AU2011201059A1 - Mounting Bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting bracket for mounting an electrical component with respect to a structure, the mounting bracket being s formed of sheet material and comprising a mounting portion extending generally in a first plane and being adapted to receive the electrical component; and a coupling portion extending from the mounting portion and arranged to form at least part of a mounting arrangement to mount the 10 bracket to the structure, the coupling portion comprising one or more supporting formations turned out of the plane of the mounting portion, wherein the one or more supporting formations each incorporates one or more legs that bear against a surface of the mounting portion and in 15 use, strengthens the coupling portion. 25962401 (GHMatters) 9/03111 22 FIG 1 21 24 2 22 24 FIG 3 29 10 20 i16FIG 5

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant (s): Legrand Australia Pty Ltd Invention Title: MOUNTING BRACKET The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 MOUNTING BRACKET Field of the Disclosure s The present disclosure relates generally to a mounting bracket for electrical and/or electronic componentry and more particularly, but by no means exclusively, to a mounting bracket that can be secured to a wall stud. 10 Background of the Disclosure Mounting brackets are known in the art for mounting electrical and electronic componentry including power points, light switches and the like, to a wall stud. 15 Conventional mounting brackets typically comprise an L shaped steel frame. One arm of the L-shaped frame includes a number of spaced apart holes which allow the frame to be screwed or nailed to the stud, while the other 20 arm includes a cut-out portion arranged to mount the componentry. Summary of the Disclosure 25 In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a mounting bracket for mounting an electrical component with respect to a structure. The mounting bracket is formed of sheet material and comprises a mounting portion extending 30 generally in a first plane and being adapted to receive the electrical component; and a coupling portion extending from the mounting portion and arranged to form at least part of a mounting arrangement to mount the bracket to the structure. The coupling portion comprises one or more 35 supporting formations turned out of the plane of the mounting portion, wherein the supporting formations each -3 incorporate at least one leg that bears against a surface of the mounting portion and in use strengthens the coupling portion. 5 In use, at least a section of the one or more supporting formations bears directly or indirectly against the structure while a section of the one or more supporting formations bears against the mounting portion. In this way the one or more supporting formations strengthen the 10 coupling portion. In one form at least a section of the one or more supporting formations is angled with respect to another section of the one or more supporting formations or 15 coupling portion to resist lateral loading induced in the coupling portion. In one form the coupling portion further comprises one or more engagement tabs that are turned out of the plane of 20 the mounting portion. In one form the engagement tabs and the supporting formations extend substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the mounting portion. 25 In one form the one or more engagement tabs and supporting formations extend in respective planes that are substantially perpendicular with one other. 30 In one form the coupling portion comprises a plurality of engagement tabs extending from the mounting portion and a plurality of supporting formations positioned intermediate respective engagement tabs.

