Method and apparatus for supporting a thin, rigid panel

A support arm assembly for stabilizing an outward, distal portion of a thin, rigid panel attached at an inward, mounted edge opposite the outward, distal portion to a fixed mounting surface, comprising:

• a support bar having externally threaded first and second ends of respective first and second arms joined at an elbow angle nearer the first end of the first arm that is adapted to be substantially equal to a predetermined panel angle between the thin panel and the fixed, mounting surface;
• a first mounting assembly installed on the first end of the support bar for attaching the first end of the support bar to the thin panel at a first location thereon;
• and
• a second mounting assembly installed on the second end of the support bar for attaching the second end of the support bar to the fixed, mounting surface at a second location thereon;
• wherein the externally threaded first and second ends of the respective first and second arms of the support bar enable adjustment of the first and second mounting assemblies respectively along a longitudinal axis of each first and second arm of the support bar to stabilize the outward, distal portion of the thin panel at the predetermined panel angle;
• wherein the first mounting assembly comprises:
• a first mounting plate;
• a first cover for concealing the first mounting plate;
• and
• an outside cap for securing the first end of the support bar to the thin panel;
• wherein the first mounting plate comprises:
• a circular disk, having a first diameter, first and second sides and a center, and a round hole formed through the center of the circular disk for receiving the first arm of the support bar, flat on the first side and formed with a raised, hexagonal nut portion axially aligned with the center of the circular disk on the second side;
• wherein a plurality of external screw threads are disposed around a perimeter of the circular disk and a plurality of internal screw threads matching the pitch and diameters of the external threads on the first end of the support bar are disposed within the bore through the circular disk.