US2283794A - Bracket construction for plumbing fixtures - Google Patents

Description

y 1942- v M.. A. CROZIER 2,283,794

BRACKET conswnucnon FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES Filed Feb. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY I of practical use.

Patented May 19, 1942 BRACKET CONSTRUCTION FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES Michael A. Crozier, New York, N. Y., assignor to Crozier Manufacturing 00., Mount Vernon, N. Y., a oo-partnership composed of Joseph A. Crozier and Michael A. Crozier Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,246

15 Claims.

This invention relates to bracket construction, particularly for the support or attachment of plumbing fixtures, such as lavatories, from or to a Wall, or the like, and more particularly to bracket construction of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 335,032; filed May 14, 1940, matured on February 25, 1941, into Patent No. 2,233,342.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a bracket support particularly for plumbing fixtures of the above-mentioned character that will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, and quickly adaptable to the various variables met with in practice, such as those imposed upon the installing of a plumbing fixture like a lavatory with respect to spacing of the fixture from the wall, and others. Another object is to provide a bracket construction of the above-mentioned character that will be compact, strong, and capable of securing the part to be fixed dependably in place and throughout a suitable range of flexibility to meet the varying conditions of practical use. Another object is to provide a bracket construction of the abovementioned character in which, in course of fabrication, machining or machine tool operations may be of simple and inexpensive character, or reduced to a minimum, While at the same time achieving appropriate accuracy and dependability of action of the bracket to meet the requirements Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the fOllOWiIlg claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown by way of illustration several of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a small scale side elevation showing an installation of a plumbing fixture, such as a sink or lavatory, in coaction with my bracket construction;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one form of bracket construction, with certain parts broken away, showing it secured to a wall and also in relation to an illustrative form of plumbing fixture;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as seen along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are side elevations, with portions broken away, showing other possible forms in which the features of my present invention may be embodied, and

Figure 6 is a'sectional view as seen along the line 6-6 of Figure 4 and along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring first to Figure 1, I have indicated generally by the reference character It a plumbing fixture, such as a lavatory, sink, or the like, intended to be supported along or adjacent to a wall ll and at a suitable height above the fioor l2. Usually such fixtures have to be provided with three pipe connections, such as the hot water and cold water pipes and a drain pipe, being usually provided with three holes or openings for these. connections. With prior bracket supports, the inherent limitations impose such precision in building up the installation, particularly as to the piping, that relocation or resetting of pipe connections or brackets or both or other costly expedients have to be resorted to to match spacings and height from the wall and floor to the bracket supports and to the pipe fittings. In my above-mentioned co-pending application I have disclosed bracket constructions overcoming such disadvantages and in my present application it is an object to provide a bracket construction also avoiding such deficiencies and disadvantages of prior practice and achieving other advantages.

In Figure 1 the fixture I0 may be supported in any suitable way as by legs or standards S at it front end and at the rear end is supported from the wall H by two spaced brackets B like those about to be described. Thus, the brackets 13 may be like the bracket l3, shown in Figures 2 and 3, having a horizontal bracket portion M of suitable length and a downwardly extending vertical portion l5 at its rear or left-hand nd to rest against the wall I l and to be secured thereto in any suitable manner, preferably as by a screw it extending through a slot ll, thus providing a range of change of position vertically of the bracket l3. Preferably, also, the vertical portion [5 is tapered, as indicated in Figure 2, so. as to resist, bythe resultant wedging action, downward shift of the bracket under its load.

The fixture ID has a peripheral depending flange or apron Ii] and preferably its lower edge rests upon the horizontal bracket portion M, the latter being of a length to provide an appropriate range of shift of the fixture l0 relative to the wall II, and preferably the upper face 14 of upwardly through the guideway i8 is a member 1 23 which forms part of the securing means.

