Abstract:
The support assembly of the triangular type comprising a vertical member, a horizontal member and a diagonal brace, wherein the support assembly may be easily assembled by hand without any special tools. The support assembly is particularly designed to supporting equipment such as thermo pumps, air conditioners and the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to supports and more particularly, relates to a triangular support. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Supports or brackets are widely used for many different purposes. One of these uses is to support an object next to or adjacent a vertical surface such as a wall. Known support brackets frequently comprise a one piece L shaped member which has one leg secured to the vertical surface with the other leg acting as the support element. 
         [0003]    A more specialized form of the typical bracket described above, is a triangular bracket. Whereas the two legged bracket relies strictly on material strength for its support, a triangular bracket can be utilized to transfer the load force to a vertical member. Such an arrangement is inherently stronger than the two legged bracket. 
         [0004]    As aforementioned brackets are frequently used to support an object such as a heat exchange device against a wall. Such heat exchange devices would include, for example, thermo pumps, air conditioners, heaters and the like. As these objects have a substantial weight, normally a triangularly shaped bracket is employed and care must be taken with the installation. As will be readily understood, installation of such brackets, particularly in tight quarters, consumes a fair bit of the installers time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a triangular support which can be shipped in a knock down condition and be easily assembled using a minimum of tools. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support assembly comprising a vertical member, a horizontal member, and a diagonal brace, the vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of the vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of the vertical member side walls, the horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of the horizontal member, the first and second apertures being located where the horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, said horizontal member having means for pivotally receiving the diagonal member proximate a second end of the horizontal member, and the diagonal member having a diagonal member base and a first and second diagonal member side walls, means for pivotable securement to the horizontal member located at a first end of the diagonal member, first and second apertures in the diagonal base, the first and second apertures being located at a second end of the diagonal member, each of the recesses being located where a respective one of the first and second diagonal member side walls meet the diagonal member base. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a support assembly comprising a vertical member having a vertical member base and a pair of vertical member side walls, an upper recess formed at an upper edge of each of the vertical member side walls, a lower recess formed in a lower portion of each of the vertical member side walls, first and second upwardly extending tab members located on an upper edge of each of the vertical side walls, a horizontal member having a horizontal member base and first and second horizontal member side walls, first and second apertures located proximate a first end of the horizontal member, the first and second apertures being located where the horizontal member base and respective horizontal member side walls meet, the first and second upwardly extending tab members of the vertical member engaging within the first and second apertures, a diagonal member having a diagonal member base and first and second diagonal member side walls, a distal end of the diagonal member being pivotally secured to the horizontal member proximate a second end thereof, first and second apertures in the diagonal base, the first and second apertures being located at a second end of the diagonal member, each of the first and second apertures engaging with a wall segment defining a respective lower recess. 
         [0008]    In greater detail the vertical member will, as is conventional, have means for securing the same to a vertical surface. Eventually, this may be achieved by the use of mechanical fasteners extending through apertures in the base wall of the vertical member. However, it will also be understood that other arrangements such as where the vertical surface has means to cooperate with the vertical member for retaining the same in position. 
         [0009]    As used herein, the terms vertical, horizontal, diagonal and the like will refer to the members when they are in the installed position. The terms are used for the sake of convenience and it will be understood that other orientations may be possible. Similarly, where the term “distal” as used herein refers to the end of a member which is removed from the vertical surface on which the support is installed. 
         [0010]    The vertical member has a structure, at its upper end, designed to cooperate with one end of the horizontal member to support and retain the same. Preferably a system of tab members and apertures are utilized as will be shown in the described embodiment. 
         [0011]    The horizontal member, at its point of joinder with the vertical member, is locked into position and is supported by the vertical member. 
         [0012]    The diagonal member extends from the distal end of the horizontal member to a lower portion of the vertical member. Again, a structure for retaining the diagonal member in position is provided. The distal end of the diagonal member may be retained in position by means of a rod (nut and bolt) extending through apertures in both members. Alternatively, a clip arrangement could be utilized. 
         [0013]    Each of the members preferably has a base wall and a pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicular therefrom. The members may be made of a suitable metallic material having the strength characteristics desired although plastic materials would be suitable for some uses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a triangular support according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view thereof; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevational view showing securement of the top horizontal member and diagonal brace; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a view similar to  FIG. 4A ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  is a view showing the ends of the horizontal and diagonal brace being in an assembled position with respect to the vertical member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  a triangular support generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0022]    Triangular support  10  has a vertical member  12  which is designed to be secured to a substrate; a horizontal member  14  which will support a load; and a diagonal brace  16 . 
         [0023]    Vertical member  12  has a back wall  20 , a first side wall  22  and a second side wall  24 . Vertical member  12  is symmetrical about a vertical axis and thus, only reference will be made to side wall  22 , being understood that side wall  24  has a like configuration. Where appropriate, similar reference numerals with a prime are employed for side wall  24 . 
         [0024]    At its upper end, side wall  22  has an upper tab  26  and a side tab  28 . A notch  30  is provided at the juncture of upper tab  26  and side tab  28 . 
         [0025]    A recess generally designated by reference numeral  32  is formed at the upper end wall of side wall  22 . Recess  32  is defined by a plurality of wall segments as follows. 
         [0026]    A first horizontal wall segment  34  forms the upper edge of upper tab  26 . A first vertical wall segment  36  is formed to extend downwardly from upper tab  26  with an arcuate segment  40  being contiguous therein. It will be noted that a mouth  38  is smaller than the diameter of recess  32 . 
         [0027]    Situated lower down on vertical member  12  and being designed to receive an end of diagonal brace  16  is a second recess  44 . Recess  44  is defined by a bottom upwardly extending diagonal wall  46  and a downwardly extending diagonal wall  48 . The upper portion of recess  44  is defined by a downwardly extending top diagonal wall  50  and an upwardly extending diagonal wall  52 . A notch  54  is formed adjacent to wall  52 . At its inward extremity, recess  44  has an arcuate wall  60 . Again, the mouth entering into the portion of recess  44  defined by arcuate wall  60  is relatively small. 
         [0028]    Horizontal member  14  has a back wall  62 , and first and second side walls  64  and  66  respectively. At one end thereof, there are provided a pair of cut outs  68  and  70  which are formed at the joinder of back wall  62  with a respective side wall  64 ,  66 . Apertures are located in side wall  64 ,  66  respectively. 
         [0029]    Diagonal brace  16  also has a back wall  78  and a pair of side walls  80 ,  82 . Cut outs  84  and  86  are provided at the point of joinder of back wall  78  with side walls  80  and  82  respectively. A first aperture is provided in side wall  80  and a second aperture in side wall  82 . 
         [0030]    For assembly, vertical member  12  may be secured to a suitable substrate S by any suitable means (not shown). Subsequently, an end of horizontal member  14  is inserted in a diagonal manner into recess  32 . The undercut arrangement permits the end walls of horizontal member  14  to rotate such that back wall  20  rests against horizontal segment  34  and with tabs  26 ,  26 ′ fitting within cut outs  68  and  70 . The position is that shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . 
         [0031]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4A , end of diagonal brace  16  is inserted into recess  44  and brace  16  pivoted upwardly as shown in  FIG. 4B . In this sequence, the extended portion formed by top diagonal walls  50  and  52  extends through cut out  68 . Subsequently, a nut  90  and bolt  92  (or other suitable securement means) will pass through the apertures in side walls  64 ,  66 ,  80  and  82  to secure the diagonal brace in position. 
         [0032]    It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.