Adaptable Bracket

Abstract

An adaptable bracket 130 having two strengthening means 138 extending parallel and along a curve so as to form two connecting body sections 131, 132 extending at an angle to each other and attachable to two or more articles respectively which is a vertical pole 12 and a horizontal pole 14 to be connected at an angle to each other which in this case is substantially perpendicular. The two strengthening means 138 extending parallel are connected with a flexible connecting means which extends at least partly in between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a bracket and more particularly is concerned with a bracket which is adaptable.

Whilst the invention may be applied to any type of use of an adaptable bracket, for example on furniture, shelving, scaffolding, etc., for convenience sake it shall be described herein in terms of an adaptable bracket used on fencing.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A fence is generally used to demarcate a particular area and can be constructed using a number of different techniques. In one type of construction a number of posts are embedded vertically into ground with a rail secured to top ends of the posts in a horizontal extending manner.

Often metal brackets are used to secure the rail to the posts. Typically these brackets are in the form of an elongate strip of material which extends from one side of the post across the horizontal rail to the other side of the post. The elongate strip is then attached at a number of spaced apart positions along the bracket using screws or nails to the post.

The difficulty with this type of fence construction is that the elongate strips have a tendency to become loose thereby gradually allowing the horizontal rail to become rollable relative to the posts. This movement of the top rail further increases the likelihood of the elongate strips of material becoming looser until the horizontal rail is completely detachable. This may be undesirable as the looseness of the horizontal rail could lead to the fence being at least partly disassembled. Often the horizontal rail acts as a barrier. Removal of the horizontal rail may allow, for example, cars being able to be driven in between the adjacent posts. This could render the fence useless.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to at least partly overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or at least to provide a useful alternative.

The invention generally relates to an adaptable bracket having at least two strengthening means with a flexible connecting means which extends at least partly in between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

The adjustment of the at least two strengthening means may allow a curvature of a curved underside of the adaptable bracket to be altered through the repositioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an adaptable bracket which includes a bracket body including at least two strengthening strips each of which extends from one end of the bracket body to the other; the bracket body further including a connecting strip which is at least partly flexible and which extends at least partly in between the two spaced apart strengthening strips thereby allowing for adjustment of the positioning of the two strengthening strips relative to each other.

Each of the strengthening strips may be profiled to have a rigid intermediate portion which tapers towards opposing ends so that each end has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which is substantially thinner than a maximum cross-sectional thickness of the intermediate portion.

The connecting strip may extend between opposed ends of the bracket body thereby connecting over an entire length the strengthening strips to each other.

The connecting strip may have at an end a maximum cross-sectional thickness which substantially matches the maximum cross-sectional thickness of an adjacent end of each of the strengthening strips so that the bracket body at each end has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which extends substantially continuous between the respective ends of the strengthening strips across the respective end of the connecting strip.

The connecting strip may have a central portion which has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which is less than the maximum cross sectional thickness of each end of the connecting strip.

The connecting strip may have an area of thickness which has a maximum cross sectional diameter which is less than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an area thickness of each of the supporting strips.

The bracket body may be constructed from an integral piece of material.

The material used in the manufacture of the bracket body may be a plastic material.

The bracket body may have an angular cross sectional profile.

The angular profile of the bracket body may be perpendicular.

The bracket body may have a side which is curved. The side may be the inner side which faces a structural component to which the bracket body is secured.

The curvature of the inner side may be adjustable.

The adjustment of the curvature of the inner side may be as a result of the flexibility of the plastic material used in the manufacture of the bracket body.

The flexibility of the connecting strip, which allows for the adjustment of the positioning of the strengthening strips relative to each other, may allow for the adjustment of the curvature of the inner side.

The flexibility of the connecting strip may be achieve through the profiling of the connecting strip to have at the central potion a maximum cross sectional thickness which is in the order of at least half the thickness of the maximum cross sectional thickness of each end of the connecting strip.

The bracket body may consist of a first portion and a second portion which extends a right angle from the first portion. In use one of the first and second portions secured to a vertical support component thereby allowing the other of the first and second portions to support a horizontal support component.

The vertical support component may be a post and the horizontal support component may be a rail; wherein the adaptable bracket allows the rail to be secured to a side of the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention can be more readily understood one or more embodiments of the invention are further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective photographic view of a fence constructed using techniques known in the art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective photographic view showing in use an adaptable bracket according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective front and rear photographic views of a photograph the adaptable bracket;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adaptable bracket in accordance with the invention before being installed;

FIG. 6 is an underneath view of the adaptable bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the adaptable bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the adaptable bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view from A-A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view from C-C of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view from D-D of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view from B-B of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 13 is an underneath view like FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a fence structure 10 which is constructed from a number of vertical posts 12 to which a horizontally extending rail 14 is secured at each top end of the vertical posts 12. A number of brackets 18 in the form of elongate metal strips are used to secure the horizontally extending rail to the vertical posts. Each of the strips is secured using one or more fasteners in the form of nails cleats or screws or the like to opposing sides of the post 12 and to the rail 14. As is clearly illustrated in this Figure, these types of brackets are prone to detachment allowing for the loosening of the rail from the top of the vertical posts. Such loosening results in the detachment of the rail from the posts thereby resulting in the at least partial deconstruction of the fence structure 10. This will defeat the purpose of the fence structure.

