Patent ID: 12251040

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS.1-4, a bracket100is provided. The bracket100may be used with another bracket100to support a rod, such as sheer or drapery rod, across the two brackets100. The bracket100includes a mounting bracket102and hardware component such as a rod holder104. While the discussion below primarily describes the bracket100including the rod holder104, other hardware components may similarly be mounted to the mounting bracket102, including baskets, lights, shelf supports, toilet paper holders, wall-decor, and other wall mounted hardware.

The mounting bracket102defines a first set of mounting holes106. The first set of mounting holes106are spaced horizontally from one another at a mounting portion of the mounting bracket102and to be generally at or above the rod holder104when the rod holder104is combined with the mounting bracket102. The first set of mounting holes106extend obliquely through the mounting bracket102to guide a fastener into a mounting structure (e.g., wall) at an oblique angle. For example, the first set of mounting holes106may direct the fasteners at a downward angle into the mounting structure (e.g., 50 degrees relative to a rear surface of the mounting bracket) which increases the amount of weight the bracket100can bear once mounted to the mounting structure. It has also been found that having the mounting holes at the top of the mounting bracket102(and generally at or above the rod holder104) and spaced laterally from one another increases the load capacity of the bracket100over traditional L-shaped brackets, where the mounting holes are aligned vertically and located below the arm.

The mounting bracket102includes an upper mounting hole107that may be positioned in an upper end portion of the mounting bracket102, that is, above the first pair of mounting holes106. The upper mounting hole107extends obliquely through the mounting bracket102to guide a fastener109(e.g., a nail) into a mounting surface at an oblique angle. For example, the upper mounting hole107may direct the fastener at an upward angle into the mounting structure (e.g., 30-70 degrees relative to a rear surface of the mounting bracket), which further increases the amount of weight the bracket100can bear once mounted to the mounting structure. One angle could be approximately 40-degrees relative to a rear surface of the mounting bracket102. One angle could be approximately 50-degrees relative to a rear surface of the mounting bracket102. The upper mounting hole107may be used in addition to the first set of mounting holes106to increase the load the mounting bracket102is able to bear. Extending the fastener109upwardly into the mounting surface aids to inhibit the upper end portion of the mounting bracket102from pulling away or separating from the mounting structure, when a load is applied to the mounting bracket102. In other words, the upwardly extending fastener109inhibits the mounting bracket102from pivoting away from the mounting structure about the lower end of the mounting bracket102.

The mounting bracket102may further include a second set of mounting holes108. The second set of mounting holes108are also spaced horizontally from one another at the mounting portion of the mounting bracket102and generally at or above the rod holder104which, as discussed above, increases the load capacity of the bracket100over traditional L-shaped brackets. The second set of mounting holes108are not angled and extend substantially perpendicularly through the mounting bracket102. Fasteners (e.g., screws or nails) may be inserted through the second set of mounting holes108and into the mounting structure to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. Having two sets of mounting holes106,108provides the installer with options for attaching the mounting bracket102to a mounting surface. Thus, for example, in applications where the first set of mounting holes106cannot be used, the installer may use the second set of mounting holes108, rather than seeking a different bracket100. The upper mounting hole107may also be used in conjunction with the second set of mounting holes108to increase the load the bracket100is able to bear, as discussed above.

The mounting bracket102includes a supporting portion, such as main body110, and a mounting portion112extending from the main body110. The mounting portion112has a bridge portion113and legs115extending from the main body110. The legs115extend substantially parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another forming a gap121therebetween that is sized to receive an attachment portion156of the rod holder104, as discussed below. Each leg115of the mounting portion112includes a first segment114and a second segment116that extends at an angle from the first segment114. The second segment116extends from the first segment114to the plate portion113. The first segment114extends in the same plane as the main body110, and the second segment116extends upward generally perpendicular to the first segment114.

