Molded wall unit including a mounting bracket

Abstract

A bathroom wall unit includes a molded wall panel formed of a polymer and defining a recessed pocket. A flexible substrate supporting mosaic tiles is illustratively coupled to a rear wall of the recessed pocket. Surface treatment is illustratively provided within linear indentations in the wall panel to simulate grout lines. A corner bracket illustratively includes first and second trios of arms supporting seals and defining first, second, and third recesses for receiving mounting flanges of a pair of wall panels and a locking device of an inner sealing body to provide additional seals with the wall panels.

1 . A bathroom wall unit comprising:
 a first wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge;   a second wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge;   a connecting bracket including:
 a first pair of arms having a first inner arm and a first outer arm, 
 a first recess defined between the first inner arm and the first outer arm, 
 a second pair of arms having a second inner arm and a second outer arm, 
 a second recess defined between the second inner arm and the second outer arm, and 
 a center recess defined between the first inner arm and the second inner arm; and 
   an accessory mount extending between an inner end and an outer end, the outer end extending outwardly from the inner end, and an insert supported by the inner end;   wherein the second mounting flange of the first wall panel is received within the first recess of the connecting bracket, the first mounting flange of the second wall panel is received within the second recess of the connecting bracket, and the insert of the accessory mount is received within the center recess of the connecting bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first seal supported by one of the first inner arm or the first outer arm. 
     
     
         3 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a second seal supported by one of the second inner arm or the second outer arm, wherein the first pair of arms and the second pair of arms of the connecting bracket are formed of a first material, and the first seal and the second seal are formed of a second material softer than the first material. 
     
     
         4 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking device extending between the connecting bracket and the insert of the accessory mount. 
     
     
         5 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 4 , wherein the locking device includes a first plurality of raised surfaces on the first inner arm and the second inner arm extending into the center recess, and a second plurality of raised surfaces supported by the insert of the accessory mount, the first plurality of raised surfaces configured to frictionally engage with the second plurality of raised surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , wherein a universal mounting member is supported by the outer end of the accessory mount, the universal mounting member configured to releasably couple with a shower accessory. 
     
     
         7 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 6 , wherein the universal mounting member includes one of a support member or a receiver, and the shower accessory includes the other of the receiver or the insert. 
     
     
         8 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 7 , wherein the support member comprises a frustum, and the receiver comprises a frusto-conical opening receiving the frustum. 
     
     
         9 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 6 , wherein the shower accessory comprises at least one of a shelf, a hand shower bracket, a shower caddy, a toothbrush holder, and a razor holder. 
     
     
         10 . A bathroom wall unit comprising:
 a first wall panel;   an accessory mount extending between an inner end and an outer end, and an insert supported by the inner end;   a connecting bracket coupled to the first wall panel, the connecting bracket including an accessory mounting recess receiving the insert of the accessory mount; and   a shower accessory supported by the outer end of the accessory mount.   
     
     
         11 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second wall panel;   wherein the first wall panel includes a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge;   wherein the second wall panel includes a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge;   wherein the connecting bracket includes:
 a first pair of arms having a first inner arm and a first outer arm, 
 a first recess defined between the first inner arm and the first outer arm, 
 a second pair of arms having a second inner arm and a second outer arm, 
 a second recess defined between the second inner arm and the second outer arm, and 
 the accessory mounting recess is defined between the first inner arm and the second inner arm; and 
 wherein the second mounting flange of the first wall panel is received within the first recess of the connecting bracket, the first mounting flange of the second wall panel is received within the second recess of the connecting bracket, and the insert of the accessory mount is received within the accessory mounting recess of the connecting bracket. 
   
     
     
         12 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first seal supported by one of the first inner arm and the first outer arm; and   a second seal supported by one of the second inner arm and the second outer arm, wherein the first pair of arms and the second pair of arms of the connecting bracket are formed of a first material, and the first seal and the second seal are formed of a second material softer than the first material.   
     
     
         13 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a locking device extending between the connecting bracket and the insert of the accessory mount. 
     
     
         14 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 13 , wherein the locking device includes a first plurality of raised surfaces on the connecting bracket extending into the accessory mounting recess, and a second plurality of raised surfaces supported by the insert of the accessory mount, the first plurality of raised surfaces configured to frictionally engage with the second plurality of raised surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , wherein a universal mounting member is supported by the outer end of the accessory mount, the universal mounting member configured to releasably couple with the shower accessory. 
     
     
         16 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 15 , wherein the universal mounting member includes one of a support member or a receiver, and the shower accessory includes the other of the receiver or the insert. 
     
     
         17 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 16 , wherein the support member comprises a frustum, and the receiver comprises a frusto-conical opening receiving the frustum. 
     
     
         18 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 15 , wherein the shower accessory comprises at least one of a shelf, a hand shower bracket, a shower caddy, a toothbrush holder, and a razor holder. 
     
     
         19 . A mounting assembly for a shower enclosure comprising:
 an outer receiver including an outer receiver body defining a first outer recess configured to receive a first wall panel, a second outer recess configured to receive a second wall panel;   an accessory mount including an insert operably coupled to the outer receiver; and   a locking device supported by the outer receiver body and the insert, the locking device configured to secure the insert of the accessory mount to the outer receiver body.   
     
     
         20 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a center recess positioned intermediate the first outer recess and the second outer recess, the insert of the accessory mount received within the center recess. 
     
     
         21 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the accessory mount includes an inner sealing body coupled to the insert. 
     
     
         22 . The mounting assembly of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the outer receiver body is formed of a first material and includes a first inner arm, a first middle arm, and a first outer arm, the first outer arm and the first middle arm defining the first outer recess, and a second inner arm, a second middle arm, and a second outer arm, the second outer arm and the second middle arm defining the second outer recess, the first inner arm and the second inner arm defining the center recess;   the locking device is received within the center recess;   a first seal is supported on the first middle arm and extends into the first outer recess; and   a second seal is supported on the second middle arm and extends into the second outer recess.   
     
     
         23 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the locking device includes a first plurality of raised surfaces supported by the outer receiver body, and a second plurality of raised surfaces supported by the insert, the first plurality of raised surfaces configured to frictionally engage with the second plurality of raised surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . The mounting assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the first plurality of raised surfaces include a first plurality of angled barbs, and the second plurality of raised surfaces include a second plurality of angled barbs configured to be positioned intermediate the first plurality of angled barbs. 
     
     
         25 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a universal mounting member is supported by the outer end of the accessory mount, the universal mounting member configured to releasably couple with a shower accessory. 
     
     
         26 . The mounting assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the universal mounting member includes one of an insert or a receiver, and the shower accessory includes the other of the receiver or the insert. 
     
     
         27 . The mounting assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the insert comprises a frustum, and the receiver comprises a frusto-conical opening receiving the frustum. 
     
     
         28 . The mounting assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the shower accessory comprises at least one of a shelf, a hand shower bracket, a shower caddy, a toothbrush holder, and a razor holder.