Patent Grant
11933038
The present invention relates to the field of patio construction and, in particular, to a finishing bracket for use in concealing access areas to patio rolling shades, rolling screens, rolling shutters, or other patio ceiling mounted devices.
Patios define a space typically used to extend the usable living area of a property. A conventional patio includes a roof for protection from the sun and rain, a floor, and window openings therebetween which allow the occupants to enjoy the outdoors. The patio can be an extension to a residential property wherein shades allow the patio to be used in direct sunlight, or screens for use in keeping insects out of the patio area. A finished patio may be used for entertaining. Commercial properties may use a patio to provide outdoor restaurant services.
For example, a patio may be usable during certain daylight hours when sunlight passes directly through the window opening unless shades are deployed. In another example, retractable screens may be employed if the patio is prone to mosquitoes or no-see-ums during certain hours. Yet another example is the use of retractable shutters for security or hurricane protection. In this manner, hurricane screens may be employed.
In each example, the type of window treatment employed is subject to personal preference. The window treatments can be manufactured in all shapes and sizes, many of which employ a retractable mechanism that requires a storage area and deployment mechanisms. For ease of description, a retractable shade assembly is primarily used in this disclosure as an embodiment with the understanding that the instant invention can also be used with retractable screens, retractable shutters, or for concealing most anything that may secure to a patio ceiling and otherwise distract from the patio area.
Upscale patios typically include a ceiling finished with wood planks. For instance, a popular option is the use of cypress wood assembled using tongue and groove construction. If the window treatment includes a retractable shade, the shade storage area and deployment mechanism can be an unsightly addition to the finished ceiling. The result is a large unsightly box that detracts from the otherwise finished ceiling. A concealment structure can be placed around the window treatment storage box and deployment motor, but known concealment structures inhibit access to the window treatment equipment. By inhibiting access, the probably of routine maintenance is lessen, leading to early equipment failure.
What is needed in the industry is a finishing bracket for use with a concealment structure to allow ease of access to retraction and deployment mechanisms.
An adjustable finishing bracket assembly for securing a wood plank to a concealment structure for use in concealing retractable shades, screens, shutters and the like. The assembly includes an L-bracket defined by a horizontal arm with slots and a vertical arm with threaded apertures. The horizontal arm is attached to the top of a concealment plank. A hook bracket has a proximal end spaced apart from a U-shaped distal end with adjustment slots positioned to align with two of the L-bracket threaded apertures. The hook bracket is securable to the vertical arm of said L-shaped bracket. A hanger bracket is constructed and arranged to engage the hook bracket; the hanger bracket is secureable to a wall structure and a level bolt is connected to the vertical arm. The adjustable finishing bracket provides horizontal, vertical and angular positioning of the wood plank to assure the wood plank is properly aligned, allowing the plank to otherwise appear secured to the finished ceiling. The instant invention provides an easily removable wood plank for access to the retractable mechanisms.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a finishing bracket that is fully adjustable and allows for concealment of roller shades, roller screens, roller shutters, and the like devices that may be attached to a patio ceiling.
Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a finishing bracket that allows centering and alignment of an access panel providing horizontal, vertical and angular adjustment to assure the access panel conforms to the finished patio ceiling.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a finishing bracket wherein tools are unnecessary to remove or replace the installed access panel.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide a finishing bracket that secures to all hardwoods including cypress, Ipe, plywood, or any other material desired for concealment.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring to the Figures, set forth is a finishing bracket assembly for securing a wood plank to a concealment structure comprising an L-bracket 10 defined by a horizontal arm 11 having a first end 13 spaced apart from a common edge 15 by a first length L1 of about 6.25 inches with three centrally disposed adjustment slots 14 that are about 0.625 inches long, and a vertical arm 17 having a second end 19 spaced apart from the common edge 15 by a second length L2 of about 4.5 inches with three centrally disposed threaded apertures 12. The horizontal arm 11 is securable to an upper surface 40 of a finished wood plank 42 by placement of screw fasteners 32 into each of the adjustment slots 14, providing adjustable horizontal positioning.
A hook bracket 16 having a proximal end 21 spaced apart from a U-shaped distal end 23 by a third length L3 of about 4.75 inches with two centrally disposed adjustment slots 20 positioned to align with two of said L-bracket 10 threaded apertures 12. The hook-shaped bracket 16 is securable to the vertical arm 17 of L-shaped bracket 10 by fasteners 30 placed through the adjustment slots 20 that is about 1 inch long, to provide adjustable vertical positioning.
A hanger bracket 22 is defined by a lower edge 29, opposing side edges 31, 33, and an upper edge 24. The hanger bracket 22 is constructed and arranged to engage the U-shaped distal end or hook 18 of the hook bracket 16. The hanger bracket 22 is secureable to a fixed wall using a plurality of threaded screw fasteners 32. The hanger bracket 22 is secured to the ceiling structure 34 mounted over the shade pocket 36 and the finished ceiling 38.
A level bolt 25 is operatively associated with one of the centrally disposed threaded apertures 12 and with a level foot 26 provides angular positioning of the plank 42. A lock nut 28 is used to secure the level bolt 25 in a fixed position once adjusted.
In operation, the horizontal positioning of the wood plank 42 is adjusted upon securing the horizontal arm 11, vertical positioning is provided by adjusting the vertical arm 17, and angular positioning is provided by adjusting the level bolt 25. The wood plank 42 can be removed from the assembly by detaching the hook bracket 16 from the hanger bracket 22, wherein the hook 18 is removed from the upper edge 24 by lifting the hook 18 over the upper edge 24. In a preferred embodiment, the upper edge 24 is formed inward of the side edge 31, 33, wherein the hanger bracket 22 may be attached to a vertical shade pocket 34. In the preferred embodiment, the finishing ceiling 38 may include a tongue and groove configuration as illustrated, with tongue absent from the shade ceiling for ease of attachment and removal of the hook bracket 16 from the hanger bracket 22.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”
The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any figure included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20240052625 A1 | Feb 2024 | US |
