AU618130B2 - Bracket - Google Patents

Description

To the Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia.

1 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FO OFFICE USE Application Number: PJ0532 Class Lodged: 20/9/88 Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: I t I I III I I t tI II Related Art: P 002668 1 80989 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: A.P.C. STORACK Address of Applicant: Bank Street, East Victoria Park, in the State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia.

Actual Inventor: IAN MacDONALD Address for Service:-- Wray Associates Primary Industry House 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled:

"BRACKET"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -1- 1 -2 THIS INVENTION relates to a bracket, more particularly to a bracket with male projections having an improved configuration for load bearing.

Brackets of the type comprising an extruded metal section provided with male projections integrally formed with the metal section are known in the art. Normally such projections are formed by "punching out" an aperture from the wall of the extruded section, wherein the "punched out" material forms a male projection spaced from the metal section. These projections are subsequently used as supporting elements for fixing other members onto the extruded metal section.

Previously, the process of "punching out" apertures from a ee ~sheet metal section, has been achieved with a variety of punches and die sets, but in each instance, the configuration -of the -unction between the "punched" material or male projection and the sheet metal section has been substantially linear. A disadvantage of the ue junction being of a linear configuration is that when a load is applied to the male projection, the load is unevenly supported aloig the junction to result in increased fatigue of the junction resulting in increased fatigue of the join and possible eventual shearing of the male projection from the metal section. This disadvantage is particularly pertinent in the field of industrial heavy duty shelving systems or scaffoldings, where such fatigue L or shearing of the male projection may result in loss or Sdamage of expensive equipment supported by the shelves.

The present invention has been devised with the general object of overcoming this disadvantage by providing a bracket means comprising a male projection (or tongue 3 element) where the lcad applied to the male projection (or tongue element) is more evenly supported by the bracket.

In one form the invention resides in a bracket member for shelving comprising at least one face provided with at least one integrally formed tongue element extending from said face wherein the junction between said face and said tongue element extends transversely across one end of said tongue element in a substantially uniformly curved configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tongue I element is integrally formed with said bracket member by S o "punching out" said tongue element from at least one face of said bracket member. The bracket member is also preferably provided with a plurality of tongue elements in a spaced longitudinal alignment.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bracket member; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the bracket member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the bracket member of Fig. 1; -4- Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the bracket member of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is side sectional elevation view of the bracket member of Fig. i.

The embodiment is directed to a metal bracket section for heavy shelving. The bracket member 10 is formed from sheet metal and Gan be formed into an L-shaped configuration as shown in Figures 1 3. On one face of the bracket member there is provided a series of tongue elements 11 which are "punched out" of the face (in a particular manner to result in the junction 12 between the tongue elements 11 and the face of the bracket member .it. being of a curved configuration and spaced from the face.

The tongue elements 11 are formed in a spaced longitudinal alignment with respect to each other, and are formed with the terminal edge of each tongue extending in the same direction. It is preferred, but not essential, that the tongue elements 11 are relatively parallel to the face of the bracket member 10. The shape of the remaining portion of the tongue element 11 is not critical to the working of the invention and can be rounded as disclosed in the embodiment, or can be angular or any other configuration.

The curved configuration of the junction 12 between the tongue element 11 and the face of the bracket member is preferably of a convex configuration with respect to the aperture 13 and preferably extends from one side of the tongue element junction to the other.

The bracket member 10 can be used in a shelving system with support members provided with a correspondingly shaped aperture to accept the tongue element 11. The tongue element configuration of this invention allows for a much greater distribution of load along the non-linear surface of the junction 12 between the tongue element 11 and the bracket member 10 as a greater contact interface is provided between the tongue element 11 and the support member containing the correspondingly shaped aperture to accept the tongue element 11.

Various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (2)

1. 2. A bracket member according to claim 1 wherein said tongue element is integrally formed with the said bracket member by punching out said tongue element from the face of said bracket member.
2. 3. A bracket member according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said bracket is provided with a plurality of tongue elements in a spaced longitudinal alignment. S4. A bracket member according to claim 1 as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this TENTH day of SEPTEMBER 1991 A.P.C. STORACK Applicant. WRAY ASSOCIATES, Perth, Western Australia, Patent Attorneys for the Applicant. '1 IS1" l:^