GB2213704A

GB2213704A - Rail support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2213704A
Application number: GB8729860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Best
Original assignee: CRESCENT FITTINGS Ltd
Current assignee: CRESCENT FITTINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-12-22
Filing date: 1987-12-22
Publication date: 1989-08-23
Also published as: GB8729860D0

Abstract

An oval clothes rail (14) supported between end brackets (12). Each bracket (12) defines a socket which receives the associated end of the clothes rail (14) and has a generally vertical slot (20) in its base which opens at two locations into a side wall of the bracket by way of respective slots (22). Each bracket is supported by two vertically spaced support screws (16) which are screwed into a respective end panel (24) of a wardrobe or the like. The rail is engaged in the brackets (12) and each bracket is then engaged onto the respective screws (16) by engaging the shanks of the screws in slots (22) and sliding the bracket first horizontally to engage the screw shanks in slot (20) and then, vertically into its secured position. The slots are wider than the screw shanks to allow ease of movement but are narrower than the screw heads to prevent the latter being pulled through the slots. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Rail Support Assembly This invention relates to rail support assemblies and in particular to such an assembly for use in supporting a clothes rail.

Rail support assemblies are known in which the rail is carried at its end in brackets of generally U-shape or otherwise open topped shape. With this arrangement the rail is too readily removed rendering it easy for unauthorised removal of the rail to take place. This can be a particular problem in the case of rails located in the wardrobes of hotels.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved rail support assembly.

According to the invention a rail support assembly comprises a support element for the end of a rail, the element defining a socket having a shape corresponding to the external cross-section of the rail whereby the end of the rail is locatable in the socket so that the element embraces the rail at said end, the element also defining a slot in which a headed fixing member is receivable to support the support element and the rail in relation to a support surface to which the fixing member is to be fixed.

Normally the rail will be supported by a support element and associated headed fixing member at each end of the rail.

The arrangement ensures that the rail is securely held in place and it is not possible to remove the rail without first releasing the support element from the fixing member.

The socket in the support element will be provided with a depth adequate to secure the end of the rail. The shape of the socket is suited to the external shape of the rail; thus if the rail is of oval external cross-section the socket opening may be similarly shaped.

The fixing member will usually take the form of a screw which is secured to the support surface and is screwed in and out to locate the support element in relation to said surface. The slot in the support element may be closed at one end, in use the upper end, and the slot has means, preferably a lower open end, for admitting the head of the fixing means when fitting the support element to the fixing member. Thus the rail is readily assembled by inserting the ends of the rail into the sockets and then locating each slot over and along the headed fixing member.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a rail support assembly including a first embodiment of a rail support element according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 including a second embodiment of support element according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, this is an exploded view of a rail support assembly 10 which comprises two rail support elements or brackets 12 , a rail 14 and two fixing members.

or screws 16 for each bracket.

Each bracket 12 may be of metal, plastics or other suitable material and is shaped to define a socket 18 for receiving one end of the rail 14 as a close fit. The socket 16 has a cross-section corresponding to the external profile of the rail 14 and a depth sufficient to admit and retain the end of the rail 14.

The base of each bracket 12 is formed with an elongate slot 20 extending vertically or near vertically part way along the base. The slot 20 opens into the side wall of the bracket 12 at two separate locations by two side slots 22, each of which is widened at its entry into the side wall to admit a shank of a respective one of the screws 16.

The slots 22 and 20 are wider than the screw shanks but are not wide enough to allow the screw heads to be pulled through the slots.

In use, each bracket 12 is placed in an upright attitude with its base against an adjacent end panel 24 of a wardrobe or the like with the heads of the screws 16 (the latter having been screwed into the end panel) aligned with the slots 22. The bracket 12 is then moved along the path of arrows 26 to slide the screws firstly along the slots 22 and then along the slot 20 into a fixed position. The bracket 12 is then held in position by the screw heads, and for removal, is moved along the reverse path.

In order to assemble the rail and brackets, the brackets 12 are located onto the ends of the rail 14 which has been cut to the required size. The brackets 12 are then engaged, as described above, onto the heads of screws 16 located in opposing end panels from which the rail 14 is to be suspended.

Figure 2 show an assembly using a modified form of bracket 28.

The base of the bracket 28 is formed with a slot 30 which opens into the side wall of the bracket at one end which is the lower end in use. The slot 30 extends vertically and has a width to admit the shank of a conventional screw 32.

In use the screw can enter the lower open end of the slot and move along the slot to a fixing position, as shown.

Otherwise, assembly of the bracket, screw and rail are generally as described with reference to Figure 1. The screw is secured in a screw-threaded engagement with a support surface 34, conveniently the side wall of a wardrobe.

Instead of the slot opening in the bracket side wall to allow entry of the screw hea-d, the slot may have a widened portion towards its lower end to admit the head of the screw.

The above described and illustrated brackets result in the manner of mounting of the brackets being concealed when in use and therefore make it difficult for unauthorised persons to remove the rail.

It will be appreciated that for different cross-sectional shapes of rails, the brackets which are used may have a correspondingly shaped cross-section.

Claims

1. A support element for a clothes rail or the like, the element defining a socket for receiving and supporting therein one end of the rail and having a slot means therein engageable with headed fixing means for supporting said support element in relation to a support surface.

2. A support element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said socket has a cross-section corresponding substantially to that of the rail.

3. A support element as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said slot means opens into a side wall of said support element to enable the head of said fixing means to pass through said side wall, the width of said slot being less than that of said fixing means head.

4. A support element as claimed in claim 3 wherein said slot opens into said side wall at two spaced apart locations for enabling engagement of said support element with two said headed fixing means.

5. A rail support assembly comprising a clothes rail or the like and support element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 engageable with a reaspective end of said rail for supporting said rail between opposing support surfaces.

6. A support element substantially as hereinbefore described , with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.