U.S. patent application number 15/712634 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-28 for towel ring assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.. Invention is credited to Adam CALLIF, Neil EDWARDS, Matthew KLEIN, Bridget Marie SOLDAN.
Application Number | 20190090697 15/712634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65807031 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190090697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EDWARDS; Neil ; et
al. |
March 28, 2019 |
TOWEL RING ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be
mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring portion is mounted
to the base to support a towel. The first towel ring portion has a
radius. A second towel ring portion is pivotally mounted to the
base to support another towel. The second towel ring portion has a
radius that is generally equivalent to the first towel ring portion
radius. The first towel ring portion and the second towel ring
portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel
ring.
Inventors: |
EDWARDS; Neil;
(Kernersville, NC) ; KLEIN; Matthew; (Apex,
NC) ; SOLDAN; Bridget Marie; (Chicago, IL) ;
CALLIF; Adam; (Chicago, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP. |
Winston-Salem |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65807031 |
Appl. No.: |
15/712634 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 2201/02 20130101;
A47K 10/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/10 20060101
A47K010/10 |
Claims
1. A towel ring assembly comprising: a base adapted to be mounted
to a support surface; a first towel ring mounted to the base to
support a towel wherein the first towel ring is stationary and not
pivotal relative to the base; and a second towel ring pivotally
mounted to the base to support another towel.
2. (canceled)
3. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the second towel ring
is pivotally mounted to the base about an axis that is tangential
to the second towel ring.
4. The towel ring assembly of claim 3 wherein the first towel ring
intersects a pivot axis of the second towel ring.
5. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the second towel ring
has a round cross section; and wherein the second towel ring is
pivotally mounted to the base about a pivot axis that is tangential
to a central axis of the second towel ring cross section.
6. The towel ring assembly of claim 5 wherein the first towel ring
has a round cross section; and wherein the first towel ring is
mounted to the base so that a central axis of the first towel ring
cross section is tangential with the central axis of the second
towel ring.
7. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bushing
in engagement with the base and the second towel ring.
8. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a
mounting plate; a fastener to fasten the mounting plate to the
base; and a fastener assembly to fasten the mounting plate to the
support surface.
9. A towel ring assembly comprising: a base adapted to be mounted
to a support surface; a first towel ring portion mounted to the
base to support a towel, wherein the first towel ring is not
pivotal relative to the base; and a second towel ring portion
pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel, wherein the
first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion
cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.
10. The towel ring assembly of claim 9 wherein the first towel ring
portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end
extending from the base in a first circumferential direction of the
continuous towel ring; and wherein the second towel ring portion
has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending
from the base in a second circumferential direction of the
continuous towel ring that is opposite of the first circumferential
direction.
11. The towel ring assembly of claim 10 wherein the second towel
ring portion partially overlaps the first towel ring portion.
12. The towel ring assembly of claim 11 further comprising an
elastomeric bumper mounted on one of the first towel ring portion
and the second towel ring portion and oriented to engage the other
of the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion
to minimize contact therebetween.
13. The towel ring assembly of claim 11 wherein the continuous
towel ring has a consistent cross section; and wherein the first
towel ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of
overlap with the second towel ring portion to receive the second
towel ring portion and collectively provide the consistent cross
section of the continuous towel ring.
14. The towel ring assembly of claim 13 wherein the second towel
ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of overlap
with the first towel ring portion to engage the first towel ring
portion and collectively provide the consistent cross section of
the continuous towel ring.
15. The towel ring assembly of claim 14 wherein the cross section
of the continuous towel ring is round; and wherein the reduced
cross section of the first towel ring portion is a half-circle with
a flat forward face along the first towel ring portion for receipt
of the second towel ring portion.
16. The towel ring assembly of claim 15 wherein the reduced cross
section of the second towel ring portion is a half-circle with a
flat rearward face along the second towel ring portion for receipt
upon the first towel ring portion.
17. The towel ring assembly of claim 16 wherein the reduced cross
section of the first towel ring portion extends along the region of
overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of
overlap and an abutment surface at the distal end of the first
towel ring portion.
18. The towel ring assembly of claim 17 wherein the reduced cross
section of the second towel ring portion extends along the region
of overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of
overlap to receive the abutment surface of the distal end of the
second towel ring portion, and an abutment surface at the distal
end of the second towel ring portion to be received within the
abutment recess of the first towel ring portion.
19. The towel ring assembly of claim 9 wherein the first towel ring
portion has a radius; and wherein the second towel ring portion has
a radius equivalent to the first towel ring portion radius.
