IE20130144A1

IE20130144A1 - Load-bearing bracket

Info

Publication number: IE20130144A1
Application number: IE20130144A
Authority: IE
Inventors: William Maurice Brown
Original assignee: William Maurice Brown
Priority date: 2012-04-30
Filing date: 2013-04-30
Publication date: 2013-11-06
Also published as: GB2505980B; GB201207471D0; GB2505980A; IE86870B1; GB201307705D0

Abstract

A load bearing bracket for coupling a first wall to a second wall, the bracket comprising an arm having a load bearing surface and a stop adjacent the load bearing surface; a support member having first and second limbs, the first limb having a free edge shaped and dimensioned for abutment against the stop and the first limb being shaped and dimensioned for abutment of the second surface against the load bearing surface; wherein the load bearing surface and the stop are disposed such that, in use, the support member is brought into engagement with the arm by moving the free edge of the first limb into abutment against the stop and bringing the first limb into contact the load bearing surface; at least one tab projecting from one of the arm and the support member and extending, when assembled, towards the other of the arm and the support member; and at least one aperture being provided in the other of the arm and the support member, the or each aperture being sized and disposed to receive the or each tab, the or each tab having a plurality of thread indentations on opposite sides, a threaded nut being provided for engaging the threaded indentations of the tab to retain the or each tab within the respective aperture to retain the support member in engagement with the arm.

Description

Load-bearing bracket The present invention relates to an improved load-bearing bracket, for example, for coupling a structural frame of a building with a spaced-apart outer wall. A cavity-walled building, or structure, has an inner structural frame and an outer wall, mutually spaced-apart by a cavity. The invention is particularly suitable for use with such cavity-walled buildings in which the structural frame is formed from concrete and the outer wall, or leaf, is formed from conventional brickwork. ι. with a numbof ofrsupportyg OPEIU TO PUBLIC iEUSPECTiOK UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL No.^.t!.....of^.i.7^.3 It is a well known problem in cavity-walled buildings, particularly of two storeys or more, that the different physical properties of the structural frame and the outer wall cause relative movement over a period of time. For example, a concrete structural frame tends to shrink as it cures and creeps under load, while an outer wall of clay brickwork tends to expand over a period of time. It is desirable to reduce the pressure bearing down on the bricks forming the structural frame. Conventionally, a load-bearing support apparatus is employed to restrict the relative vertical movement between the structural frame and the outer wall. Typically, such an apparatus includes a load-bearing bracket which is mountable on the structural frame using a conventional bolt, nut and washer arrangement.

Such a conventional apparatus, however, is prone to problems due to the load bearing down on the apparatus. Over time, the apparatus is prone to buckling under the weight of the load. In addition, conventional brackets are generally made to bridge a specified gap between two walls. Problems arise when trying to provide a load-bearing bracket between a gap having a variable width, whilst providing a bracket with a suitable load bearing capacity.

It is also known to have conventional brackets which comprise a supporting arm and a support member. The support member comprises first and second limbs, wherein the second limb is shaped and dimensioned to be placed between two layers of bricks, in use. The supporting arm has a contact edge which is substantially vertical in use, and the support 30 member is shaped and dimensioned so that the first limb is also substantially vertical in use. The support member is slid into place in a side-on direction to fit into the supporting arm. This construction has the disadvantage that when a single elongate support member is used arms, the support member must be slid in a side-on direction to '3/e?O , tgoq- C.....

IE 1 3 Ο 1 44 fit successively into the number of supporting arms, which tends to be difficult, and does not allow for any variance in the width of the cavity.

