Bracket

Abstract

A bracket has three rigid sides, at least two of the sides having equal length. Each of the three sides has ends lying in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis between the ends and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sides are rigidly connected to each other at the ends so that an equilateral or isosceles triangle is formed in a cross-sectional plane taken through the longitudinal axes of the three sides. The transverse axes of the three sides each independently form an angle of from about 50° to about 60° with the cross-sectional plane and meet at a common point not on the cross-sectional plane. One or more of the three sides have mounting points located on the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the three sides are of equal length and an equilateral triangle is formed in the cross-sectional plane. Such a bracket is versatile, accommodating a variety of different configurations and supporting a variety of different support structures (e.g. shelves, hanger bars and storage bins) on a surface.

1 . A bracket comprising three rigid sides, at least two of the sides having equal length, each of the three sides having interior and exterior surfaces, 
 each of the three sides having first and second ends, the first and second ends lying in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,    the sides being rigidly connected to each other at the ends so that an equilateral or isosceles triangle is formed in a cross-sectional plane taken through the longitudinal axes of the three sides, the transverse axes of the three sides each independently forming an angle of from 50° to 60° with the cross-sectional plane, the transverse axes of the three sides meeting at a common point not on the cross-sectional plane,    one or more of the three sides having first and second mounting points, the first mounting point located on the longitudinal axis at a first distance from the first end, and the second mounting point located on the longitudinal axis at a second distance from the second end.    
   
   
       2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is from 51° to 55°.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the three rigid sides are of equal length and an equilateral triangle is formed in the cross-sectional plane.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the three sides each have first and second mounting points.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting points each comprise an aperture having a boss for receiving a fastening means.  
   
   
       7 . The bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the boss is flush with the interior surface and raised from the exterior surface.  
   
   
       8 . The bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the boss is interchangeable with another boss for a different fastening means.  
   
   
       9 . The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the three sides each have first and second mounting points, the first distance is equal to the second distance, and the mounting points each comprise an aperture having a boss for receiving a fastening means.  
   
   
       10 . The bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the boss is flush with the interior surface and raised from the exterior surface.  
   
   
       11 . The bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the boss is interchangeable with another boss for a different fastening means.  
   
   
       12 . The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the three sides all have the same shape.  
   
   
       13 . A bracket comprising: 
 (a) a first axis, a second axis and a third axis meeting orthogonally at an origin, the first and second axes interiorly defining a first plane, the first and third axes interiorly defining a second plane and the second and third axes interiorly defining a third plane;    (b) a first rigid bracket surface defined on the first plane in contact with the first and second axes, a second rigid bracket surface defined on the second plane in contact with the first and third axes, a third rigid bracket surface defined on the third plane in contact with the second and third axes, the first bracket surface rigidly connected to the second bracket surface along the first axis, the first bracket surface rigidly connected to the third bracket surface along the second axis, the second bracket surface rigidly connected to the third bracket surface along the third axis; and    (c) first and second spaced-apart mounting points on the first bracket surface, the first mounting point perpendicularly offset from the first axis by a first distance, the first mounting point offset from the origin by a second distance, the second mounting point perpendicularly offset from the second axis by a distance equal to the first distance, the second mounting point offset from the origin by a distance equal to the second distance.    
   
   
       14 . The bracket of  claim 13 , wherein each mounting point comprises an aperture having a boss for receiving a fastening means.  
   
   
       15 . The bracket of  claim 14 , wherein the boss is flush with a front of the bracket surface and raised from a rear of the bracket surface.  
   
   
       16 . The bracket of  claim 14 , wherein the boss is interchangeable with another boss for a different fastening means.  
   
   
       17 . The bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the first, second and third rigid bracket surfaces have the same shape.  
   
   
       18 . The bracket of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the second bracket surface has third and fourth spaced-apart mounting points, the third mounting point perpendicularly offset from the first axis by a third distance, the third mounting point offset from the origin by a fourth distance, the fourth mounting point perpendicularly offset from the third axis by a distance equal to the third distance, the fourth mounting point offset from the origin by a distance equal to the fourth distance; and wherein    
     the third bracket surface has fifth and sixth spaced-apart mounting points, the fifth mounting point perpendicularly offset from the second axis by a fifth distance, the fifth mounting point offset from the origin by a sixth distance, the sixth mounting point perpendicularly offset from the third axis by a distance equal to the fifth distance, the sixth mounting point offset from the origin by a distance equal to the sixth distance; and wherein  
     the first, third and fifth distances are equal and the second, fourth and sixth distances are equal.  
   
   
       19 . The bracket of  claim 18 , wherein each mounting point comprises an aperture having a boss for receiving a fastening means.  
   
   
       20 . The bracket of  claim 19 , wherein the boss is flush with a front of the bracket surface and raised from a rear of the bracket surface.  
   
   
       21 . The bracket of  claim 19 , wherein the boss is interchangeable with another boss for a different fastening means.  
   
   
       22 . The bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second and third rigid bracket surfaces have the same shape.