AU685138B2

AU685138B2 - Fastening bracket

Info

Publication number: AU685138B2
Application number: AU71616/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard John Halbert
Original assignee: CSR Ltd
Current assignee: CSR Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-15
Filing date: 1994-09-01
Publication date: 1998-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-01
Also published as: AU7161694A

Description

Our Ref: 522854 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: CSR Limited Level 24 1 O'Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Fastening bracket The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 I ILL -1- FASTENING BRACKET Background of the Invention The pres nt invention relates to a fastening bracket particularly useful in fastening plasterboard sheets to support frames.

Description of the Prior Art Plasterboard sheets are typically fastened to framing by means of nails or screws in combination with an adhesive means. A problem associated with such fastening means is that the nails or screws have a tendency to pop out from the plasterboard fixed to the framing.

This tendency often occurs in buildings and homes where movement, flexing, settling etc.

occurs after construction. i2so, timber framing is prone to movement, such as shrinkage Sium ryand/or twisting especially where the timber is unseasoned or of poor quality.

Summary of Invention The present invention seeks to provide a fastening bracket which permits twisting or movement to occur between a sheet material and a support member.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a bracket for fastening a sheet member to a support member, characterised in that said bracket is provided on a rear side of said sheet member to enable said sheet member to be disposed substantially parallel to a front face of said support member, said bracket being substantially L-shaped and comprising: "i fastening means, formed substantially from a first leg of said bracket, to fasten said bracket to a side face of said support member; attachment means, formed substantially from a second leg of said bracket, extending substantially normal to said fastening means, to abut a rear surface of said sheet member to said bracket, and a plurality of holes or orifices provided throughout said second leg, at least one of which is adapted to receive a screw, nail or the like to secure said sheet member thereto; and, alignment means, extending in an opposite direction, but substantially coplanarly, to said attachment means, for abutment of said bracket against said front face of said support member.

Preferably the bracket is of a one piece metal plate pressed construction.

p:\wpdocs\amd\522854\and L II Preferably, said fastening means comprises at least one hole or orifice for supply of a screw, nail or the like therethrough.

Also preferably, said fastening means comprises at least one pointed protrusion means extending substantially normal to a planar surface of said first leg, adapted to protrude through said side face of said support member, Alternatively, but also preferably, said fastening means is fastened to said side face of said support member by means of adhesive, welding or the like.

In a preferred form, said attachment means comprises a plurality of holes or orifices provided throughout said second leg, at least one of which is adapted to receive a screw, nail or the like to secure said sheet member thereto.

.oe..i .oo• Most preferably, said alignment means is a tab-like member cut out from said first leg of said bracket.

Perhaps, in a most preferred form, said support member is a ceiling joist, wall bearer or joist, and wherein said sheet member is a plasterboard sheet.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of fabricating a bracket, from a single piece metal plate, comprising forming cutouts, and, pressing and bending said plate to a substantially L-shape.

In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of fastening a sheet member to a support member using a fastening bracket Brief Description of Drawings The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting example thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the bracket of the present invention; p:\wpdocsaMd\5228S4\nd 11111 I -3- Fig. 2 shows a side view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a front view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a rear view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 shows an inverted plan view of the bracket of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 illustrates a front view of the bracket of the invention fastened to a timber joist; Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of the bracket of the invention fastened to a timber joist; Fig. 9 illustrates a plan view of the bracket of the invention fastened to a timber joist; and, Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a plasterboard ceiling arrangement utilising a i *plurality of brackets of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment(s) As shown in the drawings, the present invention relates to a fastening bracket 1, which is substantially an L-shaped plate member having a first leg 2 and a second leg 3 at a substantially right angle.

o. 20 The first leg 2 having a pointed protrusion 4 projecting from surface 9 thereon, preferably punched out during manufacture. The first leg 2 also having a hole or aperture therethrough.

The second leg 3 has a tab 6, projecting therefrom in substantially the same plane thereas, near the edge 7 where the first leg 2 meets the second leg 3. The tab 6 preferably punched out during manufacture. The second leg 3 also having a plurality of apertures 8 spaced apart thereon, thereby providing a perforated surface.

The bracket 1 also having two ribs 15 thereon along the first and second legs 2,3 to provide for rigidity of the bracket.