EPI 845220 discloses an improved load-bearing bracket comprising a load bearing bracket 5 10 for coupling a first wall 46 to a second wall 48, the bracket 10 comprising an arm 11 having a pair of parallel load bearing surfaces 19, a stop 16 being provided adjacent each load bearing surface 19; and a support member 24 having first and second limbs 26, 28, the first and second limbs 26, 28 defining an obtuse angle therebetween. In use, the elongate support member 24 can be engaged with a plurality of spaced arms 11 by engaging the free edge 37 of the first limb 26 of the support member 24 against the stop of each arm 11, the support member 24 being pivotable about said free edge 37 in order to bring the first limb 26 into register with the load bearing surfaces of the arms 11. However, a problem with such arrangement is that the support member 24 merely rests on the arms 11 and can easily be dislodged out of engagement with the load bearing surfaces of the arms 11.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load-bearing bracket which mitigates the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load bearing bracket for coupling a first wall to a second wall, the bracket comprising an arm having a load bearing surface and a stop adjacent the load bearing surface; a support member having first and second limbs, the first limb having a free edge shaped and dimensioned for abutment against the stop and the first limb being shaped and dimensioned for abutment against the load bearing surface; wherein the load bearing surface and the stop are disposed such that, in use, the support member is brought into engagement with the arm by moving the free edge of the first limb into abutment against the stop and bringing the first limb into contact the load bearing surface; at least one tab projecting from one of the arm and the support member and extending, when assembled, towards the other of the arm and the support member; and at least one aperture being provided in the other of the arm and the support member, the or each aperture being sized and disposed to receive the or each tab, the or each tab having a plurality of thread indentations on opposite sides thereof, a threaded nut being provided for engaging the threaded indentations of the tab to retain the or each tab within the respective aperture to retain the support member in engagement with the arm. ΙΕΙ 3 Ο 1 44 Preferably said thread indentations on either opposite sides of said at least one tab comprise a plurality of teeth defining a thread profile shaped to engage an internal thread of said threaded nut to be received thereon.

Preferably said at least one tab is integrally formed with the ami.

The or each aperture may be sized to permit horizontal movement of the, or each, aperture relative to the, or each, tab.

In one embodiment the arm is provided with the at least one tab and the first limb is provided with the at least one aperture, so that, when the first limb is in register with the load bearing surface, the, or each, tab projects through the, or each, aperture. A pair of said tabs may project from the load bearing surface and the first limb may be provided with a pair of said apertures for receiving same.

Preferably the arm comprises a recess between the load bearing surface and the stop, wherein the load bearing surface, the recess and the stop are disposed such that, in use, the first limb is located adjacent the arm by pivoting the free edge of the first limb in the recess until a first surface of the first limb abuts against the stop and an opposing second surface of the first limb abuts against the load bearing surface.

The stop may be shaped and dimensioned to receive the free edge of the first limb and so to substantially prevent the outward displacement of the first limb from the load bearing surface. Preferably the stop is shaped and dimensioned to enable the edge of the first limb to be engaged therewith, and the support member to be moved, preferably pivoted, adjacent said rim in order to bring the first limb into register with the load bearing surface and to bring the at least one tab into engagement with said at least one aperture.

Preferably the first and second limbs of the support member define an obtuse angle therebetween. The angle defined between the first and the second limb may be between 92° and 150°, more preferably between 100° and 110°.

Preferably the arm is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section. In one embodiment the arm is defined by a back plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates projecting therefrom, IEl 3 Ο 1 44 the load bearing surface being defined by at least a portion of a free edge of each of the side plates and one of said at least one retaining tabs projects from the load bearing surface of each side plate, the first limb being provided with corresponding apertures through which the respective tab projects when the first limb is in register with the load bearing surface.

The arm of the load bearing bracket may include at least one slot, which is, in use, substantially vertically disposed, which slot is adapted to receive a mounting member, wherein, in use, the slot and mounting member arrangement is suitable for mounting the bracket to the first wall.

In one embodiment a spacer member may be located between the arm and the first wall, said spacer member being releasably engageable with the arm, inter-engageable elements being provided on the spacer member and arm to enable the spacer member and arm to be engaged together at various relative positions. The inter-engageable elements may comprise a plurality of first teeth provided on the spacer member and a plurality of second teeth provided on the arm, said first and second teeth engaging one another when the arm is brought into engagement with the spacer member.

In a preferred embodiment said spacer member comprises a plate having substantially parallel side faces, said first teeth projecting from said side faces of the spacer member, said arm being defined by a back plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates projecting therefrom, said plurality of second teeth being provided on a respective rear side of each of said side plates, said second teeth projecting from said side plates beyond said hack plate to engage said first teeth provided on said spacer member.

