GB2194132A

GB2194132A - Fixing brackets

Info

Publication number: GB2194132A
Application number: GB08617282A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Wild
Original assignee: PEAK PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: PEAK PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1986-07-16
Filing date: 1986-07-16
Publication date: 1988-03-02
Also published as: GB8617282D0

Abstract

A fixing bracket which can be used to mount a passive infra-red detector in the corner of a room has a body part (1) and opposite side parts (2, 3). The body part (1) is fixed to the detector (13) and the side parts are fixed to the wall surtaces (14) in the corner. The side parts are hinged to the body part at regions of weakness 4,5, so that their angular positions can be adjusted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixing brackets This invention relates to a fixing bracket, In the case of security systems having wallmounted passive infra-red detectors it may be required to mount the detector in a corner of a room. Customarily this is achieved using inclined fixing holes in a casing of the detector or by fixing the detector to a wedge-shaped fixing member which fits within the corner.

However, these known fixing methods lack versatility in that it may not be possible in a simple and convenient manner to attain a desired orientation of the detector, e.g. to accommodate different required orientations for different kinds of detectors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple fixing bracket which can be used in a convenient manner to mount an article on a surface at a selected orientation relative thereto.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a fixing bracket for mounting an article on a surface comprising a body part adapted to be fixed to the article and two or more side portions adapted to be fixed to the said surface, characterised in that at least one said side portion is formed integrally with the body part via a hinge section permitting adjustment of the angular disposition of such side part relative to the body part.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated that the article can be readily fixed at a selected orientation by appropriately pivoting the (or each) hinged side section relative to the body part prior to fixing of the side parts in portion.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the said body part and the said side portions are formed in one piece as a plate-shaped structure, the (or each) hinge section being defined by a region of weakness, e.g. a thin section of the plate-shaped structure. Conveniently the plate-shaped structure may be moulded from a plastics material.

There may be two side parts both of which are hinged to the body part and these side parts may be positioned on opposite sides of the body part.

The side parts and the body part may be provided with any suitable fixing structures for use in fixing respectively to the surface and to the article. Conveniently the fixing structures may be screw holes or slots.

It is visualised that the invention will find particular application in the context of the mounting of a passive infra-red detector of a security installation in the corner of a room of a domestic residence or other premises. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this application and the fixing bracket may be used for any suitable purpose in any suitable context.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of a bracket according to the invention; and Figures 2+3 are side views showing the bracket in different positions of use.

With reference to Fig. 1, the bracket comprises a one-piece generally plate-shaped moulding having a central rectangular body part 1 and two strip-shaped rectangular side parts 2, 3 on opposite long sides of the body part 1.

The side parts 2, 3 are formed integrally with the body part 1 via longitudinal sections 4, 5 which are appreciably thinner than the adjacent regions of the body part 1 and side parts 2, 3 and which therefore define hinge joints. That is, the plate-shaped moulding is a self-supporting structure but by application of limited manual pressure the side parts 2, 3 can be easily pivoted relative to the body part 1.

The side parts 2, 3 contain slot-shaped screw holes 6. The body part contains two shaped slots 7, 8 and on one surface 12 of the body part there is an upwardly projecting boss 9 around a hole. This surface 12 also contains a longitudinal ridge 10 which defines a corresponding longitudinal channel 11 (Figs.

2 and 3) on the opposite surface of the body part 1. It will be noted that the surface 12 of the body part 1 is coplanar with the adjacent surfaces of the side parts 2, 3 in the region of the hinge sections 4, 5 whereby the reduced thickness of such sections is defined by grooves in the opposite surface of the plastics moulding.

In use, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 the body part 1 is fixed to the rear side of a passive infrared detector 13 by means of screws passed through the slots 7, 8 and a locking pin passed through the boss 9. The slots 7, 8 as shown in the drawing are shaped to accommodate the rear side structure of the detector 13. The body part 1 is fixed to the detector 13 with the ridge 10 directed away from the detector 13 so that the channel 11 defines a passage e.g. for a cable or lead for the detector.

The two side parts 2, 3 are then fixed to the surface 14 of a room on which the detector is to be mounted by means of screws passed through the holes 6. As shown in the drawings, the orientations of the side parts 2,3 can be adjusted, by pivoting about the hinge joints 4, 5, to enable the detector 13 to be fitted into the corner of the room at a desired angle. The angle may be as shown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 3 or any other suitable angle.

The detector of Fig. 3 is different from that of Fig. 2 (having a curtain rather than fresnel lens) and is required to be fitted at a different angle.

It will be appreciated that the bracket is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be fitted quickly and conveniently. The bracket is versatile and can be used with the side parts 2, 3 at any desired angle or if desired coplanar with the body part 1.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

In particular, the bracket can be used other than with an infra-red detector 13 and it may be adapted to be fitted to the article to be mounted and to the surface on which the article is to be mounted in any suitable manner not necessarily involving screw slots.

Claims

1. A fixing bracket for mounting an article on a surface comprising a body part adapted to be fixed to the article and two or more side portions adapted to be fixed to the said surface, characterised in that at least one said side portion is formed integrally with the body part via a hinge section permitting adjustment of the angular disposition of such side part relative to the body part.

2. A fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that said body part and said side portions are formed in one piece as a plate-shaped structure, the or each hinge section being defined by a region of weakness.

3. A fixing bracket according to claim 2, characterised in that the plate-shaped structure is moulded from a plastics material.

4. A fixing bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that there are two side parts, both of which are hinged to the body part and said side parts are positioned on opposite sides of the body part.

5. A fixing bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the side parts and the body part are provided with fixing structures for use in fixing respectively to the surface and to the article.

6. A fixing bracket according to claim 5, characterised in that said fixing structures comprise screw holes or slots.

7. A fixing bracket according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A fixing bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when used to mount a passive infra-red detector of a security installation in a corner of a room.