US2157020A - Detachable support - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1939. s, N R 2,157,020

DETACHABLE SUPPORT Filed July 23, 1937 Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Autoyre Company,

Incorporated, Oakville,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,173

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a detachable support and has special reference to a device for supporting a wash cloth, towel, or the like, in convenience for use on bath room fixtures, sinks, or any place 5 where it is desirable to suspend objects on a bar.

More particularly, this invention relates to a support for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bath rooms and the like comprising a pair of brackets having a bar secured to and between the brackets for supporting a wash cloth, towel or the like, the brackets comprising a front plate at least a portion of which engages the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture and a rear plate extending adjacent to the inner face of the depending skirt with means extending from the latter plate for frictional engagement with the inner face of the depending skirt, and a connection between the front and rear plates extending below. the depending skirt.

After use, a wash cloth is more or less unsightly and, being wet, it is not desirable to hang the same adjacent a towel on the usual towel bar afforded for such purposes. The present invention contemplates the provision of a support for use on the depending skirt of the wash stand, sink, or other fixture, where the wash cloth or the like is not in the usual line of vision and is protected from sight to a substantial extent by the skirt of thefixture. Further, the support being thus psitioned, it is readily accessible for use by either adult or child.

Since fixtures of the type to which the support is detachably engaged are ordinarily heavily enameled or of a vitreous material, the wet wash cloth will have no detrimental effect thereon when coming in contact therewith. Thus a convenient disposition of the support, out of sight, is obtained for secluding the wash cloth in a position readily accessible for use.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type noted above which may be positioned out of the usual line of vision and in convenience for ready use.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Figure l is a perspective view 0! a fixture for bath rooms showing the device embodying the features of this invention in position thereof;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view partially in section of a support embodying the features of this invention; 5

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of Fig. 2 showing the support mounted on the fixture shown fragmentarily and in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of support embodying the features of this invention and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a further modified form of construction showing a portion of the bracket in section.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive thereof, the device of this invention is shown as being mounted on a wash stand ill for having 2. depending skirt II. The support comprises a pair of brackets [2 having a bar l3 secured to and between the brackets for supporting a wash cloth or the like.

The bar I3 is preferably of substantial U-shape having a main body portion I4 intermediate the ends or arms l5 which latter extend substantially at right angles to the main body portion. The bar is preferably formed of a single piece of wire preferably of polygonalcross section with one of the corners thereof extending upwardly to provide a frictional resistance against slippage of the supported object depending therefrom. However, the bar may be formed of a wire or rod of any cross section or it may be formed of a tube as desired.

Each of the brackets l2 comprises a substantially U-shaped strip preferably of spring material having a front face or plate It extending adjacent the outer face of the depending skirt ll of the fixture and a rear face or plate l1 extending adjacent the inner face of the depending skirt ll of the fixture, the front and rear faces or plates having a connecting portion l8 preferably of arcuate contour therebetween. The resiliency of the material of the bracket provides a tension between the front and rear plates in a direction toward each other.

The front face or plate it has an offset portion l9 extending longitudinally thereof and in a direction away from the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture providing spaced portions 20 and 2| for engagement with the front faceof the depending skirt H. The arcuate portion I8 is connected to the front face at one of the spaced portions 2| and a projection 22 extending from the rear face ll of the bracket engages the inner wall of the depending skirt II in a lateral plane between the offset portions and 2| thus providing a three-point support for the bracket.

Such a support as is provided by the three points of engagement with the fixture, affords rigidity in the construction and the projecting portion 22 preferably extends at an inclination to the plane of the wall of the depending skirt which it engages to provide a line or point contact to prevent slippage of the bracket as a whole downwardly from the fixture, since ordinarily the inner face of the depending skirt is left in an unfinished or more or less porous condition to pro-- vide an anchorage for the point or line contact.

The ends or arms l5 of the bar l3 are preferably spot-welded to the end of the bracket, which,

' in this instance, is the spaced portion 2|, in engagement with the outer face of the depending skirt l I. It is, of course, to be understood that the bar may be otherwise secured as by soldering or by frictionally engaging a projection extending from the bracket at any point on the front face or plate thereof.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the bracket therein shown comprises apair of brackets 23 having a bar 24 secured to and between the brackets for supporting a wash cloth or the like. Each of the brackets 23 comprises a substantially'U-shaped strip of spring material having a front face or plate 25 for engaging the outer face of the depending skirt of a fixture and a rear face or plate 26 extending adjacent to the inner face of the depending skirt, the front and rear faces or plates being connected by a portion 21 of preferably arcuate contour and extending below the bottom edge of the depending skirt.

The bar 24 for supporting the wash cloths or other articles may preferably be formed of a wire or rod of polygonal cross section although, of course, it will be understood that a tubular member of any desired material may be soemployed. The bar is preferably of substantial U-shape having a main body portion 28 extending substantially parallel with the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture, and arms or ends 29 extending substantially at right angles to the main body portion for engaging and being secured to the brackets. The ends of the bar are preferably spot-welded to the brackets although any other means of securing, such as by friction or by solder, may likewise be employed.

