A cladding bracket and a sign tray bracket

Abstract

A cladding or mounting bracket 1 comprising a wall connector 3 comprising a socket 5, a cladding or sign tray arm 10 extending between first and second ends, a cladding or sign tray connector 15 conne

Description

A cladding bracket and a sign tray bracket. The present invention relates to a cladding bracket. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a cladding bracket comprising a wall connector, a cladding arm and a bolt for connecting the wall connector to the cladding arm. The present invention also relates to a sign tray bracket. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a sign tray bracket comprising a mounting connector, a sign tray arm and a bolt for connecting the mounting connector to the sign tray arm. The present invention also relates to a cladding bracket system comprising a cladding bracket and a cladding panel connected to the cladding bracket. The present invention also relates to a sign tray bracket system comprising a sign tray bracket and a sign tray connected to the sign tray bracket. Cladding brackets for connecting cladding panels such as billboards and large format signage to walls are known. Such cladding brackets typically comprise a steel wall connector and a steel cladding arm connected thereto. Such cladding brackets have a high production cost due to the welding involved and long lead time. Keeping such brackets in stock also takes up a large amount of storage space which is uneconomical. The present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art. Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a cladding bracket comprising a wall connector comprising a receiving socket, the receiving socket comprising a base and side walls; a cladding arm extending between first and second ends; a cladding connector connected to the cladding arm for connection to a cladding panel; the first end of the cladding arm being dimensioned to be received in the socket; the first end of the cladding arm comprising a threaded recess for receiving a bolt; the base comprising an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture and recess being arranged such that they align when the first end of the cladding arm is arranged in the receiving socket. The cladding bracket according to the invention can be rapidly assembled when required without the need for any expensive and time consuming welding. It can be stored in separate parts which greatly reduces the storage space required. Preferably the first end of the cladding arm is received in the receiving socket; the cladding bracket further comprising a bolt, the bolt extending through the aperture in the base and into threaded engagement with the threaded recess so maintaining the cladding arm in fixed relation to the wall connector. Preferably the wall connector comprises a front plate, a portion of the front plate being shaped to define the receiving socket. Preferably the cladding arm extends substantially normal to the front plate. Preferably the front plate comprises at least one support rib extending from the receiving socket. Preferably the cladding bracket further comprises a rear plate spaced apart from the front plate by a side wall and parallel thereto. Preferably the rear plate is detachable. Preferably the cladding bracket further comprises a plurality of fixing bolts extending through the front plate for fixing the bracket to a wall. Preferably the fixing bolts extend through the front and rear plates. Preferably at least one of the wall connector and cladding arm is aluminium. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a cladding bracket system comprising a cladding bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10; and a cladding panel connected to the cladding connector. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sign tray bracket comprising a mounting connector comprising a front plate and a receiving socket connected to the front plate, the receiving socket comprising a base and side walls, the base being substantially normal to the plane of the front plate; a sign tray arm extending between first and second ends, a sign tray connector connected to the sign tray arm for connection to a sign tray; the first end of the sign tray arm being dimensioned to be received in the receiving socket; the first end of the sign tray arm comprising a threaded recess for receiving a bolt; the base comprising an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture and recess being arranged such that they align when the first end of the of the sign tray arm is arranged in the receiving socket. The sign tray bracket is also easy to assemble. When disassembled it takes up little shelf space. Further, known sign tray brackets which have the sign tray arm extending substantially parallel to the rear face are manufactured by bending the sign tray arm through ninety degrees. The sign tray bracket according to the invention has the advantage that no such bending is required. Preferably the receiving socket extends integrally from the front plate. Preferably the first end of the sign tray arm is received in the receiving socket; the sign tray bracket further comprising a bolt, the bolt extending through the aperture in the base and into threaded engagement with the threaded recess so maintaining the sign tray arm in fixed relation to the wall connector. Preferably the sign tray arm extends along a length axis substantially normal to the receiving socket base. Preferably the sign tray bracket further comprises a plurality of fixing bolts extending through the front plate for fixing the bracket to a surface. Preferably at least one of the mounting connector and sign tray arm is aluminium. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sign tray bracket system comprising a sign tray bracket as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17; and, a sign tray connected to the sign connector. The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying figures in which Figure 1 shows, in schematic vertical cross section, a cladding bracket according to the invention attached to a wall; Figure 2 shows, in schematic vertical cross section, a further embodiment of a cladding bracket according to the invention attached to a wall; Figure 3 shows, in perspective view, a further embodiment of a cladding bracket according to the invention; Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a sign tray bracket according to the invention in schematic vertical cross section; and, Figure 5 shows, in perspective view, a further embodiment of a sign tray bracket according to the invention. Shown in figure 1 in vertical cross section is a cladding bracket 1 according to the invention attached to a wall 2. The cladding bracket 1 comprises a wall connector 3 which comprises a front plate 4. A portion of the front plate 4 is shaped to define a receiving socket 5 comprising a base 6 and side walls 7. An aperture 8 extends through the base 6 as shown. The front plate 4 further comprises a plurality of support ribs 9 extending from the receiving socket 5 as shown to increase the rigidity of the receiving socket side walls 7. Typically the support ribs 9 are an integral part of the front plate 4. The cladding bracket 1 further comprises a cladding arm 10 extending between first and second ends 11,12. The first end 11 of the cladding arm 10 is dimensioned to be received in the receiving socket 5 as shown. The first end 11 of the cladding arm 10 comprises a threaded recess 13 for receiving a bolt 14. Connected to the cladding arm 10 is a cladding connector 15 for connection to a cladding panel 16 such as a billboard or a large format sign. The aperture 8 extending through the base 6 and the recess 13 in the first end 11 of the cladding arm 10 are arranged such that when the first end 11 of the cladding arm 10 is received in the receiving socket 5 the aperture 8 and recess 13 align as shown. In use the first end 11 of the cladding arm 10 is inserted into the receiving socket 5 such that the aperture 8 and recess 13 align. A bolt 14 is inserted into the aperture 8 through the base 6 and then into threaded engagement with the threaded recess 13. This holds the cladding arm 10 in fixed relation to the wall connector 3. The cladding arm 10 extends substantially normal to the front plate 4 as shown. The front plate 4 is then arranged in position on the wall 2. Fixing bolts (not shown) are then inserted though apertures in the front plate 4 and into the wall 2 so holding the front plate 4 in position on the wall 2. Finally a cladding panel 16 is connected to the cladding connector 15. Typically at least one of, preferably both the wall connector 3 and cladding arm 10 are aluminium. In alternative embodiments other metals are possible. Shown in figure 2 is a further embodiment of a cladding bracket 1 according to the invention in vertical cross section. This embodiment is similar to that of figure 1 except the wall connector 3 comprises front and rear plates 4,17 spaced apart by side walls 18. The rear plate 17 is substantially parallel to the front plate 4. In this embodiment the rear plate 17 is detachable. In an alternative embodiment the front and rear plates 4,17 are a single die cast piece. If the rear plate 17 cannot be detached then it typically comprises an aperture through which the bolt 14 can be passed. In use the rear plate 17 is removed and the front plate 4 and cladding arm 10 connected together by means of a bolt 14. The rear plate 17 is then returned to its original position. This embodiment has the advantage that the bolt 14 can be hidden from view. In this embodiment the fixing bolts extend through both the front and rear plates 4,17. Shown in figure 3 is further embodiment of a cladding bracket according to the invention similar to that of figure 1 in perspective view showing the fixing bolts 19 extending through the front plate 4 used to fix the cladding bracket 1 to a wall 2. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a sign tray bracket 20 according to the invention in vertical cross section. The sign tray bracket 20 comprises a mounting connector 21 which comprises a front plate 22 and a receiving socket 23 connected to the front plate 22. In this embodiment the receiving socket 23 extends integrally from the front plate 23 as shown such that the front plate 22 and receiving socket 23 are a single piece. The receiving socket 23 comprises a base 24 and side walls 25. The base 2 4extends substantially normal to the plane of the front plate 22 as shown. An aperture 26 extends through the base 24. The sign tray bracket 20 further comprises a sign tray arm 27 which extends between first and second ends 28,29. The first end 28 of the sign tray arm 27 is dimensioned to be received in the receiving socket 23. The first end 28 comprises a threaded recess 30. The aperture 26 and threaded recess 30 are arranged such that when the first end 28 of the sign tray arm 27 is received in the receiving socket 23 they align as shown. Connected to the sign tray arm 27 is a sign tray connector 31 for connection to a sign tray 34. In use the first end 28 of the sign tray arm 27 is inserted into the receiving socket 23 such that the aperture 26 and threaded recess 30 align. A bolt 32 is then passed through the aperture 26 in the base 24 and threaded into engagement with the threaded recess 30 so maintaining the sign tray arm 27 in fixed relation to the mounting connector 21 as shown. The sign tray arm 27 extends along a length axis substantially normal to the base 24. Once the mounting connector 21 and sign tray arm 27 are fixed together the mounting connector 21 is arranged on a suitable surface. Fixing bolts (not shown) are then passed though apertures in the front plate 22 and into the surface so fixing the sign tray bracket 20 in place. At least one, preferably both of the mounting connector 21 and sign tray arm 27 are aluminium. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a sign tray bracket 20 according to the invention similar to that of figure 4 in perspective view showing the fixing bolts 33 extending through the front plate 22.

