Threaded rod locking and ratcheting device and method of making

A device for adjustably attaching threaded rods to a horizontal channel strut for supporting overhead utilities, the strut having a fixed length and width and mounting holes, suspended by threaded rods attached to a ceiling, each threaded rod passing through the mounting holes in the strut, the adjustably attaching device comprising:

• a housing with two parallel long walls, one short wall, and one short open wall, the short walls sized to fit within the width of the horizontal channel strut, a top with a chimney, the chimney having a predetermined outside diameter for passing through a mounting hole in the strut, and a bore diameter for passage of a threaded rod and a floor with an aperture sized for passage of the threaded rod;
• a locking control lever formed in a loop having a closed first end inside the housing, connected by walls extending through the short open wall to a closed second end outside the housing, a smooth wall portion extending along an interior wall between the first end and the second end, a screw threaded portion on the interior wall at the first closed end;
• and
• a spring in the housing between the short wall of the housing and the closed first end of the control lever;
• whereby the spring urges the screw threaded portion of the locking control lever into engagement with threads of a threaded rod in the attaching device.

A method of making a threaded rod locking and ratcheting device, comprising:

• cold forging a housing having two parallel long walls, one short wall, and one open short wall, and a top with a chimney having a preselected outside diameter and bore;
• cold forming making a locking control lever from 16 to 20 gauge strip stock to a predetermined length and width, stamping a threaded impression into the center of the strip stock, bending the strip stock into a 180° bend at the threaded impression, and folding the ends of the strip stock to form a closed loop;
• inserting a spring into the housing at the short wall;
• inserting the locking control lever into the housing with the 180° bend contacting the spring;
• and
• attaching a floor, with an aperture therein having a predetermined diameter aligned with the bore in the chimney, to the two parallel long walls of the housing.