GB2188533A - Shelf bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for supporting a window box or the like on a horizontal rail comprises a pair of plates 5, 8 to be clamped around the rail 1 by bolts 9, and either a bracket 4 or a loop (23) attached to one of the plates to support the box. Inserts (21) in the corners of the plate/bolt assembly may be provided to engage the rail and allow the device to be mounted securely on a curved rail. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Supporting devices This invention relates to devices for supporting articles on a horizontally extending rail above the ground. It is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for supporting window boxes, troughs or the like for containing plants orflower pots on a rail which may be a hand rail of a balcony.

According to the invention, there is provided a deviceforsupportingawindowboxorthe like on a horizontally extending rail which comprises a pair of plate members provided with corresponding holes, threaded bolts to pass through the holes of both plate members and nuts to engage the bolts, the plate members bolts and holes being such that the rail may be clamped by the bolts and nuts between the plate members with upper and lower surfaces ofthe rail engaging the plate members and at least one bolt being positioned adjacent each lateral side ofthe rail, and a support member attached to or integral with one of the plate members and providing a support surface extending horizontally and laterally from the rail.

In one embodiment ofthe inventionthesupport member comprises a bracket integral with the lower plate member and extending downwardly and lateral ly from the lower plate member. In another embodi mentthesupportmembercomprisesa longitudinally extending loop shaped to receive a trough and integral with the lower plate member.

Devices for supporting window boxes and the like on horizontal rails will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a handrail provided with supporting devices according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a support device shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a support device according tb another embodiment, Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a support device according to yet another embodiment, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a device of Fig. 4.

Figure 1 ofthe drawings shows a balcony handrail 1 of rectangular cross-section which is supported by uprights 2. A pair of brackets are shown mounted on the handrail to support a trough for use as a window box. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each bracket comprises a bent metal strip having a lower horizontal supporting part4, and an upper horizontal clamping part5 connected by middle part 6. Clamping part 5 is to be clamped to rail 1 and support part4 provides a support surface on which a window box orthe like may be placed.

The bracker is also provided with a stiffening member7 which is also formed of steel strip and attached, for example by welding,to part 5 and to the junction or parts4and6.Stiffening member7 is intended to provide the bracketwith sufficient strength to support the weight of a window box or other object placed on part 4without deformation.

The bracket is clamped to the rail byaclamping plate8which engagesthe uppersurfaceof handrail 1 and is attached to clamping part 5 by means of threaded bolts 9 passing through holes provided in part 5 and plate 8 on both sides ofthe handrail 1. Nuts 10 are applied to the lower ends ofthe bolts and when the nuts are tightened the bracket is securely clamped to the handrail as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1 a pairof brackets clamped to the handrail are shown, but any number of brackets may be mounted on the handrail in this way. The supporting parts 4 provide firm horizontal support surfaces which are especially suitable for supporting window boxes.

The window boxes may comprise elongate plastic troughs of the conventional type and, depending on the length ofthe trough, it may be supported by two or more brackets spaced at intervals along the rail.

The free end of part4 may be provided with an upturned flange 11 to prevent sideways movement of atrough supported bythe bracket; the horizontal distance between flange 11 and part 6 should be slightly greaterthan the width ofthe bottom ofthe trough. Instead of in additiontoflange 11, holes 12 may be provided in part 4 to receive screws to secure the trough on the brackets, so that the trough is positively attached to the brackets and cannot be displaced. When the trough is made of plastics material the screws used for this purpose may be self-tapping to penetrate the material ofthe trough, and be inserted from below part 4.It is also possible to secure a trough on the brackets by tying the trough to the upper part of the bracket engaging the rail by wire inserted through suitable holes formed in the upper partofthewall ofthetrough.

The clamping plate, the bracket itself and the stiffening member may be formed of miid steel and are advantageously coated with plastics material, to prevent corrosion and to give the bracket assembly a pleasing appearance.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the brackets attached to a handrail of rectangular cross-section whereby the brackets are held stably in the desired position by clamping of part 5 and plate8 againstthe upper and lower horizontal surfaces ofthe rail. Howeverthe brackets may be applied to a rail of circular or any other shape of cross-section. An advantageous method of mounting the bracket on a rail.of circular cross-section is shown in Fig. 3. In this arrangement the bracket is clamped around the rail as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but four cylindrical inserts are placed at the fourcorners ofthernctangle defined by plateS, part5 and bolts 9.These inserts are dimensioned to come into contact with the bolts, plate and partS when the clamp is tightened and have the effect of increasing the proportion ofthe circumference ofthe rail which is effectively engaged, thus increasing the resistance ofthe clamp to rotation. The inserts 21 may be steel cylinders.

Alternatively, inserts 21 may be of non-circular cross-section designed to increase the effective area ofthe insert in contactwith the rail. Forth is purpose, the inserts may have a curved surface ofthe same radius as the rail and that curved surface may be in contact with the rail so that the rail is engaged around substantially all its circumference.

In yet another embodimentthe inserts may be formed offlexible rubber our plastics material and may be compressed on tightening of the clamp so that the inserts are deformed and pressed against the rail.

The arrangement described above may be used to support a simple trough to contain earth for plants and the trough bottom may contain holes to allow drainage ofthe trough, water may fall directly from the trough bottom on to the ground. Alternatively the trough may be supported by a tray in conventional mannerandthetray may be supported bythe brackets. The trough may then be irrigated by water fed to the tray.

Another method ofsecuring atroughsuitablefor containing plants to a handrail is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this instance the handrail 1 is again engaged by a clamp comprising a clamping plate 8, bolts 9 and nuts 10 as in the arrangements of Figs. 1 and 2. However the lower ends of bolts 10 pass through a simple lower.

clamping piate 22, of similar dimensionsto plate8, and one edge of plate 22 iswelded or otherwise attached to one side of a rectangular loop 23 which is of a size and shape adapted to support a trough 24 within the loop. As shown in Fig. 4, a trough of conventional design has an out-turned lip 25 extending around the periphery of its upper edge and when the loop is in an approximately horizontal position the trough may be inserted within it and supported by the lip.

In Fig. 5 the loop is provided with two clamps, one adjacent each end, to supportthe loop horizontally.

However a smaller loop, intended to support a shorter trough, may require only one clamp positioned atthe mid-point ofthe loop whereas a very long loop, for a longertrough, may be provided with morethantwo clamps spaced along its length.

The plates 8 and 22 and loop 23 may be made of welded steel and coated with the plastics material as in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. In orderto accommodate non-rectangular rails inserts may be provided forthe clamp as in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Claims (7)

1. A device for supporting a window box orthe like on a horizontally extending rail, which comprises a pairofplatemembers provided with corresponding respective holes, threaded bolts to pass through the holes of both plate members and nuts to engagethe bolts, the plate members bolts and holes being such that a rail may be clamped between the plate members with upper and lower surfaces ofthe rail engaging the respective plate members and at least one ofthe bolts being positioned adjacent each lateral side ofthe rail, and asupport member attached to or integral with one ofthe plate members and providing a support surface extending horizontally and laterally from the rail.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the support member comprises a bracket integral with the lower plate nnemberand extending downwardly and laterallyfromthe lowerplatemember.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the end ofthe bracket remote from the plate member is provided with an upturned flange.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the support member comprises a longitudinally extend- ing loop shaped to receive a trough and integral with the lower plate member.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, provided with inserts to occupy the angles between the bolts and plates, the inserts being dimensioned to engage the surface of a curved rail on which the device is mounted.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which the inserts are of resiliently compressible material.

7. Adeyiceforsupporting awindowboxorthe like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.