Bracket system for modular wall system

Abstract

A bracket system for mounting an accessory structure or an adjacent pair thereof to a modular wall system is provided. A first bracket member and a second bracket member of the bracket system are each configured to be selectively engageable with a vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system and are configured to be interleaved with each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket system for mounting an accessory structure or an adjacent pair thereof to a modular wall system, the modular wall system comprising at least a vertical frame member, the vertical frame member has a series of vertically arranged mounting openings, the bracket system comprising:
 a first bracket member configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system, and   a second bracket member configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system,   wherein each of the first bracket member and the second bracket member has a base portion and a plurality of vertically spaced mounting inserts, each mounting insert extends away from the respective base portion, the base portions each being configured for attachment to the accessory structure or the adjacent pair thereof,   wherein each mounting insert of the first bracket member and the second bracket member is configured to be selectively inserted into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system, and   wherein the first bracket member and the second bracket member are configured to be interleaved with each other with the mounting insert of the first bracket member alternating with the mounting insert of the second bracket member such that the mounting insert of the first bracket member is received in one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member and the mounting insert of the second bracket member is received in another adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first bracket member and the second bracket member includes an anti-dislodging member that is configured to be positioned on the mounting insert at a top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member,
 wherein the anti-dislodging member is configured to be selectively inserted into the same one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member as that of the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into so as to prevent dislodging of the first bracket member or the second bracket member.   
     
     
         3 . The bracket system of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-dislodging member is configured to engage with a rear surface of the vertical frame member near an upper edge of one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member when the anti-dislodging member is received in the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , wherein each mounting insert of the first bracket member and the second bracket member has a downwardly facing slot that is configured to receive a lower edge of one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member when each mounting insert of the first bracket member and the second bracket member is received in the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket system of  claim 4 , wherein, when each mounting insert of the first bracket member and the second bracket member is moved downwardly, in a longitudinal direction of the vertical frame member, in the corresponding one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member, inner surfaces of the downwardly facing slot of each mounting insert are configured to engage with outer surfaces of the lower edge of the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket member lock configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system,
 wherein the bracket member lock is configured to be positioned at a top end of at least one of the first bracket member and the second bracket member,   wherein the bracket member lock includes at least one mounting insert, and   wherein the mounting insert of the bracket member lock is configured to be selectively inserted into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member so as to further prevent dislodging of the first bracket member and/or the second bracket member.   
     
     
         7 . The bracket system of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting insert of the bracket member lock is configured to be inserted into the same one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member as that of the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket system of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting insert of the bracket member lock is configured to be inserted into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member that is positioned above an adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one mounting insert of the bracket member lock includes a first mounting insert and a second mounting insert,
 wherein one of the first mounting insert and the second mounting insert is configured to be inserted into the same one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member as that of the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into, and   wherein the other of the first mounting insert and the second mounting insert is configured to be inserted into an adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member that is positioned above the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into.   
     
     
         10 . The bracket system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the first mounting insert and the second mounting insert is configured to be engaged with an upper edge of the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member, and
 wherein the other of the first mounting insert and the second mounting insert is configured to be engaged with both an upper edge and a lower edge of the adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member.   
     
     
         11 . The bracket system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one mounting insert of the bracket member lock includes a third mounting insert,
 wherein the third mounting insert is configured to be inserted into an adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member that is positioned below the one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member the mounting insert at the top end of the first bracket member or the second bracket member is inserted into.   
     
     
         12 . A method of mounting a bracket system for mounting an accessory structure or an adjacent pair thereof to a modular wall system, the modular wall system comprising at least a vertical frame member, the vertical frame member has a series of vertically arranged mounting openings, wherein the bracket system comprises:
 a first bracket member configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system, and   a second bracket member configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system,   wherein each of the first bracket member and the second bracket member has a base portion and a plurality of vertically spaced mounting inserts, each mounting insert extends away from the respective base portion, the base portions each being configured for attachment to the accessory structure or the adjacent pair thereof,   wherein each mounting insert of the first bracket member and the second bracket member is configured to be selectively inserted into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system, and   wherein the first bracket member and the second bracket member are configured to be interleaved with each other with the mounting insert of the first bracket member alternating with the mounting insert of the second bracket member such that the mounting insert of the first bracket member is received in one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member and the mounting insert of the second bracket member is received in another adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member,   the method comprising: inserting the mounting inserts of the first and second bracket members into the vertically arranged series of the vertical frame member with the mounting insert of the first bracket member alternating with the mounting insert of the second bracket member such that the mounting insert of the first bracket member is received in one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member and the mounting insert of the second bracket member is received in another adjacent one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising attaching an accessory structure to the base portion of the first bracket member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the accessory structure is attached to the base portion of the first bracket member before the act of inserting the mounting inserts of the first and second bracket members into the vertically arranged series of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising attaching another accessory structure to the base portion of the second bracket member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory structures are attached to the base portions of the first and second bracket members before the act of inserting the mounting inserts of the first and second bracket members into the vertically arranged series of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching an accessory structure to both base portions of the first and second bracket members. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the accessory structure is attached to both base portions of the first and second bracket members before the act of inserting the mounting inserts of the first and second bracket members into the vertically arranged series of the vertical frame member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bracket system further comprises a bracket member lock configured to be selectively engageable with the vertical frame member associated with the modular wall system, wherein the bracket member lock is configured to be positioned at a top end of at least one of the first bracket member and the second bracket member, wherein the bracket member lock includes at least one mounting insert, and wherein the mounting insert of the bracket member lock is configured to be selectively inserted into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member so as to prevent dislodging of the first bracket member and/or the second bracket member, and
 wherein the method further comprises positioning the bracket member lock at a top end of at least one of the first bracket member and the second bracket member and inserting the mounting insert of the bracket lock member into one of the series of vertically arranged mounting openings of the vertical frame member so as to prevent dislodging of the first bracket member and/or the second bracket member.