GB2181037A - Adjustable bracket systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Brackets for carrying display shelves or rails are hung on a vertical channel member using a locking toggle 52 which is held in position by weight of the displayed items. The bracket comprises a face plate 54 and a spigot 50 which engages in one of a plurality of holes in the rear face of the channel member, and the toggle 52, which prevents rotation in one direction of the bracket member with respect to the channel member, is mounted on the spigot 50. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable Bracket Systems The present invention relatesto adjustable bracket systems and more particularly to systems for use in displaying goods in shops.

A known system for displaying and or storing articles comprises a plurality of elongate metal members, normally of angle section which are provided with elongate slots at specified intervals.

Rectangular metal shelves in the form of inverted trays with holes in the sides are bolted at each corner two the elongate members to form a rigid shelving structure. The disadvantage of such a structure is that whilst it is able to support securely heavy weights of articles the assembly is difficult and the boits make the system unattractive for shop use.

An alternative known system for holding shelves comprises a plurality of identical elongate metal members disposed vertically each with slots at required intervals. Shelf brackets with co-operating hook members are slotted into the elongate metal members at desired heights and the shelves are placed on the brackets. The disadvantage of such a system is that if the shelves are not heavily loaded then the brackets may become dislodged by an upward force. Thus in crowded shops, particularly clothes shops, with light articles for sale this system is not well liked. An additional disadvantage is that if exposed the hook members catch on customers clothing etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable bracket system which is readily assembled and which is relatively secure against accidental dismantling and which is attractive when assembled with no protruding edges.

The present invention therefore provides an adjustable bracket system including a first channel like shaped member, a second shelf bracket member, in which the first channel shaped member comprises an elongate channel section having on an internal rearface a series of holes at predetermined spaced apart intervals, and in which the second shelf bracket member comprises a spigot for cooperation in use with a hole in the first member, a locking member attached to the spigot which in use prevents the spigot from being withdrawn from the hole in the first member and which locking member is provided with at least one contact surface which in use contacts a surface of the first channel shaped member to prevent rotation in one direction of the second member with respect to the first member.

For the purposes of the present invention the term shelf bracket member is to be interpreted to include a member suitable for hanging a shelf thereon our a rail for clothes or a face plate or other item which requires to be hung at a variety of positions.

Preferably the locking member comprises a toggle of parallelepiped shape formed integrally with the spigot or rigidly attached thereto.

Preferably the first channel shaped member is substantially C-shaped in cross-section to partially enclose the toggle when in its locked position.

The holes in the first channel shaped member are in a first embodiment circular in cross-section to cooperate with a cylindrical spigot. In an alternative embodiment the holes are keyhole shaped, the spigot being generally cylindrical but being provided with a flat surface on one side for cooperation in the locking position with the narrower section of the keyhole.

A number of channel shaped members may be integrally combined together to form a unit from which the second shelf bracket members may be suspended in different directions.

The channel like shaped member may be formed integrally with a solid member such as a wall board.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a display rail incorporating the adjustable bracket system according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a channel member for use in the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the channel member of Figure 2 in cross-section; Figure 4 shows in side elevation a rail bracket for use in the system of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows the bracket of Figure 4 in end elevation; Figure 6 shows in side elevation an alternative shelf bracket for the system of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows the bracket of Figure 6 in elevation from a first end; Figure 8 shows the bracket of Figure 6 in elevation from the opposite end;; Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of a channel member incorporating keyhole slots for use in the system of Figure 1; Figure 10 shows in side elevation a shelf bracket for co-operation with the channel member of Figure 9; Figure 11 shows the shelf bracket of Figure 10 in end elevation; and Figure 12 shows an integral unit of a number of channel shaped members according to the present invention.

With reference now to Figure 1, a display rail 10 for supporting garments for example on coat hangers 12 is suspended between two upright elongate members 14, 16. The upright elongate members 14, 16 are substantially identical and are as shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3 but are shown respectively free standing on a stand 18 and affixed to a wall 20 to demonstrate the flexibility of the system. A rail bracket 22 supports rail 10 on member 16 and a further bracket 24 supports the opposite end of rail 10 on member 14. The brackets 22 and 24 are substantially identical and are shown in greater detail in Figures 4 and 5.

