Abstract:
Ornamental supports for supporting various items such as shelves, hanging plants, curtain rods, decorative fixtures, flag poles, name plaques, or the like and so constructed that ornamentation associated therewith may be easily be removed and replaced with other ornamentation thereby permitting the substitution of different ornamentation appropriate for differing tastes, different holidays, and different seasons of the year.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices for securement to conventional support surfaces for supporting various items such as shelves, hanging plants, curtain rods, decorative fixtures, flag poles, name plaques, or the like. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     A wide variety of such supports is found in the prior art. However, they are deficient in that most are more utilitarian than decorative and, if they do include any decorative features, such features are a permanent part thereof and may not be varied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ornamental supports for securement to conventional support surfaces and so constructed that ornamentation integral therewith may easily be removed and replaced with other ornamentation. 
     With the present invention, the supports can perform not only utilitarian functions but ornamental functions as well, which may be varied as desired to provide different ornamentation appropriate for differing tastes, different holidays, and different seasons of the year. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first form of support embodying the invention comprising a shelf bracket which has one form of ornamentation removably fixed thereto; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the support of FIG. 1 as seen from the right; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the ornamentation of the support of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ornamentation of the support of FIG. 1 with parts broken away for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the ornamentation of the support of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket of the support of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the shelf bracket of the support of FIG. 1, as seen from the right; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the shelf bracket of the support of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a support having a second form of ornamentation removably fixed thereto; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a support having still another form of ornamentation removably fixed thereto; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a second form of support embodying the invention comprising a plant hanger bracket with ornamentation removably fixed thereto, the ornamentation also serving as a curtain rod support; 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the support of FIG. 11 associated with a window; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a third form of support embodying the invention comprising an ornamental hanger for fireplace tools removably fixed to a bracket which is in turn fixed to both a wall and fireplace mantel; 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the support of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a further form of support embodying the invention comprising a bracket with an ornamental lamp fixture or ornamental bell removably fixed thereto; 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the support of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a fifth form of support embodying the invention comprising a curtain rod bracket with ornamentation in the form of a butterfly removably fixed thereto; 
     FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of the support of FIG. 17 associated with a window; 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of a further form of support embodying the invention comprising a flag pole bracket with ornamentation in the form of a butterfly removably fixed thereto; and 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of a still further form of support embodying the invention comprising a name plaque bracket with ornamentation removably fixed thereto. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-8 an ornamental support embodying a first form of the invention is generally indicated by  10  and includes an inverted L-shaped, or right angle bracket  12  which comprises a vertically oriented arm  14  and a horizontally oriented arm  16  with ornamentation  18  removably fixed thereto. 
     A spaced pair of such ornamental supports  10  underlie a horizontal shelf  5  fixed to a support surface such as a wall W, with brackets  12  of the supports being fixed to wall W by screws  20  which extend through provided vertically spaced openings  22  in vertically disposed arms  14  and being fixed to shelf S by screws  24  which extend through provided spaced openings  26  in horizontally-disposed arms  16 . 
     Brackets  12  and ornamentation  18  may be fabricated from metal, wood, plastic or other material as desired. 
     On brackets  12 , a nose-like projection  28  is disposed approximately centrally of the length of vertically-disposed arm  14  and extends horizontally outwardly there from, while a nose-like projection  30  is disposed adjacent the free end of horizontally-disposed arm  16  and depends vertically there from, projection  30  having a threaded opening  31  therein, all for purposes to appear. 
     Ornamentation  18 , best seen in FIGS. 3-5, has spaced, parallel, planar faces  19  and  21 , is crescent shaped in plan, and has the configuration of a quarter moon with a curved, outwardly-facing convex outer face  32  and a curved, inwardly-facing concave inner face  34  in the fanciful shape of a “man in the moon”. 
     Curved outer face  32  of ornamentation  18  is provided approximately centrally of its length with an inwardly-extending, vertically-oriented slot  36  complemental in shape to projection  28  on vertical arm  14  of bracket  12 , and is provided, adjacent its upper end, with an inwardly-extending, horizontally-oriented slot  38 , complemental in shape to projection  30  on horizontal arm  16  of bracket  12 , all for purposes to appear. 
     A through opening  40  extends transversely through ornamentation  18  across slot  38  adjacent the inner end of the slot. 
     To assemble ornamentation  18  onto angle bracket  12 , the ornamentation is positioned between arms  14  and  16  of the angle bracket so that projections  28  and  30  of the angle bracket are aligned with the slots  36  and  38  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 so that the projections are disposed within the slots. At that time, the through opening  40  of ornamentation  18  is aligned with threaded opening  31  of projection  30 . A thumbscrew  42  may now be inserted in opening  40  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  31  of projection  30  to releasably secure ornamentation  18  to bracket  12 . 