Preferably said first and second teeth are integrally formed on said spacer member and arm respectively.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for coupling a first wall to a second wall, the method comprising fixing an arm to the first wall, the arm having a load bearing surface and a stop adjacent the load bearing surface and at least one tab projecting from the load bearing surface, opposite sides of the tab being provided with a plurality of teeth defining a thread profile shaped to engage an internal thread of said threaded nut to be received thereon; locating a support member having first IE 1 3 Ο 1 4 4 and second limbs, the first limb having opposing first and second surfaces, the first limb further having a free edge shaped and dimensioned for abutment of the first surface against the stop and at least one aperture for receiving said at least one tab therein, the first limb being shaped and dimensioned for abutment of the second surface against the load bearing surface; wherein the load bearing surface, said at least one tab, said at least one aperture, and the stop are disposed, such that the support member is located adjacent the arm, by pivoting the free edge of the first limb in the recess until the first surface of the free edge of the first limb abuts against the stop and the opposing second surface of the first limb abuts against the load bearing surface; inter-engaging the arm and the support member such that the at least one tab enters the at least one aperture; and contacting the arm with the second wall; a threaded nut being applied to said at least one tab to secure the support member to the arm.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals are used to represent like parts and in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a load-bearing bracket assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the bracket assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of bracket assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the arm of the bracket assembly of Figure 1 is 25 formed; Figure 5 is a front view of a load-bearing bracket according to a further embodiment of the invention Figure 6 is a plan view of the spacer member of the bracket of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the arm of the bracket assembly of Figure 4 is formed.

IE 1 3 Ο 1 4 4 Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a first embodiment of a loadbearing bracket assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of spaced apart arms 11 mounted on an inner leaf of structural member 2 of a wall, and an elongate support member 24 adapted to be coupled to an outer leaf 4 of the wall, the elongate support member being engaged with the arms 11 to couple the outer leaf 4 to the inner leaf or structural member 2.

As better shown in Figures 2 and 3, each arm 11 includes an elongated back plate 12 and two spaced-apart side plates 14. The side plates 14 are integrally formed with the back plate 12 and project, in use, substantially perpendicularly forwardly from the back plate 12 but substantially parallel with one another so that the overall arm 11 is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section. The side plates 14 are generally tapered towards the upper ends thereof. At a distance approximately two-thirds from the upper end, a free edge of each side plate 14, distal the back plate 12, is shaped and dimensioned to form a lip which forms, in use, a stop 16. The stop 16 has an inner wall 17. There is a recess 23 intermediate a load bearing surface 19 (contact edge) and the stop 16. The recess 23 is generally beneath a notional rectilinear extrapolation beyond the load bearing surface 19 and is opposite the inner wall 17.

A portion of each of the side plates 14 between the stop 16 and a lower end thereof has the load bearing surface 19 which, together with the tabs/apertures to be described hereunder, generally comprise a contact edge. The side plates 14 are tapered along at least a portion of the contact edge 19 between the lower end and the stop 16, towards the upper end. Optionally, the whole of the contact edge 19 may be tapered towards the upper end.

The arm 11 is preferably made from stainless steel, however any other suitable material may be used.

A pair of vertically spaced mounting apertures 18, 20 are formed in the back plate 12. The mounting apertures 18,20 are elongate in shape and have respective longitudinal axes which are substantially parallel with one another and perpendicular to a load bearing direction A, as shown in Figure 3. The mounting apertures 18,20 are preferably substantially obround in shape.

IE 1 3 Ο 1 4 4 A positioning aperture 22 (shown in Figure 4) is also formed in the back plate 12, spaced from the mounting apertures 18,20. Tbe positioning aperture is elongate in shape and has a longitudinal axis which is substantially vertical, i.e. substantially parallel to the load bearing direction A. Preferably, the positioning aperture 22 is substantially obround in shape.

First and second retaining tabs 34, 36 extend from the contact edges 19 of the side plates 14 in substantially the same plane as the side plates 14. The retaining tabs 34, 36 are located along the contact edges 19 approximately 1-2 cm from the lower end of the side plates 14, but their location is not limited thereto. Thus, it will be appreciated that, with the exception of the projecting retaining tabs 34, 36, the side plates 14 are tapered from the lower end towards the first upper end, at least as far as the stop 16. Opposite sides of each retaining tab 34,36 are provided with teeth 37 (best shown in Figure 4) such that the sides of each tab define a thread contour to allow a threaded nut 50,52 to be screwed onto each retaining tab 34,36, as will be described in more detail below. The teeth 37 on opposite sides of each retaining tab 34,36 are mutually offset so as to result in a pitch, thus defining a male thread. The teeth 37 can be dimensioned and offset to define a conventional metric thread profile.

