Support beam connector system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085478-B2
Application number	US-201816003915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2018
Priority date	Jun 9, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods for connecting a first support and a second support. The apparatuses, systems and methods may include a first bracket arranged on the first support and a second bracket arranged on the second support to connect the first support and the second support.

First claim

We claim:

1. A modular system for connecting a first support and a second support, the system comprising:
a first bracket arranged on the first support and including an upper portion formed by ribs extending between a perimeter of the upper portion with lowered portions between the ribs and a male portion extending at an angle downwardly from the upper portion including a plurality of ribs extending along a surface of the male portion, the ribs of the upper portion including at least two rows with open areas between the at least two rows and the at least two rows includes a first row with open areas of a first size and a second row of open areas of a second size different than the first size; and
a second bracket arranged on an upper surface of the second support and including a nesting portion having sidewalls configured to at least partially surround the upper portion of the first bracket and a female portion having sidewalls configured to receive and at least partially surround the male portion to connect the first support and the second support and form a substantially planar upper surface across the first bracket and the second bracket configured to support a table top or desktop above the upper surface of the second support.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is a substantially planar portion, and the male portion extends from the substantially planar portion.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the angle that the male portion extends at is an obtuse angle from the substantially planar portion.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the female portion of the second bracket extends from the nesting portion.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein upper portions of the sidewalls of the nesting portion and the substantially planar portion are configured to form the substantially planar upper surface across the first bracket and the second bracket.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the ribs are configured to structurally stabilize the first bracket.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the second bracket include an opening for extension of the first support therethrough when the second bracket and the first bracket are engaged.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar upper surface formed across the first bracket and the second bracket is substantially planar with at least one of the first support and the second support.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes one or more guides configured to visually indicate securement locations for attachment mechanisms configured to mechanically secure the first bracket to the second support.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support are portions of one of a bench, work bench, workstation, desk, furniture, table, and frame.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third bracket arranged on a third support and including a male portion, and a fourth bracket arranged on the second support and including a female portion configured to receive the male portion of the third bracket.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the fourth bracket is integral with the second bracket.

13. A modular system comprising:
a transverse support;
a first support horizontally extending between and coupled to a first pair of legs;
a second support horizontally extending between and coupled to a second pair of legs;
a first male bracket arranged on a first end of the transverse support and including a first upper portion formed by ribs extending between a perimeter of the upper portion with lowered portions between the ribs and a first male portion extending at an angle downwardly from the first upper portion and a second male bracket arranged on a second end of the transverse support and including a second upper portion formed by ribs extending between a perimeter of the upper portion with lowered portions between the ribs and a second male portion extending at an angle downwardly from the second upper portion including a plurality of ribs extending along a surface of the male portion, the ribs of the upper portion including at least two rows with open areas between the at least two rows and the at least two rows includes a first row with open areas of a first size and a second row of open areas of a second size different than the first size; and
a first female bracket arranged on an upper surface of the first support and having a first nesting portion having sidewalls configured to at least partially surround the first upper portion of the first male bracket and a first female portion having sidewalls and a second female bracket arranged on the second support and having a second nesting portion having sidewalls configured to at least partially surround the second upper portion of the second male bracket and a second female portion having sidewall, the sidewalls of the first female bracket are configured to receive and at least partially surround the first male portion of the first male bracket and the second female bracket are configured to receive and at least partially surround the second male portion of the second male bracket form a substantially planar surface across the transverse support configured to support a table top or desktop above the upper surface of the second support.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first female bracket being configured to receive the first male bracket and the second female bracket being configured to receive the second male bracket form a substantially planar surface across the first support and a substantially planar surface across the second support.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first male bracket is configured to nest within the first female bracket and the second male bracket is configured to nest within the second female bracket.

16. A method of connecting a first support and a second support of a modular system, the method comprising:
arranging a first bracket having an upper portion formed by ribs extending between a perimeter of the upper portion with lowered portions between the ribs and a male portion extending at an angle downwardly from the upper portion including a plurality of ribs extending along a surface of the male portion, the first bracket being arranged on the first support and a second bracket having a nesting portion with sidewalls and a female portion with sidewalls arranged on an upper surface of the second support, the ribs of the upper portion including at least two rows with open areas between the at least two rows and the at least two rows includes a first row with open areas of a first size and a second row of open areas of a second size different than the first size; and
positioning the upper portion of the first bracket within the nesting portion of the second bracket with the sidewalls of the nesting portion at least partially surrounding the upper portion and positioning the male portion of the first bracket within the female portion of the second bracket with the sidewalls of the female portion at least partially surrounding the male portion of the first bracket to connect the first support and the second support and form a substantially planar upper surface across the first bracket and the second bracket configured to support a table top or desktop above the upper surface of the second support.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein positioning the first bracket within the second bracket includes at least partially surround a substantially planar portion of the first bracket with the second bracket.

Assignees

• Hni Tech Inc

Inventors

• Trego Brian
• Harvey Jacob

Classifications

• A47B2200/0014

  Dismountable central or lateral longitudinal members linking two pairs of legs to frame · CPC title

• A47C11/00

  Benches not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A47B2200/0013

  Desks with central bearing beams · CPC title

• F16B2012/443

  with two-dimensional corner element, the legs thereof being inserted in hollow frame members · CPC title

• A47B13/06

  of metal {(A47B13/023 takes precedence)} · CPC title