Member 20 illustratively comprises a part 2|] which extends above the face 14 and presents an end face, which may be cushioned in any suitable way, for engagement with the fixture part Ill it has a neck-like part 23 which is accommodated in the guideway |3, and a sleeve-like part 2!) generally and preferably cylindrical in shape and extendin lengthwise of the bracket portion l4. Sleeve part 23 is drilled along its axis as at 23' to coact with a screw 2| that extends through the hole in the part 23 and also through a hole 22 in 9, depending lug 23 near the outer end of the bracket portion l4.

Opposed to the lug 23 is an upstanding lug 24 n.)

provided with a threaded hole 25 whose axi extends above the upper face |4 and in line with the center of the end or clamping face of the portion 26 of the element 20; in this hole 25 is threaded a screw 26 whose free end 26 thus becomes juxtaposed to and alined with the part 20 screw 26 and hence its end 2| being longitudinally movable or positionable according to the extent that it is threaded relative to its supporting lug 24.

The member 20, the screw 2|, and the depending lug 23 are suitably interrelated to efiect 9 change in position of the element 26 lengthwiseof the bracket portion M and illustratively this relationship may be effected by threading the hole 2i] in the sleeve portion 26 of element 20, the hole 22 in the depending lug 23 being an unthreaded hole and forming a bearing for the right-hand end of screw 2| which, in this arrangement is thus rotatable, as by its head 2| which can abut against the outer face of the lug 23. With this arrangement, element 26 is moved to leftmost position and screw 26 is backed oif toward the right, thus exposing as much as may be desired of the upper face |4 of the bracket onto which to receive the apron IE1 and along and crosswise of which the apron Ill is shifted according to the requirements of the piping connections and other factors.

When the desired spacings of the fixture have been achieved, including vertical spacing from the floor |2 accomplished by the coaction possible by way of the screw I6 and slot member 20 is now moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, and with the above-described relationship between the member 20, screw 2| and lug 23, screw 2| may be rotated by way of its head 2| in a direction to draw the member 20 toward the right, thus bringing the face of portion 23 snug- 1y against the outer or left-hand face of the depending part In placing the screw 2| in tension, screw 2| thus holding the member 29 against movement toward the left.

Screw 26 is now turned in a direction to move it and its fixture-engaging end 26 toward the left and into engagement with the inner or righthand face of the apron or fixture part Ill thus placing screw 26 in compression. Either or both of the screws are now tightened up to the extent desired to effect the desired gripping of the fixture, it being noted that the action of the two screws is in effect mutually for one to lock the other. Also, the fixture I0 becomes dependably secured in its intended or desired position. If desired, a lock nut 21 may be employed to additionally lock screw 25 and where screw 2| does not partake of longitudinal movement, it is preferable to have its free end extend into a hole 28 in the vertical bracket portion l5, thus to aid the screw in resisting bending under the reaction of the element 26. Preferably, also, the front face of th vertical bracket portion I5 is recessed, as at liv to accommodate the element 29 farther to the left, when necessary.

In installations where accessibility to the operating or bracket-controlling part may be hampered and hence where accessibility to these parts is preferably from the under side of the bracket, a bracket construction like that of Figure 4 may be employed where the bracket is indicated generally by the reference character 36 and is constructed substantially like the bracket l3 of Figures 2 and 3 excepting that the upstanding lug 24 is omitted. Here the screw 2| having a bearing in the hole 22 in the depending lug 23 and a hearing at its left-hand end in the hole 28 in the vertical bracket portion 5, is preferably held against longitudinal movement by any suitable means, such as a nut 3| screwed onto its free end and accommodated in a suitable recess [5' formed in the back face of the vertical bracket part Hi, the end of the screw being headed over or expanded as at 2| if desired, so as to lock the nut 3|, or a nut 32 may be threaded onto the screw 2| adjacent the depending lug 23.

