GB1560724A - Adjustable bracket assembly - Google Patents

Description

(54) ADJUSTABLE BRACKET ASSEMBLY (71) We, SWISH PRODUCTS LIMITED, a British Company of Lichfield Road Industrial Estate, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to adjustable bracket assemblies for mounting shelves and the like at selected heights which can be changed according to requirements, or for hanging clothes or supporting other articles, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use.

The object of the invention is to provide a bracket assembly which is of simple construction, neat appearance, easily assembled, and readily adjusted.

According to the invention there is provided a bracket assembly comprising a support member defining a longitudinally extending T slot which will be mounted vertically on a wall structure in use; and a dismountable bracket having a headed stud at the inner end of an upper part for sliding engagement within said slot, and a locking formation on a lower part of the bracket remote from the stud including a central ridge for wedging engagement with the mouth defined by opposing lips of the T slot, and a pair of outer ridges having opposing walls which converge in the direction of the outer end of the bracket for wedging engagement with outer side faces of the support member when said lower part is urged inwardly of the support member under downward loading applied to the outer end of the bracket, said engagement of the central and outer ridges resisting downward displacement of the bracket relative to the support member and also sideways deflection of side walls of the support member.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket assembly, Figure 2 is a detail view of part of a bracket and support member of Figure 1 disassembled, Figures 3 and 4 are part sectional side elevations showing two stages of the assembly procedure.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

A support member in the form of a length of standard "Swish Furniglide" (Registered Trade Mark) plastics extruded track 10 defining a T slot is, in use, secured vertically to a wall or other supporting structure.

A one-piece moulded plastics bracket 12 provided with an upper load-supporting platform 13 having screw holes for mounting a shelf or the like, has a headed stud 14 at its upper inner end. The head of stud 14 as in the form of a half-cylindrical cross-bar whose width permits its entry between the lips 15 defining the mouth of the T slot when the bracket is turned sideways.

Below and spaced from stud 14 the inner end of bracket 12 is shaped to provide a locking formation defining a pair of parallel grooves (as best seen in Figure 6) having convergent side walls for wedging engagement with lips 15 of the T slot, the formation comprising a central ridge 16 entering into wedging engagement in the mouth of said slot and a pair of outer ridges 17 bounding said grooves and embracing the side faces of track 10. Outer ridges 17 will resist sideways deflection of the side walls of the track under the wedging action of the central ridge 16 as well as themselves providing wedging engagement with said side walls, so providing a particularly strong and positive locking engagement.

To engage the bracket 12 with track 10 stud 14 is entered in the T slot by turning the bracket sideways as referred to above, then the bracket is turned while keeping it tilted somewhat upwards as shown in Figure 3 to bring central ridge 16 into alignment with the mouth of the T slot. Any necessary adjustment in height can be made by sliding the bracket along track 10, then it is finally locked in place by pulling the outer end of the bracket downwards the position shown in Figure 4, so wedging the locking formation onto the track by a lever action fulcrummed about the head of stud 14. Loading on platform 13 will increase the wedging action so that downward displacement of the bracket is firmly resisted, yet the bracket can be readily adjusted in height or completely disengaged from track 10 by reversing the above procedure.

To complete the assembly an extruded finishing strip 18 is provided for cutting to length and snap-engagement with those parts of track 10 which are not occupied by brackets.

Instead of the plastics track 10 referred to above, extruded or other metal track of similar configuration could be used.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An adjustable bracket assembly comprising a support member defining a longitudinally extending T slot which will be mounted vertically on a wall structure in use; and a dismountable bracket having a headed stud at the inner end of an upper part for sliding engagement within said slot, and a locking formation on a lower part of the bracket remote from the stud including a central ridge for wedging engagement with the mouth defined by opposing lips of the T slot, and a pair of outer ridges having opposing walls which converge in the direction of the outer end of the bracket for wedging engagement with outer side faces of the support member when said lower part is urged inwardly of the support member under downward loading applied to the outer end of the bracket, said engagement of the central and outer ridges resisting downward displacement of the bracket relative to the support member and also sideways deflection of side walls of the support member.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the head of the stud is in the form of a cross bar whose width permits its entry between the lips defining the mouth of the T slot by turning the bracket sideways during assembly.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said bracket is a one-piece plastics moulding having an integral stud and locking formation.

4. An assembly according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a length of finishing strip for snap engagement with a part of the mouth of the T slot which is not occupied by a bracket in use.

5. An adjustable bracket assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. ,.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. bracket sideways as referred to above, then the bracket is turned while keeping it tilted somewhat upwards as shown in Figure 3 to bring central ridge 16 into alignment with the mouth of the T slot. Any necessary adjustment in height can be made by sliding the bracket along track 10, then it is finally locked in place by pulling the outer end of the bracket downwards the position shown in Figure 4, so wedging the locking formation onto the track by a lever action fulcrummed about the head of stud 14. Loading on platform 13 will increase the wedging action so that downward displacement of the bracket is firmly resisted, yet the bracket can be readily adjusted in height or completely disengaged from track 10 by reversing the above procedure. To complete the assembly an extruded finishing strip 18 is provided for cutting to length and snap-engagement with those parts of track 10 which are not occupied by brackets. Instead of the plastics track 10 referred to above, extruded or other metal track of similar configuration could be used. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An adjustable bracket assembly comprising a support member defining a longitudinally extending T slot which will be mounted vertically on a wall structure in use; and a dismountable bracket having a headed stud at the inner end of an upper part for sliding engagement within said slot, and a locking formation on a lower part of the bracket remote from the stud including a central ridge for wedging engagement with the mouth defined by opposing lips of the T slot, and a pair of outer ridges having opposing walls which converge in the direction of the outer end of the bracket for wedging engagement with outer side faces of the support member when said lower part is urged inwardly of the support member under downward loading applied to the outer end of the bracket, said engagement of the central and outer ridges resisting downward displacement of the bracket relative to the support member and also sideways deflection of side walls of the support member.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the head of the stud is in the form of a cross bar whose width permits its entry between the lips defining the mouth of the T slot by turning the bracket sideways during assembly.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said bracket is a one-piece plastics moulding having an integral stud and locking formation.

4. An assembly according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a length of finishing strip for snap engagement with a part of the mouth of the T slot which is not occupied by a bracket in use.

5. An adjustable bracket assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. ,.