UNIVERSAL MOUNTING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to mounting systems and in particular mounting systems for use with a plurality of different devices including liquid soap dispensers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soap and other liquid dispensers are typically mounted directly to the wall by the user. Although such a system is very effective it does not provide the user with flexibility in regard to changing the dispenser. If for example the dispenser is used in a hospital changing the dispenser will be relatively costly, cause disruption in the workplace and generate dirt from drilling holes for the new dispenser and filling holes in the wall from the dispenser that is being removed. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a mounting system that may be used with a plurality of different soap dispensers and the like. Further it would be advantageous if the mounting system could also be used with other equipment such as towel dispensers or other medical equipment. Such a universal mounting system would provide the user with a number of advantages. Specifically, it would allow the user to easily upgrade an existing dispensing system or changing dispensing systems. Further if a plurality of mounting systems were installed it would provide the user with flexibility in regard to the configuration of the position of devices attached thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a universal mounting system usable in association with a plurality of different devices including liquid dispensers. The system includes a universal bracket having a first locking portion, a second locking portion attached to the device, and at least one device supporting portion. The universal bracket has a back, at least one supporting portion attached to the back and a first locking portion attached to the back. The second locking portion is attached to a device and is adapted to be locked to the first locking portion of the universal bracket. The at least one device supporting portion is adapted to engage the at least one supporting portion of the universal bracket.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a universal bracket for use in association with a plurality of different devices each having a second locking portion and at least one device supporting portion. The universal bracket includes a back, at least one supporting portion and a first locking portion. The at least one supporting portion attached to the back is adapted to engage the at least one supporting portion of device. The first locking portion attached to the back is adapted to engage the second locking portion attached to a device.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a device for use in association with a universal wall bracket having a first locking portion and at least one supporting portion. The device includes at least one device supporting portion and a second locking portion. The at least one device supporting portion is attached to the device and is adapted to engage the at least one supporting portion of the

universal bracket. The second locking portion is attached to the device and is adapted to engage the first locking portion of the universal bracket.

Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the universal bracket of the universal mounting system constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lock portion of the universal bracket of figure 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the key release and the lock through the release hole in a dispenser;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the universal bracket of the present invention and a lockable bottle holder;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the universal bracket and the lockable bottle holder of figure 4 attached together and showing loading a bottle into the holder;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the universal bracket with a lockable holder attached thereto and a bottle secured therein;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 6 but with a taller bottle;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the universal bracket and the back of the lockable bottle holder;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the universal bracket with the lockable bottle holder attached thereto;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 4 but showing an alternate bottle holder; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the universal bracket with the alternate bottle holder of figure 10 attached thereto and loading a bottle into the holder;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the universal bracket with the alternate bottle holder of figure 10 attached thereto and a tall bottle positioned in the holder;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 12 but showing a smaller bottle positioned therein;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 4 but showing an elbow operated dispenser;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the universal bracket with an elbow operated dispenser attached thereto and loading a bottle into the dispenser; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the universal bracket with an elbow operated dispenser attached thereto and a bottle positioned therein;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 4 but showing a cartridge system dispenser;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an open cartridge system dispenser attached to the universal bracket;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a closed cartridge system dispenser attached to the universal bracket;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 4 but showing a towel dispenser;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 4 but showing medical equipment;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 17 but showing an alternate embodiment of a universal bracket in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 22 but showing the back of the cartridge system dispenser;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of an open cartridge system dispenser attached to the universal bracket of figure 22; Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a key release for use with the universal bracket of fig u re 22;

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a closed cartridge system dispenser attached to the universal bracket;

Fig. 27 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along line 26 on figure 25 ; and

Fig. 28 is a vertical cross section view taken along line 27 on figure 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figure 1 , the universal bracket of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The universal bracket 10 can be used with a wide variety of equipment such as liquid dispensers, bottle holders, towel dispenser, medical equipment and the like. There are a number of advantages of providing a universal bracket that can be used with a wide variety of equipment. Specifically it is easy to change or upgrade the equipment. Further, it allows the user to make such change

with a minimal disruption of service and without any construction costs. If a number of universal brackets are positioned in a room it allows the user to configure the equipment as best suits that particular user.

The universal bracket 10 has a face 12 that is spaced from the supporting wall 11 as best seen in figure 9. The bracket 10 has a pair of bracket supports 14 and a bracket lock portion 16. The bracket 10 is attached to the wall 11 with screws (not shown) through a plurality of screw holes 18. An aperture 20 is formed above each bracket support 14. The lock portion 16 is a female lock portion having a pair of spreadable arms 22. The spreadable arms 22 can move outwardly but on being released return to the locked position.

The bracket support 14 is generally chevron shaped with a pair of side portions 24 and an arrow shaped lower portion 26. This shape supports the dispenser and the like but also helps to position the dispenser laterally. The side portions 24 and lower portion 26 are spaced inwardly from the face 12. As discussed above the universal bracket 10 may be used with a variety of different devices. However, in order to mate with the universal bracket all of the devices will have a number of common features. Specifically as shown in figure 8 all the devices will have a pair of device supports 28 and preferably all of the devices will have a device lock portion 30. The device supports 28 are shaped to engage the bracket supports 14. Specifically the device supports are chevron shaped and extend outwardly from the device as best seen in figures 8 and 9. Similarly the device supports 28 have side portions 32 and an arrow shaped lower portion 34. Device lock portion 30 is an inverted T shape and is a male lock portion.

