WALL ANCHOR ASSEMBLIES AND RELATED WALL MOUNT SYSTEMS

• US 20170000270A1
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,775,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall, comprising:

a 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;

a 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.

2. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the anchor assembly includes side flanges that taper laterally toward each other in a vertically upward direction for engaging with slots on secondary components that can be mounted to the anchor assembly.

3. The anchor assembly of claim 2 wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the side flanges angle rearwardly in a vertically downward direction.

4. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component by a hinge connection.

5. The anchor assembly of claim 4 wherein the hinge connection is formed by a hinge loop on the first base and a hinge link on the second base.

6. The anchor assembly of claim 4 wherein the hinge connection is formed by a pair of spaced apart hinge rings on the second anchor component and a pair of spaced apart hinge pins on the first anchor component, each hinge pin engaged through a respective one of the hinge rings.

7. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the first base includes a vertically extending channel into which the second base fits when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation,

8. The anchor assembly of claim 7 wherein the first anchor component is of metal plate construction, the first base formed by a base plate, and the vertically extending channel is formed by spaced apart forward bends in the base plate.

9. The anchor assembly of claim 7 wherein a hook element extends forwardly from the base plate within the vertically extending channel, and the second base includes an opening or slot through which the hook element extends.

10. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein first and second wall penetrating retainers extend from the first base, and third and fourth wall penetrating retainers extend from the second base, wherein a lateral spacing between the first and second wall penetrating retainers is different than a lateral spacing between the third and fourth wall penetrating retainers.

11. The anchor assembly 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.

12. A mount arrangement including the anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the anchor assembly is engaged with a wall with the second anchor component in the anchoring orientation;

a secondary support member is engaged with the anchor assembly for support by the anchor assembly, wherein the secondary support member includes rear structure that interacts with a structure on the anchor assembly to wedge a rear side of the secondary support member against a front surface of the wall.

13. The mount arrangement of claim 12 wherein the structure on the anchor assembly is formed by at least one side flange that angles rearwardly in a downward vertical direction to slidingly engage with the rear structure on the secondary support member as the secondary support member is engaged downward over the anchor assembly.

14. The mount arrangement of claim 12 the structure on the anchor assembly is formed by first and second spaced apart side flanges.

15. The mount arrangement of claim 14 wherein the spaced apart side flanges angle toward each other in a vertically upward direction.

16. The mount arrangement of claim 15 wherein the rear structure includes slots into which the side flanges are fit.

17. The mount arrangement of claim 12 wherein the secondary support member is one of a hook, a clothing rack, a shadow box, a picture, a mirror, a shelf or an electronics device.

18. The mount arrangement of claim 12 wherein the wall penetrating retainer of the base plate curves in a horizontal plane and the wall penetrating retainer of outer plate curves in a horizontal plane.

19. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component achieves a more aggressive angle relative to a wall mount plane at the back side of the first base plate than the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component.

20. An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall, comprising:

a first anchor component including a first base having front, back, top, bottom, left and right 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;

a second anchor component including a second base having front, back, top, bottom, left and right sides, the second anchor component pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation, in the anchoring orientation the second anchor component is positioned at least partly in front of the first anchor component, the second anchor component includes at least one wall penetrating retainer extending 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.

21. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the anchor assembly includes side flanges that taper laterally toward each other in a vertically upward direction for engaging with slots on secondary components that can be mounted to the anchor assembly.

22. The anchor assembly of claim 21 wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the side flanges angle rearwardly in a vertically downward direction.

23. The anchor assembly of claim 22 wherein the first anchor component is of metal plate construction, the first base formed by a base plate, the side flanges are formed at the left and right sides of the base plate, each side flange formed by a primarily forward bend and a primarily lateral bend in the base plate.

24. The anchor assembly of claim 20, wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, the anchor assembly includes left and right side flanges that are spaced from a wall mount plane defined by one or more portions of the back side of the first base, each side flange oriented at a lateral angle relative to an upright axis of the anchor assembly, each lateral angle between about one degree and about ten degrees.

25. The anchor assembly of claim 24, wherein, when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation, each side flange is oriented at a rearward angle, relative to the wall mount plane, each rearward angle between about one degree and about ten degrees.

26. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component by a hinge connection.

27. The anchor assembly of claim 26 wherein the hinge connection is formed by a hinge loop on the top side of the first base and a hinge link at the top side of the second base.

28. The anchor assembly of claim 26 wherein the hinge connection is formed by a pair of spaced apart hinge rings on the second anchor component and a pair of spaced apart hinge pins on the first anchor component, each hinge pin engaged through a respective one of the hinge rings.

