GB2228859A - Improvements in or relating to mounting brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket 40 for securing together an article such as a cupboard, worktop or the like to a vertical surface comprises a generally planar longitudinally extending section (1), and a plurality of hooks (5) provided at intervals along a longitudinally extending edge (3) of the planar section (1). The bracket is preferably secured to the article. Each hook (5) is in the form of a planar part (6) of the bracket and lies in a plane perpendicular to the planar section and is adapted to engage with a support rail (9) secured to the vertical surface and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the planar part (6). The height of the article with respect to the vertical surface can be varied depending upon which of the hooks is engaged with the support rail. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOUNTING BRACKETS This invention relates to mounting brackets and is concerned with a bracket suitable for use in mounting an article, such as a cupboard, work surface or the like for a kitchen, at different elevations on a vertical surface.

Ordinarily, the height of worktop surfaces, cupboards and like articles in a kitchen or other similar location are permanently fixed at a height which is appropriate to the average person so that they can readily be utilised by the average person. In the case where someone other than the average person is to utilise the articles, the heights can normally only be altered by removing and permanently repositioning the articles at the appropriate height. This is, however, not particularly convenient when there are frequent changes in occupancy of the accommodation of which the kitchen forms a part.

Such frequent changes of occupancy tend to occur in rented accommodation which is purpose built for disabled and/or handicapped and/or elderly people.

Disabled and/or handicapped and/or elderly people have various needs depending upon the particular disability or handicap which they have. For example, people who are disabled but ambulant would generally prefer to have a work surface at a height of 900 mm but could comfortably work for a while on a work surface having a height of from 850 to 1075 mm. On the other hand, for a person who is wheelchair-bound, the preferred height of the work surface may be 800 mm and the range of comfortable working levels may be from 600 mm to 800 mm. An elderly but able-bodied person may perhaps be best suited with a worktop surface of intermediate height.

Thus, it is known, when planning special housing for such people, to provide kitchen units and like articles which are variable in height so that they can be adjusted so as to be suitable for occupancy by a chair-bound person, an ambulant disabled person, or an able-bodied but elderly person. Moreover, such adjustment may be necessary when a disabled person is no longer able to manage kitchen work and such activities have to be taken over by an able-bodied person.

In general, height adjustment is provided by means of a support system comprising horizontal brackets engaged with uprights fixed to the vertical surface and several systems of this type are known.

However, these systems are not entirely satisfactory and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for mounting kitchen units, worktops, and like articles in a vertically adjustable manner on a vertical surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a bracket for securing together first and second members of which one is a vertical surface and the other is an article to be mounted on the vertical surface, which bracket is for securing to one of the members and comprises: (i) a generally planar longitudinally extending section, and (ii) a plurality of hooks provided at intervals along a longitudinally extending edge of the planar section, each hook being in the form of a planar part of the bracket and lying in a plane perpendicular to the planar section and being adapted to engage with a support rail for securing to the other of the members and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the planar part, whereby the height of the article with respect to the vertical surface can be varied depending upon which of the planar parts is engaged with the support rail.

The article for mounting on the vertical surface may be, for example, a worktop having a working surface, a cupboard or like floor unit for mounting on the vertical surface near to the floor, a cupboard or like wall unit for mounting at a higher location on the vertical surface, a sink unit, or a split level hob unit. However, the invention is also applicable to the mounting of other articles of furniture and the like in other locations such as bedrooms, lounges and offices.

Although the bracket may be secured to the vertical surface and the support rail may be secured to the article, it is preferred for the reverse arrangement to be employed wherein the bracket is secured to the article and the support rail is secured to the vertical surface.

In one form of the invention, the bracket is for use in mounting a wall unit in the form of a cupboard or a floor unit in the form of a cupboard or series of drawers on the vertical surface. In this case, two of said brackets will ordinarily be fitted to the unit, one at each side, by screws or the like located so as to enter a structurally strong part of the unit. The support rail will then be secured to the vertical surface either nearer to the floor in the case of a floor unit or nearer to the ceiling in the case of a wall unit and the unit can then be attached to the support rail by engaging one or other of the hooks of one of the brackets, and the corresponding hook of the other bracket, with the support rail.Generally, the brackets will be mounted towards the top of the unit and adjusting screws are preferably provided at or near the lower part of the unit, one at each side of the unit. The adjusting screws are preferably threadably engaged in brackets which are secured to a structurally strong part of the unit whereby rotation of the adjusting screw causes the head of the screw to be displaced further towards or away from the unit so that when the head of the screw bears against the vertical surface the unit is vertically aligned.

In another embodiment, the bracket is for use in securing a worktop to the vertical surface. In this case, a first pair of such brackets, one right handed and one left handed, may be secured to an upright member of a support structure including a further member at right angles thereto and to which the worktop is to be secured. Again, the pair of brackets will ordinarily be located towards the top of the upright member and an adjustment screw, such as of the type previously described, is preferably provided at the lower end of the upright member. Two or more of such support structures are secured to the under side of the worktop and the brackets are then engaged with a support rail suitably fixed to the wall to mount the worktop on the wall. The height of the worktop from the floor can be adjusted depending upon which of the hooks of the brackets are engaged with the support rail.By suitably turning the adjusting screws, it can be ensured that the surface of the worktop lies in a horizontal plane.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bracket in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an end view of the bracket shown in Figure 1, 2, Figure 4 is a vertical section through a wall or floor unit fitted with the bracket of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a horizontal section along the line V-V of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a horizontal section along line VI-VI of Figure 4, Figure 7 is a side view of a support structure incorporating a bracket as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and Figure 8 is an underneath view of the structure shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the bracket 40 comprises a generally planar section 1 extending along a longitudinal axis 2. The generally planar section 1 includes first and second longitudinal edges 3 and 4.

Integrally formed with the planar section 2 are four hooks 5 located at equispaced intervals along the longitudinal edge 3. Each of the hooks consists of a portion 5 which is cranked with respect to the planar section 2 so that the hook includes a planar part 6 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the planar section 1. The planar part 6 includes a longitudinally extending tongue 7. A plurality of equispaced holes 8 is provided in the planar section 1 at intervals along the length of the section 1.

In use, the bracket is secured to the desired article by means of screws passing through an appropriate number of the holes 8.

A support rail is provided comprising a cranked metal strip 9 having a generally S-shaped section so that the lower end 10 of the strip is offset with respect to the upper end 11 of the strip. The metal strip 9 is secured to a substantially vertical surface (not shown) by means of suitable screws passing metal strip 9 is secured to a substantially vertical surface (not shown) by means of suitable screws passing through an appropriate number of apertures in the strip (one of which is denoted by reference numeral 12). The metal strip 9 should be secured to the vertical surface so that it is horizontal.

The bracket is then affixed to the metal strip 9 by engaging a tongue 7 of the bracket over the upper end 11 of the strip 9 so that the upper enhd 11 of the support rail 9 and the planar part 6 of the bracket lie in substantially parallel planes. The height of the bracket with respect to the strip 9 can be readily altered merely by engaging another of the tongues 7 with the strip.

The bracket and strip 9 may be formed of any suitable material and preferably they are formed of press quality steel so that they can be readily manufactured by a press forming technique. Typically, the steel will be about 3mm in thickness and it may be suitably coated with, for example, an epoxy resin powder coating.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, there is shown a cupboard forming part of a wall or floor unit for mounting on a vertical wall by means of a bracket of the present invention. The cupboard 22 is generally of rectanguloid shape and includes side panels 23, a rear panel 24 and front doors (not shown) formed of timber, laminated plastics material or other suitable sheet material. A first bracket 40 in accordance with the present invention is secured to side panel 23 of cupboard 22 by screws passing through the apertures 8 so that its planar parts 6 are superposed on, but spaced from, the side panel 23. A similar, but opposite handed, bracket (not shown) is similarly secured to the corresponding side panel (not shown) provided at the other side of the cupboard 22.

