GB2309884A

GB2309884A - Releasable fastenings

Info

Publication number: GB2309884A
Application number: GB9602711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Glass
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-09
Filing date: 1996-02-09
Publication date: 1997-08-13
Also published as: GB9602711D0

Abstract

A cantilever member 1 e.g. a shelf support is releasably attached to a supporting member 3 by means of a cam member 7 which co-operates with a further member and can be rotated to draw the cantilever member and further member into firm engagement with each other. Preferably the cam member 7 is a snug fit in a hole in the side face of the cantilever member 1 and includes an internal cam surface which co-operates with an enlarged head 11 of a rod member 6 forming part of the further member. The rod member 6 may have a threaded projection 9 engaging an anchoring member 5 having prongs 8 for biting into a wooden supporting member 3. The supporting member 3 is preferably screwed to a wall 4 but may form part of a readily movable frame or stand.

Description

RELEASABLE FASTENINGS This invention relates to a method of releasably fastening a cantilever member to a supporting member. It is particularly suitable for releasably securing a shelf bracket to a vertical support but clearly can be used more widely eg for releasably mounting display brackets on supporting members which may be other than vertical.

It is well known to mount metal shelf-supporting brackets on a series of vertical members screwed or otherwise secured to a wall, but some of the known devices are easily dislodged and not very attractive in appearance.

This invention provides a method of releasably fastening a cantilever member to a supporting member wherein a cam member mounted in or on one of the said cantilever or supporting members is adapted on rotation to co-operate with a further member fixed to the other of the cantilever and supporting members to draw the said cantilever and supporting members into firm engagement with each other so that the cantilever member projects from the supporting member in a disposition to act as a support for an article or articles to be supported thereby or suspended therefrom.

In one embodiment the said further member comprises a rod which is threaded at sne end for engagement with an anchoring member fixed to the supporting member.

Alternatively the anchoring member may be fixed to the cantilever member, the cam member being mounted in or on the supporting member.

The cantilever member may be a shelf bracket and the supporting member an elongated member adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured to a wall.

In a preferred embodiment the end of the rod opposite the threaded end has an enlarged head portion adapted to co-operate with an internal cam surface of the cam member.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a shelf bracket mounted on a vertical supporting member adapted to be fixed to a wall.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the shelf bracket and supporting member.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the supporting member.

Fig. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, the cam member and the said further member in assembled condition.

Fig. 5 shows the cam member and said further member separated from each other.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the inner face of the cam member.

Fig. 7 shows the cam member viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a somewhat diagramatic representation of the faces acting on the cantilever member.

Referring now to the drawings, a shelf bracket 1 shaped as shown fits into a channel 2 in the front face of an elongated support 3 which may be screwed or otherwise secured to a wall 4.

Alternatively the support 3 may form part of a frame or stand comprising two or more supports mounted eg on castors for movement to a desired location. The bracket 1 and support 3 are preferably made of wood which may be painted or preferably treated with a coat of polyurethane or clear varnish.

The means for securing the cantilever member 1 and the support member together may comprise three parts viz; a fixed anchoring member 5, a rod member 6 and a rotatable cam member 7. A number of anchoring members 5 may be mounted at different heights on the elongated support 3, the rear of the support being recessed so that the anchoring members are flush with the surface thereof. The anchoring members have prongs 8 which bite into the support 3 when forced into place.

The rod member 6 has a threaded projection 9 at one end adapted to be screwed into an internally threaded boss 10 of the anchoring member 5. This threaded connection allows for a limited amount of adjustment of the position of an enlarged head 11 at the other end of the rod member 6. The enlarged head 11 may have a screwdriver slot or, preferably, a knurled outer surface to facilitate adjustment.

As will be understood, holes are drilled through the support 3 and into the shelf bracket 1 to receive the rod members 6.

The cam member 7 is a snug fit in a hole in a side face of the shelf bracket 1. By rotating the cam member 7 a cut-out portion 12 can be aligned with the rod member 6 to allow the head 11 to enter the cam member 7. By rotating the cam member 7 in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed from the rear face of the cam member) an internal cam surface 13 engages the head 11 and draws the shelf bracket 1 into tight engagement with the support 3.

The outer face of the cam member 7 is provided with means for rotating it eg a slot or slots for a screwdriver or a recess for an Allen key. An embossed arrow head indicates when the cam member is aligned to receive the head 11 of the rod member 6.

As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, when the fastening is assembled, it is hidden from view apart from the outer face of the cam member 7, and this is preferably on the inner face of the shelf bracket 1.

In place of, or in addition to a shelf, two or more of the brackets 1 may be used to support one or more rods extending through holes in the brackets, these rods being used to carry articles for display or sale, eg bags or packages.

Fig. 8 shows somewhat diagrammatically the forces F acting on the cantilever bracket 1 produced by articles mounted on a shelf 14 carried thereby. These forces are balanced by the reaction R of the supporting member 3, and the tension T in the rod member 6.

Claims

1. A method of releasably fastening a cantilever member to a supporting member wherein a cam member mounted in or on one of the said cantilever or supporting members is adapted on rotation to co-operate with a further member fixed to the other of the cantilever and supporting members to draw the cantilever and supporting members into firm engagement so that the cantilever member projects from the supporting member in a disposition to act as a support for an article or articles to be supported thereby or suspended therefrom.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said further member comprises a rod which is threaded at one end for engagement with an anchoring member fixed to the supporting member.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said further member comprises a rod which is threaded at one end for engagement with an anchoring member fixed to the cantilever member.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the cantilever member is a shelf bracket and the supporting member is an elongated member adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured to a wall.

5. A method according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the other end of the rod has an enlarged head portion adapted to co-operate with an internal cam surface of the cam member.

6. A method of releasably fastening a cantilever member to a supporting member substantially as herein described with refer- ence to the accompanying drawings.