GB2532941A

GB2532941A - Mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2532941A
Application number: GB1421316.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Mackereth Paul; Mcgowan Luke; Castro Pelayo Xorge; Curtis Stuart; John Strutt Benjamin; Sandland Smith Michael
Original assignee: Bristan Group Ltd
Current assignee: Bristan Group Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-01
Filing date: 2014-12-01
Publication date: 2016-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-01
Also published as: GB2532941B; GB201421316D0

Abstract

A mounting assembly 1 comprising a body 101 with an attachment portion 104, a body opening 110a-f and an adaptor member 102a-c with a fixing opening 103a, mounted in the body opening 110a-f. In use, a surface has one or more fixing points. The body 101 is aligned over or around the fixing points and then the fixing opening 103a is aligned over the fixing points. The body 101 is fixed to the surface via fixing means located in the fixing opening 103a and the item to be mounted is attached to the mounting assembly 1.

Description

Mounting Assembly

ILCHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to mounting assemblies for attaching an object to a surface. More particularly, the invention relates to mountings, for mounting items to a generally planar wall or ceiling. Even more particularly the invention relates to a reconfigurable mounting assembly which can be arranged to re-use already-formed mounting holes to mount an item to a surface and a related method.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are many areas of industry in which it is necessary or desirable to mount a product or item to a surface. Most commonly, particularly in domestic settings, it is desirable to mount decorative items, furniture items, plumbing equipment, electrical equipment, or kitchen racks or implements to a wall, or in some cases to a floor or ceiling Tn most instances, the installation procedure will involve forming holes in a wall for receiving fixing means such as screws, offering up the item to be mounted, or mounting plates for the item to be mounted, and inserting fixing means through holes in the item or a mounting plate, to retain the item to the wall or ceiling. There are instances where an item needs to be replaced with a newer item and in these instances, it can be desirable to re-use fixing holes which have already been formed for the item which is being replaced. Further, one of the most time-consuming aspects of an installation process can be accurately measuring up locations for fixing holes to be formed and ensuring that the holes are appropriately formed at the desired locations. Even when care is taken, the hole forming equipment, such as a hand held drill, can often wander and so the hole may ultimately not be in the initially planned location. Further, it can often be desirable to form the fixing hole or holes at a particular point, for example at a junction between bricks or tiles of a wall or at a particular location relative to pipework or joists in a wall or ceiling. It is not therefore always possible to form a hole where it would most ideally be formed for a particular mounting plate or fixing hole on an item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to address these and other drawbacks of the prior art, and in doing so, the present invention provides a mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein, the body opening having a first, longitudinal, axis and a second, lateral, axis; an adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mounting assembly to a surface; the body opening being configured for receiving the adaptor member at a plurality of positions on the longitudinal axis and the adaptor member being configured for receiving the fixing means at a plurality of lateral positions relative to the body opening, to permit the assembly to be retained to a surface by fixing means located a plurality of different lateral and longitudinal positions relative to the body.

A mounting assembly according to the invention therefore permits fixing means for fixing the assembly to a surface to be located at a plurality of positions relative to the body. This permits, for a fixed body shape, the fixing openings of the assembly to be located at substantially any location relative to the body, so that fixing holes formed in a surface to which the assembly is to be mounted, can be at substantially any location within or near the body. The invention preferably allows both longitudinal and lateral relocation of the point at which the fixing means are received in the fixing openings. However, it can be beneficial to permit only one degree of freedom of relocation of this point, i.e. permitting only one of longitudinal or lateral relocation of the fixing opening, in certain applications. The mounting assembly may be mounted to the surface by insertion of fixing means, such as bolts or screws, through the fixing openings in the adaptor member, into fixing holes in a surface at fixing points. Alternatively the mounting assembly may be mounted to the surface by location of projecting mounting means, located at mounting points on a surface, into the fixing opening or openings of the adaptor member or members. Discussion of locations for fixing holes in the following description may therefore apply equally to locations of fixing points in general, including projecting fixing means located at fixing points on the surface.

The mounting assembly may be further configured such that the body can be retained between the adaptor member and the surface to which the assembly is mounted. This enables a retaining force originating in the fixing means to be transferred to the body and reacted at the surface, so that the body is effectively clamped in position between the adaptor member and the surface to which the assembly is mounted The body can therefore be retained by the adaptor member when fixing means are used to fix an adaptor member relative to a surface.

The first opening may be elongate and may preferably have substantially straight opposing sides. This can permit the adaptor member to be located at a plurality of different longitudinal locations relative to the body opening. This in turn allows the fixing means to retain the assembly to the surface while located at any one of a plurality of different longitudinal locations relative to the body and to the body opening.

The assembly may further comprise locking means for locking the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member. This can help to ensure that the body does not move relative to the adaptor member and relative to the fixing means and the surface to which it is mounted. The feature can further assist with the installation process, since with the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member being fixed, it is only necessary to hold one of the two components in place to put the fixing means in place A locking means may be configured to lock the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member in a plane of the body in the absence of fixing means retaining the assembly to a surface. This particularly helps with the installation process and maintaining the arrangement in the desired configuration prior to fixing to the surface.

The locking means may comprise an interference fit between the first opening and the adaptor member. This can provide a low cost means of retaining the respective parts in the desired configuration relative to one another without the need for additional locking components.

The body may be substantially planar and may be configured for mounting to a planar surface.

The assembly may comprise a first body opening, having a first adaptor member located therein and the second body opening having a second adaptor member located therein: the second body opening having a second longitudinal axis arranged at an nonzero-angle arranged relative to the first body opening.

The angle is preferably non-zero. This allows separate adaptor members to be located at different positions, along differently oriented axes relative to the body, which can improve the adaptability of the assembly to different arrangements of fixing points or holes.

The adaptor member may be rotatable relative to the body opening to receive fixing means at a plurality of lateral locations relative to the body opening. This configuration allows a combination of linear and rotational displacement of the adaptor member, which increases the number of possible configurations of the adaptor member in the opening, to increase the number of possible locations at which the fixing opening can be located to receive fixing means in the body opening to retain the assembly in place on a surface.

The adaptor member can be configured to permit the fixing means to be received in substantially any lateral or longitudinal location in the body opening, substantially across all of its width and substantially all of its length.

The fixing opening may be a hole for surrounding the fixing means. When the fixing means is surrounded, it can better retain the adaptor member in place, as opposed to when the fixing means is simply retained in a slot, for example. This therefore results in a more secure fixing of the assembly to a surface. The hole may be preferably be substantially circular.

The adaptor member may comprise a plurality of fixing openings arranged at different locations on the adaptor member. This can also increase the number of possible locations at which the fixing opening may be located relative to the body.

The adaptor member may comprise an outer profile configured for engaging an inner profile of the body opening to retain the adaptor member relative to the body opening. This allows the adaptor member to be positively located in the body opening to maintain the adaptor member in the body in a relatively fixed configuration relative to one another. The retention may be in at least one direction, allowing a degree of freedom of movement in a second direction.

