Equipment support for a metal building
AssigneeOpperman Investments, Ltd.
InventorR. Scott Oppermanm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for supporting equipment on a wall panel having protruding ribs. Channels are mounted perpendicular to the ribs. The channel has a base wall, and a pair of side walls extending outward from the base wall. The channel also has an outward wall portion communicating with the side walls at a distance from the base wall. Several apertures are defined in each channel. The apertures have a pair of side wall portions and a base wall portion. When the channel is positioned on the wall panel, the apertures receive the protruding ribs. A fastening structure is located on the base wall of the channel for mounting the channel to the wall panel. A fastening plate is also located on the outward wall portion of the channel for mounting the equipment to the channel.
Claims13
In an improved building wall apparatus of the type having at least one panel and containing a plurality of vertically extending ribs, the improvement comprising:
- at least one channel having a flat base wall and a pair of parallel side walls extending outward from opposite edges of the base wall;
- a lip on each side wall spaced a distance from the base wall;
- a plurality of apertures defined in the channel adapted to receive the protruding ribs, each of the apertures having a base wall portion in the base and a side wall portion in each side wall;
- a fastener plate mounted to the channel between the side walls, the fastener plate having a threaded aperture adapted to secure the equipment thereto;
- and
- an electrical equipment box mounted to the channels by fasteners passing through the box into the fastener plate.
A method for mounting a piece of equipment to a wall panel having a plurality of protruding ribs, comprising:
- (a) providing a channel having a base wall, a pair of side walls extending outward from opposite edges of the base wall, and a plurality of apertures;
- (b) positioning the channel to be substantially perpendicular to the ribs;
- (c) positioning the apertures to be substantially aligned with the corresponding plurality of protruding ribs;
- (d) mounting the channel to the wall panel, and encasing the ribs within the edges of the apertures of the channel;
- and
- (e) mounting the equipment to the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.