Systems and methods for interlocking brackets

Abstract

A framing assembly is disclosed comprising a bracket. The bracket comprises a first bracket section in communication with a second bracket section in orthogonal relation relative to the first bracket section. The first and second bracket sections comprise opposing flanges. The bracket further comprises first and second slots. The framing assembly further comprises a framing component. The framing component comprises a framing component middle portion, opposing framing component flanges defined along the framing component middle portion, and opposing framing component returns extending from the opposing framing component flanges, collectively defining a framing component interior portion. The first or second bracket section slidably engages within the framing component interior portion. The opposing framing component returns are received through the first and second slots of the bracket. The first or second bracket section may be slidably positioned at to predetermined location along the framing component within the framing component interior portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a framing assembly, comprising:
 forming a framing component comprising:
 a framing component middle portion, a first framing component flange defined along a first side of the framing component middle portion, a first return defined along the first framing component flange, a second framing component flange defined along a second side of the framing component middle portion opposite the first framing component flange, and a second return defined along the second framing component flange with the second return in opposite orientation relative to the first return, 
 wherein a framing component interior portion is defined collectively by the framing component middle portion, the first framing component flange, the second framing component flange, the first return, and the second return; and 
   forming a bracket comprising:
 a first bracket section in communication with a second bracket section with a bracket bend defined between the first bracket section and the second bracket section, the first bracket section aligned in perpendicular relation relative to the second bracket section, 
 wherein the first bracket section comprises a first bracket middle portion, a first bracket flange defined along a first side of the first bracket middle portion, and a second bracket flange defined along a second side of the first bracket middle portion opposite the first bracket flange, 
 wherein the second bracket section comprises a second bracket middle portion, a third bracket flange defined along a first side of the second bracket middle portion, and a fourth bracket flange defined along a second side of the second bracket middle portion opposite the third bracket flange, 
 a first slot defined along the first side of the first bracket middle portion, and 
 a second slot defined along the second side of the first bracket middle portion opposite the first side, 
   engaging the second bracket section within the framing component interior portion such that the first slot receives the first return and the second slot of the framing component receives the second return.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot comprises a first slot portion defined along the first side of the first bracket middle portion, and a second slot portion in communication with the first slot portion, the second slot portion defined between the first bracket flange and the third bracket flange, and wherein the second slot comprises a third slot portion defined along the second side of the first bracket middle portion, and a fourth slot portion in communication with the third slot portion, the fourth slot portion defined between the second bracket flange and the fourth bracket flange. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first slot portion of the first slot is aligned in perpendicular relation relative to the second slot portion of the first slot, and wherein the third slot portion of the second slot is aligned in perpendicular relation relative to the fourth slot portion of the second slot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second slot portion of the first slot is defined between a first bracket flange edge of the first bracket flange and a third bracket flange edge of the third bracket flange opposing the first bracket flange edge; and wherein the second slot portion of the second slot is defined between a second bracket flange edge of the second bracket flange and a fourth bracket flange edge of the fourth bracket flange opposing the second bracket flange edge. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the framing assembly is assembled the first return and the second return of the framing component wrap around the third bracket flange and the fourth bracket flange respectively of the bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 aligning a peripheral end of the second bracket section with a first peripheral end of the framing component; and   sliding the second bracket section within the framing component interior portion to a predetermined location along the framing component.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a joist, comprising:
 a joist middle portion, a first joist flange defined along a first side of the joist middle portion, and a second joist flange defined along a second side of the joist middle portion opposite the first side collectively defining a joist interior portion, the joist defining a joist peripheral end; 
   aligning a peripheral end of the first bracket section towards the joist peripheral end; and   sliding the first bracket section within the joist interior portion,   wherein the framing component comprises an end rail.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 orienting the first bracket section within the joist interior portion such that a top side of the joist peripheral end of the joist abuts the first framing component flange of the framing component and bottom side of the joist peripheral end of the joist opposite the top side abuts the second framing component flange of the framing component.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein when the framing assembly is assembled a plurality of interior surfaces defined respectively by the framing component middle portion, the first framing component flange, and the second framing component flange make contact with and overlay a plurality of exterior surfaces defined respectively by the second bracket middle portion, the third bracket flange, and the fourth bracket flange.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the second bracket middle portion is less than a width of the framing component middle portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming the first bracket section along a first axis; and   forming the second bracket section along a second axis,   wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a 90 degree angle such that the first bracket section is in orthogonal relation relative to the second bracket section.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket flange and the second bracket flange are bendable to maintain different orientations and fit within the framing component interior portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket flange and the second bracket flange comprise first bracket returns and second bracket returns, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the second bracket section is less than a height of the framing component middle portion; and wherein a width of the third bracket flange and the fourth bracket flange is less than a width of the first framing component flange and the second framing component flange respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a framing assembly, comprising:
 forming a bracket defining a first bracket section and a second bracket section in perpendicular relation relative to the second bracket section;   forming a first slot defined at a first side of the first bracket section;   forming a second slot defined at a second side of the first bracket section opposite the first side; and   providing a framing component, the framing component comprising a framing component middle portion, opposing framing component flanges defined along opposite sides of the framing component middle portion, and opposing framing component returns extending from the opposing framing component flanges collectively defining a framing component interior portion; and   disposing the second bracket section within the framing component interior portion with the opposing framing component returns received within the first slot and second slot.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket defines a first bracket flange defined along a first side of the first bracket section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an angle is defined at an intersection of the first bracket flange and the first side of the first bracket section; and
 bending the first bracket section relative to the first bracket flange to modify the angle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second bracket section is aligned side by side with the framing component and a middle portion of the second bracket section slides over a middle portion of the framing component to dispose the second bracket section within the framing component interior portion. 
     
     
         19 . A framing assembly, comprising:
 a bracket, comprising:
 a first bracket section and a second bracket section in communication with the first bracket section, the first bracket section aligned in perpendicular relation relative to the second bracket section; 
 a first slot defined at a first side of the first bracket section; and 
 a second slot defined at a second side of the first bracket section opposite the first side. 
   
     
     
         20 . The framing assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a framing component, the framing component comprising a framing component middle portion, opposing framing component flanges defined along the framing component middle portion, and opposing framing component returns extending from the opposing framing component flanges collectively defining a framing component interior portion,   wherein in an assembled state the second bracket section is disposed within the framing component interior portion.