Bracket and method of using same

Abstract

This invention relates to a mounting bracket including a body configured to engage with at least a part of a structure, the body includes an aperture for a fastener; a securing mechanism to secure the bracket to the structure; the securing mechanism includes a first and second fastener, the fasteners configured to engage with each other, the second fastener also engages with a second aperture of the body, the second fastener and second aperture includes a complementary guide and track in the form of a co-operating helical screw thread.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket, the bracket comprising: a body configured to engage with at least a part of a structure; and including an aperture for a fastener; a securing mechanism to secure the bracket to the structure; the securing mechanism includes a first and second fastener, wherein the fasteners are configured to engage with each other, the second fastener is also configured to engage with a second aperture of the body, the second fastener including a helical screw thread and the second aperture including a complementary guide and track in the form of a co-operating helical screw thread, wherein the securing mechanism moves the second fastener along the complementary guide and track relative to the body to form a compression force between the second fastener and the body.

2. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has an open ended recess configured to receive or engage at least a part of a structure.

3. The bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein a profile of the recess is configured to match the structure it retains.

4. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has an U-shaped profile.

5. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has a first and second aperture which are in line with each other.

6. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes retaining means to retain fence wires or any other structures.

7. The bracket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the retaining means are apertures or slots.

8. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fastener has an internal bore.

9. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fastener has an external thread complementary to a thread of the second aperture of the body of the bracket.

10. The bracket as claimed in claim 9, wherein the external thread of the second fastener is threaded in an opposite direction to its internal thread.

11. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastener has a threaded external body.

12. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastener includes a head.

13. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fastener includes a head.

14. The bracket as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first aperture of the body is of a diameter that provides clearance for a threaded shaft of the first fastener.

15. The bracket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the internal bore of the second fastener is configured to engage with the first fastener.

16. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastener is a right-hand threaded screw.

17. The bracket as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second fastener is a sleeve with a left-hand threaded exterior.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention prior to mounting to a fence post;

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 prior to mounting to a fence post;

(4) FIG. 3 is a second cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted to a fence post; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention in use.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(6) The mounting bracket of the present invention (generally indicated by arrow 1) is depicted in FIG. 1 and consists of a body (2) and a securing mechanism (3) in the form of a first fastener (4) and a second fastener (5).

(7) The body (2), formed from plastics material, has a pair of opposing arms (2a) arising from a base (2b) to form a substantially U-shaped open recess. The open recess is intended to engage with a fence post (6) or the like. The fence post includes a portion (6a) substantially complementary to the open recess and apertures (6b) passing through the portion.

(8) The body (2) includes recesses and channels (7) that are dimensioned for use with a pin or similar fasteners to allow attachments, such as fence strainers or the like (not shown), to be mounted to the bracket (1). The invention allows those accessories to be easily integrated into a fencing system.

(9) The bracket (1) is formed using conventional plastic moulding techniques. Some embodiments of the body (2) may include slots (8) or similar constructions to allow for the cooling of the plastics material during the moulding process.

(10) The arms (2a) of the body (2) are provided with opposing apertures (9a, 9b) which are substantially in-line with each other.

(11) The first aperture (9a) is not threaded and is intended to be a passage for the first fastener (4) in the form of a self-tapping screw. However, the aperture is dimensioned such that only the shaft (4a) of the screw may pass through the aperture. The head (4b) of the screw abuts the exterior surface (10) surrounding the periphery of the first aperture.

(12) The second aperture (9b) includes a screw thread (11) which is complementary to that provided on the exterior surface (5a) of the second fastener (5), which is in the form of a sleeve.

(13) One end of the sleeve (5) is provided with a head (5b) with which a suitable tool such as a socket or crescent (not shown) may be used to manipulate the sleeve. The other end of the sleeve (5c) is substantially flat and acts as a bearing surface in use, bearing against the fence post (6) once the bracket (1) has been installed.

(14) The interior of the sleeve (5) is provided with a smooth internal bore (12) that is slightly smaller in diameter relative to the shaft (4a) of the screw (4).

(15) The thread of the screw (not visible) is in the opposite direction to that of the exterior (5a) of the sleeve (5) and the second aperture (9b) of the body (2).

(16) In use, as shown in FIG. 2, the bracket (1) is offered up to a suitably profiled fence post (6). A portion of the fence post (6a) is inserted into the recess defined by the arms (2a) of the bracket and the screw (4) is offered up to the body (2).

(17) Turning now to FIG. 3, the bracket (1), with the sleeve (5) partially threaded into the second aperture (9b) is secured by passing the screw (4) through the first aperture (9a), the apertures (6b) in the fence post (6), and into the internal bore (12) of the sleeve.

(18) When the screw (4) is rotated, its shaft (4a) moves into the internal bore (12) of the sleeve (5). As it is advanced, the thread (not shown for sake of clarity) of the shaft cuts into the bore. The friction between the screw and the bore starts to increase such that the screw grips the sleeve, which then rotates with the screw. The screw and sleeve effectively becomes a single unit. Because of the threaded exterior (11) of the sleeve, as the screw is rotated, the sleeve moves linearly through the second aperture (9b) until the end (5c) of the sleeve buts up against the side of the fence post (6). This clamps the post against the other arm (2a) of the bracket (1). However, as no further advance of the sleeve is possible (due to the contact with the fence post), the screw will continue to move into the bore if it is further rotated with a force greater than the frictional force between the screw and bore. When the head of the screw (4b) abuts the periphery (10) of the first aperture (9a), the linear movement of the shaft of the screw into the bore of the sleeve ceases.

(19) FIG. 4 shows the bracket (1) in place on the fence post (6). A fencing accessory in the form of a fence tensioner (13) has been attached to the bracket via an intermediary mounting (14). The mounting is attached to the bracket by a pin (15).

(20) The use of the pin (15) allows the mounting (14), and therefore the fence tensioner, to be moveable relative to the fence post (6). Thus, it can be easily aligned with the tension force of the fencing wire (not shown).

(21) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.