CA1092582A

CA1092582A - Pipe clamp

Info

Publication number: CA1092582A
Application number: CA317,941A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert L. Senter; Millard S. Andrich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-12-30
Filing date: 1978-12-14
Publication date: 1980-12-30
Also published as: DE2855632B2; GB2011524A; DE2855632C3; JPS54139092A; FR2413575A1; AU4267978A; AU524388B2; JPS568233B2; DE2855632A1; FR2413575B1; GB2011524B

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

A pair of identical strap elements are provided, each of which comprises a first substantially planar rectan-gularly shaped end portion which is notched along its opposite edges to receive the inwardly turned edges of a channel member to which the pipe is to be clamped, a concave mid-section con-forming with the curvature of the pipe and a planar opposite end portion which is initially formed with rectangular corners, but one of which corners is punched and bent inwardly at a right angle to the plane of the planar end portion to form a tab. The configuration of the punched-out tab is such as to provide a hooked end with the hook directed downwardly toward the concavity of the mid-section and an arcuate ramp leading to the cut-back in the end which forms the hook. In addition the outermost edge of the planar opposite end portion is notched inwardly toward the midsection to receive the hooked end of another strap element when two such elements are disposed oppositely for face-to-face engagement with each other and with their concave midsections abutting an arcuate area of the pipe.
In such complimenting disposition of the two strap elements, when each hooked tab is brought into the notched edge of the other strap element and the opposing planar opposite end portions are squeezed together, the pipe becomes effectively clamped to the channel member.

Description

4 BAC~GROUND OF THE INV~NTION

6 1. Field of the Invention 7 Thls invention relates generally to the construction 8 field, and particularly to that area thereo~ whlch involves 9 the lnstallation of pipes and electrical conduits against channel members incorporated in the walls, ceilings, or fioors of ~uilding structures.

13 2. Description of the Prior Art 14 For many years in building construction, metal channel members have been utillzed to provide both support for building 16 stxuctures as well as to enable pipes and conduits to be mounted 17 to, and to be carried by, such metal channel members. These . 18 chal~nel members are usually U-shaped in cross-section and with 19 turned-in edges, as illustrated in the following prior art United States patents:
21 O. C. Kindorf 3,145,96 22 ~ O. ~. Kindorf 3,185,419 23 Opperthauser 3,370,815 Rebentisch, Jr. 3,417,951 ~ 25 R. D. Kindorf et al. 3,486,726 - 26 Lytle 3,522,921 27 As may also be observed ~rom these prior art patents, 28 certain inventors have sought to devise straps or clamping ; 29 means to enable a pipe or other tubular conduit to be secured for support on such channel members. Although the two patents 31 ~/

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l to 0. ~. Kindorf disclose pipe straps or hangars which are

2 secured together by some type of interlock without the use of

3 a screw or bolt, the Kindorf dPvices disclosed in patents

4 Nos. 3,185,419 and 3,145,962 do not appear to have been widely utilized since the clamps which, today, are accepted as standard 6 in the construction industry, are those which are secured by 7 a screw or bolt, as for example the device marketed by 8 Unistrut Corporation of Wayne, Michigan.
9 One problem with such bolt or screw type clamps is that, in use, a plumber or electrician not only must manipulate ll both clamps to dispose of each of their ends within the channel 12 member and the opposite end in register to receive the bolt, l~ but this also must be done about the pipe which, itself, some-14 times must be held. Moreover, after the bolt is inserted to the registering orifices it then becomes necessary to place a 16 nut off the end of the bolt and to thread the bolt into the 17 nut or the nùt on the bolt with either a screwdriver or a 18 pliers. In inaccesslble places, such clamping installations l9 may sorely try the patience and skill of the plumber or electrician. In addition, it will be found that the usual 21 time for each such installation is at least in the order of 22 a minute. When this required installation time is multiplled 23 by the many installations required in some building structures, 24 it will be found that the cost of such installations becomes a substantial factor in the overall building costs.
26 The two O.C. Kindorff patents, however, reflect 27 efforts on the part of this inventor to dispense with the neces-28 sity for bolting together the outwardly projecting ends of the 29 palr of straps. In patent No. 3,145,962, the inventor sought to accomplish the interlock of the pipe-strap ends by providing : .

