Twist-lock base for pipe holders

A combination of a support for items and a channel member holding the support, comprising:

• a channel member having opposing sides joined by a back, the sides being spaced a distance apart and each ending in a lip each extending toward the other lip and then toward a back wall of the channel;
• a support comprising:
• a base having first and second opposing surfaces;
• a first plate fastened to the second surface of the base, the first plate having opposing first and second ends defining a length about the same as the distance between the opposing sides of the channel member;
• a second plate offset from and aligned with the first plate, the second plate having opposing first and second ends defining a length about the same as the distance between the opposing sides of the channel member, the length of the first and second plates being smaller than a distance between opposing sides of the channel and greater than a distance between the lips so the first and second plates can fit inside the channel member during use;
• a deformable member connecting the first and second plates, the deformable member having a bend moving outward toward an adjacent side of the channel during use when the first and second plates are inside the channel with the ends adjacent a side and as the space between the plates is reduced, the member moving outward a distance sufficient to press against the adjacent side during use;
• and
• a conduit holding mechanism on the first surface of the support, the mechanism being adapted to fasten a conduit to the support.

A support for items and a channel member holding the support, comprising:

• a channel member having opposing sides joined by a back, the sides being spaced a distance apart and each ending in a lip having a distal end located inward of the side to which the lip is connected;
• a support comprising:
• a base having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being adapted to fasten to a conduit during use of the support;
• a first plate connected to the base and having a width sized to fit through the space between the lips and first opposing ends spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between the sides of the channel;
• a second plate having a width sized to fit though the space between the lips and second opposing ends spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between the sides of the channel, the second plate having its length aligned with the first plate;
• a first V-shaped deformable member having each leg of the first V joined to a different plate and a first bend at the juncture of the two legs of the V-shaped member;
• a second V-shaped deformable member having each leg of the second V joined to a different plate and a second bend at the juncture of the two legs of the V-shaped member, the first and second bends being located between the first and second ends and with the bend extending further beyond the first and second plates as the distance between the plates is made smaller and the legs of the V shaped member move together.

A clamp assembly for releasably securing an elongated member having a longitudinal axis to a structural support in combination with that support, the combination comprising:

• a channel member having opposing sides joined by a back, the sides being spaced a distance apart and each ending in a lip having a distal end located inward of the side to which the lip is connected;
• a clamp assembly, comprising:
• a clamp base having first and second opposing surfaces with a pair of ratchet arms extending outward from the first surface of the base, each arm having a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along at least one surface thereof and the arms being generally parallel, the clamp base having a first support for the elongate member that includes at least two inclined surfaces forming a generally V-shaped notch that opens in the same direction the arms extend;
• a clamping block having openings each of which is sized and located to receive one of the ratchet arms, the clamping block having a pawl located in each opening, the pawl having at least one pawl tooth with the pawl located and configured to releasably engage the ratchet teeth when the ratchet arm extends into the opening a distance sufficient to engage the at least one pawl tooth, the clamping block having a second support for the elongate member that includes at least two inclined surfaces forming a generally V-shaped notch that opens toward the clamp base when the ratchet arms are inserted into the openings;
• a first plate connected to the second surface of the clamp base and having a width sized to fit through the space between the lips and first opposing ends spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between the sides of the channel so the first plate can be inserted into the channel between the lips and then rotated so each end of the first plate is located between one of the sides of the channel and the lip adjacent that side of the channel so that the lips abut the first plate to restrain removal of the first plate from the channel;
• a second plate having a width sized to fit through the space between the lips and opposing second ends spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between the sides of the channel, the second plate having its length aligned with the first plate and being connected to the first plate;
• and
• a first deformable member extending between adjacent first ends of the first and second plates and a second deformable member extending between adjacent second ends of the first and second plates, the deformable members each having a bend orientated to extend beyond the ends of the plates as the plates move toward each other.

A method of providing a support for fastening members to elongated channels, comprising:

• inserting into a slot of an elongated channel a support having a first and second plate separated by a first distance and joined by a deformable member which extends beyond a periphery of the plates when the first distance reduces;
• the first plate being fastened to a locking member that is spaced apart from the first plate a second distance selected to place the top and distal edge of the lips between an upper surface of the first plate and a lower surface of the locking member, the elongated channel having a back with two parallel sides and a pair of lips opposite the back that extend toward each other and then extend toward the back, the lips spaced apart to define the slot between the lips, the slot extending along a length of the channel, the lips having a top and having a distal edge that extends toward the back a predetermined distance from the to of the lip;
• rotating the first and second plates and locking member a quarter turn so that ends of the first and second plates abut the sides of the channel;
• moving the first and second plates toward each other and extending the deformable member beyond a periphery of the plates;
• fastening an item or elongated member to the support.