Bracket

Details Bracket Bracket

2001-01-17

2003-07-01

Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3677)

Joints and connections

Rigid angle

C005S288000, C005S282100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06585448

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to a bracket, and more particularly, to a bracket which secures two component members together and can be concealed from the outside of the joint.
BACKGROUND
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
There are several conventional techniques for connecting two component members. One technique, illustrated in
FIG. 1
, is termed a mortise and tenon. The mortise
102
is a cavity in component member
100
, which accepts the tenon
202
of component member
200
.
FIG. 2
illustrates two other conventional techniques, the tongue and groove and dowels and holes. As illustrated in
FIG. 2
, the groove
104
is a cavity in component member
100
, which accepts the tongue
204
of component member
200
.
FIG. 2
also illustrates a dowel
302
, which may be separate from or integral to component member
200
. Dowel
302
is fit inside hole
206
in component member
200
. In each of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques, one or more mortise/tenon, tongue/groove and/or dowel/hole arrangement can be used.
Each of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques, which are often used in the field of wood joinery, connects two component members by providing shear support. However, none of the above-identified exemplary conventional techniques adequately ensure the two component members remain secured together; the only factor being the tightness of fit between the tenon/tongue/dowel and the respective mortise/groove/hole.
In many applications, wood joinery included, it is also important that the two component members remain secured together.
Clips or brackets are also conventionally used for connecting two members, either alone or in combination with the exemplary conventional techniques described above. Although conventional clips and brackets usually ensure the two component members remain secured together, when conventional clips or brackets are used to connect two component members of a piece of furniture, the presence of the clip or bracket degrades the appearance of the furniture.
Further, conventional brackets, in order to be effective, usually require a bolt or screw for each component being assembled. In the standard case, if two component members are being secured, at least two bolts or screws are required, one for each component member. Requiring at least one screw for each component member makes conventional brackets expensive to make and time consuming to use for assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves these problems by providing a bracket which is usable to connect two component members, where the bracket can be concealed from the outside of the joint, in order to create a clean and furniture-like surface. The design of the bracket pulls two component members to be secured tightly together through the use of at least one member which hooks into one of the component members and is drawn tight to the component member when a securing device is tightened. Further, the bracket of the present invention may be designed to accommodate a single screw or bolt, in order to save assembly time and reduce cost.


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patent: 509514 (1971-08-01), None
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patent: 1291151 (1972-10-01), None

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