EP2369248A2

EP2369248A2 - Supporting bracketed device for apparatuses

Info

Publication number: EP2369248A2
Application number: EP20110158993
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino Cappellari
Original assignee: Cappellari 80 Srl
Current assignee: VECAM-CO S.P.A.
Priority date: 2010-03-22
Filing date: 2011-03-21
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Also published as: ITVR20100007U1

Abstract

Device comprising supporting brackets for condensing apparatuses, in particular of the exchange groups for air conditioning systems and/or other similar apparatuses, comprising a horizontal bracket and a vertical bracket assembled through interlocking means.

Description

The present invention regards a supporting bracketed device for apparatuses, in particular, for exchange groups for air conditioning systems and/or other similar apparatuses.

PRIOR ART

There has been a constant development of the air conditioning systems both for residential structures and structures of larger dimensions.
Such air conditioning systems are made up of diffusers, mounted in the rooms, and by external exchange units, or condensing units, which allow thermal exchange between hot air and cold air.
Such external exchange units are fixed to the external walls using robust L-shaped brackets, as described in patent application EP 1914484A2 . Such brackets are obtained in an ready L-shaped configuration or the sides forming the bracket are assembled together using screws or other fastening means.
This leads, in the case of the preformed L-shaped brackets, to the casing thereof occupying considerable space, both regarding transport and storage, while in the second case it leads to such fastening complicating the assembly system thereof, especially when the external exchange unit is at a given height.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION.

