AU2009100758A4 - Bracket and mounting arrangement - Google Patents

Description

BRACKET AND MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FIELDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bracket and a mounting arrangement for connecting a first structure to a second structure. The invention also relates to a method of connecting 5 a first structure to a second structure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent times the building industry has attempted to reduce construction costs and make full use of building spaces, such as ceiling and wall cavities of a building. One example includes reducing the space between a concrete substrate and a ceiling system io that is fitted to the concrete substrate. Typically these ceiling systems are suspended from the concrete substrate by hangers that are attached to channels and then plaster board is attached to the channels to form the ceiling. The external finish of the concrete structure or substrate is often uneven and requires a ceiling system that can account for the unevenness, be fully adjustable and be able to withstand standard ceiling load 15 capacities. A particular problem arises with a known suspended ceiling system that provides a minimum possible distance of 100 mm between the surface of the concrete substrate and a lower surface of a furring channel . A bridging section of the furring channel is attached to the plaster board ceiling. To make full use of the space between the concrete 20 substrate and the ceiling system much shorter distances must be achieved. The existing ceiling system includes a hanging rod which is connected to the concrete substrate by a ceiling clip and a lower end of the rod is connected to a furring channel which in turn is connected to the ceiling plaster board. The banging rod is also supported by a spring hanger which is also connected to a cross rail. Such an arrangement provides a complex 25 and time consuming installation arrangement and has a minimum of 100 mrn gap 1 between the concrete substrate and the ceiling. No manual adjustment is possible to decrease the size of the cavity and account for an uneven concrete substrate surface. In another known arrangement a mounting bracket is formed with two depending opposed feet. Each foot has a series of opposed teeth arranged such that the gaps 5 between the opposing teeth are at particular distances from the body of the bracket. A channel member is able to be placed in one set of opposed gaps between teeth on each foot out of a choice of a few such gaps in order to adjust the distance of the channel from a particular structure. A problem with this arrangement is that it provides little or no option to manually adjust the distance of the channel from the structure when the overall 10 mounting system is being installed. The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art in Australia. The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages 15 by providing a bracket and a mounting arrangement that is easily adjustable during installation and accounts for unevenness of a mounting surface in one of the structures to which the bracket and/or mounting arrangement is attached. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bracket for connecting a 20 first structure to a second structure, the bracket including: a first leg, a second leg and a web portion extending between said first leg and said second leg; and one or more elongate apertures located in each of said first leg and said second leg; 2 wherein attachment of said bracket to a surface of said first structure is made through said web portion and connection of said bracket to said second structure is made through an intermediate portion via said one or more elongate apertures; wherein the relative position of said bracket to said intermediate portion is 5 adjustable via the one or more elongate apertures to account for variations in said surface of said first structure. In an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate portion includes a first side, a second side and a third side bridging said first side and said second side, wherein connection of said first side of said intermediate portion is made to said first leg through 10 one or more of the elongate apertures in said first leg, connection of said second side of said intermediate portion is made to said second leg through one or more of the elongate apertures in said second leg and said third side of said intermediate portion is adapted for connection to said second structure. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a mounting 15 arrangement for connecting a first structure to a second structure, the mounting arrangement including a plurality of brackets according to the first aspect, wherein each of said brackets in said plurality of brackets are spaced apart along said intermediate portion and the relative position of any one or more of said brackets to said intermediate portion is adjusted via respective one or more elongate apertures of said one or more 20 brackets to account for variations in said surface of said first structure. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of connecting a first structure to a second structure using at least two brackets and an intermediate portion, each of said brackets having a first leg, a second leg and a web portion extending between said first leg and said second leg, said first leg and said 25 second leg having one or more elongate apertures, the method including the steps of: 3 attaching said web portion of each bracket to a surface of said first structure at spaced apart intervals; connecting either or both of said first leg and said second leg of at least two brackets of said plurality of brackets to at least one side of said intermediate portion 5 located so as to pass through said at least two brackets by engaging a slidable fastener with said at least one side through said one or more elongate apertures; adjusting the intermediate portion in relation to said position of said at least two brackets using movement of said slidable fastener in said one or more elongate apertures to account for variations in said surface of said first structure; and 10 permanently attaching said intermediate portion to said second structure when adjusted to adopt its final desired position. Preferably the intermediate portion is elongate. Preferably one of said at least two brackets is connected adjacent a first end of said intermediate portion and another of said at least two brackets is connected adjacent a second end of said intermediate portion. 