Hardware mounting bracket, assembly and hardware

Abstract

A hardware mounting bracket is provided with a bracket body adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A rigid retainer is provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon. At least one elongate biasing retainer is provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with hardware supported thereon. A hardware mounting assembly, hardware for mounting to a support surface, and method for mounting hardware are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hardware assembly comprising:
 a bracket body with a mounting surface to be mounted to a support surface, wherein an aperture is formed through the bracket body;   a rigid retainer provided on one end of the bracket body to receive hardware supported thereon;   at least one elongate leaf spring formed integrally with the bracket body and provided on another end of the bracket body spaced apart from the rigid retainer, to engage the hardware supported thereon and to provide a loaded surface contact with the hardware supported thereon;   a fastener received through the aperture to fasten the mounting surface of the hardware mounting bracket to the support surface; and   a hardware mounting base having a cavity to receive the bracket body, with a first receptacle formed within the hardware mounting base sized to receive the rigid retainer, and the cavity being sized to receive the at least one elongate leaf spring, to mount the hardware mounting base to the bracket body and to conceal the bracket body.   
     
     
         2 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises an expansion anchor to fasten the mounting surface of the hardware to an upright support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The hardware assembly of  claim 2  wherein the expansion anchor comprises an expansion sleeve, and a threaded fastener extending through the bracket body aperture and into the expansion sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the leaf spring has a first bend provided at a first end of the leaf spring. 
     
     
         5 . The hardware assembly of  claim 4  wherein an intermediate region of the leaf spring extends from the first bend to engage the cavity of the hardware mounting base. 
     
     
         6 . The hardware assembly of  claim 4  wherein a second bend of the leaf spring is provided at a second end of the leaf spring. 
     
     
         7 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a post extending from the hardware mounting base. 
     
     
         8 . The hardware assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a hook extending from the post. 
     
     
         9 . The hardware assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a towel bar extending from the post. 
     
     
         10 . The hardware assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a toilet paper roll bar extending from the post. 
     
     
         11 . The hardware assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a towel ring extending from the post. 
     
     
         12 . The hardware assembly of  claim 7  further comprising shelving extending from the post. 
     
     
         13 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first receptacle defines a first recess sized to receive the rigid retainer of the bracket body. 
     
     
         14 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the hardware mounting base provides a second receptacle sized to receive the at least one elongate leaf spring. 
     
     
         15 . The hardware assembly of  claim 14  wherein the first receptacle defines a first recess sized to receive the rigid retainer of the bracket body; and
 wherein the second receptacle defines a second recess sized to receive the at least one elongate leaf spring. 
 
     
     
         16 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the bracket body is formed from a metallic alloy. 
     
     
         17 . The hardware assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rigid retainer comprises a narrow retainer extending from the bracket body providing a recess between the retainer and the support surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method for mounting hardware to a wall, the method comprising:
 fastening a bracket body to a wall with a threaded fastener;   placing hardware upon a first retainer on the bracket body; and   pressing the hardware toward the bracket body so that an elongate biasing retainer on the bracket body is received within a retention cavity in the hardware.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising fastening the bracket body to the wall with the threaded fastener through the bracket body and in engagement with an expansion sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . A method for removing hardware from a wall, the method comprising:
 pressing wall-mounted hardware against a concealed bracket body that is fastened to a wall to bias a concealed elongate biasing retainer;   pivoting the hardware upon a first retainer on the bracket body away from the wall; and   removing the hardware from the bracket body.