Decking system hanger

A hanger system comprising:

• a deck having an external member extending downwardly therefrom, said external member having a profiled surface;
• a hanger for attachment to said external member, said hanger including:
• (a) a gripper having a gripper body, said gripper body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of tabs depending therefrom and spaced along the longitudinal axis, each of said tabs having an outer face portion and an inner edge portion said plurality of tabs spaced apart from each other along a lateral axis forming a U-shaped portion extending along the longitudinal axis, said gripper body configured to be deformable;
• (b) a cradle having a cradle body, said cradle body extending along the longitudinal axis and including sidewall portions spaced apart along the lateral axis defining a U-shaped gripper body receiving recess for receiving said gripper body, said gripper body received within said gripper body receiving recess such that at least a portion of said sidewall portions abuts at least a portion of said outer face portions of said tab members, said cradle configured to be rigid relative to the gripper body;
• (c) a threaded member passing through said cradle body and said gripper body;
• and
• (d) a stop threadably secured to said threaded member, wherein said cradle is positioned between said gripper and said stop, said stop being located at a location adjacent to and in direct contact with said cradle, said threaded member coacting with said gripper and said cradle, whereby movement of said stop in a first direction exerts pressure on the cradle body to cause said cradle body and said sidewall portions to coact with said gripper body causing said gripper body to deform and said inner side portions of said plurality of tabs to move toward each other about the lateral axis.

A method of attaching a load-bearing object to a rib, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a deck having an external member extending downwardly therefrom, said external member having a profiled surface;
• (b) providing a hanger, wherein said hanger includes:
• (i) a gripper having a gripper body, said gripper body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of tabs depending therefrom and spaced along said longitudinal axis, each of said tabs having an outer face portion and an inner edge portion said plurality of tabs spaced apart from each other along a lateral axis forming a U-shaped portion extending along the longitudinal axis, said gripper body configured to be deformable;
• (ii) a cradle having a cradle body, said cradle body extending along the longitudinal axis and including sidewall portions spaced apart along the lateral axis defining a U-shaped gripper body receiving recess for receiving said gripper body, said gripper body received within said gripper body receiving recess such that at least a portion of said sidewall portions abuts at least a portion of said outer face portions of said tab members, said cradle configured to be rigid relative to the gripper body,
• (iii) a threaded member passing through said cradle body and said gripper body, and
• (iv) a stop threadably secured to said threaded member, wherein said cradle is positioned between said gripper and said stop, said stop being located at a location adjacent to and in direct contact with said cradle, said threaded member coacting with said gripper and said cradle;
• (c) positioning said hanger near said external member, so that said plurality of tabs are proximate to said profiled surface of said external member;
• (d) moving said stop in a first direction to exert pressure on the cradle body to cause said cradle body and said sidewall portions to coact with said gripper body causing said gripper body to deform and said inner side portions of said plurality of tabs to move toward each other about the lateral axis and securely engage said profiled surface of said external member;
• and
• (e) attaching said load-bearing object to said hanger.

A kit for attaching a load-bearing object to a rib, comprising:

• (a) a threaded member having a first end and a second end;
• (b) a gripper having a body, said body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of tabs depending therefrom and spaced along the longitudinal axis, each of said tabs having an outer face portion and an inner edge portion, said plurality of tabs spaced apart from each other along a lateral axis forming a U-shaped portion extending along the longitudinal axis, said gripper body configured to be deformable and being adapted to receive said first end of said threaded member;
• (c) a cradle having a cradle body, said cradle body extending along the longitudinal axis and including sidewall portions spaced apart along the lateral axis defining a U-shaped gripper body receiving recess for receiving said gripper body such that at least a portion of said sidewall portions abuts at least a portion of said outer face portions of said tab members, said cradle configured to be rigid relative to the gripper body, said cradle body adapted to receive said first end of said threaded member;
• and
• (d) a stop located adjacent to and in direct contact with said cradle and adapted to receive said second end of said threaded member such that movement of said stop in a first direction exerts pressure on the cradle body to cause said cradle body and said sidewall portions to coact with the gripper body causing said gripper body to deform and said inner side portions of said plurality of tabs to move toward each other about the lateral axis.