US3888445A

US3888445A - Bracket

Info

Publication number: US3888445A
Application number: US399246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph T Pence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-20
Filing date: 1973-09-20
Publication date: 1975-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-10

Abstract

A bracket permitting adjustable attachment of a device, such as a door closure, to a surface, such as a doorframe. A bracket base is provided for rigid attachment to the surface. A bracket body adjustably mates with the bracket base. At the desired point of attachment, the bracket body is rigidly attached to the bracket base by releasable attachment devices, such as bolts, which permit rapid adjustment of the point of attachment when desired.

Description

United States Patent Pence 1 1 June 10, 1975 I541 BRACKET 3.020.581 2/1962 Falk 16/66 3.226.066 12/1965 Folh 403/362 1751 WWW? Ralph 3.430.905 3mm; Pepe 248/300 [73] Assignscl Jack M. HaHetQTeH-e Hams ind 3.596.861 8/1971 Baldmt 268/224 3.733.043 5/1973 Blnns 248/225 122 Filed: Sept. 20. 1973 {2] 1 Appl NU; 399,246 Primary ExaminerB ernard A. Gelak Attorney. Agent. or FirmH0ward E. Post 152] US. Cl. 248/225; 248/228; 16/66 57 ABSTRACT gi A bracket permitting adjustable attachment of a de u ears vice, such as a door closure, to a surface. such as a doorframe. A bracket base is provided for rigid at- {561 References cled tachment to the surface. A bracket body adjustably UNITED STATES PATENTS mates with the bracket base. A! the desired point of 163.531 5/1875 Ruakc 248/224 attachment. the bracket body is rigidly attached to the 1.894.146 /1 ke 248/224 bracket base by releasable attachment devices. such as 2,299,321) 10/1942 Hallcnscheid 248/224 boltsv which permit rapid adjustment f thg point f 2.812.533 11/1957 Falk. 16/66 anashment when desired. 2.926.879 3/1960 Dietrich 248/224 2.939.364 6/1960 Doswcll 248/224 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BRACKET The present invention pertains to a door closure device. More particularly the present in\cntion pertains to an adjustable cooperating bracket and bracket base which permit attachment of a closure device onto a door and doorframe in a manner which enables rapid and easy adjustment of the closure de\ ice to permit the proper tensioning thereof. while providing secure fastening of the closure device to the doorframe.

Closure devices are utilized on many doors to cause the doors to remain closed except when someone exerts force against them to open them. By way of examples. such closure devices might be pneumatic devices and frequently are found on screen doors or storm doors of houses. U.S. Pat. No. 3.020.68l illustrates one such closure device. The closure device assures that the door is closed snugly except when someone pushes it open to permit passage therethrough. This assures that the screen or storm door performs its desired function. Unfortunately. the amount of tension exerted by such closure devices sometimes varies with the result that frequently such devices do not close the door in a totally satisfactory manner. By way of example. the closure device might close the door too rapidly. causing it to slam with an annoying bang. Alternatively. the clo sure device might not close the door with enough force. with the result that the door catches against the doorframe and does not close snugly. This could permit insects to pass around a screen or permit cold to enter around a storm door.

Many closure devices include means for adjusting the tension of the device so as to control the force with which the door is closed. Other closure devices. however. do not include such tension adjustment means. and consequently they cannot be adjusted at all. leaving the possibility that the door may be closed with too much force or with too little force. Improper tensioning of such non-adjustable closure devices can be corrected by removing one end of the device from the door or from the doorframe and repositioning that end in a suitable position at which the proper tension is obtained. Such removal and reinstallation necessitates the making of new holes in the door or the doorfrarne. Not only is this time consuming and laborious. but also it weakens the door or doorframe structure. If this is done several times. the holes become so close together that they merge. with the result that they no longer retain the screws that are intended to hold the closure device to the door and the doorframe.

The present invention is an adjustable bracket and bracket base suitable for use in attaching a closure de vice to a doorframe securely. while permitting rapid adjustment of the attachment ofthe closure device to the doorframe so that the tension of the closure device can be controlled to control the amount of force with which the door is closed. In accordance with the present invention. a bracket base is provided. including suitable means for attaching the bracket base to the doorframe of the door to be closed. The bracket base includes means for adjustably retaining the closure device end bracket. One end ofthe closure device is secured to the door in the usual manner. The bracket base is firmly secured to the doorframc. and the end bracket device is inserted into the bracket base. At the point at which the desired tension of the closure de\ice is obtained. the closure de\ice end bracket is secured to the bracket base. Should adjustment of the closure device tension be desired. the closure device end bracket can be readily tnoved from its initial position to a new position which provides the desired amount of tension.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the following de tailed description and claims. particularly when consid ered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals. In the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view showing a door and doorframe having a closure device and utilizing a bracket and bracket base in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view ofa bracket base in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bracket base of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a closure device end bracket suitable for use in conjunction with the bracket base of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. I illustrates a door 10 which by way ofexample might be a screen door or a storm door. Door 10 is hingedly mounted within doorframe I2 in the usual manner. Closure device I4 has its first end pivotally attached to door 10 in the usual manner. and its second end attached by means of bracket 36 and bracket base I6 to doorframe l2. Closure device [4 causes door 10 to return to a closed position after it has been opened and the opening force removed.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict bracket base 16. Back plate I8 is divided into first and second end portions 20 by center portion 22. Each end portion 20 includes a reinforcing rib 24 through which a plurality of mounting holes 26 pass. Center portion 22 includes first and second raised members 28 adjacent first and second ends 20. Raised members 28 define mounting channel 30. A reinforcing hill 32 is provided on each raised member 28. and a threaded opening 34 passes through each reinforcing hill 32 and raised portion 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the two threaded openings 34 are noncentrally positioned with respect to the bracket base member I6 and on opposite sides of the center thereof.

