Abstract:
A bracket positioned on one side of a membrane or surface is adjustable from the other side of the surface to permit the position of an item supported by the bracket to be readily adjusted relatively to the surface. The bracket has a base to which an arm is movably attached. The arm moves between an open and a closed position to permit the item to be received by the bracket. In the closed position the item is clamped between the base and the arm. A finger is mounted on the base and is movable into and out of engagement with a contact surface on the arm. When the finger engages the contact surface it secures the arm in the closed position and effects the clamping action which holds the item in position. The finger and arm are readily accessible to permit adjustment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns brackets for securing items to a support. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable to have the ability to adjust the position of an item mounted on a support by a bracket. It is advantageous if the adjustability is possible along three mutually perpendicular axes simultaneously. While the prior art discloses brackets having various degrees of adjustability, they are limited in their usefulness when a membrane or surface comes between part of the item and the bracket which supports it and limits access to the bracket; i.e., when the bracket to be adjusted is obscured behind the surface and the item projects outwardly from the surface and is accessible on the side opposite to the bracket. One example of such a situation is a ceiling mounted fire suppression sprinkler used to protect a room. The sprinkler is attached to a reducer, and the reducer is connected to a branch line of the fire suppression piping network using a flexible hose. The reducer is mounted to a support using a bracket. The support and bracket are hidden behind the ceiling surface and the sprinkler extends into the room through an opening in the ceiling. When the ceiling is drywall construction it is advantageous to be able to adjust the position of the sprinkler to align with the opening in the ceiling. Furthermore, the vertical position of the sprinkler relative to the ceiling surface must be fixed according to various codes governing such construction. Access to the bracket for adjustment is limited to the relatively small opening in the ceiling unless one wishes to enlarge the opening and later repair it, which is costly and time consuming and therefore to be avoided. Brackets according to the prior art fail to take into account the problem of limited access inhibiting adjustment when they are positioned on the inaccessible side of a membrane or surface. There is clearly a need for a bracket which affords easy adjustment to the item which its holds when access to the bracket is limited. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention concerns a bracket for securing an item to a support. In one example embodiment the bracket comprises a base defining an opening therein for receiving the item. An arm is mounted on the base. The arm is movable between a closed position overlying the opening for retaining the item to the base, and an open position in spaced relation away from the opening to permit insertion and removal of the item into and from the opening. A contact surface is mounted on the arm. A finger is mounted on the base. The finger is movable relatively to the base so as to position it into and out of engagement with the contact surface to respectively secure the arm in the closed position and release the arm from the closed position. The finger may comprise a threaded shaft threadedly engaged with the base. Rotation of the threaded shaft moves the finger transversely to the base. The arm may be pivotally mounted on the base. 
     In one embodiment, the opening is defined by first and second side portions positioned in spaced relation to one another. The side portions are attached to one another by a transverse portion. The opening is positioned opposite to the transverse portion. The arm may be pivotally mounted on the first side portion, the finger being mounted on the second side portion. The arm is in facing relation with the transverse portion when the arm is in the first position overlying the opening. The finger may comprise a threaded shaft threadedly engaged with the second side portion. Rotation of the threaded shaft moves the finger transversely to the second side portion and into and out of engagement with the contact surface. 
     In one embodiment of the bracket, a first end of the arm is pivotally mounted on the first side portion. The contact surface comprises a tab extending from a second end of the arm oppositely disposed to the first end. The finger has a longitudinal axis. The tab is angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the finger. 
     In another example embodiment of a bracket for securing an item to a support, the bracket comprises a base defining an opening therein for receiving the item. An arm is mounted on the base. The arm is movable between a closed position overlying the opening for retaining the item to the base, and an open position in spaced relation away from the opening to permit insertion and removal of the item into and from the opening. A contact surface is mounted on the arm. A finger is mounted on the base. The finger has a longitudinal axis and is movable in a direction along the axis relatively to the base into and out of engagement with the contact surface to respectively secure the arm in the closed position and release the arm from the closed position. 
