GB2234767A - Adjustable frame angle bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

The adjustable angle bracket consists of two substantially identical arms 11, 12 which are mounted to each other so as to pivot about axis 14. Means 15, 16 are provided by which to select the angle. In use arm 11 would be fixed to an upright frame member and arm 12 to a roof frame member. <IMAGE>

Description

CONSERVATORY FRAME ANGLE BRACKET Background to the Invention The invention relates to conservatories and is concerned specifically with improvements in the construction and assembly of conservatory frames.

Conservatory frames conventionally comprise a succession of side members each attached to one or more co-operating roof members to define, when assembled, the basic skeleton of the conservatory; which is then glazed and finished to complete the conservatory as a building.

It is known to attach the conservatory frame side members to the roof members via conservatory frame angle brackets.

A conservatory frame angle bracket is a two-armed member whose essentially rigid arms intersect to define an angle and which, in use, enables a roof member of the conservatory to be attached to a side member of the conservatory.

Conservatory frame angle brackets are conventionally rigid articles. That is, the angle defined between the two arms of the bracket is constant.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention in its broadest aspect, a conservatory frame angle bracket is characterised by the feature that the angle defineable by the arms of the bracket is variable.

This enables a given bracket to be used to assemble conservatories with varying pitches of roof.

Preferably a bracket embodying the invention incorporates means to lock the arms in a selected angle.

Although the bracket could theoretically rely on the assembled inherent self-maintaining nature of the conservatory frame to maintain the bracket arms in a predetermined angle, it is safer for them to be locked in that selected angle; and it is a positive aid to assembly of the conservatory frame if the angle is so locked.

The said means to lock the arms in a selected angle may with advantage comprise a pin-and-hole connection. This is easily operated in the "on-site" conditions in which conservatory frames are inevitably assembled.

Such a connection is preferably characterised by the pin being a force-fit - in particular, a progressive force-fit - into the hole. Bearing in mind, again, the conditions under which these conservatory frames are actually assembled on site, anything which is quickly, easily, and preferably "one shouted" home, is advantageous in this context. The best selection of connection to fulfil those requirements is a force-fit pinand-hole connection.

Advantageously, the bracket is designed to appeal to, and be judged by the eye. Conservatory frame angle brackets are often substantially or wholly visible from the interior of the finished conservatory. It is known therefore to design them to appeal to the eye. The advantage of taking this known practice and combining it with a bracket embodying the invention is that the versatility of such a bracket is increased because it can deliberately be hidden, or equally deliberately be left open to subsequent viewing, as best suits the constructional and operational requirements of a given conservatory.

Brief Description of the Drawings One conservatory frame angle bracket embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is currently the best way known to the applicant of putting the invention into practise.

But it is only one example of forms which the invention might take within its broadest aspect.

In these drawings: Figure 1 shows one arm of the bracket in perspective; The two parts of Figure 2 each show a respective one of the two arms of the bracket in side elevation; Figure 3 shows one of the bracket arms in end elevation; and, Figure 4 shows the assembled bracket, again in side elevation Description of the Preferred Embodiment The conservatory frame angle bracket illustrated is a two-armed member whose arms are each essentially rigid and are made from some suitable material, for example aluminium, steel, or even very hard plastics materials such as polyurethane.

Their surfaces may be left uncoated or may be primed, painted, or powder-coated or plasticides, according to choice.

Each of the arms is designed to appeal to and be judged by the eye, as will be apparent particularly from Figures 1, 2 and 4. It will also be apparent that the extremities of the arms illustrated in the drawings are "broken away" in some cases in order to fit onto the drawing sheets. In reality, the extreme right hand end of each arm (referring now to Figure 1) ends in a spear-point.

The two arms 11 and 12 are identical. At the base of each arm (the left hand end with reference to Figure 1) there is a circular portion 13 cut away so that its depth "d" is approximately one-half the thickness "t" of the arm as a whole.

The thicknesses "d" and "t" are substantially constant.

The cut away portion 13 is knurled, as indicated in Figure 1 by cross-hatching, over its entire surface. Each such portion of each arm is drilled through at its centre, as shown by reference 14 in Figure 2 and Figure 4. And as these two figures also show, the arms are then assembled with the two cut away portions 13 "back to back" to create a two-armed bracket of substantially unvarying thickness "t" and with the two arms pivoted about the common centre 14 by a pin, a bolt, or other suitable fastening means which allow the arms 11 and 12 to move relative to one another and hence the angle defineable by the arms to be variable.

The fastening means can be selected from known alternatives and are not illustrated.

A circular-section hardened steel pin 15 (Figure 4) passes through a hole drilled in the arm 14 and is a progressive force-fit into each of a succession of holes 16 formed in he other arm 11 and spaced about a pitch circle struck from the pivot 14. When the pin 15 is driven into any one of the holes 16, the two arms 11 and 12 are locked in a selected relative position.

A hole 17 towards the extremity of each of the arms 11 and 12 serves to receive a bolt, screw, pin - or to act as the location for a spot weld - securing a roof member or a side member (neither shown) to a respective arm of the bracket.

The knurling of the contacting circular faces of the portions 13 serves to hold the arms in the selected angle, relative to one another, whilst the pin 15 is driven into its co-operating hole 16.

Claims (6)

1. A conservatory frame brackett characterized by the feature that the angle defineable by the arms of the bracket is variable.

2. A conservatory frame bracket according to Claim 1, in which, means are incorporated to lock the arms in a selected angle.

3. A conservatory frame bracket according to Claim 2, in which, said means to lock the arms in a selected angle comprises a pin-and-hole connection.

4. A conservatory frame bracket according to Claim 3, in which, the pin-and-hole connection is characterized by the pin being a force-fit - in particular, a progressive force-fit - into the hole.

5. A conservatory frame bracket according to any of the preceding Claims and which is designed to appeal to and be judged by the eye.

6. A conservatory frame bracket substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompany drawings.