FLOATING FIXTURE WALL MOUNT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A floating fixture system and method includes wall attachment members and mounting brackets for mounting a fixture on a wall so it floats from the wall. Hook and hook-receiving structures temporarily hold the fixture to the wall while additional components more permanently secure the fixture to the wall. The system can allow a floating fixture to be installed more quickly and by fewer persons, and without the need to cut components at the installation site.

Claims

1. A method of mounting a floating fixture to a wall comprising the steps of: providing a fixture comprising a left side and a right side that are spaced apart and that comprise back edges, and a middle structure connecting the left and right sides; providing at least one mounting bracket to a side of the fixture, the mounting bracket comprising: a hook a slot means for securing the bracket to a wall attachment member; an attachment means cooperating with the slot of the bracket for attaching the bracket to a side of the fixture such that the bracket may selectively: move relative to a side of the fixture, or be affixed relative to that side of the fixture; attaching the mounting bracket to a side of the fixture such that bracket may move relative to a side of the fixture as the attachment means; providing at least one wall attachment member comprising a hook-receiving structure and a means for securing the bracket to the wall attachment member; securing each of the at least one wall attachment members to the wall; lifting the fixture and placing the hook(s) of the at least one mounting brackets into the hook-receiving structure(s) of the at least one wall attachment member(s) such that the fixture hangs from the wall attachment member and the back edges are spaced from the wall; using the means for securing of the mounting bracket(s) with the means for securing of the wall attachment member(s) to secure the mounting bracket(s) to the wall attachment member(s); moving the fixture relative to the at least one mounting bracket(s) so the back edges are flush with the wall; affixing each of the at least one mounting brackets to a side wall using the attachment means of the mounting bracket to thereby hang the fixture to the wall such that the back edges of the sides of the fixture are flush with the wall.

2. The method of mounting a floating fixture of claim 1 wherein at least one of the wall attachment member(s) is secured to a stud of the wall.

3. The method of mounting a floating fixture of claim 1 wherein: each of the at least one wall attachment members comprises a channel; and wherein the step of securing the mounting bracket(s) to the wall attachment member(s) includes inserting a channel nut into the channel of the wall attachment member(s) and aligning it with the means for securing the mounting bracket and the means for securing of the wall attachment member.

4. The method of mounting a floating fixture of claim 1 further comprising the steps of providing a brace and securing the brace to each of the at least one wall attachment member(s).

5. The method of mounting a floating fixture of claim 4 further comprising the steps of providing a reinforcement member and securing the reinforcement member to at least one of the mounting bracket(s) and to the brace.

6. A kit for creating a wall-mounted floating fixture comprising: a fixture comprising a left side and a right side that are spaced apart, the left and right sides each having a back edge, and a middle structure connecting the left and right sides; at least one mounting bracket comprising: a hook a slot means for securing the bracket to a wall attachment member; an attachment means cooperating with the slot of the bracket for attaching the bracket to a side of the fixture such that the bracket may selectively: move relative to a side of the fixture, or be affixed relative to that side of the fixture; at least one wall attachment member securable to a wall and comprising a hook-receiving structure and a means for securing the bracket to the means for securing the mounting bracket to the wall attachment member; a securement means for securing the mounting bracket(s) to the at least one wall attachment member(s).

7. The kit for creating a wall-mounted floating fixture of claim 6 wherein the fixture is either a vanity, cabinet, desk, bench, dresser, nightstand or a shelf.

8. The kit for creating a wall-mounted floating fixture of claim 6 wherein the securing means for securing the mounting bracket to the wall attachment member comprises a channel nut.

9. The kit for creating a wall-mounted floating fixture of claim 6 further comprising a brace connectable to each of the wall attachment members.

10. The kit for creating a wall-mounted floating fixture of claim 9 further comprising a reinforcement member securable to at least one of the mounting bracket(s) and to the brace.

11. A floating fixture wall mount system for a fixture having a left side and a right side that are spaced apart, the left and right sides each having a back edge, comprising: at least one wall attachment member securable to a wall, each wall attachment member comprising: a wall-facing side; a fixture-facing side; the fixture-facing side comprising a hook-receiving structure; left and right mounting brackets, each bracket comprising: an arm attachable to a side of the fixture; a wall-facing end comprising a hook insertable into the hook-receiving structure of the at least one wall attachment member to thereby hold the bracket and the fixture to the wall attachment member; a member for abutting the wall attachment member that comprises at least one aperture; for each for each mounting bracket, an attachment member for attaching the mounting bracket to a wall attachment member to thereby secure the fixture to a wall such that the bottom of the fixture is spaced from the floor and the back edges of the left and right sides are flush with the wall.

12. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 wherein each mounting bracket further comprises a stop configured to prevent the bracket from pivoting with respect the wall mounting structure when the hook of the mounting bracket is placed in the hook-receiving structure.

13. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 12 wherein the lower stop is configured to engage the wall mounting structure beneath the hook-receiving structure and orient the mounting bracket perpendicular to the wall when the hook is placed in the hook-receiving structure.

14. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 wherein the arm of each mounting bracket comprises at least one slot therein, and further comprising a screw passing through the at least one slot such that when loosened allows the bracket to move relative to a side of the fixture, and when tightened secures the mounting bracket to the fixture while allowing the back edges of the left and right sides to be flush with the wall.

15. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 further comprising a reinforcement member further securing a mounting bracket to one of the at least one wall attachment members.

16. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 wherein the at least one attachment member attaching each mounting bracket to a wall attachment member comprises a channel nut.

17. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 16 wherein the channel nut comprises a spring nut.

18. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 16 wherein the channel nut comprises a stud nut.

19. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 wherein each mounting bracket is formed from a single sheet of metal.

20. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 11 wherein the at least one wall attachment members comprises two wall attachment members, and further comprising a brace securely connecting the two wall attachment members in a linear orientation.

21. A floating fixture wall mount system for a fixture having a left side and a right side that are spaced apart, the left and right sides each having a back edge, comprising: at least one wall attachment member a wall, each comprising: a wall-facing side; and a fixture-facing side; left and right mounting brackets, each bracket comprising: a surface attachable to a side of the fixture comprising a back portion and a fixture abutting surface having a slot therein, and a screw passing through the slot such that when loosened allows the mounting bracket to move relative to that side of the fixture, and when tightened affixes the bracket to that side of the fixture; at least one attachment member attaching each mounting bracket to one of the at least one wall attachment member(s) to thereby secure the fixture to a wall such that the bottom of the fixture is spaced from the floor and the back edges of the right and left sides are flush with the wall.

22. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 21 wherein each wall attachment member further comprises a hook-receiving structure and each mounting bracket further comprises a hook insertable into the hook receiving structure of a wall attachment member to thereby hold the bracket and a fixture attached thereto to the wall attachment member.

23. A floating fixture wall mount system for a fixture having a left side and a right side that are spaced apart, the left and right sides comprising back edges, comprising: at least two wall attachment members securable to a wall, each wall attachment member comprising: a wall-facing side; a fixture-facing side an outer end; a brace connecting the at least two wall attachment members in a linear orientation such that the distance between the outer ends of the wall attachment members is less than the distance between the left and right sides of the fixture; left and right mounting brackets, each mounting bracket comprising: an arm attachable to a side of the fixture; a wall-facing end having an aperture and being connectible to one of the wall attachment members to thereby mount the fixture to a wall; for each of the mounting brackets, an attachment member attaching the mounting bracket to a wall attachment member to thereby secure the fixture to a wall such that the bottom of the fixture is spaced from a floor and the back edges of the left and right sides are flush with the wall.

24. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 23 wherein: the fixture-facing side of each wall attachment member further comprises a channel; and wherein the attachment members attaching a mounting bracket to a wall attachment member comprise channel nuts.

25. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 24 wherein the brace further comprises a plurality holes positioned over the channels of the wall attachment members, the holes being adapted to receive the channel nuts.

26. The floating fixture wall mount system of claim 23 wherein the brace comprises upper and lower edges that abut the wall attachment members when secured thereto.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a representative fixture suitable for mounting with attached mounting brackets.

[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of mounting brackets.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows the mounting bracket of FIGS. 2 and 3 as stamped from sheet metal and before portions of it have been bent to as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a wall attachment member having rail and a hook receiving member which is particularly suitable for attaching to an area of wall where the sides of the fixture will be located.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a wall attachment member having rail and a hook receiving member, but with a smaller width, which is particularly suitable for attaching to an area of wall having stud.

[0021] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are side views of alternate embodiments of wall attachment members having rails and channels in which the channel is open to the top, bottom an front, respectively.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows a channel nut which may be inserted into the channels shown in FIGS. 5-7 and used to secure a mounting bracket or reinforcement to these channels or to the brace shown in FIG. 9.

