Support bracket

Abstract

The support assembly of the triangular type comprising a vertical member, a horizontal member and a diagonal brace, wherein the support assembly may be easily assembled by hand without any special tools. The support assembly is particularly designed to supporting equipment such as thermo pumps, air conditioners and the like.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to supports and more particularly, relates to a triangular support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Supports or brackets are widely used for many different purposes. One of these uses is to support an object next to or adjacent a vertical surface such as a wall. Known support brackets frequently comprise a one piece L shaped member which has one leg secured to the vertical surface with the other leg acting as the support element.

A more specialized form of the typical bracket described above, is a triangular bracket. Whereas the two legged bracket relies strictly on material strength for its support, a triangular bracket can be utilized to transfer the load force to a vertical member. Such an arrangement is inherently stronger than the two legged bracket.

As aforementioned brackets are frequently used to support an object such as a heat exchange device against a wall. Such heat exchange devices would include, for example, thermo pumps, air conditioners, heaters and the like. As these objects have a substantial weight, normally a triangularly shaped bracket is employed and care must be taken with the installation. As will be readily understood, installation of such brackets, particularly in tight quarters, consumes a fair bit of the installers time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a triangular support which can be shipped in a knock down condition and be easily assembled using a minimum of tools.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support assembly comprising a vertical member, a horizontal member, and a diagonal brace, the vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of the vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of the vertical member side walls, the horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of the horizontal member, the first and second apertures being located where the horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, said horizontal member having means for pivotally receiving the diagonal member proximate a second end of the horizontal member, and the diagonal member having a diagonal member base and a first and second diagonal member side walls, means for pivotable securement to the horizontal member located at a first end of the diagonal member, first and second apertures in the diagonal base, the first and second apertures being located at a second end of the diagonal member, each of the recesses being located where a respective one of the first and second diagonal member side walls meet the diagonal member base.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a support assembly comprising a vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of the vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of the vertical member side walls, first and second upwardly extending tab members located on an upper edge of each of the vertical side walls, a horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of the horizontal member, the first and second apertures being located where the horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, the first and second upwardly extending tab members of the vertical member engaging within the first and second apertures, a diagonal member having a diagonal member base and first and second diagonal member side walls, a distal end of the diagonal member being pivotally secured to the horizontal member proximate a second end thereof, first and second apertures in the diagonal base, the first and second apertures being located at a second end of the diagonal member, each of the first and second apertures engaging with a wall segment defining a respective lower recess.

In greater detail the vertical member will, as is conventional, have means for securing the same to a vertical surface. Eventually, this may be achieved by the use of mechanical fasteners extending through apertures in the base wall of the vertical member. However, it will also be understood that other arrangements such as where the vertical surface has means to cooperate with the vertical member for retaining the same in position.

As used herein, the terms vertical, horizontal, diagonal and the like will refer to the members when they are in the installed position. The terms are used for the sake of convenience and it will be understood that other orientations may be possible. Similarly, where the term “distal” as used herein refers to the end of a member which is removed from the vertical surface on which the support is installed.

The vertical member has a structure, at its upper end, designed to cooperate with one end of the horizontal member to support and retain the same. Preferably a system of tab members and apertures are utilized as will be shown in the described embodiment.

The horizontal member, at its point of joinder with the vertical member, is locked into position and is supported by the vertical member.

The diagonal member extends from the distal end of the horizontal member to a lower portion of the vertical member. Again, a structure for retaining the diagonal member in position is provided. The distal end of the diagonal member may be retained in position by means of a rod (nut and bolt) extending through apertures in both members. Alternatively, a clip arrangement could be utilized.

Each of the members preferably has a base wall and a pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicular therefrom. The members may be made of a suitable metallic material having the strength characteristics desired although plastic materials would be suitable for some uses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a triangular support according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4A is a side elevational view showing securement of the top horizontal member and diagonal brace;

FIG. 4B is a view similar to FIG. 4A; and

FIG. 4C is a view showing the ends of the horizontal and diagonal brace being in an assembled position with respect to the vertical member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 a triangular support generally designated by reference numeral 10.

Triangular support 10 has a vertical member 12 which is designed to be secured to a substrate; a horizontal member 14 which will support a load; and a diagonal brace 16.