The support member 24, which is preferably made from stainless steel, includes a first limb 26 having first and second opposing surfaces 27, 29 and a second limb 28. The first and second limbs 26, 28 are so disposed relative to one another that an obtuse angle B exists between the limbs 26, 28, as shown in Figure 3. The obtuse angle B is preferably approximately 92 - 150°, preferably 100-110°, more preferably 103 - 107°, most preferably about 105°. The contact edges 19 and the first limb 26 of the support member 24 are shaped and dimensioned for a complementary fit with each other, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The first and second limbs are disposed with respect to one another so that the second limb 28 is substantially horizontally disposed, in use.

The support member 24 comprises a row of apertures 30, which apertures 30 are shaped and dimensioned, in use, such that adjacent pairs of apertures 30 releasably locate the respective first and second retaining tabs 34, 36 of a respective arm 11 therein and to permit limited pivotable movement of the apertures 30 about the tabs 34, 36 to engage the support member 24 with the a plurality of spaced apart arms 11. A threaded nut 50,52 is provided for engagement with the teeth 37 provided on the sides of each retaining tab 34,36, whereby the IE 1 3 Ο 1 4 4 threaded nuts 50,52 can be screwed onto the respective tabs 34,36 to retain the support member 24 in engagement with the arms 11.

In use, the arms 11 are mounted to the inner leaf 2, such as an inner structural member, with 5 the longitudinal axis of the back plate 12 substantially vertical, i.e. substantially parallel to the load-bearing direction A.

The mounting apertures 18, 20 are shaped and dimensioned to receive a load-bearing bolt 35, or other suitable fixing element. Once the arm 11 has been approximately positioned, possibly by inserting at least one positioning nail or the like (not shown) through the aperture 22, the user can select either of the vertically separated mounting apertures 18, 20, and can further select where, in a number of horizontally spaced-apart locations, to insert the bolt 35. Since the horizontal width of each mounting aperture 18, 20 is greater than the diameter or width of the bolt 35, the bolt 35 is insertable through either one of the mounting apertures 18, 20 in more than one horizontally spaced-apart location. Typically, the horizontal width of the mounting apertures 18, 20 is 2-3 times greater than the diameter of the load-bearing bolt 35. The vertical height of the apertures 18, 20 is preferably substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the diameter of the bolt 35.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. As with the first embodiment, the bracket comprises one or more arms 111, each of which includes an elongate back plate 112 and two spaced apart side plates 114. A spacer member 60 is provided to be located between each arm 111 and the inner leaf or structural member 2 in face to face engagement with one another, as will be described hereinafter in detail. As with the first embodiment, the arm 111 includes a pair of tabs 134,136 each projecting from a respective load bearing surface or contact surface 119, in addition to a corresponding pair of stops 116 which together define retention means adapted to secure and retain a horizontal support member 124 on the arms 111, the tabsl34,136 extending through respective apertures 130 in the support member and having threaded nuts 150,152 mounted thereon via teeth 137 provided on opposites sides of each tab 134,136 to define a male thread.

The rear wall 124 of the arm 111 is provided with an elongate slot 126 therein which enables the arm 111 to be secured to the inner leaf or structural member via a bolt, in use. Similarly, the spacer member 60 is provided with a pair of apertures 62,64 therein, through which said IE 1 3 Ο 1 4 4 securing bolt may pass. The use of the apertures 62,64 in the spacer member prevents any vertical movement of the spacer member 60 once mounted on the bolt, while the use of the slot 126 facilitates such vertical movement of the arm 111 when mounted on the bolt to achieve vertical alignment of the arm 111 with the support member 60.

Each arm 111 further comprises two generally parallel rows of first teeth 80 (shown in Figure 7) which, in the embodiment illustrated, project from and are formed integrally with the respective side walls 114 of the arm 111, such that the first teeth 80 are an integral part of the arm 111. This integrity reduces the manufacturing cost of producing the arm, in addition to providing increased strength to the first teeth 80. The first teeth 80 project beyond the rear wall 112, and are therefore capable of meshing with corresponding rows of second teeth 82 formed along either side of the spacer member 60. The first and second teeth 80, 82 together define inter-engageable elements which, it will be appreciated, could be replaced with any manner of suitable alternative.

