Patent Publication Number: US-7222830-B2

Title: Right angle bracket

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a bracket for securing an elongated support member for attaching a covering for a window opening or wall. The bracket is securable adjacent a ceiling or at the top of a window casing. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Brackets of all types are known for securement against a wall or ceiling surface whereby to support attachment members for draperies and blinds. One known bracket comprises a right angle flange and wherein on one of the flanges a bolt is inserted and clinched in place by pressure. A wing nut is then attached to the free end of the bolt whereby to retain a wooden board of a thickness of three quarter inch to one inch and to which is affixed covering material or blinds. Velcro strips may also be attached to this board to support valences or other decorative drapery. These brackets also have holes in their flanges for securement to a ceiling or a vertical wall surface or frame. 
   Although such bracket is simple in design it has several problems associated therewith. One of these problem is that in the manufacture thereof it is necessary to manipulate the bracket several times whereby to place it in a jig and then to mount the bolt at a precise position and then to clinch the bolt into one of the flanges of the bracket at a precise location. The labor involved in the manufacture of the bracket and the use of a bolt adds to the cost of the bracket. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is the feature of present invention to provide a bracket which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantage of the prior art and which is less expensive to produce. 
   Another feature of the present invention is to provide a bracket and wherein the bolt is constituted by a flat stem which is punched out of one the flanges of the bracket thus providing an integral attachment with the flange. 
   Another feature of the present invention is provided bracket which is of light weight and formed from a single flat metal piece and wherein the threads of the flat stem are formed by a plurality of thread indentations formed on opposed side edges of the stem and to which a wing nut is threadably retained. 
   According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a bracket for securing an elongated support member elevated against a wall or adjacent a ceiling for attachment of a window or wall covering thereto. The bracket comprises a single flat metal piece bent to form a top horizontal flange and an integrally formed vertical flange. Holes are provided in at least one of the flanges to receive fasteners therethrough for securement of the bracket. The top horizontal flange has an elongated flat stem punched therefrom and bent out of an inner surface thereof to extend downward at an angle of about 90° thereto and spaced forwardly of the vertical flange. A plurality of thread indentations are formed in opposed side edges of the stem and are adapted to receive and retain a threaded nut about the stem. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating the construction of the bracket of the present invention formed from a single flat metal piece; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the bracket as illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing the construction of the top horizontal flange; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the bracket of  FIG. 1  illustrating the construction of the stem and its threaded edges as well as the construction of the vertical flange; and 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the vertical flange. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings there is shown generally at  10  a bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention for securing an elongated support member  11 , hereinshown in phantom lines, elevated against a wall or adjacent a ceiling for attachment of a window or wall covering  12  suspended from the elongated support member  11 . As hereinshown the covering or drape  12  is secured to the end edge  11 ′ of the support member  11  by Velcro strips  13 . 
   The bracket  10  is comprised of a single flat rectangular metal piece which is bent to form a top horizontal flange  14  and an integrally formed vertical flange  15 . Holes  16  are provided in at least one of the flanges, as herein shown in both flanges  14  and  15 , whereby to receive fasteners, such as illustrated in phantom lines at  17 , for securing the bracket on a wall or ceiling surface or on a top frame member of a window opening, not shown. 
   The top horizontal flange  14  has an elongated flat stem  18  punched therefrom thus creating a cavity  19  in the top horizontal flange  14 . The stem is bent out of the inner surface  14 ′ of the top horizontal flange  14  and extends downwardly at an angle of about 90° with respect to the inner surface  14 ′ . The stem is also spaced forwardly of the vertical flange  15  and extends substantially parallel thereto. A plurality of thread indentations  20  are then embossed or engraved or punched in opposed side edges  21  of the flat stem  18 . These indentations are oriented such as to constitute threads for threadably retaining a nut fastener or a wing nut such as identified by reference numeral  22  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The thread indentations  20  extend in at least a lower portion of the stem  18 . 
   In use two or more of the brackets  10  are secured in position and holes are drilled in the elongated support member  11  at precise locations whereby to receive the threaded stems  18  or the brackets  10  therethrough. A wing nut  22  is then threadably engaged on the stem whereby the elongated support member is wedged against the top horizontal flange. By turning the wing nut the elongated support member is solidly connected to the top horizontal flange of the bracket. Any axial load placed on the flat stem by the wing nut will be transmitted into the top horizontal flange due to the fact that it is integrally formed therewith and prevent the stem from detaching. 
   In order to structurally retain the transverse relationship between the top horizontal flange  14  and the vertical flange  15 , stiffening ribs  24  are punched within the connecting bend  25  of the bracket. It is important for the top horizontal flange to maintain its right angle relationship with the vertical flange when the vertical flange is secured to a vertical wall surface or window frame and the top flange is spaced from a ceiling. In such an installation the load is provided on the top horizontal flange. However, the fact that the support member  11  is wedged in the corner of the bracket between the top horizontal flange and the vertical flange also helps in preventing the top flange from bending under load. 
   It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.