Universal mounting block system
View Patent ↗A wall-mounting block or frame is used to mount fixtures to exterior building walls having siding. The wall-mounting block includes two major parts, a first or base section and a second or holding section which are both configured as cap-like structures detachably connected to each other with integrated, adjustable connectors. The present design eliminates the need for special hardware to attach the holding section to the base section, and helps prevent awkward mounting situations.
1. A mounting block system arranged to hold a fixture to a wall having a substrate, said fixture arranged over said substrate, said system comprising:
a) a common base section having at least one integrally formed flange arranged to be positioned against said substrate and a support structure including side walls extending perpendicularly from said flange to an integral upper interface, said upper interface including apertures; and
b) an upper cap arranged to fit over said common base and having integrally formed contiguous side walls supporting perpendicularly extending, integrally formed holding flanges and an upper support surface arranged to fit over said common base section, said upper cap having downwardly extending connecting prongs having a corresponding size and configuration as said apertures for mating therewith;
wherein said common base section is configured to interface with a plurality of upper caps of different sizes and configurations, with each of said plurality of upper caps including connecting prongs having the corresponding size and configuration as said apertures for mating therewith.
2. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , wherein said upper support surface includes four connection prongs substantially parallel to said substrate and arranged to receive said fixture.
3. The wall-mounting block system of claim 2 , wherein said common base section includes four apertures.
4. The wall-mounting block system of claim 3 , wherein said connecting prongs and said apertures interact as friction-fit devices.
5. The wall-mounting block system of claim 4 , wherein said connecting prongs and said apertures are arranged proximate to four corners of said mounting block.
6. The wall-mounting block system of claim 5 , wherein said connecting prongs and said apertures effect a uniform connection between said common base section and said upper cap over a plurality of spacings between said common base section and said upper cap.
7. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , wherein said upper support surface of said upper cap is essentially parallel to said substrate and arranged to receive the fixture.
8. The wall-mounting block system of claim 2 , wherein said upper support surface comprises a drilling pattern.
9. The wall-mounting block system of claim 7 , wherein said upper interface surface comprises a drilling pattern.
10. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , wherein said side walls of said upper cap fit closely over said side walls of said common base section.
11. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , wherein said common base section is made of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, rubber, metal, nylon, and wood.
12. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , wherein said common base section is configured to hold said upper cap at an aperture in said wall.
13. The wall-mounting block system of claim 1 , further comprising another aperture in said common base section sized and located to accommodate a vent tube; and
an upper cap aperture in said upper cap aligned with said another aperture in said common base section.
14. The mounting block system of claim 13 , further comprising louvered structure covering said upper cap aperture in said upper cap.
15. The mounting block system of claim 14 , wherein said vent tube is metal and attached inside said another aperture of said common base section.
16. The mounting block system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical box having pass-through press-fit receptors for receiving said connecting prongs.
17. The mounting block system of claim 16 , wherein said electrical box further comprises rotating flanges extendable to fit beneath said upper surface of said common base section.
18. The mounting block system of claim 17 , wherein said connecting prongs hold said common base section, said upper cap and said electrical box together.
19. The mounting block system of claim 1 further comprising:
a split tray extending from a top of said sidewalls of said common base section, said split tray forming two contiguous structures having tray sidewalls and tray bottoms, said tray sidewalls being interior to and substantially parallel to said sidewalls of said common base section.
20. The mounting block system of claim 19 , wherein said split tray includes said apertures for interfacing with said connecting prongs.