GB2334431A

GB2334431A - Bracket assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2334431A
Application number: GB9803529A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wild; Philip Richard Saunderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-19
Filing date: 1998-02-19
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Also published as: GB9803529D0

Abstract

A bracket assembly for use on a building comprises a base plate (2) which can be permanently secured to the building and an arm structure (3) which is releasably secured to the base plate and which can be removed from the base plate when not required for use. The arm structure (3) includes a plate (11) which has a dovetail shape and mates with a dovetail socket provided by the base plate. A screw (21) is provided to enable the arm structure to be locked to the base plate. The arm structure includes a removable display device (4) which can, for example, include a tubular socket (8) for receiving a Christmas tree, flag or the like and a hook (10) for supporting a hanging basket, Christmas decorations, or the like. The base plate (2) can be designed with aesthetic considerations in mind and can be made from an inherently attractive material, e.g. bronze. The arm structure can be fabricated primarily with structural considerations in mind and can be made from stainless steel.

Description

BJETASSEMBLY This invention relates to a bracket assembly, and in the preferred embodiment provides a bracket assembly which is particularly suitable for use on buildings to support decorations and the like when such are required to be displayed.

Brackets are commonly used for displaying such items as Christmas decorations, hanging baskets, bunting and the like from the front of buildings.

Such brackets must, to ensure safety, be of robust construction and must accordingly be formed of substantial material and designed at least in part with engineering rather than aesthetic considerations in mind. As a result, brackets offering acceptable technical characteristics tend to be somewhat unsightly when they are not being used for their intended purpose i.e. the display of decorations and the like. The problem is particularly acute when the building to which the bracket is secured is of architectural interest, or when the locality in which the bracket is mounted is of overall aesthetic importance. Such a situation commonly occurs when brackets are used on shop fronts of buildings in town centres.

The present invention provides a bracket assembly for use under such circumstances in which the assembly comprises a base plate which can be fixed permanently to a building, and an arm structure which can be mounted on the base plate to form the complete bracket assembly, but which is removable when the bracket assembly is not required to perform its display function.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a bracket assembly comprising a base plate to be secured to a building and an arm structure releasably securable to the base plate to permit ready mounting and dismounting of the arm structure from the base plate.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the base plate is cast or fabricated from a material which is inherently attractive, for example bronze. Such a base plate can be designed to provide the necessary mounting for the arm structure, but nonetheless can be of pleasant appearance such as not to detract from the general appearance of a building. The base plate may accordingly be permanently fixed to a building and the arm structure mounted on the base plate only when required. The arm structure can conveniently be fabricated from a strong and corrosion resistant material, for example stainless steel, and can be designed primarily with engineering considerations in mind.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the mating engagement between the base plate and the arm structure is provided by way of a dovetail shaped groove provided on the base plate and a mating dovetail shaped plate on the arm structure. This plate can conveniently be provided by a plate of metal to which the projecting portion of the arm structure is secured as by welding. If necessary, a reinforcing gusset can be welded between the plate and the projecting portion of the arm structure to add mechanical strength to the arm structure.

The use of mating dovetail members enables the arm structure to be mounted quickly and easily on the base plate and to achieve a strong and movement free connection therebetween. Any wear to the contacting surfaces of the base plate and the arm structure will merely result in the dovetail members moving further into engagement with each other and will preserve a tight fit between the components.

Preferably, means are provided for locking the arm structure to the base plate. Such means can conveniently be provided by a screw mounted in a threaded bore provided on the arm structure and by a hole provided in the base plate to receive the screw.

The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, can be given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bracket assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the arm structure of the bracket assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section, drawn on a larger scale, along the line III 111 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a front view, on a larger scale, of the base plate of the assembly of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated bracket assembly 1 comprises a base plate 2 and an arm structure 3. A display device 4 is mounted on the distal end of the arm structure 3. The exact form of the display device is not critical to the present invention and it is envisaged that a number of different display devices may be used with the bracket assembly of the present invention.

