Panel mount system and method

Abstract

A system and method for securing a panel to a wall. The panel mount system includes a backing strip comprising a mounting plate with a front face for contact with the panel, an opposed rear face, and a plate opening extending therebetween. The mounting plate includes a rim extension extending from the front face around the plate opening for extension through the panel. The rim extension has an internal coupling component, and is further dimensioned to receive a body of a screw therethrough. The screw comprises a head, and the body extends from the head for securement to the wall. The body has an external coupling component configured to releasably couple with the internal coupling component of the rim extension when the body of the screw extends through the rim extension.

1 . A panel mount system for securing a panel to a wall, the panel mount system comprising:
 a backing strip comprising:
 a mounting plate with a front face for contact with the panel, an opposed rear face, and a plate opening extending between the front face and the rear face; and 
 a rim extension extending from the front face around the plate opening for extension through the panel, the rim extension comprising an internal coupling component, and further dimensioned to receive a body of a screw through the rim extension; and 
   the screw comprising:
 a head; and 
 the body extending from the head for securement to the wall, the body having an external coupling component configured to releasably couple with the internal coupling component of the rim extension when the body of the screw extends through the rim extension. 
   
     
     
         2 . The panel mount system of  claim 1 , wherein the external coupling component of the body of the screw and the internal coupling component of the rim extension collectively form a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The panel mount system of  claim 2 , wherein the external coupling component of the body of the screw is a groove, and the internal coupling component of the rim extension is a ridge dimensioned to fit within the groove of the screw. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the external coupling component of the body of the screw is positioned proximate the head of the screw. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein a height of the rim extension corresponds with a width of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the head of the screw further comprises an outwardly extending washer, the washer having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the rim extension;
 wherein in use, the panel is positioned between the washer and the front face of the backing strip.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein the washer is rotatably secured to the head of the screw. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein the body of the screw further comprises a flange extending from the body, the flange positioned to hold the washer in positioned relative to the head of the screw and dimensioned to fit through the rim extension. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting system of  claim 8 , wherein the flange is positioned to align with the mounting plate in use. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing strip further comprises:
 one or more spacer plates extending from the mounting plate,   a frangible section separating the mounting plate and the one or more spacer plates from each other.   
     
     
         11 . The mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the frangible section comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the backing strip is plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the backing strip further comprises another mounting plate with another plate opening and another rim extension extending from around the other plate opening for extension through the panel. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert nut having:
 external threads to secure the insert nut to a frame component of the wall; and   internal threads to securely receive the body of the screw through the insert nut.   
     
     
         15 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising the panel having a panel opening dimensioned to tightly receive the rim extension through the panel opening. 
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting a panel to a wall, the method comprising:
 coupling a backing strip to a back side of the panel, the coupling comprising fitting a rim extension surrounding a plate opening in the backing strip through a panel opening in the panel, the rim extension having an internal coupling component;   inserting a body of a screw, from an opposed front side of the panel, through the rim extension, plate opening, and the panel opening, the body of the screw having an external coupling component;   releasably coupling the external coupling component of the screw with the internal coupling component of the rim extension to hold the panel between the backing strip and the screw; and   securing the body of the screw to the wall, thereby securing the panel to the wall.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the releasably coupling comprises snap-fitting the external coupling component of the screw with the internal coupling component of the rim extension. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the screw further comprises a head with a washer extending from the head, the washer having a greater diameter than a diameter of the rim extension, and wherein the inserting of the body of the screw through the rim extension comprises inserting the body of the screw until the washer comes into contact with the rim extension. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the securing of the body of the screw into the wall comprises rotating the screw to thread the body of the screw into the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the securing of the body of the screw into the wall further comprises securing an insert nut into the wall, and rotating the screw to thread the body of the screw into the insert nut in the wall. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising cutting the panel opening in the panel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the backing strip comprises a mounting plate from which the rim extension extends, the backing strip further comprising one or more spacer plates extending from the mounting plate, the method further comprising:
 adjusting a length of the backing strip by removing at least one of the one or more spacer plates from the mounting plate.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the backing strip further comprises a frangible section separating the mounting plate and the one or more spacer plates from each other, wherein removing the at least one of the one or more spacer plates from the mounting plate comprises manually breaking off the at least one of the one or more spacer plates from the mounting plate at the corresponding frangible section. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 coupling another rim extension surrounding another plate opening in the backing strip through another panel opening in the panel;   inserting another screw, from the front side of the panel, through the other rim extension, the other plate opening, and the other panel opening, the body of the other screw having another external coupling component;   releasably coupling the other screw with the other rim extension; and   securing the other screw to the wall.   
     
     
         25 . A kit for assembling a panel mount system for securing a panel to a wall, the kit comprising:
 a backing strip comprising:
 a mounting plate with a front face for contact with the panel, an opposed rear face, and a plate opening extending between the front face and the rear face; and 
 a rim extension extending from the front face around the plate opening for extension through the panel, the rim extension comprising an internal coupling component, and further dimensioned to receive a body of a screw through the rim extension; and 
   the screw comprising:
 a head; and 
 the body extending from the head for securement to the wall, the body having an external coupling component configured to releasably couple with the internal coupling component of the rim extension when the body of the screw extends through the rim extension. 
   
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 25 , further comprising an insert nut having:
 external threads to secure the insert nut to a frame component of the wall; and   internal threads to securely receive the body of the screw through the insert nut.