BRACKET

Abstract

The present invention provides a fixing system to connect, install, mount and/or fix a device or an equipment to a structure or a structural environment such as, for example, an aircraft structure, through at least one first fixing means and at least one second fixing means. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for using such a fixing system in a method for connecting, installing, mounting and/or fixing a device or an equipment to a structure or a structural environment such as, for example, an aircraft structure to a structure of the aircraft and to a device.

The fixing system can be a bracket.

The fixing system comprises at least one first fixing means to connect a structure or a structural environment to the fixing system and at least one second fixing means to connect a device or an equipment to the fixing system.

Claims

1. A bracket for connecting a device to a structure, said bracket comprising: at least one first fixing means comprising at least one fixing screw, at least one lock wing connected to the at least one fixing screw and configured to be rotated by the at least one lock wing, and at least one stop rib configured to limit the movement of the at least one lock wing at a predetermined position, and at least one second fixing means configured to fix the device to the bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to be located in a hole of the structure.

2. The bracket according to claim 1, further comprising at least one connector configured to connect at least one supply to the bracket.

3. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a protrusion in the radial direction configured to fit into a cutout of the hole of the structure.

4. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one fixing screws is inclined and/or turned outwards to a direction perpendicular to the outline of the bracket.

5. The bracket according to any claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one fixing screws is parallel to a direction perpendicular to the outline of the bracket.

6. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the at least two fixing screws are parallel to each other.

7. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the fixing screws are inclined to each other.

8. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least two fixing screws are inclined to each other and turned outwards.

9. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to enclose an outside wall of the device.

10. Method for connecting a bracket to a structure and to a device comprising the steps of: positioning the bracket in a hole of the structure, rotating at least one fixing screw connected to at least one lock wing and rotating the at least one lock wing until the rotation of the at least one lock wing is stopped by at least one stop rib, whereby the rotation of the at least one fixing screw moves the at least one lock wing towards the structure from the back side of the structure until the bracket is fixed to the structure.

11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of connecting at least one supply to a connector of the bracket before the step of positioning the bracket in the hole of the structure.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a countertop with a hole as one possible example for a structure to be connected to an environment with a fixing system of the present invention such as a bracket.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention where exemplarily two hydraulic connections and one electric connection are connected to the bracket as well as an exemplarily countertop.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a bracket according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a bracket according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0077] FIGS. 5a, 5b show a rotation of exemplarily two lock wings in the bracket shown in FIG. 2 in a first position and a second position in a front view (left) and a side view (right).

[0078] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view section through the bracket shown in FIG. 2 and a faucet.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows one example of a fixation of a faucet to the bracket shown in FIG. 2.

[0080] FIG. 8 shows a lateral cross-sectional view of a bracket shown with the faucet in FIG. 7 fixed thereto,

[0081] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an assembly comprising a bracket shown in FIG. 2.

[0082] FIG. 10 shows a first mounting concept of the prior art.

[0083] FIG. 11 shows a second mounting concept of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] In order to solve the technical problems, in a method according to the present invention one single hole 201 of sufficient and respective dimensions can be drilled in a structure, for example, a countertop 200 in an aircraft cabin, to which a device or an equipment, for example, a faucet, can be fixed. FIG. 1 shows a countertop 200 as one possible example for a structure to which the fixing system can be applied to.

[0085] The present invention relates to a fixing system that can fix the equipment to the structure as well as a method for fixing the equipment to the structure with the fixing system. One example for the fixing system, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-9, may be a bracket.

[0086] In the example of the countertop 200 as a structure shown in FIG. 1, the diameter of the hole 201 in the countertop 200 may be 68 mm. Contrary to the prior art approach with smaller sized holes at a specific pattern, according to the present invention there is provided only one single sufficiently dimensioned hole. This sufficiently dimensioned hole also allows to use the space behind the structure such as a countertop 200.

[0087] There may also be a cutout 202 at the outline of the hole 201 of the countertop 200 in order to have an optional centering feature for a bracket 100 which may also prevent rotation of the bracket 100. This cutout 202 may be round, rectangular, triangular, free-shaped or a further shape to allow the centering of the bracket 100.

[0088] In FIG. 2, as one possible example for an at least one supply, it is shown two of the at least one hydraulic pipe 203 and one of the at least one electrical wire 204, which can be pulled through the hole 201 and fixed to the bracket 100. Afterwards the bracket 100 can be placed in the hole 201 of the countertop 200.

[0089] By rotating at least one fixing screw 101 (FIG. 3 shows the view with two fixing screws 101 in an axis direction of the left screw 101), at least one lock wing 102 will start to rotate. In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixing screws 101 are not parallel, but turned outwards, as shown in FIG. 4, but it is also possible to have fixing screws 101, which are parallel to each other and/or parallel to the direction perpendicular to the outline of the bracket 100. The inclination of the fixing screws 101 allows simplified access to the screwhead of the fixing screws 101 with a corresponding tool and impedes that the diameter of the bracket 100 will be unnecessarily increased.

[0090] In FIGS. 5a-b, at least one stop rib 103 is shown. This at least one stop rib 103 prevents the at least one lock wing 102 from rotating too far. When the at least one lock wing 102 touches the at least one stop rib 103, the at least one lock wing 102 cannot rotate anymore.

