Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BRACKET FOR USE WITH WALL OBJECTS
[0001] The application relates generally to hanging objects such as picture
frames,
mirrors, etc. onto a supporting wall or structure, and, more particularly, to
a bracket for
use with such wall objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0002] There are a few options available to hang wall objects on walls. One
option is to
hang a frame of the wall object on one or more exposed nails secured in the
wall. This
does not secure the wall object to the wall, and the wall object may therefore
fall off the
wall if bumped. Another option requires the installation of additional
hardware on the
frame of the wall object. The hardware could be picture wire, D-ring hangers,
a
sawtooth hanger, etc. This hardware will keep the wall object on the wall more
securely
but prevents the frame from being flush against the wall. Also, such hanging
hardware
is difficult to install accurately on the frame and accurate placement on the
wall is
difficult.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one aspect, there is provided a bracket engageable with an object to
position
the object relative to a support structure, the object having a mating surface
and a
channel extending into the mating surface, the bracket comprising: a body
having at
least one peripheral wall defining a wall surface, the wall surface facing the
mating
surface upon the bracket engaging the object, the body having a flange
extending
outwardly from the wall surface of the at least one peripheral wall and having
an outer
surface and an opposed inner surface, the flange being insertable into the
channel of
the object to engage the bracket with the object, the flange having at least
one resilient
member extending away from at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the
flange,
the at least one resilient member being resiliently displaceable toward said
surface of
the flange upon the flange being inserted into the channel to abut the at
least one
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resilient member against a surface of the channel; and a position element
extending
outwardly from the body.
[0004] In another aspect, there is provided a combination of a frame and a
bracket to
position the frame relative to a support structure: the frame having an inner
surface with
a channel extending into the inner surface; and the bracket comprising: a body
having
at least one peripheral wall defining a wall surface, the wall surface facing
the inner
surface upon the bracket engaging the frame, the body having a flange
extending
outwardly from the wall surface of the at least one peripheral wall and having
an outer
surface and an opposed inner surface, the flange being insertable into the
channel of
the frame to engage the bracket with the frame, the flange having at least one
resilient
member extending away from at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the
flange,
the at least one resilient member being resiliently displaceable toward said
surface of
the flange upon the flange being inserted into the channel to abut the at
least one
resilient member against a surface of the channel; and a position element
extending
outwardly from the body.
[0005] In a further aspect, there is provided a method of installing a bracket
on an
object, comprising: inserting a flange of the bracket into a channel of the
object, the
flange having at least one resilient member being resiliently displaceable
relative to the
flange, the at least one resilient member abutting against a surface of the
channel upon
the flange being inserted into the channel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:
[0007] Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a bracket, according to an embodiment
of the
present disclosure;
[0008] Fig. 1B is a bottom view of the bracket of Fig. 1A;
[0009] Fig. 1C is a top view of the bracket of Fig. 1A;
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[0010] Fig. 1D is a side elevational view of the bracket of Fig. 1A;
[0011] Fig. 2A is a rear plan view of a combination of a frame and two of the
brackets
of Fig. 1A;
[0012] FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the combination taken
along the
line 11B-IIB of Fig. 2A;
[0013] FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the frame taken along
the line
11C-IIC of Fig. 2A;
[0014] Fig. 3 is a rear plan view of a combination of a frame and two
brackets,
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] Fig. 4A is a rear plan view of a combination of a frame and a bracket,
according
to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0016] Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the bracket of Fig. 4A;
[0017] Fig. 5A is a perspective view of a bracket, according to yet another
embodiment
of the present disclosure; and
[0018] Fig. 5B is a side elevational view of the bracket of Fig. 5A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Figs. 1A to 1D illustrate a bracket 10. The bracket 10 of the depicted
embodiment is used to removably attach an object to a support structure, such
as a
wall, so as to hang the object onto the support structure. The bracket 10 has
a position
element 11 which, in the depicted embodiment, includes an attachment pin 11A
with a
sharp, pointed end 11B for mounting the object to the wall. The bracket 10
disclosed
herein can be used for other purposes as well. For example, in an alternate
embodiment, the position element 11 of the bracket 10 includes a marking
device with a
marking element used to mark the position of the object, such as a frame, with
respect
to a support structure, such as a wall. The bracket 10 in the depicted
embodiment is a
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one-piece member formed of a molded plastic material. Alternatively, the
bracket 10
may be formed from multiple pieces for shipping convenience. Still further,
the bracket
may be manufactured from a variety of materials other than plastic.