15 The method may further include the steps of: adjusting the position of said intermediate portion at or near a mid-section of said intermediate portion; fastening a further bracket of said at least two brackets to said intermediate portion at or near said mid-section; 20 adjusting the position of said intermediate portion with respect to each bracket adjacent the first and second ends of said intermediate portion and thereafter fully securing each bracket adjacent said first and second ends. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a mounting bracket for mounting an elongated intermediate frame member to a structure so that a 25 building panel can be mounted to the intermediate frame member, the mounting bracket 4 including a generally U-shaped body with two mounting legs spaced apart from each other and a. connecting web between the legs for mounting of the mounting bracket to the structure so that the mounting legs extend away from the structure and the U-shaped body can receive between the mounting legs the elongated intermediate frame member, 5 wherein each mounting leg has at least one slot therethrough extending in a direction generally towards the web and for receiving therethrough a temporary fastener to retain the elongated intermediate frame member thereto while allowing limited movement of the frame member towards or away from the web, wherein each mounting leg has at least one fastener mounting hole for receiving a 10 permanent fastener theretbrough to secure the intermediate frame member to the mounting bracket when in its desired final position and preventing further movement of the intermediate frame member towards or away from the web. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for mounting a building panel to a structure so that a narrow space exists between the panel 15 and the structure, the method including the steps of: providing a plurality of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket having a generally U-shaped body with two mounting legs spaced apart from each other and a connecting web between the two mounting legs, each mounting leg having at least one slot theretbrough extending in a direction generally towards the web and further having at 20 least one fastener mounting hole, mounting each mounting bracket to the structure so that at least two mounting brackets can receive therein and locate generally in position an elongated intermediate frame member to be mounted to the structure, 5 locating the elongated intermediate frame member so that it extends through at least two of the mounting brackets with the mounting legs of each mounting bracket straddling the intermediate frame member, passing a temporary fastener through at least one slot of each mounting bracket 5 and fixing the temporary fastener in the intermediate frame member so as to enable the intermediate frame member to be selectively moved closer to or farther from the structure by sliding movement of the temporary fastener in the respective slot, adjusting the position of the elongated intermediate frame member to adopt its final desired position and, when held in that position, engaging at least one permanent 10 fastener in a respective fastener mounting hole to secure the intermediate frame member to the mounting bracket and thereby prevent further movement of the intermediate frame member towards or away from the web and hence towards or away from the structure, and locating and securing to the elongated intermediate frame member a building 15 panel so that it closely overlies the structure with a narrow space between the building panel and the structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: 20 Figures la to 1 e are respectively a perspective view, plan view, front view, side view and bottom view of a bracket according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1 attached to an intermediate portion, such as a channel; 6 Figure 3 is a side view showing a mounting arrangement, according to a second embodiment, including a number of brackets according to the first embodiment, connecting a first structure to the intermediate portion and a second structure; and Figure 4 is a perspective view from below showing a series of intermediate 5 portions attached to a second structure and in which a series of mounting arrangements are used to connect the intermediate portions to the first structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures la to le, there is shown a bracket 10 having a generally U shaped body defined by a web portion 12 and a pair of depending legs 14 and 16, both 10 legs 14 and 16 substantially at right angles to the web 12. Located within each leg 14 and 16 are a series of apertures. First and second elongate apertures 18 and 20 of leg 14 and first and second elongate apertures 22 and 24 of leg 16 are used to connect the bracket 10 to an intermediate portion or frame member 26, preferably a furring channel (see Figure 2), so that adjustment of fasteners can be made using these apertures 15 regarding the relative positions between two structures requiring connection through the bracket 10. Apertures 28 and 30 in leg 14 and apertures 32 and 34 in leg 16 are also used to allow permanent fasteners to secure the bracket legs 14 and 16 to sides of channel 26. Legs 14, 16 need not be substantially parallel and may be formed at other angles, either inwardly or outwardly, or shaped to conform to the shape of the intermediate portion 26. 