Wall anchor assemblies and related wall mount systems

• US 10,143,316 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hillman Group Incorporated (Hillman Solutions Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hillman Group Incorporated (Hillman Solutions Corp.)
• Inventors: Will, Gary E., Grice, Byron K., Malott, Dale G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Agudelo, Paola
• Application Number:
  US15/686,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 2482181
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/024 characterised by support bracket location means, e.g. fixing means between support bracket and shelf A47B96/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1633 Wall members for connection to a conventional picture
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/20 Picture hooks; X-hooks plugs or hooks for general use F16B13/00, F16B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/0023 Nail plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/00 Hooks; Eyes if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall. At least one wall penetrating retainer extends from each of the first and second anchor components. When the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the second anchor component opposes a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement.

Claims

1. A method of installing an anchor assembly into a wall, wherein the anchor assembly includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component, the first anchor component including a first base having front and back sides, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the first base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the first base and has a curved configuration, the second anchor component including a second base having front and back sides, the second anchor component pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the second base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the second base and has a curved configuration, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component opposes the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement, the method comprising:

(a) placing the first anchor component adjacent a front surface of the wall with a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the first base in contact with the front surface and a distal end of the first base in contact with the front surface, with the second anchor component in the non-anchoring orientation;

(b) applying pressure to the first base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the first base into the wall until the back side of the first base seats against the front surface of the wall;

after steps (a) and (b),

(c) pivoting the second anchor component toward the first anchor component until a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the second base comes into contact with the front surface of the wall; and

(d) applying pressure to the second base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the second base into the wall.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) the second anchor component is pivoted until the back side of the second base seats against the front side of the first base.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) the second anchor component is pivoted until the second anchor component achieves a final install position.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and the distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the distal end of the second base is pivotably connected to the retainer end of the first base, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and the distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the front side of the first base includes a channel into which the second base seats during step (d).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein first and second wall penetrating retainers extend from the first base and are moved into the wall during step (b), and third and fourth wall penetrating retainers extend from the second base and are moved into the wall during step (d).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component is arcuate, the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component is arcuate, and a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component is different than a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the first anchor component.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein, after step (d), the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component achieves a more aggressive angle into the wall than the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (b) side flanges of the first base are moved into a position such that the side flanges angle toward the wall.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and the distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall beyond the distal end of the first base.

12. A method of installing an anchor assembly into a wall, wherein the anchor assembly includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component, the first anchor component including a first base, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the first base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the first base and has a curved configuration, the second anchor component including a second base, the second anchor component pivotably associated with the first anchor component, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the second base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the second base and has a curved configuration, the method comprising:

(a) placing the first anchor component at a front surface of the wall with a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the first base in contact with the front surface;

(b) applying pressure to the first base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the first base into the wall until the back side of the first base seats and the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component curves in a first direction within the wall;

after steps (a) and (b),

(c) pivoting the second anchor component toward the first anchor component until a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the second base comes into contact with the front surface of the wall; and

(d) applying pressure to the second base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the second base into the wall so that the wall penetrating retainer of the second base curves in a second direction within the wall, wherein the second direction is opposed to the first direction such that the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component opposes the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type grip of the wall.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (d) the second anchor component is pivoted until a back side of the second base seats against a front side of the first base.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the distal end of the second base is pivotably connected to the retainer end of the first base, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein a front side of the first base includes a channel into which the second base seats during step (d).

17. The method of claim 12 wherein first and second wall penetrating retainers extend from the first base and are moved into the wall during step (b), and third and fourth wall penetrating retainers extend from the second base and are moved into the wall during step (d).

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component is arcuate, the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component is arcuate, and a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component is different than a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the first anchor component.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein, after step (d), the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component achieves a more aggressive angle into the wall than the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (b) side flanges of the first base are moved into a position such that the side flanges angle toward the wall.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall beyond the distal end of the first base.

22. A method of installing an anchor assembly into a wall, wherein the anchor assembly includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component, the first anchor component including a first base, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the first base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the first base and has a curved configuration, the second anchor component including a second base, at least one wall penetrating retainer extends from the second base and includes a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the second base and has a curved configuration, the method comprising:

(a) placing the first anchor component into a position with a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the first base in contact with the front surface;

(b) applying pressure to the first base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the first base into the wall until the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component is engaged within the wall and curves in a first direction within the wall;

(c) placing the second anchor component into a position with a distal end of the wall penetrating retainer of the second base in contact with the front surface; and

(d) applying pressure to the second base to rotate the wall penetrating retainer of the second base into the wall so that the wall penetrating retainer of the second base curves in a second direction within the wall, wherein the second direction is opposed to the first direction such that the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component opposes the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type grip of the wall.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (d) a back side of the second base seats against a front side of the first base.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the distal end of the second base is pivotably connected to the retainer end of the first base, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall proximate the distal end of the first base.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein a front side of the first base includes a channel into which the second base seats during step (d).

27. The method of claim 22 wherein first and second wall penetrating retainers extend from the first base and are moved into the wall during step (b), and third and fourth wall penetrating retainers extend from the second base and are moved into the wall during step (d).

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component is arcuate, the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component is arcuate, and a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component is different than a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the first anchor component.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein, after step (d), the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component achieves a more aggressive angle into the wall than the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (b) side flanges of the first base are moved into a position such that the side flanges angle toward the wall.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the first base includes a retainer end and a distal end, the second base includes a retainer end and a distal end, and in step (d) the wall penetrating retainer of the of the second base engages the wall beyond the distal end of the first base.