[0020] The bracket 10 includes a body 10A which includes first and second
opposed
surfaces hereinafter referred to as an inner surface 12A and an outer surface
12B. The
body 10A has a thickness between the inner and outer surfaces 12A,12B, the
thickness
being defined by one or more peripheral walls 13 extending between the inner
and
outer surfaces 12A,12B. Each peripheral wall 13 is a wall along a periphery of
the body
10A and defines an outer bound thereof. In the depicted embodiment, the body
10A has
two peripheral walls 13 which intersect at a right angle to one another,
forming a right-
angled corner bracket 10. In an alternate embodiment, the body 10A has only
one
peripheral wall 13. A body 10A with more than two peripheral walls 13 is also
within the
scope of the present disclosure. Each wall 13 has a wall surface 13A. The wall
surfaces
13A are straight planar surfaces in the bracket 10 of Figs. 1A to 1D. In
alternate
embodiments, the wall surfaces 13A are curved surfaces. In the depicted
embodiment,
the body 10A has a triangular shape. The body 10A may have other shapes as
well.
Alternate shapes for the body 10A are described in greater detail below.
[0021] The body 10A has a flange 14. The flange 14 is inserted into a channel
or
groove of the object to be positioned with respect to the support structure,
and the
flange 14 is removable from the channel. The flange 14 is an elongated
projection
extending outwardly from the wall surfaces 13A of the walls 13. The flange 14
extends
at a right angle to the wall surfaces 13A. In an alternate embodiment, the
flange 14
extends outwardly from the wall surface 13A at a non-normal angle to the plane
of the
wall surface 13A. In the depicted embodiment, the flange 14 extends along all
of the
length of the walls 13. In an alternate embodiment, the flange 14 extends
along only
part of the length of the walls 13. In the depicted embodiment, the flange 14
extends
from the wall surfaces 13A of both peripheral walls 13 and forms a right angle
at a
corner 15 of the body 10A. The flange 14 has a chamfered edge 14A adjacent to
the
corner 15 of the body 10A. The flange 14 extends outwardly from the wall
surface 13A
adjacent to the inner surface 12A of the body 10A. In an alternate embodiment,
the
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flange 14 extends outwardly from the wall surface 13A along a portion thereof
between
the inner and outer surfaces 12A,12B of the body 10A, or adjacent to the outer
surface
12B. It will therefore be appreciated that the flange 14 in the depicted
embodiment is a
peripheral flange 14 extending outwardly from the body 10A of the bracket 10
along at
least one side thereof.
[0022] Still referring to Figs. 1A to 1D, the projection that forms the flange
14 is a three-
sided object with an inner surface 14B, an opposite outer surface 14C, and an
intermediate surface 14D extending between and interconnecting the inner and
outer
surfaces 146,14C. The intermediate surface 14D forms a right-angle with the
inner and
outer surfaces 146,14C. In an alternate embodiment, the intermediate surface
14D is a
bevelled surface or edge. In yet another alternate embodiment, there is no
intermediate
surface 14D. In such an embodiment, the flange 14 has only the inner and outer
surfaces 146,14C, which meet along a common edge.
[0023] Still referring to Figs. 1A to 1D, the flange 14 has one or more one
resilient
members 16. The resilient members 16 are inserted into the channel of the
object along
with the flange 14 to engage the bracket 10 with the object. The resilient
members are
friction enhancers which help to improve the frictional engagement of the
flange 14 with
the channel of the object. The resilient members 16 help to create a tight fit
between the
flange 14 and the channel of the object so that the object cannot easily or
accidentally
be removed from the bracket 10. The term "resilient" when used to describe the
resilient
members 16 refers to the ability of the resilient members 16 to fit within the
channel of
the object, and to recoil or recover their initial form or position once the
flange 14 is
removed from the channel of the object, or when the flange 14 is not present
in the
channel. The resiliency of the resilient members 16 may be derived from the
following
non-exhaustive list of factors: their material composition, their form or
shape, and their
configuration with respect to the flange 14.