The system when installed in for example a shop will comprise a plurality of rails 10 elongate channel members 14, 16 and brackets 22, 24 of various sizes, lengths and material thicknesses. For the purpose of simplicity of description only single brackets of specific design will be described, it being appreciated that the non co-operating portions of the brackets which hold the rail and shelves etc. may be of any desired shape to perform a required function.

With reference now to Figures 2 and 3 the elongate member 14(16) is shown and comprises a channel preferably made by an extrusion process.

The channel may be of any desired length but a length of 1.9 metres (approximately 6 ft) is preferable. Circular holes 30 are drilled or punched through the back 32 of the channel at equidistant intervals. (The holes are preferably 4.5 mm in diameter and the spacing is preferably 20, 25 or 30 mm). Further holes 34 are provided for fixing screws (not shown) for fixing if required to a wall 20. The channel is C-shaped with side walls 36,38 and inturned flanges 40,42. The holes 30 are preferably drilled through the channel but if the channel section is thick enough blind holes may be used.

With reference nowto Figures 4 and 5 the holes 30 co-operate with a spigot 50 on a bracket 22 or 24.

The bracket further comprise a toggle 52 mounted on the spigot 50, a face plate 54 and a rail retaining portion 56 generally U-shaped. The spigot may be formed integrally with the rest of the bracket or the parts may be welded or brazed together. The rail 10 may be welded or glued to the U-shaped portion 56.

The assembly of bracket to channel is shown in Figure 5. The channel 14 is assumed to be fixed either to a stand or to a wall in a desired position (it need not be vertical). Bracket 22 is turned to the position 22', 52' shown dotted to allow toggle 52' to pass between flanges 40,41. The bracket is then aligned so that spigot 50 enters a desired one of the holes 30 in the rear face of the channel and the bracket is pressed towards the channel and allowed to rotate back to the position shown in solid lines in FigureS. As can be seen by the dotted lines representing channel 14thetoggle 52 is prevented from forward movement by the flanges 40,42 and from movement in an orthogonal direction by the spigot 50 engaging a hole 30.When clothes or other articles represented byweightW (Figure 5) are hung on the rail 10 the toggle 52 is forced against the inner side walls of channel 14. The rail and bracket can only be rotated in one direction and only by lifting the whole weight W of the articles hanging on the rail. Because there is no substantial leverage on spigot 50 due to designing toggle 51 to fit the channel 14 closely the system is capable of withstanding very heavy loads without any possibility of collapse. Toggle 52 is as shown generally parallelepiped shaped preferably with rounded off corners such that the narrower end faces ofthe parallelepiped abut the inner side walls of the channel giving a wide area of contact.

The parts may be made from any suitable material but a preferred material is aluminium with a coated hard and smooth finish produced for example by anodising, epoxy resin coating or chrome plating.

The advantage of a hard durable finish is that the bracket 22 if made of uncoated aluminium would tend to markthe channel 14 by its rotational movements and this is prevented by coating all parts. The rail 10 may be welded directly on to the face plate 54 eliminating the need for rail retaining portion 56.

Alternatively the channel 14may be formed in a larger more solid member such as a wooden board by for example a routing operation. The channel may be formed at any angle across for example a rectangularwall or ceiling board thereby allowing rails or shelves to be fixed at specified intervals along a diagonal rather than a vertical line. The timber may be given a paint or varnish finish to resist scratching by the face plate 54.

In circumstances where channel 14 is fixed on a diagonal or where the channel is cut in a board or other solid member at a diagonal it may be preferred to make the face plate 54 substantially circular. Thereby whatever the angle of the channel the face plate will still look correct.

With reference now to Figures 6,7 and 8 an alternative bracket for shelf fixing is shown. The toggle and spigot arrangement are thus similar to Figures 4 and 5 and will not be described in detail.