     In another example embodiment of a bracket for securing an item to a support, the bracket comprises a base defining an opening therein for receiving the item. An arm is mounted on the base. The arm is movable between a closed position overlying the opening for retaining the item to the base, and an open position in spaced relation away from the opening to permit insertion and removal of the item into and from the opening. A contact surface mounted on the base. A finger is mounted on the arm. The finger is movable relatively to the arm into and out of engagement with the contact surface to respectively secure the arm in the first position and release the arm from the first position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a bracket used in an assembly to secure an item to a support; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an example bracket according to the invention shown in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial cut-away isometric view of a portion of the bracket shown in  FIG. 2  on an enlarged scale; 
         FIGS. 2B and 2C  are partial cut-away isometric views of additional example embodiments of brackets according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2D  is an exploded isometric view of another example embodiment of a bracket according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the example bracket shown in 
         FIG. 2 , but in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an example bracket according to the invention shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial cut-away isometric view of a portion of the bracket shown in  FIG. 4  on an enlarged scale; 
         FIGS. 4B ,  4 C and  4 D are partial cut-away isometric views of additional example embodiments of brackets according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  show an example bracket embodiment in use; and, 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a component of the bracket shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  on an enlarged scale. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an example assembly  10  wherein an example bracket  12  according to the invention is used to secure an item  14  to a support  16 . In this example, the assembly  10  is a fire suppression sprinkler system comprising a riser  18  and a branch pipe  20  attached to a beam  22  of a structure, such as a warehouse, office building, hotel or other edifice. A saddle coupling  24  connects one end of a flexible hose  26  to the pipe  20 , the other end being attached to the item  14 , in this example a sprinkler reducer. Sprinkler reducer  14  is connected to a heat triggered sprinkler  28  which projects through an opening  30  in a ceiling panel  32 . The weight of the flexible hose  26 , bracket  12 , reducer  14  and sprinkler  28  is borne on the support  16 , in this example a cross beam which extends between rails  36  to which the ceiling panel  32  is attached. In this example the ceiling panel is drywall construction, but other types of ceilings are also contemplated. 
     Use of the flexible hose  26  permits positional adjustment of the sprinkler  28  in two horizontal and one vertical direction, making it advantageous for use with drywall construction because it is very easy to align the sprinkler with the opening  30 . Vertical positioning of the sprinkler is facilitated by the bracket  12 . An example bracket  12  is shown in detail in  FIG. 2  and comprises a base  38 , an arm  40  mounted on the base, a contact surface  42  mounted on the arm and a finger  44  mounted on the base. 
     In this example, base  38  is formed of first and second plates  46  and  48  positioned in spaced apart relation to one another. Plates  46  and  48  are attached to one another by a third plate  50 . Together plates  46 ,  48  and  50  form a channel  52  which in this example is sized to receive the support, cross beam  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) to mount the bracket  12  onto it. Alternately, the base  38  could be bolted or riveted to the cross beam or another support using one of the plates, however, receiving the cross beam  16  within channel  52  permits easy positional adjustment of the sprinkler  28  lengthwise along the beam. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , base  38  has first and second side portions  54  and  56  in spaced relation to one another thereby defining an opening  58  ( FIG. 3 ) which receives the item  14  to be mounted on support  16 . The side portions are connected by a transverse portion  60 , the opening  58  being positioned opposite to the transverse portion. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the arm  40 . In this example, a first end  40   a  of arm  40  is pivotally mounted on the first side portion  54 . Arm  40  can pivot about an axis  62  between a closed position overlying opening  58  ( FIG. 2 ), and an open position in spaced relation away from the opening ( FIG. 3 ). There may be a spring element  64  acting between the base and the arm which biases the arm  40  into the closed position overlying the opening. Contact surface  42  comprises a tab  66  in this example, the tab extending from a second end  40   b  of the arm  40  disposed opposite to the first end  40   a .  FIG. 2A  illustrates the tab  66  and finger  44  in detail. In this example finger  44  comprises a threaded shaft  68  which threadedly engages the second base plate  48  on the second side portion  56 . Shaft  68  has a longitudinal axis  70  and is movable in the direction of axis  70  transversely to the base  38  when rotated to permit the end  72  of the shaft  68  to move into and out of engagement with the contact surface  42 . Shaft  68  may be a wing bolt to facilitate manual rotation, and/or it may have a non-round receptacle  74 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , to permit a tool  76 , such as a nut driver or hex head wrench, to be used for rotating the shaft  68 . 
     In one example embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2A , the tab  66  is angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis  70  of the shaft  68 . Angularly orienting tab  66  permits the force exerted by the shaft  68  on the second end of arm  40   b  to be varied as necessary to clamp the item  14  between the arm  40  and the base  38  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and described below. Other tab configurations which achieve a clamping force between the arm and the base are also feasible. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the tab  66  is aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  70  of the shaft  68 , and has a recess  78  which receives the end  72  of the shaft  68  and permits the arm  40  to be forced tightly into the closed first position as the shaft is rotated and driven along the recess and against the contact surface  42 .  FIG. 2C  shows a tab  66  having a beveled edge  80  for receiving and guiding the shaft into engagement with the contact surface  42  of the tab. In both of these embodiments it is advantageous if the tab  66  partially overlies the path of shaft  68  when the arm  40  is held in the closed position by the spring  64  so that when the shaft  68  engages the contact surface  42  of the tab  66  it applies force to the arm thereby allowing the arm to exert a clamping force on the item  14  positioned between it and the base  38 . 