20 The intermediate portion 26, as an alternative to a channel, can be an elongate guide rail having adjustable channel sections for connection to legs 14, 16 at intervals along the rail or the portion 26 can be of solid construction, such as a block of suitable material. In the web portion 12 there is located a central opening 36 which can be used to house and secure an acoustic mount in order to dampen vibrations and sound between 7 two structures. Bore holes 38 and 40 are used to secure the web portion 12 to a surface of a first of the two structures using suitable fasteners. Shown in Figure 2 is furring channel 26 having a first side 42 and second side 44 bridged by a third side 46. Each of the sides 42 and 44 ending respectively terminate in 5 ledges 48 and 50, extending along the entire channel 26. The bracket 10 is adapted to fit over the opening 47 of the channel 26 and more particularly the web portion 12 is adapted to extend across opening 47 with each of the depending legs 14 and 16 being connected through suitable fasteners to sides 42 and 44. Shown in Figure 3 is a side view of a series of brackets 10, that form a mounting 10 arrangement, each bracket 10 shown connected to uneven surface 54 of a second structure 56 and to side 42 of channel 26. Channel 46 is connected to a second structure 52 through side 46. The first structure 56 may be a concrete substrate, such as part of a roof, a wall or a floor between separating two levels of a building. The second structure 52 may be a building panel such as a wall panel or a ceiling panel, each formed of plaster 15 board, for example. As can be seen in Figure 3 surface 54 is uneven having undulations that extend across the entire surface thereof. A series of different sized brackets 10 is used and connected to one or both of the side walls 42 or 44 of channel 26 through suitable fasteners so that the channel 26 and the second structure 52 presents a level surface with 20 a. minimum cavity space 58 between the first structure 56 and second structure 52. Thus, through the orientation and size of various brackets 10 it is possible to reduce the cavity space 58 between the first and second structures and present a level surface of second structure 52. Shown in Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first and second structures 56 and 25 52 connected to each other through a series of channels 26 having differently sized 8 brackets 10 along the length of channel 26 to connect the channel 26 to the underneath surface 54 of structure 56. Suitable channel joiners may be used to join successive channels where one channel cannot adequately cover the entire width/length of the second structure. 5 Four sizes of brackets can be used that provide a cavity depth, between surface 54 and the top surface of structure 52, between 37mm and 108mm. This includes the height of the side 42 of channel 26. The various brackets available provide a cavity depth range of 37-60mm, 53-76mm, 69-92mm and 85-108mm and therefore the length of the elongate slots 18, 20, 22 and 24 is 23mm. When the ledges 48, 50 of channel 26 abut 10 directly against the inner surface of web portion 12, which is fastened to surface 54, the minimum cavity depth is 37mm which is mostly the height of side 42. The load strengths obtainable with the mounting arrangement are as follows. Where the channel 26 is constructed from steel and having a width (side 46) of 35mm and thickness 0.5mm, a load of 85 kg/m 2 is possible for a channel separation of 450mm 15 and bracket separation of 900mm, 64 kg/m2 for a channel separation of 600mm and bracket separation of 900mm, 47 kg/m2 for a channel separation of 450mm and bracket separation of 1200mm and 34 kg/m2 for a channel separation of 600mm and bracket separation of 1200mm. In order to install the mounting arrangement to join the structures 52 and 56 20 together, as many brackets 10 as are required are affixed to the underneath surface 54 using fasteners through bores 38, 40 of web 12. Suitable fasteners include 6 mm nylon sleeve anchors or other screws. A first end of channel 26 is then inserted into an end bracket 10, that is, a bracket closest to the edge of the first structure 56 or closest to a junction of the first structure 56 and an adjoining wall, such that the open part of the 25 channel 26 is facing upwards into the open portion of the bracket 10. The first end of the 9 channel 26 is then affixed to the end bracket 10 using a fastener on either or both legs 14 and 16 of bracket 10 using one of the first or second elongate apertures 18 and 20 and/or elongate apertures 22 and 24. The fasteners are not tightened at this stage but are allowed to move within the confines of the apertures 18, 20, 22 or 24. A second end 5 bracket 10 which is located adjacent a second end of channel 26 is used to affix the second end of the channel 26 by using a fastener on either or both legs 14, 16 of the bracket 10 through any one or more of the apertures 18, 20, 22 or 24 provided. Again, the fasteners are not tightened fully but are allowed to move within the respective aperture(s). 10 Thereafter the user moves to the mid-span section of the channel 26 selecting an appropriately sized bracket 10 for connection to channel 26. The user suitably adjusts channel 26 upwardly or downwardly to the required level, which is assisted by each of the fasteners being located in the end brackets and able to move up and down within respective elongate apertures. Once the required level is achieved, the channel 26 is 15 atfixed permanently at the mid-span to the respective bracket 10 using a fastener through one of the apertures 28 or 30 on leg 14 and one of the apertures 32 and 34 on leg 16. These screws are tightened fully and thereafter all intermediate brackets 10 are affixed to the channel 26. At the end brackets connected to channel 26, adjustment is made to channel 26 20 either up or down to the required level. Then a further fastener is inserted into a respective hole 28, 30 on leg 14 and/or respective holes 30, 34 on leg 16. These are fully tightened. There is now no need to tighten the fasteners that reside in the slots 18, 20 or 22, 24. A wall track is then affixed to adjacent walls, where applicable, with masonry 25 sleeve anchors. The channel 26 is then securely fastened to the wall track along the full 10 length of the wall The second structure 52, typically a plaster board ceiling, is then fastened to side 46 of the various channels 26 as shown at 58 in Figure 4. It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the preferred embodiments of the invention as herein 5 described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Ii