An object of the present invention is to provide a supporting bracketed device that is simple and quick to mount without requiring using screws or other fastening means.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a supporting bracketed device capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting bracketed device that is inexpensive. According to an aspect of the present invention, these objects are obtained by means of a supporting bracketed device as specified in the independent claim 1.
The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall be more apparent from the description of a supporting bracketed device, illustrated by way of example in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 a perspective view of the supporting bracketed device in the unassembled version according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the supporting bracketed device of figure 1 in the assembled version;
figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a supporting bracketed device of figures 1 and 2 provided with various accessories;
figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a supporting bracketed device of figures 1 and 2 provided with further accessories;
figures 5A-D represent the various steps required for assembling the supporting bracketed device of the previous figures.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A supporting bracketed device 10 for apparatuses, in particular air conditioning systems exchange units, according to the present invention is illustrated with reference to the attached figures.
As illustrated in figure 1, the device 10 comprises at least one vertical bracket 20 and one horizontal bracket 30.
The device 10 may be fixed both directly to the wall and on the sliding guides which, in turn, are fixed to the walls using screw anchors.
The device 10 is provided with seats 40 for the insertion of screws for fixing the exchangers and/or other apparatuses to the vertical bracket 20 and to the horizontal bracket 30. Such screws, not illustrated, are intended to be engaged in special threaded holes provided for this purpose and obtained in such apparatuses. Such seats 40 can also be used for fixing the device 10, and/or the vertical bracket 20, to the wall.
The vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 each have a C-shaped section comprising two lateral surfaces, respectively 20A, 20A' for the vertical bracket 20 and 30A, 30A' for the horizontal bracket 30 and an inner surface comprised between the two lateral surfaces, respectively 20B for the vertical bracket 20 and 30B for the horizontal bracket 30.
The inner surface 30B of the horizontal bracket 30 is slightly smaller than the inner surface 20B of the vertical bracket 20 to allow the insertion of the horizontal bracket 30 into the vertical bracket 20.
The vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 may also have sections and configurations shaped differently, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
The horizontal bracket 30 forms an angle □ variable between 80 and 90° with the vertical bracket 20 and it determines a support plane on which the apparatuses to be supported are positioned.
The vertical bracket 20 has two ends: a first end 21, arranged in the upper part of the vertical bracket, and a second end 22, adapted to be coupled to the horizontal bracket 30.
A recession 23 is provided at the first end 21 to allow possible insertion and sliding of guide means, possibly in form of a rectilinear rod, not illustrated.
The horizontal bracket 30 has a second end 33, adapted to be coupled to the vertical bracket 20 at the second end 22 thereof, and a first end 32.
The device 10 further comprises interlocking means 35 which are adapted to allow the joining and the corresponding separation of the vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 and which are adapted to allow the rotation of the horizontal bracket 30 with respect to the vertical bracket 20 up to attaining an angle □ comprised between 80° and 90° with respect to the latter.
Such interlocking means 35 comprise, at the second end 22 of the vertical bracket 20, at least one pin means 24 positioned in the lateral surfaces 20A and 20A'. Such pin means may comprise pin-shaped element and/or protruding configurations and/or L-shaped and/or bayonet coupling and/or hooking elements and/or similar means. Such pin means 24 may be moulded together with the vertical bracket 20 or horizontal bracket 30, so as to confer greater safety and capacity to the bracket, and/or added and/or fixed to the vertical bracket 20 or to the horizontal bracket 30.
At least one pin means 24 comprises an axis "B", visible in figure 4, which passes through the centre of the means.
Such interlocking means 35 further comprise corresponding opening means 31, positioned at the end 33 of the horizontal bracket 30, which may comprise an opening and/or a slot and/or a fissure and/or similar corresponding means for snap-coupling to the pin means 24.
The pin means 24 and the opening means 31 may also be respectively positioned on the horizontal bracket 30 and on the vertical bracket 20 without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
Thus, the vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 can be assembled to confer an L-shaped final configuration thereto without requiring producing a preformed bracket or using screws and/or other fixing means, thus obtaining a simpler and quicker mounting of the support device 10.
The pin means 24 and the opening means 31 may be shaped differently to allow the respective snap-coupling of one into the other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
In an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the attached figures, the opening 31 has an inverted substantially L-shaped configuration, positioned at at least one lateral surface 30A, 30A' of the horizontal bracket 30. The opening 31 comprises a first longitudinal area 37, with development substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis "A" of the horizontal bracket 30, and a second transverse area 36, with development substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis "A" of the horizontal bracket 30.
When the coupling of the horizontal bracket 30 with the vertical bracket 20 starts, like observable in figures 5A and 5B, the pin 24 is inserted into the second transverse area 36 of the opening 31, allowing the insertion of the horizontal bracket 30, in parallel position, into the vertical bracket 20. In this position, the first end 32 of the horizontal bracket 30 is at the first end 21 of the vertical bracket 20.
Subsequently, as observable in figure 5C, after travelling the entire second transverse area 36, the horizontal bracket 30 is moved upwards with respect to the vertical bracket 20, thus determining the sliding of the pin 24 in the first longitudinal area 37.
Thus, the pin means 24 slide along the entire longitudinal area 37 up to reaching the end position F, illustrated in figure 5C.
Such end position F allows the mutual rotation of the interlocking means 35 and hence the rotation of the horizontal bracket 30 with respect to the vertical bracket 20, as illustrated in figure 5D.
The first distance "d" between the axis "B" of the pin 24 and the lower edge 39 of the lateral surfaces 30A, 30A' of the end 33 of the horizontal bracket 30, illustrated in figure 4, is smaller or equivalent to the second distance "D" between the axis "B" of the pin 24 and the inner surface 20B of the vertical bracket 20 to allow to the horizontal bracket 30 to rotate and the lower edges 39 to abut against the vertical bracket 20.
The end 33 of the horizontal bracket 30 has, at the inner surface 30B thereof, a rounded edge 38 to facilitate the rotation of the horizontal bracket 30 on the vertical bracket 20.
The horizontal bracket 30 rotates with respect to the vertical bracket 20 by a determined angle □ until the lower edge 39 of the horizontal bracket 30 abuts against the vertical bracket 20, thus determining the locking of the two brackets, conferring safety and stability to the device 10. The opening means 31 may have various configurations and geometries variable to allow the snap-coupling and the rotation of the horizontal bracket 30 with respect to the vertical bracket 20.
The horizontal bracket 30 and/or the vertical bracket 20 may have stiffening ribs, not illustrated, for conferring greater stability and robustness to the device 10.
The support device 10 may have various accessories, observable in figure 3, which improve the functionality and/or aesthetic features thereof. Such accessories comprise: at least one cap or cover 60 for covering and closing the opening means 31, shaped in a manner corresponding to such opening means and/or to other holes present in the device 10, possible profiles 70 made of plastic material which can be inserted into the contact points between the horizontal bracket 30 and the vertical bracket 20 in the assembled and open configuration thereof.
As illustrated in figure 4, lateral covers 80 made of plastic material may be additionally provided for covering the area corresponding to the opening means 31 and possibly which can be inserted into the latter and anti-vibration gaskets 90 which can be positioned in the contact area between the vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 in the assembled condition thereof to reduce the vibrations which may derive from the apparatuses positioned above such device 10.
The thickness of these accessories may vary so as to obtain an anti-vibration effect and so as to adjust, by a few degrees, the angle □ comprised between the vertical bracket 20 and the horizontal bracket 30 up to reaching an angle variable between about 80° and 90°.
The thickness of such accessories may be reduced to avoid potential interferences with the metal parts of the device during mounting. Furthermore, the possibility of applying or printing etc. trademarks, logos and/or other ornamental elements on such accessories can be provided for.
The device 10 can be made up of metal sheets which are not only resistant and easy to machine but also relatively inexpensive, such as for example steel sheets or the like, which can be suitably folded and shaped, and/or thermoformed plastic materials and/or other materials suitable and resistant to support the weight of the apparatuses that are positioned thereon.
The present invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