[0023] FIG. 9 shows a brace that channel nut with two bolts.

[0024] FIG. 7 shows the right-hand bracket screwed onto the side of the floating fixture.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows the floating fixture being hung on the mounting track by the lips on the left and right brackets.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows brace which may be used to connect multiple wall attachment members in a linear orientation.

[0027] FIG. 10 shows a channel nut that is a first embodiment of a spring channel nut, and which may be inserted into the channel of a wall attachment member.

[0028] FIG. 11 shows a channel nut that is a second embodiment of a spring channel nut, and which may be inserted into the channel of a wall attachment member.

[0029] FIG. 12 shows a channel nut that is an embodiment of a stud nut which may be inserted into the channel of a wall attachment member.

[0030] FIG. 13, shows representative locations on a wall for attaching wall attachment members to a wall and representative locations of wall studs.

[0031] FIG. 14 shows representative wall-mountable fixture having brackets attached to the left and side walls.

[0032] FIG. 15 shows a representative brace of FIG. 9 and channel nuts of FIG. 8 with screws showing where they can be placed in the brace.

[0033] FIG. 16 shows two wall attachment members having channels and rails and with a brace sized to fit over the rails to secure the wall attachment members in a linear orientation.

[0034] FIG. 17 shows a fixture with two mounting brackets in which the hooks of the mounting brackets are inserted into the hook receiving members of the wall attachments members, and showing how the brace may be horizontally slid to a desired location along the rails/channels of the wall attachment members.

[0035] FIG. 18 shows a linear orientation of two wall attachment members positioned over wall stud locations as shown in FIG. 13, and the locations for screws to secure the wall attachment members to the wall.

[0036] FIG. 19 shows the location of a smaller wall attachment member positioned over a wall stud location as shown in FIG. 13, and how a channel nut may be inserted into the channel of the smaller wall attachment member.

[0037] FIG. 20 shows a linear orientation of three wall attachment members and a brace securing them together.

[0038] FIG. 21 shows a fixture with mounting brackets that are extended so the hooks on the brackets are ready to be inserted into hook receiving structures of the wall attachment members.

[0039] FIG. 22 shows a fixture with extended mounting brackets of FIG. 21 mounted on the wall attachment members such that the fixture is spaced from the wall.

[0040] FIG. 23 shows a fixture with extended mounting brackets of FIG. 21 mounted on the wall attachment members and showing how the channels of the wall attachment members are exposed so that channel nuts may be inserted into the channels.

[0041] FIG. 24 is a close up view of the right mounting bracket of FIG. 23 showing how its hook is hooked into the hook receiving surface of the wall attachment member, and how the extension of the mounting bracket from the side wall of the fixture is facilitated by the slots and screws. A side view of these components is shown in FIG. 30.

[0042] FIG. 25 shows how the fixture shown in FIG. 23 may be pushed against the wall so the back edges of the side walls are flush with the wall and the mounting system components are not exposed.

[0043] FIG. 26 is a close up view of the right mounting bracket of FIG. 25 showing how it has been secured to a wall attachment member with channel nuts and how the moving the fixture to be flush against the wall has caused the mounting bracket to move relative to the side wall of the fixture. The locations of the screws holding the bracket to the side wall are at a different location in the slots of the mounting bracket, as further shown in FIG. 31.

[0044] FIGS. 27-29 show the sequence of attaching and securing a reinforcement to the brace and mounting bracket using channel nuts to provide further structural support for the mounted floating fixture.

[0045] FIG. 30 is a side view of a mounting bracket with its hook inserted into a hook-receiving structure of a wall attachment member, and with the bracket extending from the fixture as permitted by the slots and loosened screws.

[0046] FIG. 31 is a side view of a mounting bracket and wall attachment member of FIG. 30, but with the bracket retracted so the back edge of the side wall of the fixture is flush with the wall. In the position, the screws attaching the mounting bracket to the side wall may be tightened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In one embodiment, a fixture manufacturer may provide a fixture with a mounting kit for mounting the fixture to a wall to so it floats. The kit may comprise at least one mounting brackets, at least one wall attachment member and a securement means such as channel nuts for securing the mounting bracket(s) to the wall attachment member(s).

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, the top 3″ 102 of the back 103 of the fixture may be open (no back) to leave room for the wall attachment members. Any center partitions 104 may have a notch at the top.