The adaptor member may comprise an alignment portion, configured to prevent the adaptor member from passing through the opening. In this way, a first portion may rest within a first portion of the body opening to guide and/or retain the adaptor member therein, while the alignment portion may be disposed to one side or the other of the opening and may engage a part of the body outside the body opening, to prevent the adaptor member from passing through the body opening. This can assist with clamping the body in between the adaptor member and a surface to which the assembly is mounted.

The outer profile may have the form of a curve of constant width. This allows the adaptor member to be oriented in any rotational position within the body opening, whilst still restraining the adaptor member from lateral movement within the body 30 opening.

The outer profile may have the form of a curvilinear polygon. A curvilinear polygon can have a constant width between opposing points on its profile, but still may comprise projecting portions with apices, which permits the fixing opening to be located over at a greater range of different locations within the body opening.

The outer profile may have the form of a curvilinear triangle. A curvilinear triangle is a curve of constant width, which can have the sharpest angles at its projecting apices.

This permits the fixing opening, if located in the region of one of the apices, to be located over the greatest number of possible locations within a body opening.

The adaptor member may have a substantially ring-shaped form. It may have a substantially hollow centre, which can enable the adaptor member to be formed using less material. The fixing opening may be formed adjacent to, at, or on, the periphery of the ring shaped adaptor member.

The body may have a substantially planar form and may have a front planar face and a rear planar face, the adaptor member being located between the planes of the front and rear planar faces. This allows the whole assembly to have a substantially planar form, so that the rear plane of the assembly can be mounted to a substantially planar surface, while the front plane of the assembly may be mounted to a product to be mounted to the surface. This can also enable the thickness of the assembly to be minimised.

The assembly may further comprise indicator means for indicating to a user how the body should be aligned relative to a member to be connected to an item to be mounted to the assembly. This can help with appropriate alignment of the mounting assembly on the surface, so that when an item is mounted to the assembly, a connector member can be appropriately connected to the item to be mounted. In this manner, a connector member which is in a fixed location, such as a pipe, or an electrical wire, can more conveniently be attached to an appropriately aligned item, which is mounted using the assembly of the invention, using a fixing hole or holes in one or more fixed locations on the surface. The mounting assembly can generally be configured appropriately to allow the use of connector members and fixing holes at fixed locations.

The indicator means may be located within an outer profile of the body, which can help with locating the connector member relative to components which may be inside of the body of the item to be mounted to the mounting assembly. The indicator means may be configured to be removable. This can allow the indicator means to be removed from the body once the appropriate alignment has been set, in order to avoid the indicator means restricting movement of components of the mounting assembly, such as the movement of the adaptor numbers within the body opening. The indicator means may therefore be located within the body opening and may project into the body opening in a plane of the body opening. Removing the alignment means can also permit a connection member such as a pipe or wire to pass through the body of the mounting assembly at the required location.

The assembly may comprise a plurality of preferably elongate body openings and a plurality of adaptor members. This allows the assembly to be fixed to a plurality of fixing holes in a surface at remote locations relative to one another.

The body openings may be delimited by elongate body members which extend between sides of an outer body frame. This form of structure can help in reducing the amount of the inner area of the body which is occupied by solid material. In essence, the larger the body openings relative to the overall size of the body, the greater the number of points within the body and body openings in which the fixing opening can be located, to receive fixing means for fixing the assembly to a surface.

The body may be a frame and the elongate body members may form rungs of the frame to define the body openings. This can also assist with providing an efficient structure allowing a significant amount of the body to be occupied by the body 25 openings.

The body opening may comprise a toothed inner profile and the adaptor member may comprise a toothed outer profile, configured to engage the toothed inner profile. This can permit the adaptor member to be substantially locked in position within the body opening by the teeth of the corresponding toothed profiles.

The attachment portion may comprise a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising, preferably integrally formed, connector receiving means, shaped and configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.

The invention further provides a mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein; an adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mounting assembly to a surface; wherein the attachment portion comprises a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising connector receiving means, which are preferably integrally formed, and which are shaped and configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.

The mounting assembly may further comprise a connector mounted to the mounting assembly via the connector receiving means. The connector may alternatively be integrally formed with the mounting assembly.

The mounting assembly may further comprise an adaptor connected to the connector and mountable to the mounting assembly in a plurality of configurations, for connecting the equipment, via the adaptor, to media at any one of a plurality of predefined locations relative to the mounting assembly.

The adaptor may be rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at first and second locations relative to the mounting assembly.

This improves the general flexibility of the mounting device and adaptor arrangement to various installation situations, with media being delivered to the equipment at a range of locations relative to the mounting device. The adaptor may be rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect the media at first and second locations relative to the mounting device. This helps to facilitate the adaptation of the mounting device and adaptor assembly to various installation configurations.

The invention further provides a method of mounting an item to a surface, comprising the steps of a) providing a mounting assembly comprising a body, having at least one body opening therein and an adaptor member located in the body opening: b) providing a surface with one or more fixing points located thereon; c) aligning the body over or around the fixing point(s); d) aligning the one or more openings of the adaptor member over the fixing points by appropriate location of the adaptor member relative to the body opening; e) fixing the body to the surface via fixing means located in the adaptor openings at the fixing point(s); and 0 attaching the item to be mounted to the mounting assembly.

The method of the invention therefore allows an item to be mounted to a surface, via a mounting assembly, the mounting assembly permitting the item to be mounted via a fixing point or points or a fixing hole or holes, located in a large range of locations relative to the item, and at substantially any location within the body openings of the mounting assembly. Therefore, it is not necessary to specifically form the fixing hole or fixing holes at specific locations dictated by the configuration of the mounting assembly, rather, the mounting assembly can be adapted to the location of the fixing hole or holes. 3 0

The method may further comprise rotating the adaptor member in the body opening to align the fixing opening over the fixing point or hole in the surface. This can allow the adaptor member to be manipulated to align the fixing opening with the fixing holes in a greater variety of locations.

The method may further comprise rotating plural adaptor members in one or more body openings of the mounting assembly to align plural fixing openings over plural fixing points or holes in the surface. This further improves the adaptability of the method to various different arrangements of plural fixing holes and different locations thereof.

The method may further comprise the steps of: removing a first item from the surface, leaving exposed fixing points or holes previously used for mounting the first item; and fixing the mounting assembly to the surface using the existing fixing points or holes for the first item.

In this way, the mounting assembly of the invention permits fixing holes from a first item which has been removed from the surface to be used to mount a second item to the surface using the existing fixing holes, regardless of the relative locations of the existing fixing holes and any requirements for location of the item to be mounted, such as may be predefined by other connections to the item, for example by electrical, water or gas inlets. The invention therefore allows new items or equipment to be retro-fitted in place of old items or equipment in an efficient manner without the need for forming new fixing points such as holes in a surface.

