GB2340384A

GB2340384A - Fixing bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2340384A
Application number: GB9817228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William John Howkins; Gary Peter Gedney; David Samuel Fannin; Shaun David Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-08
Filing date: 1998-08-08
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Also published as: WO2000007483A1; AU5059899A; GB9817228D0

Abstract

A fixing bracket (1) for a shelf or the like, comprises a pair of limbs (2,3), a first limb (2) being disposed, in use, flush with the surface of a substrate to which the shelf is to be fixed using said bracket (1) and a second limb (3) extending, in use, substantially orthogonally to the first limb (2). The first limb (2) is provided with a first opening (4) to receive a first fixing stud on said substrate, the first fixing stud having a first head spaced from the substrate by a first shank of relatively smaller dimension. The first opening (4) has a first extension (4a) of reduced dimension extending, in use, vertically upwards, the first extension (4a) being of smaller dimension than the first head but greater dimension than the first shank such that the first shank may be received within the first extension so that the first limb (4) is captivated between the first head and the substrate. The second limb (3) is provided with a second opening (5) to receive a second fixing stud on the shelf, the second fixing stud having a second head spaced from the shelf by a second shank of relatively smaller dimension. The second opening (5) has a second extension (5a) of reduced dimension extending, in use, away from said substrate, the second extension (5a) being of smaller dimension than the second head but greater dimension than the second shank such that the second shank may be received within the second extension so that the second limb (3) is captivated between the second head and the shelf or the like.

Description

2340384 Title - Shelf Bracket This invention relates to a fixing bracket

for a shelf or the like, and in particular to a fixing bracket which enables a shelf to simply yet securely fastened to a substrate such as a wall, and which may also incorporate decorative features.

According to the invention, a bracket comprises a pair of limbs, a first limb being disposed, in use, flush with the surface of a substrate to which a shelf or the like is to be fixed using said bracket and a second limb extending, in use, substantially orthogonally to the first limb, said first limb being provided with a first opening to receive a first fixing stud on said substrate, the first fixing stud having a first head spaced from the substrate by a first shank of relatively smaller dimension, said first opening having a first extension of reduced dimension extending, in use, vertically upwards, the first extension being of smaller dimension than the first head but greater dimension than the first shank such that the first shank may be received within the first extension thereby to captivate the first limb between the first head and the substrate, and the second limb being provided with a second opening to receive a second fixing stud on the shelf or the like, the second fixing stud having a second head spaced from the shelf or the like by a second shank of relatively smaller dimension, said second opening having a second extension of reduced dimension extending, in use, away from said substrate, the second extension being of smaller dimension than the second head but greater dimension than the second shank such that the second shank may be received within the second extension thereby to captivate the second limb between the second head and the shelf or the like.

The bracket according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it enables a shelf or the like to be fixed easily yet securely to a substrate such as a wall. In use, where the bracket is used for the suspension of a shelf on a wall, fixing studs are first fitted to the shelf and to the wall and then the head of the stud on the shelf is passed (from below) through the opening in the second limb of the bracket and slid along the extension of that opening so that the second limb is held between the head of the stud and the shelf. The head of the fixing stud in the wall is then passed through the opening in the first limb of the bracket. The bracket then falls under the influence of gravity such that the shank of the stud passes along the extension of the opening and the bracket is held between the head of the stud and the wall. The shelf can be easily removed from the wall by lifting the bracket until the head of the fixing stud can pass through the opening in the first limb, following which if desired the shelf can be disengaged from the second limb.

The first and/or second openings are conveniently in the shape of keyholes, ie with a circular portion and a slot-like extension.

The first limb and/or the second limb may each be provided with more than one opening to receive a corresponding number of fixing studs. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second limbs is provided with two openings.

A shelf or the like will normally be supported by at least two fixing brackets in accordance with the invention. Lengthy shelves may require three or more such brackets.

The opening(s) in the second limb are preferably positioned such that when the fixing studs are engaged with the opening(s) and slid along the extension(s) the edge of the shelf which, in use, abuts the wall lies substantially flush with the first limb. This ensures that, when the bracket is mounted to the wall, the shelf is held in position by the wall and is hence fixedly positioned on the bracket.

The bracket according to the invention may be made of any suitable material, eg metal such as steel or a plastics material of sufficient rigidity.

In preferred embodiments, the bracket according to the invention is incorporated into a decorative shelf support, eg of moulded plastics. According to another aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a shelf support comprising a decorative element provided with means for releasable mounting on a substrate such as a wall and means for releasable connection to a shelf or the like, the arrangement being such that when so mounted and connected the decorative element supports the shelf or the like on the substrate.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a perspective view of a first form of shelf bracket in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is side view in cross-section of the bracket of Figure 1, showing how it is used to fix a shelf to a wall; Figure 3 is a side view, in cross-section, of a decorative shelf fixing incorporating the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the fixing of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an underside view of the fixing of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second form of shelf bracket according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a first form of shelf bracket according to the invention is generally designated 1. The bracket I is formed from a steel strip formed into a generally L-shaped configuration having a first limb 2 and a second limb 3 of approximately equal lengths.

