US 6,390,427 B1 · Universal bracket assembly for accessories

Abstract

A bracket assembly for connecting a cup holder or other accessory to a bar or other support structure includes first and second telescoping bracket portions that fit around and clamp to the support structure. One of the bracket portions includes a connector wall with an opening sized to receive a mounting trunnion of the accessory and a pair of ears with a slot formed therebetween in communication with the opening. Each ear has a convex inner edge that faces the inner edge of the other ear to define the slot. A width of the slot is less than a diameter of the trunnion such that the ears deflect upon insertion of the trunnion through the slot and return to an undeflected position with the trunnion located in the opening to thereby mount the accessory to the bracket assembly, and thus to the support structure.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A bracket assembly for connecting an accessory item to a bar-shaped support structure, the bracket assembly comprising:

a first bracket portion having a first base member with a first inner surface for contacting a side of the bar-shaped support structure;
a second bracket portion having a second base member with a second inner surface for contacting an opposite side of the bar-shaped support structure, the second base member being telescopically received in the first base member to form an enclosed opening therebetween for receiving and encircling the bar-shaped support structure;
at least one fastener extending through the first and second bracket portions for connecting the portions together;
wherein tightening said at least one fastener draws the first and second inner surfaces toward each other for frictionally securing the bracket assembly to the bar-shaped support structure;
and
a connector member extending from one of the first and second base members for connection to the accessory item to thereby connect the accessory item to the bar-shaped support structure.

3 more elements

In combination, an accessory item and a bracket assembly for mounting the accessory item to a bar-shaped support structure, the combination comprising:

the accessory item having at least one wall, a shaft extending from the wall, and a flange located on a free end of the shaft;
the bracket assembly comprising a first bracket portion including a first base member with a first inner surface for contacting a side of the bar-shaped support structure, a second bracket portion having a second base member with a second inner surface for contacting an opposite side of the bar-shaped support structure, the second base member being telescopically received in the first base member to form an enclosed opening therebetween for receiving and encircling the bar-shaped support structure, and a connector member extending from the first base member, the connector member including a connector wall having an opening sized to receive the shaft of the accessory item and a pair of ears with a slot formed therebetween in communication with the opening, each ear having an inner edge that faces the inner edge of the other ear to define the slot, a width of the slot being less than a cross dimension of the shaft such that the ears deflect upon insertion of the shaft through the slot and return to an undeflected position with the shaft located in the opening to thereby connect the accessory item to the bracket assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal bracket assembly for accessories

Life of this patent

Universal bracket assembly for accessories

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32