The method may further comprise aligning the body relative to a connection member for connection to the item to be mounted, by aligning indicator means of the body relative to the connection member. This permits correct alignment of the body relative to a connection member, which must have a certain location relative to the item to be mounted, while the positions of the fixing openings of the adaptor means can be manipulated to allow a fixed set of mounting holes to be used to mount the item to the surface. In this way, the location of the item to be mounted can be dictated by the location of the connection member and the mounting assembly can be used and adapted to fix the item to a surface using fixing holes in substantially any location relative to the connection member.

The step of mounting the equipment to the mounting assembly may comprise sliding the equipment into slidable engagement with the mounting assembly and simultaneously sliding a connector of the equipment into engagement with a connector on the mounting assembly, to connect media to the equipment via the connector on the mounting assembly. This results in a faster, more repeatable and more efficient installation procedure.

The method of the invention may comprise connecting an adaptor connected to the connector, and mounted to the mounting assembly, to media, so that the media is connected to the equipment when the equipment is slidably mounted to the mounting assembly.

The adaptor may be rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at either one of a first predefined location and a second predefined location relative to the mounting assembly.

The invention further provides, either separately or in combination with the above features, a mounting assembly comprising an adjustable media connection, for media such as electricity, or water or gas or other electrical or fluid input media, the connection being configurable to receive media in any one of a plurality of predefined locations relative to the mounting assembly and from a plurality of directions relative to the mounting assembly, and/or relative to a surface to which the mounting assembly is mounted.

The item to be mounted may be for connection to a pipe and the connection member may therefore be a pipe, which may be a pipe for delivering gas or water to a piece of plumbing equipment. Use of the invention in this particular arrangement can be particularly advantageous, since the operation of moving relative locations of gas and/or water pipes relative to an item of plumbing equipment can be a labour intensive task. Creating new fixing holes can also be a difficult exercise, particularly in tiled environments, or environments where it is difficult to form additional holes due to surrounding obstructions. The assembly of the invention therefore allows new plumbing equipment to be installed in an existing location without the need for either moving pipes or electrical supply lines, or creating new mounting holes.

Any or all of the above features of the invention can be combined in any combination to provide advantages which will become further apparent on reading 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 Figure 1 shows a mounting assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the mounting assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the mounting assembly of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a second example of a mounting assembly according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a front face of the mounting assembly of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a view of a rear face of a mounting assembly of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 shows an example of a first curve of constant width, Figure 8 shows a second example of a curve of constant width; Figure 9 shows a further preferred embodiment of a mounting assembly of the invention; Figure 10 shows the arrangement of Figure 9 with an inlet adaptor assembly mounted thereto Figure 11 shows an initial step in an installation procedure of the invention; Figure 12 shows an intermediate step in an installation procedure of the invention; Figure 13 shows a further step in an equipment installation procedure of the invention; 30 and Figures 14 and 15 show further installation steps using equipment and methods according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. As will become apparent from the following description, the present invention provides an improvement as compared to known mounting plates. Tn general, known mounting plates for mounting items or equipment to surfaces such as a wall or ceiling, will have a series of fixed openings, into which fixing means can be inserted to retain the mounting plate to a wall or ceiling. The item to be mounted can then be separately attached to the mounting plate. The present invention enables fixing holes in a mounting assembly to be located in a vastly increased range of locations on the mounting assembly, so that a user, when mounting the mounting assembly to a surface, is far less restricted in terms of locations at which fixing means must be placed into holes or openings in the surface to which the assembly is to be mounted.

Figure 1 shows a mounting assembly 1 of the invention. The assembly includes a body 101. The assembly further includes one or more adaptor members 102a, 102b 102c. Each adaptor member is provided with at least one fixing opening 103a, 103b, 103c. The body is further provided with an attachment portion 104, which is configured for engagement with a corresponding attachment feature of an item to be mounted to a surface via the mounting assembly 1. Further attachment portions 105, 106 and 107 may be provided so that multiple attachment portions are present on the body 101 of the assembly 1, to allow more secure attachment of the item to be mounted to the body 101.

Plural adaptor members 102a, 102b and 102c may be provided. Further, plural body openings 110 may be provided in the body 101, as denoted by numerals 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e, 110f Each opening may comprise a longitudinal axis, as denoted by numerals Illa, Tub, 111c, 111d, I 1 le, 1 1 lf, respectively. As is apparent from the Figure, the adaptor members 102a-c can be located at any longitudinal position along the respective axis 111a-f of the openings 110a-f. Although three adaptor members are shown in the figures, one, two, three, four or more adaptor members may be provided for each body opening 110a-f Features may be described in the following without use of a suffix a-f, in which case this is a reference to any or all of the features indicated using that numeral. Further body openings may be provided and any number of openings chosen from integer values between 1 and 16 or more may be beneficial in particular embodiments. One or more body openings located in each corner of the body 101 may be preferable for certain applications, where the item to be mounted is relatively large compared to the body openings 110. Further, one or more of the adaptor members 102 of the openings 110 may be rotatable within its respective opening 110. Since a fixing opening 103 is provided in the adaptor member 102 at a location away from a centre of rotation of the adaptor member 102, the adaptor member 102 can be rotated to enable the fixing opening 103 to be located at substantially any location within the opening 110. The location of the fixing opening in the body opening is only limited by the longitudinal extent of the body opening and the distance of the fixing opening from the centre of rotation of the adaptor member. The fixing opening can therefore be located at substantially any location The rotation of the adaptor member 102 about its centre point permits the fixing opening 103 to be moved in a lateral direction relative to the body opening 110, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 111, while displacement of the adaptor member 102 along the axis 111, allows longitudinal displacement of the fixing opening 103. When configured in the illustrated manner, the provision of plural openings 110, combined with a plurality of adaptor members 102 located therein, allows a great deal of flexibility in location of the fixing openings 103 at various locations of the body 101.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of adaptor members 102 can be located within a single body opening 110, which would still enable the provision of fixing openings 103 at a plurality of different locations within the opening 110, without the need to provide plural openings 110.

A first opening 110a may be oriented with its longitudinal axis 111a in a first direction, while a second body opening 110d, may be oriented with its longitudinal axis Illd at a direction different from that of the first longitudinal axis 111a. This allows a provision of a large degree of movement of a fixing opening in a first, longitudinal, direction in one of the two openings 110, while the second opening provides a greater degree of freedom of movement for a fixing opening 103 in a second direction relative to the body 101. These differently orientated elongate openings therefore allow an improved degree of flexibility of the relative positioning of the fixing openings 103 in the body 101.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the mounting assembly of Figure 1. It can be seen in the Figure that the body 101 has a front face 201 and a rear face 202. Each of the openings 110, corresponding to the openings 110a to 110f of Figure 1 has a depth extending from the front face 201 to the rear face 202. In between the front face 201 and the rear face 202, each of the openings 110 comprises a projecting lip 210. The projecting lip 210 extends substantially around the periphery of the opening 110 to engage an outer portion of the adaptor members 102. In this way, a portion of the body 101 engages the adaptor member 102 to prevent them from passing through the openings 110. Further, when the adaptor members 102 are fixed to a surface against which the rear face 202 of the body 101 is located, at least a part of the body 101 is retained between the adaptor member or members and the surface to which the assembly is fixed, via fixing means located in the fixing openings 103.

