WALL INSTALLATION AND A METHOD OF MOUNTING IT

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a wall installation (10) comprising at least first and second uprights (20, 120) configured to receive removably respective first and second fastener devices (84, 86) of a storage accessory (80), the first and second fastener devices being spaced apart from each other by a first distance (d), the first and second uprights respectively including at least first and second top fastener means (40, 140) configured to fasten the first and second uprights to a wall (M).

The disclosure is characterized by the fact that at least the first upright further includes at least first registering means (48), the first registering means and the first top fastener means being spaced apart from each other by the first distance (d).

Claims

1. A wall installation comprising at least first and second uprights having respective first and second longitudinal directions and being configured to removably receive respective first and second fastener devices of a storage accessory, the first and second fastener devices being spaced apart from each other by a first distance, the first and second uprights respectively including at least a first top fastener and a second top fastener configured to fasten the first and second uprights to a wall; wherein installation at least the first upright further includes at least first registering means, the first registering means and the first top fastener being spaced apart from each other by the first distance.

2. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first referencing means include a fastener orifice for fastening the first upright to the wall.

3. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first referencing means include a referencing orifice.

4. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first upright includes first and second longitudinal elements extending substantially parallel to each other.

5. A wall installation according to claim 4, wherein the first referencing means comprise a plate fastened to the first and second longitudinal elements.

6. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first top fastener is configured to enable the first upright to pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction.

7. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first and second uprights include respective first and second mounting means configured to cooperate respectively with the first and second fastener devices of the storage accessory.

8. A wall installation according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second mounting means comprises at least a first top crossbar and a first bottom crossbar configured to cooperate respectively with a top end portion and a bottom end portion of the first and second fastener devices.

9. A wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the first and second uprights further include a first bottom fastener and second bottom fastener configured to fasten the first and second uprights to the wall.

10. A storage system comprising: a wall installation according to claim 1; and at least one storage accessory having first and second fastener devices spaced apart from each other by a first distance, the first and second fastener devices being configured to be removably fastened respectively to the first and second uprights.

11. A storage system according to claim 10, wherein wherein: each of the first and second mounting means of the wall installation comprises at least a first top crossbar and a first bottom crossbar configured to cooperate respectively with a top end portion and a bottom end portion of the first and second fastener devices; and wherein each of the first and second fastener devices includes a top end portion and a bottom end portion configured to cooperate respectively with top portions of the first top crossbars and with the first bottom crossbars of the first and second uprights.

12. A storage system according to claim 11, wherein each of the top end portions forms a hook arranged to co-operate with the first top crossbars of the first and second uprights.

13. An installation kit comprising: a wall installation according to claim 1; and verification means configured to be fastened to the first upright and to verify that the first longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction during the mounting step.

14. An installation kit according to claim 13, wherein the verification means are configured to be removably fastened to the first upright.

15. An installation kit according to claim 13, wherein the verification means include a spirit level.

16. A method of wall mounting a wall installation according to claim 1, wherein the following steps are performed: fastening the first top fastener of the first upright to the wall; pivoting the first upright in the plane of the wall about a first axis passing through the first top fastener, so that the first longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction; identifying on the wall a fastening position corresponding to the position of a second axis passing through the first referencing means of the first upright; pivoting the first upright in the plane of the wall about the first top fastener so as to expose the fastening position; and fastening the second top fastener of the second upright at the fastening position.

17. A mounting method according to claim 16, wherein the following steps are performed: also supplying a storage accessory having first and second fastener devices spaced apart from each other by the first distance; placing the first and second uprights in such a manner that the first and second longitudinal directions extend in a substantially vertical direction; and removably fastening the first and second fastener devices respectively to the first and second uprights.

18. A mounting method according to claim 17, the first and second uprights of the wall installation further including a first bottom fastener and a second bottom fastener configured to fasten the first and second uprights to the wall, wherein the first and second bottom fasteners of the first and second uprights are fastened to the wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] Other characteristics and advantages of the disclosure appear more clearly and more completely on reading the following description of an embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the following accompanying drawings, in which:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically an example of a wall installation of the present disclosure;

[0074] FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically an example of a storage accessory of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIGS. 3 to 7 show diagrammatically the various steps of the method of mounting a storage system of the present disclosure on a wall;

[0076] FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically a cross-section of a storage accessory mounted on a wall installation of the present disclosure; and

[0077] FIGS. 9 and 10 show diagrammatically various examples of storage accessories of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The storage system 8 of the present disclosure comprises firstly a wall installation 10, shown in particular in FIG. 1.

[0079] The wall installation 10 comprises first and second uprights 20 and 120. The first upright 20 of the wall installation 10 has a first longitudinal direction L1 and first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24 extending substantially parallel to the first longitudinal direction L1.

