The present disclosure relates to an improved mounting bracket, and more particularly, to a mounting bracket for a facade mounting system that temporarily secures a support member to either side of the bracket, and allows for mounting the support member to either side of the bracket.
Mounting brackets are used to, for example, mount a support system for a facade or rain screen to an underlying substrate such as a building backup wall. These brackets typically are L-shaped members and include a baseplate secured to the backup wall and an extension leg that extends outwardly from the baseplate. An elongated vertical mounting member is mounted to the mounting bracket. The vertical member can be an elongated L-shaped extrusion having a first leg that is mounted to the extension leg and a transverse leg. The transverse leg is parallel to the backup wall. U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,701 discloses one a mounting bracket and is incorporated by reference herein in entirety.
In a typical installation, multiple vertical members are mounted to a series of vertically arrayed mounting brackets. Horizontal members are then mounted to the vertical members to form a matrix-like support system to which a facade, such as a rain screen is mounted. In many installations, insulation is disposed between the backup wall and the facade. Patent Application Publication No. WO2018/036756, entitled “Device for Securing Facade Parts” discloses an example and is incorporated by reference in entirety.
It is important to maintain the facade planar relative to the backup wall. As such the distance between the transverse leg and the backup wall must be allowed to vary, as by moving the vertical members toward and away from the backup wall before the vertical members are affixed in place. The ability to move the vertical member allows for accounting for variations in the backup wall.
Further, the facade should be positioned and installed so as to prevent water incursion into the space occupied by the insulation. And, for aesthetics as well as performance, the facade should be flush and plumb, and each panel of the facade planar with each other facade panel. One challenge to installation is temporarily securing the vertical member to the bracket while attempting to plumb the vertical member and to assure that the vertical member is planar with the adjacent/other vertical members.
Moreover, while certain systems permit temporarily securing the vertical members, the vertical member can only be secured to one side of the bracket which can result in a difficult installation when for example, a right-handed installer must secure the vertical member to the left side of the bracket or a left-handed installer must secure the vertical member to the right side of the bracket, or when installing a vertical member in a tight location.
Accordingly, there is a need for a dual-sided mounting bracket for a facade mounting system that temporarily secures an associated member, such as a vertical member to the bracket, and allows for securing and affixing the associated member to either side of the bracket.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dual-sided mounting bracket for a facade mounting system. The bracket temporarily secures an associated member, such as a vertical member to the bracket, and allows for securing and subsequently affixing the vertical member to either side of the bracket.
In an aspect, a dual-sided mounting bracket includes an L-shaped member having a baseplate for securing to the wall structure and a transverse leg extending from and transverse to the baseplate. The transverse leg defines an inside surface, an outside surface, and a plane.
The transverse leg has first and second clips formed therein on opposing sides of a height centerline. The first clip extends in a first direction from the transverse leg plane and the second clip extends in a second, opposite direction from the transverse leg plane. Each the first and second clips define an angled opening at free ends thereof and a capture region adjacent to the angled openings. The first and second clips are configured to receive the vertical member in either the first or second; that is, on either side of the transverse leg.
In embodiments, each clip includes first, second and third bends. The first bend is at a juncture of the clip with the leg body, and bends away from the plane of the leg. The second bend is spaced from the first bend and bends back toward the leg plane, and the third bend is spaced from the second bend and bends away from the leg plane. The third bend defines the angled opening. In an embodiment, the first bend is formed at an angle and the second bend is formed at an angle less than the first bend; the third bend is formed at an angle greater than the first and second bend angles.
In embodiments, the first and second clips are spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the plane of the transverse leg. In such embodiments, an intermediate portion of the transverse is disposed between the first and second clips. The intermediate portion can be in the transverse leg plane. The clips can be mirror images of one another.
In embodiments, the mounting bracket can further include ribs in the baseplate and/or the transverse leg. The ribs can be strengthening ribs.
In another aspect a dual-sided mounting bracket includes an L-shaped member having a baseplate for securing to the wall structure and a transverse leg extending from and transverse to the baseplate. The leg has first and second clips formed therein on opposing sides of a height centerline and extend in opposite directions from a plane of the transverse leg. The clips are configured to receive and secure a portion of a vertical support member therein.
