Support bracket

Abstract

A support bracket is constructed and arranged to be secured to a stud on a construction site. The stud will be of a predetermined width and thickness. The support bracket comprises a body with a channel-like body having a side wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The front wall is spaced from rear wall a predetermined distance at least equal to the width of the stud. The lower edge of the rear wall is disposed above the upper edge of the front wall, thereby defining an opening for receiving the stud. A first projection extends rearwardly from the front wall. A second projection extends forward from the rear wall. The first and second projections are spaced from the side wall a distance at least as great as the height of the stud. A third projection extends forwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall for engaging the associated surface of the stud to more firmly fix the support bracket in place on the stud. The interior cross section of the body is complementary to the exterior cross section of the stud. Further, the interior of the body is constructed and arranged to receive and fit closely with the exterior of the stud. A security arrangement is provided on the body to help further secure the body of the support bracket to the stud. The support bracket is readily mounted onto a stud and removed from the stud and can be used over and over again.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains to a support bracket and more particularly, to a support bracket that may be used on a construction site for a variety of purposes.

[0003] B. Description of Related Art

[0004] During construction of a home, for example, there is often need for a table or like work surface. A carpenter can assemble a work table on site by bringing in several saw horses and setting a panel across them or constructing a top to form a work table. Sometimes an assembled work table will be brought onto the site. To construct a work table on site is time consuming and costly in terms of material and manpower. Similarly, it is often costly or difficult to bring a previously constructed work table onto a construction site. At times, there is a need for a temporary holder or support for work materials, for example, water pipes for a plumber or electrical conduit for an electrician. When preparing a roof on a new home, there is often a need for a support for materials, such as plywood panels to be affixed to the roof rafters.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a support bracket that can be used on a construction site for a variety of purposes, and which is relatively inexpensive to make and which is sturdy and can be used time and time again.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a support bracket that can be readily attached to and removed from a stud on a construction site and which can be used to provide a table or support on site.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent hereinafter.

[0008] C. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The invention pertains to a support bracket comprising a channel like body and a support arm extending from the body. The body is adapted to be detachably secured in a desired position to a support on a construction site, for example, a wall stud. The body has a side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, with the front wall being spaced from the rear wall a predetermined dimension, such predetermined dimension being complementary to the predetermined width of the support. The lower edge of the rear wall is disposed above the upper edge of the front wall, thereby defining an opening by means of which the body is mounted on the support. The support arm extends forwardly from the front wall and can support material, for example, conduit or pipes, or work implements, such as a vise. Two or more support brackets can be used to support a large panel or long pipes or conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010] There is shown in the attached drawing a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein like numerals in the various views refer to like elements, and wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of support brackets embodying the present invention in place on a pair of studs on a typical construction site, with a panel shown in phantom on the support brackets;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of a support bracket of the present invention in place on a slanted roof rafter, illustrating the support bracket supporting roofing materials, such as studs or panels, which are shown in phantom;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the initial alignment of the parts in the assembly of a support bracket embodying the present invention onto a vertically disposed stud;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the mounting of a support bracket on a vertically disposed stud, with the body of the support bracket engaging the stud;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a support bracket on a vertically disposed stud, with the support bracket moved into engaged position on the stud;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross section view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the support bracket;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a top view of the support bracket;

[0019] FIG. 9 is an end view of the support bracket taken from the left end as viewed in FIG. 7; and

[0020] FIG. 10 is an end view taken from the right end as viewed in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0021] There is shown in FIG. 1 a typical construction site wherein a pair of support brackets 10 are mounted on vertically disposed studs 12 for supporting a panel or shelf 14, which is shown in phantom. As will be explained hereinafter, the support brackets 10 can easily be mounted to support a panel or shelf 14 at any desired height on the stud 12 and can be readily assembled to the stud 12 and removed therefrom. In FIG. 2 there is shown a support bracket 10 mounted on a roof rafter or stud 16 for supporting roofing materials.