Claims

1. A cladding bracket comprisinga wall connector comprising a receiving socket, the receiving socket comprising a base and side walls;a cladding arm extending between first and second ends;a cladding connector connected to the cladding arm for connection to a cladding panel;the first end of the cladding arm being dimensioned to be received in the socket;the first end of the cladding arm comprising a threaded recess for receiving a bolt;the base comprising an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture and recess being arranged such that they align when the first end of the cladding arm is arranged in the receiving socket.

2. A cladding bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of the cladding arm is received in the receiving socket;the cladding bracket further comprising a bolt, the bolt extending through the aperture in the base and into threaded engagement with the threaded recess so maintaining the cladding arm in fixed relation to the wall connector.

3. A cladding bracket as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the wall connector comprises a front plate, a portion of the front plate being shaped to define the receiving socket.

4. A cladding bracket as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the cladding arm extends substantially normal to the front plate.

5. A cladding bracket as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4, wherein the front plate comprises at least one support rib extending from the receiving socket.

6. A cladding bracket as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a rear plate spaced apart from the front plate by a side wall and parallel thereto.

7. A cladding bracket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rear plate is detachable.

8. A cladding bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a plurality offixing bolts extending through the front plate for fixing the bracket to a wall.

9. A cladding bracket as claimed in claim 8 when dependent on either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the fixing bolts extend through the front and rear plates.

10. A cladding bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the wall connector and cladding arm is aluminium.

11. A cladding bracket system comprisinga cladding bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10; anda cladding panel connected to the cladding connector.

12. A sign tray bracket comprisinga mounting connector comprising a front plate and a receiving socket connected to the front plate, the receiving socket comprising a base and side walls, the base being substantially normal to the plane of the front plate;a sign tray arm extending between first and second ends,a sign tray connector connected to the sign tray arm for connection to a sign tray;the first end of the sign tray arm being dimensioned to be received in the receiving socket;the first end of the sign tray arm comprising a threaded recess for receiving a bolt;the base comprising an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture and recess being arranged such that they align when the first end of the of the sign tray arm is arranged in the receiving socket.

13. A sign tray bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein the receiving socket extends integrally from the front plate.

14. A sign tray bracket as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the first end of the sign tray arm is received in the receiving socket;the sign tray bracket further comprising a bolt, the bolt extending through the aperture in the base and into threaded engagement with the threaded recess so maintaining the sign tray arm in fixed relation to the mounting connector.

15. A sign tray bracket as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sign tray arm extends along a length axis substantially normal to the receiving socket base.

16. A sign tray bracket as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising a plurality of fixing bolts extending through the front plate for fixing the bracket to a surface.

17. A sign tray bracket as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein at least one of the mounting connector and sign tray arm is aluminium.

18. A sign tray bracket system comprisinga sign tray bracket as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17; and, a sign tray connected to the sign tray connector.

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