A bracket, method and assembly

Abstract

A bracket (10) has opposite ends (11) and (12) and sides (13) and (14). There is a central fixing hole (15) in back plate (16). Ends (10) and (11) have hooks (17, 18, 19) and (20) and sides (13) and (14) have hooks (21, 22, 23) and (24). The hooks in the ends are aligned sets.The hooks in the sides are aligned sets. These hooks are adapted to cooperate with furring (25) which has inwardly rolled edges that lock inside the hooks (21, 22, 23) and (24) by reason of a resilient clip action so that a main furring is fitted to the side hooks and bridging furring is fitted to the end hooks (17, 18, 19) and (20). This connects the bridging furring as a cross rail which may be located anywhere along the main furring by positioning the bracket (10). As part of the method this bridging furring is located to bridge across adjacent edges in adjacent sheeting so that it supports a finished join against cracking.

Description

A BRACKET, METHOD AND ASSEMBLYTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a bracket for clip on connection of frame elements and in particular but not limited to a bracket used between frame elements to provide a selectively locatable frame element in a position as a support behind edges and joins in plasterboard wall and ceiling cladding. Join or joint as referred to herein refers to joins between panels as well as the edges of panels where they may be joined to other structures, for example the outer edges of ceiling panels.

[0002] Furring channel as used herein refers to channel profiled battens for concrete or masonry walls and concealed or suspended ceiling assemblies and the like.BACKGROUND

[0003] The present invention has application wherever it may be desirable to use the present bracket to connect frame elements where the bracket and frame elements have a clip connection action of cooperation between the elements and the bracket. An objective of the invention is to control surface cracking after joint finishing.

[0004] Examples of frame elements with clips are shown in the following patent specifications US1673431 ; US2309420; US2008168739; NZ506991 ; US2014 / 0373468; W02010 / 030150 and JP2008081950 indicating a wide variety of brackets, and a crowded mature art. In these cases the frame elements are furring strips or battens set in parallel lines behind sheeting.OUTLINE

[0005] A bracket adapted for connection between first and second frame elements at right angles, the frame elements having a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member comprising a side portion, an opposite side portion and an intermediate section displaced laterally along the longitudinal line of the the frame elementsforming a channel configuration and the bracket having a four way cooperating clip connection action characterised in that, the clip connection action is configured to clip a first frame element across the bracket and respective send and third frame elements to each side of the first frame element. Preferably the bracket has opposite ends and sides and a back plate, the ends and sides having aligned sets of inward facing hooks, the hooks being adapted to cooperate with edges of the frame elements to anchor the frame elements to the bracket. In a form to suit different height furrings multiple hooks may be provided.

[0006] In a second aspect the invention resides in a bracket connection between first and second frame elements at right angles, the frame elements and brackets having a cooperating clip connection action characterised in that, the clip connection action is configured to clip the frame elements where the first frame element comprises one of a plurality of spaced apart main frame elements dividing a wall or ceiling into regions of predetermined outline and the second frame element is located by the clip connection action and connected between adjacent ones of said main elements.

[0007] In another aspect there is provided a bracket having a first set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect a furring channel in one direction and a second set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect a furring channel in a second direction at right angles to the first direction. Preferably, one set is spaced further apart than the other set. Preferably, the closer set connects a main furring channel which extends across the bracket, dividing the respective further channels connected to each pair of the other set. Please note, “set” as referred to above refers to a functionally operable set which may or may not be symmetrical or even look the same.

[0008] In another aspect there is provided a surface crack control strip and bracket assembly for the control of crack development in plasterboard joints after surface finishing, comprising an elongated cross member attached via the bracket to elongated main members, said elongated cross member and said elongated main members comprising a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member, the dimensions of said features and the width of said elongated member being so chosen relative to one another that said member can be positioned behind and in support of plasterboard joint upon engagement of said bracket with said elongated cross member and said elongated main members,the bracket being connectable to a said elongated main members along edges of the said elongated cross member and said elongated main members to be retained in operative position in support of said joint.

[0009] In another aspect there is provided a method of controlling cracking in joints between plasterboard sheeting wherein a surface crack control strip and bracket assembly are position behind sheeting, the strip comprising an elongated member having a cross-section which provides complementary opposed concave and convex surfaces and is positioned behind the sheeting along a line at which the development of a crack is to be controlled, said complementary surfaces having a sheeting support surface and sides extending away from the sheeting, the sides having edges and the edges engaging with said bracket to hold the elongated member in operative position.