Claims (7)

1. A bracket for connecting a first structure to a second structure, the bracket including: 5 a first leg, a second leg and a. web portion extending between said first leg and said second leg; and one or more elongate apertures located in each of said first leg and said second leg; wherein attachment of said bracket to a surface of said first structure is made 10 through said web portion and connection of said bracket to said second structure is made through an intermediate portion via said one or more elongate apertures; wherein the relative position of said bracket to said intermediate portion is adjustable via the one or more elongate apertures to account for variations in said surface of said first structure. Is

2. A bracket according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion includes a first side, a second side and a third side bridging said first side and said second side, wherein connection of said first side of said intermediate portion is made to said first leg through one or more of the elongate apertures in said first leg, connection of said second side of said intermediate portion is made to said second leg through one or more of the elongate 20 apertures in said second leg and said third side of said intermediate portion is adapted for connection to said second structure.

3. A mounting arrangement for connecting a first structure to a second structure, said mounting arrangement including a plurality of brackets according to claim 1, wherein each of said brackets in said plurality of brackets are spaced apart along said 25 intermediate portion and the relative position of any one or more of said brackets to said 12 intermediate portion is adjusted via respective one or more elongate apertures of said one or more brackets to account for variations in said surface of said first structure.

4. A method of connecting a first structure to a second structure using at least two brackets and an intermediate portion, each of said brackets having a first leg, a second leg 5 and a web portion extending between said first leg and said second leg, said first leg and said second leg having one or more elongate apertures, the method including the steps of: attaching said web portion of each bracket to a surface of said first structure at spaced apart intervals; connecting either or both of said first leg and said second leg of at least two 10 brackets of said plurality of brackets to at least one side of said intermediate portion located so as to pass through said at least two brackets by engaging a slidable fastener with said at least one side through said one or more elongate apertures; adjusting the intermediate portion in relation to said position of said at least two brackets using movement of said slidable fastener in said one or more elongate apertures 15 to account for variations in said surface of said first structure; and permanently attaching said intermediate portion to said second structure when adjusted to adopt its final desired position.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said intermediate portion is elongate, and 20 wherein further one of said at least two brackets is connected adjacent a flrst end of said intermediate portion and another of said at least two brackets is connected adjacent a second end of said intermediate portion; the method further including: adjusting the position of said intermediate portion at or near a mid-section of said 25 intermediate portion; 13 fastening a further bracket of said at least two brackets to said intermediate portion at or near said mid-section; adjusting the position of said intermediate portion with respect to each bracket adjacent the first and second ends of said intermediate portion and thereafter fully 5 securing each bracket adjacent said first and second ends.

6. A mounting bracket for mounting an elongated intermediate frame member to a structure so that a building panel can be mounted to the intermediate frame member, the mounting bracket including a generally U-shaped body with two mounting legs spaced 10 apart from each other and a connecting web between the legs for mounting of the mounting bracket to the structure so that the mounting legs extend away from the structure and the U-shaped body can receive between the mounting legs the elongated intermediate frame member, wherein each mounting leg has at least one slot therethrough extending in a 15 direction generally towards the web and for receiving therethrough a temporary fastener to retain the elongated intermediate frame member thereto while allowing limited movement of the frame member towards or away from the web, wherein each mounting leg has at least one fastener mounting hole for receiving a permanent fastener therethrough to secure the intermediate frame member to the 20 mounting bracket when in its desired final position and preventing further movement of the intermediate frame member towards or away from the web.

7. A method for mounting a building panel to a structure so that a narrow space exists between the panel and the structure, the method including the steps of: 14 providing a plurality of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket having a generally U-shaped body with two mounting legs spaced apart from each other and a connecting web between the two mounting legs, each mounting leg having at least one slot therethrough extending in a direction generally towards the web and further having at 5 least one fastener mounting bole, mounting each mounting bracket to the structure so that at least two mounting brackets can receive therein and locate generally in. position an elongated intermediate frame member to be mounted to the structure, locating the elongated intermediate frame member so that it extends through at 10 least two of the mounting brackets with the mounting legs of each mounting bracket straddling the intermediate frame member, passing a temporary fastener through at least one slot of each mounting bracket and fixing the temporary fastener in the intermediate frame member so as to enable the intermediate frame member to be selectively moved closer to or farther from the structure 15 by sliding movement of the temporary fastener in the respective slot, adjusting the position of the elongated intermediate frame member to adopt its final desired position and, when held in that position, engaging at least one permanent fastener in a respective fastener mounting hole to secure the intermediate frame member to the mounting bracket and thereby prevent further movement of the intermediate frame 20 member towards or away from the web and hence towards or away from the structure, and locating and securing to the elongated intermediate frame member a building panel so that it closely overlies the structure with a narrow space between the building panel and the structure. 25 15