Method and apparatus for attaching grab bar to wall flange

Abstract

A grab bar for attachment to a wall mount surface includes a mount assembly having a sleeve, a base flange, and a set screw. The sleeve is attached to a wall facing side of the grab bar. The base flange has a base portion to be associated with the wall mount surface and a wall portion extending outwardly from the base portion. Once the sleeve is attached to the grab bar and the base flange is attached to the wall mount surface, the sleeve is received over the wall portion in an overlapping relationship. The set screw is then used to secure the sleeve to the base flange.

1 . A mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar comprising:
 a sleeve having an attachment interface for securement to a wall facing side of a grab bar;   a base flange having a base portion to be associated with a wall mount surface and a wall portion extending outwardly from said base portion, wherein said sleeve is received over said wall portion in an overlapping relationship; and   a set screw to secure said sleeve to said base flange, said set screw extending through said sleeve and into said wall portion.   
   
   
       2 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 1  wherein said sleeve includes a first central bore and said base flange includes a second central bore aligned with said first central bore, and wherein said wall portion of said base flange extends into said first central bore such that an outer surface of said wall portion contacts at least a portion of an inner surface of said sleeve. 
   
   
       3 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 2  wherein said wall portion includes a first wall and a second wall separated by an air gap, and wherein at least one of said first and second walls includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw. 
   
   
       4 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 3  wherein each of said first and second walls includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw. 
   
   
       5 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 2  wherein said wall portion includes a first wall and a second wall separated by an air gap, and wherein said first wall includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw and said second wall includes an opening to receive an insert that cooperates with a distal end of said set screw. 
   
   
       6 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 5  wherein said insert includes a textured outer surface that is embedded within said sleeve once said set screw is fully tightened. 
   
   
       7 . The mount assembly for a bathroom grab bar according to  claim 1  including a first fastener to secure said sleeve to the grab bar and including a second fastener to secure said base flange to the wall mount surface. 
   
   
       8 . A bathroom grab bar comprising:
 a grab bar body having a wall facing side and a front facing side opposite said wall facing side, said grab bar body including at least first and second mount interfaces located at said wall facing side; and   first and second mount assemblies respectively associated with said first and second mount interfaces for securement of said grab bar body to a wall mount surface, each of said first and second mount assemblies including a sleeve that is attached to said grab bar body, a base flange having a base portion to be associated with the wall mount surface and a wall portion extending outwardly from said base portion, and a set screw that secures said sleeve to said base flange, wherein said set screw extends through said sleeve and into said wall portion.   
   
   
       9 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 8  wherein an entirety of said front facing side of said grab bar body comprises a continuous and uninterrupted surface. 
   
   
       10 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 8  wherein said sleeve includes a first central bore and said base flange includes a second central bore aligned with said first central bore, said first and said second central bores to be orientated generally perpendicular to the wall mount surface, and said wall portion of said base flange is at least partially inserted within said first central bore to form an overlapping relationship such that an outer surface of said wall portion contacts at least a portion of an inner surface of said sleeve. 
   
   
       11 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 10  wherein said wall portion includes a first wall extending partially around said second central bore and a second wall extending partially around said second central bore at a position opposite from said first wall, said first and said second walls being separated from each other by an air gap such that at least one of said first and second walls is moveable relative to the other of said first and second walls. 
   
   
       12 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of said first and second walls includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw. 
   
   
       13 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 11  wherein each of said first and second walls includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw. 
   
   
       14 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 11  wherein said first wall includes a threaded hole to receive said set screw and said second wall includes an opening to receive an insert that cooperates with a distal end of said set screw. 
   
   
       15 . The bathroom grab bar according to  claim 8  including a first fastener to secure said sleeve to the grab bar prior to attaching said sleeve to said base flange, and including a second fastener to secure said base flange to the wall mount surface prior to attaching said sleeve to said base flange. 
   
   
       16 . A method for assembling a bathroom grab bar to a wall mount surface comprising the steps of:
 (a) attaching at least one sleeve to a rear facing side of a grab bar body to form a grab bar and sleeve assembly;   (b) attaching a base flange to a wall mount surface;   (c) sliding the sleeve of the grab bar and sleeve assembly over the base flange; and   (d) fastening the sleeve and base flange together.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed prior to steps (c) and (d). 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  including forming the base flange with a base portion to be associated with the wall mount surface and a wall portion extending outwardly from the base portion, wherein the wall portion comprises a first wall extending partially about a central bore and a second wall extending partially about the central bore and being separated from the first wall by an air gap, and wherein step (d) includes threading a set screw through the sleeve and into a threaded hole formed in at least one of the first and second walls. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein step (d) includes threading a set screw through the sleeve and into threaded holes formed in both the first and second walls. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16  including forming the base flange with a base portion to be associated with the wall mount surface and a wall portion extending outwardly from the base portion, wherein the wall portion comprises a first wall extending partially about a central bore and a second wall extending partially about the central bore and being separated from the first wall by an air gap, and wherein step (d) includes providing a threaded hole in the first wall, forming an opening in the second wall, installing an insert into the opening, and threading a set screw through the sleeve and into the threaded hole such that a distal end of the set screw is received within the insert.