Figure 3 shows a view of a rear side of the mounting assembly 1 of Figures 1 and 2.

As can be seen in the Figure, in this example, the rear face 202 is defined by a rearmost substantially planar edge of the frame of the body 101. In the illustrated example, the body 101 has a substantially hollow form, which can help reduce materials and weight required for manufacture of the body 101. The openings which are formed for the attachment portions 104 to 105 are surrounded by reinforcing portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the body 101.

Similarly, the openings 110 are also surrounded by reinforcing portions which extend between the plane of the rear face 202 and the openings 110, substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the body 101 As can be seen, the adaptor members 102 have a first, guide, portion 1021 which extends into the opening 110a, and a second, alignment, portion 1022, which extends around the opening 110, and engages an edge or a lip 210 of the opening, in order to prevent the adaptor member from passing through the opening 110, and also to allow the body 101 to be retained between the adaptor member 102 and a surface to which the rear face 202 of the mounting assembly 1 is mounted. The adaptor members 102 therefore comprise a first, guide, portion 1021, having a smaller width or diameter than alignment portion 1022, which has a greater width than the guide portion 1021. In this way, the guide portion 1021 can act to guide the adaptor member 102 within the opening 110, while the alignment portion 1022, having a greater width, in the plane of the body opening than the width of the opening (in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis), prevents the adaptor member 102 from passing through the opening 110.

In certain applications, it can be necessary to pass certain media through an adaptor plate or mounting assembly for mounting an item to a surface such as a wall. For example, in some applications, the item being mounted may require electrical, gas or water supply. This is particularly the case in domestic installations, such as that of plumbing equipment, or domestic or kitchen appliances. A further advantage of the present invention, is that, in addition to being sized and dimensioned to allow the fixing openings 103 to be located over a large range of locations within the body, the body openings 110 are also sufficiently sized and dimensioned to allow the passing of a power supply, or a gas or water pipe through the mounting assembly. The body openings can therefore serve a dual purpose of allowing a large range of positions of the fixing openings to be used, whilst allowing media to be passed from the surface to which the item is mounted to the item which is mounted to the surface, passing through the plane of the mounting assembly. It can therefore be advantageous to maximise the amount of the body which is essentially void and forms part of the body openings to permit additional flexibility of installation in this regard.

Figure 4 shows an alternative example of a mounting assembly according to the present invention, in which larger body openings can be provided, an in which a greater range of positions for the fixing openings can be provided. As can be seen, the arrangement is substantially similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 1 and so similar reference numerals will be used, but beginning at 400, rather than at 100, as used in relation to Figures 1 to 3. The example shown in Figure 3 therefore includes a body 401, which is provided with a plurality of openings 410a, 410b, 410c and 410d. Each opening has a respective longitudinal axis 411a, 411b, 411c and 411d. At least one of the openings comprises an adaptor member 402 located therein. The adaptor members 402 shown in the example of Figure 4 are ring-shaped, in that they have a hollow centre, with a border around their outside edge. The fixing openings 403a, 403b, 403c and 403d are located substantially at an edge or on the periphery of the adaptor members 402a to 402d. More than one fixing opening 403 may be located at any number of locations on, or adjacent to, the outer periphery of the adaptor member 402. The same applies to the adaptor members of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. Those adaptor members could also be provided with a substantially hollow form, with the fixing openings located toward the edge of the adaptor member as illustrated in those figures. The adaptor members of the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 could also therefore be substantially ring-shaped. The body 401 of the example of Figure 4 comprises a plurality of side members 420 and 421, which are interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting members numbered 422 to 426. The body 401 therefore has a substantially frame-like configuration. The side members 420 are elongate and have a minimal width and depth, as do the interconnecting members 422 to 426. Each has a substantially T-shaped cross-section, allowing for the provision of a stop or a lip 610 around the body openings, as is shown more clearly in Figure 5. This allows the openings 410 of the body 401 to take up a vast majority of the cross-sectional area of the body in its plane as viewed in Figure 4. This gives a large degree of freedom concerning the locations at which the fixing openings 403 can be located in the openings 410, and relative to the outer profile of the body 401.

The body is provided with indicator means 450, 451, 452, 453, 454 and 455. These indicator means are arranged to enable the user to correctly align the body of the mounting assembly with respect to connector members which are for connection to the item to be mounted via the mounting assembly. For example, in the case of mounting equipment which requires electrical, gas or water supply to be delivered to it, the supply of those elements, referred to here collectively as "media" is often pre-installed at a substantially fixed location. The provision of any one of the indicator means 450 to 455 can assist a user with aligning the mounting plate relative to connection members for delivering the media to the item to be mounted to the surface.

As illustrated, the indicator means are provided in one or more of the body openings which are configured for receiving the adaptor members to mount the body to the surface. This further allows a user to mount the adaptor members in the body in such a configuration that they do not obstruct the delivery of the media to the device to be mounted As will be appreciated, with particular regard to the adaptor member 402d in figure 4, the adaptor member could be mounted in at least two orientations to provide the fixing opening 403d at the location illustrated in Figure 4. The two orientations are essentially that illustrated in the Figure, but also suitable would be a configuration of the adaptor member where it is reflected around a vertical line 430 drawn in the drawing, which passes through the fixing opening 403d. This orientation is shown by dashed line 431. As can be seen in the Figure, in the illustrated orientation, the adaptor member 402d would clash with the indicator means 452. Therefore, where media are being delivered from the rear face of the mounting assembly at a position indicated by indicator means 452, a user may know that he or she should use the opposite configuration 431 for providing the fixing opening 403d at the location indicated by 403d in Figure 4. Once the body 401 has been mounted to a surface via adaptor members 402, then the indicator means 450 to 455 may themselves cause an obstniction to the adaptor members, or to the delivery of media to the item to be mounted. The indicator means can therefore be arranged to be removable from the body 401. This may be by the provision of a weakened portion at their connection point with the body 401, or alternatively, they may be provided with a dove-tail, or substantially T-shaped slidable fixing arrangement, such that a key portion of the indicator means slides into a slot portion provided on the body 401, or vice versa. The indicator means could alternatively be provided with a cuttable portion, to allow their removal from the body 401.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the mounting assembly 4 of Figure 4. As can be seen, the body 401 comprises attachment means numbered 404b to 407b, which are min-ored on an opposite side of the body 401 as features 404a to 407a As can be seen in the Figure, the engagement means provide for slideable engagement with corresponding engagement means on an item to be mounted to the mounting assembly 4. Each of the engagement means comprises a front sloped portion 4041, which leads into a linear portion, and ends at a stop 4042, so that an item can essentially be offered up to the body 401 and slid into mounting engagement with the body 401 by engagement of corresponding means for slideable engagement on the item to be mounted. The body is also provided with an engagement opening 50 and 51, so that further engagement or fixing means may be inserted through the item to be mounted to the body 401, to engage these engagement openings, and to prevent the item mounted to the body 4W from being slideably disengaged from the engagement means 404 to 407. Figure 5 also illustrates how a connector member 500, for example a water pipe, may be aligned with the indicator means 455 to allow the body 401 to be appropriately positioned on the surface to which it is mounted, relative to the connector member 500. With the body 401 appropriately oriented relative to the connector member 500, the user has confidence that when the item to be mounted is mounted to the body 401, then the relevant connection of the item to be mounted, for connection to the connector member 500, will be in the appropriate position relative to the connector member 500. As a particular example, where the connector member 500 is a water pipe for delivering water to a shower unit, this can ensure that the pipe 500 is presented at an appropriate location for connection to the components of the shower unit. An equivalent situation could arise in the mounting of, for example, a gas boiler to a surface, where the gas is delivered via a gas pipe 500.

