Clamp for sprinkler support assembly

A fire sprinkler support assembly for supporting a flexible fire sprinkler fitting within a ceiling structure having parallel spaced beams, the support assembly comprising:

• a leg configured to extend transverse to each of a pair of adjacent beams, the leg including:
• a cross portion;
• and
• a levered clamp assembly for connecting an end of the cross portion of the leg to a corresponding one of the beams, the levered clamp assembly including:
• a first plate extending from the cross portion of the leg;
• a second plate positioned adjacent to the first plate, the second plate including a tongue engaged with a tongue opening in the first plate, wherein the second plate is rotatable with respect to the first plate via the tongue;
• the first and second plates configured to be disposed on opposing sides of a corresponding one of the parallel spaced beams such that the plates straddle the beam;
• and
• a lever assembly including:
• a connector associated with each of the first and second plates;
• and
• a lever pivotally connected to the connector, the lever including a cam surface disposed adjacent to the first or second plate, wherein the lever assembly is configured to reduce spacing between the plates upon actuation of the lever, thereby securing the leg to the associated beam.

A method of mounting a fire sprinkler support assembly to a ceiling support structure, the method comprising:

• providing a support assembly including a leg configured to extend between first and second beams, the leg having a first levered clamp assembly and a first seating frame disposed at a first end of the support assembly, the leg having a second levered clamp assembly and a second seating frame disposed at a second end of the support assembly;
• positioning the support assembly such that the first levered clamp assembly and the first seating frame are adjacent the first beam and the second levered clamp assembly and the first seating frame are adjacent the second beam;
• engaging first and second plates of the first levered clamp assembly with the first beam such that the plates straddle the beam;
• engaging first and second plates of the second levered clamp assembly with the second beam such that the plates straddle the beam;
• and
• actuating the first and second levered clamp assemblies to draw respective first and second plates together to lock the support assemblies to the first and second beams;
• wherein the first plates of the first and second levered clamp assemblies each includes a tongue opening for receiving respective tongue portions of the second plates, the second plates rotatable relative to the first plates on the tongues.