[0024] The resilient members 16 extend away from one or both of the inner and
outer
surfaces 146,14C of the flange 14. This is the default position of each
resilient member
16, which is assumed when the flange 14 is not inserted into the channel. Each
resilient
member 16 is resiliently displaceable toward the inner or outer surface
146,14C when
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the flange 14 is being inserted into the channel. The resilient displacement
of the
resilient members 16 allows them to fit into the channel along with the flange
14. Once
the flange 14 is present within the channel, the recoil or resiliency of the
resilient
members 16 causes them to abut against the surface or surfaces that define the
channel. This frictional abutment of the resilient members 16 with the
surfaces of the
channel helps to improve the frictional engagement of the flange 14 with the
channel,
and thus, to improve the frictional engagement of the bracket 10 with the
object. It will
be appreciated that the resilient members 16 may have different configurations
to
achieve such functionality, all of which are within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0025] One possible configuration of the resilient members 16 is shown in
Figs. 1A to
1D. Each resilient member 16 includes a tab 17 extending outwardly away from
the
outer surface 14C of the flange 14. The tabs 17 form an angle of extension a
with the
outer surface 14C (see Fig. 1D). The angle of extension a is acute, i.e. less
than 90 , to
facilitate the insertion of the flange 14 into the channel of the object. Each
tab 17 is
connected to the flange 14 along a hinge 17A about which the tab 17 pivots.
Openings
18 in the flange 14 are formed between the inner and outer surfaces 146,14C.
Each
opening 18 is aligned with one of the tabs 17. Each opening 18 is sized and
shaped to
receive the tab 17 in the opening 18. Each tab 17 is resiliently displaceable
relative to
the opening 18. Therefore, when the flange 14 is being inserted into the
channel of the
object, the surfaces defining the channel abut against the tabs 17 and pivot
them about
their hinges 17A towards their corresponding openings 18. When the flange 14
is not
present within the channel of the object, the resiliency of the tabs 17 causes
them to
extend outwardly away from the outer surface 14C, as shown in Figs. 1A to 1D.
Another
possible configuration of the resilient members 316 is shown in Figs. 5A and
56, and
described in greater detail below.
[0026] The tabs 17 can be formed using different techniques. One possible
technique
involves forming at least the flange 14 out of a metal, such as spring steel.
The spring
steel flange 14 is punched or stamped at different locations to form the tabs
17 and the
openings 18. If desired, the remainder of the flange 14 can be overmolded with
plastic,
and the stamped tabs 17 can be left as exposed spring steel. In such an
embodiment,
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the resiliency of the tabs 17 is derived from the inherent resiliency or
springiness of the
spring steel. Other techniques for forming the tabs 17 are possible and within
the scope
of the present disclosure. For example, another possible technique involves
forming at
least the flange 14 out of a plastic.
[0027] Still referring to Figs. 1A to 1D, each of the tabs 17 is a geometric
body formed
from multiple walls. In the depicted embodiment, each tab 17 has an innermost
wall
19A and an opposite outermost wall 19B, a top wall 19C and an opposite bottom
wall
19D, and an end wall 19E extending between the top and bottom walls 19C,19D.
The
innermost wall 19A is spaced closer to the wall surface 13A of the peripheral
wall 13
than the other walls 1913,19C,19D,19E. The outermost wall 19B is spaced
furthest from
the wall surface 13A of the peripheral wall 13 than the other walls
19A,19C,19D,19E.
The outermost wall 19B is inclined with respect to the outer surface 14C of
the flange
14. More particularly, the outermost wall 19B extends from the outer surface
14C of the
flange 14 at an angle referred to herein as the tab insertion angle p, (see
Fig. 1D). In the
depicted embodiment, the tab insertion angle p, is less than 900. The acute
angle of the
outermost wall 19B allows the tab 17 to be inclined with respect the direction
of
insertion of the flange 19 into the channel of the object. The sloped
outermost wall 19B
of the tab 17 helps to insert the flange 14 and the tabs 17 into the channel
of the object
as each tab 17 is being resiliently displaced toward the outer surface 14C as
the flange
14 is being inserted into the channel. Since the innermost wall 19A is not
similarly
sloped, the sloped outermost wall 19B of the tab 17 may also make it more
difficult to
remove the tab 17 once it is confined within the channel of the object and
abutting
against the surfaces thereof. The sloped outermost wall 19B may therefore help
to
reduce force required to insert the flange 14 into the channel, and may also
help to
increase the force required to pull the flange 14 out of the channel, thereby
helping to
secure the bracket 10 to the object.
[0028] In the depicted embodiment, an outermost edge 14E of the flange 14 is
defined
as the edge of the flange 14E being spaced furthest from the peripheral wall
13A. The
outermost edge 14E is spaced further from the peripheral wall 13A than the
outermost
wall 19B of the tab 17 (see Fig. 1C). This allows the body of the flange 14 to
be inserted
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into the channel of the object before the tabs 17, to help better position the
flange 14
with respect to the channel prior to pushing the tabs 17 into the channel.
