Insert wall anchor for a grab bar
AssigneeLiberty Hardware Mfg. Corp.
InventorsRohn Bowden, Earl David Forrest, Andrew James Graff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grab bar is attached to a wall with at least one anchor assembly. The anchor assembly can be removed and repeatedly used as needed. The anchor assembly includes a vertical support beam, a flange arm assembly having a base portion and an arm portion, and a spring. The spring is attached to the vertical support beam and cooperates with the arm portion to hold the flange arm assembly in place during installation. The base portion of the flange arm assembly has a flange that fits against a wall surface of the wall structure, and the arm portion is received within a slot formed within the vertical support beam. The flange prevents the flange arm assembly from falling behind the wall structure.
Claims20
An anchor assembly for a bathroom grab bar comprising:
- a vertical support beam having a slot, said vertical support beam being insertable through an opening in a wall surface;
- a flange arm assembly including a base portion and an arm portion, said base portion to interface with the wall surface and said arm portion being received within said slot, and wherein said base portion comprises a flange having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening in the wall surface to prevent the base portion from falling through the opening;
- and
- a spring supported by said vertical support beam such that said spring cooperates with said arm portion to hold the anchor assembly in place during assembly
A method of installing an anchor assembly for a bathroom grab bar comprising the steps:
- (a) coupling a flange arm assembly to a vertical support beam, the flange arm assembly comprising a base portion with a flange and an arm portion;
- (b) inserting the flange arm assembly and vertical support beam through an opening in a wall surface;
- (c) rotating the vertical support beam into an installation position;
- and
- (d) engaging the flange of the flange arm assembly against the wall surface to prevent the base portion from falling through the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.