In use, as shown in Figs, 7, 8 and 9, the mounting bracket 1 can be placed against the side of a timber joist 10 such that the surface 9 abuts against the joist 10. The p:\wpdocs\amd\522854\amd I I I Il -4pointed protrusion 4 being embedded in the joist 10, thereby holding the bracket 1 in place until the user can effectively secure the bracket 1 by hammering a nail 11 through hole 5 (on the first leg 2) and into the joist 10. The positioning of the tab 6, against the lower face 12 of joist 10 ensures alignment of the bracket with respect to the joist Where a plurality of such fasteners are utilised on a number ofjoists 10, as shown in Fig. 10, a plasterboard sheet 14 can be nailed around its perimeter in the known manner. Additionally, plasterboard adhesive 13 can also be placed at spaced apart intervals before positioning of the plasterboard sheet 14.

Once the plasterboard sheet is positioned and perimeter nailed, a single fastener (preferably a screw fastener, driven by a screw gun/drill) can be driven through the plasterboard into the second leg 3 of each fastening bracket 1. The plurality of apertures eooeo o 8 which provide a perforated surface on second leg 3 of the bracket 1 allows for the .:ee screw to easily drive through the second leg 3 and engage thereto.

The fastening brackets 1 of the present embodiment would typically be used along the centreline of a plasterboard sheet.

20 The brackets 1 are preferably of a strength suitable to allow for screw fastening of plasterboard thereto, but sufficiently flexible enough to allow twisting and/or shrinkage of the timber joist/framing member without "popping" the screw.

The bracket 1 of the present invention is preferably a pressed metal component, however any suitable material and method of manufacture can be used for the production of the bracket.

In further, not shown, embodiments the bracket of the present invention could differ in shape and configuration and utilise different protrusions, apertures and alignment means to that as shown in the previously described embodiments.

Whilst the bracket has been described in it's preferred use for attachment of plasterboard sheets to ceiling joists, it should be understood that the invention is not p:\wpdocs\amd\522854\amd ~0 limited to this particular use. The bracket could also be used for fastt ing any type of sheet material to a support member, such as to wall bearers or joists.

The description has also illustrated that the bracket is useful for attachment to timber support members, however, as will be appreciated, the bracket will be useful for securement of sheet material to metal frames, or concrete or brick structures or the like wherein movement may also occur.

The bracket has also hereinbefore been described as being formed of metal, however, it should be understood that it could alternatively be fabricated out of other materials, such as semi-rigid plastics material.

It should be obvious to persons skilled in the art that these and numerous other variations and modifications could be made to the device of the present invention as 15 described and with reference to the examples, without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bracket is one piece metal plate pressed construction
3. A bracket as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said fastening means comprises at least one hole or orifice for supply of a screw, nail or the like therethrough.
4. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fastening means comprises at least one pointed protrusion means extending substantially normal to a planar surface of said first leg, adapted to protrude through said side face of said support member. A bracket as claimed in any onc of claims 1 to 4, wherein said fastening means is fastened to said side face of said support member by means of adhesive, welding or the like.
6. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said alignment means is a tab-like member cut out from said first leg of said bracket. rA p:\xwdocs\=md\522854\amnd q 7- 1
7. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said support member is a ceiling joist, wall bearer or joist, and wherein said sheet member is a plasterboard sheet.
8. A bracket, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A method of fabricating a bracket, substantially as herein described. DATED this 6th day of June, 1997 CSR LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE r As N LuU C) p:\wpdocs\anid\522854amd L I ABSTRACT A bracket for fastening a sheet member such as a plasterboard sheet to a support member such as ceiling joists. The bracket is substantially L-shaped. It is provided with a fastening means, formed substantially from a first leg of said L- shaped bracket to fasten the bracket to a side face of the support member It is also provided with an attachment means, formed substantially from a second leg (3) of said L-shaped bracket and extending substantially normal to the fastening means to attach the sheet member (14) to the bracket Alignment means is also provided, extending in an opposite direction, but substantially coplanar to the attachment means for abutment of the bracket against the front face of the support member The bracket allows good securement of the sheet member (14) to the support member (10) whilst allowing for twisting and other movement prone in buildings and other constructions. S p:\wpdocs\amd\522854\amd