[0029] The arrangement and number of resilient members 16 along the flange 14
may
vary. For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 1A to 1D, all the resilient
members 16
extend outwardly from the outer surface 14C of the flange 14 and are
resiliently
displaceable toward the outer surface 14C. In an alternate embodiment, all the
resilient
members 16 extend outwardly from the inner surface 14B of the flange 14 and
are
resiliently displaceable toward the inner surface 14B. In yet another
alternate
embodiment, some of the resilient members 16 extend outwardly from the inner
surface
14B, and some of the resilient members 16 extend outwardly from the outer
surface
14C of the flange 14. In the embodiment of Figs. 1A to 1D, the resilient
members 16 are
spaced apart equally from each other along a length of the flange 14. More
particularly,
a spacing distance D is defined between adjacent resilient members 16 on the
flange
14, and the spacing distance D is the same between all resilient members 16.
In an
alternate embodiment, the resilient members 16 are spaced apart irregularly.
More
particularly, the spacing distance D between two adjacent resilient members 16
is
different than the spacing distance D between another two adjacent resilient
members
16. The number of resilient members 16 can be more or less than the number of
resilient members shown in the depicted embodiments. In an embodiment, the
flange
14 has only one resilient member 16.
[0030] The function of the bracket 10 and the resilient members 16 will be
better
appreciated with reference to Figs. 2A to 2C, which show one possible use and
method
of installing the bracket 10 for hanging the object 20 to a support structure
(e.g. a wall).
There are two brackets 10 shown in Fig. 2A. The object 20 in the depicted
embodiment
is a frame 22 for pictures and the like, and is shaped as a rectangular formed
by four
frame members 23. Each frame member 23 has a rectangular cross-sectional
configuration having a front surface 23A, a rear surface 23B, and outer and
inner side
surfaces 23C,23D. The frame members 23 form four inner right angle corners 24
at the
junction of the top, bottom and side frame members 23. The channel 25 of the
frame 22
extends into the frame members 23 from the inner surfaces 23D thereof. The
channel
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25 is defined by first and second opposed channel walls 25A,25B, and a third
channel
wall 25C extending between the first and second channel walls 25A,25B (see
Figs. 2B
and 2C). The frame 22 can be made from any suitable material, including, but
not
limited to, wood, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropelene, and
metal.
[0031] The frame 22 may be used for displaying artwork, pictures, and other
display
items. Referring to Figs. 2B and 2C, the frame 22 has an outer pane of glass
26, and a
rectangular mat 27 having a rectangular cut-out 27A formed therein for
displaying a
sheet of material 28 having indicia thereon such as a photograph, painting, or
other
type of visual work to be displayed and viewed through the glass 26. These
various
members generally have a rectangular shape complementary to and adapted to fit
within the rectangular inner periphery of the frame 22 and supported on a
ledge 22A of
the frame 22. The frame 22 may also have an appropriate backing or backing
plate.
[0032] Referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, the brackets 10 are engaged to the frame
22 by
sliding the corner 15 of the body 10A in the direction A in order to position
the
peripheral wall 13 and its wall surface 13A to face the inner surface 23D of
the frame
member 23. The flanges 14 are slid into the channels 25 formed in the inner
surfaces
23D of the frame members 23. Pressure is applied to insert the flanges 14 into
the
channels 25. In the depicted embodiment, the wall surfaces 13A of the body 10A
abut
against and are mated with the inner surfaces 23D of the frame members 23 when
the
flanges 14 are inserted into the channels 25. As the flanges 14 are being slid
into the
channels 25, the first and second channel walls 25A,25B of the channels 25
abut
against the outermost walls 19B of the tabs 17 and cause the tabs 17 to
resiliently
displace about the hinges 17A toward the corresponding openings 18. Once the
flanges
14 are inserted into the channels 25 of the frame 22, the first and/or second
channel
walls 25A,25B confine the tabs 17 within the channel 25, and press them toward
the
openings 18. The resiliency of the tabs 17 causes them to abut against the
first and/or
second channel walls 25A,25B, thereby helping to improve the frictional
engagement of
the flanges 14 with the channels 25, and of the bracket 10 with the frame 22.
[0033] It will be appreciated that by being resiliently displaceable from a
default
extended configuration to a compressed configuration, each tab 17 helps the
flange 14
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to friction fit within channels 25 of different sizes, and thus helps the
bracket 10 to
compensate for variations in the size of channel 25. It is known that frames
22 which
are mass manufactured can have important variations in the size of their
channels 25.
