FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a mounting arrangement for mounting an accessory such as a bathroom or kitchen accessory to a surface, for example a wall.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Wall mounted accessories such as bathroom towel rails, hooks and the like generally include a wall mounted component, which is secured to a wall by fasteners (typically screws), and a mounting piece which is attached to the wall mounted component. In a known configuration, the mounting piece is secured to the wall mounted component by way of a grub screw which is in screw-threaded engagement with the mounting piece itself and screws into a surface of the wall mounted component thereby holding the mounting piece fast to the wall mounted component.

A problem experienced with this configuration is that the mounting piece tends to work loose after a while owing to the fact that the grub screw loses its bind on the wall mounted component as a result of regular use, knocks, bumps or blows and other mechanical forces such as vibrations and pulling forces which are applied to the mounting piece. For this reason, the above mounting system requires regular retightening of the grub screws to prevent the mounting piece from detaching completely. As a result of repeated tightening, a pointed tip of the grub screw may form a small cavity in the surface of the wall mounted component which could hinder the ability of the grub screw to bite into the wall mounted component.

Other wall mounting systems lack aesthetic appeal or are too complex and therefore difficult to install. The effectiveness of a complex system which ordinarily works well may be detracted from if it is subject to poor installation. It is therefore desirable to simplify installation as far as possible.

The Inventor desires a mounting arrangement which at least alleviates these problems. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a mounting arrangement for mounting an accessory to a surface, the mounting arrangement including:

a surface-mountable member which includes a base which is attachable to a surface and an attachment portion which extends away from the base, the attachment portion having a first part fixed to the base and a second part which is displaceable relative to the first part between a first position and a second position;

a second member which includes a tubular formation which is at least partially receivable over the attachment portion when the first and second parts are in their first position; and

an urging member whereby the first and second parts are urged away from one another towards their second position in which they abut against an inner surface of the tubular formation to retain the second member in position on the surface-mountable member.

The second member may include a lateral opening through which the urging member is configured to pass. With the tubular formation positioned over the attachment portion, the mounting arrangement may define a longitudinal attachment axis which is substantially perpendicular to the base of the surface-mountable member. In this configuration, the urging member may be transversely displaceable relative to the attachment axis. The attachment portion may accordingly extend along the attachment axis.

The first part of the attachment portion may include an internally screw-threaded hole, the urging member being configured for screw-threaded engagement with the hole such that upon actuation of the urging member, with the second member received over the attachment portion, the first and second parts are urged laterally away from one another from their first position toward their second position.

The attachment portion may have a cylindrical shape, the first and second parts forming complementary halves of the cylindrical shape, the halves including complementary mating formations which serve to locate the halves relative to one another in a side-by-side arrangement. The first part may include a pair of laterally projecting male mating formations and the second part includes a pair of corresponding female mating formations. An outer face of the second part may be complemental to and configured to abut against the inner surface of the tubular formation.

The mounting arrangement may include a resiliently deformable member which is operatively positioned between the attachment portion and the inner surface of the tubular formation, the deformable member serving to absorb any vibrations applied to the second member when the first and second parts are in their second position, which may, in the absence of the deformable member, lead to the loosening of the second member from the surface-mountable member. The resiliently deformable member may be in the form of an elastomeric shock absorber.

The attachment portion may include a number of recesses formed in an outer surface of the attachment portion for receiving the resiliently deformable member. The mounting arrangement may include a cover having a central aperture which is shaped such that the first part of the attachment portion can pass through the aperture, however when the second part is in abutment with the first part, the cover can cannot pass over the two parts together, the second part thus serving to hold the cover in place. The attachment portion may include an outwardly projecting piece which protrudes, at least partially, through the opening formed in the second member when the first and second parts are in their second position in order to prevent angular rotation and axial displacement of the tubular formation relative to the attachment portion when the tubular formation is received over the attachment portion.

The projecting piece may be in the form of a peripheral lip provided around the screw- threaded hole in the attachment portion.

The urging member may be in the form of an elongate screw. The screw may be a grub screw. Accordingly, upon displacement of the urging member relative to the first half of the attachment portion, when the tubular formation is received over the attachment portion, from its loosened position to its tensioned position, the urging member may be configured to urge the first and second halves of the attachment portion apart such that the second half is displaced laterally outward toward the inner surface of the tubular formation.

The resiliently deformable member may abut against an inner surface of the tubular formation when the urging member is in its tensioned position, the resiliently deformable member effectively functioning in the manner of a spring washer to maintain a tension or load on the urging member thereby reducing the risk that it will work loose.

