Towel Hanger

Abstract

A towel hanger includes an anchor and a towel holder attached to or formed integrally with the anchor. A level indicator is fixed with respect to the anchor to indicate angular attitude of the anchor during and after attachment of the anchor to a vertical surface. Also a stretchable adhesive strip is adhered to the anchor and adheres to a vertical surface so as to attach the anchor to the vertical surface. The adhesive strip has a relaxed thickness and a diminished thickness acquired by stretching. A protrusion of the anchor is located nearby the adhesive strip and extends from the anchor by more than the diminished thickness of the adhesive strip. The protrusion maintains a space between the anchor and the vertical surface to thereby enable stretching of the adhesive strip for removal purposes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to towel hangers. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a towel hanger or towel ring for attachment to the wall of the bathroom or a washroom.

[0002] Some bathroom rings are known to comprise a ceramic anchor from which a metallic ring depends in a pivotal manner. The ceramic anchor must be secured to the wall with tile adhesive and grouted in--usually by a professional.

[0003] Other known types of bathroom rings comprise a metallic anchor that must be screw-fixed to the wall. As the wall is usually tiled, a specialist masonry drill bit must be used to form an anchor hole. There is of course the risk that expensive wall tiles will be damaged.

[0004] Semi-permanent towel rings are known to comprise a plastics anchor to be secured to a wall tile with adhesive. If the device is broken and has to be removed, there is a risk of damaging or at least lifting the wall tiles. Some such towel rings use double-sided adhesive tape as a means of attachment to the wall tiles. It can be difficult to fix such devices with perfect alignment and if misaligned, lifting can cause the damage described.

SUMMARY

[0005] An improved towel hanger is disclosed.

[0006] Briefly stated, a towel hanger comprises:

[0007] an anchor;

[0008] a towel holder attached to or formed integrally with the anchor; and

[0009] a level indicator fixed with respect to the anchor to indicate angular attitude of the anchor during and after attachment of the anchor to a vertical surface.

[0010] Preferably, the towel hanger further comprises a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

[0011] Preferably, the anchor comprises an anchor plate and a fascia plate from which the pivot boss extends, and an intermediate plate by which the fascia plate is attached to the anchor plate.

[0012] Preferably, the anchor plate comprises one or more anchors and the intermediate plate comprises a corresponding one or more anchor holes through and with which the anchors cooperate to attach the intermediate plate to the anchor plate.

[0013] Preferably, the fascia plate comprises a window through which the level indicator is visible.

[0014] Preferably, the level indicator comprises a spirit level.

[0015] Preferably, the spirit level is attached to the intermediate plate.

[0016] There is further disclosed herein a towel hanger comprising:

[0017] an anchor;

[0018] a towel holder attached to or formed integrally with the anchor;

[0019] a stretchable adhesive strip adhered to the anchor and adapted to adhere to a vertical surface so as to attach the anchor thereto, the adhesive strip having a relaxed thickness and a diminished thickness acquired by stretching;

[0020] a protrusion of the anchor located nearby the adhesive strip, the protrusion extending from the anchor by more than the diminished thickness of the adhesive strip.

[0021] Preferably, the anchor comprises an anchor plate to which the stretchable adhesive strip is adhered and upon which the protrusion is formed, and further comprising a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor plate and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

[0022] Preferably, the towel hanger further comprises a fascia plate from which the pivot boss extends, and an intermediate plate by which the fascia plate is attached to the anchor plate.

[0023] Preferably, the anchor plate comprises one or more anchors and the intermediate plate comprises a corresponding one or more anchor holes through and with which the anchors cooperate to attach the intermediate plate to the anchor plate.

[0024] Preferably, the towel hanger further comprises a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor plate and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

[0025] Preferably, the adhesive strip extends beyond an end of the anchor plate.

[0026] Preferably, the towel hanger further comprises a fascia plate attached to the anchor plate so as to conceal the adhesive strip.

[0027] Preferably, the towel hanger further comprises an intermediate plate affixed to the anchor plate and to which the fascia plate is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of a towel hanger;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of the anchor plate showing its top surface;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of the anchor plate showing its bottom surface;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the anchor plate;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the anchor plate; and

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic end elevation of the anchor plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a towel hanger comprising a metallic ring 10 to be attached pivotally to a pivot boss 17 formed integrally with a fascia plate 11. The fascia plate 11 has a window 16 through which a spirit level 12 is visible when the parts are assembled.

[0036] Located behind and housed within the fascia plate 11 is an intermediate plate 13 comprising a spirit level holder 20 and a pair of anchor holes 19.

[0037] An anchor plate 14 comprises a pair of anchors 18 sized to pass through the respective anchor holes 19 as the intermediate plate is installed upon the anchor plate.

[0038] The plates 11, 13 and 14 together form an "anchor" for supporting the metallic ring 10.

[0039] At the back of the anchor plate 14 there is provided a transverse protrusion 21 and a longitudinal protrusion 22. Together these form a "T" shape.

[0040] A pair of stretchable double-sided adhesive strips 15 which are shown in FIG. 1 are to be adhered to the back surface of the anchor plate 14 at either side of the longitudinal protrusion 22. The adhesive strips 15 are slightly longer than the anchor plate 14 so that the rounded ends (each marked with an arrow) extend beyond the end of the anchor plate 14. The adhesive strips 15 might be elastic in nature or simply stretchable. The adhesive strips 15 are shorter than the intermediate plate 13 so that when the intermediate plate 13 is installed upon the anchor plate 14, it conceals the rounded ends. The opposite square ends of the adhesive strips 15 abut against or reside nearby the transverse protrusion 21 when adhered to the anchor plate 14.