20. A towel ring assembly comprising: a base adapted to be mounted
to a support surface; a first towel ring mounted to the base to
support a towel, the first towel ring having a radius; and a second
towel ring pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel,
the second towel ring having a radius that is equivalent to the
first towel ring radius, wherein the first towel ring portion and
the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a
continuous towel ring; wherein the first towel ring portion has a
proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from
the base in a first circumferential direction of the continuous
towel ring; wherein the second towel ring portion has a proximal
end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base
in a second circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring
that is opposite of the first circumferential and direction;
wherein the second towel ring portion partially overlaps the first
towel ring portion by approximately 180 degrees; and wherein the
first towel ring portion extends from the base approximately 270
degrees only, and wherein the second towel ring portion extends
from the base approximately 270 degrees only.
21. (canceled)
22. The towel ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the first towel ring
is formed integrally with the base.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Various embodiments relate to towel ring assemblies.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A towel ring is disclosed in FIG. 5 of Edwards et al. US
Patent Application Publication No. US 2015/0014505 A1.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to at least one embodiment, a towel ring assembly
is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface.
A first towel ring is mounted to the base to support a towel. A
second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base to support
another towel.
[0004] According to at least another embodiment, a towel ring
assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support
surface. A first towel ring portion is mounted to the base to
support a towel. A second towel ring portion is pivotally mounted
to the base to support another towel. The first towel ring portion
and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide
a continuous towel ring.
[0005] According to at least another embodiment, a towel ring
assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support
surface. A first towel ring is mounted to the base to support a
towel. The first towel ring has a radius. A second towel ring is
pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel. The second
towel ring has a radius that is generally equivalent to the first
towel ring radius.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towel ring assembly
according to an embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the towel ring assembly
of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of the towel ring
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the towel ring
assembly of FIG. 1, illustrated in an expanded position; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the towel ring
assembly of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
invention.
[0012] Towel ring assemblies are hardware assemblies that are
mounted to upright support surfaces, such as a wall, to support
towels. Towel ring assemblies are typically mounted to the support
surface adjacent a sink, tub or shower for to support a towel for
ready access near an appropriate fixture. The support surfaces for
mounting these assemblies may be limited due to the space permitted
in an applicable bathroom, kitchen or the like. The support
surfaces may be further limited due to wall mounted accessories,
such as mirrors and lighting, fixtures and appliances.
[0013] A towel ring assembly 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The
towel ring assembly 10 is illustrated in a collapsed position in
FIGS. 1-3 for supporting a single article. The towel ring assembly
10 is illustrated in an expanded position in FIG. 4 for supporting
multiple articles such as two towels.
[0014] The towel ring assembly 10 includes a post 12 with a base
14. The base 14 cooperates with hardware to mount and support the
towel ring assembly 10 upon an upright support surface such as a
wall. FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the towel
ring assembly 10. The towel ring assembly 10 may include a hardware
mounting plate 16, which may be fastened to the wall by a plurality
of fasteners, such as threaded fasteners 18. The towel ring
assembly 10 may also include a plurality of drywall anchors 20 to
receive the fasteners 18 and secure the mounting plate 16 to
drywall. Once the mounting plate 16 is fastened to the wall, the
base 14 can be assembled upon the mounting plate 16 and retained to
the mounting plate 16 by a set screw 22 as is known in the art.
[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the towel ring assembly 10
includes a pair of towel ring portions 24, 26. The first towel ring
portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26 cooperate to
collectively provide a continuous towel ring 24, 26 as depicted in
FIGS. 1-3 to support a single article. The first towel ring portion
24 and the second towel ring portions 26 are also expandable, as
shown in FIG. 4, to support multiple articles, such as two towels.
In the collapsed manner, the towel ring assembly 10 provides an
appearance of a conventional towel ring assembly. In the expanded
position of FIGS. 4, the towel ring assembly 10 provides an
ornamental appearance similar to the collapsed position that is
compact and supports multiple towels. By providing these options, a
consumer may alter the quantity of towels without having an open
ring when only one towel is supported. This flexibility also
permits the addition and subtraction of towels based on occupants,
visitors, seasonal decorations without having to add an additional
towel ring.
[0016] The towel ring assembly 10 includes a towel ring receptacle
28 mounted to the end of the post 12 to space the towel ring
portions 24, 26 away from the wall. Referring again to FIG. 5, a
distal end 30 of the post is shaped to match a curvature of the
receptacle 28. Additionally a socket 32 is formed in the post
distal end 30 to receive a plug 34 on the receptacle 28 to seat the
receptacle 28 upon the post 12. A fastener 36 may extend through
the distal end 30 of the post 12 to fasten the receptacle 28 to the
post 12.
