GB2209659A - Bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket (10) for securing an article such as a grab rail (11) to a support surface (12) such as a wall in two different positions comprises a first member (13) adapted to be secured to the support surface (12), and a second member (14) adapted to be secured to, or integral with, an article (11) to be supported, the first member (13) including a socket portion (18) to receive the second member (14), the first (13) and second (14) members being secured together by pin (22) through holes (21) and elongate slot (26) to permit the second member (14) to move from an in use position in which the supported article (11) is available for use, and a stowed position in which the article (11) is unavailable for use. The cooperating surfaces 24, 25 prevent lateral movement of the second member 14 in the "in use" position. In the stowed position the second member drops in the elongate slot 26 and is thus held by the second member 14 engaging the surface 25'. <IMAGE>

Description

Description of Invention This invention relates to a bracket for securing an article such as for example, a grab rail, to a support surface such as for example a wall. Such brackets are known which permit the grab rail to be moved from an "in use" position to a "stowed" position.

Grab rails are provided for use by disabled or invalid persons who use such rails to assist mobility, for example to get in or out of a bath tub, or to move between a wheelchair for example and another seat. It is preferable for the grab rail to be movable to a stowed position so as not to restrict space when not in use.

Known brackets which permit the grab rail to be moved between in use and stowed positions suffer from the disadvantage that the joint which permits the movement introduces play which is detrimental to the support provided by the grab rail in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new or improved bracket which overcomes or reduces this problem.

According to the invention we provide a bracket comprising a first member adapted to be secured to a support surface, and a second member adopted to be secured to, or integral with, an article to be supported, the first member including a socket portion to receive the second member, the first and second members being secured together to permit the second member to move from an in use position in which the supported article is available for use, and a stowed position in which the article is unavailable for use, the first and second members each having cboperating surfaces which engage when the second member is in its in use position to restrain the second member from moving transversly of the socket portion.

Thus the bracket permits stowage of the article but overcomes the problem of play in the joint between the first and second members by virtue of the engaging co-operating surfaces.

The first member may comprise a generally plate-like part which may have apertures for example to enable the first member to be secured to the support surface by fasteners, and the socket portion may project outwardly of the plate-like part and provide an outwardly facing recess to receive the second member.

Preferably the plate-like part and the socket portion are provided integrally, the first member comprising a casting or diecasting in a suitably strong material such as aluminium.

The socket portion may be generally U-shaped, the side limbs of the U having aligned openings, which openings may receive a pivot pin or pivot pins, which pass through or into an opening in the second member. Thus it will be appreciated that the second member and article secured to or integral therewith may be pivoted upwardly to the stowed position.

Preferably the opening or openings of the second member is or are each of a configuration to permit the second member to move downwardly when pivoted upwardly so that the second member is retained in the stowed position by engagement of the second member and an inside surface of the U.

Thus in order to move the article from the stowed to the in use position, the second member would first have to be raised relative to the socket portion before pivoting of the second member relative to the first member to the in use position, would be permitted.

The opening in the second member may, in one example, be elongate in a direction outwardly of the plate-like part when the second member is in the in use position.

The second member is preferably U-shaped so that the co-operating surfaces of the first and second members comprise the inner surface of the U-shaped socket portion of the first member and the external U-shaped external surface of the second member, although other configurations of cooperating surfaces could alternatively be provided.

When the co-operating surfaces are U-shaped, it will be appreciated that the first and second members will engage over a large area so as effectively to restrain the second member against any transverse movement which may be permitted by the pivot joint. With the pivot joint, the cooperating surfaces effectively prevent movement of the second member in any direction other than towards the stowed position.

The second member may have a recess to receive a connecting part of the article to be supported. For example, the recess may be generally cylindrical and the connecting part may comprise a tube or rod of corresponding cylindrical configuration. A locking pin may extend across the recess and engage in a receiving opening of the article to lock the article in the recess. Alternatively, the second member may be provided integrally with the article or otherwise secured thereto.

The article may comprise a qrab rail or may comprise part of another structure. For example, a seat may have a pair of connecting parts which are each supported relative to a support surface by a pair of brackets in accordance with the invention or of course, brackets may be provided on different support surfaces to support individual connecting parts of an article.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I is an exploded perspective view of a bracket in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the bracket of figure I shown assembled, shown partly in cross section, with a second member in an in use position; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the bracket of figures 1 and 2 with the second member shown in full lines in a stowed position and in dotted lines in an in use position.

Referring to the drawings, a bracket 10 for supporting a grab rail II relative to a support surface 12 comprising a wall, comprises a first member 13, and a second member 14. The first member 13 comprises a generally plate-like part 15 which has a plurality of apertures 16 to enable the first member 13 to be secured to the wall 12 by fasteners 17.

Integrally formed with the plate-like part 15 is a generally U shaped socket portion 18 although if required, the socket portion 18 could be formed separately from the plate-like part 15 and attached thereto by welding for example.

The side limbs of the U which are indicated at 19 and 20, each have an aligned opening 21 to receive a pivot pin 22 which passes through a recess 23 provided by the socket portion 18 to receive the second member 14, to provide a pivot joint between the socket portion 18 and the second member 14.

The second member 14 is also of generally U-shaped configuration, the external surface 24 of the second member 14 corresponding to the U-shaped internal surface 25 of the socket portion 18.

The second member 14 has a through opening 26 which receives the pivot pin 22 when the second member 14 is in the recess 23. It can be seen that the through opening 26 is generally elongate.

The pivot pin 22 is secured at either end by starlock washers 27 or the like, to prevent the pin 22 moving longitudinally relative to the socket portion 18.