[0049] Mounting brackets 106 may be stamped from a single sheet of sheet metal as shown in FIG. 4, while simultaneously stamping out appropriate holes and slots and arrows 107. As shown if FIGS. 2 and 3 portions of the stamped metal may be bent to form a back portion 108, which includes hook 109, stop 110 and holes to secure the bracket to the brace 111 or wall attachment means, 112, 113. The mounting brackets are preferably placed against the inside surface of the side walls 114 or a center partition 104, and attached thereto by screws 115 inserted through slots 116.

[0050] Upon delivery to the installation site, the fixture may be installed per the following method. As shown in FIG. 15, loosely attach two channel nuts 117 on each end of brace 111 by inserting ½″ bolts through each of the four outer holes on each end of the brace. Position channel nuts 117 inside brace 111 with the bulges down (see FIG. 8).

[0051] As shown in FIG. 16, slide wall attachment members 112 onto the channel nuts 117 on each end of brace 111. A third wall attachment member may be used if necessary to position it over a wall stud location. If so, a channel nut may be inserted into the channel of the smaller wall attachment member as shown in FIG. 19. In one embodiment, the overall width of the wall attachment members and brace (if used) may be ¼″ less than the overall inside distance between the side walls of the fixture. To set the width, place the wall attachment member and brace assembly inside the fixture and slide the wall attachment members tight against the fixture sides. Preferably, center the brace(s) so they overlap the wall attachment members 112 rails equally, then retract each wall attachment member approximately ⅛″ from the sides of the fixture, and tighten all the bolts securing the wall attachment member(s) to the center brace(s) to form a wall attachment assembly. In one embodiment, brace 111 has a generally C-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 9 with upper and lower edges 130, 131 such that when secured to the at least one wall attachment members as shown, for examples, in FIGS. 18 and 20, the upper and lower edges abut the wall attachment members. This geometry further strengthens the wall attachment member and brace assembly.

[0052] It will be appreciated that while these steps describe an installation in which multiple wall attachment members held together by a brace are used, a single wall attachment member may be used without a brace. For such an instance, the single wall attachment member should have a width that about ¼″ less than the distance between the side walls 114 of the fixture.

[0053] Next, as shown if FIG. 13, the fixture location on the wall 118 may be marked by drawing a horizontal line A on wall 118 where the top of the fixture will be located. Vertical lines B may be drawn on wall 118 where the sides of the fixture will be located. A stud finder may be used to locate wall studs between the vertical marks. After locating the studs, it is desirable to find the center of the studs for maximum strength. To find the center, either use a stud finder or use a drill with a ⅛″ drill bit to drill holes to the left and right of the stud until the edges are found. Then a pencil may be used to draw a vertical line C in the center of each stud up 1″ from horizontal line A.

[0054] Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the stud center locations are copied to the wall attachment assembly 119 by holding the assembly against the wall and marking on the assembly the locations of the wall studs C on the rail assembly 119. The assembly may be set on a surface suitable for drilling. Using a 5/16″ drill bit, a hole is drilled aligned with each of mark through the upper v-groove 121 on the top half of the wall attachment member(s). A second hole is drilled aligned vertically with the first hole in the lower v-groove 122 on the bottom half of the wall attachment member(s). After the holes are drilled (two per stud), the wall attachment assembly is held against the wall and aligned with the stud center locations and the placement line drawn on the wall. Structural screws 123 are driven through the drilled holes.

[0055] To install the fixture, ensure the screws 115 attaching the mounting brackets 106 to the side walls 114 are loosened, and slide the brackets as far back as possible (out the back of the fixture) as shown in FIGS. 23, 24 and 30 and tighten one screw on each bracket. The fixture is lifted and the hook 109 of each mounting bracket is hooked to the hook-receiving structure 124 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7A) of one or more wall attachment members. Those of skill in the art will appreciate geometries for the hook of the mounting bracket and hook-receiving structure of the wall attachment members may be varied. For example, in the wall attachment members shown in FIGS. 5, 6 7A, 30 and 31, an upwardly facing channel 125 is shown which includes hook-receiving structure 124, which receives a downwardly facing hook 109 of the mounting bracket. Different geometries for a wall mounting member are shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, and those of skill in the art can easily configure hook-receiving structures on them that receive mating hooks on mounting brackets. Also, what is referred to a hook-receiving structure on the wall attachment members FIGS. 5, 6 7A, 30 and 31 could also be considered a hook and what is referred to a hook on the mounting bracket in FIGS. 2, 3, 30 and 31 could be considered to be hook-receiving structures, so these terms are interchangeable. All that is required is that the geometries be such that a fixture can be at least temporarily held by the wall attachment member long enough a more reliable securement means to be used to secure the mounting bracket to the wall attachment member.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 30 and 31 The mounting bracket may include a stop 110. When hook 109 of mounting bracket 106 engages with the hook receiving surface 124 of the wall attachment member 112, the geometries of the hook and stop are such that they hold the mounting bracket perpendicular to the wall 118.

