[0001] The present invention relates to a support bracket for equipment, in particular air
conditioning units, having the features mentioned in the precharacterising clause
of the main claim no 1.
[0002] The invention falls particularly, but not exclusively, within the domain of bracket-type
fixing devices for supporting exchanger units of air conditioning plant.
[0003] In this domain, it is known that heat exchanger units, which are used in air conditioning
plant and which provide a feed to diffusers included in the setting of buildings to
be air-conditioned, must be placed and supported outside buildings or, at any rate,
deployed in positions so as to communicate with the outside. It is also typical for
the configuration of buildings to require these exchangers to be hung on the exterior
walls of buildings or interior walls close to balconies and windows that face out
of a building, so as to allow heat exchange between warm air and cold air in the exchanger.
[0004] To fix these exchangers to exterior walls or interior walls, it is a matter of common
knowledge to use L-shaped brackets large enough to be suitably robust, a pair of these
brackets normally being sufficient, fixed either directly to the walls, or to guides
that are in turn fixed to the walls, for example with plug-type fixing systems.
[0005] These brackets are also provided with seatings for inserting fixing screws by which
the equipment is secured to said brackets.
[0006] The mounting of brackets of the type indicated can entail some limitations that the
invention proposes to deal with and resolve advantageously.
[0007] A first known type provides for the brackets to be made in a final, preformed L-shape,
this type not being particularly convenient because of the space occupied during transport
and storage operations.
[0008] There are also known brackets in which the sides making up the bracket are made separate,
so as to reduce the space occupied in transport and storage, but which require the
installer to assemble them before installation. This operation, which is onerous in
any case because it takes time in addition to the time needed to install the bracket
on the wall, can be carried out by using screws or other similar relevant fixing systems.
[0009] Another type of bracket is also known, providing for a pre-installation condition
in which the two wings of the bracket are hinged together by a locking screw, which
does, however, need to be tightened in order to finalise the configuration of the
bracket, extended in an L-shape and ready for installation on a wall.
[0010] If the bracket is prepared as two separate wings that can be assembled by hinging
together without requiring a different, separate articulation pin (known from the
production of the Applicant itself), the installer still has to assemble them prior
to the operation of fixing to a wall.
[0011] These brackets are then traditionally made of a metal material, a material that,
while on the one hand ensuring lightness and sufficient mechanical strength for the
loads applied, does on the other hand expose the bracket to the action of atmospheric
agents that inevitably damage it over time, for example through corrosion.
[0012] The main purpose of the invention is to provide a support bracket for equipment,
in particular air conditioning units, structurally and functionally designed to overcome
the limitations set out with reference to the prior art mentioned. Another purpose
is that of providing a support bracket that is easy to transport and occupies little
space, and at the same time is easy to configure in the extended, operating condition,
so as to make it convenient and speedy for the installer to handle in the fitting
operations, often carried out at a substantial height, which can therefore prove rather
awkward and tiring for the installer. This aim and others that will appear clearly
below are achieved by the invention by means of a support bracket of the aforementioned
type, produced according to the following claims.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from
the following detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated
by way of non-restrictive indication with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support bracket produced according to the present
invention,
- Fig. 2 and 2A are further perspective views of the support bracket of the invention
in respective extended and folded conditions,
- Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket in the preceding figures,
- Fig. 4 to 6 are partial perspective views on an enlarged scale of respective details
of the bracket according to the invention,
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale and in partial section, of a detail
of the bracket in the preceding figures,
- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the two main components that form the bracket
according to the invention,
- Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the bracket component in Fig. 8;
- Fig. 10 is a view in section along the line X-X in Fig. 9,
- Fig. 11 is a plan view of the component in Fig. 8,
- Fig. 12 is a view in section along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11,
- Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the other of the two main components that form the
bracket in the preceding figures,
- Fig. 14 is a plan view from above of the bracket component shown in Fig. 13,
- Fig. 15 is a view in section along the line XV-XV in Fig. 14,
- Fig. 16 is a view in section along the line XVI-XVI in Fig. 14,
- Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of the component in Fig. 13,
- Fig. 18 is a perspective view, in partial section and on an enlarged scale, of a detail
in Fig. 7.