In embodiments, the first and second clips each have an angled opening defining a receiving region at respective free ends thereof for receipt of the portion of the vertical support member in one of the first and second clips. The clips can further include capture regions adjacent their respective receiving openings.
The mounting bracket can include fastener receiving openings in the baseplate and the transverse leg.
In embodiments, each clip includes a first bend a second bend and a third bend, the third bend defining the receiving region.
In still another aspect, a support system for supporting a facade on a wall structure, which wall structure has a backup wall includes a dual-sided mounting bracket and a vertical member. The dual-sided mounting bracket is formed as an L-shaped member having a baseplate for securing to the wall structure and a leg extending from and transverse to the baseplate. The transverse leg has first and second clips formed therein on opposing sides of a height centerline and extending in opposite directions from a plane of the transverse leg. The support member has first and second legs in an L-shape. The support member first leg is positioned between the first or second clip and a planar portion of the transverse leg. The support system can further include a second dual-sided mounting bracket vertically aligned with the first dual-sided mounting bracket, such that the vertical member extends between and is secured to the first and second dual-sided mounting brackets. The support system may further include first and second dual-sided mounting brackets horizontally aligned an arranged to receive a leg of a horizontally-oriented support member.
An example of a dual-sided mounting bracket for a facade support system for supporting a facade on a wall structure includes a baseplate with an inside surface and an outside surface and configured to secure to the wall structure. A leg extends from and transverse to the baseplate. The leg has a height centerline and defines a plane extending in a length dimension and a height dimension. The leg includes a leg body connected to the baseplate at a junction, the leg body includes an inside surface and an outside surface and has a free end opposite the baseplate. A first clip extends proud in a first direction from the plane and offset to a first side of the height centerline. The first clip is configured to receive and resiliently support a support member between the first clip and the leg body. A second clip extends proud in a second direction from the plane and offset to a second side of the height centerline. The second clip includes a second angled opening at the free end of the body and the second slip is configured to receive and resiliently retain the support member between the second clip and the leg body.
The dual-sided mounting bracket may include a gasket layer secured to the outside surface of the baseplate. The baseplate may include at least one mounting hole through the baseplate and the gasket layer is secured to at least the outside surface of the baseplate and across the at least one mounting hole. The gasket layer may include a polymer. The gasket layer may be further secured to the inside surface of the baseplate. An intermediate finger is within the plane and centered on the height centerline between the first clip and the second clip. The dual-sided mounting bracket may include a first mounting hole through the leg body at the free end of the leg body at a position above the first and second clips in the height dimension, a second mounting hole through the leg body at the free end of the leg body at a position below the first and second clips in the height dimension, and a third mounting hole through the intermediate finger at the free end of the leg body. First and second ribs may extend proud of the baseplate inside surface and the leg inside surface. The first and second ribs terminate in the length dimension along the leg at or before a first bend of the first clip and the second clip. The first rib may be located at a position above, in the height dimension, the height centerline, the first clip, and the second clip and the second rib may be located at a position below, in the height dimension, the height centerline, the first clip, and the second clip.
Another example of a dual-sided mounting bracket for a facade support system for supporting a facade on a wall structure includes a baseplate. The wall structure may have a backup wall and the support system may include a support member. The baseplate includes an inside surface and an outside surface and is configured to secure to the wall structure. The baseplate extends in a width dimension from a free end to a connected end. A gasket layer is secured to the outside surface of the baseplate. A leg extends from and transverse to the baseplate and forms and L with the baseplate. The leg includes a height centerline and defines a plate extending in a length dimension and a height dimension. The leg includes a leg body connected to the connected end of the baseplate at a junction. The leg body has an inside surface and an outside surface and has a free end opposite the baseplate. A first clip extends proud in a first direction from the plane and is offset to a first side of the height centerline. The first clip includes a first angled opening at the free end of the body. The first clip is configured to receive and resiliently retain the support member between the first clip and the leg body. A second clip extends proud in a second direction from the plane and is offset to a second side of the height centerline. The second clip includes a second dangled opening ant the free end of the body. An intermediate finger is within the plane and is centered on the height centerline between the first clip and the second clip. First and second ribs extend product of the baseplate inside surface and the leg inside surface.