The resiliently displaceable resilient members 16 disclosed herein therefore
help the
bracket 10 to function with channels 25 of different sizes, and thus, help the
bracket 10
to function with a greater number of frames 22.
[0034] With two brackets 10 attached to the frame 22, the frame 22 can be
mounted to
the support structure. The attachment pins 11A of each bracket 10 face
outwardly from
the outer surface 12B of the body 10A. The frame 22 is placed adjacent to a
wall or
other support structure such that the sharp, pointed end 11B of the attachment
pin 11A
is facing the support structure. The frame 22 is pressed firmly against the
support
structure to press the pointed ends 11B of the attachment pins 11A into the
support
structure. The attachment pins 11A will support the frame 22 on and
substantially flush
against the surface of support structure with no additional hardware being
required or
visible.
[0035] Another embodiment of the bracket 110 is shown in Fig. 3. The bracket
110 has
a single peripheral wall 113 and a single flange 114 extending outwardly
therefrom.
Two brackets 110 are shown for use with the object 20, which in the depicted
embodiment is a frame 22. The flanges 114 of the brackets 110 are inserted
into the
channel 25 along the inner surface 23D of only the upper frame member 23. The
brackets 110 of the depicted embodiment are therefore not placed into the
corners of
the frame 22. The body 110A of each bracket 110 has a pyramidal shape with a
rounded apex.
[0036] Yet another embodiment of the bracket 210 is shown in Figs. 4A and 4B.
The
bracket 210 has a single peripheral wall 213 and a single flange 214 extending
outwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall 213 and the flange 214 are both
curved to
match the curvature of the channel 125 along the inner surface 123D of the
object 120.
In the depicted embodiment, the object 120 is a rounded object, such a mirror.
The
bracket 210 is used alone to support the object 120 and to mount it to the
support
structure. The body 210A of the bracket 210 has a pyramidal shape with a
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apex. The intermediate surface 214D of the flange 214 is curved to mate with
the
curved third channel wall 125C of the channel 125 when the flange 214 is
inserted into
the channel 125. In the depicted embodiment, the attachment pin 211A is
integral with
the body 210A, and projects outwardly from the outer surface 212B of the body
210A.
In an alternate embodiment, the attachment pin 11A,211A is separate from the
body
10A,210A, and attachable and detachable therefrom.
[0037] Yet another embodiment of the bracket 310 is shown in Figs. 5A and 5B.
Figs.
5A and 5B show another configuration of the resilient members 316. The bracket
310 is
similar to the bracket 10 described above, and therefore like features of
bracket 310 will
bear like reference numbers. Each resilient member 316 in the depicted
embodiment
includes a resilient protrusion 317 projecting outwardly away from the outer
surface 14C
of the flange 14. Each resilient protrusion 317 is resiliently deformable
toward the outer
surface 14C. Therefore, when the flange 14 is being inserted into the channel
25 of the
object 20, the first and/or second channel walls 25A,25B defining the channel
25 abut
against each resilient protrusion 317 and compress it toward the outer surface
14C. The
springiness or resiliency of the resilient protrusions 317 causes them to abut
against the
first and/or second channel walls 25A,25B of the channel. This frictional
abutment of the
resilient protrusions 317 with the walls 25A,25B of the channel 25 helps to
improve the
frictional engagement of the flange 14 with the channel 25, and thus, to
improve the
frictional engagement of the bracket 310 with the object 20. When the flange
14 is not
present within the channel 25 of the object 20, the resiliency of the
resilient protrusions
317 causes them to extend outwardly away from the outer surface 14C. The
resilient
protrusions 317 may be made of any suitable material, such as an elastomeric
material
or a polymer material.
[0038] It will be appreciated that other configurations of the resilient
members 16,316
are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in yet another
alternate
embodiment, the resilient members 16,316 include one or more elongated and
elastomeric strips extending outwardly from the inner and/or outer surfaces
146,14C of
the flange 14 along a length thereof.
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[0039] It can be appreciated that the bracket 10,110,210,310 disclosed herein
helps to
securely attach various types of objects 20 such as framed members, mirrors,
clocks,
wall art, etc. in a substantially flush manner to a support structure with
less hardware.
The bracket 10,110,210,310 can utilize the internal channel present on many
frames 22
to eliminate the necessity of attaching the bracket 10,110,210,310 to the
frame 22 with
additional fasteners.
[0040] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in
the art
will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without
departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Still other modifications
which fall
within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art, in
light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to
fall within the
appended claims.
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