[0014] With reference to the figures mentioned, 1 denotes, as a whole, a support bracket
for equipment, typically air conditioning units (not shown), produced according to
the present invention.
[0015] Normally provision is made to arrange a pair of brackets 1 parallel to each other,
and set apart from each other by a suitable predefined relative distance, to define
the superficial portions for supporting and fixing the equipment.
[0016] The bracket 1 comprises a first and a second portion, indicated respectively as 2
and 3, which are articulated to each other, at the concurrent ends 2b, 3b thereof,
about an axis of articulation, and arranged so as to take a substantially L-shaped
configuration, suitable for performing the function of supporting the equipment.
[0017] Each of the portions 2 and 3 of the bracket extends in a prevailing direction of
longitudinal extension, the first portion 2 having a surface 2a intended for supporting
and anchoring it to the wall, i.e. fixing to fixing guides (not shown) secured to
a wall, the second portion 3 having a surface portion 3a for supporting and fixing
the equipment, for example by screws or similar clamping means. For this purpose,
through-slots 4 are provided in the surface portion 3 for engaging the clamping screws.
[0018] Between the first and second portion 2, 3 of the bracket, articulation means are
provided, with the overall label 5, by means of which the bracket portions 2 and 3
can be displaced reciprocally between a first, non-operating condition in which they
are folded back on one another (Fig. 2A) and a second, operating condition in which
said bracket portions extend perpendicular to one another (Fig. 2). The folded condition
is differentiated by reduced overall transverse dimensions, improving the transportability
and storage of the bracket, whereas the extended, L-shaped condition represents the
operating condition suitable for performing the support function.
[0019] According to another significant feature of the invention, the bracket portions 2
and 3 are further arranged in a pre-mounted configuration by means of an articulation
pin, labelled as 6, provided between respective and concurrent ends 2b and 3b of said
portions, so that the aforesaid operating condition of the bracket is achieved solely
by extending one of the bracket portions perpendicular to the other, about the axis
of articulation defined by the pin.
[0020] In combination with the aforesaid characteristic it is further provided that the
first and second bracket portion 2, 3, as well as the articulation pin 6 are all made
entirely of thermoplastic material. Advantageously, it is preferable to choose as
plastics material a polyamide, preferably reinforced with glass fibres in order to
ensure that the bracket has suitable characteristics of resistance to the loads to
be supported. The bracket portions 2, 3 are designed to be produced by injection moulding
in a plastics material mould.
[0021] The articulation means 5 comprise at the concurrent ends 2b, 3b of the corresponding
bracket portions 2, 3, respectively a first and a second articulation element, articulated
to one another by the pin 6.
[0022] The first articulation element is fork-shaped and has a pair of opposite appendages
7 standing parallel and set apart and each having a respective cut-out 8, said cut-outs
being arranged coaxially to one another in the axial direction of the pin 6.
[0023] The second articulation element is provided on the bracket portion 3 and is defined
by a part 9 of said portion 3, at the end 3b, a transverse through-hole 10 being provided
in the part 9.
[0024] The part 9 is capable of being interposed between the appendages 7, the hole 10 being
in axial alignment with the cut-outs 8, so that the pin 6 is accommodated in, and
engaged with, both the hole 10 (rotatable engagement) and the opposite cut-out 8 (rotatable
and sliding engagement), thus producing articulated coupling between the first and
the second bracket portion 2, 3 about said pin.
[0025] The pin 6 is held axially between the appendages 7 by a head 6a of the pin abutting
against one of the appendages 7 and by a stop ring 6b (for example a Seeger ring)
mounted on the opposite end of the pin, abutting against the other appendage 7 (Fig.
3).