The tubular formation may have a circular or square cross-section. An outer peripheral edge of the base of the surface-mountable member may define a seat for receiving a cover. In order to prevent rattling of the cover when the tubular formation is received over the attachment portion, the second half of the attachment portion may be configured to urge the cover against the seat of the base when the urging member is in the tensioned position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a mounting arrangement in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the assembled mounting arrangement; Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the assembled arrangement along an attachment axis; and

Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the assembled arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT In the figures, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a mounting arrangement in accordance with the invention for mounting an accessory to a surface. The mounting arrangement 10 may, for example, find application in wall mounted bathroom accessories such as hand towel railings or toilet roll holders etc. The mounting arrangement 10 is not, however, limited to this application.

With reference to figure 1 , the mounting arrangement 10 includes a surface-mountable member 12 which includes a base 13 and an attachment portion 14 which projects away from the base 13. The mounting arrangement 10 further includes a second member in the form of a mounting piece which includes a tubular formation 15 which is receivable over the attachment portion 14 of the surface-mountable member 12. In the figures, the tubular formation 15 is illustrated as a length of circular cylindrical tube. It is to be understood that this tube may form part of any bathroom or other household accessory which may be attachable to the surface-mountable member 12.

The attachment portion 14 includes a first half 16 which is integrally connected to the base 13 of the surface-mountable member 12 and a complementary second half 17 which is separate from the first half 16. Each half 16, 17 has a roughly semi-circular cross-sectional profile. The second half 17 is configured to abut against the first half 16 such that the combined cross-sectional profile of the attachment portion 14 is roughly circular in shape to correspond to the cross-sectional profile of the tubular formation 15. In the case of a square tubular formation (not shown), the profile of the attachment portion 14 may differ to suit the cross-sectional profile of the tubular formation. The mounting arrangement 10 further includes a cover plate 18 which has an annular middle 19, which defines a central aperture 20, and a depending peripheral skirt 21 . The cover plate 18 is receivable over the surface-mountable member 12 such that the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14 protrudes through the aperture 20 (see figure 2). The base 13 comprises a planar circular mounting plate 22 and a central raised portion 24 which stands proud of the planar mounting plate 22 and to which the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14 is joined. The surface-mountable member 12 defines an attachment axis X which is perpendicular to the base 13. The tubular formation 15 is receivable over the attachment portion 14 such that the tubular formation 15 is coaxial with the attachment axis X. An axially outer surface of the raised portion 24 of the base 13 defines a seat 25 for receiving the cover plate 18. The seat 25 and the aperture 20 have a complementary non- circular shape configured to prevent substantial angular displacement of the cover plate 18 relative to the raised portion 24 when the cover plate 18 abuts against the seat 25. The mounting arrangement 10 further includes an urging member in the form of an elongate grub screw 26 which is receivable within a transversely extending, internally screw-threaded hole 28 formed through the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14. The grub screw 26 has a longitudinally extending, internal, hexagonal recess 30 (see figure 3) which is configured to accommodate an end of an Allen key or hex key through use of which the grub screw 26 may be rotated.

The base 13 is operatively mounted to a wall by way of a pair of screws 32, each of which passes through an arcuate aperture 36 formed in the mounting plate 22 and screws into a complementary screw plug 34 which is snugly received in a hole drilled in the wall until a head of the screw 32 abuts against the mounting plate 22 (see figure 3). In order to ensure that placement of the surface-mountable member 12 on the wall is as desired, the apertures 36 have an arcuate shape which allow for a certain amount of angular play for fine adjustment before the surface-mountable member 12 is fixed in place by tightening the screws 32 until heads of the screws abut the mounting plate 22.

In order further to simplify the installation process, the mounting arrangement 10 includes a circular adhesive film 38 (see figure 1 ) which is applied to a surface of the wall where the surface-mountable member 12 is to be installed. The film 38 corresponds in shape to that of the planar mounting plate 22 and includes a pair of diametrically opposite holes 40 which are arranged such that they are in register with the apertures 36 when the mounting plate 22 is positioned over the film 38. Accordingly, once the film 38 has been applied to the wall, the holes 40 serve to indicate to an installer where the correct positions are for drilling holes in the wall. The mounting plate 22 also includes gripping formations, e.g., ribs (not shown) formed on an axially inner surface of the plate 22 which aid in frictional engagement of the plate 22 against the film 38 and the wall.

The mounting arrangement 10 further includes a resiliently deformable element in the form of an elastomeric member 42. In use, parts of the elastomeric member 42 are positioned between the attachment portion 14 of the surface-mountable member 12 and a radially inner surface of the tubular formation 15 and serve to absorb mechanical shocks and vibrations applied to the mounting piece and increase friction therebetween. As can be best seen in figure 4, the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14 includes a pair of axially spaced apart, peripherally extending grooves 53 which are joined by a pair of axially extending grooves 55, one on either side of the hole 28, which together form a grid on a face of the first half 16.

