IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,007,052
Granted Patent B2
US 12,007,052 · App. 18/098,640 · Granted Jun 11, 2024

Brackets and methods of manufacture and use thereof

Inventors: Thomas Wouters (Duluth, GA); Dale Harrison (Duluth, GA); Chris Willette (Duluth, GA)
Assignee: DiversiTech Corporation
F16L3/237
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,007,052
App. No.
18/098,640
Granted
Jun 11, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure enables various brackets and methods of manufacture and use thereof. For example, a bracket may have a first plate, a second plate, and a clip cantileveredly extending from the second plate or monolithic with the second plate.

Claims (48)

1. A device, comprising:

a bracket including a first plate, a second plate, and a clip, wherein the first plate extends along a first plane, wherein the second plate extends from the first plate along a second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the second plate includes an end section distal to the first plate, wherein the clip includes a base, a first finger, and a second finger, wherein the base extends from the end section along the second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane such that the clip is able to hold a tubular member when the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane such that the clip is able to hold the tubular member when the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger and not past the first plate.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane such that the clip is able to hold the tubular member when the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger and past the first plate.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart from each other to form an air gap therebetween such that the second plate has an open shape thereby as viewed from above when the first end portion and the second end portion extend from the first plate along the second plane.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first plate defines an opening therethrough spanning between the first end portion and the second end portion.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the open shape is a first open shape, wherein the second plate and the base form a second open shape as viewed from above.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate has a portion, wherein the portion and the base form a T-shape as viewed from above.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate is wider than the base.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect at an angle of about 90 degrees.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate transitions to the base such that the second plate is flush with the base.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base is monolithic with the second plate.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the second plate is monolithic with the first plate.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plate includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion collectively define an opening through the first plate about which the second portion is bendable relative to the first portion.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the second portion is bendable to avoid facing the second plate.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the second portion is bendable to face the second plate.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the second portion defines a bore structured to receive a shank of a fastener.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate collectively define an opening extending along the first plane and the second plane such that the second plate extends between the opening and the base.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the first plate includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion collectively define a second opening through the first plate about which the second portion is bendable relative to the first portion, wherein the second opening extends between the first opening and the second portion.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the first portion defines the first opening.

20. The device of claim 18 , wherein the second portion does not define the first opening.

21. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plate, the second plate, and the base define an L-shape.

22. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate defines a bore structured to receive a shank of a fastener.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the bore is coaligned with the base.

24. The device of claim 22 , wherein the bore is not coaligned with the base.

25. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is a first tubular member, wherein the first plate defines an opening therethrough such that a second tubular member is able to extend through the opening along the second plane to enable the base to extend between the first tubular member and the second tubular member when the first tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the first plate defines the opening along the first plane, wherein the second plate defines the opening along the second plane.

27. The device of claim 26 , wherein the second plate defines the opening along the second plane by a portion that is wider than the base.

28. The device of claim 25 , wherein the first plate defines the opening along the first plane to have a first shoulder, a second shoulder, and a valley spanning between the first shoulder and the second shoulder.

29. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a strap extending from the second plate such that the strap avoids facing the first finger and the second finger.

30. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a strap extending from the second plate such that the strap is exposed to the first plate and not exposed to the first finger and the second finger.

31. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a strap extending from the second plate such that the strap is not exposed to the first plate and exposed to the first finger and the second finger.

32. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first row of bores and a second row of bores, wherein the first row of bores is parallel to the second row of bores, wherein each bore in the first row of bores and the second row of bores is structured to receive a shank of a fastener.

33. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a pair of oval bores.

34. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes a gas-discharge bulb or a conduit.

35. A method, comprising:

sending a bracket to a user, wherein the bracket including a first plate, a second plate, and a clip, wherein the first plate extends along a first plane, wherein the second plate extends from the first plate along a second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the second plate includes an end section distal to the first plate, wherein the clip includes a base, a first finger, and a second finger, wherein the base extends from the end section along the second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane; and

instructing the user to operate the clip such that the clip holds a tubular member as the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger.

36. A method, comprising:

causing a bracket to be accessed, wherein the bracket includes a first plate, a second plate, and a clip, wherein the first plate extends along a first plane, wherein the second plate extends from the first plate along a second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the second plate includes an end section distal to the first plate, wherein the clip includes a base, a first finger, and a second finger, wherein the base extends from the end section along the second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane; and

causing the clip to hold a tubular member as the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger.

37. A method, comprising:

manufacturing a bracket including a first plate, a second plate, and a clip, wherein the first plate extends along a first plane, wherein the second plate extends from the first plate along a second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first plane intersects the second plane, wherein the second plate includes an end section distal to the first plate, wherein the clip includes a base, a first finger, and a second finger, wherein the base extends from the end section along the second plane away from the first plane, wherein the first finger and the second finger extend from the base away from the second plane such that the clip is able to hold a tubular member when the tubular member extends between the first finger and the second finger.

38. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second plate and the base form a Y-shape as viewed from above.

39. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate and the base form a Y-shape as viewed from above.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: WOUTERS, THOMAS; HARRISON, DALE; WILLETTE, CHRIS
To: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062473/0969 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17300323 · Jan 19, 2022
Continuation In Part 17300324 · Jul 15, 2022
Related Publication 20230228348A1 · Jul 20, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,404,887