AU2018274839A1

AU2018274839A1 - Mounting Bracket

Info

Publication number: AU2018274839A1
Application number: AU2018274839A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc Veenendaal
Original assignee: Enlighten Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Enlighten Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-03
Filing date: 2018-12-03
Publication date: 2020-06-18

Abstract

A pole bracket 1 includes a base 2 extending intermediate two opposed side portions 3, 4 and two opposed end portions 5,6. A first arm 7 is disposed on a first portion of the base and extends a predetermined distance away from the base 2 and terminating at a first arm hook 8 facing a first opposed end portion and being adapted to depend from a pole 10. A second arm 11 is disposed on a portion of the base 2 opposed to the first portion and extends a predetermined distance away from the base 2. The second arm 11 is opposed to the first arm 7 and terminating at a second arm hook 12 facing a second opposed end portion and being adapted to depend from the pole 10. A latch 17 is disposed intermediate the base 2 and the first arm hook 8 and is movable between an open position such that the first arm hook 8 is open to receive the pole 10 and a latched position where it is not. 12 Fig. 1

Description

MOUNTING BRACKET

The invention relates to removably attachable fittings and, in particular, to a removably attachable elongate pipe fitting.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in removably attaching equipment to a substantially horizontally disposed pole and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to other applications.

It is known that many industrial and commercial premises employ poles, whether right cylindrical in cross-sectional or not, that are disposed intermediate a ceiling on the inside of the premises. These poles often extend from one side of a room or building to the other and are used to hang objects including lighting, fire detection equipment, ventilation amongst a host of other items. In this way, the pole or a plurality of poles are used to support those various fixtures that will depend from it. This is in contrast to other known apparatus such as false ceilings which are laid about a grid which are hung typically from rods fixed into or to the ceiling.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply hook or hanger objects from the support pole without fastening them relative thereto. This is because the fitting, for example a lighting batten, may be unintentionally contacted and if not secured to the pole may move or most undesirably fall down.

In the case of lighting, for example, fluorescent or LED battens or troughs, a conventional Ubolt is disposed over the pole with its arms facing downward. The arms often extend through an upper surface of the lighting batten or troughs and fasteners typically in the form of bolts are used to secure the battens or troughs to the U-bolt. An alternative arrangement is also known to be used where a U-bolt type fastener is extended through the upper surface of the

2018274839 03 Dec 2018 lighting batten and the arms extend either side of the pole to retain the light. Here, a plate is disposed across the U-bolt arms and clamped to the pole.

Other clamping type arrangements are known to be used to attach equipment to the support poles, however, as with the use of U-bolts or similar they tend to be relatively labourintensive and can require the use of additional safety equipment. For example, an elevated standing platform may be required together with an assistant to allow large fixtures such as lighting battens to be attached to the pole.

The genesis of the invention is a desire to provide a bracket for use in retaining equipment to a pole that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a pole bracket comprising:

a base extending intermediate two opposed side portions and two opposed end portions;

a first arm disposed on a first portion of the base, the first arm extending a predetermined distance away from the base and terminating at a first arm hook facing a first opposed end portion and being adapted to depend from a pole;

a second arm disposed on a portion of the base opposed to the first portion, the second arm extending a predetermined distance away from the base, the second arm being opposed to the first arm and terminating at a second arm hook facing a second opposed end portion and being adapted to depend from the pole; and a latch disposed intermediate the base and the first arm hook, the latch movable between an open position such that the first arm hook portion is open to receive the pole and a latched position where it is not.

2018274839 03 Dec 2018

It can therefore be seen there is advantageously provided a bracket that is able to be securely releasably attached to a horizontal pole where the bracket can retain fittings or fixtures such as lights. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the bracket does not need to be mechanically bolted or fastened to the pole in order to hang a fixture from it. Yet further, the movable latch allows the bracket to be simply moved adjacent the pole and rotated in a plane of the pole to secure and the opposite to remove it.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front left hand perspective view of a bracket in a semi-open position according to the preferred embodiment;

Fig.2 is a rear right hand perspective view of the bracket of Fig.1 in an open position;

Fig.3 is left hand elevated perspective view of the bracket of Fig. 1 in a closed position;

Fig.4 is a front left hand perspective view of the bracket of Fig.1 in a closed position;

Fig.5 is an exploded rear left hand perspective view of the bracket of Fig.1;

Fig.6 shows various views of a sheet blank for forming the bracket of Fig. 1; and

Fig.7 is an elevated front left hand perspective view of the bracket of Fig.2 over a pole.