[0080] As shown in particular in FIG. 1, the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24 of the first upright 20 extend substantially parallel to each other, being spaced apart from each other by a distance D.

[0081] The first upright 20 also has a plurality of pairs 30, 30, 30 of crossbars that extend between the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24. In this example, the first upright 20 has fourteen pairs of crossbars, only some of which are given references, for reasons of clarity.

[0082] As shown in particular in FIG. 1, when the first upright 20 is arranged so that the first longitudinal direction L1 extends in a substantially vertical direction, the crossbars of the pairs 30, 30, 30 extend in a direction that is substantially horizontal.

[0083] The pairs 30, 30, 30 of crossbars are regularly spaced apart from one another; by way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the distance between two crossbars within a pair of crossbars may be identical from one pair of crossbars to another. In other words, the crossbars 30a and 30b of a first pair of crossbars 30 present a spacing e that is the same as the spacing that exists between the crossbars 30a and 30b of a second pair of crossbars 30. Furthermore, by way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the crossbars of the first upright 20 of the wall installation 10 present cross sections that are circular.

[0084] For example, and in nonlimiting manner, the crossbars are constituted by cylindrical metal rods.

[0085] It can also be seen that the distance E between two pairs of consecutive crossbars is substantially greater than the spacing e between two crossbars of any given pair of crossbars.

[0086] Furthermore, it can be seen, in particular from FIG. 8, that the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24 are arranged behind the crossbars, i.e. when the wall installation 10 is fastened to the wall M, the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24 are arranged between the crossbars and the wall M on which the wall installation 10 is fastened.

[0087] In this example, the longitudinal elements and the crossbars are made of metal.

[0088] With reference more particularly to two adjacent pairs of crossbars, e.g. the pairs of crossbars referenced 30 and 30 of the first upright 20 and as shown in FIG. 1, referred to herein as the top pair of crossbars 30 and as the bottom pair of crossbars 30, it can be seen that the top pair of crossbars 30 has a first top crossbar 30a and a second top crossbar 30b, which is arranged below the first top crossbar 30a. Furthermore, the bottom pair of crossbars 30 has a first bottom crossbar 30a and a second bottom crossbar 30b.

[0089] By way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the first top crossbar 30a and the first bottom crossbar 30a are parallel and spaced apart transversely from each other by the distance E, which is substantially equal to the distance between the second top crossbar 30b and the second bottom crossbar 30b.

[0090] The first upright 20 also has first top fastener means 40 and first bottom fastener means 42; for example and in nonlimiting manner, the first top and bottom fastener means 40 and 42 comprise respective plates arranged between two crossbars of a pair of crossbars. Furthermore, the plates of the top and bottom fastener means 40 and 42 are fastened, e.g. welded, to the longitudinal elements 22 and 24.

[0091] Also, each of the first top and bottom fastener means 40 and 42 has a fastener orifice 44 or 46, e.g. formed in its respective plate.

[0092] The first top fastener means 40 has a first axis passing through the fastener orifice 44 and about which the first upright 20 can be pivoted when the first top fastener means 40 are fastened to a wall.

[0093] Furthermore, the first upright 20 has first registering means 48; by way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the first registering means 48 comprise a plate that is secured, e.g. by welding, to the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24.

[0094] As shown in particular in FIG. 1, the first registering means 48 include a fastener orifice 50, which fastener orifice 50 also constitutes, by way of example and in nonlimiting manner, a registering orifice for a purpose that appears more clearly in the description below. Naturally, and without going beyond the ambit of the present disclosure, it would be possible to devise first registering means 48 having fastener and registering orifices that are spaced apart and different from each other.

[0095] The first registering means 48 has a second axis passing via the registering orifice 50.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 1, the first registering means 48 are spaced apart from the first top fastener means 40 by a first distance d; more particularly, the registering orifice and the fastener orifice 44 of the first top fastener means 40 are spaced apart from each other by the first distance d. In other words, the first and second axes, passing respectively via the fastener orifice 44 of the first top fastener means 40 and via the registering orifice of the first registering means 48 are spaced apart from each other by the first distance d.

[0097] In similar manner, the second upright 120 of the wall installation 10 presents a second longitudinal direction L2 and first and second longitudinal elements 122 and 124 extending substantially parallel to each other along the second longitudinal direction L2, the first and second longitudinal elements 122 and 124 being spaced apart from each other by the distance D, e.g. identical to the distance by which the first and second longitudinal elements 22 and 24 of the first upright 20 are spaced apart.

[0098] In similar manner to the first upright 20, the second upright 120 also has pairs of horizontal crossbars 130, 130, 130, and second top and bottom fastener means 140 and 142.

[0099] As can be seen more clearly from the description below, the pairs of horizontal crossbars 30, 30, 30, 130, 130, 130 of the first and second uprights 20 and 120 form mounting means.