[0041] The transverse protrusion 21 extends by its thickness from the planar bottom surface of the anchor plate 14 by approximately the relaxed thickness of the adhesive strips 15. The longitudinal protrusion 22 would typically protrude somewhat less than this--typically somewhat less than the relaxed thickness of the adhesive strips 15.

[0042] Parts 11, 13 and 14 are typically formed of moulded plastics material of some resilience. That is, the fascia plate 11 can snap engage upon the intermediate plate 13. Also, the anchors 18 can deform slightly and the anchor plate 14 can bend slightly.

[0043] In use, the intermediate plate 13 is attached to the anchor plate 14 by passing the anchor holes over the anchors 18 and then sliding the intermediate plate until the anchors click into position. To this end, barbs may be provided under the anchors 18 to snap-lock into position. The spirit level 12 is located within the spirit level holder 20. The fascia plate 11 can then be snapped into position over the intermediate plate.

[0044] The adhesive strips 15 are pressed down upon the bottom surface of the anchor plate 14 at either side of the longitudinal protrusion 22 with the square ends touching or nearby the transverse protrusion 21. The assembly can then be attached to a vertical wall tile for example with a correct angular attitude achieved by use of the spirit level 12 which is visible through the window 16. Firm pressure applied to the assembly overall will enable the adhesive strips 15 to compress because the strips 15 in their relaxed state are thicker than the protruding thickness of the longitudinal protrusion 22. The towel ring 10 can then be installed pivotally by attachment to the pivot boss 17.

[0045] In order to remove the assembly from the wall tile, the fascia plate 11 (together with the intermediate plate 13) can be removed by applying upward force to disengage the anchors 18 from the anchor holes 19. The bottom rounded ends of the adhesive strips 15 are then presented with their arrows visible and pointing down. With pressure applied by hand only to the top end of the anchor plate directly opposite the transverse protrusion 21, the adhesive strips can be stretched by pulling down on the rounded ends. As the adhesive strips stretch, they become thinner and pull away from both the anchor plate and wall tile to release the anchor plate. The transverse protrusion 21 prevents compression of the adhesive strips during this removal process. The transverse protrusion 21 is typically about 1 to 2 mm from the upper edge of the anchor plate and pressure directly at the upper edge will cause the anchor plate to pivot like a lever to maintain and increase a gap between the lower part of the anchor plate and the wall tile during the removal process. When the tape is fully stretched it will releases from the anchor plate and the wall completely. As the tape may release from the wall first, hand-pressure on the anchor plate (or a grasp upon it generally) will prevent the plate from flinging away dangerously.

[0046] It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the longitudinal protrusion 22 might simply be provided as a marking because any thickness is not required. Alternatively, rather than providing a pair of thin adhesive strips, a single adhesive pad of approximately equivalent overall surface area might be employed.

Claims

1. A towel hanger comprising: an anchor; a towel holder attached to or formed integrally with the anchor; and a level indicator fixed with respect to the anchor to indicate angular attitude of the anchor during and after attachment of the anchor to a vertical surface.

2. The towel hanger of claim 1, further comprising a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

3. The towel hanger of claim 2, wherein the anchor comprises an anchor plate and a fascia plate from which the pivot boss extends, and an intermediate plate by which the fascia plate is attached to the anchor plate.

4. The towel hanger of claim 3, wherein the anchor plate comprises one or more anchors and the intermediate plate comprises a corresponding one or more anchor holes through and with which the anchors cooperate to attach the intermediate plate to the anchor plate.

5. The towel hanger of claim 3, wherein the fascia plate comprises a window through which the level indicator is visible.

6. The towel hanger of claim 1, wherein the level indicator comprises a spirit level.

7. The towel hanger of claim 3, wherein the level indicator comprises a spirit level attached to the intermediate plate.

8. A towel hanger comprising: an anchor; a towel holder attached to or formed integrally with the anchor; a stretchable adhesive strip adhered to the anchor and adapted to adhere to a vertical surface so as to attach the anchor thereto, the adhesive strip having a relaxed thickness and a diminished thickness acquired by stretching; a protrusion of the anchor located nearby the adhesive strip, the protrusion extending from the anchor by more than the diminished thickness of the adhesive strip.

9. The towel hanger of claim 8, wherein the anchor comprises an anchor plate to which the stretchable adhesive strip is adhered and upon which the protrusion is formed, and further comprising a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor plate and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

10. The towel hanger of claim 9, further comprising a fascia plate from which the pivot boss extends, and an intermediate plate by which the fascia plate is attached to the anchor plate.

11. The towel hanger of claim 10, wherein the anchor plate comprises one or more anchors and the intermediate plate comprises a corresponding one or more anchor holes through and with which the anchors cooperate to attach the intermediate plate to the anchor plate.

12. The towel hanger of claim 8, further comprising a pivot boss attached to or formed integrally with the anchor plate and wherein the towel holder comprises a ring attached pivotally to the pivot boss.

13. The towel hanger of claim 8 wherein the adhesive strip extends beyond an end of the anchor plate.

14. The towel hanger of claim 13 further comprising a fascia plate attached to the anchor plate so as to conceal the adhesive strip.

15. The towel hanger of claim 14, further comprising an intermediate plate affixed to the anchor plate and to which the fascia plate is attached.

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