29. The anchor assembly of claim 26 wherein an axis of the hinge connection runs parallel to a wall mount plane defined by one or more portions of the back side of the first base.

30. The anchor assembly of claim 29 wherein the axis of the hinge connection is spaced forwardly of the wall mount plane by a distance of at least 0.15 inches.

31. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the first base includes a vertically extending channel into which the second base fits when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation.

32. The anchor assembly of claim 31 wherein the first anchor component is of metal plate construction, the first base formed by a base plate, and the vertically extending channel is formed by spaced apart forward bends in the base plate.

33. The anchor assembly of claim 32 wherein a hook element extends forwardly from the base plate within the vertically extending channel, and the second base includes an opening or slot through which the hook element extends.

34. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein first and second wall penetrating retainers extend from the first base, and third and fourth wall penetrating retainers extend from the second base.

35. The anchor assembly of claim 34 wherein a lateral spacing between the first and second wall penetrating retainers is greater than a lateral spacing between the third and fourth wall penetrating retainers.

36. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the first anchor component is of metal plate construction, the first base formed by a first base plate, the second anchor component is formed of metal plate construction, the second base formed by a second base plate, and the back side of the second base plate seats against the front side of the first base plate when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation.

37. The anchor assembly of claim 36 wherein the back side of the second base plate contacts the front side of the first base plate in one or more discrete locations for purposes of the back side of the second base plate seating against the front side of the first base plate when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation.

38. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component passes below the bottom side of the first base when the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation.

39. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein each wall penetrating extent includes a convex curved surface separated from a concave curved surface, and lateral first and second side surfaces that are substantially planar and that extend between the convex curved surface and the concave curved surface, wherein a distal end of the wall penetrating extent is shaped to provide a point, wherein the point is defined at least in part by a bevel extending from the concave surface toward the point and little or no bevel extending from the convex surface toward the point to thereby place the point closer to the convex surface of the wall penetrating extent.

40. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component is arcuate and a center of a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent is located substantially at a rear corner of the first base where the bottom side of the first base meets the back side of the first base, and the second anchor component is pivotably connected to the first anchor component by hinge arrangement, the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component is arcuate and a center of a radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the second anchor component is located substantially at a hinge axis of the hinge arrangement.

41. The anchor assembly of claim 20 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.

42. The anchor assembly of claim 41 wherein the radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component is less than the radius of curvature of the wall penetrating extent of the wall penetrating retainer first anchor component.

43. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein:

the first base and the wall penetrating retainer of the first anchor component are formed as a monolithic unit of metal plate construction, the first base is formed by a first base plate, and the wall penetrating retainer of the first anchor component extends from one edge of the first base plate with an initial forward progression and then turns back to define a rearward and curved progression; and

the second base and wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component are formed as a monolithic unit of metal plate construction, the second base formed by a second base plate, and the wall penetrating retainer of the second anchor component extends from one edge of the second base plate with an initial forward progression and then turns back to define a rearward and curved progression.

44. The anchor assembly of claim 20 wherein the second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component by a hinge connection, in the non-anchoring orientation the second anchor component extends upward and/or forward from the first anchor component, wherein the hinge connection includes a limit feature for retaining the second anchor component in the non-anchoring orientation unless an external force, beyond gravitational forces acting on the second anchor component, are applied.

45. The anchor assembly of claim 20, wherein:

the first base is laterally elongated;

the anchor assembly further includes;

a third anchor component including a third base having front, back, top, bottom, left and right sides, at least one wall penetrating retainer extending from the third base and having a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the third base and has a curved configuration;

the third anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation, in the anchoring orientation the third anchor component is positioned at least partly in front of the first anchor component and the wall penetrating extent of the third anchor component protrudes rearwardly of the first base, when the third anchor component is in the anchoring orientation the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the third anchor component opposes the curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement, in the non-anchoring orientation the third anchor component is pivoted away from the first anchor component;

wherein the third anchor component is laterally spaced apart from the second anchor component and is pivotable relative to the first anchor component independently of pivot of the second anchor component.

46. The anchor assembly of claim 45, further comprising:

a level element mounted to the base of the first anchor component.

47. A method of installing the anchor assembly of claim 20 into a wall, 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 the bottom side of the 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.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the second anchor component is rotated until the back side of the second base seats against the front side of the first base.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein the second anchor component is rotated until the second anchor component achieves a final install position.

50-71. -71. (canceled)