Each second segment116defines one of the mounting holes106and one of the mounting holes108. The bridge portion113defines the upper mounting hole107. The second segments116and the bridge portion113include a rear surface118that is positioned against a mounting surface of a structure (e.g., a wall) when the mounting bracket102is secured to the mounting structure. The rear surface118may be generally planar to extend substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The bridge portion113and the second segments116further include a front surface120opposite the rear surface118.

As illustrated, the mounting holes106,108are located on the second segments116laterally outside of the rod holder104, one of each pair of mounting holes106,108on each side of the rod holder104. More specifically, one hole106is located on one second segment116outside the gap121and the rod holder104on one side, and the other hole106is located on the other second segment116outside the gap121and the rod holder104on the other side. And similarly for the second pair of mounting holes108, each hole108is located on one of the second segments116on laterally opposite sides of the gap121and the rod holder104. The lateral spacing of the mounting holes106,108has been found to increase the holding strength of the bracket100. As illustrated, the mounting holes106,108are above the rod holder104which also has been found to increase the load capacity of the bracket100. The mounting holes106,108also are located at the top of the bracket100for ease of mounting.

The mounting bracket102includes a protrusion122extending obliquely from the front surface120of each of the second segments116of the legs115. The protrusions122terminate at end faces124and define at least in part the mounting holes106. The mounting holes106are passages extending through the protrusions122(perpendicular to the end face124) and through the rear surface118at the legs115. The mounting holes106may extend obliquely to the front surface120and/or the rear surface118of the second segment116of the legs115. The mounting holes106may extend at an angle of approximately 40-60 degrees relative to the rear surface118. As one specific example, the mounting holes106may extend at approximately 50 degrees relative to the rear surface118.

The mounting holes106are sized to receive fasteners126, such as, for example, nails or screws, therethrough for securing the mounting bracket102to a mounting structure, such as a wall or a door. The first pair of mounting holes106may be positioned above the first segment114of the legs115to provide space for an installer to drive the fasteners through the first pair of mounting holes106. For example, a user may use a hammer to drive a nail through the mounting holes106. Spacing the mounting holes106from the main body110and first segment114of the legs115provides clearance for using the hammer. The orientation of the mounting holes106through the legs115guides or directs the fasteners126as they are extended into the mounting structure such that the fasteners126extend into the mounting structure at an oblique angle (along line106A ofFIG.3). For example, once inserted through the mounting holes106, the fasteners126extend from the mounting bracket102obliquely to the rear surface118. Including the protrusions122on the front surface120of the second segment116increases the length of the mounting holes106which aids in holding and guiding the fasteners at an angle relative to the mounting surface as the fasteners are extended into the mounting structure. Extending the fasteners126into the mounting structure at a downward angle (e.g., 50 degrees) increases the amount of weight the mounting bracket102can bear once mounted to the mounting surface.

The bridge portion113of the mounting portion112may include a protrusion125extending from the plate portion113. The protrusion125defines the upper mounting hole107that extends at an oblique angle through the mounting portion112to guide a fastener extended therethrough into mounting structure (e.g., a wall) at an oblique angle (along line107A). The upper mounting hole107may extend in a direction generally opposite the first set of mounting holes106. For example, the upper mounting hole107may guide the fastener upward into the mounting structure, whereas the mounting holes106guide the fasteners downward into the mounting structure. The upper mounting hole107may be in the center of the mounting bracket102and aligned with the gap121.

