Field of the invention

[001 ] The present invention relates to improvements to support elements or brackets, such as those described in WO201 1 /109868, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background of the invention

[002] The brackets and support elements of WO201 1 /1 09868 provide a bracket and support system. It is in respect of these types of brackets and support elements that the following improvements relate.

[003] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention

[004] The present invention provides a support element or bracket adapted to be mountable to a load bearing structure, a receiving portion able to receive at least part of a structural element to be mounted to the load bearing structure and a removable portion, wherein the removable portion forms part of the receiving portion.

[005] The removable portion can be attached to the support element by at least one fixing means.

[006] The removable portion can include apertures adapted to receive the at least one fixing means.

[007] The at least one fixing means can threadingly attach to the support element.

[008] The support element can also include means to translate the part of the structural element vertically relative to the support element.

[009] The support element can also include means to translate the part of a structural element horizontally relative to the support element.

[010] The removable portion can include an interlocking formation adapted to engage with a mating formation in the support element or bracket in use, [01 1 ] The interlocking formation and mating formation can be in the form of one of the following: a dovetail formation; a formation which is T-shaped in cross section; an undercut interlocking formation.

[012] The support element or bracket can include apertures adapted to receive fixing means to fix the support element or bracket to the load bearing panel.

[013] The support element or bracket can include a hanging arm or hook means adapted to be mounted to said load bearing structure.

[014] The fixing means can be engaged with the load bearing panel from the rear of the load bearing panel.

Brief description of the drawings

[015] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support element or bracket;

[017] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the removable end of the bracket of Figure 1 ;

[018] Figure 3 is a side view of the bracket of Figure ;

[019] Figure 4 is a side view of the removable end of the bracket of Figure 1 ;

[020] Figure 5 is a perspective view of another support element or bracket;

[021 ] Figure 6 is a perspective view of another support element or bracket;

[022] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further support element or bracket;

[023] Figure 8 is a side view of a loaded support element or bracket;

[024] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further support element or bracket;

[025] Figure 0 is a perspective view of a further support element or bracket;

[026] Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a bracket similar to that of figure 7, except that the dovetail portion is replaced by a T-shaped portion

[027] Figure 12 is a cross sectional side view of the assembled bracket illustrated in figure 7; [028] Figure 13 is a cross sectional side view though the bracket base portion of figure

12;

[029] Figure 14 is a cross sectional side view through the removable end portion of the bracket assembly of figure 12;

[030] Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of an assembly similar to that of Figure 8 utilising the bracket of figures 1 1 to 14.

[031 ] It is understood that, unless indicated otherwise, the drawings are intended to be illustrative rather than exact representations, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The orientation of the drawings is chosen to illustrate the features of the objects shown, and does not necessarily represent the orientation of the objects in use.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[032] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a support elements or bracket 1 for supporting a variety of structures that can be retained in the recess 7 either by a protruding surface of the structure or by a tube, or member (such as item 72 in Figure 8) attached or attachable to the structure. The structures can be drawers, cupboards, chairs, stool vanities, wall units, stereo units, fire places, stair treads or a variety of other structures. When being used, the support element or bracket 1 includes a hanging arm 3 and a locking element 5 that engages a load bearing panel in conjunction with the rear support wall 6. The hanging arm 3 and locking element 5 can have their load bearing panel contacting surfaces roughened by any appropriate means, such as abrasion, surface treatment, moulding or fabrication techniques or knurling so that the frictional force between the hanging arm 3 and or locking element 5 and the load bearing panel is increased which assists to fasten the support element or bracket 1 more securely to the load bearing panel. The load bearing panel must have a width less than or equal to the distance of the space 33 between the locking arm 5 and the rear support wall 6.

[033] The support elements or bracket 1 includes a removable portion or end 2. The recess 7 of the support elements or bracket 1 includes a rear recess wall 4, base recess surface 9 and end wall 1 1 , which retain the structure to be supported in the recess 7. The support elements or bracket 1 can include a lifting screw 15 and a locking screw 17 to move the position of a structure in the recess 7 in both the horizontal and vertical direction.

[034] The removable portion or end 2 includes end wall 1 1 and an attachment portion

13. The attachment portion 13 includes apertures 14 through which screws 34 pass into base recess surface 9. The screw shaft 36 engages base 9 with a screw action so that the removable portion or end 2 is removably secured to the support elements or bracket 1. [035] When the removable portion or end 2 is secured to the support elements or bracket 1 , removal of a structure in the recess 7 requires vertical movement of the structure. When the removable portion or end 2 is not secured to the support elements or bracket 1 , removal of the structure can be effected by horizontal movement of the structure through the location where end wall 1 1 would otherwise form a retaining boundary.