109~58Z
l oppositely projecting tangs, the ends o~ whlch must first be 2 inserted in an opening in the face of the other strap, and 3 then the ratchetted edges must be forced to pass by each other 4 by a pllers or other squeezing device to accomplish the desired interlock. There have apparently been major practical problems 6 with this type of strap, such as ln the expense of punching out 7 serrations of the type which are needed and which will not be 8 abraided off when the two serrated edges are forced by each 9 other. In addition, it would appear that disengagement can only be accomplished with considerable force by the use of a 11 screwdriver or chisel as described in the patent specification.
12 ~n any event, this type of strap does not appear to be in use 13 in the industry and the inventor thereof, a year later, 14 devised the different strap whlch is disclosed in his patent No. 3,185,419. This latter patent discloses a pair of straps, 16 the ends of each of which are orificed and have a projecting 17 tab. After the tab passes through the orifice in the opposite ~-18 strap, the tab is twisted to prevent its withdrawal back l9 through the orifice. This twisting requlrement, which can be satisfied only by the use of pliers or other gripping tool, 2l presents problems where the pipe is being installed in inaces-22 sible areas. Moreover, the strap cannot be reused more than 23 one or two times, if that many since, with the twisting of the 24 tab, the metal structure would be weakened to where, after two or three twists the tab may actually break off. In any event, 26 the strapping of this paten~ also does not appear to have been 27 accepted in the industry which, as mentioned above, almost 28 exclusively continues to utilize bolted pairs of straps.
29 It would also appear that the greater weight or other downward force exerted on the devices of these Kendig patents, the 31 greater the possibility of their becoming ruptured.

109~5~2 1 ~UMMARY OF THE PRE~ENT INVENTION
3 The present invention provides strapping means which 4 most conveniently and rapidly enable a plumber or electrician to mount a pipe on a channel member. The only tool required 8 lS a pliers--preferably of the channel lock or water pump type.
7 According to the present invention, each of a pair of strap 8 elements is notched on the outer edge of its planar end which 9 extends from the~arcuate midsection, and a hooked tab is provided to extend from a corner spaced from such notch. In order for 11 the strap elements to become interlocked, the hooks of both 12 tabs must drop into the respective notches of the oppositely 13 disposed strap element, and this is accomplished by simply 14 applying squeezing pressure to the planar ends of both strap elements. Once the interlock is thus accomplished because of 16 the angular orientation of the interlocking member, by contrast 17 with prior art devices, the greater the pressure, the tighter 18 the elements secure the pipe. However, even without pressure 19 from the pipe, the interiock is assured by the spring tension of the two planar ends. To provide such spring tension the 21 planar end of each strap is angled back slightly so that its 22 plane would ultimately intersect the plane of the other planar 23 end portion which is fitted into the U-shaped channei member.
24 The mounting of the straps may be simply accomplished by putting one gripper of the pliers on the outer face of one 26 planar end portion and the other gripper of the pliers on the 27 outer face of the planar ena of the outer element and squeezing 28 them together until the hooked tab ends drop into the notches 29 in the opposite elements. To disengage the elements, one gripper of the pliers is placed on the outside edge of the .. . . .

10925~2 1 planar end of one strap element, and tne other gripper, under 2 the hooked tab of the other element ana the pliers twisted 3 slightly to snap the one hooked tab out of its seatlng notch.

4 As soon as one tab is disengaged the other hooked tab will readily become disengaged.

6 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present strapping may be manufactured very cheaply 8 and can be employed to support a pipe by an installation 9 which requires only a few seconds of time. Moreover, the strap elements may be readily disengaged and may be reused 11 any number of times. Also, while strapping preferably may 12 be made of metal, such as a resilient steel or aluminum, it 13 may also be molded of a hard and resilient plastic for use in 14 installations where metal would be subject to oxydizing or other chemically deteriorating gases or electrolysis.

iO9~58;2 3 In the accompanying drawings, 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a strap consti-tuting the preferred embodiment of the presen~ invention.
6 Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing 7 the manner in which the strap is mounted to a channel member 8 and about a pipe.
9 Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in section 0 showing a pair of straps being brought together to secure a 11 pipe to a channel member.
12 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing 13 tnese straps interlocked after pressure has been applied to 14 the planar ends.
Figure 5 illustrates a modified embodiment of the 16 tab o~ Figure 1.

