Abstract:
A corner bracket assembly is adapted for mounting and support of a newel or post and comprises a plurality of corner brackets each having oppositely directed flanges at its lower edge for attachment to a rigid member, such as, a floor surface so as to form an upstanding receptacle for insertion of the newel, and exterior molding or trim forms a cover in surrounding relation to the corner brackets and base portion of the newel.

Description:
This invention generally relates to supporting brackets and more particularly to a novel and improved corner bracket assembly adapted for use in supporting newel posts or like members in abutting relation to another member. 
     BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of structures require the joining of the end of one member in abutting relation to another normally disposed member and in such a way as to be rigidly attached and capable of withstanding externally applied loads or forces to the one member as well as to form a support for other elements to be secured to the one member. The present invention may be best typified by its use in conjunction with staircase and other handrail assemblies which require terminal end posts or newels and, in many cases, intermediate posts to support the horizontal or inclined rail sections. The posts must be anchored to the floor; however, in the past it has been difficult to rigidly secure same as to avoid eventual loosening under repeated use and application of forces. Previously, it has been customary practice to cut through the floor or tread and anchor the newel to a frame member beneath the floor or to the stair framing. In order to avid the time and expense required in securing beneath the floor, attempts have been made to secure the newel by pigtailing into the floor or by anchoring with a bracket. Generally, these approaches have not proven to be satisfactory particularly where the post is subject to sidewise loading or jarring such as that which occurs when a person grasps the handrail assembly or supports himself against it. 
     Moreover, winding staircases and handrails have become increasingly popular as ornamental items. In such applications, it is highly desirable that the post be anchored securely to the floor in such a way so as to permit placement of decorative trim especially around the base both to ornament or decorate the post and to cover and protect the fastening elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved support bracket assembly specifically adaptable for use in anchoring the end of one member in flush abutting relation to another normally extending member. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved support bracket assembly for a post which will permit anchoring of the post to another surface, such as, a floor surface without the insertion of fastening elements through the post directly into the floor. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved corner bracket assembly for different sized posts of rectangular or other polygonal cross-section which will securely anchor the post in abutting relation to a floor or similar support surface. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved corner bracket assembly adapted to support and anchor a post to a floor surface as well as to support decorative trim or molding in outer surrounding relation to the corner bracket assembly; and further wherein the bracket assembly is conformable for use with various types of handrail assemblies to serve as anchoring means for terminal and intermediate newel posts between the rail sections. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention resides in a corner bracket assembly adapted for the mounting and support of a newel post to a floor at spaced intervals between handrail sections which are suspended from and between the posts. Each corner bracket has a pair of upright flat plates joined together in mutually perpendicular relation to one another with oppositely directed flanges at intervals along the bottom edge or bases of the plates, and which flanges are fastened directly to the floor surface. The spacing between corner brackets, for example, for a rectangular post, is of course dictated by the cross-sectional size of the post so that a common receptacle or opening is formed between the brackets for close-fitting insertion of the base of the post. Decorative molding may be united to the external surface of the corner bracket plates so as to cover the plates and to form an attractive base for the post. 
     The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a somewhat fragmentary persective view of an assembled corner bracket assembly and post in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of corner bracket assembly with portion broken away to illustrate the interrelationship between corner brackets and trim comprising the assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view with the post removed of the preferred form of corner bracket assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example in FIG. 1, the mounting and disposition of a preferred form of corner bracket assembly as generally represented at 10 to a floor surface F and specifically for the purpose of mounting and disposition of a support post or newel 12 in upstanding relation. In the preferred embodiment, the corner bracket assembly 10 is specifically intended for use in supporting a generally rectangular or square post, for example, to serve as one of the newels in a handrail assembly. Typical handrail assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,195 as well as in our hereinbefore referred to application for patent, Ser. No. 229,888, filed Jan. 30, 1981. As the description proceeds, however, it will become evident that the corner bracket assembly may be used in anchoring or supporting various members other than posts in abutting relation to another member, such as, a floor surface F; and further is conformable for use in supporting posts or members of different cross-sections. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the preferred form of corner bracket assembly 10 is seen to comprise a plurality of four corner brackets 14 with decorative trim as generally represented at 16 disposed in outer surrounding relation to the inner brackets 14. Each bracket is made up of a pair of flat, upstanding wall sections or plates 18 and 19 interconnected along a common edge in mutually perpendicular relation to one another. In turn, each plate has oppositely directed, inwardly and outwardly extending feet in the form of flanges, there being a pair of spaced, parallel outwardly directed flanges 20 from the lower edge of each plate 18 and 19 and an inwardly directed flange 22 which is directed inwardly from an intermediate portion of the plate between and in an opposite direction to that of the flanges 20. Each flange 20 and 22 is provided with an opening or aperture 24 to permit insertion of a suitable fastener, such as, a wood screw as represented at 26 to secure the flanges 20, 22 into the floor surface. 
     It will be seen that adjacent brackets have spaced parallel sides 18 and 19, the spacing between adjacent sides being dictated by the cross-sectional size of the posts 12. Thus, for a square or rectangular post, adjacent brackets are positioned or spaced such that the distance between corners along inside surfaces of the plates corresponds to the distance between the corners C, as represented at FIG. 1, of the support post 12. 
     The wall or plate sections 18 and 19 of each corner bracket assembly are dimensioned in height so as to form a solid unyielding support for the base of the post. The post, being sized for close-fitting insertion within the brackets, will then come to rest upon the inwardly directed flanges 22, the only connection or fastening required being that through the flanges 20 and 22 of the corner brackets into the floor F. 
     The assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to that of FIG. 2, but is modified somewhat in the provision for openings 28 in each of the plates to permit threaded insertion of wood screws 29 through the openings into the body of the post. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the outer decorative trim as broadly designated at 16 is made up of four sections 30 each having an intermediate wall section 32 dimensioned to correspond to the height of the plates 18 or 19, an overhanging lip or ridge 34 at the upper edge to extend over the upper edge of each plate into abutting relation to the external sides of the post 12, and a lower, vertically extending lip 36 which extends from the lower edge of the wall section over the outwardly directed flanges 20. Opposite ends of each section 30 are formed with beveled edges 40 so as to form complementary abutting edges between adjacent sections 30. If desired, the trim sections may be fastened directly to the base of the post by means of suitable fasteners in the form of nails 42 which are driven through the upper ends 34 of the trim sections into the body of the post. 
     Again, as alluded to earlier, the bracket assembly of the present invention is readily conformable for other anchoring applications as well as to other cross-sectional configurations and sizes of the member to be anchored. For instance, a pair of corner brackets may be used in cooperation with one another for smaller cross-sectional sized posts. Arcuate brackets may be formed with attaching feet to surround a circular or similar cross-sectional configuration of posts and may be provided with correspondingly arcuate molding or trim to cover and protect the base of the post. Moreover, the decorative trim may be integrally formed with the brackets, for example, where the bracket assembly is to be used for known cross-sectional size of post or other member to be anchored. In this same relation, the corner bracket members need not be formed of separate corner brackets but in the alternative may be in the form of a common rectangular plate having upstanding wall or plate sections to extend along each side of the post and oppositely directed base flanges to affix the common rectangular frame to the floor or other surface. Moreover, while the preferred form of invention has been described specifically in reference to anchoring of a wooden post to a floor surface, it will be apparent that the bracket assembly has ready application for use with other materials. 
     It is therefore to be understood that various other modifications and changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.