Vertical member 12 has a back wall 20, a first side wall 22 and a second side wall 24. Vertical member 12 is symmetrical about a vertical axis and thus, only reference will be made to side wall 22, being understood that side wall 24 has a like configuration. Where appropriate, similar reference numerals with a prime are employed for side wall 24.

At its upper end, side wall 22 has an upper tab 26 and a side tab 28. A notch 30 is provided at the juncture of upper tab 26 and side tab 28.

A recess generally designated by reference numeral 32 is formed at the upper end wall of side wall 22. Recess 32 is defined by a plurality of wall segments as follows.

A first horizontal wall segment 34 forms the upper edge of upper tab 26. A first vertical wall segment 36 is formed to extend downwardly from upper tab 26 with an arcuate segment 40 being contiguous therein. It will be noted that a mouth 38 is smaller than the diameter of recess 32.

Situated lower down on vertical member 12 and being designed to receive an end of diagonal brace 16 is a second recess 44. Recess 44 is defined by a bottom upwardly extending diagonal wall 46 and a downwardly extending diagonal wall 48. The upper portion of recess 44 is defined by a downwardly extending top diagonal wall 50 and an upwardly extending diagonal wall 52. A notch 54 is formed adjacent to wall 52. At its inward extremity, recess 44 has an arcuate wall 60. Again, the mouth entering into the portion of recess 44 defined by arcuate wall 60 is relatively small.

Horizontal member 14 has a back wall 62, and first and second side walls 64 and 66 respectively. At one end thereof, there are provided a pair of cut outs 68 and 70 which are formed at the joinder of back wall 62 with a respective side wall 64, 66. Apertures are located in side wall 64, 66 respectively.

Diagonal brace 16 also has a back wall 78 and a pair of side walls 80, 82. Cut outs 84 and 86 are provided at the point of joinder of back wall 78 with side walls 80 and 82 respectively. A first aperture is provided in side wall 80 and a second aperture in side wall 82.

For assembly, vertical member 12 may be secured to a suitable substrate S by any suitable means (not shown). Subsequently, an end of horizontal member 14 is inserted in a diagonal manner into recess 32. The undercut arrangement permits the end walls of horizontal member 14 to rotate such that back wall 20 rests against horizontal segment 34 and with tabs 26, 26′ fitting within cut outs 68 and 70. The position is that shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4A, end of diagonal brace 16 is inserted into recess 44 and brace 16 pivoted upwardly as shown in FIG. 4B. In this sequence, the extended portion formed by top diagonal walls 50 and 52 extends through cut out 68. Subsequently, a nut 90 and bolt 92 (or other suitable securement means) will pass through the apertures in side walls 64, 66, 80 and 82 to secure the diagonal brace in position.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A support assembly comprising a vertical member, a horizontal member, and a diagonal brace;

said vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of said vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of said vertical member side walls;

said horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of said horizontal member, said first and second apertures being located where said horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, said horizontal member having means for pivotally receiving said diagonal member proximate a second end of said horizontal member; and

said diagonal member having a diagonal member base and a first and second diagonal member side walls, means for pivotable securement to said horizontal member located at a first end of said diagonal member, first and second apertures in said diagonal base, said first and second apertures being located at a second end of said diagonal member, each of said recesses being located where a respective one of said first and second diagonal member side walls meet said diagonal member base.

2. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein said vertical member further includes first and second horizontal tab members extending outwardly from said first and second vertical member side walls, said horizontal tab members being located proximate said first recess.

3. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein said vertical member further includes first and second upwardly extending tab members designed for engagement with a respective one of said first and second apertures in said horizontal member.

4. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein upper first recess in said vertical member side walls includes an entry portion, said entry portion being sized to be smaller than said lower recess.

5. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower recess in said vertical member side walls includes an entry portion, said entry portion being sized to be smaller than said lower recess.

6. A support assembly comprising:

a vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of said vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of said vertical member side walls, first and second upwardly extending tab members located on an upper edge of each of said vertical side walls;

a horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of said horizontal member, said first and second apertures being located where said horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, said first and second upwardly extending tab members of said vertical member engaging within said first and second apertures;

a diagonal member having a diagonal member base and first and second diagonal member side walls, a distal end of said diagonal member being pivotally secured to said horizontal member proximate a second end thereof, first and second apertures in said diagonal base, said first and second apertures being located at a second end of said diagonal member, each of said first and second apertures engaging with a wall segment defining a respective lower recess.