     It is an easy matter to change the ornamentation associated with the supports. 
     Simply remove the thumbscrew  42 , slidably remove the ornamentation from projections  28  and  30  of bracket  12 , and replace the ornamentation with other ornamentation. 
     In FIGS. 9 and 10, supports  110  and  210  incorporating modified ornamentations  118  and  218  respectively are shown as associated with shelf brackets  12  which are identical to those in FIGS. 1-8, each ornamentation having flat outer and upper faces rather than the convex outer and upper face  32  of ornamentation  18  of FIGS. 1-8. 
     In FIG. 9, ornamentation  118  has spaced, parallel, planar faces in plan, a flat, vertical outer face  132  and a flat, horizontal upper face  132 ′. Vertical outer face  132  has a vertically disposed slot  136  therein which extends inwardly therefrom. Horizontal outer face  132 ′ has a horizontally disposed slot  138  therein which extends inwardly therefrom. 
     A through opening  140  extends transversely through ornamentation  118  across slot  138  adjacent the inner end of the slot. 
     Vertical slot  136  of face  132  of ornamentation  118  is appropriately positioned and configured as to accept projection  28  of shelf bracket  12  when face  132  is brought into confronting relationship with vertical arm  14  of the shelf bracket. 
     Horizontal slot  138  of face  132 ′ of ornamentation  118  is appropriately positioned and configured as to accept projection  30  of shelf bracket  12  when face  132 ′ is brought into confronting relationship with horizontal arm  16  of the shelf bracket. 
     At this time, through opening  140  of ornamentation  118  is aligned with threaded opening  31  of projection  30 . Thumbscrew  42  may now be inserted in through opening  140  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  31  of projection  30  to releasably secure ornamentation  118  to bracket  12 . 
     In FIG. 10, ornamentation  218  has spaced, parallel, planar faces in plan, a flat, vertical outer face  232  and a flat, horizontal upper face  232 ′. Vertical outer face  232  has a vertically disposed slot  236  therein which extends inwardly therefrom. Horizontal outer face  232 ′ has a horizontally disposed slot  138  therein which extends inwardly therefrom. 
     A through opening  240  extends transversely through ornamentation  218  across slot  238  adjacent the inner end of the slot. 
     Vertical slot  236  of face  232  of ornamentation  218  is appropriately positioned and configured as to accept projection  28  of shelf bracket  12  when face  232  is brought into confronting relationship with vertical arm  14  of the shelf bracket. 
     Horizontal slot  238  of face  232 ′ of ornamentation  218  is appropriately positioned and configured as to accept projection  30  of shelf bracket  12  when face  232 ′ is brought into confronting relationship with horizontal arm  16  of the shelf bracket. 
     At this time, through opening  240  of ornamentation  218  is aligned with threaded opening  31  of projection  30 . Thumbscrew  42  may now be inserted in opening  240  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  31  of projection  30  to releasably secure ornamentation  218  to bracket  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an ornamental support embodying a further modified form of the invention is generally indicated by  310  and includes an inverted substantially L-shaped, or right angle plant hanger bracket  312  which replaces shelf bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10, and has a modified ornamentation  318  associated therewith. 
     Modified ornamentation  318  is identical to ornamentation  118  of FIG. 9 except that the body of ornamentation  318  has a circular through opening  341  disposed approximately centrally thereof, which opening may also serve to allow the passage of a cylindrical curtain rod C therethrough to provide support for the ends of the curtain rod disposed above a window W. 
     Plant hanger bracket  312  includes a vertically oriented arm  314  and a horizontally oriented arm  316  which has a plant hanging hook  317  formed integrally therewith and extending horizontally outwardly and downwardly therefrom. 
     Support  310  may be fixed to any suitable surface such as a wall as by screws or the like which extend through provided spaced openings in vertical arm  314 , all not shown. 
     Bracket  312  and ornamentation  318  may be fabricated from metal, wood, plastic or other material as desired. 
     Bracket  312  is similar to bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10. A nose-like projection  328  is disposed approximately centrally of the length of vertically disposed arm  314  and extends horizontally outwardly therefrom, while a nose-like projection  330  is disposed adjacent the outer end of horizontally-disposed arm  316  and depends vertically therefrom, projection  330  having a threaded opening  331  therein. 
     Ornamentation  318  may be removably fixed to arms  314  and  316  of the plant hanger bracket in a manner as previously described, with the ornamentation being releasably fixed to the plant bracket by inserting a thumb screw  342  into opening  340  of the ornamentation and threading it into opening  331  of projection  330  of bracket  312 . 