[0022] In FIGS. 3-6 there is shown the mounting of a support bracket 10 on a stud 12. The support bracket 10 includes a body 18 and a support member or support arm 20. The support bracket 10 is suitably made from a strong, rigid material, for example, aluminum or steel. The body 18 includes a front wall 22, a rear wall 24 and a side wall 26 which connects the front wall 22 and the rear wall 24. A projection 28 extends rearwardly from the front wall 22 and a projection 30 extends forwardly from the rear wall 30. The body 18 is constructed and arranged to fit snugly upon a stud 12. More particularly, the front wall 22 is spaced from the rear wall 24 a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the stud 12 with which the support bracket 10 is to be used. The width of the front wall 22 and the width of the rear wall 24 corresponds substantially to the height of the stud 10 with which the support bracket 10 is to be used. The projections 28 and 30 are each preferably slightly shorter than the overall length of the front wall 22 and the rear wall 24, respectively. The projections 28 and 30 are relatively narrow. The extent of the projections 28 and 30 is not critical. They are sufficiently wide to provide rigidifying support on the stud 12 for the body 18 opposite the side wall 26. The top edge of the body 18 and the lower edge of the body 18 are cut at an angle of about 45 degrees as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5.

[0023] The lower edge of the rear wall 24 is disposed above the upper edge of the front wall 22 so as to define an opening 32 in the body. The maximum dimension of the opening 32, that is, the maximum dimension between the opposed edges of the front wall 22 and the rear wall 24, is slightly larger than the width of the stud 12, whereby, in assembly of the support bracket 10 upon the stud 12, the body 18 is aligned with the stud 12 (FIG. 3) and the body 18 can pass over the stud 12 until the stud 12 abuts the side wall 26 of the body 18 (FIG. 4). Then the support bracket 10 can be rotated or moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 to mount the support bracket 10 on the stud 12.

[0024] The lower edge of the rear wall 24 is provided with an inwardly extending projection 34 (see FIGS. 5,8,9 and 10), which is adapted to firmly engage the contact surface of the stud 12 and to actually dig into the contact surface of the stud 12 if the stud 12 is of a softer material than the body 18. For example, the studs 12 are commonly made of wood and the body 18 is normally made from a harder material, such as metal, and in such circumstance, the projection 34 would tend to bite into the associated contact surface of the stud 12 when the support bracket 10 is mounted on the stud 12. The extent of the projection 34 or the width of the projection 34 from the rear wall 24 can be increased to increase the depth of penetration of the projection 34 into a stud 12 of a softer material than the support bracket 10.

[0025] Security means in the form of one or more holes can be provided in the front wall 22 of the body 18 to enable the support bracket 10 to be secured to the stud 12. See FIGS. 9 and 10. A screw or like fastener can be inserted through one or more holes 40 in the front wall 22 of the body 18 into the stud 12 to secure the support bracket 10 in a selected position. The support bracket 10 is constructed so that in use, the application of weight on the support arm 20 of the support bracket 10 will result in firmer engagement of the body 18 on the stud 12. The inturned projection 34 on the body 18 will tend to engage more firmly or dig more firmly into the wooden stud 12. As noted the extent of the projection 34 can be varied as desired, to increase the holding force when the support bracket 10 is positioned at a desired location on stud 12. If the stud 12 is made from a hard material, for example, metal, the inturned projection 34 will tend to engage more firmly with the associated wall of the stud 12 to help hold the support bracket 10 in desired position. Essentially, as the support bracket 10 is positioned on a stud 12, the inturned projection 34 will be flexed and apply a spring load to stud 12. In the event that it is desired to more firmly fix the support bracket 10 in place on the stud 12, security means can be employed as described above.

[0026] The support member or arm 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1,3,7 and 8 may be fabricated from an angle member of a metal material, for example, aluminum or steel, that is welded or otherwise secured to the front wall 22 of the body 18 of the support bracket 10. The end of the support arm 20 is upturned as indicated at 36. The height of the upturned end 36 of the support arm 20 may be varied according to the application. Further, the length of the support arm 20 may be varied according to use and similarly, the top can be broader or wider, if desired. The support arm 20 can be constructed and arranged to support a panel 14 so as to form a work table on the construction site. The support arm 20 can be provided in standard lengths to accommodate the standard width of panels. The upturned end 36 will help to position and retain the panel on the support brackets 10. In another application, water pipe or electrical conduit could be supported on the supports brackets 10, in which case the upturned end 36 would help to retain the generally circular pipe or conduit on the support brackets 10. In yet another application, the top of the support bracket 10 could be sturdier and used to provide a support for a vice or like implement. Thus, it is readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that the support bracket 10 could be used alone in certain applications or could be used in pairs or further multiples in other applications. The support bracket 10 is sturdy and can be easily assembled and removed from a stud. It can be used over and over again.

