Pipe saddle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11073230-B2
Application number	US-201916511137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2019
Priority date	Jul 15, 2018
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A pipe saddle includes a saddle body having an interior surface with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape defining an interior configured to receive a pipe therein. The saddle body includes a bottom wall portion. A support clip is included on the bottom wall portion of the saddle body. The support clip includes a side wall extending downward. A resiliently deflectable lower arm extends outward from a lower end of the side wall and generally opposing the bottom wall portion. The resiliently deflectable lower arm includes a catch at a free end thereof. The resiliently deflectable lower arm is configured to snap onto a support structure to attach the pipe saddle to the support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe saddle comprising:
a saddle body having an interior surface with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape defining an interior configured to receive a pipe therein, the saddle body including a bottom wall portion; and
a support clip on the bottom wall portion of the saddle body, the support clip including
a side wall extending downward relative to the bottom wall portion,
a resiliently deflectable lower arm extending outward from a lower end of the side wall and generally opposing the bottom wall portion, wherein the resiliently deflectable lower arm is configured to engage a support structure to attach the pipe saddle to the support structure,
a catch at a free end of the resiliently deflectable lower arm, wherein the resiliently deflectable lower arm is configured to snap onto the support structure,
an upper lip extending downward relative to the bottom wall portion, wherein the catch and the upper lip generally oppose one another to define a side opening of the support clip.

2. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 1 , wherein the support clip further includes an upper wall at the bottom wall portion of the saddle body and generally opposing the resiliently deflectable lower arm, the side wall extending downward from one end of the upper wall.

3. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 2 , wherein the upper lip extends downward from the upper wall at an end of the upper wall opposite the side wall.

4. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 3 , wherein interior surfaces of the side wall, the resiliently deflectable lower arm, the upper wall, and the upper lip define the interior of the support clip in communication with the side opening of the support clip.

5. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 4 , wherein the interior surfaces of the side wall, the resiliently deflectable lower arm, the upper wall, and the upper lip are each generally planar.

6. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 5 , wherein the support structure onto which the support clip is configured to snap has a rectangular cross section.

7. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deflectable lower arm is resiliently deflectable along generally its entire length.

8. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 7 , wherein the resiliently deflectable lower arm extends at an acute included angle from the side wall.

9. A pipe saddle comprising:
a saddle body having an exterior surface, and an interior surface with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape defining an interior configured to receive a pipe therein, and a longitudinal axis extending between opposite longitudinal ends; and
at least one angular rib on the exterior surface of the saddle body, the at least one angular rib having a length extending between opposite upper and lower ends of the rib, wherein at least an angular longitudinal portion of the at least one angular rib extends at an angle relative to a mid-length transverse plane extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis at a mid-length of the saddle body,
wherein the pipe saddle further comprises at least one transverse rib on the exterior surface of the saddle body, wherein the at least one transverse rib extends around the saddle body in a transverse plane that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the saddle body,
wherein the at least one angular rib intersects the transverse rib.

10. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 9 , wherein said at least an angular longitudinal portion of the at least one angular rib has a curved longitudinal portion.

11. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 9 , wherein the pipe saddle further comprises a keel rib on the exterior surface of the saddle body, wherein the keel rib extends longitudinally along the bottom wall portion of the saddle body.

12. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 11 , wherein the at least one angular rib intersects the keel rib.

13. A pipe saddle comprising:
a saddle body having an interior surface with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape defining an interior configured to receive a pipe therein, the saddle body including a bottom wall portion and having a longitudinal axis extending between opposite longitudinal ends of the saddle body; and
a support retainer on the bottom wall portion of the saddle body, the support retainer including a retainer strap having an attached end connected to the bottom wall portion and a free end selectively attachable to the saddle body via a snap latch, the support retainer configured to capture a band of a hanger between the saddle body and the retainer strap.

14. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 13 , wherein the retainer strap is resiliently deflectable about a flexible hinge at the attached end of the retainer strap.

15. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 13 , wherein the snap latch includes a snap hook at the free end of the retainer strap, and a catch at the bottom wall portion of the saddle body, wherein the snap hook is releasably attachable to the catch.

16. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 13 , wherein retainer strap has a convex intermediate portion configured to engage the band of the hanger when the snap latch is secured.

17. The pipe saddle set forth in claim 13 , further comprising a second catch at the attached end of the retainer strap and extending toward the catch, the catch and the second catch are spaced a same distance from the bottom wall portion to define respective grooves extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the saddle body.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Witherbee Martin Lee
• Reese Robert John

Classifications

• F16L3/04 Primary

  and pressing it against a wall or other support · CPC title

• F16L3/26

  specially adapted for supporting the pipes all along their length, e.g. pipe channels or ducts · CPC title

• F16L3/02

  partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing (bands or chains F16L3/14) · CPC title

• F16L3/245 Primary

  the special member embracing the entire profiled girder · CPC title

• F16L3/14

  Hangers in the form of bands or chains · CPC title