-4 In one form respective ones of the one or more engagement tabs and supporting formations are formed as unitary structures. 5 In one form the or each engagement tab is configured to engage the structure. In one form in this arrangement the engagement tabs are fixed directly to the structure by, for example, mechanical fasteners such as screws which io extend through apertures formed in the engagement tabs. In one form the mounting arrangement further comprises one or more retaining members fixedly retained to the structure and the or each engagement tab is configured to 15 engage the structure by engaging the one or more retaining members. In one form at least one of the one or more supporting formations has mutually inclined first and second parts so 20 that the supporting formation has a generally L shaped cross-section, wherein the first part forms the leg of that supporting formation. In one form the bracket is made from sheet metal. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the bracket are hereafter described, by way 30 of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the bracket; 35 -5 Fig. 2 is a shaded isometric view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bracket of Fig. 1; 5 Fig. 4 is a side view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top view of the bracket of Fig. 1; 10 Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the bracket of Fig 1 in use with a mounting arrangement in a first configuration; Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the bracket of Fig 1 in use with a mounting arrangement in a second configuration; 15 Fig. 8 is a rear view of the bracket of Fig 1 in use with a mounting arrangement in the second configuration; Fig. 9 is a bottom view the bracket of Fig 1 in use with a 20 mounting arrangement in the second configuration; and, Fig. 10 is an isometric view of two brackets in use with two mounting arrangements in both first and second configurations. 25 Description of Embodiments Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a mounting bracket for mounting electrical or electronic componentry 30 to a structure. While embodiments are hereafter described in the context of a mounting bracket arranged to be secured to a wall stud, it will be understood that embodiments are equally applicable for securing to any suitable structure including, but not limited to, a floor, 35 a ceiling joist or any generally planar structure on which the retaining plate of the mounting bracket can be secured. The term "stud" in reference to the drawings and -6 description is used in this context. With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown a mounting bracket 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present 5 disclosure, the mounting bracket 10 is in the form of a steel plate which is profiled to include a mounting portion in the form of a mounting frame 16 and coupling portions in the form of two sets of coupling arrangements 18 (described in more detail below). The mounting frame io 16 comprises an opening 20 which is formed using a centre blank. The opening 20 is offset within the frame 16 and, in the illustrated form, is located in line with coupling arrangements 18 and shaped so as to receive a body portion of an electrical component, such as a power point, wall 15 switch, dimmer, data outlet, telephone outlet, socket outlet and the like. Screw holes 23 are provided either side of the opening 20 to allow the electrical component to be fixedly screwed to the bracket 10. 20 In the example embodiment, the bracket 16 is made from cold rolled mild steel and has a thickness of approximately 1 mm. In the bracket 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 the coupling 25 arrangements 18 are provided on a short and long edge respectively of the mounting frame 16. While the bracket 10 has been described with two coupling arrangements 18 it will be clear to those skilled in the art that a single coupling arrangement or a plurality of coupling 30 arrangements fall within the scope of the disclosure. Each coupling arrangement 18 is in the form of a plurality of spaced apart engagement tabs 22 (in the presently described embodiment, three spaced apart tabs 22 are 35 provided) which extend generally perpendicularly out of the plane of the rectangular mounting frame 16. Each coupling arrangement 18 in the illustrated form extends -7 from an edge of the mounting frame 16 however in an alternative form one or more of the coupling arrangements could be positioned extending from a different portion of the mounting frame such as, for example, an edge of the 5 cavity 20. Alternatively at least one of the coupling arrangements 18 could be pressed outwardly from a central portion of the mounting frame 16. In the illustrated form, the engagement tabs 22 extend in a single plane and are adapted to engage with a stud 1. 10 Strengthening ribs 21 are provided adjacent each engagement tab 22 and extending across a surface of the mounting frame 16 to provide tab reinforcement and inhibit the corresponding tab from inadvertently bending during 15 installation. The engagement tabs 22 are adapted to engage with a support such as, in the illustrated embodiment, a stud 1 (see Fig. 10) in a wall. The engagement tabs may directly 20 engage with the stud through mechanical fasteners such as screws, nails, clips, pegs, hooks or other connectors. Alternatively as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the engagement tabs may form part of a more complex mounting arrangement 26 which incorporates a retainer plate 30 25 which is fixed to the stud and which is adapted to receive the engagement tabs 22. The coupling arrangements 18 further comprise rigid supporting formations 24 interposed between the spaced 30 apart engagement tabs 22. The support formations 24 also extend perpendicularly away from the mounting frame 16 in the same direction as the tabs. In an alternative not illustrated form the support formations 24 could extend in the opposite direction to the tabs 22, or could extend 35 both in the direction of, and away from, the tabs. The support formations 24 have in the illustrated form a generally L-shaped cross-section and comprise a first -8 section 28 and a second leg section 29. The first section 28 is joined to and extends outwardly from the mounting frame 16 substantially in the same plane as the engagement tabs 22. The second leg section 29 is separated from the 5 mounting frame 16 but rather is joined to and extends from the first leg section 28. Further, the second leg section 29 extends at an angle to the first section 28 to form the L-shaped cross section. 10 In use in the illustrated form the first section 28 of the supporting formations 24 bears against the structure directly or indirectly such as through the retaining plate 30 or by an alternative connection. The second leg section 29 extends adjacent to the first section but is is turned back over the mounting frame so that a proximal end 25 thereof bears against the mounting frame 16. With this construction, the supporting formations 24 therefore provide additional stiffness to the coupling arrangement 18 for the bracket 10 particularly under any induced 20 moment caused by loading on the frame 16. Although the supporting formations 24 of the illustrated embodiment are L-shaped in cross-section, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the supporting formations 25 are not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the angle between the leg section 29 and the first section 28 may be other than 90*. The supporting formations in an alternative form may have a C-shaped, U shaped, square section, or alternative supporting cross 30 section. Each of the alternative arrangements provides a stiffened member that resists moment bending at the coupling arrangement under loading of the mounting frame. In this way the supporting formations 24 act to resist 35 lateral loading against the coupling arrangement 18 particularly through pressure applied to the mounting frame 16 such as may typically occur under manual -9 activation of the electrical componentry mounted in the frame 16. In use in the illustrated form, the engagement tabs 22 5 extend perpendicularly from a cavity facing surface 34 of the mounting frame 16 for maintaining a substantially perpendicular relationship between the mounting frame 16 and the surface of the support or a mounting arrangement 26. 10 The coupling portion of the bracket 10 as illustrated is part of a mounting arrangement and is adapted to engage with a retaining plate 30. The retaining plate 30 comprises a rectangular body formed of cold rolled steel. is Holes 31 are provided on the plate 30 to allow the plate 30 to be either screwed or nailed to the wall stud 1, as shown in Fig. 10. A plurality of channels 32 are provided on the cavity 20 facing surface 34 of the retaining plate 30, each of which are arranged to closely receive one of the plurality of engagement tabs 22 of either of the coupling arrangements 18. Ribs 36 extend along the rectangular body to provide the retaining plate 30 with additional strength. The ribs 25 36 also serve to protect the channels 32 from being deformed when securing the plate 30 to the wall stud 1 (i.e. when hammering a nail into the securing holes 30, as will be described in more detail in subsequent paragraphs). Each of the tabs 22 may also comprise 30 detents or barbs on an upper surface to retain the mounting frame 16 in place, once fitted. In some installations, a sheet of plasterboard may be placed over the fitted bracket assembly before the electrical device is fitted. 35 In this form, the first section 28 of the supporting formations 24 which extend in the same plane as the - 10 engagement tabs 22 bear against the retaining plate 30 in use. Thus the supporting formations extend from the frame 16 and the first section 28 bears against the retaining plate 30 and the proximal edge 25 of the second section 29 5 bears against the frame 16. In use, the bracket 10 is arranged to mount an electrical/electronic component to the structure 1. In one form, the bracket is mounted to the structure by 10 fixing the engagement tabs 22 to a stud 1 for example by screwing the engagement tabs to the stud 1 before or after the electrical or electronic componentry is then mounted to the mounting frame 16. In another form the bracket is mounted via a retaining plate that may be affixed to the is stud by means of screws extending through holes 31 in the palate 30. The engagement tabs 22 are then inserted into channels 32 to engage with the retaining plate 30. While the mounting frame 16 and retaining plate 30 20 described herein are rectangular in shape, it will be understood that other shapes are equally applicable, depending only on the desired implementation. It follows that coupling arrangements may be provided on more or less than two of the sides to achieve further mounting 25 configurations (e.g. where diagonal orientations are required). Further, the engagement tabs 22 could comprise any engagement shape such as pins or rods. Furthermore, the 30 number of tabs may be greater or less than the number depicted in the drawings. For example, where a heavy piece of electronic/electrical componentry is required to be mounted a larger number of tongues may be required. Similarly, where the componentry is relatively small or 35 lightweight, as little as one tongue may be provided. In a not-illustrated embodiment, the engagement tabs 22 - II may be integrated with the support formation 24 rather than provided separately as shown. In one form of this not-illustrated embodiment the engagement tabs may form part or whole of the first section 28. 5 The location of the opening defined in the mounting frame may not necessarily be offset but could be centrally located. 1o It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the disclosure that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims (11)