FIG. 4 depicts a closure device end bracket 36 suitable for use in conjunction with bracket base 16 in accordance with the present invention. Closure device end bracket 36 includes a central body portion 38 with two sides 37 joined by back 39 and two attachment flanges 40 which extend from sides 37 in opposite directions transverse the longitudinal axis of body portion 38 at one end thereof. On the second end of body portion 38 a pair of oppositely disposed mounting holes 42 are provided.

When a closure device I4 is to be attached to a door and doorframe utilizing bracket base 16 and closure end bracket 36. the first end of the closure device 14 is attached to door 10 at a suitable location. as illus trated in FIG. I. The desired location on doorframe I2 for the mounting of closure end bracket 36 is then determined. and bracket base 16 is attached to doorframe 12 adjacent that point. This might be done by means of screws passing through opening 26. Closure end bracket 36 is then attached to bracket base 16 by inserting mounting flanges 40 into mounting channel 30. At the desired point of tension. bolts are inserted into threaded openings 34 to clamp mounting flanges 40 against back plate 18 of bracket base 16. Should adjustment he required of the tension of closure member I4.

these bolts are loosened. and the desired adjustment made. The bolts are then tightened to again retain closure device end bracket 36 firmly within bracket base 16.

Since bracket base 16 permits use of a relati\cly large number of mounting screws. illustratively depicted in FIG. 2 as permitting six mounting screws. the bracket base is firmly attached to doorframe [2. Consequently there is little likelihood of bracket base 16 coming loose from doorframe 12 or causing damage to the doorframe during ordinary use and even under conditions of misuse. Reinforcing ribs 24 provide additional stability to the mounting of bracket base 16 on doorframe 12 just as reinforcing bills 32 provide additional stability to the clamping of closure end bracket 36 within bracket base 16.

By way of examples, bracket base 16 might be formed of a cast metal such as cast iron or cast steel, and closure end bracket 36 might be formed as a steel stamping. The two reinforcing hills 32 with threaded openings 54 depicted in FIG. 2 are generally sufficient for rigid mounting of closure end bracket 36 within bracket base 16: however, if desired additional such reinforcing hills and mounting openings could be provided. If desired rather than being specially made for use with bracket base 16, closure device cnd bracket 36 might be a conventional end bracket found with presently known pneumatic door closure devices, in which case mounting flanges 40 very likely would be provided with mounting holes therethrough. While FIG. 1 illustrates one end of closure device 14 attached to door 10 and the second end of closure device 14 at tached by means of end bracket 36 and bracket base 16 to doorframe 12, this second end could be bracketed directly to the doorframe, with bracket base 16 and an end bracket such as end bracket 36 utilized to adjustably fasten the first end to door 10. Thus. it is seen that although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. numerous modifications and rearrangements could be made. and still the result would come within the scope of the inven tlon.

What is claimed is:

l. A bracket base member comprising:

first and second end portions. each having a plurality of mounting holes therethrough to permit mounting of said bracket base member on a surface;

a center portion joining said first and second end portions and having raised areas defining a mounting channel for receiving an attachment flange with two threaded openings. one through each raised area. to receive threaded fastening means for clamping an attachment flange within the mounting channel, said threaded openings being noncentrally positioned with respect to said bracket base member and on opposite sides of the center thereof.

2. A bracket base member as claimed in claim I in which said first and second end portions each include a reinforcing rib surrounding the mounting holes and in which said bracket base member center portion raised area includes a reinforcing hill surrounding each threaded opening.

3. A bracket base member as claimed in claim I in which said bracket base member includes a back plate extending the length of the first and second end por tions and the center portion, and first and second raised members extending from said back plate to define the mounting channel.

Claims

1. A bracket base member comprising: first and second end portions, each having a plurality of mounting holes therethrough to permit mounting of said bracket base member on a surface; a center portion joining said first and second end portions and having raised areas defining a mounting channel for receiving an attachment flange, with two threaded openings, one through each raised area, to receive threaded fastening means for clamping an attachment flange within the mounting channel, said threaded openings being non-centrally positioned with respect to said bracket base member and on opposite sides of the center thereof.

2. A bracket base member as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second end portions each include a reinforcing rib surrounding the mounting holes and in which said bracket base member center portion raised area includes a reinforcing hill surrounding each threaded opening.

3. A bracket base member as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket base member includes a back plate, extending the length of the first and second end portions and the center portion, and first and second raised members extending from said back plate to define the mounting channel.