The second member 14 further comprises a recess 28 to receive a connecting part 29 of the grab rail 11, a connecting pin 30 extending through the recess 28 and through an opening 28' in the connecting part 29 and being received in aligned openings 29' of the second member, in order to lock the connecting part 29 in the recess 28.

The ends of the pin 30 do not project outwardly of the second member 14, and the pin 30 may be retained solely by friction.

It can be seen that the recess 28 is of generally cylindrical configuration, and of just larger dimensions than the external generally cylindrical surface of the connecting part 29.

Thus when the grab rail II is received by the second member 14, there is no play between the grab rail 11 and the second member 14.

In another embodiment (not shown the second member 14 may be formed integrally on the end of a grab rail or otherwise attached thereto as required, but in each case, without there being any play between the grab rail II and the second member 14.

Operation of the bracket will now be described.

In figure 2, the second member 14 is shown in an in use position in which the external surface 24 is in engagement with the internal surface 25 of the socket portion 18 and the grab rail II extends generally outwardly of the socket portion 18 as shown. The grab rail II has at an end thereof, a grip 31 to facilitate use of the grab rail.

By virtue of the engaging U-shaped co-operating surfaces 24 and 25, and the pivot joint achieved bv the pivot pin 22, the grab rail 11 is restrained from movement in any direction other than upwardly as hereinafter described, so that an invalid or disabled person may confidentally use the grab rail.

When not in use, the grab rail II can be pivoted upwardly to the position shown in full lines in figure 3 by virtue of the pivot joint achieved by the pin 22, towards a stowed position in which the grab rail 11 extends generally alongside the wall 12.

By virtue of the elongate opening 26, when the grab rail 11 has been pivoted upwardly, the rail may move down under its own weight, so that the grab rail II is prevented from pivoting downwardly and thus the grab rail II is retained in its stowed position, by engogement between the member 14 and a surface 25'.

When again it is desired to use the grab rail I I, the second member 14 is moved upwardly relative to the socket portion 18 until the pivot pin 22 again engages an extreme edge 32 of the through opening 26, whereby the second member 14 will disengage the internal surface 25' of the socket portion 18 to permit the grab rail II to be pivoted down to its in use position.

Various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

As described, the first member 13 is provided with the socket portion 8 and plate-like member 15 provided integrally for example as a casting or die costing, but the socket portion 18 could be secured to the plate-like part 15 if required; Any other means alternative to the fastener 17 for securinq the first member 13 to a support surface 12 can alternatively be provided.

The co-operating surfoces 24 and 25 need not be U-shaped as described, but other configurations are possible provided that the co-operating surfaces restrain the second member 14 from transverse movement relative to the socket when the roil 11 is in use.

In place of a pivot pin 22 which passes through aligned openings 21 and through opening 26 in the second member 14, if desired, a pair of pivot pins may be provided, each pivot pin extending through one of the side limbs 19,20, and into a receiving opening of the second member 14.

The invention is described with reference to a grab rail 11 althouqh it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to a bracket to support any other article, and thot a plurality of brackets 10 may be provided each to support a connecting part of an article, such as a seat or table which it is desired should be movable to a stowed position.

The features disclosed in the foreging description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaininq the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS:

   I. A bracket comprising a first member adapted to be secured to a support surface, and a second member adapted to be secured to, or' integral with, an article to be supported, the first member including a socket portion to receive the second member, the first and second members being secured together to permit the second member to move from an in use position in which the supported article is available for use, and a stowed position in which the article is unavailable for use, the first and second members each having co-operating surfaces which engage when the second member is in its in use position to restrain the second member from moving transversely of the socket portion.
2. 2. A bracket according to Claim I wherein the first member comprises a generally plate-like part.
3. 3. A bracket according to Claim 2 wherein the first member has apertures to enable the first member to be secured to the support surface by fasteners.
4. 4. A bracket according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the socket portion projects outwardly of the plate-like part and provides an outwardly facing recess to receive the second member.
5. 5. A bracket according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the plate-like part hind the socket portion are provided integrally.
6. 6. A bracket according to Claim 5 wherein the first member comprises a casting or diecasting.
7. 7. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the socket portion is of generally U-shaped, the side limbs of the U having aligned openings, to receive a pivot pin or pivot pins, which pass through or into an opening in the second member so that the second member is pivotable upwardly to the stowed position.
8. 8. A bracket according to Claim 7 wherein the opening or openings of the second member is or are each of a configuration to permit the second member to move downwardly when pivoted upwardly so that the second member is retained in the stowed position by engagement of the second member and an inside surface of the socket portion.
9. 9. A bracket according to Claim 8 wherein the or each opening in the second member is elongate in a direction outwardly of the first member when the second member is in the in use position.
10. 10. A bracket according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein The second member is U-shaped so that the co-operating surfaces of the first and second members comprise the inner surface of the U-shaped socket portion of the first member and the external U-shaped external surface of the second member.
11. II. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second member has a recess to receive a connecting part of the article to be supported.
12. 12. A bracket according to Claim II wherein the recess is generally cylindrical and the connecting part comprises a tube or rod of corresponding cylindrical configuration.
13. 13. A bracket according to Claim II or Claim 12 wherein a locking pin extends across the recess and engages in a receiving opening of the article to lock the article in the recess.
14. 14. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the article comprises a grab rail.
15. 15. A bracket according to any one of Claims I to 13 wherein the article is a seat which has a pair of connecting parts which are each supported relative to a support surface by a pair of brackets.