GB2082895A - Bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a bracket (such as for a shelf) and comprising a generally flat supporting portion (6) having a flat front face (6c), extending through which is an elongate threaded portion (8) which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion and is wholly within the confines of the upper and lower boundaries of the front face (6c), so that when the threaded portion is screwed into a plugged hole in a wall, as the means for support of the portion (6) it is substantially wholly hidden from view. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to supporting devices Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to supporting devices, particularly of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) adapted to be screwed into a wall, partition, upright strut or the like and upon which an article is mounted for vertical support. Such devices are most commonly used in pairs, being used for example to support shelves, but may be used individually.

Conventional devices of the kind specified comprise mutually perpendicular parts, one (herein called the vertical limb) being secured in close abutment with the wall by the use of separate screws, so that the other (the horizontal limb) extends generally at right angles from the wall above the vertical limb.

Especially where a shelf is mounted at or above eye level, the vertical iimb is visible, to the detriment of the overall appearance of the shelf and its mounting.

According to this invention there is provided a supporting device of the kind specified, comprising (a) a supporting portion providing at least one generally flat supporting surface, and a front face extending generally at right angles to the supporting surface, and (b) an elongate threaded portion which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion, and which extends therefrom substantially wholly within upper and lower boundaries of the front face.

The device may be screwed into a wall or the like supporting surface by grasping the supporting portion and pressing the threaded portion against the wall, having previously been drilled and plugged against the wall, having previously been drilled and plugged if masonry, and rotating the device about the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion. On final movement of the supporting device into position, the front face moves into close proximity with the supporting surface, with the threaded portion hidden by the supporting portion and with preferably at least part of the hole into which the threaded portion is screwed being covered by the front face.

Surprisingly, it has been found that a supporting device of the kind set out in the last preceding paragraph has quite a high load bearing capability, and can be used to support shelves without the detrimental visual aspects of conventional devices of the kind specified.

The supporting surface may be planar, but may provide a number of supporting points which lie in a plane, having thereby the same practical effect as a flat supporting surface.

The longitudinal axis of the threaded portion may be inclined relative to the plane of the supporting surface, but most conveniently is parallel to the plane of said supporting surface, for example being spaced a short distance from said plane.

Most conveniently the device comprises two opposed, generally flat supporting surfaces, the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion extending between said supporting surfaces.

The supporting portion may be produced by a moulding or casting operation, in which the threaded portion (which is preferably of metal) is inserted into the mould before the introduction therein of liquid moulding material. Thus, the supporting portion may be of metal, such as aluminium, or may be of a plastics material.

Preferably the threaded portion comprises a metal threaded shank, which is conveniently of conventional wood-screw formation, and a head of non-circular profile to prevent relative rotational movement between the threaded portion and the supporting portion.

Alternatively the supporting portion may be provided with an aperture, into which the threaded portion is subsequently inserted and secured. Thus the supporting portion may be provided with a bore, the longitudinal axis of which extending parallel to and spaced from the supporting surface, and the threaded portion may be provided by a threaded member having a shank, which may be inserted into the bore, leaving a threaded portion exposed. The shank may be of close sliding fit within the vore, and may be secured therein by brazing, by the use of an adhesive (particularly of the kind commonly referred to "superglue") or like technique. Alternatively or in addition, the shank may itself be threaded, preferably of opposite hand to the threaded portion itself, and the shank may be screwed into the bore, conveniently having previously been tapped.

However if desired the supporting portion and threaded portion may be integral, being produced (for example) from metal by a die casting operation, or by a stamping operation.

The supporting portion is preferably provided with means to enable an article (such as a shelf) to be secured in contact with the supporting surface thereof. Such means may be afforded by holes in the supporting portion, to enable screws to be inserted from beneath the supporting portion upwardly into the article, but preferably is afforded by a double-sided adhesive tape secured to said supporting surface.

This invention also provides a supporting device of the kind specified, comprising (a) a supporting portion providing generally flat, parallel, upper and lower supporting surfaces, and (b) an elongate threaded portion which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion and which extends therefrom substantially wholly within the planes of the upper and lower supporting surfaces.

Preferably the supporting portion is in the form of a generally flat strip.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two supporting devices which are preferred embodiments of this invention, and which has been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device which is the first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the device which is the second embodiment of the invention.

The supporting device which is the first embodiment of this invention comprises a supporting portion 6 which is conveniently in the form of a flat strip, and a threaded portion 8 which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion.

The threaded portion 8 comprises a shank 8a, of conventional wood-screw formation, and a head 8b (Figure 2) which is of non-circular profile.

The supporting portion is produced by a die casting operation, in which molten metal (e.g.

aluminium) is poured into a mould, a short portion of the shank 8a and the head 8b of the threaded portion having previously been position in the mould. Thus, on cooling of the aluminium, the threaded portion is secured in captive (fixed) relationship with the supporting portion.