The mounting bracket102includes the second pair of mounting holes108that may be used for mounting the mounting bracket102to a mounting structure. The mounting holes108extend from the front surface120and through the rear surface118. The mounting holes108may extend through the second segment116of the legs115substantially perpendicular to the rear surface118. Fasteners may extend through the holes108and into the mounting structure to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. As an example, where the mounting structure is drywall, wall anchors may be inserted into the drywall and screws may be extended through the mounting holes108and into the wall anchors to attach the mounting bracket102to the wall. The rear surface118may include recesses about the mounting holes108. These recesses may receive, for example, a portion or more of a wall anchor extending from the mounting surface of the mounting structure to ensure the rear surface118is able to lay flat on the mounting surface. The mounting holes108may be used to mount the mounting bracket102to a mounting structure as an alternative mounting method or in addition to using the mounting holes106of the protrusions122and/or the upper mounting hole107of the protrusion125. For example, in some applications, an installer may not be able to use the first pair of mounting holes106and, instead, may use the second pair of mounting holes108. For instance, a wall may not be able to accept nails extended through the first set of mounting holes106(e.g., where the wall is concrete, metal, or brick) but may be able to accept screws extended through the second set of mounting holes108into the wall. Thus, the mounting bracket102can be installed according to multiple different approaches enabling the mounting bracket to be installed in a greater variety of applications. The second mounting holes108may be positioned above the protrusions122having the first mounting holes106. In other forms, the second mounting holes108are positioned below the protrusions122having the first mounting holes106.

The main body110may be a plate and/or may have a substantially planar support surface128on an upper side thereof. The sides130of the main body110may angle inward from the legs115to a front end132such that the main body110has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The gap121is defined between the legs115. The gap121is sized to receive a portion of the rod holder104, as described further below. The main body110may define a threaded hole136used to secure the mounting bracket102and the rod holder104together. The mounting bracket102may be formed of a rigid material, such as a plastic or a metal.

In one non-limiting example, the mounting bracket102has a width138of 34.90 millimeters (mm), a depth140of 16.26 mm, and a height142of 34.3 mm. The lateral spacing144between the centers of the mounting holes106,108may be 24.27 mm. The height146of the first set of mounting holes106exiting the rear surface118of the second segment116of the legs115may be 4.3 mm. The height148of the second set of mounting holes108may be 17 mm.

The rod holder104includes a base portion, such as a leg150, a support arm152, and a receptacle, such as a cradle154. The leg150and a portion of the support arm152form an attachment portion156of the rod holder104. The leg150and the support arm152are angled relative to one another, such as at 90 degrees. The leg150is sized to extend through the gap121of the mounting bracket102. The leg150has a rear surface150A that is designed to contact and/or extend along the mounting surface when attached to the mounting bracket102to counter the force applied at the cradle154of the rod holder104(e.g., by a rod or drapes hanging from the rod). The support arm152is designed to rest on the main body110of the mounting bracket102. The support arm152defines a hole158that aligns with the hole136of the main body110of the mounting bracket102. A fastener, such as a screw159, may be extended through the holes136,158to affix the support arm152to the main body110. The hole158of the support arm152may be a threaded hole.

A portion of the support arm152and the cradle154form a support portion160of the rod holder104. The support arm152extends from an end of the leg150to the cradle154. The cradle154has an arcuate shaped surface that is sized to receive and support a rod (e.g., a curtain rod). The cradle154may include a threaded hole164into which a screw166may be threaded to clamp and secure the rod in the cradle154. The rod holder104may be formed of a rigid material such as a plastic or a metal.

The bracket100may be attached to a mounting structure, for example, to support a rod. The mounting bracket102may be positioned on the mounting surface of the mounting structure at a desired location. Fasteners126may be extended through each of the first pair of mounting holes106and into the mounting structure to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. The mounting holes106extend obliquely to the rear surface118of the legs115(along line106A ofFIG.3) and guide the fasteners at a downward angle as they extend into the mounting structure. A fastener109may also be extended through the upper mounting hole107and into the mounting structure to aid in securing the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. Use of the upper mounting hole107may aid to inhibit the upper end portion of the mounting portion112of the mounting bracket102from pulling away from the mounting structure when the bracket100is under load.

Alternatively, fasteners may be extended through the second pair of mounting holes108and into the mounting structure to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. A fastener may also be extended through the upper mounting hole107as described above to aid in securing the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure.

In some approaches, fasteners may be extended through each of the holes of the sets of mounting holes106,108and the upper mounting hole107to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure. In some approaches, fasteners may be extended through the upper mounting hole107and one hole of the first pair of mounting holes106and one hole of the second pair of mounting holes108of opposite legs115to secure the mounting bracket102to the mounting structure.

