf and first
and second side pieces extending downwardly from opposite ends of
the shelf. The support includes a cross member under the shelf, and
first and second legs extending downwardly from opposite ends of
the cross member. The support legs are under the mantel side
pieces. The mantel side pieces and the support legs each include a
set of mounting hardware for mounting the side pieces on the
support legs when the mantel is mounted on the support.
[0009] The present invention also includes a method for installing
a mantle on a wall, including the steps of: (a) placing an
elongated support on a wall, the support having a plurality of
spaced apart brackets; (b) inserting a fastener through a
horizontal slot in the support so that the fastener is aligned with
a desired wall location; (c) attaching the support to the wall with
the fastener; and (d) hanging a mantel shelf having a plurality of
spaced apart cleats on the support by inserting the cleats into the
brackets.
[0010] The lateral adjustability of the support facilitates the
rapid and proper installation of mantels and shelves.
[0011] These and other objects, advantages, and features of the
invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by
reference to the detailed description of the current embodiments
and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the mantel system
including the mantel and the support.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleat on the mantel.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket on the
support.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the
support cross member and one leg.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 4 in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear of the mantel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0018] A mantel mounting system according to one embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally designated
10. The mantle mounting system 10 includes a mounting support 12
for attachment to a wall 14, and a mantel 16 that attaches to the
support 12.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the support 12 may be comprised of wood,
plastic or another suitable material and includes a cross member
18, and first and second support legs 20, 22 extending downwardly
from the cross member 18. The cross member includes an upper
surface 24, a lower surface 26, a front surface 28, a rear surface
30 and first and second ends 32 and 34. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an
elongated slot 50 or a plurality of slots 50 extend along a
substantial portion of the longitudinal length of the cross member
18. The slots 50 extend through the front 28 and rear 30 surfaces
of the cross member 18, and are sized so that a conventional
fastener 52 may be inserted through the slot 50 and be slidable
within the slot 50. Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the front surface
28 of the cross member 18 includes a plurality of spaced apart
brackets 54. As shown, the cross member 18 includes two brackets 54
located near the opposing ends 32, 34 of the cross member 18.
Alternatively, any number of brackets 54 could be spaced at a
variety of locations on the cross member 18. Shown in FIG. 3, the
brackets 54 include a metal plate 55 that defines one or more slots
or holes 56. As illustrated, each bracket 54 includes two slots 56
aligned vertically in the plate 55. Shown in FIG. 5, the front
surface 28 of the cross member 18 may include notches 58 behind the
slots 56 for receiving prongs 60 (described below). The notches 58
generally extend below the lower edge 62 of the slots 56. The
brackets 54 are secured to the cross member 18 by conventional
fasteners 64, such as wood screws.
[0020] The support 20, 22 include a front surface 36 and first and
second ends 38 and 40. The first end 38 of the legs 20, 22 is
attached to the lower surface 26 of the cross member 18 at the ends
32, 34 of the cross member. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, a
pair of dowels 42, 44 extend from the first end 38 of the legs 20,
22 and into corresponding holes (not shown) in the lower surface 26
of the cross member 18. An adhesive such as wood glue may be
disposed on the dowels 42, 44 before they are inserted into the
holes for creating a secure attachment between the cross member 18
and the legs 20, 22. In one embodiment, the legs 20, 22 include
slots 66 extending through the legs 20, 22 in a direction
transverse to the longitudinal length of the legs 20, 22. Similar
to the slots 50 in the cross member, the slots 66 are sized to
receive a conventional fastener 68. The legs 20, 22 may also
include brackets 70. As shown in FIG. 1, each leg 20, 22 includes
one bracket near the second end 40 of the leg. Alternatively, one
or more brackets 70 may be disposed at various locations on the
legs 20, 22. The brackets 70 are generally the same as the brackets
54 on the cross member 18, and therefore will not be described
again in detail.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the mantel 16 includes a shelf 100, and
first and second mantel side pieces 103, 104. The shelf 100
includes a horizontal member 101 and a cross beam 102. The
horizontal member includes an upper surface 106, and a lower
surface 108, a front surface 110, a rear surface 120 (shown in FIG.
