US 4,360,178 AGranted

Pipe clamp

OwnerRobert Senter, Millard Andrichinventors

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Abstract

An improved pipe clamp for securing a pipe to a structural member consists of two associated elements which are broadly similar, except for structural details peculiar to the several embodiments, and which are disposed on opposite sides of the pipe facing each other. The pipe is retained within the clamp by a double-interlocking snap lock common to all embodiments. Each element includes a locking edge extending parallel to the pipe and also includes a tab extending from the element in a plane perpendicular to the pipe. The tab is tapered by a ramp which is relieved by a recess to provide a hook for engaging the locking edge of the associated element. The hook is engaged by squeezing the ends of the elements together, causing their ramps to ride up on the locking edges of the associated elements until the locking edge of each element snaps into the recess of the other element to produce a double interlocking of the elements embracing the pipe.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An element of a clamp suitable for affixing a pipe to a wall, ceiling or other structural component, the clamp being of the type consisting of two associated elements disposed on opposite sides of the pipe and facing each other, extending circumferentially around the pipe and interlocking to embrace the pipe to secure it to the structural component, each of the two associate elements including a first end portion, a midsection, and a second end portion, the two associated elements having identical second end portions, said element comprising in combination:

a stiff non-planar sheet-like unitary structure of uniform thickness, having a first end portion, a midsection, and a second end portion;
said first end portion including couplings means for interconnecting said first end portion with the first end portion of the associated element;
said midsection shaped to contact the pipe and to extend circumferentially partially around the pipe;
said second end portion disposed to extend outwardly from the pipe when said element is applied to the pipe, and including a locking edge extending parallel to the pipe and further including a tab extending from said second end portion toward the associated element in a plane perpendicular to the pipe, said tab including a ramp relieved by a recess to provide a hook for engaging the locking edge of the associated element;
said element being sufficiently resilient that as the opposite second end portions of said element and an associated element are squeezed together, the ramp of each element is deflected to ride over the locking edge of the other element until the locking edge of each element snaps into the recess of the other element to produce a double interlocking of the elements embracing the pipe.

2 more elements

A clamp suitable for affixing a pipe to a wall, ceiling or other structural component, said clamp being of the type which extends circumferentially around the pipe and has ends which interlock to embrace the pipe to secure it to the structural component, said clamp comprising:

a stiff non-planar sheet-like unitary structure of uniform thickness having a first end portion, a midsection, and a second end portion;
said midsection shaped to contact the pipe and to extend circumferentially partially around the pipe;
said first end portion and said second end portion disposed to extend outwardly from the pipe when the clamp is in use, said first and second end portions each including a locking edge extending parallel to the pipe, and each further including a tab extending in such a direction that when the clamp is in use the tabs extend toward each other in a plane perpendicular to the pipe, each of said tabs including a ramp relieved by a recess to provide a hook for engaging the locking edge at the opposite end of the clamp;
said clamp being sufficiently resilient that as the opposite ends of the clamp are squeezed together, the ramp of the tab of the first end portion is deflected to ride over the locking edge of the second end portion and the ramp of the tab of the second end portion is simultaneously deflected to ride over the locking edge of the first end portion, until the locking edges of each of the end portions snap substantially simultaneously into the recesses of the other end portions to produce a double interlocking of the elements embracing the pipe.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/016,312Filed 28 Feb 1979 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Aug 1976
Granted: 23 Nov 1982
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16L 3/10
Substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing: divided, i.e. with two members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing
F16L 3/243
With special member for attachment to profiled girders: the special member being inserted in the profiled girder
Y10T 24/44752
With position locking-means for engaging faces: integral locking-means
F16L
Pipes