     In FIGS. 13 and 14, a support  410  incorporates a modified ornamentation  418  associated with a bracket  12  which is identical to the brackets of FIGS. 1-10, the support being suspended from a mantel M and attached to wall W. 
     Ornamentation  418  has a part elliptical configuration with spaced, parallel, planar faces, a curved outwardly-facing convex outer face  432  and a curved, inwardly-facing concave inner face  434 . 
     Ornamentation  418 , incorporates at its upper end a first integral upwardly-facing hook  435 , and incorporates at its lower end a second integral upwardly-facing hook  437 , the hooks being adaptable for hanging fireplace tools such as pokers or the like, or for hanging clothing. 
     Curved outer face  432  of ornamentation  418  is provided approximately centrally of its length with an inwardly-extending, vertically-oriented slot  436  complemental in shape to projection  28  on vertical arm  14  of bracket  12 , and is provided, adjacent its upper end, with an inwardly-extending, horizontally-oriented slot  438 , complemental in shape to projection  30  on horizontal arm  16  of bracket  12 . 
     A through opening  440  extends transversely through ornamentation  418  across slot  438  adjacent the inner end of the slot. 
     To assemble ornamentation  418  onto bracket  12 , the ornamentation is positioned between arms  14  and  16  of the bracket so that projections  28  and  30  of the bracket are aligned with the slots  436  and  438  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 13 so that the projections are disposed within the slots. At this time, the through opening  440  or ornamentation  418  is aligned with threaded opening  31  of projection  30 . Thumbscrew  42  may now be inserted in opening  440  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  31  of projection  30  to releasably secure ornamentation  418  to bracket  12 . 
     In FIGS. 15 and 16, a support  510  incorporates a modified ornamentation  518  associated with a bracket  12 , which is identical to the brackets of FIGS. 1-10 and  13 . 
     Ornamentation  518  has a configuration somewhat resembling that of a sea horse with spaced, parallel, planar faces in plan, a curved, outwardly-facing convex outer face  532  and a curved, inwardly-facing concave inner face  534 . 
     A bell ornament of lamp fixture  535  is pivoted to the upper end of ornamentation  518  by a pivot pin  537  and depends therefrom. 
     Ornamentation  518  incorporates at its lower end an integral upwardly facing hook  539  adaptable for hanging articles therefrom if desired. 
     Curved outer face  532  of ornamentation  518  is provided approximately centrally of its length with an inwardly-extending, vertically-oriented slot  536  complemental in shape to projection  28  on vertical arm  14  of bracket  12 , and is provided, adjacent its upper end, with an upwardly-extending bifurcated projection  538  adapted for engagement with projection  30  on horizontal arm  16  of bracket  12 . 
     A through opening  540  extends transversely through projection  538  of ornamentation  518 . 
     To assemble ornamentation  518  onto bracket  12 , the ornamentation is positioned between arms  14  and  16  of the bracket so that projections  28  and  30  of the bracket are aligned with the slot and projection  538  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 15 so that projection  28  of the bracket is disposed in slot  536  of the ornamentation and projection  30  of the bracket is disposed within the bifurcation of projection  538  of the ornamentation. 
     At this time, the through opening  540  of ornamentation  518  is aligned with threaded opening  31  of projection  30 . Thumbscrew  42  may now be inserted in opening  540  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  31  of projection  30  to releasably secure ornamentation  518  to bracket  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, an ornamental support embodying a further modified form of the invention is generally indicated by  610  and includes an inverted substantially L-shaped, or right angle curtain rod bracket  612  which replaces shelf bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10,  13  and  15 , the support incorporating a modified ornamentation  618  therein. 
     Curtain rod bracket  612  includes a vertically oriented arm  614  and a horizontally oriented arm  616  which has an integral raised surface  617  extending upwardly therefrom, the raised surface incorporating in its upper face approximately centrally of its length a semi-circular depression  619  of appropriate size to accommodate a cylindrical curtain rod C therein. 
     A spaced pair of such supports  610  may be fixed to the wall above a window WD to provide support at both ends of the curtain rod. 
     Bracket  612  is otherwise similar to bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10,  13  and  15 . A nose-like projection  628  is disposed approximately centrally of the length of vertically disposed arm  614  and extends horizontally outwardly therefrom, while a nose-like projection  630  is disposed adjacent the outer end of horizontally disposed arm  616  and depends vertically therefrom, projection  630  having a threaded opening  631  therein. 
