Fitting for connecting two pieces of channel framing to one another

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9470339-B2
Application number	US-201414298483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A fitting for connecting first and second pieces of channel framing to one another includes a coupling component having first and second coupling portions. The first coupling portion has a dovetail cross-sectional shape, and the second coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which is inverted relative to the first coupling portion. The first coupling portion is configured for reception in a fitting groove of the first piece of channel framing, and the second coupling portion is configured for reception in a fitting groove of the second piece of channel framing to connect the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of channel framing are juxtaposed and face one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fitting for connecting first and second pieces of channel framing to one another, wherein each piece of channel framing includes an elongate channel framing body having opposite longitudinal ends, a length extending between the opposite longitudinal ends, an interior surface defining an open interior extending lengthwise of the body, 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, the first coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which tapers toward the second coupling portion, the second coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which tapers toward the first coupling portion and is inverted relative to the first coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portions are fixed to one another to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second coupling portions, wherein the first coupling portion is configured for reception in the fitting groove of the first piece of channel framing, and the second coupling portion is configured for reception in the fitting groove of the second piece of channel framing to connect the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of channel framing are juxtaposed and face one another; and
a washer secured to the coupling component and configured to engage the interior surface of the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing when the first and second coupling portions of the coupling component are received in the respective fitting grooves of the first and second pieces of channel framing.

2. The fitting set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a resiliently deformable element interposed between and connecting the coupling component and the washer, the resiliently deformable element configured to generate a force to clamp the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing between the washer and the coupling component.

3. The fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein the coupling component comprises a nut, the nut defining a threaded opening for receiving a threaded fastener.

4. The fitting set forth in claim 3 , wherein the washer defines a through opening generally aligned with the threaded opening defined by the nut.

5. The fitting set forth in claim 1 , wherein the coupling component comprises first and second nuts secured to one another, wherein the first nut defines the first coupling portion and the second nut defines the second coupling portion.

6. The fitting set forth in claim 1 , in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing, wherein the first coupling portion is secured within the fitting groove of the first piece of channel framing, and the second coupling portion is secured within the fitting groove of the second piece of channel framing to connect the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of channel framing are juxtaposed and face one another.

7. The fitting in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing set forth in claim 6 , wherein each fitting groove of the first and second pieces of channel framing has a dovetail cross-sectional shape.

8. The fitting in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing set forth in claim 6 , wherein the fitting includes a washer secured to the coupling component and engaging an interior surface of the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing.

9. The fitting in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing set forth in claim 6 , wherein the first piece of channel framing defines a fitting opening extending through the fitting side from the interior surface to the fitting groove, wherein the fitting extends through fitting opening.

10. The fitting in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing set forth in claim 9 , wherein the fitting includes a stop configured to limit rotation of the coupling component within the respective fitting grooves of the first and second pieces of channel framing.

11. The fitting in combination with the first and second pieces of channel framing set forth in claim 8 , wherein the fitting includes a resiliently deformable element interposed between and connecting the coupling component and the washer, the resiliently deformable element configured to generate a force to clamp the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing between the washer and the coupling component.

12. A method of assembling a channel framing assembly, the method comprising:
providing a first piece of channel framing including an elongate first channel framing body having opposite longitudinal ends, a length extending between the opposite longitudinal ends, an interior surface defining an open interior, a fitting side defining an external fitting groove extending lengthwise of the first channel framing body, and a slotted side defining an elongate slot extending lengthwise of the first channel framing body and into the open interior of the first channel framing body;
providing a second piece of channel framing including an elongate second channel framing body having opposite longitudinal ends, a length extending between the opposite longitudinal ends, an open interior, a fitting side defining an external fitting groove extending lengthwise of the second channel framing body, and a slotted side defining an elongate slot extending lengthwise of the second channel framing body and into the open interior of the second channel framing body;
providing a fitting including
a coupling component having first and second coupling portions, the first coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which tapers toward the second coupling portion, the second coupling portion having a dovetail cross-sectional shape which tapers toward the first coupling portions and is inverted relative to the first coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portions are fixed to one another to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second coupling portions, wherein the first coupling portion is configured for reception in the fitting groove of the first piece of channel framing, and the second coupling portion is configured for reception in the fitting groove of the second piece of channel framing to connect the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of channel framing are juxtaposed and face one another, and
a washer secured to the coupling component and configured to engage the interior surface of the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing when the first and second coupling portions of the coupling component are received in the respective fitting grooves of the first and second pieces of channel framing; and

connecting, using the fitting, the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another such that the fitting sides of the first and second pieces of channel framing are juxtaposed and face one another, wherein said connecting the first and second pieces of channel framing to one another includes
inserting the first coupling portion of the coupling component within the fitting groove of the first piece of channel framing,
inserting the second coupling portion of the coupling component within the fitting groove of the second piece of channel framing, and
engaging the interior surface of the fitting side of the first piece of channel framing with the washer secured to the coupling component when the first and second coupling portions of the coupling

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Zhang Zhihui
• Mccarthy William E
• Knutson James A

Classifications

• F16L3/10 Primary

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

• F16L3/2431

  the special member being inserted and subsequently rotated to a limited extent · CPC title

• E04B2001/1957

  Details of connections between nodes and struts · CPC title

• F16L3/243

  the special member being inserted in the profiled girder · CPC title

• E04B1/185

  Connections not covered by E04B1/21 and E04B1/2403, e.g. connections between structural parts of different material · CPC title