       FIG. 2D  shows an exploded view of another bracket embodiment  82  wherein tab  66  comprises a curved surface  84  forming a hook  86 . Hook  86  is sized to receive finger  44  when the arm  40  is in the closed configuration overlying opening  30 . Curved surface  84  may have a conical shape, being wider at the end proximate to the position  88  on base  38  where the finger  44  engages the base, and narrowing distally therefrom. The conical shape helps guide the finger into engagement with the surface  84  by forming a lead-in to accept the end of the finger  44 . The conical shape also provides an effect similar to the angled contact surface  42  shown in  FIG. 2A  in that it permits the finger to force the arm  40  into the closed position as it rides up the surface  84  upon motion along axis  70 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 2D , a hook  90  is mounted on the second end  40   b  of arm  40 . Hook  90  is sized to receive finger  44  and helps to properly position arm  40  in the closed position to permit effective engagement between the finger  44  and the curved surface  84  of tab  66 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternate bracket embodiment  92  wherein finger  44  is mounted on arm  40 , and the contact surface  42  is mounted on the base  38 , the other features of the bracket  82  being as described above for bracket  12 . In the example bracket  92 , finger  44  comprises a threaded shaft  68  threadedly engaged with the end  40   b  of arm  40 . Shaft  68  has a longitudinal axis  70 , and rotation of the shaft moves the finger transversely to the arm  40  in the direction of the axis  70 , allowing the shaft to engage and disengage with the contact surface  42 . Contact surface  42  comprises a tab  66  mounted on the second plate  48 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , tab  66  may be angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis  70  of the shaft  68 . 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4B , tab  66  is mounted on base  38  and comprises a recess  78  which receives and guides finger  44  (shaft  68 ) into engagement with the contact surface  42 . Finger  44  is mounted on arm  40  and movable along its longitudinal axis  70  as described above.  FIG. 4C  illustrates another embodiment wherein finger  44  is again mounted on arm  40  and tab  66  is mounted on base  38 , the tab having a beveled edge  80  to guide the finger into engagement with the contact surface  42 .  FIG. 4D  illustrates yet another embodiment wherein finger  44  is mounted on arm  40  and the tab  66  comprises a curved surface  84  forming a hook  86  mounted on the base  38 . Hook  86  is sized to receive finger  44  when the arm  40  is in the closed configuration overlying opening  30 . Curved surface  84  may have a conical shape, being wider at the end proximate to the end of the finger  44 , and narrowing distally therefrom. The conical shape helps guide the finger into engagement with the surface  84  by forming a lead-in to accept the end of the finger  44 . The conical shape also provides an effect similar to the angled contact surface  42  shown in  FIG. 2A  in that it permits the finger to force the arm  40  into the closed position as it rides up the surface  84  upon motion along axis  70 . 
     Operation of the bracket  12  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this example, before a ceiling panel  32  is installed, support  16  is received within channel  52  and the bracket  12  is able to slide lengthwise along the support so as to preposition it to align with opening  30  in the ceiling panel once it is installed. Item  14 , in this example a sprinkler reducer attached to a piping network by a flexible hose  26  (see also  FIG. 1 ), is inserted within bracket opening  58  ( FIG. 5 ) and held in position by moving arm  40  (or allowing the arm to move if spring biased) from the open to the closed position ( FIG. 6 ). With the arm  40  in the closed position, threaded shaft  68  is rotated to engage it with contact surface  42  and provide clamping force between the arm  40  and the bracket base  38  to clamp the reducer in an arbitrary vertical position. Next the ceiling panel  32  is attached to its supporting structure (see rails  36  in  FIG. 1 ), with the opening  30  aligned with the reducer  14 . After installation of the ceiling panel  32 , a technician may adjust the vertical position of the sprinkler  28  attached to the reducer  14  by turning the threaded shaft  68  to disengage it from the contact surface  42 , thereby allowing the arm  40  to swing from the closed to the open position ( FIG. 5 ), or at least out of contact with the reducer  14 . The reducer, no longer being supported by bracket  12 , is free to move vertically as necessary to position the sprinkler  28  at the desired position relative to the ceiling panel  32 . The technician holds the reducer in the desired vertical position and moves, or allows, arm  40  to move back into the closed position ( FIG. 6 ) where it engages the reducer. The technician then rotates the threaded shaft  68  to again engage it with the contact surface  42 , which results in clamping of the reducer between the arm  40  and the base  38 , thereby holding the sprinkler in the desired vertical position. 
     Brackets according to the invention allow easy adjustment of the position of an item on one side of a barrier or membrane where the mounting to be manipulated is positioned on the opposite side of the barrier or membrane and thereby provide significant advantage over prior art mounting brackets. Although use of example brackets according to the invention is shown in the context of a fire suppression sprinkler system, it is understood that this is by way of example only and not a limitation. Brackets according to the invention may be used with any type of support, in a ceiling, wall or other structure, and in any orientation, and may be used to secure electrical fixtures such as lighting, wiring harnesses, natural gas lines, audio components such as loudspeakers, as well as safety devices such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and radiation monitors to cite but a few examples.