With reference to figures 1 and 4, the elastomeric member 42, in turn, comprises a pair of opposing and spaced apart, elongate sides 57 which are joined by a pair of spaced apart, transversely extending intermediate pieces 59 which are positioned between two end pieces 60. In use, the elastomeric member 42 is positioned such that the sides 57 are received within the axially spaced grooves 53, the intermediate pieces 59 are arranged in the axially extending grooves 55 and the ends 60 of the member 42 hook around sides of the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14 (see figure 2). When the member 42 is received within the grooves 53, 55, as described above, part of the member 42 protrudes outwardly past the grooves 53, 55 for engagement with the inner surface of the tubular formation 15. The second half 17 may have corresponding grooves to seat a further elastomeric member therein (not shown).

The first and second halves 16, 17 of the attachment portion 14 include complementary mating formations which serve to locate the second half 17 relative to the first half 16. Accordingly, the first half 16 includes a pair of axially spaced apart male mating formations in the form of two spigots 44 (see figures 1 and 3). A pair of corresponding female mating formations, in the form of two sockets 46, are formed in the second half 17. When the second half 17 is arranged in abutment with the first half 16, the spigots 44 engage with the sockets 46 to locate the second half 17 longitudinally and transversely relative to the first 16 but permit relative displacement in the direction of the spigots 44.

With reference to figure 4, the tubular formation 15 includes an oval opening 50 in a side wall of the tubular formation 15 which provides access to the grub screw 26 through the use of an Allen key. The first half 16 further includes a circular lip or ridge 51 around a periphery of the hole 28 which projects radially outwardly. The ridge 51 is dimensioned such that it can be accommodated within the opening 50 formed in the side wall of the tubular formation 15. In order to install the mounting arrangement 10, the film 38 is applied to the wall at a desired location and two holes are drilled into the wall through the holes 40 in the film 38. Each hole is plugged with a plug 34 and the surface-mountable member 12 is secured to the surface of the wall by inserting a screw 32 through each aperture 36 and screwing the screws 32 into the plugs 34 in the wall. Once the surface-mountable member 12 is fixed in place, the cover plate 18 is moved over the attachment portion 14 and positioned on the seat 25. The second half 17 has to be separate from the first half 16 in order to allow the cover plate 18 to pass over the attachment portion 14. Therefore, once the second half 17 is in abutment with the first half 16, the cover plate 18 cannot be removed without removing the second half 17. With the cover plate 18 in position, the elastomeric member 42 is hooked around the sides of the first half 16 and the second half 17 is arranged such that the spigots 44 are received in the sockets 46 and the second half 17 is in abutment with the first half 16. At this point, the tubular formation 15 is moved over the attachment portion 14 until the opening 50 is in register with the lip 51 of the attachment portion 14 and an end of the tubular formation 15 is in abutment with, or closely spaced from, the cover plate 18 (see figure 4).

The grub screw 26 is then screwed, through the opening 50, into the hole 28 formed in the attachment portion 14. In order to secure the tubular formation 15 to the attachment portion 14, the grub screw 26 is fastened until an end of the screw 26 abuts against an inner face of the second half 17 and urges the second half 17 radially outward, from a first position toward a second position, until the second half 17 frictionally engages an inner surface of the tubular formation 15. As a result of the lateral displacement of the second half 17 relative to the first half 16 from the first position to the second position, the lip 51 is at least partially forced through the opening 50 in the tubular formation 15 (see figure 3). In this manner angular and axial displacement of the tubular formation 15 relative to the attachment portion 14 is inhibited. The grub screw 26 is accordingly displaceable relative to the first half 16 of the attachment portion 14 between a tensioned position in which it urges the attachment portion 14 against the radially inner surface of the tubular formation 15 and a loosened position in which it does not urge the attachment formation 14 against the tubular formation 15. When the second half 17 is in the second position and the grub screw 26 is in the tensioned position, the inner surface of the tubular formation 15 abuts against the elastomeric member 42 thereby compressing the member 42. The elastomeric member 42 effectively functions in the manner of a spring washer to maintain a tension or load on the grub screw 26 thereby reducing the risk that it will work loose. In order to remove the mounting arrangement 10, the reverse procedure is followed.

The Inventor believes that the mounting arrangement 10 in accordance with the invention provides an effective way of removably attaching a mounting piece to a wall mounted component such that the mounting piece will not easily work loose or become detached. Installation and operation of the arrangement is also relatively simple and does not require a large amount of skill. Furthermore, owing to the expanding nature of the first and second halves 16, 17 of the attachment portion 14, varying tolerances of the tubular formation 15 can be compensated for.