It will thus be appreciated that the arm 111 and spacer member 60 must be correspondingly dimensioned so that the first teeth 80 and the second teeth 82 are aligned when the arm 11 and spacer member 80 are brought into register with one another, thereby enabling the rows of teeth 80, 82 to mesh with one another. It can be seen that the rows of second teeth 82 are greater in length than the rows of first teeth 80, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated, almost twice as long as same. This allows the first teeth 80 to mesh with the second teeth 82 at a number of different, in use, vertical positions, thereby allowing the arm and the spacer member to be offset vertically to one another, in a number of positions. In any of these positions, the arm and spacer member will be held securely in said position, by virtue of the teeth 80, 82, until the arm and spacer member are clamped together by the fastening bolt.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the teeth one of the rows of second teeth 82 face in the opposite direction to the teeth of the other row of second teeth 82, which prevents any significant horizontal movement between the arm 111 and the spacer member 60 when the teeth 80, 82 are meshed or interlocked with one another. This therefore ensures that the arm will not be accidentally disengaged from the spacer member in a horizontal direction. 1E1 3 Ο 1 44 It is also preferable, regardless of the vertical alignment between the arm and spacer member, that a lower edge of the spacer member 60 is at least flush with, and preferably projects below, a lower edge of the arm 111. This ensures that when the arm 111 is loaded during use, the entire load is transferred through the spacer member 60 to the inner leaf of the wall. If the arm 111, and in particular the lower edge thereof, were overhanging the lower edge of the spacer member 60, possible deformation of the arm, about the lower edge, could occur as a result of the cantilevered nature of the arm about the mounting bolt. The spacer member 60 is therefore preferably initially provided with sufficient length to ensure this overlap regardless of the relative vertical positioning between the arm 111 and the spacer member 60. However, a frangible section 66 may be provided about the lower edge of the spacer member 60, defined by a laser cut line of weakness 68, which enables the frangible section 66 to be removed if not required. Any other suitable means of providing this frangible section 66 could of course be employed.

In both the first and second embodiments, it is preferable that the arm 11;111 is cut and folded from a single sheet of material, thereby significantly reducing the cost and time taken to produce the arm. In a most preferred arrangement, the outline shape of the arm, in addition to the profile of the tabs and the teeth 37; 137 defining the male thread profile formed thereon, is laser cut from a sheet of material such as steel or the like. The threaded portions 37;137 of the tabs 34,36;134,136 are therefore formed integrally with the arm 11 ;111. Each of the side walls 14; 114 is then folded normally to the rear wall 12; 112 by any suitable means.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the fold line between each side wall 114 and the rear wall 112 is offset in parallel to the tips of the first teeth 80 such that when each wall 114 is folded into position the teeth 80 are left projecting rearwardly beyond the rear wall 112. Thus no further machining or positioning is required to the first teeth 80 or the teeth 137.

Although the drawings illustrates the arms 11;111 used with a single elongate support member 14;124. It will also be appreciated that, alternatively, a plurality of single support members 24; 124 may be used with a plurality of arms 11; 111, each arm 11; 111 being the same or of different size, depending on the required use.

IEl 3 Ο 1 44 The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A load bearing bracket for coupling a first wall to a second wall, the bracket comprising an arm having a load bearing surface and a stop adjacent the load bearing surface; a support 5 member having first and second limbs, the first limb having a free edge shaped and dimensioned for abutment against the stop and the first limb being shaped and dimensioned for abutment against the load bearing surface; wherein the load bearing surface and the stop are disposed such that, in use, the support member is brought into engagement with the arm by moving the free edge of the first limb into abutment against the stop and bringing the first 10 limb into contact the load bearing surface; at least one tab projecting from one of the arm and the support member and extending, when assembled, towards the other of the arm and the support member; and at least one aperture being provided in the other of the arm and the support member, the or each aperture being sized and disposed to receive the or each tab, the or each tab having a plurality of thread indentations on opposite sides thereof, a threaded 15 nut being provided for engaging the threaded indentations of the tab to retain the or each tab within the respective aperture to retain the support member in engagement with the arm.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thread indentations on either opposite sides of said at least one tab comprise a plurality of teeth defining a thread profile shaped to 20 engage an internal thread of said threaded nut to be received thereon.

3. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least one tab is integrally formed with the arm. 25

4. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each aperture is sized to permit horizontal movement of the, or each, aperture relative to the, or each, tab.

5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm is provided with the at least one tab and the first limb of the support member is provided with the at least one 30 aperture, so that, when the first limb is in register with the load bearing surface of the arm, the, or each, tab projects through the, or each, aperture. IE1 3 Ο 1 4 4

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pair of said tabs project from the load bearing surface of the arm and the first limb of the support member is provided with a pair of said apertures for receiving same. 5

7. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm comprises a recess between the load bearing surface and the stop, wherein the load bearing surface, the recess and the stop are disposed such that, in use, the first limb is located adjacent the arm by pivoting the free edge of the first limb in the recess until a first surface of the first limb abuts against the stop and an opposing second surface of the first limb abuts against the load 10 bearing surface.

8. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stop is shaped and dimensioned to receive the free edge of the first limb and so to substantially prevent the outward displacement of the first limb from the load bearing surface.

9. A bracket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stop is shaped and dimensioned to enable a free edge of the first limb of the support member to be engaged therewith, and enabling the support member to be moved in order to bring the first limb into register with the load bearing surface and to bring the at least one tab into engagement with said at least one 20 aperture.

10. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second limbs of the support member define an obtuse angle therebetween. 25

11. A bracket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle defined between the first and the second limbs is between 92° and 150°.

12. A bracket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angle defined between the first and the second limbs is between 100° and 110°.

13. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section. IE1 3 0 144

14. A bracket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the arm is defined by a back plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates projecting therefrom, the load bearing surface being defined by at least a portion of a free edge of each of the side plates and one of said at least one retaining tabs projects from the load bearing surface of each side plate, the first limb of the support 5 member being provided with corresponding apertures through which the respective tab projects when the first limb of the support member is in register with the load bearing surface of the arm.

15. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm includes at least one slot, 10 which is, in use, substantially vertically disposed, which slot is adapted to receive a mounting member, wherein, in use, the slot and mounting member arrangement is suitable for mounting the bracket to the first wall.

16. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a spacer member is locatable 15 between the arm and the first wall, said spacer member being releasably engageable with the arm, inter-engageable elements being provided on the spacer member and arm to enable the spacer member and arm to be engaged together at various relative positions.

17. A bracket as claimed in claim 16, wherein the inter-engageable elements comprise a 20 plurality of first teeth provided on the spacer member and a plurality of second teeth provided on the arm, said first and second teeth engaging one another when the arm is brought into engagement with the spacer member.

18. A bracket as claimed in claim 17, wherein said spacer member comprises a plate having 25 substantially parallel side faces, said first teeth projecting from said side faces of the spacer member, said arm being defined by a back plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates projecting therefrom, said plurality of second teeth being provided on a respective rear side of each of said side plates, said second teeth projecting from said side plates beyond said back plate to engage said first teeth provided on said spacer member.

19. A bracket as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first and second teeth are integrally formed on said spacer member and arm respectively. ^130144

20. A method for coupling a first wall to a second wall, the method comprising fixing an arm to the first wall, the arm having a load bearing surface and a stop adjacent the load bearing surface and at least one tab projecting from the load bearing surface, the arm comprising a recess between the load bearing surface and the stop, opposite sides of the at 5 least one tab being provided with a plurality of teeth defining a thread profile shaped to engage an internal thread of said threaded nut to be received thereon; locating a support member adjacent the arm, said support member having first and second limbs, the first limb having opposing first and second surfaces, the first limb further having at least one aperture for receiving said at least one tab therein, the first limb being shaped and dimensioned for 10 abutment of the second surface against the load bearing surface of the arm; wherein the load bearing surface, said at least one tab, said at least one aperture, said recess and the stop are disposed, such that the support member is locatable adjacent the arm, by pivoting a free edge of the first limb of the support member in the recess until the first surface of the first limb abuts against the stop and the opposing second surface of the first limb abuts against the 15 load bearing surface; inter-engaging the arm and the support member such that the at least one tab enters the at least one aperture; and contacting the arm with the second surface of the first limb of the support member; a threaded nut being applied to said at least one tab to secure the support member to the arm. 20

21. A load bearing bracket for coupling a first wall to a second wall, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method for coupling a first wall to a second wall, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.