In the arrangement of Figure 4 I preferably provide two elements 33 and 34 constructed in general like the element 23 of Figures 2 and 3. Thus, each has a part 23 with fixture-engaging faces facing toward each other, these parts extending upwardly beyond the upper face l4 of the horizontal bracket part l4, neck-like portions 23 that extend through the guideway or slot I8 and cylindrical sleeve-like portions 23 having holes 23 drilled therethrough to receive therethrough the screw 3|.

The members 33- and 34 are shiftable lengthwise of the guideway l8 and also relative to each other, thus to position them at the selected point or points along the horizontal portion |4 of the bracket and thus to change the spacing between the portions 20 23 thereof to receive between the latter and hold and clamp the fixture part Hi according to the shifting of the fixture ID to its final position. Such shifting of the members 33, 34 may be achieved in various ways. For example, neither of the holes 20 26 need be threaded so that the members 33, 34 are simply slidable along the screw 2|, their final positions along the bracket portion I4 and the spacing therebetween and the gripping or holding pressure being in such case determined by nuts 35 and 36. Thus, the latter may be backed off toward the respective ends of the screw 2|, thus leaving the members 33, 34 free to slide lengthwise of the guideway l8 and bracket portion M and when the final-position of the fixture part H] has been determined, members 33 and 34 are slid up against the outer and inner faces respectively of the part Ill whence the nuts 35 and 36 may be brought up against the members 33 and 34, respectively, the degree of tightening determining the clamping pressure upon the part I6 Preferably, screw 2! is held against rotation, and this may be effected by the nut 32.

Or, if desired, one of the holes in the two members 33, 34, such as the hole 2!! in the mem-- ber 33, may be threaded and thus be in threaded connection with the screw 2i and the hole in the other member, such as hole 20 in member 34, not threaded so that member 34, is freely slidable along the screw 2|. With such an arrangement the member that has the threaded hole, such as member 33, is shiftable lengthwise of the guideway I3 by rotating the screw 2|, as by a screw driver operating upon its head, and by such means, when the part it has been given its final position, member 33 may be brought up against it, nut 32 being loosened to permit rotation of the screw 2|; with member 33 set in position, nut 32 may be tightened to lock the screw 24 and nut 35 may be backed up against the member 33. Member 34 may then be slid toward the left to bring its part 20 into engagement with the opposite face of part Hi whence nut 36 is backed up against it to achieve the desired clamping pressure.

Or, the holes 23 of both members 33, 34 may be threaded and in threaded engagement with the screw 2!, as shown in Figure 5. With this arrangement rotation of the screw 2| moves the members 33, 34 together in a direction lengthwise of the guideway 53 and horizontal bracket portion 53, maintaining, during the movement, the spacing between the parts 23 23 thereof that is initially determined in threading the screw 2! onto the two members 33, 34. Such spacing approximates the thickness of the part W to be engaged between the members 23 23 and in practice that thickness may vary, it being noted that plumbing fixtures of the above-mentioned type may be thick-walled, as when they are cast, and may be relatively thin-walled as when made of sheet metal. The screw 2i has a bearing in hole 22 of the lug 23 and, if it is desired materially to change the spacing, by backing off the nut 32, the assemblage may be slid to the right and thence, by turning screw 2|, the screw may be disengaged from the member 33, and, by varying the amount of the screw projecting to the left from the member 34, the screw 2! and member 33 may be reengaged; thereafter, rotation of the screw 2| shifts the members 33, 34 as a unit lengthwise of the bracket art it, maintaining the new spacing.

The position of the members 33, 34 lengthwise of the bracket portion M, determined in accordance with the final position of the fixture part It, may then be fixed, as by nut 32, between which and the head 2% of the screw the lug 23 is thereby clamped.