[0057] After the mounting bracket 106 is hooked to the wall attachment member 112 allowing the fixture to hang from the wall, there may be a gap 133 between the wall the back edges 135 of the side walls of the fixture as shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24. As shown in FIG. 23, channel nuts 117 may be slid into the channel on each side of the at least one wall attachment members until the holes in the channel nuts align with holes 134 in the back portion 108 of mounting bracket 106 as shown in FIG. 24. As shown in FIG. 26, screws 135 are driven through the holes 134 in the mounting bracket and into the channel nuts 117 which are held by the wall attachment member to securely affix the fixture to the wall attachment member.

[0058] If further structural support for holding the fixture to the wall is desired a reinforcement member 136 may screwed between the brace or a wall attachment member, and the mounting bracket, as shown in FIGS. 27-29. To facilitate this connection, the mounting bracket may be provided with additional holes 137 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 27) that will match up with holes 138 in reinforcement 136, and for consistency in the hardware used for the disclosed system, channel nuts 117 and screws may be used to secure the reinforcement 136 to mounting bracket 106.

[0059] After the fixture has been secured to the wall attachment members, the fixture may be moved with respect to the mounting brackets 106 so that the back edges 135 are flush with or abut wall 118. To do this, the installer should ensure that the screws 115 that pass through the slots 116 of mounting brackets 106 are sufficiently loose, as shown in FIG. 30. Then the fixture is moved toward the wall until the back edge abuts the wall as shown in FIG. 31. This movement closes the gap 133 between the back edges and wall 118. Screws 115 are then tightened to secure the mounting brackets 106 the fixture 101.

[0060] If desired, other components may be added fixture 101. For example, a top may be installed or drawers or doors may be installed on the front of fixture 101. With the components, kit and methods described herein, the speed and ease of mounting the fixture to a wall to create a floating fixture is improved. The flexibility of the system may allow installation without the need to cut components at the installation site.

[0061] While one embodiment uses channel nuts, other embodiments may use spring nuts as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Spring nuts are similar to simpler channel nuts but have a spring on one side that keeps the nut flush against the inside piece of the t-rail. This allows the nut to stay in place while an installer affixes the bolts and tightens them down. Alternatively, an installer could also use stud nuts as shown in FIG. 15.

[0062] Those of skill in the art will understand that various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims. The term “fixture” as used herein is in the broadest sense and could include fixtures or furniture items such as vanities, cabinets, desks, benches, dressers, nightstands or shelves, and can be mounted to a wall and that do not extend to a floor to support their weight. Moreover, while these furnishings or furniture often include tops, door or drawers, the term “fixture” as used herein and in the claims does not require these components. For example, FIG. 1 shows a fixture that could be considered a vanity, even though it does not have a top with a sink that is often included in a vanity, nor does it include the drawers or front drawers. Despite the lack of these elements, it is considered a fixture because it is mountable to a wall as described herein so that its weight. The term fixtures also includes wall-mountable appliances, such as microwave ovens, washers and dryers. A defining characteristic of a fixture as used here is that it has opposing side walls (or edges) and at least one structure connecting those sides. For example, fixture shown in FIG. 1 has both a back wall and a bottom that connect the sides. A fixture does not necessarily need to have a top, or drawers or doors. A shelf is considered a fixture, as is a cove, i.e., an empty box without a front into which an item such as a microwave may be inserted. Channel nuts a described above as means to secure various components to each other. Channel nuts include a variety of configurations, such as the simple embodiments shown in FIG. 8, or those having springs or studs as shown in FIG. 10, 11 or 12. In addition, while fixed structures comprising the hook and hook-receiving components are shown, flexible components are also within the spirit and scope of the claims. For example, a hook or a hook receiving structure could include a cable having a hook or a loop. The only requirement is that the cooperating structures be sufficient to temporarily hold the fixture off the ground and attached of the wall mounting structure until additional components are added to more securely affix the fixture to the wall.

[0063] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claims are desired to be protected.

[0064] All references cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that they supplement, explain, provide a background for or teach methodology or techniques employed herein.