Insulation mounting bracket

Abstract

A one-piece insulation mounting bracket is disclosed. The mounting bracket readily supports the insulation (e.g., curtain wall insulation) without requiring locking washers to secure the insulation to the mounting bracket. As a result, the insulation can be mounted more quickly than with conventional mounting systems.

1 . A mounting bracket comprising a bracket body having a middle portion, a first leg, a second leg, and at least one reinforcing member, wherein the middle portion extends between and connects the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg extends from the middle portion in a first direction, wherein the second leg extends from the middle portion in the first direction, and wherein the at least one reinforcing member extends from the middle portion in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite of one another. 
     
     
         2 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the middle portion is greater than a depth of the first leg and a depth of the second leg. 
     
     
         3 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is perpendicular to the middle portion, and wherein the second leg is perpendicular to the middle portion. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes a mounting flange that extends from and perpendicular to an end of the first leg. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a depth of the second leg is greater than a depth of the first leg. 
     
     
         11 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the second leg includes a body having one or more barbs and a tapered end. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the body includes a plurality of the barbs. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The mounting bracket of  claim 14 , wherein a number of the barbs on one side of the body differs from a number of the barbs on the opposite side of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the second leg is symmetrical about a central axis of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcing member is perpendicular to the middle portion. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcing member extends from the middle portion at an angle in the range of 45° to 90°. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket body includes two reinforcing members spaced from one another by a distance that is less than or equal to a width of the middle portion. 
     
     
         21 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the at least one reinforcing member is less than a height of the middle portion, a depth of the first leg, and a depth of the second leg. 
     
     
         22 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the at least one reinforcing member is equal to a height of the middle portion. 
     
     
         23 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the at least one reinforcing member is less than or equal to a height of the middle portion and is more than half of the height of the middle portion. 
     
     
         24 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket body is a unitary structure. 
     
     
         27 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket body is made of galvanized steel. 
     
     
         28 . A curtain wall insulation system comprising:
 a plurality of mounting brackets; and   a curtain wall insulation,   wherein each mounting bracket comprises a bracket body having a middle portion, a first leg, a second leg, and at least one reinforcing member, wherein the middle portion extends between and connects the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg extends from the middle portion in a first direction, wherein the second leg extends from the middle portion in the first direction, and wherein the at least one reinforcing member extends from the middle portion in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite of one another.   
     
     
         29 . The curtain wall insulation system of  claim 28 , wherein the curtain wall insulation system is free of a reinforcing member at a safing line of the curtain wall insulation system. 
     
     
         30 . The curtain wall insulation system of  claim 28 , wherein a depth of the second leg is less than a depth of the curtain wall insulation.