Fitting for strut channel

A method of attaching two pieces of strut, the method comprising:

• providing a first piece of strut having a fitting side defining a first fitting groove, the first fitting groove having a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining a slot-shaped opening;
• providing a second piece of strut having a fitting side defining a second fitting groove;
• providing a fitting comprising a coupling component configured for attachment to both the first and second pieces of strut and an anti-rotation plate having a locked position relative to the coupling component configured to prevent rotation of the coupling component upon attachment of the fitting to the first and second pieces of strut;
• inserting the fitting in a first orientation into the first fitting groove through the slot-shaped opening;
• inserting the fitting into the second fitting groove after said inserting the fitting in a first orientation into the first fitting groove;
• and
• rotating the coupling component relative to the anti-rotation plate to a second orientation to connect the first and second pieces of strut to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of strut are juxtaposed and face one another, wherein rotating the coupling component causes the anti-rotation plate to be in the locked position relative to the coupling component to inhibit rotation of the coupling component from the second orientation to the first orientation.

A fitting for connecting first and second pieces of strut to one another, wherein each piece of strut includes an elongate strut body having opposite longitudinal ends, a length extending between the opposite longitudinal ends, and a fitting side defining an external fitting groove extending lengthwise of the body, the fitting comprising:

• a coupling component having first and second coupling portions configured for reception in respective fitting grooves of the first and second pieces of strut when the coupling component is in a first orientation relative to the respective fitting grooves, wherein each of the first and second coupling portions are rotatable within the respective fitting grooves from the first orientation to a second orientation to connect the first and second pieces of strut to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of strut are juxtaposed and face one another;
• and
• an anti-rotation plate connected to the coupling component, wherein the anti-rotation plate has an unlocked position relative to the coupling component to allow the first and second coupling portions to be received in the respective fitting grooves, and a locked position relative to the coupling component to inhibit rotation of each of the first and second coupling portions from the second orientation to the first orientation,
• wherein the first coupling portion has a dovetail cross-sectional shape,
• wherein the second coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which is inverted relative to the first coupling portion,
• wherein the first coupling portion has a length extending between longitudinal ends and a width extending between sides, the length being greater than a distance between the first and second legs of the anti-rotation plate and the width being less than the distance between the first and second legs.