The accompanying representations of FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a bracket 30 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The accompanying representations of FIGS. 5 to 13 illustrate a bracket 130 according to a second embodiment of the invention and will be described later. In FIG. 2 the bracket 30 is shown in use to secure a horizontal rail 14 to a vertically extending post 12 to construct a fence. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the bracket 30 before being used to construct the fence.

The bracket 30 has a bracket body 36 having at least two spaced apart or coextending strengthening means or strips 38 with a connecting means or strip 40 extending in between and connecting to each other the two spaced apart strengthening strips. The connecting strip 40 is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening or strips relative to each other.

Each of the strengthening strips 38 has an outer profile in which the strengthening strips has an intermediate portion 42 which has a maximum cross-sectional diameter which is substantially greater than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of each end 48 of the strengthening strip. Thus, each strengthening strip is tapered from the intermediate portion 42 to opposed ends 48.

Referring in particular to FIG. 2, the connecting strip 40 has a central portion 56 which has a maximum cross-sectional diameter which is less than the maximum cross-sectional diameter 54 of each end 42 of the connecting strip 40. Thus, the connecting strip tapers inwardly from each end 52 so that the thinnest point, i.e. the central portion 56, of the connecting strip is positioned in between the thickest, rigid point, i.e. the intermediate portion 42, of the strengthening strips 38. This offset in thickness promotes the flexibility of the bracket 30.

The bracket body 36 is manufactured from a flexible plastic material. An inner side 58 of the bracket body is curved as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The flexible nature of the material used in the manufacture of the bracket body in combination with the offset in thickness of the intermediate portion 42 and the central area 56 allows for the curvature of the inner side 58 to be adapted. The adjustment includes is promoted by the flexibility of the connecting strip 40 which extends in between the strengthening strips 38. Since the strengthening strips 38 connected to each other with a flexible connecting strip, the at least partial movement of the strengthening strips relative to each other allows for the curvature of the inner side 58 to be adjusted.

The bracket 30 is shown in use in FIG. 2. A number of screws are used to secure the strengthening strips 38 at predetermined positions to the vertical post 12 and the horizontal rail 14. Additionally, each end 52 of the connecting strip 40 is also secured to the post and rail. The flexibility achieved through the thinner ends of the bracket body, the central portion 56, and the inherent flexibility of the plastic material used in the manufacture of the bracket body, allows for the curvature of the inner side 58 to be adjusted to accommodate slight changes in an outer surface 60 of the rail and post 32 and 34. For example, the flexible to the bracket 30 will allow for the bracket body 36 to be tightly secured to, for example, the rail which is slightly oversized or undersized. This will ensure for a tight fit between the bracket body and the rail. The tight fit reduces the likelihood of the bracket body becoming inadvertently detached due to an improper fit which may result in the fasteners or the bracket not being tightly secured to an underlying fence component i.e. the post and rail.

The invention provides for an adaptable bracket which allows for the bracket to be tightly secured to an underlying fence component due to the flexibility achieved in the structural components of the bracket. The bracket includes two spaced apart support strips which are connected to each other through a connecting strip. Each support strip has a tapering profile so that an intermediate portion of each strip has a maximum cross-sectional diameter which is greater than each end of the support strip. Each end of the connecting strip has a maximum cross-sectional diameter which is substantially equal to the maximum cross sectional diameters of the respective adjacent ends of the support strips. However, the connecting strip has a central portion which has a maximum cross-sectional diameter which is substantially less than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of the ends of the connecting strip. This causes the central area of the bracket body to have a maximum cross-sectional diameter at each side which is offset with a central portion in between which has the smallest cross-sectional diameter. This offset in thickness promotes the flexibility of an inner surface of the bracket body which is further promoted through the adjustment of positioning of the support strips relative to each other achieved through the flexibility of the connecting strip.

Referring to the accompanying representations of FIGS. 5 to 13 illustrate a bracket 130 according to a second embodiment. The adaptable bracket 130 having two strengthening means 138 extending parallel and along a curve so as to form two connecting body sections 131, 132 extending at an angle to each other and attachable to two or more articles respectively which is the vertical pole 12 and horizontal pole 14 to be connected at an angle to each other which in this case is substantially perpendicular. The two strengthening means 138 extending parallel are connected with a flexible connecting means which extends at least partly in between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other. The flexible connecting means includes connecting members 140 at either end of the two strengthening means 138 so as to form a substantially circumferential member and further includes a central area 156 formed by variations in thickness and structure relative to the two strengthening means 138 so as to allow an element of flexibility of the bracket 130.