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the mounting assembly of Figures 4 and 5. As can be seen, the body openings in the body 401 comprise a lip 610. Similarly to the adaptor members of Figures 1 to 3, the adaptor members 402 also comprise a first, guide, portion 4021, having a smaller width than alignment portion 4022, which has a greater width than the guide portion 4021. In this way, the guide portion 4021 can act to guide the adaptor member 402 within the opening 410, while the alignment portion 4022, having a greater width in the plane of the opening than the width of the opening (in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis), prevents the adaptor member 402 from passing through the opening 410.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the adaptor members in the example of Figures 4 to 6 have a particular form of outer profile. The outer profile shown is generally known as a curvilinear triangle. It can be seen, in particular with reference to adaptor member 402a, that if the fixing opening 403a is located in, for example, the upper left apex of the adaptor member shown in the figure, then it is possible for the fixing opening to be located very close to a corner of the opening 410a. This is an improvement over the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3, since, with the circular arrangement of the adaptor members of Figures 1 to 3, the fixing openings can only be located within an arc at each end of the openings 110 of the body of Figures 1 to 3. A curvilinear triangle can be the most advantageous form in many arrangements, since its relatively sharp apices allow the fixing openings 403 to be located very close to any corner or edge of the opening 410, while the adaptor member has a constant width, so that it can be retained in any rotational position between parallel sides of an opening. However, other similar forms can also be useful. An important factor in allowing the adaptor members to be located in the greatest number of optional configurations, is that the outer profile of the adaptor member which engages the opening should be a curve of constant width. Various examples of curve of constant widths will now be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

A characteristic of a curve of constant width is that, when located between two parallel lines, such as lines 70 and 71 shown in Figure 7, regardless of its rotational orientation, the distance between the points at which the curve contacts the lines 70 and 71 will be constant. The simplest form of such a shape or curve of constant width is a circle, which is why the circular adaptor member of Figures Ito 3 is advantageous in the present invention. However, as illustrated with respect to Figures 4 to 6, the use of an alternative curved outer profile having a constant width can be even more advantageous.

One example of the curve of constant width is the reuleaux triangle. Such a reuleaux triangle is schematically illustrated by the full peripheral profile of the curve 700 in Figure 7. The curve is drawn by drawing a first arc 701 based around a first centre point 701a. A second portion of the curve is drawn as an arc 702, which is an arc having a centre point at point 702a. The third portion 703 is drawn as an arc connecting the first portion 701 and the second portion 702, the arc being drawn around the centre point 703a. Such a reuleaux triangle does however have relatively sharp angles at its edges and therefore it can be beneficial to increase the radius at the corners of the triangle to smooth the curve, while maintaining a constant width. This can be done with a curve 710. Such a curve can essentially be created by extending the straight sides of the triangle 720, 721 and 722 beyond each corner of the triangle by the same distance. Then curve portions 711, 712 and 713 can be drawn between the ends of the extended line portions around the same centres 701a, 702a and 703a, respectively. Then the same centres 701a, 702a and 703a can be used to draw the smaller-radius curved sections 731, 732 and 733 respectively. In this way, the opposing points on curve 710 always have a distance between them of the length of one of the longest lines drawn across the curve, such as straight line 740, since portions of this straight line represent a radii of the outer curve portions which it connects.

The same principle can be applied to any polygon having an odd number of sides, such as a heptagon, a pentagon, etc., and an example of such a form is used in UK coins such as a 20 pence or a 50 pence piece.

In practice, curves of constant width having a vast array of outer forms can be created using the same principles, and the method of doing so is illustrated in Figure 8, In Figure 8, the outer profile 800 is created by drawing a first profile section 801 as an arc centred on centre point 801a. The second arc portion 802 is drawn as an arc centred on centre point 802a. The third arc portion 803 is drawn as an arc around centre point 803a. Then a further arc portion 811 is drawn around centre point 801a, opposite the curve portion 801. A further arc portion 812 is formed as an arc centred on centre point 802a, opposite curve portion 802. Finally, further curve portion 813 is drawn as an arc around centre point 803a, opposite curve portion 803. Therefore, the curve comprises opposing pairs of curve portions, each pair drawn around common centre points, and all pairs joined to one another to form a continuous outer profile as a curve of constant width. Although the shape shown in Figure 8 is drawn based upon a triangular centre section, formed from three lines, a curve of constant width can be created from any number of straight intersecting lines. Following the method illustrated in Figure 8, the outer curve portions must simply be drawn as a series of curves, each curve centred upon the intersection of the straight lines forming radii of the respective curved portion.

Figure 9 shows a preferred embodiment of a mounting assembly 9900 according to the invention. In this particular example, the mounting assembly is arranged substantially as in the embodiment in figures 3 to 6, but the additions described in the following sections can be combined with any of the preceding embodiments. It will therefore be appreciated that any features of the embodiments of figures 1 to 8 can be combined with the features of the embodiments and methods shown in figures 9 to 15.

The assembly 9900 is provided with a body 9901 comprising a plurality of openings 9902, 9903, 9904 and 9905. This can allow electrical cabling to be connected to the equipment mounted to the assembly 9900 by passing through any of openings 9902 to 9905, such equipment may be an electric shower, or a boiler unit, for example, or any equipment requiring the provision of media such as gas, electricity or water from or mounted to a surface to which the equipment is mounted. The openings 9904 and 9905 can, as illustrated in the example shown, be used for a pipe, preferably a water pipe to be passed therethrough. The body also includes slidable engagement means 9920a to 9920d, which are arranged to enable equipment to slidably engage with the body 9901 of the mounting assembly, in the same manner to that illustrated and described in relation to the earlier Figures.