[0017] Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the first towel ring
portion 24 has a proximal end 38 that is mounted to the receptacle
28. The first towel ring portion 24 may be stationary relative to
the receptacle 28, and consequently stationary relative to the base
14 and the wall. In the depicted embodiment, the first towel ring
portion 24 and the receptacle 28 are formed integrally. The first
towel ring portion 24 extends from the receptacle 28 in a first
circumferential direction, which is counter-clockwise in the
Figures.
[0018] Referring now to all of the Figures, a proximal end 40 of
the second towel ring portion 26 is received within the receptacle
28 to extend away from the receptacle 28 in an opposed
circumferential direction (counter-clockwise) to that of the first
towel ring portion 24. The second towel ring portion 26 is
pivotally connected to the receptacle 28 to pivot relative to the
base 14 up to approximately twenty degrees away from the first
towel ring portion 24. Referring now to FIG. 5, a bushing 42 is
provided in the receptacle 28 to receive the second towel ring
portion proximal end 40 to reduce friction therebetween. Another
set screw 44 may be provided to extend through the receptacle 28 to
engage the bushing 42 and limit rotation of the bushing 42 and the
second towel ring portion 26. For example, the set screw 44 may be
tightened to limit rotation of the second towel ring portion 26
absent a predetermined external force to permit manual adjustment
of the second towel ring portion 26. Alternatively, the set screw
44 may be tightened to apply a force upon the bushing 42 and the
second towel ring portion 26 sufficient to lock the second towel
ring portion 26 relative to the first towel ring portion 24.
According to another alternative, a spring-loaded pin may be
provided to permit the user to lock the second towel ring portion
26 relative to the first towel ring portion 24.
[0019] Referring again to all 5 of the Figures, the first towel
ring portion 24 and the second towel ring portion 26 have a
generally equivalent radius and partially overlap each other to
collectively provide an entire circle and provide an ornamental
appearance of a continuous ring. The proximal ends 38, 40 of the
first and second towel ring portions 24 and 26 are aligned at the
receptacle 28. In other words, a pivot axis 46 (FIG. 5) of the
second towel ring portion 26 is tangential to the first towel ring
portion 24, and also tangential to the second towel ring portion
26. The pivot axis 46 is oriented centrally relative to, and
intersecting the proximal ends 38, 40 of the first and second towel
ring portions 24 and 26.
[0020] Each of the first and second towel ring portions 24, 26 has
a generally round cross section with a central axis that is
tangential with the pivot axis 46 of the second towel ring portion
26. The round cross sections of the first and second towel ring
portions 24, 26 combine to collectively provide a round cross
section for the continuous towel ring. Both towel ring portions 24,
26 extend approximately 270 degrees from the receptacle 28 so that
each towel ring portion 24, 26 provides a lower region to support
the corresponding towel. This arcuate length of each towel ring
portion 24, 26 overlaps the other by approximately 180 degrees.
[0021] In order to maintain a continuous cross section, each of the
towel ring portions 24, 26 has a recess 48, 50 respectively to
receive the other towel ring portion 24, 26. See FIGS. 3-5. The
recesses 48, 50 are formed so that each of the first and second
towel ring portions 24, 26 has a half-circle cross section in the
region of overlap so that both half-circles combine for a
continuous round cross section of the continuous towel ring. The
recess 48 of the first towel ring portion 24 has a flat forward
face 52 to receive a flat rearward face 54 of the pivotal second
towel ring portion 26.
[0022] The first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring
portion 26 may be formed from a metal alloy. An elastomeric pad 56
may be mounted upon the flat forward face 52 to damp contact
between the first towel ring portion 24 and the second towel ring
portion 26.
[0023] The recess 48 of the first towel ring portion 24 extends
from a distal end 58 (FIGS. 3-5) of the first towel ring portion 24
to an end of the overlap region at an abutment surface 60 (FIGS. 1,
2, 4 and 5). Likewise, the recess 50 of the second towel ring
portion 26 extends from a distal end 62 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) of
the second towel ring portion 26 to an end of the overlap region at
an abutment surface 64 (FIG. 3). The distal end 58 of the first
towel ring portion 24 fits along the abutment surface 64 of the
second towel ring portion 26; and the distal end 62 of the second
towel ring portion 26 fits along the abutment surface 60 of the
first towel ring portion 24. The towel ring portions 24, 26
collapse to provide a continuous towel ring in both ornamental look
and function.
[0024] While various embodiments are described above, it is not
intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the
invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of
description rather than limitation, and it is understood that
various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various
implementing embodiments may be combined to form further
embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *