US3096731A - Auxiliary towel rod assembly - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1963 H. LEHMAN AUXILIARY TOWEL ROD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1961 I INVENTOR.

LOUIS H- LEHMAN ATTO P/VFX July 9, 1963 Filed Feb. 3, 1961 L. H. LEHMAN AUXILIARY TOWEL ROD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LOUIS H- LEH MAN States (ice 3,096,731 AUXILIARY TOWEL ROD ASSEMBLY Louis H. Lehman, 5515 Wissahickon Ave.,

Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 86,984 8 Claims. (Cl. 108-29) This invention relates generally to auxiliary rack structures, and more particularly relates to a combination shelf and towel bar which may be quickly and easily secured in operative condition to the usual towel bar found in todays bathrooms.

Most commonly, the towel bars normally installed in bathrooms, whether they be in private homes, hotels, apartments or motels, are generally provided with but a single hanger bar. Quite frequently the towel carrying capacity is grossly inadequate, and as a consequence towels are hung one upon the other or over shower doors or tub shower curtain supports. This renders the appearance of the bathroom somewhat unsightly and is a constant source of annoyance to the occupant of the premises. The present invention fulfills a long standing need by providing a greatly increased towel hanging capacity together with shelf storage facilities which may be used to hold clean folded towels or other articles which it is desired to keep in the bathroom. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an auxiliary towel rack assembly which may be quickly and easily installed in a bathroom by securement to the already existing towel bar structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel auxiliary rack assembly which may be secured directly to an existing towel bar without injuring the wall surface by the drilling of anchoring holes of one sort or another.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel auxiliary rack structure so constructed as to be held securely in proper position by a spring biasing action established between the existing towel bar and the wall from which it is supported.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel auxiliary rack of simple yet sturdy construction which may be installed in a matter of minutes and requiring at most the use of a screw driver.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel auxiliary rack structure including a cover assembly for the already existing towel bar and a simple but unobtrusive locking structure for fixedly securing the auxiliary rack to the existing towel bar to provide a finished assembly having the appearance of an original installation rather than that of a subsequently attached article.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the auxiliary towel rack according to the invention illustrating the general configuration of the apparatus and the organization thereof with the already existing wall-installed towel bar commonly found today in most bathrooms;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View through the auxiliary rack structure of FIGURE 1, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the lock-in and securement arrangement for the auxiliary towal bar, and is shown as would be seen when viewed along the lines 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmented cross-sectional view through the permanently installed towel bar illustrating details of the securing clamp structure by means of which the auxiliary rack is secured to the permanent towel bar, being shown on an enlarged scale as would be seen when viewed along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partially fragmented enlarged scale view, shown partly in section and partly in elevation, of the permanent towel bar and its ceramic end supports together with the auxiliary rack support structure and clamp ing devices, and it is illustrated as viewed along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmented perspective view of a portion of the permanent towel bar cover channel installed as part of the auxiliary rack structure;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locking channels employed at each end of the permanent towel bar to secure the cover channel of FIGURE 5 and the auxiliary rack structure securely in place;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmented detail of the manner of securing the glass top of the auxiliary rack to the underlying supporting brackets and is shown as would be seen when viewed along the lines 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation view of a modified form of the auxiliary rack according to the invention showing a different form of the auxiliary towel bar, and a modification of the lower region of the end brackets which support the auxiliary towel bar;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmented front elevation of one end of the modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as would be seen when viewed along the lines 1010 of FIGURE 9 and illustrating details of the securernent between the supporting end brackets and the auxiliary towel bar.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

As best seen in the showing of FIGURE 1, the auxiliary rack is seen to include a pair of opposite supporting end brackets 15 of generally R-shape, a shelf .16 seated on the top of the end brackets 15 and secured thereto by the nut and bolt assemblies 17, a generally C-shaped auxiliary towel bar 18 carried by the end brackets 15 at the lower extremities thereof, a U-shaped cover channel 19 which enclosingly covers the permanent towel bar and runs sub stantially the full-length thereof, and a pair of locking end channels 20 disposed about the ends of the cover channel 19 and permanent towel bar and secured to the supporting end brackets 15. The permanent towel bar 22 is of generally square cross section and is shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 together with its relationship to the cover channel 19, locking end channel 20 and support brackets 15, the permanent bar 22 being carried by the wall mounted bar supports 21 which in most instances are ceramic structures cemented permanently in place as part of a tile wall structure.