To this end, the display device includes a tubular mounting spigot 5 which is telescopically received within the projecting portion 6 of the arm structure 3 and is secured thereto by a screw 7. By releasing the screw 7 the display device 4 may be removed and a different form of display device, having a tubular mounting spigot of the same shape as the spigot 5 may be secured to the projecting portion 6. The illustrated display device 4 includes a tubular socket 8 in which can be secured a Christmas tree, a flag, or any other suitably shaped item by means of screws 9. A generally U-shaped hook 10 is secured to the tubular socket 8 and may be used to hang display items (for example hanging baskets, Christmas decorations, or the like) or to support strings of items (for example Christmas lights or bunting) which extend from bracket to bracket along a series of brackets provided, for example, on a shop front.

The arm structure is shown in more detail in Figure 2 and comprises, in addition to the projecting portion 6, a plate 11 to which the projecting portion is welded and a reinforcing plate 12 welded to both the projecting portion 6 and the plate 11. The projecting portion 6 is preferably of square or rectangular cross section metal tubing, and in the preferred embodiment, the entire arm structure is fabricated from stainless steel.

Referring now to Figure 4 the base pate 2 is cast or fabricated to provide a generally planar body 13 having mounting lugs 14 at either side of the top thereof. The mounting lugs provide holes 15 for receiving fixing screws or bolts and a third fixing hole 16 is provided near the bottom of the body 13. By utilising the fixing holes 15,16 the base plate may be permanently secured to the face of a building.

The base plate further comprises upstanding portions 17,18 which are generally L-shaped in transverse cross section and which define a pair of grooves 19,20 (Figure 1) which face the centre of the base plate. The upstanding portions 17,18 converge with each other from the top of the base plate towards the bonom thereof whereby the grooves 19,20 form a generally dovetail shaped pocket. The plate 11 of the arm structure 3 is generally complementary to this pocket so that the arm structure may be presented to the base plate with the plate 11 of the arm structure aligned with the top of the dovetail groove of the base plate, and the arm structure then lowered into position. The dovetail shape of the mating portions of the base plate and the arm structure ensure that a strong and movement free connection is readily formed when the arm structure is lowered into the dovetail grooves provided by the base plate.

Preferably, a screw 21 is mounted in a threaded bore provided in the plate 11 and a hole 22 is provided in the base plate for receiving the end of the screw 21. Accordingly, after the arm structure has been mounted on the base plate, the screw 21 may be tightened to locate the portion of the screw within the hole 22 and thereby prevent accidental separation of the arm structure and the base plate.

When the arm structure is no longer required, for example when Christmas decorations are removed, the screw 21 may be released and the arm structure removed form the base plate until next required.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A bracket assembly comprising a base plate to be secured to a building and an arm structure releasably securable to the base plate to permit ready mounting and dismounting of the arm structure from the base plate.
2. A bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the base plate and arm structure are respectively formed from different materials.
3. A bracket assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base plate is cast or fabricated from bronze.
4. A bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the arm structure is fabricated from stainless steel.
5. A bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the mating engagement between the base plate and the arm structure is provided by way of a dovetail shaped groove provided in the base plate and a mating doevtail shaped plate on the arm structure.
6. A bracket assembly according to claim 5 wherein the arm structure comprises a projecting portion secured to the dovetail shaped plate e.g. by welding.
7. A bracket assembly according to any preceding claim including means for releasably locking the arm structure to the base plate.
8. A bracket assembly according to claim 7 wherein the locking means comprises a screw mounted in a threaded bore provided on the arm structure and a hole is provided in the base plate to receive the screw.
9. A bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the arm structure includes a display device which is removably secured to a projecting portion of the arm structure and which may be removed and replaced by an alternative display device.
10. A bracket assembly according to claim 9 wherein the display device comprises a tubular socket in which can be secured a Christmas tree, flag or the like.
11. A bracket assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the arm structure includes a generally U-shaped hook which can be used to hang display items, for example hanging baskets, Christmas decorations or the like.