GB2546070A

GB2546070A - An airing cupboard bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2546070A
Application number: GB1600137.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hurst David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-05
Filing date: 2016-01-05
Publication date: 2017-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-05
Also published as: GB2546070B; GB201600137D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a bracket, suitable for receiving a slat in an airing cupboard. The bracket comprises an elongate member 1 with a plurality of seats 2 for receiving slats 3. Each seat is preferably shaped to receive a slat with a rectangular or square cross-section. Preferably the slats fit into the seats with a clearance fit. The bracket may comprise a means for attaching to a support. The bracket may be made of sheet metal, preferably a single sheet of sheet metal. Each seat may be formed from a cut-out in the sheet metal. The bracket may be folded along its length to form adjoining first and second elongate sections 5,6 that are bridged by the cut-out. The first and second elongate section may be substantially perpendicular to each other. Preferably the bracket is folded a third time to form a third elongate section 4 comprising a means for attaching to a support. The third elongate section may be substantially perpendicular to the first elongate section. Preferably the bracket is folded a fourth time to form a fourth elongate section 7 that braces against a support. The fourth elongate section may be substantially parallel to the first elongate section.

Description

An Airing Cupboard Bracket

The invention relates to a bracket, and in particular, an airing cupboard bracket.

Airing cupboards often include slatted shelves for airing and storing clothes and linens. Known shelves are made entirely from wood, using standard lengths of planed wood, purchased from a DIY store or a builders merchants.

Two lengths of wood are used to form the brackets to support the slats of each shelf. These two lengths are cut to an appropriate size, and then attached to a support on either side of the airing cupboard. The supports may be, for example, the walls on either side of the airing cupboard. Any suitable means may be used to attach the lengths to the support, for example, rawl plugs and screws.

Further lengths of wood are then cut to an appropriate size, and laid across the brackets to form the slats of the shelf. If necessary, the slats are further cut in order to accommodate any pipework in the airing cupboard. Once this has been done, the slats are nailed to the brackets. A problem with the known shelves is that they are time consuming to install. In addition, once they have been installed, it is difficult to access any pipework in the airing cupboard as the slats are fitted around any pipework, and are nailed to the brackets.

It is an object of the invention to provide an airing cupboard bracket which reduces or mitigates the above problems.

Accordingly, the invention provides an airing cupboard bracket comprising an elongate member having a plurality of seats for receiving a slat.

As each slat is received in its own seat, it is not necessary to nail the slats to the bracket, and the slats can be removed by simply lifting them out of the seats. This means that it is much easier to access any pipework in the airing cupboard.

Each seat may be shaped to receive a slat of rectangular or square cross-section in a clearance fit. If the seats are shaped to receive a slat of rectangular or square cross-section, the slats may be made from planed wood, which is readily available from DIY stores and builders merchants and which may be easily cut to the desired length. Planed wood is sold in various standard sizes, and so the seats may be such that they will receive a standard size of planed wood in a clearance fit. For example, the slats may be such that they will receive a 20.5 x 44 x 3600 mm slat in a clearance fit.

The bracket may comprise means for attaching the bracket to a support, for example, an airing cupboard wall.

The bracket may be made from sheet metal, preferably a single sheet of sheet metal.

Each seat may be formed from a cut-out in the sheet metal.

The sheet may be folded along its length to form first and second adjoining elongate sections, and each cut-out may bridge the two elongate sections.

Said first and second elongate sections may be substantially perpendicular to one another.

The sheet may be folded along its length to form a third elongate section, said third elongate section being positioned on the free side of the first elongate section, and comprising means for attaching the bracket to a support, for example, holes in the third elongate section.

Said third elongate section may be substantially perpendicular to said first elongate section.

The sheet may be folded along its length to form a fourth elongate section, said fourth elongate section being positioned on the free side of said second elongate section, the fourth elongate section being such that, in use, it braces the bracket against the support.

Said fourth elongate section may be substantially parallel to said first elongate section, and may be substantially the same width as the first elongate section.

The bracket may further comprise at least one seat which is adapted to receive a hanging rail. For example, the seat may be narrower than the other seats.

The width of the bracket may be at least that of a pipe clip. Standard copper pipe clips measure 22 mm. If the width of the bracket is at least that of a pipe clip, such clips can be used to hold any pipes away from or abutting the front edge of the bracket, meaning that the pipes are accommodated without obstructing the bracket.

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bracket according to the invention, orientated as it would be in use;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1, rotated by 90° along its axis;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the bracket of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the bracket of Figure 1 in direction B;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the bracket of Figure 1 in direction A; and

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bracket according to the invention, orientated as it would be in use;

The airing cupboard bracket shown in Figures 1 to 5 consists of an elongate member 1 having a plurality of seats 2 for receiving a slat 3. The bracket 1 is made from a single rectangular piece of sheet metal, which has been folded along its length three times so as to form four separate elongate sections 4, 5, 6, 7. Each of the folds is parallel to the two long edges of the piece of sheet metal.

