Wallboard bracket

Claim 2

A bracket for use in securing an edge portion of a wallboard or the like to a support member, the edge portion being defined between generally parallel side surfaces, comprising a body including a first side surface engaging portion for engaging one side surface of said wallboard and a web portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said first side surface engaging portion formed integral with said first side surface engaging portion, a tab attached to said web portion formed integral with said web portion and normally disposed in an open position which permits movement of one face of the wallboard adjacent the first side surface engaging portion and the edge portion of said wallboard in abutting relation with said web portion, said tab being bendable to a second position lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of said first side surface engaging portion, and prong means disposed in a plane generally parallel to and spaced from the plane of the first side surface engaging portion and formed integral with said web portion for entry into said support member to bring the underside of the web portion into resting contact with said support member for support thereby, said tab being readily bendable to its said second position aFter said prong means are inserted into said support member and an edge portion of a wallboard is caused to engage said first body portion to thereby secure the associated edge portion between said first body portion and said tab to maintain the associated wallboard in generally fixed relation to said support member, said prong means and tab being formed from the same planar portion of stock to provide configurations which allow a plurality of the brackets to be stacked in nested relation when said tabs are in their said open positions.

Claim 3

A bracket as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab has a length dimension considered in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said first body portion and with said tab in its normal position, less than the thickness of a wallboard with which the bracket is to be used.

Claim 4

A bracket as defined in claim 1 wherein said prong means includes at least one prong connected to said web portion and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of web portion, said prong extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the first body portion considered relative to said web portion.

Claim 5

A bracket as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab member is normally positioned in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said first side surface engaging portion and wherein said prong means comprise two parallel spaced prongs connected to said web portion and lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said web portion, said prongs being spaced a distance sufficient to receive the tabs of other brackets therebetween to allow the brackets to be positioned in nested relation one to the other.

Claim 6

A bracket for use in securing an edge portion of a wallboard or the like to a support member, the edge portion being defined between generally parallel side surfaces of the wallboard, comprising a body including a first side surface engaging portion for engaging one parallel side surface of the wallboard as moved thereagainst and a web portion bent approximately 90* to said first side surface engaging portion, a tab attached to said first body portion and normally disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said first side surface engaging portion to permit movement of the edge portion in abutting relation with said web portion, said tab being defined by diverging edge surfaces considered along its length from its connection to said web portion and being bendable to a second position lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of said first side surface engaging portion, and a pair of parallel spaced prongs secured to said first body portion and shaped for entry under force into a support member to bring the under side of said web member into face contact with said support member for support thereby, said tab being readily bendable to its second position after entry of the prongs into said support member and movement of one surface of said wallboard into engagement with said first side surface engaging portion and the edge portion of the wallboard into abutting relation with the web portion of the bracket, said tab as moved to said second position thereby securing the associated edge portion of the wallboard between said first body portion and said tab to maintain the associated wallboard in generally fixed relation to the support member, said pair of spaced prongs and tab being formed from the same planar portion of stock with said tab separating said prongs to provide configurations which permit a plurality of the brackets to be stacked in nested relation when the tabs are in their normal planes.

Claim 7

A bracket for use in securing an edge portion of a wallboard or the like to a support member, the edge portion being defined between generally parallel side surfaces of the wallboard, comprising a body including a first side surface engaging portion for engaging one parallel side surface of the wallboard as moved thereagainst and a web portion bent approximately 90* to said first side surface engaging portion, a tab attached to said first body portion and normally disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said first side surface engaging portion to permit movement of the edge portion in abutting relation with said web portion, said tab being defined by diverging edge surfaces considered along its length from its connection to said web portion and being bendable to a second position lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of said first side surface engaging portion, and a pair of parallel spaced prongs secured to said first body portion and shaped for entry under force into a support member to bring the under side of said web member into face contact with said support member for support thereby, said tab being readily bendable to its second position after entry of the prongs into said support member and movement of one surface of said wallboard into engagement with said first side surface engaging portion and the edge portion of the wallboard into abutting relation with the web portion of the bracket, said tab as moved to said second position thereby securing the associated edge portion of the wallboard between said first body portion and said tab to maintain the associated wallboard in generally fixed relation to the support member, said pair of spaced prongs and tab being formed from the same planar portion of stock with said tab separating said prongs to provide configurations which permit a plurality of the brackets to be stacked in nested relation when the tabs are in their normal planes.

Claim 8

A bracket as defined in claim 5 wherein said tab and said prong means are formed from a common section of said member by cutting said tab from a central portion of said central section to form diverging edges for said tab and considered along its length from its connection to said web portion, such that said tab will bend about its narrowest width at said web portion when bent from its first to its second positions, the divergent cut which provides said tab also providing a first and second prong member, each having one diverging edge surface to permit easier entry of the prong means into the support member.

Claim 9

A bracket as defined in claim 5 wherein said prong means comprises a pair of parallel spaced prongs which lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said web portion, said prongs having lengths shorter than the length of said first side surface engaging portion of said body, considered in a direction normal to the plane of said web portion.

Claim 10

A bracket for use in securing an edge portion of a wallboard or the like to a support member, the edge portion being defined between generally parallel side surfaces, comprising a body including a first side surface engaging portion for engaging one side surface of said wallboard and a web portion formed integral with said first side surface engaging portion and lying generally perpendicular to the plane of the first side surface engaging portion to permit movement of one face of the wallboard adjacent the first side surface engaging portion and the edge portion of said wallboard in abutting relation with said web portion, and a pair of spaced apart prongs disposed in a plane generally parallel to and spaced from the plane of the first side surface engaging portion, said first side surface engaging portion having a length which is greater than the length of said prongs as measured from said web portion, said prongs being formed integral with and extending perpendicular to said web portion in a direction opposite to said first side surface engaging portion, said prongs being adapted for entry into said support member to bring the underside of the web portion into resting contact with said support member to fixedly position said bracket to said support member and to provide firm backing for an edge of the wallboard when such edge is moved into contact with said first side surface engaging portion, said prongs being formed from an extension of a portion of the stock from which said web portion is formed, said bracket as thus configured thereby permitting a plurality of such brackets to be stacked in nested relation.

Claim 11

A bracket for use in securing an edge portion of a wallboard or the like to a support member, the edge portion being defined between generally parallel side surfaces, comprising a body including a first side surface engaging portion for engaging one side surface of said wallboard and a web portion formed integral with said first side surface engaging portion and lying generally perpendicular to the plane of the first side surface engaging portion to permit movement of one face of the wallboard adjacent the first side surface engaging portion and the edge portion of said wallboard in abutting relation with said web portion, and a pair of spaced apart prongs disposed in a plane generally parallel to and spaced from the plane of the first side surface engaging portion, said first side surface engaging portion having a length which is greater than the length of said prongs as measured from said web portion, said prongs being formed integral with and extending perpendicular to said web portion in a direction opposite to said first side surface engaging portion, said prongs being adapted for entry into said support member to bring the underside of the web portion into resting contact with said support member to fixedly position said bracket to said support member and to provide firm backing for an edge of the wallboard when such edge is moved into contact with said first side surface engaging portion, said prongs being formed from an extension of a portion of the stock from which said web portion is formed, said bracket as thus configured thereby permitting a plurality of such brackets to be stacked in nested relation.