[0026] In greater detail, each of said cut-outs 8 comprises a first and a second cut-out
segment, with a rectilinear slotted shape, indicated as 8b and 8b, extending reciprocally
and angled to each other, within which the pin 6 is guided slidably and rotatably,
so as to allow relative movement in rotation/translation between the bracket portions
2, 3, as will become apparent below.
[0027] The first segment of cut-out 8a, having a smaller longitudinal dimension than the
second segment 8b, extends in the longitudinal direction of the bracket portion 2,
and is prolonged into the second segment at a relative angle of substantially around
90°, such that said second segment 8b extends transversely to the longitudinal direction
of the bracket portion 2.
[0028] The end of each cut-out 8, placed in the segment 8a, has a profile with a circular
course capable of surrounding the pin 6, and holding it with a small amount of play,
in the operating condition of the bracket (Fig. 2). From this position, the pin 6
can be displaced, in a rotation/translation movement between the bracket portions,
so as to be guided within the cut-out 8, until it reaches the opposite end, in the
segment 8b, this positioning allowing relative separation between the bracket portions,
suitable for positioning the bracket portions folded over one another (Fig. 2A), avoiding
any interference generated by the transverse volume of the bracket portion 2 in the
articulation movement about the pin 6.
[0029] The reference numeral 7a indicates the outer contour edges of the appendages 7, having
a curved profile, a corresponding curved profile being formed in respective recesses
11, made in an opposite position in the bracket portion 3 and suitable for accommodating
the appendages 7 within them, at least partially, after the articulated coupling between
the bracket portions. The curved profiles allow freedom of relative articulation movement
by the bracket portions, also ensuring that the appendages 7 remain accommodated within
the surface edge in the respective recesses 11, without protruding from the transverse
volume of the bracket portions 3.
[0030] The reference numeral 12 also marks respective covering elements, intended to be
fitted to the appendages 7, on the lateral parts opposite the bracket portion 2 (the
function is to hide the articulation pin 6 from view, improving aesthetic appearance).
The covering elements 12 are preferably fixed to the respective appendages 7 by pressing
a plurality of projections 12a (constructed from the covering element) so as to engage
in respective holes 12b provided on the appendages 7 (Fig. 3).
[0031] A cavity 13 is provided centrally in the part 9 of the bracket portion 3, said cavity
being shaped as a slit extending transverse to the axis of articulation, which is
delimited in the direction of the axis by a pair of opposite solid walls 13a, 13b,
parallel and set apart from one another.
[0032] From the surfaces of the walls opposite those facing the cavity 13, respective tubular
sleeve-type formations 14 are constructed, coaxial to one another and jointly defining
the through-hole 10 in the part 9. Stiffening ribs for each sleeve-type formation,
all indicated as 15, are arranged radially extending from the respective walls 13a,
13b, in a radial direction relative to the axis of the hole 10. The reference numeral
16 indicates a stiffening rib for the bracket portion 2, which lies interposed between,
and equidistant from, the opposite appendages, 7 and whose shape and transverse thickness
are chosen such that said rib is engaged, with at least partial positive engagement
and slight interference, in the cavity 13, following the relative movement in rotation/translation
of the bracket portions, from the folded condition to that in which the extended,
operating condition is reached. In this position, the relative engagement between
rib 16 and cavity 13 allows the rigidity of the bracket to be increased, with greater
resistance to stress, particularly torsional stress induced by the presence of the
equipment when it rests on the pair of support brackets.
[0033] Preferably the stiffening rib 16 is made in the form of a thin, elongated, plate-shaped
fin, which lies in the median plane of symmetry of the bracket portion 2 (pointing
transversely to the axis of articulation).
[0034] The bracket 1 further comprises means and counter-means for locking through slot-wise
insertion, placed between the first and the second bracket portion, which are arranged
to hold said portions reciprocally in the operating condition of the bracket, when
they extend perpendicular to one another.
[0035] Said means and counter-means comprise a projection 18 protruding from the end 3b
of the bracket portion 3 and a seating 19 made at the end 2a of the portion 2, capable
of reciprocal slot-wise coupling after the projection is inserted into the seating.
