Seismic sway brace fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11638984-B2
Application number	US-202016866181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A seismic sway brace fitting for a seismic brace includes a first jaw defining a threaded opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the seismic sway brace fitting to the seismic brace, and a second jaw. A pin connects the first and second jaws to one another. The first and second jaws define a space configured to receive an end portion of the seismic brace. The threaded opening is aligned with the space such that the fastener extends into the space to engage the end portion of the seismic brace when the fastener is received in the threaded opening to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting. The first jaw includes at least one brace bearing surface configured to engage an end of the seismic brace to inhibit the rotation of the first jaw relative to the second jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seismic sway brace fitting for a seismic brace, the seismic sway brace fitting comprising:
a first jaw defining a threaded opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the seismic sway brace fitting to the seismic brace, the first jaw comprising a center portion and at least one flange portion extending from a side of the center portion;
a second jaw; and
a pin connecting the first and second jaws to one another;
wherein the first and second jaws define a space configured to receive an end portion of the seismic brace, the threaded opening aligned with the space such that the fastener extends into the space to engage the end portion of the seismic brace when the fastener is received in the threaded opening to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting, the first jaw including at least one brace bearing surface configured to engage an end of the seismic brace to inhibit the rotation of the first jaw relative to the second jaw, wherein the at least one brace bearing surface is defined by the at least one flange portion of the first jaw.

2. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 1 , wherein the at least one brace bearing surface includes first and second brace bearing surfaces.

3. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 2 , wherein the first and second brace bearing surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the second jaw.

4. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw includes a bearing surface configured to engage a portion of the first jaw to form a contact point between the first and second jaws to inhibit the first jaw from rotating relative to the second jaw.

5. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 4 , wherein the first and second jaws each have opposite proximal and distal ends, the first and second jaws being connected by the pin at a pin location disposed between the proximal and distal ends of each of the first and second jaws.

6. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 5 , wherein the bearing surface of the second jaw is disposed proximally of the pin location and the contact point is disposed proximally of the pin location.

7. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 5 , wherein the bearing surface of the second jaw is disposed distally of the pin location and the contact point is disposed distally of the pin location.

8. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 5 , wherein the bearing surface of the second jaw is a first bearing surface and the contact point is a first contact point, wherein the second jaw includes a second bearing surface configured to engage a portion of the first jaw to form a second contact point between the first and second jaws to inhibit the first jaw from rotating relative to the second jaw.

9. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 8 , wherein the first bearing surface is disposed proximally of the pin location and the first contact point is disposed proximally of the pin location.

10. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 9 , wherein the second bearing surface is disposed distally of the pin location and the second contact point is disposed distally of the pin location.

11. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 10 , wherein the first and second jaws each define a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the first and second jaws, the longitudinal axes of the first and second jaws being coplanar, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first jaw is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the second jaw when the first jaw engages the second jaw to form the first and second contact points.

12. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 10 , wherein the first bearing surface engages a lower surface of the first jaw and the second bearing surface engages an upper surface of the first jaw.

13. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 12 , wherein the pin is configured to inhibit the first jaw from rotating relative to the second jaw when the first bearing surface engages the lower surface of the first jaw.

14. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 8 , wherein the first jaw defines an opening and the second jaw includes a tab that extends through the opening, the tab defining the second bearing surface.

15. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 14 , wherein the tab further defines a fastener bearing surface configured to engage the fastener to inhibit the fastener from rotating relative to the first jaw when the fastener secures the seismic brace to the seismic sway brace fitting.

16. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first jaw that defines the space configured to receive the end portion of the seismic brace has a U-shaped cross-section.

17. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 1 , in combination with the fastener, wherein the fastener is a torque-limiting bolt.

18. A seismic sway brace fitting for a seismic brace, the seismic sway brace fitting comprising:
a first jaw defining a threaded opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting, the first jaw having proximal and distal ends, the first jaw having an interior surface;
a second jaw connected to the first jaw; and
a pin connecting the first and second jaws, the pin disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the first jaw, wherein the first and second jaws are rotatable relative to one another about the pin;
wherein the first and second jaws define a space adjacent to the distal end of the first jaw, the space configured to receive an end portion of the seismic brace, the threaded opening aligned with the space such that the fastener extends into the space to engage the end portion of the seismic brace when the fastener is received in the threaded opening to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting, the second jaw including a bearing surface disposed proximally of the pin and configured to engage an upper portion of the interior surface of the first jaw to form a contact point between the first and second jaws to inhibit relative rotation in a counter-clockwise direction between the first and second jaws about the pin.

19. The seismic sway brace fitting of claim 18 , wherein the bearing surface is a first bearing surface and the contact point is a first contact point, wherein the second jaw includes a second bearing surface distal of the pivot pin and configured to engage an exterior portion of the first j aw to form a second contact point between the first and second jaws to inhibit relative rotation in a counter-clockwise direction between the first and second jaws about the pin.

20. A seismic sway brace fitting for a seismic brace, the seismic sway brace fitting comprising:
a first jaw defining a threaded opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting, the first jaw having proximal and distal ends;
a second jaw connected to the first jaw; and
a pin connecting the first and second jaws, the pin disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the first jaw;
wherein the first and second jaws define a space adjacent to the distal end of the first jaw, the space configured to receive an end portion of the seismic brace, the threaded opening aligned with the space such that the fastener extends into the space to engage the end portion of the seismic brace when the fastener is received in the threaded opening to secure the seismic brace to the sway brace fitting, the second jaw including a bearing surface disposed proximally of the pin and configured to engage a portion of the first jaw to form a contac

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Gunn Josh
• Petry Jr David Henry
• Pruitt Phillip

Classifications

• B25B5/101

  C-clamps · CPC title

• F16B2/065 Primary

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L3/11

  and hanging from a pendant (F16L3/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25B5/006 Primary

  Supporting devices for clamps · CPC title