Bathroom fixture attachment device including a rotary coupling
View Patent ↗The invention disclosed provides a rotary coupling mechanism that securely attaches common household fixtures to a wall. The invention is comprised of a wall bracket, a base bracket, a cam pin, and two mounting screws. Flanges on the base bracket rotationally engage flanges on the wall bracket and the cam pin inserted through the base bracket rotates to hold the flanges and secure the base bracket to the wall bracket. An alternate embodiment of the invention is comprised of a wall bracket and a base bracket having flanges with canted surfaces. A locking pin holds the brackets together after the flanges are rotationally engaged. For each application of the coupling mechanism, a decorative body conceals the apparatus. The decorative body is rigidly connected or pivotally connected to a decorative cap. The decorative cap retains various household fixtures such as paper holders, towel racks, or shelves.
1. A rotary coupling mechanism for attaching a household fixture to a wall comprising:
a first wall bracket affixed to the wall having a first set of flanges and a rim;
a first base bracket having a second set of flanges;
the first set of flanges engaging the second set of flanges when the first base bracket is rotated with respect to the first wall bracket;
a pin rotationally secured in the first base bracket, the pin having a cam surface, wherein the cam surface includes a set of teeth engaging the first set of flanges and the rim, thereby preventing rotation between the first wall bracket and the first base bracket; and,
wherein the first wall bracket has a first perimeter and wherein the first set of flanges includes four flanges on the first perimeter where each flange has a first width that occupies between about 40° and 45° of the first perimeter.
2. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first base bracket has a second perimeter and wherein the second set of flanges includes three flanges each having a second width that occupies between about 35° and 40° of the second perimeter.
3. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first set of flanges engaging the second set of flanges provides a rotational adjustment between the first wall bracket and the first base bracket of about 15°.
4. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first base bracket further includes a brim having a set of attachment holes to attach a first hollow body.
5. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 4 wherein the first hollow body includes an open end having a set of stanchions aligned with the set of attachment holes and further includes a closed end having a first bushing seated in a centrally located circular hole flanked by a first set of diametrically opposed dowel holes.
6. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 5 wherein the first bushing is adjacent a first cap and includes a central port flanked by a second set of diametrically opposed dowel holes aligned with the first set of dowel holes.
7. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 6 wherein the first cap includes a third set of dowel holes and is connected to the first hollow body with a shoulder bolt extending through the first hollow body, the first bushing, the first cap and into a catch in the first cap.
8. The rotary coupling mechanism of claim 7 wherein a set of dowels are seated in the first, the second, and the third sets of dowels preventing the first cap from rotating with respect to the first body and wherein the catch is releasably connected to a rod seated in a second cap adjacent a second bushing seated in a second body connected to a second base bracket engaged to a second wall bracket mounted on the wall.
9. A rotary coupling mechanism for attaching a household fixture to a wall comprising:
a wall bracket having a first set of flanges and a rim wherein the first set of flanges extend parallel to the rim;
a base bracket having a second set of flanges, an interior, and a brim defining a set of attachment holes;
a pin protruding into the interior and having a cam surface, the cam surface including a set of teeth and a first flat surface diametrically opposed and generally parallel to a second flat surface;
the base bracket rotationally engaged with the wall bracket wherein the first set of flanges is adjacent to the second set of flanges; and,
the set of teeth lockingly engages one flange of the first set of flanges and the rim when the pin is rotated axially.
10. A pivoting paper holder for attachment to a wall comprising:
a first wall bracket having a first set of flanges and a first lip adjacent the first set of flanges;
a first base bracket having a second set of flanges removably engaged with the first set of flanges;
a first hollow cover having a closed end including a centrally located circular port and an open end connected to the first base bracket;
a first pin, inserted through the first cover and the first base bracket, having a first cam surface for engagement with the first wall bracket;
a first bushing seated in the circular port;
a first cap adjacent the first bushing and pivotally connected about a first bolt to the first cover;
a rod having a first end seated in the first cap and connected to the first bolt and having a second end releasably connected to an insert in a second cap;
a second bushing adjacent the second cap seated in a second cover;
the second cover connected to the second cap and the insert with a second bolt;
a second base bracket connected to the second cover;
a second wall bracket having a third set of flanges and a second lip;
the second base bracket having a fourth set of flanges removably engaged with the third set of flanges;
a second pin, inserted through the second cover and the second base bracket, having a second cam surface for engagement with the second wall bracket; and,
a set of dowels, removably seated in the second cap and the second cover, preventing rotation of the second cap with respect to the second cover.
11. The pivoting paper holder of claim 10 wherein the first cam surface includes a first set of teeth for rotational engagement with the first set of flanges and the first lip.
12. The pivoting paper holder of claim 10 wherein the first set of flanges has a first set of mating surfaces and the second set of flanges has a second set of mating surfaces, wherein the first set of mating surfaces and the second set of mating surfaces are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first bolt.
13. The pivoting paper holder of claim 10 wherein the second cam surface includes a second set of teeth for rotational engagement with the third set of flanges and the second lip.
14. The pivoting paper holder of claim 10 wherein the third set of flanges has a first set of mating surfaces and the fourth set of flanges has a second set of mating surfaces wherein the first set of mating surfaces and the second set of mating surfaces are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second bolt.