6), and first and second ends 122, 124. The cross beam 102 is
generally a rectangular board that extends along substantially all
of the lower surface 108 of the horizontal member 101 and is
conventionally attached to the horizontal member 101 between the
side pieces 103, 104. The cross beam 102 includes an upper surface
107, a lower surface 109, a front surface 111, a rear surface 121,
and first and second ends 123, 125. As shown in FIG. 6, a portion
131 of the horizontal member 101 extends past the rear surface 121
of the cross beam 102 to form an overhang. As shown in FIGS. 2 and
6, the rear surface 121 of the cross beam 102 includes a plurality
of cleats 126. The cleats 126 are spaced along the rear surface 121
so that they can be aligned with the brackets 54 on the support 12.
As illustrated, the cleats 126 extend from a rectangular plate 128.
The cleats 126 include a first member 130 that extends normal to
the plate 128, and a second member 132 that extends downwardly from
the first member 130. The plate 128 is generally rectangular and
may be formed from steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other suitable
material. The plate 128 is attached to the shelf 100 by
conventional fasteners 134, such as wood screws.
[0022] The first and second mantel side pieces 103, 104 extend
downwardly from the lower surface 108 of the horizontal member 101
at the ends 122, 124 on opposite sides of the cross beam 102. The
mantel side pieces 103, 104 generally include a first end 136, a
second end 138, a rear surface 140, an outer edge 142, and an inner
edge 144. The mantel side pieces 103, 104 attach to the horizontal
member 101 and the cross beam 102 in a conventional manner, such as
a pair of blocks 146, 148 that extend over a portion of the rear
surface 121 of the cross beam 102 and a portion of the rear surface
140 of the mantel side pieces 103, 104 and attach to both the cross
beam 102 and the side pieces 103, 104 with conventional fasteners
150, such as wood screws. The side pieces 103, 104 may also include
side panels 152, 154 that extend along and attach to the outer edge
142 of the side pieces 103, 104. A portion 156 of the side panels
152, 154 extends past the rear surface 140 of the side pieces 103,
104 to form an overhang. In addition, the side pieces may each
include a cleat 160 or a set of cleats. The cleats 160 are
generally the same as the cleats 126 on the cross beam 102. The
cleats 160 are positioned such that they can be aligned with the
brackets 70 on the support legs 20, 22.
[0023] In operation, the mantel support 12 is positioned against
the wall 14 with the rear surface 30 of the cross member adjacent
to the wall 14. One or more conventional fasteners 52 are inserted
through the slot 50 at any location along the slot 50, such as
directly aligned with a stud in the wall 14. The fasteners 52 are
then inserted into the wall 14 and attached to the wall 14. Before
the fasteners 52 are tightened against the support 12, the support
12 may be re-positioned on the wall by sliding the fasteners 52
along the slot 50. When the support 12 is positioned as desired,
the fasteners are tightened to secure the support 12 to the wall.
If the legs 20, 22 include slots 66, they are attached to the wall
14 in a similar manner by inserting fasteners 68 through the slots
66. Once the support 12 is secured to the wall 14, the mantel 16
can be hung on the support 12. This requires holding the mantel 16
in front of the support 12 so that the cleats 126 and 160 on the
cross beam 102 and the mantel side pieces 103, 104 align with the
brackets 54 and 70 on the support 12 and the support legs 20, 22.
The second member 132 of each cleat 126 and 160 is inserted through
the slot 56 and into the notch 58 of the brackets 54 and 70 and
lowered so that the cleats 126 and 160 are retained by the brackets
54 and 70, securing the mantel 16 to the support 12 and the wall
14. Obviously, though the brackets are described in connection with
the support 12 and the cleats are described in connection with the
mantel 16 it would be equally effective to reverse some or all of
the attachment points to include cleats on the support and brackets
on the mantel. Similarly, any other set of corresponding mounting
hardware could be used instead of cleats and brackets. When the
mantel 16 is secured to the support 12, the overhanging portions
131 and 156 on the mantel 16 cover the support 12 when the mantel
16 is hung to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish.
Alternative Embodiment
[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the support 12 and the mantel
16 do not include support legs 20, 22 and mantel side pieces 103,
104. This provides for easy mounting of a shelf similar to the
shelf 100 at any desired location on a wall 14. The support cross
member 18 is essentially the same as described in the above
embodiment, as is the rear of the cross beam 102, such that each
includes corresponding spaced brackets or cleats. In another
embodiment, the cross beam 102 may also be removed, and the
brackets or cleats may be disposed on the rear surface 120 of the
horizontal member 101. In operation, the shelf 100 is mounted to
the cross member 18 similar to the mounting of the entire mantel as
described in the first embodiment.
[0025] The above descriptions are those of current embodiments of
the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without
departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention,
which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of
patent law including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
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