Referring to the drawings generally, there will be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to denote like components unless expressly noted otherwise.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the pole bracket 1 according to the preferred embodiment shown in various configurations as described further below. The pole bracket 1 has a base portion 2. In the preferred embodiment, the base 2 is rectangular and has a pair of opposed side portions 3 & 4 and two opposed end portions 5 & 6.

2018274839 03 Dec 2018

The bracket 1 further includes first arm 7 extending from the first side 3 of the base 2. The first arm 7 extends a predetermined distance or height above the base 2 wherein it terminates at a first arm hook 8. The hook 8 has a closed side 13 adjacent end portion 6 of the base 2 and an open side 14 adjacent end portion 6 of the base 2. The hook 8 is configured at least in size to be able to depend from pole 10 (best seen in Fig.7). That is, a diameter of an inner portion 9 the hook 8 is equal to or larger than the diameter of the pole 10 so that the pole 10 can be received in inner portion 9.

A second arm 11 extends from the second side 4 of the base 2 in substantially the same direction as the first arm 7. The second arm 11 extends substantially the same predetermined distance or height above the base 2 as the first arm 7, where the second arm 11 terminates in a second arm hook 12. The hook 12 is opposed to hook 8 and is spaced apart therefrom a width determined by the space between opposed side portions 3 and 4.

Further, the hook 12 has a closed side 15 adjacent end portion 5 of the base 2 and an open side 16 adjacent end portion 6 of the base 2. The hook 12 is configured in size substantially the same as hook 8 to be able to depend from pole 10. The hook 12 can be said to face side portions 6 and the hook 8 to face side portion 5.

A latch 17 is disposed intermediate the base 2 and the open side 14 of the first arm hook 8. The latch 17 is hingedly mounted at a lower end 18 to the base 2 and is movable between an open position (Fig.2) where the first arm hook 8 is open to receive the pole 10 and a latched position (Fig.3) wherein the first arm hook 8 is closed to receive the pole 10.

Referring to Fig.6, it can be seen that the bracket 1 is formed by folding a sheet material where hooks 8 and 12 are cut into the sheet. It can be seen, also in Fig.l, that the latch 17 is hingedly mounted by a hinge 18 that is formed by providing perforations or cut-outs 19 in the sheet material so that the latch 17 folds thereabout from the open position where latch 17 is

2018274839 03 Dec 2018 adjacent base 2 to the closed position where latch 17 closes hook 8. It will be appreciated that any preferred hinge type can be provided and that the one shown in the preferred embodiments is intended where the latch 17 is provided in the open configurations before use and once hooks 8 and 12 are hung from pole 10 the latch 17 is moved into the closed position whereby pole 10 is physically retained in the space defined by the inner portion 9 of the hook 8.

The bracket 1 shown in Fig.7, for example, includes a light fitting retaining means 20. The retaining means 20 is bolted to an underside of the base 2 and includes a pair of opposed arms 21 that are adapted to engage with the light fitting (not illustrated) and retain the light fitting then to. It will be appreciated that any preferred retaining means 20 can be employed to retain equipment, fittings, fixtures or any other object to the bracket 1 so as to be hung from the pole 10.

In use, the pole 10 is received through the open sides 14 and 16 of the hooks 8 and 12 respectively. In this way, the pole 10 supports inner portion 9 of the hook 8 and a corresponding portion on the hook 12. Once supported by the pole, the latch 17 is moved from the open position to the closed position so as to retain the pole 10 within the hook 8. Here, the bracket 1 is mechanically retained by hook 8, arm 7 and latch 17.

In other preferred embodiments of the invention, not illustrated, it will be appreciated that the inner portion 9 of the hook 8 need not be circular and could be any shape to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the pole 10 from which the bracket 1 is to be hung. Further, the bracket 1 can be formed from individual components and not formed by folding a cut-out sheet material. Yet further, the sheet material forming the bracket 1 of the preferred embodiment can be a metal or metallic alloy or thermoplastic material that is shaped by folding under elevated temperatures.

2018274839 03 Dec 2018

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “including” or “having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of’.

Claims

1. A pole bracket comprising:

2. A pole bracket according to claim 1 wherein the latch is hingedly mounted to the base.

3. A pole bracket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the base and the first and second arms are integrally formed from a sheet material.

4. A pole bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3 adapted to receive a fitting connector, the fitting connector configured for releasably retaining a fitting or fixture.

5. A pole bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the latch is mounted to the base at a proximal end, and when the latch is moved into the open position a distal end of the latch is disposed at or adjacent the second arm.