The bracket is frictionally held to the depending skirt of the fixture by reason of the resiliency of the spring material of the bracket, the front and rear plates being under tension in a direction toward each other, and in order to assist in preventing the displacement of the bracket downwardly of the fixture, one or more sharp projecting prongs 30 may be serrated and deformed or otherwise provided from the material of the rear face or plate 26 of the bracket. The projecting prong 30 is preferably disposed at an angle to the plane of the side wall of the depending skirt of the fixture so that a point or line engagement therebetween is had. The inner Wall of the fixture, as above explained, is usually unfinished and provided thereby with scales or porous surfaces so that a firm grip is obtained.

In the present embodiment as well as in the embodiment described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the arcuate connecting portions between the front and rear faces or plates of the brackets'are of substantial radii and substantially greater than the thickness of the depending skirt of the fixture. Ordinarily, fixtures are provided with curved surfaces in the form of a bead, flange or thickened portions at the bottom .edge thereof to obtain a finished appearance. The thickness of the flange or bead is accommodated by the substantial width of the opening between the front and rear faces of the bracket at the lower portion thereof adjacent the arcuate connection therebetween and permits the insertion of the skirt through the contracted neck portion between the projecting member of the rear face of the bracket and the front face thereof so that the brackets may be readily installed.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawing, the bracket therein shown comprises a front plate 3| which is preferably embossed to providea peripheral flange 32 permitting a line contact with the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture. The front plate may beof any desired contour'and preferably stamped and formed from sheet metal.

A bar is secured to and between the brackets for supporting a wash cloth or the like and is preferably of U-shape providing a main body portion 33 which extends substantially parallel to the depending skirt of the fixture and has two arms or ends 34 extending substantially at right angles thereto to be welded, soldered, or otherwise secured to the front plate 3| of the bracket. The bar may be formed of a wire or rod of polygonal cross section, although, of course, a tube or other member of any suitable material of circular cross section may be employed, as desired.

An oppositely disposed plate 35 extending adjacent the inner face of the depending skirt of a fixture is, in this instance, preferably formed of a wire of polygonal cross section and is connected by a U-bend 36 to the front plate 3! of the bracket as by means of spot-welding, soldering, or the like. The connection between the U-bend 36 and the bracket is within the embossed portion of the front plate St, the wire being flattened so as to prevent the extension thereof beyond the confines of the embossed portion in the direction of the fixture.

An adjusting screw 31 threadedly engages an aperture in the rear plate 35, one end being employed as an operating handle 38 and the other end bearing against the inner face of the depending skirt. An adjustment in one direction of the operating head 38 of the threaded screw 3! will cause frictional engagement of the bracket with the depending skirt of the fixture.

While several embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in'the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited bythe scope of the prior artand the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bathrooms and the like comprising a pair of brackets, a bar secured to and between said brackets for supporting a washcloth or the like, each of said brackets comprising a front plate at least a portion of which is adapted to engage the outer face of the depending skirt'of the fixture, a rear plate extending adjacent to and having a sharp projecting portion thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of said depending skirt,

and a flexible connection between the front and rear plates adapted to extend below said depending skirt.

2. A support for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bathrooms and the like, comprising a pair of brackets, a supporting member extending outwardly from each of said brackets, a bar secured to and between said supporting members for supporting a washcloth or the like in a spaced relation from the depending skirt of said fixture, each of said brackets being formed of spring material comprising a front face at least a portion of which is adapted to engage the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture, a rear face extending adjacent to and having a fixed projection adjacent the end.- thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of said depending skirt, and a connection formed integrally with the front and rear faces to permit adjustment with respect to said depending skirt thereabove, a substantial portion of each of the brackets being hidden by said depending skirt.

3. A support for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bathrooms and the like comprising a pair of brackets, a bar secured to and between said brackets for supporting a washcloth or the like, each of said brackets comprising a front face having spaced portions adapted to engage with the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture, a rear face extending adjacent to and having a member extending therefrom adapted to frlctionally engage the inner face of said depending skirt at a portion in a horizontal plane between the spaced portions of said front plate, and a connection between the front and rear faces adapted to extend below said depending skirt.

-i. A support of spring material for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bathrooms and the like comprising a pair of brackets, a bar secured to and between said brackets for supporting a washcloth or the like, each of said brackets comprising a front face having spaced portions adapted to engage the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture, a rear face extending adjacent to and having a portion thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of said depending skirt, and an integrally formed connection between the front and rear faces adapted to extend below said depending skirt.

5. A support of spring material for detachable engagement with the depending skirt of a fixture for bathrooms and the like comprising a pair of brackets, a bar secured to and between said brackets for supporting a washcloth or the like, each of said brackets comprising a front face having an offset portion extending longitudinally thereof and in a direction away from the outer face of the depending skirt of the fixture providing spaced portions adapted to engage therewith, a rear face adapted to extend adjacent to and having a portion thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of said depending skirt in a lateral plane between said spaced portions, and an integrally formed connection between the front and rear faces adapted to extend below said depending skirt.

ROY S. SANFORD.

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