[0091] Nevertheless, the at least one fixing screw 101 continues to turn into the thread of the at least one lock wing 102, so the at least one lock wing 102 will continuously come closer to the back side of the countertop 200 until the bracket 100 is completely fixed to the countertop 200.

[0092] In the present invention, the difference of the solution compared to other solutions in the prior art is that the fixation of the bracket 100 is completely moved to the back side of the countertop 200. In the solutions of the prior art the fixation is on the front side. This allows to implement at least one hydraulic connector 106 and/or at least one electrical connector 107 inside the bracket 100 of the present invention and therefore more space inside the faucet 205 for other features is realized.

[0093] The bracket 100 may, further, have a protrusion 112 that may fit into the cutout 202 of the countertop 200.

[0094] After the bracket 100 is installed, the at least one electrical connector of the faucet 205 needs to be connected manually to the bracket 100. Afterwards the faucet 205 will be placed into the bracket 100. The design of the bracket 100 allows the bracket 100 to enclose the outside wall of the faucet 205 and take up the loads of the faucet 205 (FIG. 6).

[0095] Thereafter the faucet 205 can be fixed with only one single screw 207 (FIG. 7). The one fixing screw 207 of this specific example presses a locking bolt upwards. The locking bolt 105 can be guided in the bracket 100 and can secure the faucet 205 on the top side (FIG. 8). In all faucets of the prior art, there are at least two visible fixing screws required. Every visible screw is a disadvantage, as it has to be sealed and it makes the faucet more difficult to clean as well as susceptible for pollutants.

[0096] The exemplary features how the concept of the present invention could be implemented is shown for two lock wings 102, two fixing screws 101, two stop ribs 103, two connectors 106 for two hydraulic pipes and one connector 107 for one electrical wire in the FIGS. 2-9. However, the number of the lock wings 102 and the fixing screws 101 can be one, two, three, four, five, six or any other number as long as the number corresponds to each of those features. Thus, each lock wing 102 is connected to one fixing screw 101. Hereby, the number of lock wings 102 can be the same or less as the number of fixing screws 101. When the number of lock wings 102 is the same as the number of fixing screws 101, each lock wing 102 can be connected to one corresponding fixing screw 101. When the number of lock wings 102 is less than the number of fixing screws 101, one or more lock wings 102 can be connected to one fixing screw 101.

[0097] Further, the number of stop ribs 103 can be one, two, three, four, five, six or any other number as long as each lock wing 102 can have a first position and a second position as described above.

[0098] The number of the stop ribs 103 does not have to be the same as the number of the lock wings 102 and the fixing screws 101. Each stop rib 103 can be configured to limit the rotation of one or more lock wings 102.

[0099] Further, the number of connectors 106, 107 can be one, two, three, four, five, six or any other number, respectively, to provide as many connectors as necessary.

[0100] Furthermore, the example shows an inclined faucet 205 in FIGS. 7 and 8, but the present invention is not limited to any inclination or any definite angle. The angle between the equipment and the structural environment can have an arbitrary value as it is suitable for the use of the equipment.

[0101] In addition, FIG. 9 shows a specific exemplary assembly comprising a bracket of one embodiment of the present invention. This bracket comprises two lock wings 102, two fixing screws 101, a locking bolt 105, a hydraulic connector 106 and an electrical connector 107. However, as stated above the number of all of these features can vary in the present invention depending on the needs of the device or equipment and the structural restrictions. FIG. 9 additionally shows optional features, which may be included in an assembly. A cover and an O-ring may be connected to the bracket through bonding screws 110. Alternatively, a cover and/or an O-ring may be integrated and/or integrally connected to the bracket.

[0102] The essential elements of a universal mounting bracket of the present invention are: [0103] At least one lock wing to install the bracket independently from the wall thickness of the structure. [0104] Independence from structurally pre-defined interfaces. [0105] Numerous electrical and hydraulical interfaces can be integrated in the bracket. [0106] Independence of the mounting bracket from the equipment part. [0107] Mounting from the front side without visible fixing points. [0108] Fixation on the back side of a structural environment. [0109] Possibility of fixing an equipment in several different structural environments independent of the thickness and pre-defined interfaces. [0110] No visible fixing screws which need to be covered and/or sealed. [0111] The hydraulic connections and the electrical connections as well as the fastening of the equipment are integrated in the bracket, which reduces the size of the equipment. [0112] Quick installation and de-installation of the equipment. [0113] Improved finishing and appearance due to one screw fixation of the equipment and less susceptibility for pollution.

Alternative Embodiments

[0114] This invention describes a solution for a fixing system in an aircraft lavatory, but similar devices could be used in other structures for various equipment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0115] This invention can be applied in structures in transport vehicles such as, for example, commercial aircrafts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0116] bracket 100 [0117] fixing screw 101 [0118] lock wing 102 [0119] stop rib 103 [0120] fixing screw 104 [0121] locking bolt 105 [0122] hydraulic connector 106 [0123] electrical connector 107 [0124] cover 108 [0125] bonding screws 110 [0126] hydraulic interface 111 [0127] protrusion 112 [0128] countertop 200 [0129] hole 201 [0130] cutout 202 [0131] hydraulic pipe 203 [0132] electrical wire 204 [0133] faucet 205