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US 2006/0178246 A1Published application
Support assemblies for pipes, conduits and tubes
AssigneePotential Design, Inc.
InventorJames Tjerrild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wall-mounted type and trapeze type support strut assemblies attach pipes, conduit, and tubes to vertical and horizontal surfaces in a sanitary manner. The strut assemblies repel contaminants, are easy to inspect, and easy to clean. Structures to provide seismic stability to trapeze type support strut assemblies may also be used.
Claims21
A support assembly for mounting to an upright support comprising:
- a strut having a central section and first and second end parts;
- the end parts extending from the central section at angles between 100° and 130°;
- an upright support fastener assembly, secured to the first end part, comprising:
- an anchor engaging the first end part and engageable with an upright support;
- and
- a spacer positionable between the first end part and the upright support, the spacer having no horizontally oriented surfaces;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the second end part and to a supported element;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating horizontal surfaces and by spacing the strut away from the upright support.
6 more elements
An upright support installation comprising:
- an upright support;
- a supported element;
- and
- a support assembly, securing the supported element to the upright support, comprising:
- a strut having a central section and first and second end parts;
- an upright support fastener assembly, secured to the first end part, comprising:
- an anchor securing the first end part to the upright support;
- and
- a spacer positioned between the first end part and the upright support;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securing the supported element to the second end part;
- the support assembly having at least substantially no horizontally oriented surfaces;
- and
- the central section extending at an angle to horizontal of between 10° and 40° and the end parts extending from the central section at angles between 100° and 130°;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating horizontal surfaces and by spacing the strut away from the upright support.
12 more elements
A method for mounting a supported element to an upright support comprising:
- selecting a support assembly comprising:
- a strut having a central section and first and second end parts extending from the central section;
- an upright support fastener assembly, securable to the first end part, comprising:
- an anchor engageable with the first end part and with an upright support;
- and
- a spacer positionable between the first end part and the upright support;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the second end part;
- mounting the first end part of the strut to the upright support using the upright support fastener assembly;
- securing the supported element to the second end part of the strut;
- and
- enhancing sanitation by:
- effectively eliminating horizontal surfaces;
- and by
- spacing the strut away from the upright support with the spacer.
12 more elements
A trapeze type support assembly for mounting to an overhead support comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface of the base at angles of more than 180° from the upper surface;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket engageable with an overhead support;
- and
- a hangar element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hangar element secured to the base, the hangar element having a smooth surface between the bracket and the base;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the base so to secure a supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut and by effectively eliminating contaminant-collecting threaded surfaces on the hangar rod between the bracket and the base.
5 more elements
A trapeze type support installation comprising:
- an overhead support;
- a supported element;
- and
- a trapeze type support assembly, suspending the supported element from the overhead support, comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface of the base at angles of more than 180° from the upper surface;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket secured to the overhead support;
- and
- a hangar element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hangar element secured to the base, the hangar element having a smooth surface between the bracket and the base;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securing the supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut and by effectively eliminating contaminant-collecting threaded surfaces on the hangar rod between the bracket and the base.
9 more elements
A method for mounting a supported element to an overhead support comprising:
- selecting a trapeze type support assembly comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface of the base at angles of more than 180° from the upper surface;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket engageable with an overhead support;
- and
- a hangar element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hangar element secured to the base, the hangar element having a smooth surface between the bracket and the base;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the base so to secure a supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- suspending the strut from the overhead support with the bracket secured to the overhead support and of the hangar rod connecting the strut to the bracket;
- securing the supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut using the supported element fastener assembly;
- and
- enhancing sanitation by:
- effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut;
- and by
- effectively eliminating contaminant-collecting threaded surfaces on the hangar rod between the bracket and the base.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.