Trapeze hanger system including twist-locking fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9458952-B2
Application number	US-201514701111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 30, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A twist-locking fitting for securing a strut to a rod includes first and second fitting pieces. Each fitting piece includes a half-nut portion having an interior surface defining an axis extending through first and second axial ends of the half-nut portion. Each fitting piece includes an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the half-nut portion and an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the half-nut portion. The inner flange is spaced axially apart from the outer flange to define a clearance gap. The fitting pieces are positionable on the strut in an unsecured position in which the fitting pieces are movable relative to one another. The fitting pieces are rotatable relative to the strut to move from the unsecured position to a secured position, in which the fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A twist-locking fitting for securing a strut to a rod comprising:
a first fitting piece including
a first half-nut portion having an interior surface defining a first axis extending through first and second axial ends of the outer half-nut portion,
an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the first half-nut portion, and
an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the first half-nut portion, the inner flange being spaced axially apart from the outer flange of the first fitting piece to define a first clearance gap therebetween; and

a second fitting piece including
a second half-nut portion having an interior surface defining a second axis extending through first and second axial ends of the outer half-nut portion,
an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the second half-nut portion, and
an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the second half-nut portion, the inner flange being spaced axially apart from the outer flange of the second fitting piece to define a second clearance gap therebetween,

wherein the first and second fitting pieces are positionable on the strut in an unsecured position, in which the first and second fitting pieces are movable relative to one another,
wherein the first and second fitting pieces are rotatable relative to the strut to move the first and second fitting pieces from the unsecured position to a secured position on the strut, in which the first and second fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut,
wherein each inner flange of the respective first and second fitting pieces includes terminal end having a first corner that is rounded,
wherein the terminal end of each inner flange of the respective first and second fitting pieces has a second corner opposite the first corner that is squared.

2. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces of the respective first and second half-nut portions include threads.

3. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of each of the first and second half-nut portions have a circumference subtending 180 degrees relative to the corresponding one of the first and second axes.

4. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 3 , wherein the thread of the first half-nut portion is offset 180 degrees from the thread of the second half-nut portion to form a continuous thread when the first and second fitting pieces are brought together.

5. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second fitting pieces are wholly separable from one another.

6. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first fitting piece further includes a first wing tab extending outward from the outer flange of the first fitting piece.

7. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 6 , wherein the second fitting piece further includes a second wing tab extending outward from the outer flange of the second fitting piece.

8. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein each outer flange of the respective first and second fitting pieces has opposite inner and outer surfaces, at least one of the outer flanges of the first and second fitting pieces including a detent projecting outward from the inner surface to inhibit rotation of the first and second fitting pieces from the secured position to the unsecured position.

9. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 8 , wherein the detent comprises a raised bump configured to engage an outer surface of the strut when the first and second fitting pieces are in the secured position.

10. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 9 , wherein the detent comprises a first detent of the first fitting pieces and a second detent of the second fitting piece.

11. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , in combination with the strut, wherein the strut includes wherein the inner flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are configured for reception in the open interior of the strut through the at least one opening of the first side of the strut, wherein the outer flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are configured to be in opposing relationship with the outer portion of the first side of the strut when the inner flange is received in the open interior of the strut.

12. The twist-locking fitting set forth in claim 1 , in combination with the strut, wherein the strut includes a first side having an outer portion and defining at least one opening, and an interior surface defining an open interior,
wherein the inner flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are received in the open interior of the strut through the at least one opening of the first side of the strut,
wherein the outer flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are in opposing relationship with the outer portion of the first side of the strut,
wherein the first and second fitting pieces are in the secured locked position.

13. The twist-locking fitting in combination with the strut set forth in claim 12 , in further combination with the rod,
wherein the rod is secured within an opening defined by a combination of the first and second half-nut portions.

14. A strut system comprising:
a strut including a first side having an outer portion and defining at least one opening, and an interior surface defining an open interior; and
a twist-locking fitting including
a first fitting piece including a first half-nut portion having an interior surface defining a first axis extending through first and second axial ends of the outer half-nut portion, an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the first half-nut portion, and an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the first half-nut portion, the inner flange being spaced axially apart from the outer flange of the first fitting piece to define a first clearance gap therebetween, and
a second fitting piece including a second half-nut portion having an interior surface defining a second axis extending through first and second axial ends of the outer half-nut portion, an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the second half-nut portion, and an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the second half-nut portion, the inner flange being spaced axially apart from the outer flange of the second fitting piece to define a second clearance gap therebetween,

wherein the first and second fitting pieces are positionable on the strut in an unsecured position, in which the first and second fitting pieces are movable relative to one another,
wherein the first and second fitting pieces are rotatable relative to the strut to move the first and second fitting pieces from the unsecured position to a secured position on the strut, in which the first and second fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut,
wherein the inner flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are configured for reception in the open interior of the strut through the at least one opening of the first side of the strut,
wherein the outer flanges of the respective first and second fitting pieces are configured to be in opposing relationship with the outer portion of the first side of the strut when the inner flange is received in the open interior of the strut.

15. A strut system comprising:
a strut including a first side having an outer portion and defining at least one opening, and

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Zhang Zhihui
• Greenwalt Christopher Lee

Classifications

• Y10T29/4995

  Nonthreaded · CPC title

• F16L3/10

  divided, i.e. with two members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing · CPC title

• F16B37/042

  locking by rotation · CPC title

• F16L3/24 Primary

  with special member for attachment to profiled girders · CPC title

• F16B7/187

  with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels (channel nuts per se F16B37/045) · CPC title