While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to the figures and in particular to
As seen in
The mounting bracket 18 is depicted in further detail in
The mounting bracket 18 can include one or more strengthening ribs 52. The strengthening ribs may extend continuously from the baseplate 20 through the juncture 24 and along the leg 22. In another example, the strengthening ribs 52 may be provided as separate rib intervals on the baseplate 20, at the juncture 24, and on the leg 22. The strengthening ribs 52 extend proud into the interior of the L-shape formed between the baseplate 20 and the leg 22. As will be discussed in further detail herein, the strengthening ribs 52 may be constructed in a range of dimensions, however, in embodiments, the strengthening ribs 52 terminate in the length dimension along the leg 22 prior to the clips 30 as detailed herein. The strengthening ribs 52 are exemplarily constructed in a stamping process to form the ribs 52 from the material of the mounting bracket 18.
The mounting bracket 18 can also include one or more mounting holes 54 in the baseplate 20 to receive fasteners to secure the baseplate 20 to the backup wall B or wall structure S. A gasket layer 60 is provided on an outside surface 62 of baseplate 20 of the mounting bracket 18. The outside surface 62 is opposite an inside surface 64. The inside surface 64 of the baseplate 20 faces the L-shape between the baseplate 20 and the leg 22. The gasket layer 60 may be integrally constructed with the baseplate 20 or otherwise secured thereto. The gasket layer 60 is exemplarily of silicone or other polymer material. The gasket layer 60 may be applied as a liquid or flowable state and may be dried or cured to form an ambiently stable structure. If curing is used, such curing may exemplarily include, but is not limited to chemical, light, or heat curing. In other examples, the gasket layer 60 may be secured to the mounting bracket 18 with an adhesive. The gasket layer 60 may generally cover the width W and height H extent of the baseplate 20. While not depicted in
As shown in
The leg 22 includes a pair of clips 30A, 30B (collectively, 30) formed therein. The clips 30 are exemplarily formed by cuts 32 inwardly from a free end 34 into the body of the leg 22. In an example, the cuts 32 may be made with a die, although other machining and/or manufacturing processes will be recognized and are not limiting on the scope of the present disclosure. The clips 30 extend in opposite directions from the plane P of the leg 22. One clip (exemplarily 30A) extends proud of the outside surface 28 of the leg 22 and another clip (exemplarily 30B) extends proud of the inside surface 26 of the leg 22, as described in further detail herein. The clips 30 are vertically spaced apart in the height H dimension and thus define an intermediate finger 36 therebetween. The intermediate finger 36 is exemplarily centered on a height centerline C of the mounting bracket 18 and leg 22. The clips 30A, 30B are thus evenly spaced about the height centerline C. In an example, the intermediate finger 36 and the clips 30A, 30B are the same size in the height H and length L dimensions, although it will be recognized that the intermediate finger 36 may differ in dimension from the clips 30 in other examples.
Referring particularly to
In reference to the plane P, the first bend 38 forms an acute supplemental angle θ, which is exemplarily 35 degrees, between the first clip segment 66 and the plane P. The second clip segment 68 forms angle σ relative to the plane P. The angle σ is exemplarily 5 degrees. The third clip segment 70 forms angle ω relative to the plane P. The angle ω is exemplarily 15 degrees. Each of these angles may exemplarily be +/−10 degrees, +/−5 degrees, +/−2 degrees, or other ranges from the values stated, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.
