Abstract:
A bracket and method for connecting two component members, where the bracket is concealed from the outside of a joint formed by the two component members. The bracket includes a first flange having a hole for receiving a securing member and at least one second flange, including at least one protrusion for engaging a cavity in a first member to be secured. This design may use a single screw or bolt, and therefore saves assembly time and reduces product cost.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application of Joel Grossman entitled “Bracket”, Ser. No.: 60/207,226, filed on May 26, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a bracket, and more particularly, to a bracket which secures two component members together and can be concealed from the outside of the joint. 
     BACKGROUND 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     There are several conventional techniques for connecting two component members. One technique, illustrated in FIG. 1, is termed a mortise and tenon. The mortise  102  is a cavity in component member  100 , which accepts the tenon  202  of component member  200 . FIG. 2 illustrates two other conventional techniques, the tongue and groove and dowels and holes. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the groove  104  is a cavity in component member  100 , which accepts the tongue  204  of component member  200 . FIG. 2 also illustrates a dowel  302 , which may be separate from or integral to component member  200 . Dowel  302  is fit inside hole  206  in component member  200 . In each of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques, one or more mortise/tenon, tongue/groove and/or dowel/hole arrangement can be used. 
     Each of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques, which are often used in the field of wood joinery, connects two component members by providing shear support. However, none of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques adequately ensure the two component members remain secured together; the only factor being the tightness of fit between the tenon/tongue/dowel and the respective mortise/groove/hole. 
     In many applications, wood joinery included, it is also important that the two component members remain secured together. 
     Clips or brackets are also conventionally used for connecting two members, either alone or in combination with the exemplary conventional techniques described above. Although conventional clips and brackets usually ensure the two component members remain secured together, when conventional clips or brackets are used to connect two component members of a piece of furniture, the presence of the clip or bracket degrades the appearance of the furniture. 
     Further, conventional brackets, in order to be effective, usually require a bolt or screw for each component being assembled. In the standard case, if two component members are being secured, at least two bolts or screws are required, one for each component member. Requiring at least one screw for each component member makes conventional brackets expensive to make and time consuming to use for assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves these problems by providing a bracket which is usable to connect two component members, where the bracket can be concealed from the outside of the joint, in order to create a clean and furniture-like surface. The design of the bracket pulls two component members to be secured tightly together through the use of at least one member which hooks into one of the component members and is drawn tight to the component member when a securing device is tightened. Further, the bracket of the present invention may be designed to accommodate a single screw or bolt, in order to save assembly time and reduce cost. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1-2 illustrate several conventional techniques for securing two component members. 
     FIGS. 3-10 illustrate several views of the bracket of the present invention in several exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-10, a bracket  1 , in a substantially L-shape, is illustrated including flanges  2  and  3  and a hook  5  at the end of flange  2 , which is turned at substantially 90° to flange  2 . In one preferred embodiment, the hook  5  is oriented in a substantially parallel, but opposite direction to flange  3 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the angle Θ is less than 90°, for example, 88°, in order to provide the hook  5  with additional resistive capabilities. 
     Component members  10  and  11 , fit internally with at least one connecting dowel (or similar mortise/tennon or tongue/groove arrangement), are fixedly joined together by bracket  1  through the insertion of the hook  5  into a hole or indent provided in member  11  and through the screwing of bolt  12 , through hole  16 , provided in member  10 . 
     The design of bracket  1  pulls the two component members  10  and  11  tightly together through the use of the hook  5 , which hooks into one of the component members (in FIGS. 3-5, component member  11 ), and is drawn tight to the component member  10 , when bolt  12  is tightened. The bracket  1  connects the joint of the component members  10  and  11  while being fastened at an inside concealed corner of the joint, in order to hide the bracket  1  and the bolt  12  from plain view. The bracket  1  is also designed to be attachable using a single screw or bolt  12  to simplify customer assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the bracket  1  is made of a metal or other strong material, conventionally used to join component members together to form a fixed joint. 
     In a variation on the bracket  1  illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, an extension  6  illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 permits further tightening of the bracket  1  to component member  10  by providing a gap between the flange  3  and the component member  10 , which thereby provides resistance of the bracket  1  against the bolt head  12 , while not allowing flange  3  to bottom out and touch component member  10 . In another variation of the bracket  1  illustrated in FIGS. 3-10, the extension  6  may be in the form of teeth or other serrations which further grip the component member  10 . In another variation on bracket  1 , an extension  6  is used in combination with teeth or serrations. In yet another variation on the bracket  1  illustrated in FIGS.  6  and  9 - 10 , the extension  6 , teeth  7 , or extension  6  and teeth  7  may be placed on the side edge(s)  13  of the flange  3  in addition to or instead of on the end portion  14  of the flange  3 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  10  the hook  5  is contoured such that it has the same shape as the hole  4 . In another exemplary embodiment, the hole  4  may be replaced with a mortise, groove, or other cavity. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the hole  4  or cavity does not go entirely through component  11 . In other embodiments, the hole  4  or cavity could be completely through component  11  as illustrated in FIG. 7, and the hook  5  could include an extension  15 , which protrudes through component  11  on the other side of component member  11  as illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, the hook  5  is secured via interaction with a hole, mortise, or groove. In alternative embodiments, the hook  5  could engage with a protrusion  4 A on component  11 , such as illustrated in FIG.  9 . The protrusion may be integral, for example, a ledge, or separate but secured to the component  11 , for example, a corresponding upwardly facing hook. The hook  5  and corresponding hook (for example, an upwardly facing hook) could be contoured to ensure they remain secured together. In another exemplary embodiment, the flanges  2  and  3  and the hook  5  are integrally formed. Although a bolt  12  has been illustrated in the Figures, another securing member such as a screw or nail could also be utilized. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the bracket  1  may include more than one flange  2 , each with a hook  5 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, each flange  2  may include two or more hooks  5 . In another exemplary embodiment, the two hooks  5  may form the ends of a “V” shape, with the two legs of the “V” meeting near the bend where the flanges  2  and  3  meet. This arrangement may permit the hooks  5  to bear more weight when pulled tight by the bolt  12 . Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket  1  is located on an inside portion of the joint of component members  10  and  11  and is out of plain view. In one exemplary embodiment, component members  10  and  11  are parts of the frame of a piece of furniture. In one exemplary embodiment, the piece of furniture may be a futon sofa bed. It is noted that several embodiments are described above. To the extent physically possible, the features and variations described in these embodiments may be used either singly or in combination with any other described embodiments. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for securing two components  10 ,  11 , which have either been secured to provide shear support or not. If not, the first step of securing the two component members  10 ,  11  includes the step of connecting the two component members  10 ,  11  by providing shear support. Examples of such techniques are described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. If the two component members  10 ,  11  are already secured together to provide shear support, then this step may be omitted. The next step, includes inserting the hook  5  or other extension into a cavity or other hole  4  and then aligning the flange  3  over the hole  16  in the component number  10 . That step includes inserting a securing member  12 , such as a screw, bolt, or nail through the hole in the flange  3  and through the hole  16  in component number  10 . The next step includes tightening the securing member so that either the flange  3  is flush against a surface of component  10  or so that extension  6 , located either on the end or on the sides (or both) of flange  3 , and either including or not including serrations such as teeth  7  on the end, sides (or both), contact the surface of component number  10 . As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, all the variations described above in connection with the bracket illustrated in FIGS. 3-10 are also applicable to the method of securing described here. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.