     Ornamentation  618  has spaced, parallel, planar faces in plan and is configured in the fanciful shape of a butterfly with a curved, convex outer face  632  and an irregular, angled inner face  634 . 
     Curved outer face  632  of ornamentation  618  is provided approximately centrally of its length with an inwardly-extending, vertically-oriented slot  636  complemental in shape to projection  628  on vertical arm  614  of bracket  612 , and is provided, adjacent its upper end, with an inwardly-extending, horizontally-oriented slot  638 , complemental in shape to projection  630  on horizontal arm  616  of bracket  612 . 
     A through opening  640  extends transversely through ornamentation  618  across slot  638  adjacent the inner end of the slot. 
     To assemble ornamentation  618  onto bracket  612 , the ornamentation is positioned between arms  614  and  616  of the bracket so that projections  628  and  630  of the bracket are aligned with the slots  636  and  638  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 17 so that the projections are disposed within the slots. At this time, the through opening  640  of ornamentation  618  is aligned with threaded opening  631  of projection  630 . A thumbscrew  642  may now be inserted in opening  631  of projection  630  to releasably secure ornamentation  618  to bracket  612 . 
     Referring to FIG. 19, an ornamental support embodying a further modified form of the invention is generally indicated by  710  and includes an inverted substantially L-shaped, or right angle flag pole bracket  712  which replaces shelf bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10,  13  and  15 , the support incorporating the butterfly ornamentation  618  of FIG. 17 therein. 
     Flag pole bracket  712  includes a vertically oriented arm  714  and a horizontally oriented arm  716  which has a bifurcated raised surface incorporating in its upper face a pair of spaced, semi-circular rings  719  of appropriate size to accommodate the end of a cylindrical flag pole F therein. 
     Flag pole bracket  712  may be fixed to wall W as by screws  720  which extend into the wall through provided opening  722  in arm  714  of the bracket. 
     Bracket  712  is otherwise similar to bracket  12  of FIGS. 1-10,  13  and  15 . A nose-like projection  728  is disposed approximately centrally of the length of vertically disposed arm  714  and extends horizontally outwardly therefrom, while a nose-like projection  730  is disposed adjacent the outer end of horizontally-disposed arm  716  and depends vertically therefrom, projection  730  having a threaded opening  731  therein. 
     To assemble ornamentation  618  onto bracket  712 , the ornamentation is positioned between arms  714  and  716  of the bracket so that projections  728  and  730  of the bracket are aligned with the slots  636  and  638  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 19 so that the projections are disposed within the slots. At this time, the through opening  640  of ornamentation  618  is aligned with threaded opening  731  of projection  730 . A thumbscrew  742  may now be inserted in opening  640  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  731  of projection  730  to releasably secure ornamentation  618  to bracket  712 . 
     In FIG. 20 a further modified form of ornamental support is generally indicated by  810  and includes a substantially L-shaped, or right angle name plaque bracket  812  which replaces shelf bracket  12  of previous embodiments, the support incorporating ornamentation  118  of FIG. 9 therein. 
     Name plaque bracket  812  includes a vertically oriented arm  814  and a horizontally oriented arm  816  which has a plaque support bar  817  fixed to its lower face as by screws  822 . 
     Plaque support bar  817  has a pair of integral, spaced, apertured projections  819  depending from its lower surface for receiving suspension clips  823  of a name plaque N. 
     Name plaque bracket  812  may be fixed to a fence post or lamp post P as by screws  820  which extend into the post through provided openings  822  in arm  814  of the bracket. 
     Bracket  812  includes a nose-like projection  828  disposed approximately centrally of the length of horizontally disposed arm  816  and extends horizontally upward therefrom, while a nose-like projection  830  is disposed adjacent the outer end of vertically disposed arm  814  and extends outwardly therefrom, projection  830  having a threaded opening  831  therein. 
     To assemble ornamentation  118  onto bracket  812  the ornamentation is positioned between arms  814  and  816  of the bracket so that projections  828  and  830  of the bracket are aligned with the slots  136  and  138  respectively of the ornamentation and the ornamentation is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 20 so that the projections are disposed within the slots. At this time, the through opening of ornamentation  118  is aligned with threaded opening  831  of projection  830 . A thumbscrew  842  may now be inserted in opening  840  of the ornamentation and threaded into opening  831  of projection  830  to releasably secure ornamentation  118  to bracket  812 . 
     From the foregoing it should be apparent that the concepts of the invention can be applied in virtually any situation where articles are to be supported. 
     In addition to those situations already described, the concept of the invention may by applied to audio speaker mounts, security/surveillance camera mounts and even bathroom tissue roll dispenser mounts.