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US 7,926,766 B2Granted
Support assemblies for pipes, conduits and tubes
AssigneePotential Design, Inc.
InventorJames W. Tjerrild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Trapeze type support strut assemblies attach pipes, conduit, and tubes to vertical and horizontal surfaces in a sanitary manner. The strut assemblies repel contaminants, are easy to inspect, and easy to clean. Structures to provide seismic stability to trapeze type support strut assemblies may also be used.
Claims15
A trapeze type support assembly for mounting to an overhead support comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the base;
- the first and second legs having lower portions extending to lower edges, the lower portions being downwardly extending without any upwardly extending components thereby effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting troughs at the lower portions of the legs;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a hanger element having upper and lower ends;
- the upper end of the hanger element engageable with an overhead support;
- and
- the lower end of the hanger element secured to the base;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the base so as to secure a supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut.
7 more elements
A trapeze type support assembly for mounting to an overhead support comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the base;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket engageable with an overhead support;
- and
- a hanger element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hanger element secured to the base;
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the base so to secure a supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- a seismic adapter securing the hanger element to the base;
- and
- first and second lateral support members secure to the seismic adapter at an acute angle to horizontal, the lateral support members having distal ends secured to a building support member so to provide seismic stability to the strut, the lateral support members also having smooth outer surfaces to enhance sanitation;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut.
7 more elements
A trapeze type support installation comprising:
- an overhead support;
- a supported element;
- and
- a trapeze type support assembly, suspending the supported element from the overhead support, comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the base at angles of more than 180° from the upper surface;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket secured to the overhead support;
- a hanger element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hanger element secured to the base, the hanger element having a smooth surface between the bracket and the base;
- a seismic adapter securing the hanger element to the base;
- and
- first and second lateral support members secure to the seismic adapter at an acute angle to horizontal, the lateral support members having distal ends secured to a building support member so to provide seismic stability to the strut, the lateral support members also having smooth outer surfaces to enhance sanitation;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securing the supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- whereby the support assembly enhances sanitation by effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut and by effectively eliminating contaminant-collecting threaded surfaces on the hanger rod between the bracket and the base.
11 more elements
A method for mounting a supported element to an overhead support comprising:
- selecting a trapeze type support assembly comprising:
- a strut having a base, the base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the strut also having first and second legs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the base;
- a support bracket assembly, secured to the base, comprising:
- a bracket engageable with an overhead support;
- and
- a hanger element supported by the bracket and extending from the bracket to the base with the hanger element secured to the base;
- and
- a supported element fastener assembly securable to the base so to secure a supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut;
- suspending the strut from the overhead support with the bracket secured to the overhead support and of the hanger rod connecting the strut to the bracket;
- securing the supported element to the upper surface of the base of the strut using the supported element fastener assembly;
- and
- effectively eliminating any upwardly-facing, contaminant-collecting trough in the strut.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.