A first opening 4, having the shape of an inverted keyhole, is formed in the first limb 2, and a pair of similarly shaped openings 5 are formed in the second limb 3. Two fixing holes 6 are also formed in the first limb 2 and a single fixing hole 7 is formed in the second limb 3. The keyholeshaped openings 4,5 have circular parts with slot-like extensions (4a,5 a respectively) extending from them.

Referring now to Figure 2, the bracket 1 is used in the following manner to secure a shelf on a I wall. First, the wall 10 is drilled and plugged with a conventional wall plug 11. A fixing stud 12 is then screwed into the plug 11. The stud 12 has a threaded screw shank with an unthreaded end portion of slightly greater diameter which prevents that end portion being screwed into the plug I I and hence maintains a spacing between the wall 10 and an enlarged circular head of the 4 stud 12. A pair of similar fixing studs 13 are screwed into the upper surface of the shelf 14, the spacing of these studs 13 corresponding to the spacing of the openings 5 in the second limb 3 of the bracket 1.

The shelf 14 is then engaged with the second limb 3 of the bracket 1 by passing the heads of the studs 13 through the openings 5 and sliding them along the slot-like extensions 5a. In this condition, the bracket 1 is held between the heads of the studs 13 and the upper surface of the shelf 14. Also, the surface of the shelf which faces the wall 10 lies substantially flush with the first limb 2 of the bracket 1.

Where, as is generally the case, the shelf 14 is to be mounted on more than one fixing bracket 1, the remaining bracket(s) are fitted to the shelf 10 at spaced apart locations in the same manner as just described. The shelf 14, with bracket(s) 1 attached is then offered up to the wall 10 such that the heads of the studs 12 pass through the openings 4 in the first limb(s) 2 of the bracket(s) 1. The bracket(s) 1 are then allowed to drop under gravity, the end portions of the studs 12 travelling along the extensions 4a. The bracket 1 is then held between the head of the stud 12 and the wall 10. In this condition, disengagement of the shelf 14 from the second limb 3 of the bracket 1 is prevented by the wall 10. The shelf 14, though held securely, can be removed by simply lifting the shelf/bracket assembly to enable the head of the fixing stud 12 to pass through the opening 4.

Figures 3 to 5 show the fixing bracket 1 described above fitted to a decorative plastics moulding 20, which in the example illustrated is in the shape of a bear. The moulding 20 has substantially flat rear and underside surfaces, each of which are formed with slot-shaped recesses to receive the corresponding limbs of the bracket 1. The bracket 1 is fixed to the moulding 20 by screws, rivets or the like which pass through the fixim; holes 6,7. The underside of the moulding 20 is also formed with a pair of deeper recesses 21 to accommodate the heads of the fixing studs 13. Likewise, the rear of the moulding 20 has one such recess 22 to accommodate the head of the fixing stud 12.

Finally, Figure 6 shows a second form of fixing bracket according to the invention. This bracket, generally designated 30, differs from that previously described in that it is for the support of a shelf from below, rather than the suspension of a shelf. The construction is generally similar to that of the bracket 1, save that the relative orientations of the keyhole-shaped openings in the two limbs of the bracket 30 is different.

6

Claims

1. A bracket which comprises a pair of limbs, a first limb being disposed, in use, flush with the surface of a substrate to which a shelf or the like is to be fixed using said bracket and a second limb extending, in use, substantially orthogonally to the first limb, said first limb being provided with a first opening to receive a first fixing stud on said substrate, the first fixing stud having a first head spaced from the substrate by a first shank of relatively smaller dimension, said first opening having a first extension of reduced dimension extending, in use, vertically upwards, the first extension being of smaller dimension than the first head but greater dimension than the first shank such that the first shank may be received within the first extension thereby to captivate the first limb between the first head and the substrate, and the second limb being provided with a second opening to receive a second fixing stud on the shelf or the like, the second fixing stud having a second head spaced from the shelf or the like by a second shank of relatively smaller dimension, said second opening having a second extension of reduced dimension extending, in use, away from said substrate, the second extension being of smaller dimension than the second head but greater dimension than the second shank such that the second shank may be received within the second extension thereby to captivate the second limb between the second head and the shelf or the like.

2. A bracket as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first and/or second openings are in the shape of keyholes, ie with a circular portion and a slot-like extension.

3. A bracket as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the first limb and/or the second limb are provided with more than one opening to receive a corresponding number of fixing studs.

4. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening(s) in the Z second limb are positioned such that when the fixing studs are engaged with the opening(s) and I 4D slid along the extension(s) the edge of the shelf which, in use, abuts the wall lies substantially flush with the first limb.

5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, which is incorporated into a decorative shelf 7 support, eg of moulded plastics.

6. A shelf or the like which is supported by one or more brackets as claimed in any preceding claim.

7. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

8. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figure 6.