[0100] By way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the second upright 120 also has second registering means 148, e.g. a plate secured to the first and second longitudinal elements 122 and 124, within which fastener and registering orifices are formed. The second registering means 148 are spaced apart from the second top fastener means 140 by the first distance d, such that the user can make use equally well of the first upright or of the second upright for mounting the storage system 8.

[0101] It is also possible to devise first and second uprights 20 and 120 having their registering means arranged at equal distances from the top fastener means 40, 140 and the bottom fastener means 42, 142, so as to enable the user, when mounting the storage system 8 as described in greater detail below in the description, to make use of the first and second uprights 20, 120 either way up in the direction defined by their respective longitudinal directions L1 and L2.

[0102] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first and second uprights 20, 120 are identical in structure; nevertheless, without going beyond the ambit of the disclosure, it would be possible to devise a wall installation 10 in which the first and second uprights 20, 120 present differences, and in particular a second upright 120 that does not include second registering means.

[0103] The storage system 8 of the present disclosure also has a storage accessory 80, an example of which is shown in FIG. 2; the storage accessory 80 is configured to be removably attached to the wall installation 10, and more particularly to each of the first and second uprights 20, 120.

[0104] The example storage accessory 80 shown in FIG. 2 includes a storage element 82, e.g. in the form of a rail for receiving an article such as a towel.

[0105] Also, the storage accessory 80 has first and second fastener devices 84 and 86 that are spaced apart from each other by the first distance d.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the first and second fastener devices 84, 86 comprises a body 88, 90 in the form of a substantially rectangular plate in this example. Each of the first and second fastener devices 84, 86 has a top end portion 92, 94 forming a hook and a bottom end portion 96, 98. The top end portions 92, 94 and the bottom end portions 96, 98 extend respectively from the top and bottom ends of the bodies 88, 90.

[0107] It can be seen, in particular from FIG. 2, that the bodies of the first and second fastener devices 84 and 86 present a width; thus, the first distance d by which the first and second fastener devices 84 and 86 are spaced apart specifies the distance between the centers of the bodies 88 and 90 of the fastener devices 84 and 86.

[0108] Each of the bodies 88, 90 of the fastener devices 84, 86 presents a front face 88a, 90a and a rear face 88b, 90b opposite to the front face, the front face being the face that faces towards the storage element 82. More precisely, the storage element 82 is securely fastened to the front faces 88a and 90a of the first and second fastener devices 84 and 86.

[0109] The rear faces 88b and 90b of the fastener devices 84 and 86 are substantially plane, and each presents a coating layer 95 for a purpose that can be seen clearly below.

[0110] FIGS. 3 to 7 show the various steps of the method of mounting a storage system 8 of the present disclosure on a wall M.

[0111] Firstly the first top fastener means 40 of the first upright 20 are fastened to the wall M, e.g. by means of a screw passed through the fastener orifice 44 of the first top fastener means 40.

[0112] Thereafter, verification means 100 are fastened, e.g. removably, on the first upright 20, e.g. on one of its longitudinal elements 22 and 24. The disclosure thus also relates to an installation kit comprising the wall installation 10 and the verification means 100.

[0113] Thereafter, the first upright 20 is pivoted in the plane of the wall M about the first top fastener means 40, more particularly about the first axis passing through the fastener orifice 42 of the first top fastener means 40, so that the first longitudinal direction L1 extends in a direction that is substantially horizontal.

[0114] By way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the verification means 100 include a spirit level, the verification means 100 thus being configured to make it possible to verify that the first longitudinal direction L1 of the first upright 20 does indeed extend in a direction that is substantially horizontal after it has been pivoted about the first top fastener means 40 in the plane of the wall M.

[0115] Thereafter, and as shown in FIG. 4, a fastening position F is identified on the wall M corresponding to the position of the first registering means 48 of the first upright 20, and more particularly corresponding to the position of the registering orifice 50 of the first registering means 48.

[0116] By way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the fastening position F is identified by marking said position using a pencil lead passed through the registering orifice of the first registering means 48.

[0117] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the first upright 20 is pivoted in the plane of the wall M about the first axis passing through the fastener orifice 42 of the first top fastener means 40, so as to expose the fastening position F.

[0118] It can thus be seen that the distance between the previously identified fastening position F and the first top fastener means 40, and more particularly the axis of the fastener element passing through the fastener orifice 42, is equal to the first distance d between the first top fastener means 40 and the first registering means 48 of the first upright 20.

[0119] Thereafter, the second top fastener means 140 of the second upright 120 are fastened to the fastening position F, e.g. by means of a screw passing through the fastener orifice 142 of the second top fastener means 140.

