FIXING BRACKET

Abstract: A fixing bracket comprises an elongate plate (10) having first and second opposed surfaces, and a cam (22) at one end of the plate projecting from one of said opposed surfaces, the cam (22) being rotatable about an axis to vary the distance between the surface of the cam and the other end of the plate.

Description: FIXING BRACKET This invention relates to a fixing bracket which is particularly useful in securing together two abutting sections of a worktop. Worktops in kitchens, utility rooms and similar working areas are generally fabricated in situ from standard sizes of worktop board. A worktop generally consists of a core of chipboard or the like onto which is bonded a thin layer of hard plastics on the top surface and one or more side surfaces. It is necessary to have a joint in the worktop between two sections of board at right angles to each other or if the length of a worktop exceeds the length of a standard board, and it is important that this joint be as tight and secure as possible for aesthetic and hygienic reasons. The normal method of making such a joint is to form in the bottom surface of the worktop sections a channel spanning the joint, drill a blind hole in each board at the ends of the channel, insert in the holes washers curved to match the curvature of the holes, locate the washers on a bolt extending through the channel and tighten a nut on the bolt to draw the boards together and apply a force across the joint. This method of making a joint is laborious, time consuming and hence expensive. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. The present invention is a fixing bracket comprising an elongate plate first and second opposed surfaces, and a cam at one end of the plate projecting from one of said opposed surfaces, the cam being rotatable about an axis to vary the distance between the surface of the cam and the other end of the plate. A dowel may be secured at the other end of the plate and project from said one opposed surface. Preferably the cam is cylindrical and is rotatable about an eccentric axis. Means for rotating the cam may be provided on the other opposed surface of the plate. The axis may be parallel to the axis of the dowel and perpendicular to the one opposed surface. Preferably pairs of countersunk holes are provided in the other opposed surface, one hole of each pair being located in each longitudinal half of the plate. The present invention is also a method of securing together two members across a butt joint, the method comprising fixing across the joint a bracket as defined in the sixth last preceding paragraph with the cam in a hole formed in the surface of one of the members, and rotating the cam in the direction to move the members together. Preferably, the method includes forming two spaced holes one on either side of the joint, inserting the dowel in one of the holes and the rotatable cam in the other hole, rotating the cam in the direction to move the members together, and screwing the bracket to the members using the countersunk holes. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fixing bracket according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bracket of Fig. 1. Re erring now to the drawings, a fixing bracket according to the present invention comprises a elongate rectangular plate 10 in which are provided a pair of holes 12 and 14, one at each end of the plate 10. A bolt 16 passes through the hole 14 and secures a dowel 18 in a fixed position on the plate. The optimum dimensions of the dowel will vary from application to application but a diameter of at least 12mm and a length of 30mm are the most suitable for a bracket intended to secure together worktop surfaces. At the hole 12 a bolt 20 passes through and engages an eccentrically drilled and tapped hole in a circular cam 22 to secure the cam on the plate while allowing it to be rotated thus to vary the distance between the surfaces of the cam and the dowel. The cam diameter is preferably at least 12mm, its length 30mm, and a surface variation of at least a 5mm. Countersunk holes 26 are provided in the plate 10 in pairs, one hole of each pair being on each side of the transverse centreline 28 of the plate. In this embodiment four pairs of holes are provided, but in many cases two pairs would be sufficient. In use, the bracket 10 is used to join together, for example, two sections of a worktop which join at a butt joint. On the underside of the worktop are drilled two holes, one in each worktop section, at a spacing corresponding to the maximum spacing of the surfaces of the cam 22 and the dowel 18. The bracket 10 is then located in position with the dowel 18 in one hole and the cam 22 in the other, and the bolt 20 is rotated to tend to reduce the spacing of the dowel 18 and the cam 22, thus imposing a substantial compressive force across the joint. To finish the operation, the bracket 10 is secured to the worktop sections by means of screws in the holes 26, this having the dual effect of securing the bracket in position and making the undersurfaces of the worktop sections coplanar with the surface of the bracket and therefore with each other, with the result that the top surfaces of the worktop sections are also coplanar. A typical joint between worktop sections would have two or three brackets spanning the joint. Modifications may be made to the embodiment described. For example, while the round head of the bolt 20 could be replaced by any other head as desired, it being only necessary that means be provided on one side of the bracket to rotate the cam on the other side. In a further modification the dowel is simply dispensed with, that end of the bracket being simply secured in position by a screw.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A fixing bracket comprising an elongate plate having first and second opposed surfaces, and a cam at one end of the plate projecting from one of said opposed surfaces, the cam being rotatable about an axis to vary the distance between the surface of the cam and the other end of the plate. 2. A fixing bracket as claimed in claim 1, in which a dowel is secured at the other end of the plate and projects from said one opposed surface. 3. A fixing bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cam is cylindrical and is rotatable about an eccentric axis. 4. A fixing bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which means for rotating the cam are provided on the other opposed surface of the plate. 5. A fixing bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the axis is parallel to the axis of the dowel and perpendicular to the one opposed surface. 6. A fixing bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which pairs of countersunk holes are provided in the other opposed surface, one hole of each pair being located in each longitudinal half of the plate. 7. A fixing bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 8. A method of securing together two members across a butt joint, the method comprising fixing across the joint a bracket as claimed in any preceding claim with the cam in a hole formed in the surface of one of the members, and rotating the cam in the direction to move the members together. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including forming two spaced holes one on either side of the joint, inserting the dowel in one of the holes and the rotatable cam in the other hole, rotating the cam in the direction to move the members together, and screwing the bracket to the members using the countersunk holes. 10. A method of securing together two members across a butt joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: SARGENT DANNY, SARGENT, DANNY
Applicants: SARGENT DANNY, SARGENT, DANNY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47B87
IPC codes: A47B87