[0010] A wall or ceiling and the like of material laid while wet and allowed to harden and then applied as separate sheets to a supporting substrate to provide the wall or ceiling, the separate sheets having a finished surface and dividing said surface into panels of predetermined outline with joins between adjacent panels and outer panels providing a peripheral edge, and comprising a series of divider-strips anchored behind the sheeting and at the joins there being four way brackets positioned behind the joins and anchoring the stips and the sheets to form the panels, said strips extending along the line of a join between the four way brackets, each strip comprising a side portion, an opposite side portion and an intermediate section displaced laterally along the longitudinal line of the strip, said intermediate section serving as means for supporting the join, said side portions having edges engaging with the four way bracket and in maintaining the strip in position forming a line of support behind the join to inhibit generation of cracks in said surface.

[0011] Preferably, the each of the strips comprise elongated members having a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member, the dimensions of said features and the width of said elongated member being so chosen relative to one another that said member can be positioned behind and in support of plasterboard joint upon engagement of said bracket

[0012] Thus it will be appreciated that a pair of brackets according to the invention may be used at any location along adjacent main elements to connect a bridging element between them at a location of a cladding join or cladding edge to support that join or edge.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket according to the present invention;Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating a bracket used in relation to a main element and two bridging elements;Figure 3 is a drawing illustrating use of a bracket in relation to wall cladding;Figure 4 is one example of use of the present bracket in relation to a suspended ceiling;Figures 5 and 6 illustrate application of the present invention where a timber insert may be used behind cladding to provide additional fixing for wall fittings, plumbing fittings or other similar arrangements where it may be desirable to provide a timber backing behind plasterboard; and Figures 7 to 9 illustrate application of the invention to a universal type bracket for different height frame elements.METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

[0014] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 3 there is illustrated in Figure 1 a bracket 10 according to the present invention which has opposite ends 11 and 12 and sides 13 and 14. There is a central fixing hole 15 in back plate 16. Ends 10 and 11 have hooks 17, 18, 19 and 20 and sides 13 and 14 have hooks 21 , 22, 23 and 24. The hooks in the ends are aligned sets. The hooks in the sides are aligned sets. These hooks are adapted to cooperate with furring 25 which has the profile more clearly seen in Figure 3. The furring 25 has inwardly rolled edges 26 which lock inside the hooks 21 , 22, 23 and 24 by reason of a resilient clip action so that a main furring 27 is fitted to the side hooks and bridging furring 28 is fitted to the end hooks 17, 18, 19 and 20. This connects the bridging furring as a cross rail which may be located anywhere along the main furring by positioning the bracket 10. As part of the method this bridging furring is located to bridge across adjacent edges in adjacent sheeting so that it supports a finished join as may be produced in the usual manner.

[0015] In the embodiment of Figure 3 the bracket is secured to masonry 29 by a bolt 30 and this enables horizontally extending main furring elements 27 to be spaced on a wall and then because the bracket 10 has been strategically placed, then the bridging furrings 28 may be placed to extend between furrings 27 to best support plasterboard 31 as part of the method.

[0016] Referring to Figure 4 there is illustrated in broken outline, hangers 32 for a suspended ceiling 33 which has plasterboard sheet 34. There is a join 35, this join is supported by main furring 36. There is cross furring 37 which bridges between adjacent main furrings 36 utilising the bracket 10. In the present case assume there is a join in the plane of the drawing perpendicular to join 35 between sheets 34 and the bridging furrings 37 which are strategically located centred on that join. The brackets are also centred on the join. Thus the join is supported. Bridging furrings may also be used at the terminal or peripheral edges of panels. Where there is a four way intersection then the bracket 10 would be used but a three way bracket of the same form and construction may be used at the panel edge.

[0017] Referring now to Figure 5 there is illustrated main furring elements 27 and in this case there is a shallower furring element 38 which permits use of a timber fixing sheet 39. The sheet and furring 38 together are as thick as the elements 27 so the timber is at a level of the top 40 of the furring elements 27. This may be used so as to provide fixing for any form of wall fitting. An example shown in phantom at 41 and 42 in this case comprises spaced shelving brackets.

