Support bracket apparatus

Abstract

An assembly supports external masonry veneer. A bracket mounts to a load bearing wall support structure. A shelf angle has a horizontal leg that defines a shelf for the veneer, and an upstanding leg supported by mounting brackets that secure the assembly to the wall structure. The horizontal shelf is segmented. The back of the shelf angle flexes between the segments to allow the shelf angle to follow the shape of a curve wall. The shelf angle is secured to the mounting brackets with locking clips. The mounting brackets may be channels. They may have lower abutments. The abutments may extend rearwardly. An insulator may be placed between the back and structure. The mounting bracket may have lightening holes. The lightening holes may be in a framework array including alternating diagonal struts. A low thermal conductivity coating may be applied to the bracket.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket, said mounting bracket comprising:
 a channel member having a back, a first leg and a second leg;   said back extending between said first leg and said second leg;   said first leg and said second leg being bent forwardly away from said back and being spaced apart and opposed;   said first leg and said second leg each having a respective rearward facing abutment formed therein;   said first leg and said second leg each defining a respective shelf angle seat having a vertical shear load input interface at which, in use, vertical loads from a shelf angle are received;   said first leg and said second leg each defining a respective moment couple reaction at which, in use, moment loads from the shelf angle are received;   said back having a vertical shear load output at which, in use, vertical loads are passed to supporting structure to which said mounting bracket is attached;   said respective rearward facing abutments of said legs being located downwardly of said shear load output.   
     
     
         16 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said abutments extends downwardly of said vertical shear load input. 
     
     
         17 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said abutments extend rearwardly proud of said back, said back defines an accommodation, and a cushion is mounted in said accommodation. 
     
     
         18 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 17  wherein said cushion is made of a less thermally conductive material than is said mounting bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said first and second legs of said mounting bracket have a plurality of openings formed therein to leave a structural support framework. 
     
     
         20 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said abutments define rearward extensions of said first and second legs, respectively; and said back is truncated at a level above said abutments. 
     
     
         21 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 20  wherein each of said legs has a forwardly protruding toe defining said vertical shear load input; each of said legs has a plurality of apertures formed therein to leave an open framework; an accommodation is formed upwardly of said abutments and rearwardly of said back; and a thermal insulator occupies said accommodation. 
     
     
         22 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said back and said legs of said mounting bracket are a formed from a single blank of sheet metal bent to form said channel member. 
     
     
         23 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein at least part of said mounting bracket has a low thermal conductivity coating. 
     
     
         24 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  in combination with a retainer and a shelf angle wherein:
 said shelf angle has a lower region that engages said respective shelf angle seats of said first and second legs; 
 said retainer has a grip that engages and upper region of said shelf angle; 
 said retainer has a retainer anchor that engages said respective moment couple reactions of said first and second legs; 
 said retainer has a reach extending between said grip and said anchor; 
 said shelf angle is installed in said shelf angle seats in a first direction of motion; 
 when said shelf angle is installed in said shelf angle seats said shelf angle is spaced forwardly away from said back of said mounting bracket; 
 said retainer is installed in a second direction of motion transverse to said first direction of motion; and, as installed, said retainer obstructs retraction of said shelf angle. 
 
     
     
         25 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket in combination with said retainer and said shelf angle as in  claim 24 , wherein there is a plurality of said mounting brackets, and said shelf angle has a segmented horizontal flange and a bendable vertical web. 
     
     
         26 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said back is upwardly truncated and said legs have respective dogs that stand upwardly beyond said back. 
     
     
         27 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 26  in combination with a shelf angle and a retaining clip, wherein said shelf angle mounts to said respective shelf angle seats of said first leg and said second leg; said shelf angle has an upstanding web; and said retaining clip captures said web of said shelf angle and said respective upwardly extending dogs of said first and second legs. 
     
     
         28 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 26  wherein said abutments define rearward extensions of said first and second legs, respectively; and said back is truncated at a level above said abutments. 
     
     
         29 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting backed of  claim 26  wherein at least said back of said mounting bracket has a low thermal conductivity coating. 
     
     
         30 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said legs have respective notches formed therein in which to mount securement hardware to anchor a shelf angle in said respective seats of said legs. 
     
     
         31 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting backed of  claim 30  in combination with a shelf angle and a retaining clip, wherein said shelf angle mounts to said respective shelf angle seats of said first leg and said second leg; said shelf angle has an upstanding web; said clips seats in said notches in said legs; and said retaining clip secures said web of said shelf angle to said first and second legs. 
     
     
         32 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting backed of  claim 30  in combination with a shelf angle, a retaining clip, and a cross-member; said shelf angle mounts to said respective shelf angle seats of said first leg and said second leg; said cross-member seats in said notches; said shelf angle has an upstanding web; said clips seats on said cross-member and secures said web of said shelf angle to said first and second legs. 
     
     
         33 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting bracket of  claim 15  wherein said legs have respective wings formed therein to which to mount securement hardware to anchor a shelf angle in said respective seats of said legs. 
     
     
         34 . The masonry veneer support assembly mounting backed of  claim 33  in combination with a shelf angle and a retaining clip; said retaining clip defines said securement hardware; said shelf angle mounts to said respective shelf angle seats of said first leg and said second leg; said shelf angle has an upstanding web; said clips engage said wings and said web of said shelf angle to anchor said shelf angle to said first and second legs.