Preferably, parts 20 23 are constructed to grip the fixture part w and illustratively this may be achieved as by a clamping screw 38 in threaded engagement with a threaded hole in one of the parts 23 such as the part 20 of member 34, whence screw 33 may be tightened up to clamp the part w between the two spaced members 33, 34. Preferably, the left-hand end of screw 2!, as in the form of Figure 2, has a simple bearing in a hole 28 in the vertical bracket portion 25 from which it may be withdrawn when change in the spacing between the parts 33 and 34 is to be effected, as above described, but which, during action of the bracket, strengthens the support of screw 25 and aids it in resisting any reactions dueto the clamping effect of members 33, 34 upon the fixture part w Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention bracket construction in which the various objects above noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the constructions are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet dependable and reliable in action and that they are well adapted to meet the peculiar conditions, such as those earlier mentioned above, met with in the installation of plumbing fixtures. The parts, furthermore, will be seen to be constructed so as to reduce machining or machine tool operations; thus, elements like the bracket part I3 of Figure 2 or the bracket part 30 of Figures, 4 and 5 and securing elements like the element of Figure 2 and the elements 33 and 3d of Figures 4 and 5, may be in the form of castings and that the principal operations comprise the drilling of holes and in some instances the threading of a hole or two, operations which can be easily and economically effected by utilizing jigs. Moreover, the construction will be seen to be well adapted to meet the hard and varying conditions of practical use.'

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extendingv transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixtures, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in directions lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, said horizontal portion having means forming a guideway extending lengthwise thereof, a screw extending lengthwise of said horizontal portion and below the upper face thereof, said bracket having means for supporting said screw below said upper face, and securing means carried by said bracket and operative to secure whatever portion of said depending part is presented to it as a result of shifting of said plumbing fixture; said securing means comprising a member having a part projecting above said upper face, a sleeve-like part extending below said face and having said screw extending therethrough and a part coacting with said guideway,'whereby said member is shiftable lengthwise of said horizontal portion to bring its first-mentioned partinto engagement with one side of said depending fixture part in the position to which the latter is shifted lengthwise of said horizontal portion, and means coacting with said member and shiftable relative to said horizontal portion of said bracket to bring it into engagement with the other side of said depending part in the aforesaid position of the latter, thereby to hold said depending part against movement out of the position into which it was placed by shifting as aforesaid.

2. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a screw extending above said upper face and lengthwise of said horizontal portion, said bracket having means for shiftably supporting said screw, whereby said screw may be actuated to clamp said depending part against said first-mentioned part of said member.

3. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a second member substantially like said first-mentioned member and having a part to engage the other side of said depending fixture part, a sleeve-like part through which said screw extends and a part coacting with said guideway, said two sleeve-like parts and said screw having coacting means to cause the first-mentioned part of each of said members to substantially grip said depending fixture part.

4. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a second member substantially like said first-mentioned member and having a part to engage the other side of said depending fixture part, a sleeve-like part through which said screw extends and a part coacting with said guideway, said screw and said sleevelike part of said second-mentioned member having coacting parts whereby the position of said second-mentioned member lengthwise of said screw and relative to said first-mentioned part may be fixed, the first-mentioned part of one of said members having screw means to coact with the first-mentioned part of the other of said members to substantially grip said depending fixture part therebetween.

5. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a second member substantially like said first-mentioned member and having a part to engage the other side of said depending fixture part, a sleeve-like part through which said screw extends, and a part coacting with said guideway whereby said second member is shiftable lengthwise thereof, at least one of said sleeve-like parts being in threaded connection with said screw and shiftable upon rotation of said screw.

6. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a second member substantially like said first-mentioned member and having a part to engage the other side of said depending fixture part, a sleeve-like part through which said screw extends, and a part coaoting with said guideway whereby said second member is shiftable lengthwise thereof, said screw having thereon two nuts, one for each of said members.

7. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means of said securing means comprises a second member substantially like said first-mentioned member and having a part to engage the other side of said depending fixture part, asleeve-like part through which said screw extends, and a part coacting with said guideway whereby said second member is shiftable lengthwise thereof, at least one of said sleeve-like parts being in threaded connection with said screw and shiftable upon rotation of said screw, both of said sleeve-like parts of said two members being in threaded connection with said screw.

8. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in directions lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, and securing means for said depending fixture part comprising two spaced shiftable elements projecting above the upper face of said horizontal portion to receive therebetween said depending part, a screw extending lengthwise of said horizontal supporting portion, the latter having means for supporting said screw and said two spaced elements of said securing means having means in engagement with said screw for shifting them to respective positions, one on each side of said depending part and into engagement with the latter according to whatever position said depending part is given lengthwise of said horizontal portion as a result of shifting it as aforesaid, thereby to hold said depending part against movement out of its shifted position.

9. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in directions lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, securing means for said depending part comprising two spaced parts between which said depending part is receivable, said two spaced parts being shiftable lengthwise of said horizontal bracket portion, and means for fixing the respective positions of said two spaced parts along said horizontal portion according to the position into which said depending part is shifted lengthwise of said horizontal portion and into engagement with the respective sides of said depending part and for effecting thereby a gripping of said depending part in whatever position the latter is shifted as aforesaid and comprising at least two threaded means, one of which is in the form of a screw extending lengthwise of said horizontal bracket portion and below the upper face of the latter, said bracket having means for supporting said screw in said position.

10. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in directions lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, securing means comprising two spaced parts above the upper face of said horizontal supporting portion for receiving therebetween said depending part according to the position of the latter lengthwise of said horizontal portion, and means for shifting said two spaced parts into engagement respectively with the two sides of said depending part in whatever position the latter received as a result of shifting it lengthwise of said horizontal portion and for causing said two spaced parts to clamp said depending fixture part in its said position and comprising two screw means extending lengthwise of said horizontal portion, said bracket having lug-like means with holes therein through which said screw means extend, said screw means acting in opposition to each other in effecting clamping of said depending part.

11. A bracket construction as claimed in claim in which said lug means includes a lug-like element projecting above the upper face. of said horizontal portion and thereby supports one of said screw means above said upper face and in which said lug means comprises a means located below said upper face and supports its screw means below said upper face.

12. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received ,with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in directions lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, said horizontal portion having a longitudinally extending slot therein, securing means comprising two spaced parts above the upper face of said horizontal portion for receiving therebetween said depending part, at least one of said spaced parts having means extending through said slot, means extending lengthwise of said horizontal portion and below said upper face and coacting with said means that extends through said slot to position said part lengthwise of said horizontal bracket portion.

13. A bracket construction as claimed in claim 12 in which the other of said spaced parts has means extending through said slot and means coacting therewith to position it lengthwise of said horizontal portion.

14. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or flange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture,

in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in direction lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, the latter having a downwardly extending lug, a screw extending lengthwise of saidhorizontal portion and below the upper face of the latter and coacting with said lug, and securing means for said depending part including two spaced parts between which the latter is received and comprising means coacting with said screw to permit shifting of said two spaced parts into engagement respectively with the two sides of said depending part in whatever position the latter receives as a result'cf shifting it lengthwise of said horizontal portion and acting to effect clamping of said depending part, in its said shifted position, by said two spaced parts.

15. A bracket construction for a plumbing fixture like a lavatory that has a depending part like an apron or fiange, comprising a supporting bracket having means mounting it to sustain a vertical load and having a horizontal supporting portion over which said depending part is received with the latter extending transversely thereof, whereby said plumbing fixture, in course of installation, may be adjusted or shifted in direction lengthwise and crosswise of said horizontal supporting portion, an elongated member extending lengthwise of said horizontal bracket portion and below the upper face thereof, securing means for said depending part comprising clamping means extending above said upper face for engagement with said depending part and means extending into engagement with said elongated member, said last-mentioned means, said elongated member and said bracket having coacting parts for fixing the position of said clamping means lengthwise of said horizontal bracket portion to bring said clamping means into clamping relation to said depending part in whatever position the latter assumes as a result of said depending part being shifted lengthwise of said horizontal portion.

MICHAEL A. CROZIER.

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