Each of the supporting end brackets 15 of generally R-shape is formed of metal strip stock. The main vertical stroke of the R-shaped brackets comprises a top segment 23, a bottom segment 24 and a central segment 25 displaced somewhat forwardly of the top and bottom segments by the bend regions 26 joining thecentral segment to the top and bottomsegments. The lower end of the bottom segment 24 is turned forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly to define a partially open circular loop 27 of proper diameter to close fittingly receive the ends 18a of the tubular C-shaped auxiliary towel bar 18 and retain these ends in place. The loop of the R-shaped brackets 15 is formed by a forwardly horizontally extend ing top section 28 which turns downward for a short distance as at 29 and then angles rearwardly and down to define the loop main segment 30. The lower end of the loop main segment 30 merges with one leg of a V-shaped reverse bend sect-ion 31, the other leg of which extends forwand into continuation with the downwardly and forward extend-ing front leg 32 of the R-shaped brackets 15'.

As illustrated, the V-shaped reverse bend 31 is bent at substantially a right-angle to conform to the rear surfaces of the permanent towel bar 22, this being 'best illustrated in the showing of FIGURE 3. The lower end of the front leg 32 is rearwardly reverse bent to provide an upturned tall 33 defining therebetween a U-shaped slot 3 4 within which is seated the towel bar 18, securement of the latter within the slot 34 being provided by the set screw 35 threaded through the upturned tail 33. As indicated by the bowed form of the front leg 32, the normal disposition of this leg, when the auxiliary bar 18 is not disposed within the slot 34, is generally along a substantially straight line located somewhat to the rear of its illustrated position. The bow in the front leg 32 results from the forward biasing of the lower end thereof by the auxiliary towel bar 18 when the latter is pivoted within the circular loops 2-7 to cause the main bar portion of the G-shaped auxiliary towel bar 18 to move downward into the U-shaped slot 34. The spring tension thereby resulting secures the brackets in position by causing the main stroke top and bottom segments 23- and 24 to press firmly back against the wall while simultaneously the V-shaped reverse bend portion 31 presses forward against the permanent towel bar 22. Lateral mechanical stability of the entire auxiliary rack structure is effected by securement of the shelf 16 to the tops of the brackets by the nuts and bolts 17, the shelf securement holes being spaced apart the proper distance so that the brackets 15 are seated against the wall mounted bar supports 21, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 4.

The auxiliary r-ack structure may now be used in the form as just described, or if desired, the locking end channels illustrated in FIGURE 6 may be employed to provide additional securement of the rack structure to the permanent towel bar, and these locking channels 20 may be employed with or without the U-shaped cover channel 19. The U-shaped cover channel 19 is a three- Wall configuration which may be easily and quickly slipped directly over three faces of the permanent towel bar 22 in the manner clearly illustrated in the showings of FIG- URES 3 and 4. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the cover channel 19 is of slightly shorter length than the distance between the facing ends of the wall mounted bar supports 21, but is long enough so that when installed on the permanent towel bar 22 the channel ends will be disposed within at least a portion of the locking end channels 20' to provide a neat appearance. As also best seen in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the cross-sectional area of the permanently installed towel bar 22' is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the seats of the wall mounted bar supports 21 within which the permanent towel bar ends are disposed, this being the normal construction of such towel bar assemblies. Because of this, the length of each locking end channel 20 may be extended as seen in FIGURE 4 so that a portion of the channel may be slipped in between the permanent towel bar 22 and its associated bar supports 21.

Of course, in the unusual case where the permanent bar 22 fits exactly within its associated wall-mounted supports 21, that portion of the end locking channel 20 which is observed in FIGURE 4 to be disposed within the socket portion of the wall-mounted bar support 21 would be omitted. With the cover channel 19 slipped over the permanent towel bar 22, the locking channels 20 may be sprung open and slipped over the cover channel 19 and towel bar 22, being thereafter shifted endwise into the positions illustrated in the showings of FIGURE 4. Each of the locking end channels 20 has a tab 36 struck up out of one wall thereof and bent back so as to lie substantially in plane therewith. With the locking channels 2.0 installed as shown in FIGURE 4, a machine screw 38 is projected through the holes 37 and the tab 36 and threadedly engaged with a nut or with a tapped hole in the main looped segment 30 of the R-shaped end brackets 15. Thus, the looking channel 20 simultaneously clamps the U-shaped cover channel 19* to the pernanent towel bar 22 and fixedly secures the end brackets 15 to the permanent bar structure.

