Trapeze hanger system including twist-locking fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9732887-B2
Application number	US-201615253197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Apr 30, 2014
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

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 trapeze hanger system comprising:
a strut having 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 configured to secure the strut to a threaded rod, the twist-locking fitting 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 inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the first half-nut portion and configured for reception in the open interior of the strut through the at least one opening of the first side of the strut, an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the first half-nut portion and being spaced axially apart from the inner flange of the first fitting piece such that the outer flange is 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; 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 second half-nut portion, an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the second half-nut portion and configured for reception in the open interior of the strut through the at least one opening of the first side of the strut, an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the second half-nut portion and being spaced axially apart from the inner flange of the second fitting piece such that the outer flange is 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;

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.

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

3. The trapeze hanger system 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 trapeze hanger system 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 trapeze hanger system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second fitting pieces are wholly separable from one another.

6. The trapeze hanger system 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 trapeze hanger system 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 trapeze hanger system 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 locked position to the inlocked position.

9. The trapeze hanger system 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 locked position.

10. The trapeze hanger system 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 trapeze hanger system set forth in claim 1 , in combination with the threaded rod, wherein the threaded rod is secured within an opening defined by a combination of the first and second half-nut portions.

12. A method of forming a trapeze hanger system, the method comprising:
inserting inner flanges of respective first and second fitting pieces into an open interior of a strut through an opening extending through a first side of the strut;
inserting a threaded rod between opposing half-nut portions of the first and second fitting pieces;
rotating, after said inserting a threaded rod, the first and second fitting pieces relative to the strut to position the first and second fitting pieces in a secured position, in which the first and second fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut; and
sliding, after said inserting and before said rotating, the first and second fitting pieces toward one another such that the opposing half-nut portions together define an opening in which the threaded rod is received.

13. The method of forming a trapeze hanger system set forth in claim 12 , wherein interior surfaces of the opposing half-nut portions together define the opening, wherein the interior surfaces include threads.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Zhang Zhihui
• Greenwalt Christopher Lee

Classifications

• Y10T29/4995

  Nonthreaded · CPC title

• F16L3/24 Primary

  with special member for attachment to profiled girders · CPC title

• F16L3/10

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

• F16B37/0892

  in two or more pieces, e.g. assemblies made by two C-shaped nuts mutually interlocked, or retained by an additional member (F16B37/0885 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B37/042

  locking by rotation · CPC title