Panel mounted glass bracket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448248-B2
Application number	US-202016989097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Aug 10, 2020
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A bracket for securing a panel is provided, the bracket including a panel contact member including an interface portion. Also provided are a first clamp member having a first clamp surface contact portion and a first clamp adjustable portion operable to interface with the panel contact member interface portion and a second clamp member having a second clamp surface contact portion positioned such that it is facing toward the first clamp surface contact portion of the first clamp when the first clamp adjustable portion is interfacing with the panel contact member interface portion, such that the first and second clamp surface contact portions are facing inward towards each other. A securing member is operable to secure the first clamp member to the panel contact member, the securing member positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second clamp surface contact portions.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A bracket for securing a panel comprising:
a panel contact member for receiving the panel, the panel contact member including an interface portion;
a first clamp member having a first clamp surface contact portion and a first clamp adjustable portion operable to interface with the panel contact member interface portion;
a second clamp member having a second clamp surface contact portion positioned such that the second clamp surface contact portion is facing toward the first clamp surface contact portion of the first clamp when the first clamp adjustable portion is interfacing with the panel contact member interface portion, such that the first clamp surface contact portion and the second clamp surface contact portion are facing inward towards each other; and
wherein the panel contact member interface portion forms a through channel in the panel contact member substantially perpendicular to the first and second clamp surface contact portions, the through channel operable to receive the first clamp adjustable portion; and
a securing member operable to secure the first clamp member to the panel contact member at a location on the panel contact member that is spaced-apart from the through channel in the panel contact member, the securing member positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second clamp surface contact portions when securing the first clamp member to the panel contact member.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp adjustable portion defines an aperture, wherein the panel contact member includes threading, and wherein the securing member includes a set screw, a portion of the set screw operable to pass through the aperture of the first clamp member and to be threaded with the threading of the panel contact member.

3. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the second clamp member has a second clamp adjustable portion operable to interface with the panel contact member interface portion.

4. The bracket of claim 3 , wherein the through channel is operable to adjustably receive the first clamp adjustable portion and the second clamp adjustable portion.

5. The bracket of claim 4 , wherein the first clamp adjustable portion is wider than the second clamp adjustable portion, and wherein the panel contact member interface portion has a first clamp receiver portion that is wider than a second clamp receiver portion.

6. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein the first clamp adjustable portion defines a first aperture and the second clamp adjustable portion defines a second aperture, wherein the panel contact member includes a first threading and a second threading, and wherein the securing member includes a first set screw and a second set screw, the first set screw operable to pass through the first aperture of the first clamp member and to be threaded with the first threading of the panel contact member and the second set screw operable to pass through the second aperture of the second clamp member and to be threaded with the second threading of the panel contact member.

7. The bracket of claim 6 , wherein the first clamp surface contact portion and the first clamp adjustable portion form an 80-degree angle and the second clamp surface contact portion and the second clamp adjustable portion form an 80-degree angle.

8. The bracket of claim 7 , wherein the first clamp surface contact portion includes a bend of about 7 degrees and the second clamp surface contact portion includes a bend of about 7 degrees.

9. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp surface contact portion is operable to be advanced in a first direction, and wherein the securing member is operable to be advanced in the first direction.

10. A panel assembly for mounting to a modular furniture system, the panel assembly comprising:
a panel; and
a bracket including a panel contact member for receiving the panel, a plurality of clamp members having clamping surfaces facing substantially inward toward each other and defining a clamping space for receiving a portion of the modular furniture system, at least one of the plurality of clamp members being an adjustable clamp member to increase or decrease a depth of the clamping space, the plurality of clamp members operable to interface with the panel contact member, and a securing member operable to be adjusted to varying lengths relative to the panel contact member such that a change in the depth of the clamp space is proportional to a change in the varying lengths of the securing member, and
wherein each of the plurality of clamp member includes a clamp adjustable portion defining an aperture, wherein the panel contact member includes a first threading and a second threading, and wherein the securing member includes a first set screw and a second set screw, the first set screw operable to partially pass through the aperture of a first clamp member and to be threaded with the first threading of the panel contact member and the second set screw operable to partially pass through the aperture of a second clamp member and to be threaded with the second threading of the panel contact member.

11. The panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of clamp members are L-shaped brackets.

12. The panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of clamp members is a fixed, clamp member.

13. The panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of clamp members is an adjustable clamp member.

14. The panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein the panel contact member has a first vertical portion defining a first panel contacting surface and a second vertical portion defining a second panel contacting surface, the first and second vertical portions forming a channel for receiving the panel.

15. The panel assembly of claim 14 , wherein the securing member is positioned horizontally.

16. The panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of clamp members include a first, clamp member and a second clamp member, the first clamp member including a first clamp adjustable portion that is received by the panel contact member and the second clamp member having a second clamp adjustable portion that is received by the panel contact member.

17. The panel assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first clamp adjustable portion and the second clamp adjustable portion are at least partially overlapping along the depth of the clamp space.

Assignees

• Hni Tech Inc

Inventors

• Hundley Evan M
• Herrmann Samuel A
• Sloat Trevor M
• Hovey Jacob C
• Roberts Ryan M

Classifications

• F16B2/065 Primary

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B2/245

  external, i.e. with contracting action · CPC title

• F16B5/0028 Primary

  using I-shaped connectors (with flanges moving towards each other F16B5/0068) · CPC title

• F16B5/0607

  joining sheets or plates to each other (F16B5/0692, F16B21/082 take precedence) · CPC title