The supporting portion comprises upper and lower supporting surfaces 6a, 6b which lie in parallel planes, the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion 8 extending between the planes in which said supporting surfaces lie. Additionally, the supporting portion is provided with a flat abutment surface or front face 6c, which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion, and from which the threaded portion extends, lying substantially wholly within the upper and lower boundaries of the surface 6c, see Figures 1 and 2.

In the use of the device which is the first embodiment of this invention, in the use thereof to provide a support for a shelf on a wall, the wall is first drilled to appropriate size and depth, and plugged. The threaded portion 8 is pressed against the plug, and screwed into the plug by such pressure and rotation of the device about the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion. Such rotation and pressure is contained until the abutment surface 6c of the supporting portion enters into close abutment with the wall, rotation being continued until one of the surfaces 6a and 6b is uppermost, and horizontal. In this position, the threaded portion 8 is hidden by the supporting portion 6, and preferably at least part of the hole into which the threaded portion is screwed is covered by the front face 6c.

A similar supporting device is also secured to the wall, in a manner such that the two devices are in spaced horizontal relation.

The device which is the first embodiment of this invention comprises two holes 6d, 6d enabling the screws to be passed upwardly through the supporting portion into the shelf, to secure the shelf to the bracket. Alternatively, one of said surfaces 6a or 6b may be provided with a strip of double-sided adhesive, so that the shelf may be adhesively secured to the brackets, to prevent slippage.

The device which is the second embodiment of this invention (Figure 3) is similar in purpose to that illustrated in Figure 1, and similar numerals have been used with the suffix 0, to denote like parts.

Thus the second embodiment comprises a supporting portion 60 providing upper and lower supporting surfaces 60a, 60b.

Extending into the supporting portion 80, generally between the surfaces 60a and 60b and parallel thereto, is a tapped bore 84.

The device also comprises a threaded member 70, one end portion 80a of which is afforded with a conventional wood screw thread, and the opposite 80b of which is afforded with an engineering screw thread of opposite hand.

Thus in use the threaded member 70a is screwed into the bore 84, being secured therein by a small quantity of "superglue" adhesive or like securing agent, leaving the threaded portion 80a protruding from the supporting portion 60.

Thus in external appearance, the device which is the second embodiment may be very similar to that which is the first embodiment. differing therefrom primarily in the manner in which the threaded portion is provided. Thus the device which is the second embodiment may be used in a manner identical to that adopted for that which is the first embodiment.

Claims (17)

1. A supporting device of the kind specified, comprising (a) a supporting portion providing at least one generally flat supporting surface, and a front face extending generally at right angles to the supporting surface, and (b) an elongate threaded portion which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion, and which extends therefrom substantially wholly within upper and lower boundaries of the front face.

2. A supporting device according to Claim 1 wherein the supporting device is planar.

3. A supporting device according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion is parallel to the plane of said supporting surface, being spaced a short distance from said plane.

4. A supporting device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising two opposed, generally flat supporting surfaces, the longitudinal axis of the threaded portion extending between said supporting surfaces, and the threaded portion extending substantially wholly within the planes of said supporting surfaces.

5. A supporting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the supporting portion is produced by a moulding or casting operation, in which the threaded portion is inserted into the mould before the introduction therein of liquid moulding material.

6. A supporting device according to Claim 5 wherein the supporting portion is of metal, such as aluminium, or is of a plastics material.

7. A supporting device according to one of Claims 5 and 6 wherein the threaded portion comprises a metal threaded shank, and a head of non-circular profile.

8. A supporting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the supporting portion is provided with an aperture, into which the threaded portion is inserted and secured.

9. A supporting device according to Claim 8 wherein the threaded portion is provided by a threaded member having a shank, which may be inserted into the bore, leaving a threaded portion thereof exposed.

10. A supporting device according to Claim 9 wherein the shank is of close sliding fit within the bore, and is secured therein by brazing, or by the use of an adhesive.

11. A supporting device according to any one of Claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the shank is itself threaded, and is screwed into the bore.

12. A supporting device according to Claim 11 wherein the thread of the shank is of opposite hand to that of the threaded portion.

13. A supporting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the supporting portion and threaded portion are integral.

14. A supporting device according to Claim 13, being of metal and produced by a die casting operation.

1 5. A supporting device according to Claim 13, having been produced by a stamping operation.

1 6. A supporting device of the kind specified, comprising (a) a supporting portion providing generally flat, parallel, upper and lower supporting surfaces, and (b) an elongate threaded portion which is in fixed relationship with the supporting portion, and which extends therefrom substantially wholly within the planes of the upper and lower supporting surfaces.

17. A supporting device according to Claim 16 wherein the supporting portion is in the form of a generally flat strip.

1 8. A supporting device of the kind specified constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference (a) to Figures 1 and 2, or (b) to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.