[0036] More particularly, the projection 18 is made from a body with a T-shaped cross section,
whose wings 18a,b, projecting laterally, are capable of abutting against respective
shoulder surfaces 19a,b made in the seating 19. Said seating is made in the shape
of a cut-out through the thickness of the bracket portion 2, placed in a centred position
on the median plane of symmetry thereof, at the end 2b. A first portion of said cut-out
is wide enough to allow the projection 18 to pass through it into a second portion
of the cut-out, contiguous to the first, the opposite shoulder surfaces 19a,b being
provided such that the projection 18, once inserted into the first portion of the
cut-out and displaced by axial sliding into the second portion of cut-out, stays held
slotted into the seating with the wings 18a,b abutting against the shoulder surfaces
19a,b. Obviously, the projection can be disengaged from the seating with a contrary
movement.
[0037] It should be noted that the movement of inserting the projection 18 into the seating
19 is done by guided sliding of the pin 6 into the opposite cut-outs 8, and in particular
along the respective segments 8a thereof. Fig. 5 shows the position reached in a first
guided movement, in which the pin 6 is brought into correspondence with the connecting
zone between the segments 8a, 8b of the corresponding cut-out 8, in which position
the projection 18 is able to go through the seating 19, passing through the first
portion of the cut-out. From this position, with a second guided movement of the pin
6 along the segment 8a of the respective cut-outs 8, the projection 18 is inserted,
with axial sliding, into the second, lower portion of the seating 19, reaching the
position in Fig. 6, in which the wings 18a,b of the projection remain abutting against
the shoulder surfaces 19a,b, causing the two bracket portions to be interlocked, preventing
any relative rotational movement between them about the axis of articulation. In this
condition, in which the bracket portions extend in a perpendicular direction, their
relative locking through the projection being inserted into the seating advantageously
makes it easier for the installer to handle the bracket in the mounting phases, preventing
it from re-closing accidentally.
[0038] In this position, the operating condition of the bracket is also achieved, in which
the configuration taken is suitable for supporting the loads generated by the weight
of the equipment supported. It should be noted that in this condition the ends 2b,
3b of the brackets are in relative contact with respective surfaces of the portions
2, 3, so as to transfer and discharge the stresses as appropriate from the portion
2 to the portion 3 of the bracket.
[0039] With reference to Fig. 18, the articulation pin 6 has a lobed-type cross-section,
preferably defined by four longitudinal channels, all indicated as 6a, suitable for
giving the pin 6 a cross shape in cross section, with four lobes of a shape and pitch
which is regular among each other. This shape is particularly advantageous in a thermoplastic
material in the preselected dimensions for the bracket of the invention, because it
makes it possible to oppose deformation and/or differentiated withdrawal in the phase
of moulding the plastics material from which the pin is made.
[0040] The invention thus achieves the aims proposed, overcoming the limitations demonstrated
with reference to known solutions, achieving the stated advantages.
[0041] A main advantage lies in the fact that the bracket of the invention results in a
combination of an extremely light structure (all components are made of plastics material)
combined with suitable strength of the bracket to resist stresses induced by the loads
supported, improved convenience in use, in both the transport and storage phases (with
bracket portions folded) and the operating, support condition (bracket with portions
extended in a perpendicular direction), together with improved ease and speed of preparing
the bracket in the installation phase, connected with the condition of pre-mounting
the bracket portions with the articulation pin.
[0042] Another advantage is that the support bracket according to the invention does not
require special equipment and/or tools for clamping and securing, when it changes
from the folded condition to the extended, working condition.
