Grab bar universal mounting plate

Abstract

A grab bar assembly for mounting on a wall is provided. The wall includes a stud having an X axis perpendicular to a length of the stud and a Y axis parallel to the length of the stud. The grab bar assembly comprises a grab bar having a first end and a mounting plate attached to the first end in fixed relation to the grab bar. The mounting plate comprises a plurality of openings shaped and arranged such that the grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by the X axis and the Y axis of the stud and two fastening devices can be secured in the stud through the openings.

1 . A grab bar assembly for mounting on a wall, the wall including a stud having an X axis perpendicular to a length of the stud and a Y axis parallel to the length of the stud, the grab bar assembly comprising: 
 a grab bar having a first end; and    a mounting plate attached to said first end in fixed relation to said grab bar;    wherein said mounting plate comprises a plurality of openings shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by the X axis and the Y axis of the stud and two fastening devices can be secured in the stud through said openings.    
   
   
       2 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said grab bar has a second end having a second mounting plate fixedly attached thereto; and    said second mounting plate comprises a plurality of openings shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by an X axis and a Y axis of a second stud and two fastening devices can be secured in the second stud through said openings in said second mounting plate.    
   
   
       3 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein three fastening devices can be secured in the stud through said openings.  
   
   
       4 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of said openings has a first shape and one of said openings has a second shape.  
   
   
       5 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a plurality of said openings have a first shape and a plurality of said openings have a second shape; and    said openings having said first shape and said openings having said second shape are alternately disposed around a circumference of said mounting plate.    
   
   
       6 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said openings are arcuate shaped and circumferentially extend around a center of said mounting plate.  
   
   
       7 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of said openings is circumferentially extending and one of said openings is radially extending.  
   
   
       8 . A grab bar assembly for mounting on a wall, said grab bar assembly comprising: 
 a grab bar having a first end; and    a mounting plate attached to said first end in fixed relation to said grab bar;    wherein said mounting plate comprises a plurality of arcuate shaped openings circumferentially extending around a center of said mounting plate.    
   
   
       9 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 8 , wherein 
 said grab bar has a second end having a second mounting plate fixedly attached thereto; and    said second mounting plate comprises a plurality of arcuate shaped openings circumferentially extending around a center of said second mounting plate.    
   
   
       10 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said openings are shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by an X axis perpendicular to a length of a stud in the wall and a Y axis parallel to the length of the stud in the wall; and    two fastening devices can be secured in the stud through said openings.    
   
   
       11 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said grab bar has a second end having a second mounting plate fixedly attached thereto;    said second mounting plate comprises a plurality of arcuate shaped openings circumferentially extending around a center of said second mounting plate; and    said openings in said second mounting plate are shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by an X axis and a Y axis of a second stud and two fastening devices can be secured in the second stud through said openings in said second mounting plate.    
   
   
       12 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 10 , wherein three fastening devices can be secured in the stud through said openings.  
   
   
       13 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said mounting plate further comprises a plurality of radially extending openings.  
   
   
       14 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said circumferentially extending openings and said radially extending openings are alternately disposed around a circumference of said mounting plate.  
   
   
       15 . A grab bar assembly for mounting on a wall, said grab bar assembly comprising: 
 a grab bar having a first end; and    a mounting plate attached to said first end in fixed relation to said grab bar;    wherein said mounting plate comprises a circumferentially extending opening and a radially extending opening.    
   
   
       16 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said grab bar has a second end having a second mounting plate fixedly attached thereto; and    said second mounting plate comprises a circumferentially extending opening and a radially extending opening.    
   
   
       17 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said openings are shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by an X axis perpendicular to a length of a stud in the wall and a Y axis parallel to the length of the stud in the wall; and    two fastening devices can be secured in the stud through said openings.    
   
   
       18 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 17 , wherein 
 said grab bar has a second end having a second mounting plate fixedly attached thereto;    said second mounting plate comprises a circumferentially extending opening and a radially extending opening; and    said openings in said second mounting plate are shaped and arranged such that said grab bar can be rotated to any position in a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by an X axis and a Y axis of a second stud and two fastening devices can be secured in the second stud through said openings in said second mounting plate.    
   
   
       19 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 17 , wherein three fastening devices can be secured in said stud through said openings.  
   
   
       20 . The grab bar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said mounting plate comprises a plurality of circumferentially extending openings and a plurality of radially extending openings; and    said circumferentially extending openings and said radially extending openings are alternately disposed around a circumference of said mounting plate.