AU689835B2

AU689835B2 - Bracket

Info

Publication number: AU689835B2
Application number: AU12265/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gary Ian Jones
Original assignee: SUPER HOOK 2000 AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SUPER HOOK 2000 AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-12-13
Filing date: 1995-02-10
Publication date: 1998-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-13
Also published as: AU1226595A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: GARY IAN JONES GARY IAN JONES A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 11th Floor 1 King William- Street, Adelaide, SA 5000 BRACKET r Details of Original Application: No. 80417/94 dated 13th December 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- This invention relates to a bracket, and more specifically to a bracket that is to be fastened to a fixed surface, with a supporting section protruding from the fixed surface for supporting a load.

Such brackets usually have a securing section used to secure the bracket to a wall or other support surface, and the supporting section extends away from the securing section.

Support surfaces for brackets are typically upright and may be a wall, with the supporting section of the bracket extending away from the wall. This can easily be achieved where substantial members are used, however, it is usually desired to provide brackets at relatively low cost, and inexpensive inherently weaker materials are often used, for example flat sheet metal. Accordingly the supporting section of brackets are usually braced against the securing section to adequately support the load. The bracing may be in the form of a strut, or for those brackets designed for lesser loads the bracing may be in the form of a profiled, otherwise flat, metal member. Often the securing section is beneath the load so that added support is given to the load by the securing section.

In all of these brackets as good a structural rigidity as is possible is sought for the types of material from which the bracket is made. Where greater structural strength is required, 20 members tubular in cross section may be used to make up the bracket, using relatively thin metal thicknesses.

A difficulty with the known types of brackets is that they are designed to support loads at one position relative to the support surface and should the support surface deviate from the norm, for example by the angle being significantly different to vertical, purpose built brackets generaly need to be providea. Alternatively the angle between the support surface and the securing section may need to be altered, for example by insertion of wedges. The use of such measures however is a little awkward, and requires the provision of relatively S"accurately formed wedges.

It is desirable therefore to have a bracket that has a supporting section that can be supported from a support surface at a range of different angles relative to a securing section. The difficulty is to provide the variation in angle, whilst maintaining sufficient rigidity and strength of the supporting section of the bracket.

It is also desirable to have the bracket of relatively simple construction, and preferably of unitary construction so that minimal working is required to construct the bracket. It is therefore not desirable to have moving parts joined to rigid bracket members.

3 It is an object of this invention is to provide a bracket that obviates or minimises at least one of the aforementioned problems in a simple yet effective way, or at least provides the public with a useful choice.

In one form the invention could be said to reside in a bracket for fastening to a supporting surface, said bracket formed of metal tubing and said bracket comprising a supporting section and a securing section the supporting section including a first portion bearing against the supporting surface when in use, and a second portion extending away from the first portion to provide support for a load, a hinge between the supporting section and the securing section, whereby to permit hinging of the securing section in relation to the supporting section.

Preferably the hinge is formed by deforming the tubing so as to take on a flat crosssectional aspect.

0ooe e* o A hinge is therefore formed at an interface between the flat section and the supporting S 20 section. In practice this arrangement permits the bracket to be fixed to a support surface, and the supporting section pivoted relative to the securing section so that the first portion of the support section rests against the support surface.

S:"Where the bracket is set up so that the support section is below the securing section the first portion bears against the support surface, to prevent the hinge from over extending and supports the load. The first portion need not extend downwardly a great deal, but just sufficient to bear against the support sirface.

Preferably the securing section is all deformed so as to be flat. This configuration facilitates manufacture, and facilitates the securing to the support surface, because holes that might be drilled through the securing section do not need to go through two spaced apart layers.

The tubing may take up a number of configurations. The tubing in a preferred form is closed in cross section, and may for example, be square or rectangular, rounded, or circular in cross section. The tubing may also be open in cross-section, for example it may be made of a C section material.

A preferred form is for the tubing to be formed rounded, because this facilitates manufacture. Deforming of the tube is a great deal easier with a round tubular section.

The support section of the brack:et may be of a number of different configurations. In one form the support section may be L-shaped, the first portion extending downwardly, and a second portion extending outwardly normal to the first portion. In a second form the support section includes a U shaped hook. The second form is more convenient to form, and is therefore preferred.

For a better understanding of the invention it will now be described with reference to one embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the illustrated embodiment, FIG, 2 is a side plan view showing the hinge of the flat, FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the inside of a wall, showing the bracket fitted to a rail, and to sheeting, and 20 FIG. 4 is a view from above showing two opposed brackets fitted to a corrugated iron sheet.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of S"the drawings.

Dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration.

•The illustrated embodiment is a bracket, comprises a support section and a securing section The bracket is formed from a single piece of tubing having a circular crosssection. A hinge is formed in the bracket between the support section and the securing section, by flattening the tube. In the illustration the hinge is achieved by flattening the entire securing section so that the hinge is provided at an internal end of the securing section.

The support section compises a first portion which bears against the support surface when in place, and a second portion which has a generally U shaped configuration.

The load is placed within the U shaped, second portion of the supporting section.

The illustrated bracket is supplied generally in the configuration shown in FIG. 1; the securing section being in line with the first portion of the supporting section. The securing section is fastened to, as shown in FIG 2 in broken line, a rail The securing section has two holes 7) through which fasteners, such as self tapping screws (20, 21) can be passed to secure the securing section to the rail. The advantage of this form of the securing section over a section where the securing section is not flat is the ease with which fasteners can pass through the securing section. Once the securing section is fastened to the rail, the supporting section can be moved down into position by hand, until the first portion of the supporting section bears against the rail. The rail therefore acts as a means to prevent over-extension of the supporting section and acts as a structural support for load on the bracket.

The bracket has a number of different uses, for example, it may be fastened directly to a wall as shown in in FIG 3. The bracket need not be used such that the supporting surface depends downwardly from the securing bracket, it may extend to one side, as :,":shown in FIG 4. wherein two oppositely positioned brackets 10) are each fastened to a fence (11) made of corrugated iron. The advantage of the hinge being able to take on a range of angles can clearly be appreciated.

The tubing from which the illustrated embodiment is made is steel, with a diameter of 19mm, with a wall thickness of lmm. It is found that this thickness of tubing leads to a "bracket with sufficient strength in the bracket, and still enables the hinge to be operated manually, by a person simply bending the supporting section downwardly by hand to put it into position. It can be appreciated that the forming of the hinge does not reduce the thickness of the wall apprecibly below its original lmm thickness. Other embodiments may well include reducing the thickness of the wall.

•To manufacture the hinge, tubing is cut into a length, a first end is bent into the U shape.

The U shape being generally arcuate. A great advantage of the U shape is that it can be relatively easily formed, from thin tubing, and at the same time is less prone to becoming deformed under load when fitted than for example a L shaped bracket. Once the U shape is formed, then the opposite end is deformed flat by a clamp, and holes 7) are drilled.

The open end (12) of the bracket may be plugged.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these 6 particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is not limited thereto and can include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A bracket of integral construction from a single length of elongate material comprising: a supporting section; a securing section; and, a hinge, formed by deformation of the said length of elongate material, between the supporting section and the securing section, whereby to permit hinging of the securing section in relation to the supporting section.

2. A bracket as in claim I where the supporting section includes a first portion for abutment to a support surface when in use, and a second portion extending away from the first portion to provide support for a load.

3. A bracket as in any one of the preceding claim where the bracket is made substantially of metal.

4. A bracket as in either claim 1 or claim 2 where the bracket is formed of tubing.

5. A bracket for fastening to a support surface, said bracket integrally formed of a single piece of metal tubing and said bracket compnising: a supporting section and a securing section, the supporting section including a first portion bearing against the support surface when in use and a second portion extending away from the first portion to provide support for a load; and, a hinge, formed by deformation of the said single piece of metal tubing, between the supporting section and the securing section, whereby to permit hinging of the securing section in relation to the supporting section.

6. A bracket as either claim 4 or 5 where the tubing is substantially rectilinear in cross-section.

7. A bracket as either claim 4 or 5 where, the tubing is substantially circular in cross-section.

8. A bracket as either claim 4 or 5 where the tubing is substantially C section in cross-section. 8

9. A bracket as in any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the hinge is formed by deforming the tubing to substantially flatten the tubing at least at a portion of the tubing forming said hinge.

A bracket as in any one of claims 4 or 9 wherein the tubing in the securing section has been substantially flatten.

11. A bracket as in either claim 9 or 10 whereto the flattened portion is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the tubing of the supporting section proximal to the hinge and opposite to which the supporting section extends.

12. A bracket as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the supporting section includes a portion that is substantially arcuate longitudinally.

13. A bracket as in any one of preceding claims 1 to 12 wherein the supporting section includes a portion that is substantially L shaped longitudinally. ooo o•

14. A bracket as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the securing section has 20 at least one aperture extending therethrough.