Supporting bracketed device (10) for apparatuses, in particular conditioning systems units, comprising: a vertical bracket (20), a horizontal bracket (30) for supporting said apparatuses and interlocking means (35), said vertical bracket (20) being provided with a first end (21) and a second end (22) which can be coupled to said horizontal bracket (30), said horizontal bracket (30) being provided with a first end (32) and with a second end (33) which can be coupled to said second end (22) of said vertical bracket (20),
characterised in that said interlocking means (35) are adapted to allow the coupling and the separation of said vertical bracket (20) and said horizontal bracket (30) and they are adapted to allow the rotation of said horizontal bracket (30) with respect to said vertical bracket (20).
Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking means (35) comprise pin means (24), provided with an axis (B) which passes through the centre thereof, and corresponding opening means (31) respectively positioned on the vertical bracket (20) and on the horizontal bracket (30) or vice versa.
Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pin means (24) comprise pin-shaped element and/or protruding configurations and/or L-shaped and/or bayonet coupling and/or hooking elements and/or similar means.
Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said pin means (24) are moulded and/or joined and/or fixed to the vertical bracket 20 or to the horizontal bracket 30.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening means (31) comprise an opening and/or a slot and/or a fissure and/or similar corresponding means for snap-coupling to the pin means (24).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said horizontal bracket (30) has a longitudinal axis (A) and wherein said opening means (31) have an inverted substantially L-shaped configuration comprising a first longitudinal area (37) with development substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (A) and a second transverse area (36) with development substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (A).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one among said vertical bracket (20) and said horizontal bracket (30) have a C-shaped section respectively comprising two lateral surfaces (20A, 20A') for said vertical bracket (20) and/or two lateral surfaces (30A, 30A') for said horizontal bracket (30), provided with a lower edge (39), and an inner surface (20B) for said vertical bracket (20) and/or an inner surface (30B) for said horizontal bracket (30) and/or have sections with different configuration and/or geometry.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said axis (B) of the pin means (24) is spaced from said lower edge (39) of said horizontal bracket (30) by a first distance (d) and from said inner surface (20B) of said vertical bracket (20) by a second distance (D).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first distance (d) is smaller or equivalent to said second distance (D) to allow said horizontal bracket (30) to rotate and end up in abutment against said vertical bracket (20).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said device comprises seats (40) for the insertion of screws and/or other fixing means for fixing said apparatuses to said device (10) and/or for fixing said device (10) to a wall.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inner surface (30B) of said horizontal bracket (30) is smaller than said inner surface (20B) of said vertical bracket (20) to allow the insertion of the horizontal bracket (30) in said vertical bracket (20).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said vertical bracket (20) has, at said first end (21) a recession (23) to allow the insertion and sliding of guide means, possibly in form of a rectilinear rod.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one among said vertical bracket (20) and/or said horizontal bracket (30) have stiffening ribs.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (10) comprises at least one accessory among: a cap or cover (60) and/or lateral covers (80) and/or profiles (70) and/or gaskets (90), etcetera, which can be inserted into the contact points between said vertical bracket (20) and said horizontal bracket (30).
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said accessories have an anti-vibration effect and/or allow modifying said angle □ up to reaching an angle comprised between 80° and 90°.
Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (10) is made of resistant metal material, such as for example steel sheet and/or the like and/or thermoformable plastic material and/or other materials adapted for the purpose.