Located towards the bottom of each side panel is an angled bracket 26. One limb of the angled bracket is secured to the strengthening member by means of suitable screws (not shown) and the other limb of the angled bracket carries a threaded aperture into which is threadingly engaged a screw 27 carrying a large head of suitable plastics material such as polypropylene. The head 28 is hexagonal shaped so that it can be turned by means of an appropriate spanner.

Turning of the head 28 alters the distance between the head 28 and the angled bracket 26.

In use, the cupboard 22 is suspended from the support rail 9 by suitably engaging one of the tongues 7 of one of the brackets and the corresponding tongue 7 of the other of the brackets with the upper end of the support rail 9 which has previously been suitably secured to the wall so that it is horizontal. The rail is thus firmly located between the planar parts 6 and the side panels. The height of the cupboard can be varied depending upon which of the tongues 7 is engaged with the rail 9. Once the cupboard 22 has been mounted on the rail 9, the head 28 of each threaded screw 27 can be turned by means of the spanner until the floor of the cupboard 22 is horizontal.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a support structure for a worktop defining a work surface. The support structure is formed of square sectioned tubing of mild steel or other appropriate material and comprises an upright member 31 and a worktop supporting member 32 at right angles to the upright member 31 and supported with respect to the upright member 31 by means of a mild steel corner fillet 33. The free ends of the members 31 and 32 are closed by means of plugs of suitable plastics material 38. A pair of right and left handed brackets of the present invention is secured, by welding or the like, to the upper portion of the upright member 31, one on each side, and an adjusting screw 34, similar to screw 27, is threadingly inserted into a threaded aperture at the lower portion of the upright member 31. A worktop 35 having a working surface 36 is secured to the portion 32 by means of screws, not shown, passing through apertures 37 in the portion 32 and into the underneath surface of the worktop 35.

At least two such support structures are secured to the underside of the worktop 35 and a horizontal metal strip (not shown but similar to the metal strip 9 shown in the other Figures) is suitably secured to a vertical wall. The support structures are supported on the metal strip by engaging one or other of the tongues 7 of each bracket with the upper end of the rail as previously described. The adjusting screws 34 are then turned by means of a suitable spanner to ensure that the surface 36 of the worktop 35 is horizontal. The height of the surface 36 can be readily adjusted by suitably selecting which of the tongues 7 is to be engaged with the support rail.

Claims (17)

1. A bracket for securing together first and second members of which one is a vertical surface and the other is an article to be mounted on the vertical surface, which bracket is for securing to one of the members and comprises: (i) a generally planar longitudinally extending section, and (ii) a plurality of hooks provided at intervals along a longitudinally extending edge of the planar section, each hook being in the form of a planar part of the bracket lying in a plane perpendicular to the planar section and being adapted to engage with a support rail which is for securing to the other of the members and lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the planar part, whereby the height of the article with respect to the vertical surface can be varied depending upon which of the planar parts is engaged with the support rail.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 which is formed from press formed steel.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bracket is formed from steel of 3mm in thickness.

4. A bracket as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the steel is coated with epoxy resin.

5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hooks are equispaced along said longitudinally extending edge.

6. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein four of said hooks are provided.

7. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said longitudinally extending section includes a plurality of holes to receive screws for fixing the bracket to said one of the members.

8. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. An article mounted on a vertical surface by means of a bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10. An article as claimed in claim 9 in the form of a wall or floor unit.

11. A wall or floor unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein two of said brackets are fitted to the unit, one at each side.

12. A wall or floor unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein the brackets are mounted adjacent the top of the unit and adjusting screws are provided adjacent a lower part of the unit so as to bear against the vertical surface whereby vertical alignment of the unit can be effected.

13. An article as claimed in claim 9 in the form of a worktop.

14. A worktop as claimed in claim 13 wherein a pair of said brackets is secured to an upright member of a support structure which includes a further member at right angles thereto and to which the worktop is secured.

15. A worktop as claimed in claim 14 wherein the brackets are located adjacent the top of the upright member and adjusting screws are provided adjacent a lower part of the upright member so as to bear against the vertical surface whereby horizontal alignment of the worktop can be effected.

16. A wall or floor unit as claimed in claim 11 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A worktop as claimed in claim 13 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 7 or 8 of the accompanying drawings.