The assembly also comprises an connector receiving means 9930 (which is preferably integrally formed with the body 9901), which is shaped and configured to receive a connector 9940, preferably connected via an adaptor assembly 9941, which is received in the adaptor receiving means 9930. The adaptor receiving means 9930 comprises a first portion 9931, which is configured to receive the adaptor assembly 9941 and to permit the adaptor assembly 9941 to rotate about an axis 9960, which is generally aligned with a direction of slidable engagement of the equipment to the mounting assembly, in a direction as illustrated by arrow 9909. The connector receiving means further comprises lateral guide portions 9932 and 9933, arranged to receive an extension portion 9942 of the adaptor assembly 9941. The extension portion 9942 extends in a direction away from the axis 9960 of the adaptor assembly 9941. A first portion 9931 of the connector receiving means 9930 locates the adaptor assembly laterally on the mounting assembly 9900, preventing its lateral movement relative thereto. Second 9932 and/or third 9933 portions, which may be lateral receiving portions of the connector receiving means, may be disposed laterally relative to the axis 9960. These can be arranged in this way to prevent axial movement of the adaptor assembly 9941 relative to the mounting assembly 9900 in a direction of axis 9960 of the adaptor assembly, when the extension portion 9942 is received therein.

Separate lateral receiving portions can therefore be disposed on first and second sides of the first, axial receiving portion, 9931. The adaptor assembly 9941 is also free to rotate about axis 9960 when received in the connector receiving means 9931, until it is secured in place by a removable securing portion 9934, as is illustrated in Figure 10, Figure 10 shows the same assembly of Figure 9, wherein the adaptor assembly 9941 and its connector 9940 have been assembled to the mounting assembly 9900, which has all of the same features as are identified in Figure 9. As can be seen in the Figure, the securing portion 9934 has been located in place to maintain the adaptor assembly 9941 in place in the connector receiving means 9930 of the assembly 9900, while the laterally extending portion 9942 is located in lateral receiving portion 9933 to prevent movement of the adaptor assembly 9941 in a direction of axis 9960.

By permitting rotation of the adaptor assembly 9941 about axis 9960, and also allowing a degree of rotation of the pipe extension 9943 about axis 9970, the adaptor assembly 9941 can be connected to media, in this case water arriving from a water pipe, arriving from a plurality of locations and directions defined by arrows 1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004. By providing a longer, or extendible, portion of pipe in pipe extension 9943, it is also possible to receive media into the adaptor assembly 9941 via inlet connector 9944 at locations 1005 or 1006. The invention thus provides a mounting assembly comprising an adjustable media connection, for media such as electricity, or water or gas or other electrical or fluid input media, the connection being configurable to receive media in any one of a plurality of predefined locations relative to the mounting assembly and from a plurality of directions relative to the mounting assembly, and/or relative to a surface to which the mounting assembly is mounted.

The following Figures illustrate how the arrangement also allows simultaneous mounting of equipment to mounting assembly 9900 and connection of media to the equipment via adaptor assembly 9941 and its connector 9940 Figure 11 shows a modified version of the mounting assembly of the invention 900, in which the openings and adaptor members are not shown, but which can be included in the back plate 900 as illustrated in any of the arrangements of Figures 9 and 10. Equivalent numerals are used for the features of the assembly of Figures 9 and 10, but starting from 900 in figures 11 onwards, in place of those beginning 9900 in Figures 9 and 10.

The adaptor assembly 941 is connected to media arriving via an inlet pipe 1100. Equipment 1110 has at this stage been offered-up to the mounting assembly 900 at an initial installation position, where the equipment 1110 is aligned substantially parallel with a plane of the mounting assembly 900, and thus a connector 1120 of the equipment is coaxially aligned with the adaptor assembly, on axis 960 of the adaptor assembly 941. In this specific example of equipment shown, the equipment is an electric shower unit, which includes a heater element 1130, which is attached to a standard stabiliser valve 1131. Stabiliser valve 1131 is selectively connected to, or isolated from, the water inlet connector 1120 via a solenoid 1132. A power switch 1133 controls the amount of power delivered to the heater element 1130, while the stabiliser valve 1131 controls an amount of flow through the unit, in a standard manner for electric shower units.

The same arrangement is shown in Figure 12, but where the equipment 1110 has been moved to an intermediate position of slidable engagement with the mounting assembly 900, in a direction of arrow 1200. This action simultaneously brings corresponding slidable engagement means of the equipment 1110 into slidable engagement with engagement means 920a to 920d of the mounting assembly 900. It will be appreciated that suitable engagement means on the equipment can include any projection, ridge or channel suitably configured to engage with the profile of the engagement means 920a to 920d illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Simultaneously with the engagement of the slidable engagement means, the inlet connector 1120 of the equipment is brought toward the connector 940 of the adaptor assembly 941 along axis the 960 of the adaptor assembly 941 shown in Figure 11 Figure 12A shows greater detail of the connector 940 and the inlet connector 1120 of the equipment. As can be seen, a connector locking means is provided in the form of a frame 1210, which is arranged to extend from the connector 1120 and past ridges 1211 and 1212 provided on connector 940. A locking element, optionally in the form of pin or pins 1213 can be provided to lock the cage 1210 in engagement with the connector 940, by retaining the pin or pins 1213 in between the ridges 1211 and 1212, as can be better seen in the arrangement of Figures 13 and 13A.

Figure 13 shows the equipment 1110 now slid into full sliding engagement with the mounting assembly 900. It can be understood that, in the arrangement of Figure 13, the slidable engagement means 920a to d of Figure 10 are now fully engaged with the necessary corresponding engagement means of the equipment 1110. As can be seen, the inlet connector 1120 has also slid into full engagement with the connector 940 of the adaptor assembly 941. The securing pin or pins 1213, which can, as shown, be provided in the form of a substantially U-shaped securing means, has been located through openings 1214 in the cage 1210, to secure the inlet connector 1120 of the equipment in engagement with the adaptor assembly 941. This can generally secure the connection between connector 1120 and the corresponding connector 940, and can help to prevent either the operating pressure or testing pressure from blowing the connector 1120 off the connector 940 of the adaptor assembly.

Greater detail of the connection and engagement and securing arrangement can be seen in the magnified view of Figure 13A for clarity.

As can be seen in Figure 14, once the equipment 1110 is mounted to the mounting assembly 900, further enclosing portion or portions 1400 can be assembled around the lower part of the equipment and the mounting assembly to conceal the media connections, such as electrical and water connections to a shower unit. These can also include internal casings connections 1410 and 1411, which may be integral with the additional enclosing portion 1400 installed during the assembly process.

