Bracket For A Frame

Abstract

A bracket for engaging one or more struts and a method of engaging the bracket and strut. The bracket comprises a body portion and one or more arm portions extending from the body portion. The arm portions include at least one pair of grooves that are adapted to releaseably engage complementary lips of the strut and at least one recessed region that is adapted to securely engage one or more crimped portions of the strut. A plurality of brackets and struts may be engaged to construct a frame.

1 . A bracket for engaging one or more struts comprising a body portion and one or more arm portions extending from the body portion, wherein the arm portions include:
 at least one pair of parallel grooves adapted to releaseably engage complementary lips of the strut; and   at least one recessed region adapted to securely engage one or more crimped portions of the strut.   
   
   
       2 . A bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective grooves and at least one recessed region are arranged to co-operate with a strut in the form of a U-shaped channel member comprising a base, opposing sidewalls and lips extending from each sidewall into the interior of the channel member towards the base such that a U-shaped channel portion is defined by each lip and sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . A bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective grooves and at least one recessed region are arranged to co-operate with a strut in the form of a C-shaped channel member comprising a base, opposing sidewalls and lips extending from each sidewall into the interior of the channel member towards the opposing sidewall such that a U-shaped channel portion is defined by each lip, sidewall and the base. 
   
   
       4 . A bracket according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises an upper face, lower face and side faces. 
   
   
       5 . A bracket according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more arm portions extend perpendicularly from the side faces of the body portion. 
   
   
       6 . A bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is I-shaped comprising two arm portions extending perpendicularly from two opposing side faces of the body portion. 
   
   
       7 . A bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is L-shaped comprising two arm portions extending perpendicularly from two adjacent side faces of the body portion. 
   
   
       8 . A bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is T-shaped comprising three arm portions extending perpendicularly from three side faces of the body portion. 
   
   
       9 . A bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is cross-shaped comprising four arm portions extending perpendicularly from four side faces of the body portion. 
   
   
       10 . A bracket according to  claim 9 , wherein an arm portion extends perpendicularly from the upper face and/or lower face of the body portion. 
   
   
       11 . A bracket according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more arm portions comprise an upper face, lower face, opposing end faces and opposing side faces. 
   
   
       12 . A bracket according to  claim 11 , wherein two grooves extend longitudinally in parallel alignment along the upper face of the one or more arm portions. 
   
   
       13 . A bracket according to  claim 12 , wherein two grooves extend longitudinally in parallel alignment along the lower face of the one or more arm portions. 
   
   
       14 . A bracket according to  claim 13 , wherein first and second grooves are arranged to extend longitudinally in parallel alignment along respective opposing side faces of the one or more arm portions. 
   
   
       15 . A bracket according to  claim 14 , wherein each groove defines one or more protruding portions that extend longitudinally along the respective faces of the arm portions and which grooves are adapted to be received and engaged by the U-shaped channel portions of the lips. 
   
   
       16 . A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the protruding portions of the one or more arm portions comprise one or more recessed regions to receive and securely engage one or more crimped portions of the lips. 
   
   
       17 . A bracket according to  claim 11 , wherein the upper face of the one or more arm portion comprises one or more recessed regions to receive and securely engage one or more crimped portions of the base of the strut. 
   
   
       18 . A bracket according to  claim 11 , wherein the lower face of the one or more arm portions comprises one or more recessed regions to receive and securely engage one or more crimped portions of the base of the strut. 
   
   
       19 . A bracket according to  claim 11 , wherein the opposing side faces of the one or more arm portions comprise one or more recessed regions to receive and securely engage one or more crimped portions of the opposing sidewalls of the strut 
   
   
       20 . A bracket according to  claim 19 , wherein the body portion comprises one or more apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face. 
   
   
       21 . A bracket according to  claim 20 , wherein the one or more arm portions comprise one or more apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face and adapted to be aligned with one or more apertures of an engaged strut. 
   
   
       22 . A method of engaging a bracket as defined in  claim 21  and a strut, the method comprising the steps of:
 mounting the strut on the arm portion by locating the complementary lips of the strut in the grooves of the arm portion; and   securing the strut on the arm portion by crimping one or more portions of the strut into one or more recessed regions of the arm portion.   
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first portion of the lips into the respective grooves of the strut; and   sliding the lips along the length of the grooves until the strut abuts the body portion and the lips are received and releasably engaged by the grooves.   
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first portion of the protruding portions into the respective U-shaped channel portions of the struts; and   sliding the protruding portions along the length of the U-shaped channel portions whilst the lips slide along the length of the grooves until the strut abuts the body portion and the protruding portions are received and releasably engaged by the U-shaped channel portions.   
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24  further comprising the step of crimping one or more portions of the strut into one or more recessed regions using a crimping system comprising one or more hydraulic rams having a shaping tool for deforming and thereby securely locating the one or more crimped portions in the one or more recessed regions. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  further comprising the step of crimping one or more portions of the lips of the strut into one or more recessed regions on the protruding portions of the arm portion. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  further comprising the step of crimping one or more portions of the base of the strut into one or more recessed regions on the upper face of the arm portion. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26  further comprising the step of crimping one or more portions of the base of the strut into one or more recessed regions on the lower face of the arm portion. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28  further comprising the step of crimping one or more portions of the opposing sidewalls of the strut into one or more recessed regions on the opposing side faces of the arm portion. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29  further comprising the step of simultaneously crimping one or more portions of the strut into one or more recessed regions of the side faces of the arm portion. 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A frame comprising a plurality of brackets as defined in  claim 21  and a plurality of engageable struts. 
   
   
       34 . A frame comprising a plurality of brackets and engageable struts, the bracket comprising a body portion and one or more arm portions extending from the body portion, wherein the one or more arm portions include:
 at least one pair of parallel grooves adapted to releaseably engage complementary lips of the strut; and   at least one recessed region adapted to securely engage one or more crimped portions of the strut.   
   
   
       35 . A frame according to  claim 34  for supporting building services. 
   
   
       36 . A method of constructing a frame according to  claim 35 , the method comprising the steps of contemporaneously or sequentially mounting and securing respective struts to arm portions of the brackets to form a frame structure. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36  to mount and secure a strut on each arm portion of a bracket. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37  comprising the step of simultaneously crimping one or more portions of the struts into one or more recessed regions of the arm portions of one or more brackets. 
   
   
       39 - 43 . (canceled)