Tolerant mounting apparatus

Abstract

A plate ( 12 ) is mounted to a wall, ceiling, door or window frame, and supports an object (O). Spaced openings ( 14 ) are formed in the plate. The diameter (d) of the holes is sufficiently large that a drill bit fits through the opening for a screw hole (H) to be drilled in the wall, ceiling, or frame. A flange ( 20 ) formed on the face ( 22 ) of the plate abutting the mounting surface extends about the opening, into the opening, to provide a shoulder supporting a slotted washer ( 16 ). A slot ( 18 ) in the washer extends across the washer and has a length (l) corresponding to the diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder. A washer is placed in each opening and rotated until the respective screw holes are exposed by the slot. Now, when screws or other fasteners are inserted into the holes through the slots, the object is properly oriented or aligned, regardless of screw hole locations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for mounting an object to a surface with the object properly aligned to a reference without having to accurately locate a mounting hole for mounting the object, comprising: 
 at least one opening formed in the object to be mounted, the size of the opening being at least two times the size of a portion of a mounting fastener extending through the opening to mount the object,    the bottom of said opening having a shoulder extending at least partially thereabout to support a washer inserted into the opening, the washer being sized to fit in the opening and being rotatable within the opening,    a slot formed in the washer which, when the washer is rotated, will expose the mounting hole if the mounting hole is located anywhere within an area defined by the shoulder,    the slot being sized to allow a portion of the mounting fastener to pass through the slot in the washer into the mounting hole to effect mounting of the object to the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the fastener is premounted, and the object may be mounted at any location about the fastener, restricted only by the size of the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the fastener is a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for mounting an object to a surface so the object is properly aligned when installed in place, comprising: 
 a mounting bracket in which at least two openings are formed, the size of the openings being sufficiently large for a tool to be inserted into each opening to start a hole for a fastener used to mount the object to the surface; and,    a slotted washer sized to fit at least partially into each opening and rotatable about the opening until the hole is exposed by the slot, a fastener then being fitted in place through the slot to attach the bracket to the surface with the slotted washers allowing the object to be aligned even though the fasteners do not align whereby inaccuracy in placement of the fasteners is tolerated without effecting the alignment of the completed installation.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the bracket is integrally formed with the object.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the openings are formed on opposite sides of the bracket.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the openings are formed side-by-side.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the slot extends diametrically across the washer.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a face of the bracket abutting the surface includes a circumferential flange extending into each opening and forming a shoulder against which the washer seats when fitted into an opening.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the length of the slot at least corresponds to the radius of the opening formed by the shoulder.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a face of the bracket abutting the surface includes a pair of opposed tabs extending into each opening and forming a seat against which the washer bears when fitted into an opening.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  in which the length of the slot at least corresponds to the radius of the opening formed by the tabs.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the washer is a stepped washer having a first segment and a second segment, the diameter of the first segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening in which the washer is fitted and the diameter of the second segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder, the slot extending through both segments of the washer with the length thereof corresponding to the radius of the second segment.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the washer is wedge shaped and has a beveled sidewall.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the mounting bracket comprises at least two spaced apart brackets in each of which an opening is formed, a slotted washer being sized to fit in each of the openings and rotatable about the opening until the hole for the fastener is exposed by the slot, the fastener then being fitted in place through the slot to attach the respective bracket to the surface with the object being aligned even though the fasteners are not for inaccuracy in placement of the fasteners to be tolerated without effecting the alignment of the completed installation.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the surfaces of the washer are non-smooth.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the washer is a stepped washer having a first segment and a second segment, the diameter of the first segment being larger than the diameter of the opening in which the washer is fitted and the diameter of the second segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening, the slot extending through both segments of the washer with the length thereof corresponding to at least the radius of the second segment.  
     
     
         18 . Tolerant mounting apparatus for mounting an object to a surface with the object being properly aligned when installed in place, comprising: 
 said object having at least one opening formed therein and sized for insertion of a tool into said opening to start a hole for a fastener used to mount the object to the surface;    a slotted washer sized to fit at least partially in said opening and rotatable about the opening until the hole is exposed by the slot, a fastener then being fitted in place through the slot in the washer to attach the object to the surface with the slotted washer allowing the object to be aligned even though the fastener does not align whereby inaccuracy in placement of the fastener is tolerated without effecting the alignment of the completed installation.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  18  in which a circumferential flange extends into said opening and forms a shoulder against which the washer seats when fitted into the opening, the length of the slot corresponding to the diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the length of the slot corresponds to the radius of the opening formed by the shoulder.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  in which the washer is a stepped washer having a first segment and a second segment, the diameter of the first segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening in which the washer is fitted and the diameter of the second segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder, the slot extending through both segments of the washer with the length thereof corresponding to the diameter of the second segment.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18  in which a head of the fastener bears against an outer face of the washer when the fastener is installed, and said outer face of the washer is a roughened surface which helps maintain the fastener in its hole.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18  in which the washer is a stepped washer having a first segment and a second segment, the diameter of the first segment being larger than the diameter of the opening in which the washer is fitted and the diameter of the second segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening, the slot extending through both segments of the washer with the length thereof corresponding to at least the radius of the second segment.  
     
     
         24 . Tolerant mounting apparatus for mounting an object to a surface with the object being properly aligned when installed in place, comprising: 
 said object having at least one opening formed therein and sized for insertion of a tool into said opening to start a hole for a fastener used to mount the object to the surface;    a slotted, stepped washer having a first segment and a second segment, the diameter of the first segment being larger than the diameter of said opening and the diameter of the second segment corresponding to the diameter of the opening in which the washer is fitted; and,    the second segment being inserted into said opening and rotated about the opening until the hole is exposed by the slot, a fastener then being fitted in place through the slot in the washer to attach the object to the surface with the slotted washer allowing the object to be aligned even though the fastener does not align whereby inaccuracy in placement of the fastener is tolerated without effecting the alignment of the completed installation.