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10!~2582 3 Referring to Figure 1 of tAe drawings, a strapping 4 element of the present invention may be fabricated as a single die-punched steel piece 10 which is comprised of one planar 6 end portion 12, and an opposite planar end portion 14 which 7 are integrally bridged by a concave midsection 16. The side 8 edges 18, 18' of the planar end portion 1~ are notched at 20 9 20' to receive the in-turned edges 22, 22' of a U-shaped channel member 24, as shown in Figure 2. The concavity 26 11 of the midsection 16 desirably has a radius of curvature which 12 conforms to the radius of curvature of the outside of the 13 pipe 28. As may be seen from both Figures 1 and ~, the 14 plane of the planar end portion 14 is not parallel to the plane of the planar end portion 12, but angles slightly toward 16 to intersect the latter plane.
17 The upper edge 30 of the planar section 14 is notched 18 at 32, and there is punched inwardly from the corner 34' a 19 hooked tab 36. The hook 38 overhangs a recess 40 and is configured with an arcuate ramp 38'.
21 In use, two elements 10 are inserted into the 22 channel member 24 and rotated to dispose the turned-in edges 23 ~2, 22' of the channel member 24 into the notches 20, 20' of 24 the element 10, with the two concave midsections 16 brought face-to-face and about the pipe 28. The hooked tab 36 of 26 the planar end portion 14 of each thus oppositely faced strap 2q element 10 will be found to be disposed in register with the 28 slot 32 in the edge 30 of the planar end portions 14 of the 29 other element 10. A pliers is then applied, with one of its grippers disposed on the outer facing side 14a of each planar :~ ,, . . .- - : .
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iO~9~S~2 1 end portion 14, and squeezed. Thereby, the bottom wall 32' of 2 each notch 32 rides over the ramp 3~' o~ each hook ~8 until ~ 3 the edge 32' passes over the end of the hook 3~ and into the ; 4 recess 40. When each tab 36 is thus secured in the notch 3~
of the opposite element 10, the pipe will be found to be held 6 firmly and securely in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, and ~` 7 held under spring tension with the planar end portions 14 main-8 tained in parallel with the planar end portions 12.
9 Where it is desired to provide a gradation in the tightening of the strapping clamps, a plurality of hooks 11 38a, 38b may be provided as illustrated in Figure 5.

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Claims

1. Pipe clamping means to clamp a pipe onto a channel member having a U-shaped cross-section and inwardly turned edges, said means comprising a pair of identical strap elements, each of said elements having (a) A first substantially planar rectangularly shaped end portion, said first end portion being notched on its opposite side edges to receive the inwardly turned edges of the channel member;
(b) A concave midsection, said midsection extending from said first end portion and being arcuately curved with a radius of curvature conforming to the radius of curvature of the pipe to be clamped by said means;
(c) A planar opposite end portion, the last said end portion extending from the other side of said mid-section which extends from the first said end portion, and having a corner section punched inwardly at right angles to the plane of the last said end portion to form a tab, said tab terminating in a hooked end defining a recess, and the outermost edge of the last said end portion being notched inwardly toward the concave midsection to receive the hooked end of another said strap element, when such element is disposed oppositely for face-to-face interlock with the first element and with the concave midsections of both said elements abutting an arcuate area of the pipe;
Whereby, after the first end portions of two such elements have been first inserted in the U-shaped channel member and disposed at right angles to such channel member with the notches and their opposite edges receiving the inwardly turned edges of the channel member, and the two members are spaced from each other and oppositely faced with their concave midsections brought into abutment with the pipe, also disposed at a right angle to the channel member, the hooked tab of each element will be in register with the notch in the edge of the opposite element, so that when the two opposite planar end portions are squeezed together the innermost edge of each notch will pass over the hook end and into its respective recess, thereby said two elements will grip the pipe and secure the same onto the channel member.

2. The pipe clamping means as described in Claim 1 wherein the hooked end of the tab is preceded by an arcuate ramp to facilitate bringing the hook over the innermost edge of the planar opposite end portion which defines the notch disposed in register with said hooked end of the tab.

3. The pipe clamping means as defined in Claim 1 wherein the plane of the planar opposite end portion is disposed at a slight angle to intersect the plane of the first substantially planar rectangular shaped end portion.

4. The pipe clamping means as defined in Claim 3 wherein the strap element is fabricated of a slightly resilient material, whereby the planar opposite end portions of the two elements, when squeezed together to where their respective tabs hook in the notches of the opposite end portions of the elements, said planar opposite end portions of the elements will be spring biased apart from each other, thereby to hold the hook ends of the tabs in the notches under spring tension.