Towel ring assembly

Abstract

A towel ring assembly is provided with a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface. A first towel ring portion is mounted to the base to support a towel. The first towel ring portion has a radius. A second towel ring portion is pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel. The second towel ring portion has a radius that is generally equivalent to the first towel ring portion radius. The first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.

1 . A towel ring assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;   a first towel ring mounted to the base to support a towel wherein the first towel ring is stationary and not pivotal relative to the base; and   a second towel ring pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base about an axis that is tangential to the second towel ring. 
     
     
         4 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first towel ring intersects a pivot axis of the second towel ring. 
     
     
         5 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second towel ring has a round cross section; and
 wherein the second towel ring is pivotally mounted to the base about a pivot axis that is tangential to a central axis of the second towel ring cross section. 
 
     
     
         6 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 5  wherein the first towel ring has a round cross section; and
 wherein the first towel ring is mounted to the base so that a central axis of the first towel ring cross section is tangential with the central axis of the second towel ring. 
 
     
     
         7 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a bushing in engagement with the base and the second towel ring. 
     
     
         8 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a fastener to fasten the mounting plate to the base; and 
 a fastener assembly to fasten the mounting plate to the support surface. 
 
     
     
         9 . A towel ring assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;   a first towel ring portion mounted to the base to support a towel, wherein the first towel ring is not pivotal relative to the base; and   a second towel ring portion pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel, wherein the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring.   
     
     
         10 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 9  wherein the first towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a first circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring; and
 wherein the second towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a second circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring that is opposite of the first circumferential direction. 
 
     
     
         11 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second towel ring portion partially overlaps the first towel ring portion. 
     
     
         12 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 11  further comprising an elastomeric bumper mounted on one of the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion and oriented to engage the other of the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion to minimize contact therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 11  wherein the continuous towel ring has a consistent cross section; and wherein the first towel ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of overlap with the second towel ring portion to receive the second towel ring portion and collectively provide the consistent cross section of the continuous towel ring. 
     
     
         14 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 13  wherein the second towel ring portion has a reduced cross section in a region of overlap with the first towel ring portion to engage the first towel ring portion and collectively provide the consistent cross section of the continuous towel ring. 
     
     
         15 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 14  wherein the cross section of the continuous towel ring is round; and
 wherein the reduced cross section of the first towel ring portion is a half-circle with a flat forward face along the first towel ring portion for receipt of the second towel ring portion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 15  wherein the reduced cross section of the second towel ring portion is a half-circle with a flat rearward face along the second towel ring portion for receipt upon the first towel ring portion. 
     
     
         17 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 16  wherein the reduced cross section of the first towel ring portion extends along the region of overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of overlap and an abutment surface at the distal end of the first towel ring portion. 
     
     
         18 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 17  wherein the reduced cross section of the second towel ring portion extends along the region of overlap defining an abutment recess at one end of the region of overlap to receive the abutment surface of the distal end of the second towel ring portion, and an abutment surface at the distal end of the second towel ring portion to be received within the abutment recess of the first towel ring portion. 
     
     
         19 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 9  wherein the first towel ring portion has a radius; and
 wherein the second towel ring portion has a radius equivalent to the first towel ring portion radius. 
 
     
     
         20 . A towel ring assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to be mounted to a support surface;   a first towel ring mounted to the base to support a towel, the first towel ring having a radius; and   a second towel ring pivotally mounted to the base to support another towel, the second towel ring having a radius that is equivalent to the first towel ring radius, wherein the first towel ring portion and the second towel ring portion cooperate to collectively provide a continuous towel ring;   wherein the first towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a first circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring;   wherein the second towel ring portion has a proximal end mounted to the base, and a distal end extending from the base in a second circumferential direction of the continuous towel ring that is opposite of the first circumferential and direction;   wherein the second towel ring portion partially overlaps the first towel ring portion by approximately 180 degrees; and wherein the first towel ring portion extends from the base approximately 270 degrees only, and wherein the second towel ring portion extends from the base approximately 270 degrees only.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The towel ring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first towel ring is formed integrally with the base.