This configuration of bends 38, 40, 42 forms an angled opening 44 between an end 46 of the clip 30 and the plane P of the leg 22 at the angle co. The angled opening 44 necks down to a capture region 48 about the third bend 42, that then widens or opens, as seen at 50, to the second bend 40. Other angles and bend configurations will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
The leg 22 includes one or more mounting holes 54 through which fasteners F are received to secure the support member 14, 16 to the leg 22. The mounting holes 54 in the leg 22 can be circular or elongated/notched or the leg 22 can include both circular and elongated/notched mounting holes 54. Elongated mounting holes, exemplarily provide a degree of movement between the support member 14, 16 and the mounting bracket 18 so as to accommodate variation due to thermal expansion. As previously described, the clips 30A, 30B define an intermediate finger 36 therebetween. The intermediate finger 36 includes a mounting hole 54 and is exemplarily centered on the height centerline C. The intermediate finger 36 thus provides a fastener mounting point to the support member 14, 16 at the height centerline C of the mounting bracket 18. This centered mounting point may provide an improved connection between the mounting bracket 18 and the support member 14, 16. In an example, three fasteners F may be used, one at the intermediate finger 36, one vertically above the clips 30 and one vertically below the clips 30.
A present mounting bracket 18 is formed from steel, such as stainless steel, such as type 304 stainless steel. Other suitable materials will be recognized by those skilled in the art. The mounting brackets 18 can be fabricated having a wide variety of sizes. The presently contemplated brackets 18 may have a non-limiting height H of about 4 inches and a non-limiting length L between 1-12 inches. The bracket 18 may have a non-limiting width of about 3-6 inches. Other mounting bracket 18 dimensions will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
In use, a series of vertically aligned mounting brackets 18 will be secured to the backup wall B or structure S using fasteners F driven through the holes 54 in the baseplates 20 into the backup wall B or structure S. The gasket layer 60 provides a seal about the puncture caused by the fastener F driven into the backup wall B or structure S. An installer selects a side of the mounting bracket 18 in which the vertical member 14 is to be installed. It will be recognized that in applications, the vertical member 14 need not be secured to a same side of all of the mounting brackets 18. The mounting brackets 18 may be arranged rotated 180 degrees from one another, so long as the legs 22 and the respective clips 30 are in vertical alignment. This is a feature of the mounting bracket presently disclosed in that mounting brackets may be secured to the backup wall B or structure S in different orientations so as to accommodate positional obstructions (e.g. conduits, joints, mounting systems, etc.) while providing the mounting point to the vertical member, both for resilient connection to a clip 30 as well as fastening with one or more fasteners F.
The installer inserts a leg 56 of the vertical member 14 (the vertical members are typically angle or L-shaped members, for example as shown in
The present dual-sided mounting bracket 18 having clips 30A, 30B extending from the inside surface 26 and outside surface of the leg 22 provides extreme advantages over known mounting brackets. For example, because the mounting bracket 18 has clips on both sides of the leg 22, the vertical member 14 can be secured to either side of the leg 22. This makes installation considerably easier in that a right-handed individual can install the vertical member 14 on the left side of the mounting bracket 18 or a left-handed individual can install the vertical member 14 on the right side of the mounting bracket 18 and readily install a fastener F through the mounting bracket 18 and into the vertical member 14.
Further, the dual-sided mounting bracket 18 allows for installation in tight or difficult to reach and install locations, for example, corners and edges, in that a vertical member 14 can be installed to an inside surface 26 an outside surface 28 of the mounting bracket 18. As previously noted, while the description herein is made with reference to an example wherein the support members are arranged vertically (e.g. vertical support member 14). It is recognized and contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure that the dual-sided mounting brackets 18 described herein may be oriented +/−90 from the orientation shown in the figures to secure to a horizontally oriented support member (e.g. horizontal support member 16). In such an example, the mounting brackets 18 are secured to the backup wall B or the structure S with the leg 22 in a horizontal orientation. A leg of a horizontal support member 16 is resiliently received within a clip 30A, 30B to either side of the leg. The position of the horizontal support member 16 can be adjusted relative to the backup wall B or the structure S before fasteners F fixedly secure the horizontal support member 16 to the brackets 18.
In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. All percentages are percentages by weight, unless otherwise noted.
It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the relative directional terms such as sides, upper, lower, top, bottom, rearward, forward and the like are for explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
Citations to a number of references are made herein. The cited references are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. In the event that there is an inconsistency between a definition of a term in the specification as compared to a definition of the term in a cited reference, the term should be interpreted based on the definition in the specification.
In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/408,635, filed Sep. 21, 2022, titled, DUAL-SIDED MOUNTING BRACKET, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63408635 | Sep 2022 | US |