Instead of face plate 54 and U-shaped portion 56 an angle bracket 60 is rigidly attached to spigot 50. The angle bracket comprises a first portion 62 which cooperates (as face plate 54) with the channel 14 to retain the bracket in position and a second portion 64 with a countersunk hole 66 through which a screw or bolt can be inserted to retain a shelf or other similar display item (not shown). The toggle 52 is shown with rounded corners which assist in the assembly of the system. Again all parts are preferably of aluminium or aluminium alloy with a hard coating or the channel may be cut from a solid member for example timber.

With reference now to Figures 9, 10 and 11 a heavier duty bracket is shown. The spigot 70 and toggle 72 are of larger size to give added strength.

The hole 76 in the channel 78 therefore needs to be correspondingly larger. The bracket and channel arrangement also provides a locking system formed by making at least one flat 80 on spigot 70. As shown two flats 80, 82 are provided which is preferable for strength. The hole 76 is made keyhole shaped with a narrower section 84 so that when spigot 70 is inserted into hole 76 and then turned to engage the ends of toggle 72 with the inner side walls 86,88 of channel 78 the narrow section of spigot 70 formed by the flats 80,82 can slide into the narrow section 84 of hole 76. In this position the bracket 90 cannot be turned in any direction and if weighted down it is locked firmly in position. Again all parts are preferably aluminium or aluminium alloy with a suitable hard coating.

Other locking arrangements can be easily envisaged since once the bracket is in position it only requires that the bracket be prevented from turning with respect to the channel for the bracket to be non-removable. The advantage of the above locking arrangement is that it is hidden within the channel and therefore does not detract from the simple appearance of the system.

The channel may be as shown a simple C-shape or it could be more complex. Since the spigot does not have to protrude through the back of the channel then back to back channel sections are possible and other more complex arrangements such as shown in Figure 12. In Figure 12 the longitudinal member 100 shown in cross-section comprises three channels 102,104,106 with a hollow centre 108. The member 100 can be readily made from extruded aluminium and then each channel can be drilled through with appropriate holes for reception of brackets. A "tree" arrangement may therefore be obtained using the member 100 as the "trunk". Other shapes such as containing 4 or 5 channels are seen to be easily manufactured.

The system therefore provides a readily assembled display with brackets being on defined centres of 20,30,40 mm or other selected centres.

The system has virtually no sharp edges and the brackets are retained very strongly in position thereby being able to support heavy weights whilst still be attractive. The system is capable of being made to any selected size and of any material. Even plastic may be possible if only small weights are to be supported but for shop use metal is preferred.

The assembly requires no access to the back of the channel and there are no sharp projections. The joint is substantially hidden and therefore extremely neat and attractive.

Claims (8)

1. An adjustable bracket system including a first channel like shaped member, a second shelf bracket member, in which the first channel shaped member comprises an elongate channel section having on an internal rearface a series of holes at predetermined spaced apart intervals, and in which the second shelf bracket member comprises a spigot for cooperation in use with a hole in the first member, a locking member attached to the spigot which in use prevents the spigot from being withdrawn from the hole in the first member and which locking member is provided with at least one contact surface which in use contacts a surface of the first channel shaped member to prevent rotation in one direction of the second member with respect to the first member.

2. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in Claim 1 in which the locking member comprises a toggle of parallelepiped shape formed integrally with the spigot or rigidly attached thereto.

3. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the first channel shaped member is substantially C-shaped in cross-section to partially enclose the toggle when in its locked position.

4. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in Claim 3 in which the holes in the first channel shaped member are circular in cross-section to cooperate with a cylindrical spigot.

5. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in Claim 3 in which the holes are keyhole shaped, the spigot being generally cylindrical but being provided with a flat surface on one side for cooperation in the locking position with the narrower section of the keyhole.

6. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a number of channel shaped members may be integrally combined together to form a unit from which the second shelf bracket members may be suspended in different directions.

7. An adjustable bracket system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the channel like shaped member is formed integrally with a solid member such as a wall board.

8. An adjustable bracket system substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.