1. Support bracket for equipment, in particular air conditioning units, comprising a
first and a second bracket portion (2, 3) arranged respectively for anchoring the
bracket to a wall and for supporting and fixing the equipment to the bracket, said
first and second portion being coupled together in an articulated manner about an
axis of articulation and also arranged so as to have an L-shaped configuration suitable
for supporting the equipment, characterised in that between said first and second bracket portion (2, 3) articulation means (5) are provided,
by means of which said bracket portions can be displaced between a first, non-operating
condition in which they are folded one on top of the other with reduced overall transverse
dimensions and a second, operating condition in which the bracket portions extend
substantially perpendicularly to one another, in that said first and second bracket portions (2, 3) are arranged in a pre-mounted configuration
by means of an articulation pin (6), provided between respective ends (2b, 3b) of
said bracket portions (2, 3) so that said operating condition of the bracket (1) is
achieved solely by extending one of the bracket portions perpendicularly to the other
about the axis of articulation,
and in that the first and second bracket portions (2, 3) as well as the articulation pin (6)
are made entirely of thermoplastics material.
2. Support bracket according to claim 1, wherein said articulation means comprise a first
articulation element on one of said portions, which first articulation element is
fork-shaped and has opposite attachments (7) each bearing a respective cut-out (8),
said cut-outs (8) being coaxial so that the articulation pin (6) can be engaged, and
a second articulation element provided on the other bracket portion, which is capable
of being interposed between said attachments (7) and bears a through-hole (10) capable
of rotatably engaging with said pin (6), so as to produce the articulation movement
between the first and second bracket portion (2, 3) about the axis of articulation,
each of said cut-outs (8) comprising a first and a second cut-out segment (8a, 8b)
extending reciprocally and at an angle to one another, within which said pin (6) is
slidably and rotatably guided so as to allow relative movement in rotation/translation
between said bracket portions (2, 3).
3. Support bracket according to claim 2, wherein said cut-out segments (8a, 8b) have
a rectilinear shape and are at a substantial angle of approximately 90° to one another.
4. Support bracket according to claim 3, wherein, in said first segment (8a), one end
of each cut-out (8) has a circular profile for receiving and holding the pin (6) in
the operating condition of the bracket, the pin (6) being engaged with the opposite
end of the cut-out (8), in the second segment (8b), so as to allow relative displacement
between the bracket portions (2, 3) in the non-operating condition, in which said
bracket portions are folded back on each other.
5. Support bracket according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second articulation
element comprises a cavity (13) extending transversely to the axis of articulation
and is capable of being engaged, with at least partial positive engagement and slight
interference, by a stiffening rib (16) erected between the attachments (7) of the
first articulation element, said rib (16) extending so as to remain engaged in said
cavity (13) after the relative movement in rotation/translation of the bracket portions
(2, 3) from the non-operating condition to the operating condition.
6. Support bracket according to claim 5, wherein said cavity (13) is defined, transversely
to the axis of articulation, by a pair of solid walls (13a, b) which are parallel
and spaced apart and are formed in the second bracket portion (3).
7. Support bracket according to either claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said rib (16) is provided
in the first bracket portion (2) and is in the shape of a thin, elongated, plate-shaped
fin and also lies in the median plane of symmetry of said first bracket portion (2),
which plane points transversely to the axis of articulation.
8. Support bracket according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising means
and counter-means for locking by means of slot-wise insertion between the first (2)
and the second bracket portion (3), to hold the bracket (1) in said second operating
condition.
9. Support bracket according to claim 8, wherein said means and counter-means comprise
a projection (18) protruding from one of the bracket portions and a seating (19) made
in the other portion, capable of reciprocal slot-like coupling after the projection
(18) has been inserted into the seating (19).
10. Support bracket according to claim 9, wherein said projection (18) is provided as
a body with a T-shaped cross section, the sideways protruding wings (18a, b) of which
are capable of abutting respective shoulder surfaces (19a, b) of the seating (19)
as a consequence of a movement of inserting the projection into the seating, such
that said bracket portions (2, 3) are held in an extended position, in contrast with
the relative rotational movement between said bracket portions.
11. Support bracket according to claim 10, wherein the movement of inserting the projection
(18) into the seating (19) is performed by guiding the pin (6) to slide along the
first segment (8a) of each cut-out (8) towards the end of said segment (8a) in which
the pin is accommodated (6).