# US 11,896,168 B2 · Towel bar with integrated robe hook

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- Number: US 11,896,168 B2
- Document ID: US11896168B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/668,731
- Filed: 2022-02-10
- Published: 2022-07-28
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-22
- Assignees: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc.
- Applicants: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc.
- Inventors: Darin Lane Heuer; Victor Tung; Jan Christopher van Leyen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896168B2

## CPC

- A47B 61/02: with extensible garment-holders
- A47G 25/0685: {Collapsible clothes racks, e.g. swingable, foldable, extendible (A47G25/0671 takes precedence; wardrobes with extensible garment holders A47B61/02)}
- A47K 10/04: Towel racks; Towel rails; Towel rods; Towel rolls, e.g. rotatable
- A47K 10/10: characterised by being mounted on cabinets, walls, doors, or the like
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES

## Abstract

A towel bar includes a retractable and extendable robe hook. The robe hook may be formed in a wall-mounted first base joined by a towel bar to a wall-mounted second base. A shaft may be extended from the base to reveal the robe hook. When extended, the robe hook provides a location from which objects may be hung. When not needed, the robe hook may be pushed into the base and reside within an internal cavity, thereby concealed from view.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wall-mounted accessory comprising:
a base including:
a pedestal configured to fixedly attach to a surface of a wall;
an opposite receiver configured to be positioned at a distance from the wall, the pedestal and the receiver defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis orthogonal to the wall when the base is attached thereto, wherein the receiver is shaped and size to support a towel bar; and
an internal cavity defined within the base and extending along the longitudinal axis between the pedestal and the receiver;
a shaft slidably coupled to the receiver of the base and extending along the longitudinal axis, the shaft discrete from the towel bar and including a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the shaft is configured to move between at least an extended position whereby the first end is extended relative to the receiver and a retracted position whereby the first end is positioned adjacent the receiver, and wherein the second end is disposed within the internal cavity of the base when the shaft is in both the extended position and the retracted position; and
a bushing surrounding the shaft and supported on the receiver.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the shaft includes a piston captured within the internal cavity, the piston preventing the shaft from being removed from the receiver of the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 2, wherein the receiver defines a positive stop for the piston so as to define a maximum extension distance of the first end of the shaft relative to the receiver.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 2, wherein the piston is threadably engaged with the shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 2, wherein the piston is frictionally engaged within the internal cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, wherein the shaft is spring loaded.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, further comprising a retainer configured to secure to the surface of the wall, the retainer received within the internal cavity of the base at the pedestal to fixedly attach the pedestal to the surface of the wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, wherein the first end of the shaft includes a cap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, further comprising the towel bar, wherein the towel bar is a straight bar.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 1, further comprising the towel bar, wherein the towel bar is a curved bar.

### Claim 11

A wall-mounted accessory comprising:
a towel bar;
a first support including:
a first base having a first pedestal configured to be secured to a wall, an opposite first receiver configured to be positioned at a distance from the wall and support at least a portion of the towel bar, and a first internal cavity defined within the first base extending between the first pedestal and the first receiver;
a first shaft slidably coupled to the first receiver and discrete from the towel bar; and
a first bushing surrounding the first shaft and supported on the first receiver; and
a second support including:
a second base having a second pedestal configured to be secured to the wall, an opposite second receiver configured to be positioned at the distance from the wall and support at least a portion of the towel bar, and a second internal cavity defined within the second base extending between the second pedestal and the second receiver;
a second shaft slidably coupled to the second receiver and discrete from the towel bar; and
a second bushing surrounding the second shaft and supported on the second receiver;
wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft are configured to independently move between at least an extended position and a retracted position, wherein an end of each of the first shaft and the second shaft are disposed within the respective internal cavity when in both the extended position and the retracted position, and wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft are discrete relative to the towel bar.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 11, wherein distal ends of the towel bar are held within the respective receivers by a frictional fit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 11, wherein distal ends of the towel bar are held within the respective receivers by a screw.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 11, wherein each end of the first shaft and the second shaft captured within the respective internal cavity includes a piston.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 14, wherein the piston is spring-loaded.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 15, wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft are biased towards the extended position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 16, wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft are retained in the extended position by a detent.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 11, wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft include a robe hook.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The wall-mounted accessory of claim 11, wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft are manually moveable between the extended position and the retracted position.