The rod holder104may then be attached to the mounting bracket102. The leg150may be moved in direction162to insert the leg150through the gap121between the legs115and between the main body110and the mounting surface. The leg150may be moved in direction162until the support arm152rests on the main body110of the mounting bracket102. The leg150may be moved rearward to position the rear surface150A of leg150against the mounting surface. The engagement of leg150against the mounting surface may inhibit the rod holder104from pivoting substantially relative to the mounting bracket102by countering the force applied to the cradle154by weight of the rod and/or items supported by the rod (e.g., a curtain). A fastener, such as the screw159, may be extended through the hole158of the support arm152and through hole136of the mounting bracket102to secure the rod holder104to the mounting bracket102. A rod may be positioned to extend through the cradle154to be supported by the bracket100. The screw166may be extended through the hole164of the cradle154to clamp and secure the rod in the cradle154.

In other embodiments, other types of hardware components may be mounted to the mounting bracket similar to the rod holder104described above. For example, baskets, lights, shelf supports, toilet paper holders, and other wall mounted hardware may be mounted to the wall using the mounting bracket102. The hardware components may include an attachment portion for mounting the hardware to the mounting bracket102where the attachment portion has, for example, a leg and support arm similar to the rod holder104.

With respect toFIGS.5-8, a mounting bracket200is provided according to another embodiment. The mounting bracket200is similar in many respects to the mounting bracket102discussed above such that the differences will be highlighted, and the discussion of similar features will not be repeated. The mounting bracket200may be used with the rod holder104as described above with respect to the mounting bracket102.

The mounting bracket200includes a supporting portion, such as main body202, and a mounting portion204extending from the main body202. The mounting portion204has a bridge portion206and legs208extending from the main body202. The legs208extend substantially parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another forming a gap210therebetween that is sized to receive the attachment portion156of the rod holder104as discussed above. The mounting portion204may include a first set of mounting holes212and a second set of mounting holes214similar to the holes106,108discussed above.

The mounting portion204of the mounting bracket200may further include a set of mounting holes216that may each be similar to the upper mounting hole107described above. The upper mounting holes216may be positioned in the bridge portion206of the mounting bracket200, above the first and second sets of mounting holes212,214. The mounting holes216may be spaced apart laterally from one another on the bridge portion206. For example, the mounting holes216may be positioned at or about opposite sides of the gap210. The mounting holes216extends obliquely through the mounting bracket200to guide a fastener218(e.g., a nail) into a mounting structure at an oblique angle. For example, the mounting holes216may direct the fastener at an upward angle (e.g., 30-70 degrees) into the mounting surface (along line220), which increases the amount of weight the bracket100can bear once mounted to the mounting structure. One angle could be approximately 40-degrees. As another example, the angle could be approximately 50-degrees. The bridge portion206of the mounting portion204may include protrusions215extending from the plate portion206. The protrusions215define the upper mounting holes216that extend obliquely through the mounting portion204to guide the fasteners218extended therethrough into mounting structure (e.g., a wall) at the oblique angle. The protrusions215may provide thickness through which the holes216extend which aids to hold the fasteners218at the oblique angle during insertion into the mounting surface.

Extending the fasteners218upwardly into the mounting surface aids to inhibit the bridge portion206of the mounting bracket200from pulling away or separating from the mounting surface, for example, when a load is applied to the mounting bracket200. In other words, the upwardly extending fasteners218inhibit the mounting bracket200from pivoting away from the mounting surface about the lower end of the mounting bracket200. It has also been found that having the upper mounting holes216at the top of the mounting bracket200(and above the rod holder104) and spaced laterally from one another increases the load capacity of the mounting bracket200over traditional L-shaped brackets where the mounting holes are aligned vertically and located below the arm.

The mounting holes216may be used in addition to the first and/or second set of mounting holes212,214to increase the load the mounting bracket200is able to bear.

