Mounting device

• US 20070102601A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/205.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2201/02 Connections to a wall mounted support
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/126 at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features

Abstract

A device for mounting an item on a surface includes a base plate having front and rear major surfaces, a fastener for securing the base plate to the surface, and a retaining member removably connected with the base plate front major surface to retain the item on the device.

Claims

1. A device for mounting an item on a target surface, comprising:

(a) a base plate having front and rear major surfaces

(b) a fastener for securing the base plate to the target surface; and

(c) a retaining member connected with the base plate front major surface movable between an open position spaced from the base plate and a closed position adjacent the base plate.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the retaining member includes a shaft portion and a head portion extending outwardly from the shaft portion, the head portion including a contact surface for contacting the item as the retaining member is moved from the open position to closed position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the retaining member is rotatably connected with the base plate.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the retaining member is threadably connected with the base plate.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the retaining member and base plate include an internally threaded counter bore and a mating externally threaded fastening member.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the retaining member includes a shaft portion and a rib portion extending outwardly from the shaft portion arranged to retain the item on the device between the front major surface of the base plate and the retaining member, thereby securely connecting the item to the device.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover plate arranged over at least a portion of the base plate.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein the cover plate contains a central opening at the location where the retaining member connects with the base plate.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein the cover plate snap connects with the base plate.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base plate front surface contains a channel for receiving the item.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein the base plate includes at least one raised abutment for maintaining the item in a fixed position relative to the abutment.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the abutment includes an inclined surface.

13. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the abutments include a central abutment and at least one secondary abutment spaced from the central abutment.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the base plate includes a plurality of secondary abutments arranged at regular spaced intervals around the central abutment.

15. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the space between the central abutment and a secondary abutment is between about 2 mm and 10 mm.

16. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive strip arranged along the rear surface of the base plate.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the adhesive strip is a stretch releasing strip including a non-adhesive pull tab extending outwardly beyond the perimeter of the base plate, thereby to be exposed so a user can access the pull tab and stretch remove the adhesive strip when removal is desired.