[036] The lifting screw 1 5 includes a lifting head 25, shaft 21 and adjustment head 23.

The locking screw 17 includes a positioning head 31 , shaft 27 and movement head 29. The shaft 21 of lifting screw 15 passes through the bottom of the base recess surface 9 and the shaft 27 of locking screw 17 passes through the end wall 1 1 of the removable portion or end 2. The lifting and locking screws 1 5 and 17 can be adjusted using a screwing action.

[037] Although base recess surface 9 and end wall 1 1 are illustrated as including a channel with a base 10 within which the lifting head 25 and positioning head 31 are located, it will be readily understood that in place of a channel, an aperture, the size of the adjustment head 25 and positioning head 31 can be placed in the base recess surface 9 and the end wall 1 1 .

[038] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a support element or bracket similar to that of Figures 1 to 4 with the addition of the attachment portion 13 including a interlocking formation, in this case a vertical dovetail joint tail 54 that engages with a mating formation, in this case socket 56 in the base recess surface 9 to form a dovetail joint. When the attachment portion 13 of the removable portion or end 2 is engaged with the base recess surface 9 the tail 54 and socket 56 further strengthens the join. This allows one screw 44, passing through aperture 24 screwing into a hole which is not illustrated in base recess surface 9 to fix the different parts together restraining vertical movement, rather than two screws as shown in Figures 1 to 4. In addition to improving tensile strength the vertical dovetail joint will stop the removable portion or end being removed horizontally.

[039] Figure 7 illustrates a support element or bracket similar to that of Figures 5 and 6 where the dovetail joint is arranged horizontally with horizontal tail 64 and horizontal socket 66. In this arrangement in addition to the tensile strength of the join being increased, vertical movement of the removable portion or end 2 is restrained when the dovetail joint is engaged allowing only horizontal movement of the removable portion or end 2. To fix the removable portion or end 2 to the base recess surface 9 two screws 34 are used to screw into two holes 68 (only one illustrated). The screws 34 also assist to prevent relative horizontal movement between the respective dovetail formations 64 and 66, in addition to providing a means to prevent the longitudinal separation of the base and end 2, to resist the forces which result when assembling with a structure 74 and member 72 as illustrated in figure 8. [040] Although Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the removable portion or end 2 having the tail

54, 64 and the base recess surface 9 having the socket 56, 66 it is readily apparent that the location of the tail and socket can be reversed, Although Figures 5 and 6 illustrate one screw 44 and Figures 1 to 4 and 7 illustrate 2 screws 34, it is readily apparent that any number of screws can be used to fasten the removable portion or end 2 in place. In place of the screws 34 or 44 in the embodiments of Figures 5 to 7 pins can be used in place of screws 34 or 44 that resist shear forces applied to the removable portion or end 2, Alternatively in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 no screws 34 or 44 can be used, the locking screw 17 through positioning head 31 screwing against tube 72 (as seen in Figure 8) or a protrusion on a mounted structure applies forces to the dovetail joint to fix it in position. Although Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a dovetail joint it is readily apparent that any alternative locking means can be used such as a bolted mortise and tenon, a biscuit joint, a dado joint, a dowelling system, a tongue and groove joint or other means where a locking shape is used to hold the removable portion or end 2 in place.

[041 j Figure 8 illustrates a support element or bracket 1 as illustrated in any of Figures

I to 7 engaged with a load bearing panel 26, via an aperture 26.2 in the panel 26, so that the locking element 5 will sit in a rebate or recess 26.1 at the rear of the panel 26, as is described in deta in O201 1 /109868. A tube or member 72, which is attached to the 74 is positioned and retained in the recess 7. A second structure 76 is attached to the load bearing panel 26 above the first structure 74 so that removal of the structure 74 and tube 72 from the recess 7 cannot be effected with vertical movement of structure 74 and tube 72. In this arrangement removal of the structure 74 and tube 72 can be affected without moving structure 76, by removing the removable portion or end 2 and passing the tube through the location where end wall 1 1 previously formed a retaining boundary, after screw 23 is loosened. In Figure ^' 8 the dovetail channel 56 and matching portion 54 are shown and enough clearance above the top of end wall

I I is provided to the underside of the structure 74, to allow vertical movement of end 2, relative to the rest of the bracket 1 . If the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 were used and the vertically oriented dovetail parts 54 and 56 were not used, then such clearance would not required, as the loosening of the end bolts 34 will mean end 2 will simply move or fall away.