Turning now to the modification of the invention shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, it will be observed that the bracket 15 is formed in substantially the same manner as the bracket 15 shown in FIGURE 1, the differences residing in the absence of the circular loop 27 at the bottom of the vertical main stroke segment 24' and the omission of the upturned tail 33 at the lower extremity of the bracket front leg 32'. Additionally, the auxiliary towel bar 18' is straight and of square cross section, whereas the auxiliary bar 18 of FIGURE 1 is a C-shaped member formed from circular metal tubing. In this modified form of the invention the bottom segment 2'4 of the bracket vertical rnain stroke is turned forward to provide a horizontal bottom leg 39 which terminates in a slightly upturned terminal part 40. Additionally, the lower end of the front leg 32 is turned slightly outward and then turned rearward at a right angle to provide the terminal part 41. The angle of bend between the horizontal bottom leg 39 and its upturned terminal ll) is such that the plane of the terminal part 4% is parallel to the plane of the rear turned terminal part 41 associated with the front leg 32. Thus, the auxiliary towel bar 18 of square crosssection may be disposed between the terminal parts 40 and 41 of the bracket '15 and fixedly secured thereto by means of a cap nut and bolt assembly 42 projected through aligned holes stamped or drilled through the terminal parts 40 and i1 and the opposite walls of the auxiliary towel bar 18 in the manner illustrated. Although in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, it is observed that there is no illustration of the U-shaped cover channel 19 and locking end channel 20 shown and described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention, nevertheless it will be appreciated that such a U-shaped cover channel 19 and the locking end channel 20 may be just as readily employed with the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 8 through 10 in exactly the manner previously set forth.

Moreover, it will be appreciated that optional changes may be made in particular aspects of the structure according to the invention as desired.

Having now described my invention in connection with particularly illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may occur from time to time to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential scope or spirit of the invention, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In an auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for securement to a well-mounted towel bar, the combination comprising, a pair of spaced-apart brackets each including one portion adapted to be disposed flatw-ise against the wall behind the wall-mounted towel bar and another portion connected thereto and positioned forward thereof adapted for latching engagement with the wall-facing region of the wall-mounted towel bar, and means for firmly biasing the said one portion of each bracket against the wall while simultaneously firmly biasing the said another port-ion of each bracket against the wall-mounted towel bar to thereby latch the brackets in position between the wall and wall-mounted towel bar, said biasing means comprises a generally C-shaped tubular bar the arms of which are pivotally securable within loops formed at the lower extremities of the said one portions of the said brackets, and the main stroke of the C-shaped bar being pivotable downward for disposition within slots formed at the lower extremities of the said another portions of the said brackets, the distance between the arms and the main stroke of the C-shaped bar being such that the said loops and slots formed at the lower extremities of the brackets are shifted relatively away from one another.

2. In an auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for securement to a wall-mounted towel bar, the combination comprising, a pair of spaced-apart brackets each including a first section having two regions adapted to be disposed flatwise against the wall behind the wall-mounted towel bar and a second section connected to said first section and positioned forward thereof adapted for latching engagement with the wall-facing region of the wall mounted towel bar, one region of said first section being disposed above the level of said towel bar and the other region of said first section being disposed below the level of said towel bar, auxiliary means for firmly biasing the said two regions of said first section of each bracket against the wall while simultaneously firmly biasing the said second section of each bracket against the wall-mounted towel bar to thereby latch the brackets in position between the Wall and wall-mounted towel bar, and locking means close-fittingly disposable about the wall-mounted towel bar and means for fixedly securing said locking means to said brackets to lock said brackets to said bar.

3. An auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for sucurernent to a towel bar whose opposite ends are seated within sockets formed in a pair of wall-mounted supports, comprising in combination, a pair of bracket members spacedapart the length of the towel bar and in lateral abutment with the wall-mounted bar supports to thereby prevent further lateral movement of the brackets away from one another, each bracket including a wall engaging rear portion disposed against the wall behind the towel bar and a front portion in latching engagement with the wallfacing region of the towel bar, said rear and front portions of each bracket extending both vertically above and below the level of the towel bar and being secured together by a bridging element which biases the said front and rear portions away from one another to thereby effect the latching engagement of the bracket front portion with the towel bar, first rigid means extending between and secured to said brackets above the level of said towel bar effective to prevent the brackets from movement toward one another, second rigid means extending between and securing together the front and rear portions of each bracket below the level of said towel bar effective to bias said rear portion backward against the wall and said front portion forward to effect positive and firm latching engagement of the latter with the towel bar, a cover member for said towel bar extending substantially the full clear length thereof between the towel bar supports, and a pair of locking members disposed close-fittingly about the opposite end portions of the cover member and secured to the said brackets to lock the brackets and cover member to the towel bar.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said locking members each project into the sockets of the towel bar wall mounted supports, being disposed between the inside surface of the socket walls and the outside surface of the towel bar.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first rigid means is a horizontally disposed shelf, and said second rigid means is an auxiliary towel bar which also extends between and connects together said brackets,

