System and baseplate for floating fixtures

Abstract

Baseplate for a floating fixture for holding a support arm is securable to a wall and includes a horizontal T-Channel to receive a channel attachment member, such as a channel nut or channel bolt. A channel nut or bolt can be positioned at a desired horizontal position within the T Channel, and is adapted to engage a support arm to hold a floating fixture. The horizontal position of the channel nut or bolt within the T Channel and an attached support arm may be fixed by rotating the support arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseplate for attaching a fixture to a structure by
 a first bolt and a second bolt, each of the first and second bolts comprising   a threaded end,   a flange having
 a thread facing surface, 
 an opposing surface, and 
 a rotation engagement means formed in the opposing surface; 
   a channel attachment member,   and a support arm, the support arm comprising
 a threaded end, the threads having a width, and 
 a baseplate engaging surface having width that is wider than the threads, 
   the baseplate comprising:
 a structure facing surface 
 an opposing surface, 
 a first side comprising
 a first aperture for receiving the first bolt, the first aperture having a width less than the width of the flange of the first bolt, such that the first bolt may hold the baseplate to the structure; 
 
 a second side comprising an edge having a slot between the structure-facing surface and the opposing surface for receiving the flange of the second bolt such that the rotation engagement means of the second bolt while in the slot; 
 a T-slot within the baseplate operable to slidably receive a channel attachment member within the T-slot, to thereby allow the channel attachment member and support arm to be horizontally adjusted, and such that the threaded end of the support arm may be rotated so the baseplate engaging surface of the support arm engages the opposing surface of the baseplate, 
 such that the second bolt can be adjustably screwed into the structure while the flange of the second bolt is in the slot of the second side to thereby vertically adjust the angle between the structure and the structure engaging surface of the baseplate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein:
 The channel attachment means comprises a channel nut having female threads, and 
 the threaded end of the support arm comprises male threads. 
 
     
     
         3 . The baseplate of  claim 2 , in which the baseplate further comprises:
 a horizontal slot extending between the structure facing surface and the T Slot, the horizontal slot having a width, such that T-Slot and horizontal slot allow the male threads of the support arm to pass through the T Slot and into the horizontal slot to thereby prevent the channel nut from sliding out of the T slot.   
     
     
         4 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein the rotational engagement means of either the first bolt or the second bolt is either a torx head, star head, flat screwdriver head or Philips screwdriver head. 
     
     
         5 . The baseplate of  claim 1  further comprising a generally cylindrical support arm. 
     
     
         6 . The baseplate of  claim 5  wherein the support arm further comprises opposing flat parallel surfaces adapted to receive a wrench. 
     
     
         7 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein the T slot extends the full width of the baseplate. 
     
     
         8 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is formed from line stock. 
     
     
         9 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein the bracket has rounded corners. 
     
     
         11 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein:
 the channel attachment means comprises a channel bolt having male threads, and 
 the threaded end of the support arm comprises female threads. 
 
     
     
         12 . The baseplate of  claim 1  wherein the first side further comprises a recess surrounding the first aperture such that when the first bolt is inserted into the first aperture, its rotation means does not extend beyond the opposing surface of the baseplate. 
     
     
         13 . A method for mounting a floating fixture to a structure, comprising:
 providing at least one baseplate of  claim 1 ,   driving a second bolt having a flange into the structure,   positioning the slot of second side of the baseplate over the flange of the second bolt,   passing a first bolt through the aperture of the first side of the baseplate and attaching the first bolt to the structure,   positioning a channel attachment means within the T Slot of the baseplate,   attaching a support arm to the channel attachment means,   rotating the second bolt to achieve a desired angle by which the support arm extends from the structure,   mounting the floating fixture on the support arm.   
     
     
         14 . A kit for mounting a floating fixture to a structure comprising:
 a first bolt and a second bolt, each of the first and second bolts comprising
 a threaded end, 
 a flange having
 a thread facing surface, 
 an opposing surface, and 
 a rotation engagement means formed in the opposing surface; 
 
   a channel attachment member,   and a support arm, the support arm comprising
 a threaded end, the threads having a width, and 
 a baseplate engaging surface having width that is wider than the threads, 
   a baseplate comprising:
 a structure facing surface 
 an opposing surface, 
 a first side comprising
 a first aperture for receiving the first bolt, the first aperture having a width less than the width of the flange of the first bolt, such that the first bolt may hold the baseplate to the structure; 
 
 a second side comprising an edge having a slot between the structure-facing surface and the opposing surface for receiving the flange of the second bolt such that the rotation engagement means of the second bolt while in the slot; 
 a T-slot within the baseplate operable to slidably receive the channel attachment member within the T-slot, to thereby allow the channel attachment member and support arm to be horizontally adjusted, and such that the threaded end of the support arm may be rotated so the baseplate engaging surface of the support arm engages the opposing surface of the baseplate, 
 such that the second bolt can be adjustably screwed into the structure while the flange of the second bolt is in the slot of the second side to thereby vertically adjust the angle between the structure and the structure engaging surface of the baseplate. 
   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14  further comprising a self-centering drilling jig.