[0018] Figures 7-9 illustrate a multi-size bracket 43 having the same basis configuration as bracket 10 but where the eight hooks 44 have multiple slots 45 so that the brackets 43 may be used with frame elements, for example 46 and 47, which fit into a selected one of the slots 44 depending on the height of the frame elements 46 and 47. Thus bracket 43 has a universal application.

[0019] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth. For example, while the illustrated embodiment has opposite ends 11 and 12 it will be appreciated that the bracket may be used with only one end 11 or 12 as a three way bracket, while Figure 1 embodiment illustrates a four way bracket connection would be possible in certain circumstances to omit one end and simply flip the three way bracket situations where there is no need for a continuous support on each side of the main element.

Claims

Claims1 . A bracket adapted for connection between first and second frame elements at right angles, the frame elements having a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member comprising a side portion, an opposite side portion and an intermediate section displaced laterally along the longitudinal line of the frame elements forming a channel configuration and the bracket having a four way cooperating clip connection action characterised in that, the clip connection action is configured to clip a first frame element across the bracket and respective send and third frame elements to each side of the first frame element.

2. A bracket according to Claim 1 opposite ends and sides and a back plate, the ends and sides having aligned sets of inward facing hooks, the hooks being adapted to cooperate with edges of the frame elements to anchor the frame elements to the bracket.

3. A bracket according to claim 1 having a first set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect frame element in the form of a furring channel in one direction and a second set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect a furring channel in a second direction at right angles to the first direction.

4. A bracket according to claim 1 in combination in a surface crack control strip and said bracket as an assembly for the control of crack development in plasterboard joints after surface finishing, comprising an elongated cross member attached via the bracket to elongated main members, said elongated cross member and said elongated main members comprising a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member, the dimensions of said features and the width of said elongated member being so chosen relative to one another that said member can be positioned behind and in support of plasterboard joint upon engagement of said bracket with said elongated cross member and said elongated main members, the bracket being connectable to a said elongated main members along edges of the said elongated cross member and said elongated main members to be retained in operative position in support of said joint.

5. A bracket according to claim 1 in combination in a method of controlling cracking in joints between plasterboard sheeting wherein a surface crack control strip and bracket assembly are position behind sheeting, the strip comprising an elongated member having a cross-section which provides complementary opposed concave and convex surfaces and is positioned behind the sheeting along a line at which the development of a crack is to be controlled, said complementary surfaces having a sheeting support surface and sides extending away from the sheeting, the sides having edges and the edges engaging with said bracket to hold the elongated member in operative position.

6. A bracket according to claim 1 in combination in a wall or ceiling and the like of material laid while wet and allowed to harden and then applied as separate sheets to a supporting substrate to provide the wall or ceiling, the separate sheets having a finished surface and dividing said surface into panels of predetermined outline with joins between adjacent panels and outer panels providing a peripheral edge, and comprising frame elements as a series of divider-strips anchored behind the sheeting and at the joins there being four way brackets positioned behind the joins and anchoring the strips and the sheets to form the panels, said strips extending along the line of a join between the four way brackets, each strip comprising a side portion, an opposite side portion and an intermediate section displaced laterally along the longitudinal line of the strip, said intermediate section serving as means for supporting the join, said side portions having edges engaging with the four way bracket and in maintaining the strip in position forming a line of support behind the join to inhibit generation of cracks in said surface.

7. A bracket in a wall or ceiling according to claim 7 the each of the strips comprise elongated members having a cross-section which provides complementary concave and convex features in respective opposed faces of said elongated members, said opposed faces being closely spaced to provide a thin elongated member, the dimensions of said features and the width of said elongated member being so chosen relative to one another that said member can be positioned behind and in support of plasterboard joint upon engagement of said bracket8. A bracket according to claim 1 having a first set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect a furring channel in one direction and a second set of spaced apart pairs of inline clip connections adapted to connect a furring channel in a second direction at right angles to the first direction.

9. A bracket according to claim 8, one set is spaced further apart than the other set, the closer set connects a main furring channel which extends across the bracket, dividing the respective further channels connected to each pair of the other set.

10. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein spaced apart connections each comprise multiple hooks selectable to suit frame elements of different heights.

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