Attachment bracket

Abstract

An attachment bracket for attachment of a frame or structure to a supporting column regardless of the orientation of the frame relative to the supporting column is provided. A column element of the attachment bracket is configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column. An optional frame element is attached to the column element and configured to couple the attachment bracket to the frame. A slot is defined in the column element. The attachment bracket is rotatable relative to the supporting column and a fastener can be inserted through the slot to fixedly attach the attachment bracket to the supporting column at the desired position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment bracket for attachment of a frame to a supporting column, the attachment bracket comprising:
 a column element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column, wherein the column element has a longitudinal axis, wherein the column element comprises at least one sidewall and a cover plate fixedly attached to a first end of the sidewall, wherein at least one slot having a slot length is defined in a portion of the at least one sidewall, and wherein the slot length is the length of an arc formed on the at least one sidewall subtended by a predetermined angle plus the diameter of a fastener configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column that is insertable through the slot,   wherein at least a portion of the attachment bracket is selectively rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the supporting column, and wherein at least a portion of the attachment bracket is configured to couple to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a plane of the cover plate is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the column element. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a slot height, and wherein the slot is substantially rectangular when viewed in a side elevational view. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the slot length is greater than the slot height. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is greater than about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a center of the slot is a predetermined length longitudinally from the cover plate that is less than an outer diameter of the column element. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cover plate overhangs the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the cover plate is selectively rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis of the supporting column. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is configured to couple the attachment bracket to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one frame element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the frame, wherein the at least one frame element is fixedly attached to the cover plate. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one frame element is a substantially planar plate. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the plane of the frame element is substantially normal to a plane of the cover plate. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment bracket of  claim 13 , wherein at least one frame bore is defined in a portion of the at least one frame element, and wherein the at least one frame bore is positioned to correspond to at least one frame mounting hole defined in a portion of the frame. 
     
     
         15 . A method of attaching a frame to a supporting column comprising:
 providing an attachment bracket comprising:
 a column element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column, wherein the column element has a longitudinal axis, wherein the column element comprise at least one sidewall and a cover plate fixedly attached to a first end of the sidewall to define an internal chamber, wherein at least one slot having a slot length is defined in a portion of the at least one sidewall, and wherein the slot length is the length of an arc formed on the at least one sidewall subtended by a predetermined angle plus the diameter of a fastener configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column that is insertable through the slot; and 
 at least one frame element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the frame, wherein the at least one frame element is fixedly attached to the cover plate; 
   positioning a proximal end of the supporting column in the internal chamber of the attachment bracket;   rotating the attachment bracket relative to the supporting column until a portion of the at least one frame element is substantially aligned with a portion of the frame;   fixedly attaching the attachment bracket to the distal end of the supporting column; and   fixedly attaching a portion of the frame to the supporting column.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the slot has a slot height, and wherein the slot is substantially rectangular when viewed in a side elevational view. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined angle is greater than about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a plane of the cover plate is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the column element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one frame element is a substantially planar plate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plane of the frame element is substantially normal to the plane of the cover plate. 
     
     
         22 . An attachment bracket for attachment of a frame to a supporting column, the attachment bracket comprising:
 a column element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column, wherein the column element has a longitudinal axis, wherein the column element comprises at least one sidewall and a cover plate fixedly attached to a first end of the sidewall, wherein at least one slot having a slot length is defined in a portion of the at least one sidewall, and wherein the slot length is the length of an arc formed on the at least one sidewall subtended by a predetermined angle plus the diameter of a fastener configured to couple the attachment bracket to the supporting column that is insertable through the slot; and   at least one frame element configured to couple the attachment bracket to the frame,   
       wherein the at least one frame element is fixedly attached to the cover plate, 
       wherein at least a portion of the attachment bracket is selectively rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the supporting column.