Adjustable bracket assembly

• US 8,936,223 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Design Manufacturing LLC
• Original Assignee: Andrew H. Mcgrath
• Inventors: McGrath, Andrew H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRIS, TAYLOR L
• Application Number:
  US13/463,598
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.21, 248/220.22, 248/274.1, 248/276.1, 248/280.11, 248/282.1, 248/284.1, 248/292.11, 248/289.11, 248/291.1, 403/53, 403/57, 403/58, 403/84, 403/97, 403/103, 403/104
• US Class Current: 248/219.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/065 Food shields; sneeze guards
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0453 the tubes being drawn towards each other F16B7/0473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/103 frictionally clamped
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/12 allowing adjustment of the parts about the axis during motion F16D3/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32008 Plural distinct articulation axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32041 Universal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32049 Non-coplanar axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32262 At selected angle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32368 including radial interengaging tongue and slot or serrations

Abstract

Adjustable bracket apparatus includes connector apparatus for mounting and securing external assemblies on at least one elongated support member, and allows positional adjustment of the secured external assembly along the elongated support member with up to 360 degree rotational positioning of the bracketing assembly about the elongated support member. An adjustable connector and locking assembly is disposed at the end of an arm element embodiment of the adjustable bracketing assembly providing 360 degree rotational positioning of the external assembly about the arm element and translation transverse to the axis of rotation relative to the arm.

Claims

1. Adjustable bracket assembly comprising in combination:

a) a cylindrical base comprising an upper end and a lower end, the lower end comprising a threaded aperture, the lower end further sized to be received and housed within an elongated support member and the lower end threaded aperture sized to be affixed to a threaded fastener within the elongated support member, and the upper end comprising a circular lip, a first smooth circular face comprising a width defined by an internal diameter and an external diameter, and a second smooth circular face comprising a diameter equal to the first smooth circular face internal diameter, and a centrally threaded aperture;

b) a cylindrical ring sized to be received on the cylindrical base upper end circular lip;

c) at least one cylindrical center portion sized to be received and rotatably supported on the cylindrical ring, each cylindrical center comprising an arm orthogonally disposed and attached to a cylindrical center portion external side, each arm comprising a first arm end and a second arm end defining an arm longitudinal axis;

d) a cap element sized to be received within and cover the cylindrical center portion, the cap element comprising a central aperture;

e) threaded fastener means for joining the cap and at least one cylindrical center portion to the cylindrical base upper end centrally threaded aperture and adjustably locking the cap and at least one cylindrical center portion to the cylindrical base upper end when the cylindrical base external end is threaded onto and housed within the elongated support member;

f) a panel; and

g) assembly for releasably attaching and stabilizing the panel at each arm second end whereby the stabilized and releasably attached panel is rotatable 360 degrees about the arm second end and translatable in a direction transverse to an axis of rotation;

whereby each arm is rotatable about an elongated, support member'"'"'s vertical axis by releasing the threaded fastener means and cap, rotating each cylindrical center portion corresponding to the arm to a desired position for the arm with respect to the support member, and tightening the threaded fastener means and cap to maintain the arm position;

and whereby the panel can be adjustably configured to fixed planar positions orthogonal to a plane containing a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support member, parallel to the plane containing a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support member, or bisecting at an acute angle the plane containing a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support

member.

2. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein assembly for releasably attaching and stabilizing the panel at each arm second end comprises:

a) a circular recess at the end of the arm second end;

b) a plurality of apertures communicating with each arm second end circular recess;

c) at least two discs, each disc comprising two disc sides, a plurality pins on one disc side, and radial undulations forming indents and detents on the other disc side, each disc sized to be received in the circular recesses and the pins sized and spaced on the disc side such that one pin communicates with one circular recess aperture so that the pins enter apertures and the radial undulations of abutting discs mate to prevent rotation of the discs relative to their respective circular recess;

d) a pair of clamp members communicating with each arm second end circular recess and positionable on opposed sides of the panel to clamp the panel there between, the clamp members comprising flat panel engagement surfaces and a disc-like configuration; and

e) means for lockably and positionaly fastening each arm second end to the clamp members.

3. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 2, wherein the clamp members and means for lockably and positionaly fastening each arm second end to the clamp members further comprise, in combination:

a) a rotatable head assembly comprising a rotatable head portion and a locking top member to releasably secure the panel such that the panel is rotatable 360 degrees about each arm longitudinal axis and translatable in a direction transverse to an axis of rotation, a circular recess comprising apertures communicating with the circular recess, the circular recess sized to receive a disc side comprising a plurality of pins sized to be received by the rotatable head circular recess; and

b) a separate pivot shaft assembly employed to tighten the arm second end and the rotatable head assembly and their respective discs together.

4. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 3, wherein the panel comprises a translucent planar surface.

5. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 3, wherein the panel comprises a translucent non-planar surface.

6. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 4, wherein the panel further comprises glass.

7. The adjustable bracket assembly of claim 5, wherein the panel further comprises glass.