GB2398615A

GB2398615A - Panel Support

Info

Publication number: GB2398615A
Application number: GB0303739A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Jeremy Crouch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-19
Filing date: 2003-02-19
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Also published as: GB0303739D0

Abstract

A panel support or bracket includes a base (1) and a pair of inwardly inclined arms (2). The arms extend from the base at an inward angle of less than 90 degrees so that one arm is inclined towards the other arm.

Description

TBS/BAR/37467GBA 19 February 2003 239861 5 - 1 -

PANEL SUPPORT

This invention relates to panel supports which enable panels to be fitted at convenient angles to adjoining surfaces.

Panel supports are well known but are normally manufactured for fitting at right angles to the adjoining surfaces. These are not intended to cater for varying angles of fixture to the adjoining surfaces. In applications where fixing surfaces for a panel is angled at other than 90 degrees the solution often necessitates making special brackets.

The object of this invention is to provide a support which allows for variations in fixture angle for panels whilst being simple in design and therefore has a low cost.

Accordingly, this invention provides a bracket comprising a base, at least one pair of arms, at least one of the arms extending from the base at an angle of less than 90 so that the one arm is inclined towards the other arm.

Preferably these supports can be made from metal, plastics or composite materials.

Each arm of the or each pair is preferably inclined inwardly at an angle less than 90 so that both arms incline towards each other. In this way a panel fitted between the arms can be inclined to meet the interior surface of the bracket and to be supported firmly at the inclined angle relative to a supporting surface.

TBS/BAR/37467GBA 19 February 2003 In order to ensure the arms of the bracket hold a panel between the arms, the base may be concave as seen from the exterior so that when the base is screwed onto a support surface it biases the arms inwardly towards each other. The bracket may be provided with an end extension or extensions to the arms which can be supplied preformed or with weakened attachment to the arms so that they are bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the base or arm to limit movement of a panel located between the arms. This also assists in fixing the panel level.

Means to bridge the space between the arms can also be provided for the same purpose.

In order to provide a means of ensuring the panel or other material to be fixed vertically the bracket may be provided with a single base but having arms spaced apart either singly or in pairs, the spacing being along the length of the base as distinct from being across the base.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bracket according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bracket of Figure 1 showing how the panel can be fixed at an angle to a support surface; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bracket of Figure 1 showing how screwing the concave base of the bracket causes the bracket arms to grip the panel; TBS/BAR/ 37 4 67GBA 19 February 2003 - 3 - Figure 4 shows how two brackets according to Figure 1 can fix a panel to support surfaces which are themselves inclined to each other and to the panel; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a bracket according to a second embodiment of the invention where one arm of the bracket has an end extension to limit movement in this case downwardly; Figure 6 is a plan view of a bracket according to a third embodiment of the invention where both arms of the bracket have end limiting extensions; Figure 7 is a plan view of a bracket according to a fourth embodiment of the invention where both arms and the base of the bracket have end limiting extensions.

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a bracket according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in which the arms are provided with slots to take an end limiting plate; and Figure 9 is an end view of the bracket of Figure 8 with the end limiting plate in place.

The bracket shown in Figures 1 to 4 have a base 1 and a pair of inwardly inclined arms 2 which extend from the base. The base is concave on the outside so that when the bracket is screwed (see Figure 3) to supporting surface 11 the base causes ends 3 of the arms 2 to press against panel 30. This is shown at 16 in Figure 2.

The inward inclination of the arms 2 ensure that the panel 30 may be fixed at any angle within one arms TBS/BAR/37467GBA 19 February 2003 inclination to the other arms inclination that is double the inclination angle 33. This is shown in Figure 2.

The inclined arms also allow for different thicknesses of panel 30 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 where throat width 16 varies from that of 15.

Figure 4 shows a situation where the supporting surfaces 11 and 12 are at not parallel, that is they are inclined to each other with the panel 30 inclined from 90 to each but at differing inclinations.

A second embodiment is shown in figure 5 in which an end limiting extension 19 of arm 2 is bent at right angles to one arm 2. This extension or tab 19 can be supplied unbent so that the bracket can be used as a fixture between the upper and lower ends of the panel. A suitable weakening such as scoring or end reductions as at 4 on Figure 8 may be provided.

Variations of the second embodiment are shown in Figure 6 where both arms have extensions 19' and in Figure 7 where both arms and base have extensions 19". In the latter case base 1' cannot be concave.

In Figure 8 a fifth embodiment has a pair of slots 25 which can receive a limiting plate 17. If the plate 17 is lost the slots 25 can assist in bending over the lower ends of the arms to limit panel movement. The plate 17 has notches 38 and a rearward extension 44 to assist in retaining the plate firmly in place and to prevent removal when the concave base 1 is screwed to the support surface 11.

Claims

TBS/BAR/ 37 4 67GBA 19 February 2003 - CLAIMS

1. A bracket comprising a base, at least one pair of arms, at least one of the arms extending from the base at an inward angle of less than 90 so that the one arm is inclined towards the other arm.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein each arm of the or each pair is inclined inwardly at an angle less than 90 so that both arms incline towards each other.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the base is concave as seen from the exterior so that it curves inwardly.

4. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the base or at least one arm is provided with an end extension or extensions arranged to be bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the base or arm to limit movement of material located between the arms.

5. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the base or at least one arm is provided with an end extension bent substantially at right angles to the plane or the base or arm to limit movement of material located between the arms.

6. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein means are provided to bridge the space between the arms to act as a limiting means for limiting movement of material located between the arms.

TBS/BAR/37467GBA 19 February 2003

7. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the base is provided with means to accept a fixture so as to secure the base to a surface.

8. A bracket as claimed in claim 6 wherein the limiting means is detachable from the bracket.

9. A bracket substantially as descried with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.