Appliance support assembly

Abstract

An appliance support assembly including a wall bracket is provided. The wall bracket has a channel-shaped body including first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a third side which connects the first and second sides. The first side includes a first mounting aperture, the second side includes a second mounting aperture, and the third side includes a third mounting aperture. Guide portions operatively associated with each of the first and second mounting apertures for guiding screws through the mounting apertures are provided. An arm is pivotably connected to the bracket about a first axis at a first end of the arm.

1 . A wall bracket for mounting an appliance, the wall bracket comprising: 
 a channel-shaped body including first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a third side which connects the first and second sides, wherein the first side includes at least a first mounting aperture, the second side includes at least a second mounting aperture, and the third side includes at least a third mounting aperture;    at least one guide portion operatively associated with each of the at least the first and the second mounting apertures for guiding screws through the mounting apertures;    a first member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel including a first opening; and    a second member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel spaced from the first member and including a second opening aligned with the first opening.    
     
     
         2 . The wall bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide portion includes a fourth side connected to the first side, the fourth side including at least a fourth mounting aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough.  
     
     
         3 . The wall bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least the first and fourth mounting apertures are positioned to provide a path which is angled between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the first side, and wherein the at least one guide portion further includes a fifth side connected to the second side, the fifth side including at least a fifth mounting aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough, wherein the at least the second and fifth mounting apertures are positioned to provide a path which is angled between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the second side.  
     
     
         4 . The wall bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one guide portion further includes a fifth side connected to the second side, the fifth side including at least a fifth mounting aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The wall bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one guide portion further includes at least one tube connected to the first side over the at least the first aperture and the fourth side over the at least the fourth aperture of the channel-shaped body to create a passage between the at least the fourth aperture and the at least the first aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The wall bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide portion includes at least a first tube connected to the first side over the at least the first aperture, and at least a second tube generally parallel to the first tube connected to the second side over the at least the second aperture to form a passage through the each of the tubes.  
     
     
         7 . The wall bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the first member includes sheet material positioned generally perpendicular to the first, the second and the third sides of the channel shaped body.  
     
     
         8 . The wall bracket according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel including a third opening which is generally aligned with the first and second openings of the first and second members.  
     
     
         9 . The wall bracket according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first member, the second member, and the third member further includes a fourth opening for forming a connection with a cover for at least partially concealing an open portion of the channel-shaped body.  
     
     
         10 . The wall bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel shaped body includes sheet metal.  
     
     
         11 . An appliance support assembly comprising: 
 a wall bracket comprising: 
 a channel-shaped body including first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a third side which connects the first and second sides, wherein the first side includes at least a first mounting aperture, the second side includes at least a second mounting aperture, and the third side includes at least a third mounting aperture;  
 at least one guide portion operatively associated with each of the at least the first and second mounting apertures for guiding fasteners through the mounting apertures at an angle between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the first side and the second side respectively; and  
   a first arm pivotably connected to the bracket about a first axis at a first end of the first arm.    
     
     
         12 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the wall bracket further comprises: 
 a first member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel including a first opening; and    a second member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel spaced from the first member and including a second opening;    wherein the arm includes a through aperture at its first end, and wherein the support assembly further comprises a rod which extends through the first opening of the first member, the second opening of the second member, and the through aperture of the arm to form the pivotable connection between the arm and the bracket.    
     
     
         13 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the rod is cylindrical.  
     
     
         14 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the wall bracket further includes a third member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel including a third opening which is generally aligned with the first and second opening of the first and second members, wherein the rod extends through the third opening.  
     
     
         15 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising a cover connected to at least one of the first, second and third members which at least partially conceals an open portion of the channel-shaped body and which includes an open area through which the arm passes.  
     
     
         16 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a first support platform connected to the first arm.  
     
     
         17 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a second arm pivotably connected to the bracket about a second axis at a first end of the second arm, wherein the first and second axes are substantially aligned.  
     
     
         18 . The appliance support assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising a first support platform connected to the first arm and a second support platform connected to the second arm.  
     
     
         19 . A method for supporting an appliance comprising: 
 providing a wall bracket including: 
 a channel-shaped body including first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a third side which connects the first and second sides, wherein the first side includes at least a first mounting aperture, the second side includes at least a second mounting aperture;  
 at least one guide portion operatively associated with each of the at least the first and second mounting apertures for guiding fasteners through the mounting apertures at an angle between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the first side and the second side respectively;  
 a first member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel, including a first opening; and  
 a second member positioned between the first and second sides of the channel spaced from the first member and including a second opening;  
   positioning the wall bracket at an inner corner of a wall;    driving at least a first fastener through the at least one guide portion operatively associated with the at least the first mounting aperture, through the at least the first mounting aperture and through the wall to attach the wall bracket to the wall;    driving at least a second fastener through the at least one guide portion operatively associated with the at least the second mounting aperture, through the at least the second mounting aperture and through the wall to attach the wall bracket to the wall;    pivotably connecting an arm to at least one of the first and the second members; and    connecting an appliance to the arm.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the providing the at least one guide portion includes providing at least a first tube connected to the first side at the at least the first aperture, and providing at least a second tube connected to the second side at the at least the second aperture, and wherein the first and second tubes are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the providing the at least one guide portion includes providing a fourth side including a fourth mounting aperture connected to the first side, and providing a fifth side including a fifth mounting aperture connected to the second side, and wherein the driving the at least one fastener includes driving a first fastener through the fourth mounting aperture and the first mounting aperture, and driving a second fastener through the fifth mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture generally parallel to the first fastener.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising covering an open portion of the channel with a cover.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the connecting an appliance to the arm includes connecting a television to the arm.