The connecting members 140 have a thickness less than the thickness of the two strengthening means 138 so as to allow an element of flexibility of the bracket 130.

As shown by FIGS. 6, 9 and 10 the two strengthening means 138 have a ribbing strength structure while the middle portion 156 is much thinner to also allow an element of flexibility of the bracket 130.

The adaptable bracket 130 has a curved rear surface 158. However the adjustment of the relative position of the two strengthening means 138 around the connecting member allows a curvature of a curved underside of the adaptable bracket to be altered through the repositioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

Therefore the adaptable bracket 130 according to claim 1 having two or more connecting means extending at an angle to each other and attachable to two or more articles respectively to be connected wherein at least one of the connecting means includes at least two spaced strengthening means for extending along the shape of one of the articles wherein the spacing of the at least two spaced strengthening means allows for fitting along and at least partially across the shape of at least one of the articles.

An adaptable bracket which includes a bracket body having two or more connecting means each including at least two strengthening strips each of which extends from one end of the bracket body to the other.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of an adaptable bracket, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof are included within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An adaptable bracket having at least two strengthening means with a flexible connecting means which extends at least partly in between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

2. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment of the at least two strengthening means allows a curvature of a curved underside of the adaptable bracket to be altered through the repositioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

3. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 having two or more connecting body sections extending at an angle to each other and attachable to two or more articles respectively to be connected at an angle wherein at least one of the connecting means includes at least two spaced strengthening means for extending along the shape of one of the articles wherein the spacing of the at least two spaced strengthening means allows for fitting along and at least partially across the shape of at least one of the articles.

4. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 including a flexible connecting means which extends between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other, wherein the adjustment of the at least two strengthening means allows a curvature of a curved underside of the adaptable bracket to be altered through the repositioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

5. An adaptable bracket which includes a bracket body having two or more connecting means each including at least two strengthening strips each of which extends from one end of the bracket body to the other;

6. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the bracket body further includes at least one connecting strip and which extends between the two spaced apart strengthening strips thereby allowing for adjustment of the positioning of the two strengthening strips relative to each other.

7. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip is at least partly flexible.

8. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip is at least partly shaped to substantially match the outer shape of the article to be connected.

9. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 which includes a bracket body having two or more connecting means each including at least two spaced strengthening strips each of which extends from one end of the bracket body to the other and the bracket body further including at least two connecting strip which extends between the two spaced apart strengthening strips and forms a circumferential strengthening member.

10. An adaptable bracket according to claim 9 including a flexible connecting means within the circumferential strengthening member which extends between the two strengthening means and which is adapted to allow for adjustment of positioning of the strengthening means relative to each other, wherein the adjustment of the at least two strengthening means allows a curvature of a curved underside of the adaptable bracket to be altered through the repositioning of the strengthening means relative to each other.

11. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein each of the strengthening strips are profiled to have a rigid intermediate portion which tapers towards opposing ends so that each end has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which is substantially thinner than a maximum cross-sectional thickness of the intermediate portion.

12. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip extends between opposed ends of the bracket body thereby connecting over an entire length the strengthening strips to each other.

13. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip has at an end a maximum cross-sectional thickness which substantially matches the maximum cross-sectional thickness of an adjacent end of each of the strengthening strips so that the bracket body at each end has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which extends substantially continuous between the respective ends of the strengthening strips across the respective end of the connecting strip.

14. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip has a central portion which has a maximum cross-sectional thickness which is less than the maximum cross sectional thickness of each end of the connecting strip.

15. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connecting strip has an area of thickness which has a maximum cross sectional diameter which is less than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an area thickness of each of the supporting strips.

16. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the bracket body is constructed from an integral piece of material.

17. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the material used in the manufacture of the bracket body is a plastic material.

18. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the bracket body has an angular cross sectional profile.

19. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the angular profile of the bracket body is perpendicular.

20. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the bracket body has a side which is curved.

21. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the side is the inner side which faces a structural component to which the bracket body is secured.

22. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the curvature of the inner side is adjustable.

23. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment of the curvature of the inner side is as a result of the flexibility of the plastic material used in the manufacture of the bracket body.

24. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the flexibility of the connecting strip, which allows for the adjustment of the positioning of the strengthening strips relative to each other, allows for the adjustment of the curvature of the inner side.

25. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the flexibility of the connecting strip be achieve through the profiling of the connecting strip to have at the central potion a maximum cross sectional thickness which is in the order of at least half the thickness of the maximum cross sectional thickness of each end of the connecting strip.

26. An adaptable bracket according to claim 1 wherein the bracket body consists of a first portion and a second portion which extends a right angle from the first portion wherein in use one of the first and second portions secured to a vertical support component thereby allowing the other of the first and second portions to support a horizontal support component.

27. An adaptable bracket according to claim 26 wherein the vertical support component is a post and the horizontal support component is a rail; wherein the adaptable bracket allows the rail to be secured to a side of the post.