The piece of sheet metal measures 107 x 575mm. The three folds are respectively 13, 35 and 85 mm in from one of the long edges of the piece of sheet metal. Each fold is in the same direction, and the folds are such that adjoining elongate sections are substantially perpendicular to one another.

In order to reflect the wording used in the claims, the central two elongate sections 5, 6 are referred to herein as the first and second elongate sections. The first and second elongate sections 5, 6 measure 22 x 575mm and 50 x 575mm, respectively. The first and second elongate sections 5, 6 include eight seats 2, each of which, in use, receives one end of a slat 3. Each seat 2 is formed from a cut-out which bridges the first and elongate sections 5, 6. Each cut-out consists of two adjoining rectangles 2a, 2b cut out of the first and second elongate sections 5,6. The rectangle 2a in the first elongate section 5 measures 13 x 45mm. The rectangle 2b in the second elongate section 6 measures 20 x 45mm. As the width of each rectangle 2a, 2b is 45mm, the cut-outs will receive a standard 20.5 x 44 x 3600 mm length of wood in a clearance fit. Such lengths of wood are readily available in DIY stores or builders merchants.

In order to reflect the wording used in the claims, the elongate section 4 which adjoins the first elongate section 5 is referred to herein as the third elongate section. The third elongate section 4 measures 13 x 575mm. Four holes 8 are cut out of the section. These holes 8 may be used to attach the bracket to a support such as an airing cupboard wall.

In order to reflect the wording used in the claims, the elongate section 7 which adjoins the second elongate section 6 is referred to herein as the fourth elongate section. The fourth elongate section 7 measures 22 x 575mm, and is substantially parallel to the first elongate section 5. The free long edge of the fourth elongate section 7 is in line with the third elongate section 4, and so, in use will abut the support on which the bracket is mounted, which means that it will brace the bracket against the support.

In use, two brackets are attached to a support on either side of the airing cupboard. The supports may be, for example, the walls on either side of the airing cupboard. Any suitable means may be used to attach the lengths to the support, for example, rawl plugs and screws. The two brackets are mounted at the same height, and with the seats 2 of the two brackets aligned.

Eight slats in the form of standard 20.5 x 44 x 3600 mm lengths of wood are then cut so that they will extend from the seat 2 in one bracket to the opposing seat 2 in the other bracket. The length of each slat does not have to be such that it will extend exactly to the rear of each seat 2, but it should be such that, in use, the slat is adequately supported by the seat 2. The slats are then slotted into opposite pairs of seats 2 in order to form a shelf for clothes or linens.

As the width of each cut-out is such that the cut-out will receive a slat 3 in a clearance fit, and the height of each cut-out is 13mm, each slat 3 will be held within the seat 6 formed by the cut-out by the sides of the cut-out. This means that no additional means are required in order to hold the slats 3 within the seats 2, and that, if necessary, the slats may be removed by simply lifting the slats 3 out of the seats 2. This facilitates access to any pipework in the airing cupboard.

As the first elongate section 5 and the fourth elongate section 7 are both 22mm wide, there will be a gap of 22mm between each support and the front edge of the bracket, which is formed by the second elongate section 6. A standard copper pipe clip has a width of 22mm. This means that such clips can be used to hold any pipes such that they abut the front edge of the bracket, meaning that the pipes are accommodated without obstructing the bracket or taking up unnecessary free space in the airing cupboard.

The airing cupboard bracket shown in Figure 6 is the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 5, apart from one of the cut-outs 9, which has a width of only 21mm. This cut-out is intended to receive a slat which is narrower in cross-section, and so can double as a rail for hanging clothes as well as a shelf slat.

The above embodiments have been described to illustrate the invention, and are not intended to be limiting in any way. The skilled person will be readily able to devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An airing cupboard bracket comprising an elongate member having a plurality of seats for receiving a slat.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein each seat is shaped to receive a slat of rectangular or square cross-section in a clearance fit.

3. A bracket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bracket comprises means for attaching the bracket to a support.

4. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is made from sheet metal.

5. A bracket according to claim 4, wherein the bracket is made from a single sheet of sheet metal.

6. A bracket according to claim 5, wherein each seat is formed from a cut-out in the sheet metal.

7. A bracket according to claim 6, wherein the sheet is folded along its length to form first and second adjoining elongate sections, and each cut-out bridges the two elongate sections.

8. A bracket according to claim 7, wherein said first and second elongate sections are substantially perpendicular to one another.

9. A bracket according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the sheet is folded along its length to form a third elongate section, said third elongate section being positioned on the free side of the first elongate section, and comprising means for attaching the bracket to a support.

10. A bracket according to claim 9, wherein said third elongate section is substantially perpendicular to said first elongate section.

11. A bracket according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the sheet is folded along its length to form a fourth elongate section, said fourth elongate section being positioned on the free side of said second elongate section, the fourth elongate section being such that, in use, it braces the bracket against the support.

12. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein said fourth elongate section is substantially parallel to said first elongate section, and is substantially the same width as the first elongate section.

13. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the bracket is at least that of a pipe clip.

14. A bracket according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one seat which is adapted to receive a hanging rail.

15. A bracket substantially as described herein, or as illustrated in the drawings.