1. A mounting bracket for mounting an electrical component with respect to a structure, the mounting bracket being 5 formed of sheet material and comprising: a mounting portion extending generally in a first plane and being adapted to receive the electrical component; and a coupling portion extending from the mounting 10 portion and arranged to form at least part of a mounting arrangement to mount the bracket to the structure, the coupling portion comprising one or more supporting formations turned out of the plane of the mounting portion, wherein the one or more supporting formations 15 each incorporates one or more legs that bear against a surface of the mounting portion and in use, strengthens the coupling portion.

2. A mounting bracket as defined in claim 1, wherein the 20 coupling portion further comprises one or more engagement tabs that are turned out of the plane of the coupling portion.

3. A mounting bracket as defined in claim 2, wherein the 25 or each engagement tab and the or each supporting formation extend substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the mounting portion.

4. A mounting bracket as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein 30 the one or more engagement tabs and the one or more legs extend in respective planes that are substantially perpendicular with one other. -13

5. A mounting bracket as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the coupling portion comprises a plurality of engagement tabs extending from the mounting portion and a plurality of supporting formations positioned intermediate s respective engagement tabs.

6. A mounting bracket as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein respective ones of the one or more engagement tabs and supporting formations are formed as 10 unitary structures.

7. A mounting element as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each engagement tab is configured to engage the structure. 15

8. A mounting element as defined in claim 7, wherein the or each engagement tab is configured to engage the structure by engaging a retaining member fixedly retained to the structure. 20

9. A mounting bracket as defined in claim 7, wherein the or each engagement tab is arranged to be fixed to the structure by one or more mechanical fastener. 25

10. A mounting bracket as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the or each supporting formation has mutually inclined first and second parts so that the supporting formation has a generally L shaped cross-section, wherein the first part forms the leg of that supporting formation. 30

11. A mounting bracket as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is made from sheet metal.