A bracket as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket is substantially manufactured by deformation of a piece of stock material. o• 25

16. A method of manufacturing a bracket comprising: a supporting section, a securing section, and a hinge between the supporting section and the securing sections, whereby to permit hinging of the securing section in relation to the supporting section; from a single piece of elongate tubing, including the steps of deforming the piece to form the supporting section, deforming the piece to form the hinge, and deforming the piece to form the securing section.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the formation of the securing section and the hinge occur substantially concurrently.

18. A method as in either claim 16 or 17 wherein the step of forming the supporting section is by bending the piece.

19. A method as in claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein the hinge is formed by application of a pressure to flatten the piece.

A method as in claim 16, 17, 18 or 19 wherein the securing section is formed by application of a pressure to flatten the piece.

21. A method as in any one of claim 16 to 20 including the step of forming at least one aperture through the piece within what will be the securing section of the bracket after manufacture.

22. A method as in claim 21 where the step of forming the at least one aperture occurs after formation of the securing section.

23. A method of manufacturing a bracket fiom a single piece of elongate metal S tubing comprising the steps of: bending a first part of the tubing proximal to a first end into a supporting section shaped to support a load, and flattening a second part of the tubing proximal to a second end of the tubing to form a hinge at an interface between the flattened second part and the first part but spaced apart from the second end, a securing section defined between the hinge and the second end, whereby to permit hinging of the securing section 25 relative to the supporting section. *i

24. A method of manufacturing a bracket as in claim 23 wherein the second part of the tubing extends from the hinge to the second end so that the supporting section comprises flattened tubing.

A method as in claim 24 including the step of forming at least one aperture through the securing section of the bracket.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein the step of forming the at least one aperture and the step of flattening the second part of the tubing occurs in one step by stamping.

27. A bracket as in claim 1 wherein the supporting section includes a first portion proximal to the hinge for abutment to a support surface when in use thereby assisting in support of a load on a second portion, the second portion extending away from the first portion for supporting a load, the hinge enabling the securing section to be moved relative to the supporting section, and the securing section and first portion being adapted that when in use both bear against the support surface.

28. A bracket as in either claim 1 or claim 27 wherein the supporting section has a free end distal the hinge.

29. A bracket as in any one of claims 1, 27 or 28 wherein the hinge is manually operably by hand pressure applied to the supporting section.

A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27, 28 or 29 where the bracket is formed of tubing.

31. A bracket as in claim 30 wherein the tubing in the securing section has been substantially flattened.

32. A bracket as in either claim 31 wherein the flattened portion is offset from a 20 central longitudinal axis of the tubing of the supporting section proximal to the hinge "and opposite to which the supporting section extends. 0

33. A bracket as any one of claims 31 to 32 where the tubing is substantially rectilinear in cross-section.

34. A bracket as any one of claims 31 to 32 where the tubing is substantially circular in cross-section.

35. A bracket as any one of claims 31 to 32 where the tubing is substantially C section in cross-section.

36. A bracket as in any one of claims 31 to 35 wherein the hinge is formed by deforming the tubing to substantially flatten the tubing at least at a portion of the tubing forming said hinge.

37. A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27 to 36 where the bracket is made substantially of metal. 11

38. A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27 to 37 wherein the supporting section includes a portion that is substantially arcuate longitudinally.

39. A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27 to 37 wherein the supporting section includes a portion that is substantially L shaped longitudinally.

A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27 to 39 wherein the securing section has at least one aperture extending therethrough.

41. A bracket as in any one claims 1, 27 to 40 wherein the bracket is substantially manufactured by deformation of a piece of stock material.

42. A method of manufacturing a bracket substantially as disclosed herein.

43. A bracket substantially as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying Figures. DATED this 11th day of February 1998 20 GARY LAN JONES By his Patent Attorneys A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys o a ABSTRACT A bracket formed from a metal tubing, including a support section and a securing section, with a hinge between the two sections. The support section includes a first portion that extends downwardly from the securing section when in use so that it can bear against the surface to which the hinge is attached. A second portion of the support section extends away from the first portion to provide support, for a load. The hinged section is formed by deforming the tubing so as to take on a flat cross sectional aspect. The flat cross section permits limited hinging of the securing section in relation to the supporting section so that the bracket can readily be fixed to surfaces with a range of inclinations. :s S* f o*