Bath fixture mounting system

• US 8,104,726 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Bath Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoernig, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US12/512,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20110024583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 248/216.4, 248/220.22, 248/220.41, 248/223.41, 248/225.11, 248/231.91, 248/298.1, 454/8, 455/9, 457/11, 457/61, 457/71, 457/81, 460/4
• US Class Current: 248/220.22
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 17/022 Wall mounted grab bars or handles, with or without support on the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2201/02 Connections to a wall mounted support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A bathing system assembly has; an accessory such as a grab bar, a seat or the like; a first mounting bracket affixed to a structural wall; and a second mounting bracket attaching the accessory to a bath wall. The second mounting bracket cooperates with the first mounting bracket for easy installation of the bath wall and accessory to the structural wall, e.g., stud wall. The bathing system wall including the accessory and the second mounting bracket is manipulated by an installer so that the second mounting bracket and the first mounting bracket cooperate to support the wall and the grab bar. Because the accessory is attached directly to the second mounting bracket, flanges and attachment means for hardware are eliminated. The accessory may be attached to the second mounting bracket through the bath wall at a first location and attached to the first mounting bracket at a second location.

Claims

1. A system for supporting an accessory, said system comprising:

a wall;

an accessory to be disposed on a first side of said wall;

a first mounting bracket to be attached to one or more wall studs; and

a second mounting bracket to be disposed on a second side of the wall and to be attached to said accessory through said wall, said second mounting bracket and said first mounting bracket cooperating to support said accessory wherein said system has a first portion that is both parallel to said stud and extends above said first mounting bracket and said second mounting bracket, and a second portion that is both parallel to said stud and extends below said first mounting bracket and said second mounting bracket and wherein said wall having an indentation therein;

and wherein said first mounting bracket and said second mounting bracket are disposed within said wall indentation whereby said wall is flush with said one or more studs.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein either of said first mounting bracket or said second mounting bracket has a male portion and the other of said first mounting bracket or said second mounting bracket has a female portion, said male and female portion mating so that said second mounting bracket and said first mounting bracket cooperate to support said accessory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein either of said second mounting bracket or said accessory has a male portion extending through said wall for mating with a respective female portion of said other of said second mounting bracket or said accessory.