As is shown in Figure 15, a front cover can then finally be connected to the equipment 1110 to complete the installation As will be appreciated, the arrangement described in relation to Figures 9 to 15 allows greater efficiency of the installation of equipment requiring media, such as electricity and/or water connections to be caned out in an easy and efficient manner, by allowing engagement of the equipment with a mounting plate and with its required inlets for power and/or water in a single straightforward action. This speeds up the installation process and reduces the scope for connection errors, while increasing repeatability of the installation process Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims It will also be apparent that features of these different embodiments can be combined both with one another and also with features of prior art arrangements described herein, in order to achieve the advantages of the invention

Claims

Claims 1 A mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein, the body opening having a first, longitudinal, axis and a second, lateral, axis; an adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mounting assembly to a surface; the body opening being configured for receiving the adaptor member at a plurality of positions on the longitudinal axis and the adaptor member being configured for receiving the fixing means at a plurality of lateral positions relative to the body opening, to permit the assembly to be retained to a surface by fixing means located a plurality of different lateral and longitudinal positions relative to the body.
2 A mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly is further configured such that the body can be retained between the adaptor member and a surface to which the assembly is mounted.
3. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body can be retained by the adaptor member when fixing means are used to fix the adaptor member relative to a surface.

4 A mounting assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body opening is elongate, to permit the adaptor member to be located at a plurality of different longitudinal locations relative to the body opening A mounting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the body opening has substantially straight opposing sides 6 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member.7 A mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the locking means is configured to lock the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member in a plane of the body in the absence of fixing means retaining the assembly to a surface 8 A mounting assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the locking means comprises an interference fit between the first opening and the adaptor member.9 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is substantially planar and is configured for mounting to a planar surface.A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a first body opening, having a first adaptor member located therein, and a second body opening, having a second adaptor member located therein; the second body opening having a second longitudinal axis arranged at a non-zero angle relative to the first body opening.11. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opening and the adaptor member are configured to receive the fixing means at substantially any lateral or longitudinal location in the body opening.12 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member is rotatable relative to the body opening to receive fixing means at a plurality of lateral locations relative to the body opening.13. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is a hole for surrounding the fixing means.14. A mounting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the hole is substantially circular.15. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member comprises a plurality of fixing openings arranged at different locations on the adaptor member.16 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member comprises an outer profile configured for engaging an inner profile of the body opening to retain the adaptor member relative to the body opening.17. A mounting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the adaptor member comprises an alignment portion, configured to prevent the adaptor member from passing through the body opening.18. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 16 or 17, wherein the outer profile has the form of a curve of constant width.19. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the outer profile has the form of a curvilinear polygon.20. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the outer profile has the form of a curvilinear triangle.21. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 19 or 20, wherein the fixing opening is mounted adjacent an apex of the curvilinear polygon 22. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member has a substantially ring shaped form.23. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is formed away from the centre of the ring shaped adaptor member.24. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is at the periphery of the ring shaped adaptor member.25. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is substantially planar and has a front planar face and a rear planar face, the adaptor member being located between the front and rear planar faces.26 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising indicator means for indicating to a user how the body should be aligned relative to a connector member to be connected to an item to be mounted to the assembly.27. A mounting assembly according to claim 26, wherein the indicator means is located within an outer profile of the body.28. A mounting assembly according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the indicator means is configured to be removable.29. A mounting assembly according to any or claims 26 to 28, wherein the indicator means is located within the body opening.A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of elongate body openings and a plurality of adaptor members.31. A mounting assembly according to claim 30, wherein the body openings are delimited by elongate body members extending between sides of an outer body frame.32. A mounting assembly according to claim 31, wherein the body is a frame and the elongate body members form flings of the frame to define the body openings 33. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body opening comprises a toothed inner profile and the adaptor member comprises a toothed outer profile configured to engage the toothed inner profile.34 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment portion comprises a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising connector receiving means, shaped and configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.A mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein; an adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mounting assembly to a surface; wherein the attachment portion comprises a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising connector receiving means, shaped arid configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.36. A mounting assembly according to claim 34 or claim 35, comprising a connector mounted to the mounting assembly via the connector receiving means.37 A mounting assembly according to claim 36, further comprising an adaptor connected to the connector and mountable to the mounting assembly in a plurality of configurations, for connecting the equipment, via the adaptor, to media at any one of a plurality of predefined locations relative to the mounting assembly.38 A mounting assembly according to claim 37, wherein the adaptor is rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at first and second locations relative to the mounting assembly.39. A mounting assembly substantially as described herein, with reference to, or in accordance with, the drawings.A method of mounting an item to a surface, comprising the steps of a) providing a mounting assembly comprising a body, having at least one body opening therein and an adaptor member located in the body opening; b) providing a surface with one or more fixing points located thereon; c) aligning the body over or around the fixing point(s); d) aligning one or more fixing openings of the adaptor member over the fixing point(s) by appropriate location of the adaptor member relative to the body opening; e) fixing the body to the surface by via fixing means located in the adaptor openings at the fixing point(s); and 0 attaching the item to be mounted to the mounting assembly.41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of rotating the adaptor member in the body opening to align the fixing opening at the fixing point of the surface.42. A method according to claim 40 or claim 41, comprising: rotating plural adaptor members in one or more body openings of the mounting assembly to align plural fixing openings over plural fixing points of the surface.43 A method according to any of claims 40 to 42, further comprising the steps of: removing a first item from the surface, leaving exposed fixing points previously used for mounting the first item; and fixing the mounting assembly to the surface using the existing fixing points for the first item.44. A method according to any of claims 40 to 43, comprising: aligning the body relative to a connection member for connection to the item to be mounted, by aligning indicator means of the body relative to the connection member.45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the item to be mounted is for connection to a pipe and the connection member is a pipe.46. A method according to claim 44, wherein: the item to be mounted is plumbing equipment for connection to a pipe and the connection member is a gas pipe or a water pipe.47 A method according to any of claims 40 to 46, wherein mounting the equipment to the mounting assembly comprises sliding the equipment into slidable engagement with the mounting assembly and simultaneously sliding a connector of the equipment into engagement with a connector on the mounting assembly, to connect media to the equipment via the connector on the mounting assembly.48. A method according to claim 47, further comprising connecting an adaptor connected to the connector, and mounted to the mounting assembly, to media, so that the media is connected to the equipment when the equipment is slidably mounted to the mounting assembly.49 A method according to claim 48, wherein the adaptor is rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at either one of a first predefined location and a second predefined location relative to the mounting assembly.50. A method according to any of claims 40 to 49, further comprising the step of connecting an electrical supply to the item to be mounted.51. A method of mounting an item to a surface substantially as described herein, with reference to, or in accordance with, the drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows Claims 1 A mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein, the body opening having a first, longitudinal, axis and a second, lateral, axis; an adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mounting assembly to a surface; the body opening being configured for receiving the adaptor member at a plurality of positions on the longitudinal axis and the adaptor member being (r) 15 configured for receiving the fixing means at a plurality of lateral positions relative to the body opening, to permit the assembly to be retained to a surface by fixing means located a plurality of different lateral and longitudinal positions relative toCDthe body; o CO wherein the adaptor member comprises an outer profile configured for engaging an inner profile of the body opening to retain the adaptor member relative to the body opening, the outer profile having the form of a curvilinear polygon.2. A mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly is further configured such that the body can be retained between the adaptor member and a surface to which the assembly is mounted.3. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body can be retained by the adaptor member when fixing means are used to fix the adaptor member relative to a surface.
4. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body opening is elongate, to permit the adaptor member to be located at a plurality of different longitudinal locations relative to the body opening
5. A mounting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the body opening has substantially straight opposing sides.
6. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member.
7. A mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the locking means is configured to lock the relative positions of the body and the adaptor member in a plane of the body in the absence of fixing means retaining the assembly to a (r) 15 surface
8. A mounting assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the lockingCDmeans comprises an interference fit between the first opening and the adaptor CO member.CD9. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is substantially planar and is configured for mounting to a planar surface.10. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a first body opening, having a first adaptor member located therein, and a second body opening, having a second adaptor member located therein; the second body opening having a second longitudinal axis arranged at a nonzero angle relative to the first body opening 1L A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opening and the adaptor member are configured to receive the fixing means at substantially any lateral or longitudinal location in the body opening.12. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member is rotatable relative to the body opening to receive fixing means at a plurality of lateral locations relative to the body opening 13. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is a hole for surrounding the fixing means.N. A mounting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the hole is substantially circular.15. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member comprises a plurality of fixing openings arranged at different locations on the adaptor member.(r) 15 16 A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member comprises an alignment portion, configured to prevent the CD adaptor member from passing through the body opening.CO17. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer profile has the form of a curvilinear triangle.18. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is mounted adjacent an apex of the curvilinear polygon.19. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor member has a substantially ring shaped form 20. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is formed away from the centre of the ring shaped adaptor member.21. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing opening is at the periphery of the ring shaped adaptor member.22. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is substantially planar and has a front planar face and a rear planar face, the adaptor member being located between the front and rear planar faces.23. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising indicator means for indicating to a user how the body should be aligned relative to a connector member to be connected to an item to be mounted to the assembly.24. A mounting assembly according to claim 23, wherein the indicator means is located within an outer profile of the body.25. A mounting assembly according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the indicator means is configured to be removable.26. A mounting assembly according to any or claims 23 to 25, wherein the indicator means is located within the body opening.27. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of elongate body openings and a plurality of adaptor members.28. A mounting assembly according to claim 27, wherein the body openings are delimited by elongate body members extending between sides of an outer body frame.29. A mounting assembly according to claim 28, wherein the body is a frame and the elongate body members form rungs of the frame to define the body openings.30. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body opening comprises a toothed inner profile and the adaptor member comprises a toothed outer profile configured to engage the toothed inner profile 31. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment portion comprises a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising connector receiving means, shaped and configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.32. A mounting assembly, for mounting an object to a surface, comprising: a body, comprising: (r) 15 an attachment portion for attaching an item to be mounted to the body; and CSJ a body opening for receiving an adaptor member therein;CDan adaptor member mounted to the first opening, the adaptor member having a CO fixing opening for receiving fixing means therein, to fix the mountingCDassembly to a surface; wherein the adaptor member comprises an outer profile configured for engaging an inner profile of the body opening to retain the adaptor member relative to the body opening, the outer profile having the form of a curvilinear polygon; wherein the attachment portion comprises a slidable engagement arrangement, the mounting assembly further comprising connector receiving means, shaped and configured to receive a connector, so that a connection axis of the connector is arranged in a direction of the sliding motion, to permit the equipment to be mounted to the mounting assembly and the connector to be connected to the equipment in a single sliding motion.33. A mounting assembly according to claim 31 or claim 32, comprising a connector mounted to the mounting assembly via the connector receiving means.34. A mounting assembly according to claim 33, further comprising an adaptor connected to the connector and mountable to the mounting assembly in a plurality of configurations, for connecting the equipment, via the adaptor, to media at any one of a plurality of predefined locations relative to the mounting assembly.35. A mounting assembly according to claim 34, wherein the adaptor is rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at first and second locations relative to the mounting assembly.36. A mounting assembly substantially as described herein, with reference to, or in accordance with, the drawings.37 A method of mounting an item to a surface, comprising the steps of a) providing a mounting assembly comprising a body, having at least one body opening therein and an adaptor member located in the body opening; wherein the adaptor member comprises an outer profile configured for engaging an inner profile of the body opening to retain the adaptor member relative to the body opening, the outer profile having the form of a curvilinear polygon; b) providing a surface with one or more fixing points located thereon; c) aligning the body over or around the fixing point(s); d) aligning one or more fixing openings of the adaptor member over the fixing point(s) by appropriate location of the adaptor member relative to the body opening; e) fixing the body to the surface by via fixing means located in the adaptor openings at the fixing point(s), and 0 attaching the item to be mounted to the mounting assembly.38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of: rotating the adaptor member in the body opening to align the fixing opening at the fixing point of the surface.39. A method according to claim 37 or claim 38, comprising: rotating plural adaptor members in one or more body openings of the mounting assembly to align plural fixing openings over plural fixing points of the surface.40. A method according to any of claims 37 to 39, further comprising the steps of: removing a first item from the surface, leaving exposed fixing points previously used for mounting the first item; and fixing the mounting assembly to the surface using the existing fixing points for the first item.41. A method according to any of claims 37 to 40, comprising: (r) 15 aligning the body relative to a connection member for connection to the item to be mounted, by aligning indicator means of the body relative to the connection member.CO 42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the item to be mounted is forCD43. A method according to claim 41, wherein: the item to be mounted is plumbing equipment for connection to a pipe and the connection member is a gas pipe or a water pipe. 25 44. A method according to any of claims 37 to 43, wherein mounting the equipment to the mounting assembly comprises sliding the equipment into slidable engagement with the mounting assembly and simultaneously sliding a connector of the equipment into engagement with a connector on the mounting assembly, to connect media to the equipment via the connector on the mounting assembly.connection to a pipe and the connection member is a pipe 45. A method according to claim 44, further comprising connecting an adaptor connected to the connector, and mounted to the mounting assembly, to media, so that the media is connected to the equipment when the equipment is slidably mounted to the mounting assembly.46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the adaptor is rotatable about the connection axis of the connector, between first and second configurations, in order to connect to the media at either one of a first predefined location and a second predefined location relative to the mounting assembly.47. A method according to any of claims 37 to 46, further comprising the step of connecting an electrical supply to the item to be mounted.48. A method of mounting an item to a surface substantially as described herein, (r) is with reference to, or in accordance with, the drawings C\ICOS