[042] Figure 9 illustrates a support element or bracket 1 as illustrated in Figure 7 including additional fixing apertures 42, 46 and 44. Apertures 46 and 42 can be used to receive a screw or bolt that screws or bolts with the load bearing panel 26 so that hanging arm 3 and locking element 5 are not needed to fix the support element or bracket 1 , the load bearing panel 26 needs only to be supported by the rear support wall 6 adjacent at least one of the aperture 42, 44 or 46. Aperture 44 is located in an extended section 45 of rear support wall 6 and is used to receive a screw or bolt for engagement with load bearing panel 26. When aperture 44 is used with a screw or bolt to fix the support bracket 1 in place in conjunction with hanging arm 3, locking element 5 and rear support wall 6 or with apertures 42 and or 46, support element or bracket 1 is further reinforced against movement when force is applied transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support bracket. Apertures 42, 44 and 46 can be used independently, simultaneously or using a combination of two of the apertures to fix the support element or bracket to the load bearing panel. Although the arrangement of the horizontal dovetailed support element or bracket is illustrated, this arrangement with apertures 42, 44 and 46 can be used with any of the brackets illustrated in the Figures. If the screw or bolt is engaged from the rear of the support element or bracket 1 through apertures 46 into the load bearing panel 26, in the direction indicated by the arrow 85 in Figure 8, or through the load bearing panel 26 into aperture 42, in the direction indicated by the arrow 87 in Figure 8, removal of support element or bracket 1 will require access to the rear of load bearing panel 26. By requiring access to the rear of load bearing panel 26 for removal of the support element or bracket 1 will restrict the number of users able to remove the bracket or support element 1 to those with access to the rear of load bearing panel 26. This will improve the anti-theft security of the structure mounted to the support element or bracket 1.

[043] Figure 10 illustrates a support element or bracket 1 as illustrated in Figure 9 without hanging arm 3 or locking element 5. In this embodiment to fix the support element or bracket 1 to a load bearing panel 26 requires a screw or bolt through one or both of apertures 42 and 44 and eliminates the need for the hanging arm 3 and locking element 5 to fix to the load bearing panel 26. The hanging arm 4 and locking element 5 can be cut off the support element or bracket 1 or the support element or bracket 1 can be made without them.

[044] Figures 1 1 to 15 illustrate an embodiment similar to that of figure 7 and like parts have been like numbered. The difference between the embodiments of figure 7 and that of figures 11 to 13 is that the removable end wall 1 1 interconnects to the base 9, by means of a horizontally extending (into the page of figures 12 to 14)T shaped channel 66.1 instead of the dovetail channel of figure 7. Likewise the end wall 1 1 has a matching T- shaped protrusion 64.1 to slide into the channel 66. Through the protrusion 64.1 is a countersunk bore 64.2 to receive a countersunk machine screw to secure the end wall 11 to the base 9. The T-shaped nature of the protrusion 64.1 and channel 66.1 provides engaging square shoulders 66.3 and 64.3 (which can also be described as interlocking undercuts) to assist in the transmission and bearing of forces from assembling and utilising the bracket.

[045] Figure 15 illustrates a support element or bracket 1 as illustrated in Figures 1 1 to

14, which is similar to that of figure 8, and like parts are like numbered. The difference from figure 15 to that of figure 8, is that once the screw 29 is loosened, and screw 36 removed, the end 2, can be slid into or out of the page of the assembly of figure 15, and this will then allow passage, once screw 23 is loosened, for the member 72, and its attached structure 74, to be slid to the right of figure 15 and out from under the upper structure 76, without having to move the upper structure 76. This embodiment has advantages over a vertically oriented dovetail as illustrated in figure 7, in that the spacing between the underside of the structure 74 and the upper end of the end wall 1 1 can be less in the embodiment of figure 15 by comparison to that of figure 8. Further this also means that the tube or member 72 can have less height and thus provide, relatively speaking, a more rigid assembly.

[046] In this specification, reference to a document, disclosure, or other publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or use forms part of the common general knowledge of the skilled worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated.

[047] I n this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as "up",

"down", "vertical", "horizontal" , "left", "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise, These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings.

[048] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of". A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[049] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[050] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.