Vertical wall mount system

Abstract

A vertical wall mount system is provided that is easily installed in a perfectly level and plumb manner and is further cable of being design to be completely waterproof, interchangeable and customizable to include endless additional features. The vertical wall mount system includes two main components: a sub-frame assembly and a panel frame assembly. The sub-frame assembly includes mounting clips for pivotal attachment to a wall frame, such as, a standard 2×4 stud. Horizontal wall rails are mounted on the mounting clips to create the sub-frame assembly. The horizontal wall rails are designed to support a panel assembly on the horizontal wall rails, which may, for example, include a tile panel. The panel assembly includes a panel frame secured to the back side of the panel, which panel assembly is designed to hang on the horizontal wall rails of the sub-frame assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sub-frame assembly system for mounting to vertical studs in a wall frame, the sub-frame assembly system comprising:
 a horizontal wall rail having a rear channel;   a mounting clip having a central mounting member and at least one bracket for pivotally mounting the mounting clip to at least one vertical stud of the wall frame; and   the central mounting member of the mounting clip further including a channel insert for engaging the channel of the horizontal wall rail.   
     
     
         2 . The sub-frame assembly of  claim 1  where the channel insert is a modified dovetail. 
     
     
         3 . The sub-frame assembly system of  claim 1  where the horizontal wall rail further includes a mounting member. 
     
     
         4 . The sub-frame assembly system of  claim 3  where the mounting member is an upward extending flange member on the top of the horizontal wall frame. 
     
     
         5 . The sub-frame assembly system of  claim 4  where the upward extending flange member is angled. 
     
     
         6 . A panel frame assembly for mounting a wall frame assembly, the panel frame assembly comprising:
 opposing perimeter side rails having a front surface; and   at least one horizontal panel rail extending between the opposing perimeter side rails, the horizontal panel rail include a channel on one side and a front surface on the side opposing the channel, where the front surface of the perimeter side rails and front surface of the horizontal panel rail all lie in one plane.   
     
     
         7 . The panel frame assembly of  claim 6  where the channel is created by a downward extending flange member. 
     
     
         8 . The panel frame assembly of  claim 6 , where the at least one horizontal panel rail has a flat front surface. 
     
     
         9 . The panel frame assembly of  claim 6  where a panel is fastened to the front surface of the horizontal panel rail. 
     
     
         10 . The panel frame assembly of  claim 9 , where the panel is a polycarbonate sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The panel frame assembly of  claim 10  where the polycarbonate sheet is translucent. 
     
     
         12 . A sub-frame assembly system for mounting a shower panel assembly to vertical studs of a wall frame, the sub-frame assembly system comprising:
 at least one horizontal rail having a rear channel and a front surface designed to engage a shower panel assembly; and   at least one mounting clip designed to mounted horizontally on at least two vertical studs and having a front mounting member for engaging the rear channel of the horizontal wall rail.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly system of  claim 12  where the at least one mounting clip is a horizontal rail mounted directly to the at least two vertical studs. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly system of  claim 12  where the shower panel frame assembly includes a decorative shower panel with opposing perimeter side rails secured to the rear surface of the decorative shower panel and where the at least one horizontal rail is mounted to the rear surface of the decorative shower panel and extends between the opposing perimeter side rails. 
     
     
         15 . A sub-frame assembly system for mounting a shower panel assembly to vertical studs of a wall frame, the sub-frame assembly system comprising:
 at least one rail having a rear channel and a front surface designed to engage a shower panel assembly; and   at least two mounting clips, each designed to mounted on at least one vertical stud in horizontal alignment with one another and each having a front mounting member for engaging the rear channel of the horizontal wall rail.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly system of  claim 15  where the shower panel frame assembly includes a decorative shower panel and where the at least one rail is a horizontal rail mounted on the rear surface of the decorative shower panel. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly system of  claim 15  where the shower panel frame assembly includes opposing perimeter side rails and at least one horizontal panel rail extending between the opposing perimeter side rails, the horizontal panel rails include a channel on one side for engaging the at least one rail to mount the panel frame assembly onto the at least one rail.