The spreadable arms 22 of the lock portion 16 engage the inverted T and hold it in

place. Lock apertures 36 provide access to a key 38 as best seen in figure 3. Key 38 spreads the arms 22 to release lock portion 16 from device lock portion 30.

Referring to figures 4 to 9 the device shown herein is a lockable bottle holder 40. The lockable bottle holder 40 includes a back portion 41 , an upper holder 42 and a lower holder 44. The upper holder 42 is a collar that fits around the neck of a bottle 46, 46' as shown in figure 6 and 7. The lower holder 44 is a stand that supports the bottom of bottle 46. The lower holder 44 is movable relative to the upper holder 42 which is fixedly attached to the back portion 41. The lower portion 44 includes a back plate 48 that is attached to the back portion 41 with a ratchet type mechanism 50. Side channels 52 hold the back plate 48 in place. The lockable holder 40 can be used with a short bottle 46 as shown in figure 6 or a tall bottle 46' as shown in figure 7.

Referring to figures 10 to 13 the device shown herein is a bottle holder 60. The bottle holder 60 includes a back portion 62 and an open holder 64 attached thereto. The open holder 64 has a bottom portion 66 and a pair of side portions 68. The side portions 68 also extend around the front to restrain movement of the bottle forwardly. Bottle holder 60 may be used with a variety of

different shaped bottles, two examples of which are shown in figures 12 and 13, namely a round tall bottle 70 and a square short bottle 72, respectively. Back portion 62 has side arms 74 that when in position rest against the sides of universal bracket 10.

Referring to figures 14 to 16 the device shown herein is an elbow operated dispenser 80. Elbow operated dispenser 80 includes a back portion 82, a

bottle holding portion 84 and a lever 86. Lever 86 is hingeably attached to bottle

holding portion 84. Lever 86 engages a dispensing button 88 on the bottle 90. Bottle holding portion 84 includes a neck collar 92 which holds the neck of the bottle 90 in an inverted positions and a bottle collar 94 spaced upwardly from the neck collar 92 to hold the bottle 90 in position. Referring to figures 17 to 19 the device shown herein is a cartridge system dispenser 100. Cartridge system dispenser 100 has a back portion 102 and a cover 104 hingeably attached to the back portion 102. The cartridge of liquid (not shown) is positioned inside the dispenser and the cover 104 encloses the cartridge therein. The back portion 102 has an outer lip 106 that extends around the outer edge of the back portion 102 and when dispenser 100 is attached to the universal bracket 10 covers the universal bracket.

As discussed the universal bracket 10 may be used with devices other than soap or liquid dispensers. By way of example the universal bracket 10 could be used with a towel dispenser 110 as shown in figure 20 or with a medical device 112 as shown in figure 21.

The universal bracket shown in figures 1 to 21 may be manufactured using a press forming system. An alternate embodiment of a universal bracket 120 is shown in figures 22 to 28. Universal bracket 120 can be manufactured using an injection molding technique. Universal bracket 120 is similar to bracket 10 but is a simpler design. Bracket 120 has a face 122 that is flush with the supporting wall. Bracket 120 has a bracket support 124 and a bracket lock portion 126. Bracket 120 is attached to the wall with screws (not shown) through a plurality of key hole shaped apertures 128. Lock portion 126 is a generally rectangular arm having one end attached to the face and the other end extending outwardly from the face 122.

There is an upper and a lower bracket support 124. Bracket support 124 is generally trapezoidal in shape and has a bottom portion 130 and opposed side portions 132 that are sloped outwardly from the bottom portion 130. The shape supports the device 134 and the like and also helps to position the device laterally.

As with bracket 10, universal bracket 120 may be used with a variety of different devices. Cartridge system dispenser is shown by way of example only in regard to device 134 but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of the devices shown with regard to bracket 10 could also be used with bracket 120. Device 134 has an upper and lower support 136 extending outwardly from the back 138 thereof as best seen in figure 23. Support 136 is shaped to engage bracket support 124. Specifically support 136 has a general trapezoidal shape with the sides 140 extending outwardly from the base 142. A wedge 144 extends outwardly from back 138 and is adapted to engage lock portion 126. A key 146 is used to push in lock portion 126 to thereby disengage lock portion 126 from wedge 144. Key is pushed in through key apertures 146.

Generally speaking, the systems described herein are directed to universal brackets and devices attached thereto. As required, embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary, and it should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many various and alternative forms. The Figures are not to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular elements

while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are

not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. For purposes of teaching and not limitation, the illustrated

embodiments are directed to universal brackets and devices attached thereto. 5 As used herein, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" are to be

construed as being inclusive and open rather than exclusive. Specifically, when used in this specification including the claims, the terms "comprises" and

"comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or

components are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the i o presence of other features, steps or components.

It will be appreciated that the above description related to the invention by way of example only. Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and such obvious variations are within the scope of the invention as described herein whether or not expressly described.