[0027] To mount the support bracket 10 on a stud 12 at any desired location, the support bracket 10 is positioned at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the stud 12, as seen in FIG. 3. The opening 32 in the body 18 of the support bracket 10 is aligned with the stud 12 and the support bracket 10 is moved toward the stud 12 until the side wall 26 abuts the stud 12. As seen in FIG. 5, the inturned projection of flange 34 engages firmly with the stud 12. The support bracket 10 is then moved or rotated from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5. The front wall 22 is against one wall of the stud 12 and the rear wall 24 is against the opposite end of the stud 12. The side wall 26 of the body 18 is in abutting relationship with the side of the stud 12. As seen in FIG. 5, the inturned projection of flange 34 engages firmly with the stud 12. The projections 28 and 30 extend over the edges of the stud 12 on the side opposite the surface of the stud 12 engaging the side wall 26. The stud 12 is firmly engaged by the body 18 of the support bracket 10, as seen in FIG. 6. The interior cross section of the body 18 is complementary in size and shape to the exterior cross section of the stud 12. The interior of the body 18 is constructed and arranged to receive and fit closely with the exterior of the stud 12, as best seen in FIG. 6. Preferably, the interior of the body 18 is dimensioned only slightly larger than the exterior of the stud 12.

[0028] While I have shown a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A support bracket comprising a channel—like body having a side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall being spaced from the rear wall a predetermined dimension, the lower edge of the rear wall being disposed above the upper edge of the front wall, thereby defining an opening, and a longitudinal support member extending forward from the front wall.

2. A support bracket as in claim 1, wherein a first projection extends rearwardly from the front wall.

3. A support bracket as in claim 1, wherein a second projection extends forwardly from the rear wall.

4. A support bracket as in claim 1, wherein a first projection extends rearwardly from the edge of the front wall remote from the side wall and a second projection extends forwardly from the edge of the rear wall remote from the side wall.

5. A support bracket as in claim 1, wherein a third projection extends forwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall.

6. A support bracket adapted to be secured to a support having a predetermined width and height, said support bracket comprising a channel—like body having a side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall being spaced from the rear wall a predetermined dimension, said predetermined dimension being complementary to said predetermined width of the said support, the lower edge of the rear wall being disposed above the upper edge of the front wall, thereby defining an opening, and a longitudinal support member extending forward from the front wall.

7. A support bracket as in claim 6, wherein a first projection extends rearwardly from the front wall.

8. A support bracket as in claim 6, wherein a second projection extends forwardly from the rear wall.

9. A support bracket as in claim 6, wherein a first projection extends rearwardly from the edge of the front wall remote from the side wall and a second projection extends forwardly from the edge of the rear wall remote from the side wall, the first and second projections being adapted to engage the surface of the support opposite the face of the support engaging the side wall.

10. A support bracket as in claim 6, wherein a third projection extends forwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall, said third projection being adapted to engage the support when the support bracket is positioned on the support to help secure the support bracket in selected position on the support.

11. A support bracket as in claim 10, wherein security means are provided on the body for further securing the support bracket in selected position on a stud.

12. A support bracket as in claim 6, wherein the interior cross section of the body is complementary in size and shape to the exterior cross section of the stud.

13. A support bracket as in claim 12, wherein the interior of the body is constructed and arranged to receive and fit closely with the exterior of the stud.

14. A support bracket adapted to be secured at a desired location to a support having a predetermined width and height, said support bracket comprising a channel-like body having a side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall being spaced from the rear wall a predetermined dimension, said predetermined dimension being complementary to said predetermined width of the said support, the lower edge of the rear wall being disposed above the upper edge of the front wall, thereby defining an opening, a first projection extending rearwardly from the edge of the front wall remote from the side wall and a second projection extending forward from the edge of the rear wall remote from the side wall, the first and second projections being adapted to engage the surface of the support opposite the face of the support engaging the side wall, and a longitudinal support member extending forward from the front wall.

15. A support bracket as in claim 14, wherein the interior cross section of the body is complementary in size and shape to the exterior cross section of the stud.

16. A support bracket as in claim 15, wherein the interior of the body is constructed and arranged to receive and fit closely with the exterior of the stud.