[0120] As a result in particular of the action of gravity on the first and second uprights 20, 120 of the wall installation 10, after the first top fastener means 40 and the second top fastener means 140 have been fastened on the wall M, the first and second uprights 20 and 120 are arranged in such a manner that the first and second longitudinal directions L1 and L2 extend substantially parallel to each other, for example, in a substantially vertical direction.

[0121] In order to encourage arranging the first and second longitudinal directions L1 and L2 in a substantially vertical direction, the storage accessory 80 may be removably fastened to the crossbars arranged in the proximity of the first and second bottom fastener means 42 and 142.

[0122] Thereafter, the above-described storage accessory 80 is provided and the first and second fastener devices 84 and 86 are removably fastened to the first and second uprights 20 and 120.

[0123] More particularly, the first and second fastener devices 84 and 86 co-operate with the pairs of horizontal crossbars 30, 30, 130, 130 of the first and second uprights 20, 120 in order to enable the storage accessory 80 to be removably fastened to the wall installation 10.

[0124] Since both the fastener orifice 42 of the first top fastener means 40 together with the registering orifice of the first registering means 48, and also the fastener orifice 142 of the second top fastener means 140 are arranged respectively in substantially equidistant manner from the longitudinal elements 22, 24, 122, 124 of the first and second uprights 20, 120, the first distance d between the registering orifice and the fastener orifice 42 of the first top fastener means 40 corresponds substantially to the distance between the axes of symmetry of the first and second uprights 20 and 120.

[0125] It can thus be understood that as a result of fastening the first and second uprights 20 and 120 to the wall M by performing the various above-described steps, the wall installation 10 is arranged so that its uprights 20 and 120 are spaced apart by the first distance d, so as to be able to receive the fastener devices 84 and 86 of the storage accessory 80.

[0126] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 8, which is a cross-section of the storage system 8, when the storage accessory 80 has been removably fastened to the wall installation 10, it can be seen that the top section of the hook formed by the top end portion 94 of the second fastener device 86 extends behind the first top crossbar 130a while bearing against substantially one half of the top portion of the second top crossbar 130b. Furthermore, the bottom end portion 98 of the second fastener device 86 is coupled with the first bottom crossbar 130a in order to block pivoting of the second fastener device 86 about the first top crossbar 130a.

[0127] As shown in particular in FIG. 8, the coating layer 95 fastening to the rear face 90b of the fastener device 86 is arranged to cushion contact between the storage accessory 80 and the wall installation 10.

[0128] It can thus be understood that the first and second uprights 20 and 120 have first and second mounting means respectively comprising the first and second top crossbars 30a, 30a, 30b, 30b and the first bottom crossbars 130a, 130a.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 7, fastening the storage system 8 to the wall may include an additional step consisting in fastening the first and second bottom fastener means 42 and 142 of the first and second uprights 20 and 120 to the wall M.

[0130] FIGS. 9 and 10 show diagrammatically other examples of storage accessories 80, 80 of the present disclosure; in similar manner to the storage accessory 80 described with reference to FIG. 2, each of the storage accessories 80, 80 has first fastener devices 84, 86, 84, 86 that are spaced apart from each other by the first distance d, and a storage element 82, 82; the storage accessories 80, 80 are thus configured to be removably fastened to the first and second uprights 20 and 120 of the wall installation 10 once they have been fastened to the wall M at a spacing equal to the first distance d. By way of example and in nonlimiting manner, the storage elements 82, 82 of the storage accessories 80, 80, are in the form of a towel-rail and of a bottle-rack.

[0131] Without going beyond the ambit of the present disclosure, it would naturally be possible to devise storage accessories presenting any other type of storage element.

[0132] Furthermore, in the example described with reference to the various figures, the first upright 20 has only one registering means 48; it would be entirely possible to devise a wall installation 10 in which at least the first upright 20 has a plurality of registering means, arranged at different distances from the first top fastener means 40, so as to enable wall installations to be fastened to the wall that are adapted to various different types of storage accessory, and more particularly to storage accessories having fastener devices presenting different spacings.

[0133] In particular, because of the presence of the spaced apart longitudinal elements 22, 24, 122, 124, the storage system of the present disclosure can also cooperate with storage accessories having only one fastener device.

[0134] One of skill in the art will recognize that additional variations may be provided without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0135] Throughout the description, including the claims, the term comprising a should be understood as being synonymous with comprising at least one unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms substantially and/or approximately and/or generally should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances.

[0136] Where any standards of national, international, or other standards body are referenced (e.g., ISO, etc.), such references are intended to refer to the standard as defined by the national or international standards body as of the priority date of the present specification. Any subsequent substantive changes to such standards are not intended to modify the scope and/or definitions of the present disclosure and/or claims.

[0137] Although the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure.

[0138] It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.