6. An auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for securement to a towel bar whose opposite ends are seated within sockets formed in a pair of wall-mounted supports, comprising in combination, a pair of bracket members spacedapart the length of the towel bar and in lateral abutment with the wall-mounted bar supports to thereby prevent further lateral movement of the brackets away from one another, each bracket including a wall engaging rear portion disposed against the wall behind the towel bar and a front portion in latching engagement with the wallfacing region of the towel bar, said rear and front portions of each bracket extending both vertically above and below the level of the towel bar and being secured together by a bridging element which biases the said front and rear portions away from one another to thereby effect the latching engagement of the bracket front portion with the towel bar, first rigid means extending between and secured to said brackets above the level of said towel bar effective to prevent the brackets from movement toward one another, and second rigid means extending between and securing together the front and rear portions of each bracket below the level of said towel bar effective to bias said rear portion backward against the wall and said front portion forward to effect positive and firm latching engagement of the latter with the towel bar.

7. An auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for securement to a towel bar whose opposite ends are seated within sockets formed in a pair of wall-mounted supports, comprising in combination, a pair of bracket members spacedapart the length of the towel bar and in lateral abutment with the wall-mounted bar supports to thereby prevent further lateral movement of the brackets away from one another, each bracket including a wall engaging rear portion disposed against the wall behind the towel bar and a front portion in latching engagement with the wallfacing region of the towel bar, said rear and front portions of each bracket extending both vertically above and below the level of the towel bar and being secured together by a bridging element which biases the said front and rear portions away from one another to thereby effect the latching engagement of the bracket front portion with the towel bar, first rigid means extending between and secured to said brackets above the level of said towel bar effective to prevent the brackets from movement toward one another, and second rigid means extending between and securing together the lower ends of the front and rear portions of each bracket effective to spread said lower ends sufiiciently to press said bracket rear portion backward firmly against the wall and press said bracket front portion forward firmly against the towel bar.

8, An auxiliary rack apparatus adapted for securement to a towel bar whose opposite ends are seated within sockets formed in a pair of wall-mounted supports, comprising in combination, a pair of bracket members spacedapart the length of the towel bar and in lateral abutment with the wall-mounted bar supports to thereby prevent further lateral movement of the brackets away from one another, each bracket including a wall engaging rear portion disposed against the wall behind the towel bar and a front portion in latching engagement with the wallfacing region of the towel bar, said rear and front portions of each bracket extending both vertically above and below the level of the towel bar and being secured together by a bridging element which biases the said front and rear portions away from one another to thereby effect the latching engagement of the bracket front portion with the towel bar, first rigid means extending between and secured to said brackets above the level of said towel bar effective to prevent the brackets from movement toward one another, and second rigid means extending substantially horizontally between and securing together the lower ends of the front and rear portions of each bracket effective to spread said lower ends sufiiciently to press said bracket rear portion backward firmly against the wall and press said bracket front portion forward firmly against the towel bar, said second rigid means being detachably engageable with the lower ends of at least one of said front and rear portions of each said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,558 Howard Apr. 7, 1931 2,606,030 Fischer July 29, 1952 2,612,273 Smith Sept. 30, 1952 2,649,971 Marchand Aug. 25, 1953 2,662,715 McKnight Dec. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,184 Switzerland Jan. 19, 1912

Claims (1)

1. IN AN AUXILIARY RACK APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO A WELL-MOUNTED TOWEL BAR, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A PAIR OF SPACED-APART BRACKETS EACH INCLUDING ONE PORTION ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED FLATWISE AGAINST THE WALL BEHIND THE WALL-MOUNTED TOWEL BAR AND ANOTHER PORTION CONNECTED THERETO AND POSITIONED FORWARD THEREOF ADAPTED FOR LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALL-FACING REGION OF THE WALL-MOUNTED TOWEL BAR, AND MEANS FOR FIRMLY BIASING THE SAID ONE PORTION OF EACH BRACKET AGAINST THE WALL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FIRMLY BIASING THE SAID ANOTHER PORTION OF EACH BRACKET AGAINST THE WALL-MOUNTED TOWEL BAR TO THEREBY LATCH THE BRACKETS IN POSITION BETWEEN

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