With respect toFIGS.9-10, a bracket300is provided according to another embodiment. The bracket300includes a base302and a support arm304extending from the base302. In some forms, the base302and the support arm304are formed unitarily or as a single piece. In some forms, the base302and support arm304are separate pieces attached together (e.g., with a fastener).

The base302includes a mounting portion306having a front surface308and a rear surface310opposite the front surface308. The rear surface310is profiled to engage a mounting structure (e.g., a wall or door). The mounting portion306defines a first mounting hole312and a second mounting hole314. The first mounting hole312extends through the mounting portion306at a downward angle from the front surface308to the rear surface310. The second mounting hole314extends through the mounting portion306at an upward angle from the front surface308to the rear surface310. In other forms, the mounting portion306may include a plurality of first mounting holes312extending downwardly and/or a plurality of second mounting holes314extending upwardly.

The first mounting hole312and second mounting hole314are sized to receive a fastener (e.g., a screw, nail) and guide the fastener into the mounting structure at an angle. The first mounting hole312guides the fastener along line316at an oblique, downward angle relative to the rear surface310and into the mounting surface at the oblique, downward angle. The first mounting hole312may extend at an angle of about 30-70 degrees relative to the rear surface310of the mounting portion306. As one specific example, the first mounting hole312extends at an angle of 50 degrees relative to the rear surface310.

The second mounting hole314guides the fastener along line318at an oblique, upward angle relative to the rear surface310and into the mounting surface at the oblique, upward angle. The second mounting hole314may extend at an angle of about 30-70 degrees relative to the rear surface310of the mounting portion306. As one specific example, the second mounting hole314extends at an angle of 40 degrees relative to the rear surface310. The second mounting hole314may be positioned at the top portion of the base302. The second mounting hole314may be above the first mounting hole312. Extending a fastener through the upwardly extending second mounting hole314may increase the load the bracket300is able to bear. For instance, extending a fastener upwardly into the mounting structure aids to inhibit the upper end portion of the base302from pulling away or separating from the mounting structure when a load is applied to the bracket300. In other words, the upwardly extending fastener inhibits the bracket300from pivoting away from the mounting structure about the lower end of the bracket300.

The mounting portion306may have a thickness sufficient to provide the first and second mounting holes310,312with lengths to hold the fasteners at the oblique angle during insertion into the mounting surface. The first mounting hole312and/or second mounting hole314may include a chamfer about the first and second mounting holes312,314on the front surface308. The chamfer may guide an end of the fastener into the holes312,314when the fastener is being inserted therein. The chamfer may also provide space for a head of the fastener to reside once inserted through the base302and into the mounting structure.

The support arm304extends outward from the front surface308of the base302. The support arm304may include an arm portion318and a hook portion320. The arm portion318may extend from the base302to the hook portion320. The hook portion320may include a flanged end portion, knob, or hook that provides a hooking surface322at an end of the arm portion318to retain an item on the arm portion318. An item may be hung or supported by the support arm304. For example, an item (e.g., a coat, towel, hanger, picture frame, and wall decor) may rest on or be supported by the arm portion318of the support arm318. The hook portion320may retain the item on the arm portion318and inhibit the item from sliding off the arm portion318when the item is moved away from the base302.

The support arm304may be positioned at a lower end of the base302. For example, the support arm304may be positioned below the first mounting hole312and/or second mounting hole314. When a load is applied to the support arm304(when an item is supported by the bracket300), the bracket300may be pivoted slightly such that the lower end of the bracket300is forced against the mounting structure and the upper portion of the bracket300is moved outward from the mounting structure. The upwardly extending fastener extending through the second mounting hole314into the mounting structure counters the upper portion of the bracket300from moving away from the wall under the load as discussed with respect to the embodiments above.

In one non-limiting example, the bracket300has a width324of 12.2 mm, a depth326of 7.8 mm, and a height328of 34.3 mm. The height330of the first mounting hole312exiting the rear surface312may be 14.75 mm. The height332of the second mounting hole314exiting the rear surface312may be 32.5 mm.

While there have been illustrated and described embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.