Screen enclosure clamp system

A bracket assembly is removably coupleable to a vertical frame member. The assembly includes a central component having interior and exterior sections. The interior section has an inside edge positioned in contact with the frame member. The interior section has first and second apertures. The exterior section has a leg formed as an extension of the interior section. The interior and exterior sections have planar first and second surfaces. The bracket assembly includes first and second side components. Each side component has a middle leg facing the frame member. Each side component has an inner leg in contact with the frame for coupling the assembly to the frame. Each side component has an outer leg in facing contact with the interior section. A coupling assembly includes apertures through the outer leg and fasteners through the apertures. In this manner the side components are coupled to the central components.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present non-provisional patent application is based upon U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/554,954 filed Nov. 2, 2011, the subject matter of which application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a screen enclosure clamp system and more particularly pertains to removably receiving and supporting swimming-related, swimming pool-related, decorative and screen structural support-related objects at convenient locations within screened enclosures, the receiving and supporting being done in a safe, eye-appealing, convenient and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of pool enclosure systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved screen enclosure clamp system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved screen enclosure clamp system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a screen enclosure clamp system. A bracket assembly is removably coupleable to a vertical frame member. The assembly includes a central component having interior and exterior sections. The interior section has an inside edge positioned in contact with the frame member. The interior section has first and second apertures. The exterior section has a leg formed as an extension of the interior section. The interior and exterior sections have planar first and second surfaces. The bracket assembly includes first and second side components. Each side component has a middle leg facing the frame member. Each side component has an inner leg in contact with the frame for coupling the assembly to the frame. Each side component has an outer leg in facing contact with the interior section. A coupling assembly includes apertures through the outer leg and fasteners through the apertures. In this manner the side components are coupled to the central components.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved screen enclosure clamp system which has all of the advantages of the prior art pool enclosure systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved screen enclosure clamp system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved screen enclosure clamp system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure clamp system for removably receiving and supporting swimming-related, swimming pool-related, decorative and screen structural support-related objects at convenient locations within screened enclosures, the receiving and supporting being done in a safe, eye-appealing, convenient and economical manner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clamp system. A bracket assembly is removably coupleable to a vertical frame member. The assembly includes a central component having interior and exterior sections. The interior section has an inside edge positioned in contact with the frame member. The interior section has first and second apertures. The exterior section has a leg formed as an extension of the interior section. The interior and exterior sections have planar first and second surfaces. The bracket assembly includes first and second side components. Each side component has a middle leg facing the frame member. Each side component has an inner leg in contact with the frame for coupling the assembly to the frame. Each side component has an outer leg in facing contact with the interior section. A coupling assembly includes apertures through the outer leg and fasteners through the apertures. In this manner the side components are coupled to the central components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention, the screen enclosure clamp system10, is particularly adapted for use, but not exclusive use, in swimming pool enclosures. The system is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a bracket assembly and a coupling assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

First provided is a vertically extending frame member16. The frame member constitutes a portion of an enclosure. The frame member has a vertically extending front face18. The frame member has laterally spaced vertical left and right recesses20,22. The recesses are provided on opposite sides of the front face. The recesses are configured to include opposed left and right side faces24,26. Each side face forms a first acute angle. The first acute angle is greater than 85 degrees with respect to the front face. The frame member forms a vertical central plane. The central plane is provided perpendicular to the front face. The central plane is equally spaced from the side faces.

A bracket assembly30is provided. The bracket assembly is removably coupled to the frame member. The bracket assembly includes a central component32. The central component has an interior section34. The central component has an exterior section36. The interior section has an inside edge38. The inside edge of the interior section is positioned in contact with the front face of the frame member. The interior section has upper and lower apertures40,42. The apertures have vertically aligned axes. The inside edge of the interior section has a recessed edge44. The recessed edge is provided between the apertures. The recessed edge is aligned with the axes. The exterior section has a U-shaped leg46. The U-shaped leg is integrally formed as an extension of the interior section. The U-shaped leg is laterally spaced from the lower aperture. The U-shaped leg has a midpoint. The midpoint is provided at an elevation beneath the lower aperture. The interior and exterior sections are vertically oriented. The interior and exterior sections contain the central plane. The interior section has a planar left surface48. The interior section also has a planar right surface50.

The bracket assembly also includes a left component54. The bracket assembly includes a similarly configured right component56. The left component has a middle leg58. The middle leg faces the front face of the frame member. The middle leg is provided between the left surface of the interior section and the left side face of the recess. The right component has a middle leg60. The middle leg faces the front face of the frame member. The middle leg is provided between the right surface of the interior section and the right side face of the recess. The left and right components have inner legs62,64. The inner legs are provided in facing contact with the left and right side faces of the recess respectively. The inner legs form a second acute angle with respect to the middle leg. The second acute angle is equal to the first acute angle. The left and right components have outer legs66,68. The outer legs are provided in facing contact with the left and right surfaces of the interior section respectively. The outer legs have short incurved ends70. The incurved ends of the outer legs contact the left and right surfaces of the interior section respectively.

A coupling assembly includes upper and lower unthreaded apertures74,76. The unthreaded apertures extend through the outer leg of the left component. The coupling assembly includes upper and lower threaded apertures78,80. The threaded apertures extend through the outer leg of the right component. The upper threaded and unthreaded apertures are aligned with the upper aperture of the interior section of the bracket assembly. An upper bolt82is provided. The upper bolt extends through all of the upper apertures. The upper bolt is threadedly received in the upper threaded aperture. In this manner the coupling between the bracket assembly and the frame member is tightened. The lower threaded and unthreaded apertures are aligned with the lower aperture of the interior section. A lower bolt84is provided. The lower bolt extends through all of the lower apertures. The lower bolt is threadedly received in the lower threaded aperture. In this manner the coupling between the bracket assembly and the frame member is loosened and tightened.

In an alternate embodiment100of the present invention the vertical frame member has a central plane. The side component have inner legs104. The central plane is equally spaced from the inner legs of the side components. The inner legs have surfaces106. The surfaces of the inner legs are provided parallel with respect to the central plane. NoteFIG. 4.

In the next alternate embodiment200of the present invention the bracket assembly includes two similarly configured bracket assemblies204,206. The bracket assemblies are laterally spaced from each other. The two bracket assemblies are supported by two parallel frame members208,210. Each central component has an exterior section212,214. The exterior section of each central component extends laterally from an associated interior section. Each exterior section has an outboard hole216,218. Each exterior section has an inboard hole220,222. The inboard holes are provided at an elevation above than the outboard holes. An outboard rod224is provided. The outboard rod extends between the outboard holes. The outboard road functions as a towel rack. An inboard rod224is provided. The inboard rod extends between the outboard holes. In this manner use as a towel rack is facilitated. NoteFIG. 5-7.

In another alternate embodiment300of the present invention an outboard section304is provided. The outboard section has an upper edge306. The upper edge of the outboard section is provided in a horizontal plane over the majority of its extent. A notch308is provided. The notch is provided at a location remote from the interior section. In this manner use as a support for a planter is facilitated. NoteFIG. 8.

In the last alternate embodiment400of the present invention the bracket assembly includes two similarly configured bracket assemblies404,406. The two bracket assemblies are elevationally spaced from each other. Two frame members408,410are provided. The two bracket assemblies are supported by the two frame members. A common exterior section412is provided. The exterior section extends between the two interior sections. In this manner use as a gusset is facilitated. NoteFIGS. 9 and 10.