Sway brace fitting

• US 20020023990A1
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard W. Heath
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Heath
• Inventors: Heath, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,517,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/291.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/006 Supporting devices for clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/101 C-clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/015 using articulated- or supple-guiding elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/127 and extending away from the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/133 and hanging from a pendant F16L3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/243 the special member being inserted in the profiled girder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7041 including set screw

Abstract

A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.

Claims

1. A sway brace attachment, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw spaced from said first jaw and being rigidly connected to said first jaw, said second jaw having a threaded opening;

a screw mounted in said threaded opening and movable towards said first jaw to clamp a brace between said jaws; and

a recess formed on said first jaw and adapted to receive deformed material of said brace displaced by said screw forcibly engaging said brace, said recess having a center substantially aligned with said screw.

2. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said first jaw has a length and said recess has a length less than said length of said first jaw.

3. The sway brace attachment of claim 2, wherein said screw comprises a threaded portion having a diameter less than or about the same as said length of said recess.

4. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said recess has a face generally defining the depth of said recess and an opposing open face with a peripheral size.

5. The sway brace attachment of claim 4, wherein said screw comprises a threaded portion having a peripheral size less than or about the same as said peripheral size of said open face.

6. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said recess has a sharp corner adapted to engage said deformed material to resist withdrawal of said brace from between said jaws.

7. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said screw comprises a cone point.

8. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said screw comprises a break-off head.

9. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said screw is angled a small amount so that when a tension load is applied to said brace said screw is forced more tightly into said brace.

10. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, wherein said attachment has a passage for receiving a connector pin.

11. The sway brace attachment of claim 1, in combination with a member connected to said attachment for securing said attachment to a support surface.

13. The sway brace fitting of claim 12, wherein said body portion of said clamp further comprises an upper jaw spaced from said lower jaw to form a gap between said jaws for receiving said wall of said brace.

14. The sway brace fitting of claim 13, wherein said upper jaw has a threaded opening in which said screw is mounted.

15. The sway brace fitting of claim 14, wherein said clamp body portion has a forward portion with said gap between said jaws formed thereon and a rear portion with a passage for receiving a connector pin.

16. The sway brace fitting of claim 15, wherein said passage is formed on a rear portion of said lower jaw.

17. The sway brace fitting of claim 15, wherein said threaded opening has a longitudinal axis and said passage has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said threaded opening.

18. The sway brace fitting of claim 17, wherein said recess is sized and positioned on said inner surface of said lower jaw such that said wall of said brace can extend into said gap between said jaws beyond said recess so as to be able to deform more readily when forcibly engaged by said screw.

19. The sway brace fitting of claim 18, wherein said jaws are rigidly connected.

20. The sway brace fitting of claim 19, wherein said body portion of said clamp comprises an integral unit.

21. The sway brace fitting of claim 20, wherein said recess has a width and said lower jaw has a width about the same as said width of said recess.

22. The sway brace fitting of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said upper jaw has a width greater than said width of said lower jaw.

23. The sway brace fitting of claim 22, wherein said threaded portion of said screw has a diameter about the same as said width of said recess.

24. The sway brace fitting of claim 23, wherein said body portion of said clamp comprises a plate portion elevated above said lower jaw.

25. The sway brace fitting of claim 24, wherein said plate portion has a width about the same as said diameter of said threaded portion of said screw.

26. The sway brace fitting of claim 22, wherein said width of said lower jaw is about 0.375 inches.

27. The sway brace fitting of claim 26, wherein said body portion of said clamp has a length of about 3 inches.

28. The sway brace fitting of claim 27, wherein said body portion of said clamp has a height of about 2.25 inches.

29. The sway brace fitting of claim 28, in combination with a member connected to said clamp for attaching said fitting to a support surface.

12. A sway brace fitting, comprising:

a clamp having a body portion;

a lower jaw on said body portion of said clamp, said lower jaw having an inner surface with a length;

a screw having a threaded portion and threadably mounted on said clamp and movable towards said inner surface of said lower jaw to grip a wall of a brace between said lower jaw and said screw; and

a recess on said inner surface of said lower jaw to provide clearance space for deformed material created by said screw engaging said brace, said recess having a length smaller than said length of said inner surface of said lower jaw.

30. A seismic fitting for connection to a support element, comprising:

a first jaw having a length;

a second jaw spaced from said first jaw and mechanically connected to said first jaw;

a screw threadably mounted on said second jaw and movable towards said first jaw to clamp a portion of said support element between said jaws; and

said first jaw having a recess with a closed face generally defining the depth of said recess, said recess being substantially aligned with said screw and having a length less than said length of said first jaw.

31. The seismic fitting of claim 30, wherein said recess is adapted to receive material of said wall of said support element displaced by said screw forcibly engaging said support element.

32. The seismic fitting of claim 31, wherein said recess has a sharp corner adapted to engage said material of said wall of said support element to resist withdrawal of said support element from said fitting.

33. The seismic fitting of claim 30, wherein said jaws comprise an integral unit.

34. The seismic fitting of claim 30, wherein said first jaw has a width and at least a portion of said second jaw has a width greater than said width of said first jaw.

35. The seismic fitting of claim 30, wherein said recess has a width and said first jaw has a width about the same as said width of said recess.

36. The seismic fitting of claim 30, wherein said second jaw comprises a threaded opening engaged with said screw.

37. The seismic fitting of claim 36, wherein said threaded opening is angled a small amount so that when a tension load is applied to said support element said screw is forced more tightly against said support element.

38. The seismic fitting of claim 30, further comprising:

a collar plate having a pair of spaced legs on one end and said second jaw being formed on an opposite end of said collar plate; and

a center plate sized to fit between said collar plate legs and having said first jaw formed thereon.

39. The seismic fitting of claim 38, wherein said collar plate legs have free ends that are formed into a general U-shape and are adapted to receive a connector pin

40. The seismic fitting of claim 39, wherein said center plate has a hole aligned with said U-shaped ends of said collar plate legs to receive said connector pin.

41. The seismic fitting of claim 39, wherein said center plate has a slot which receives said collar plate and spaces said jaws.

42. The seismic fitting of claim 38, wherein said center plate includes a support which is adjacent to part of said second jaw of said collar plate for supporting said second jaw when a load with a component substantially perpendicular to the plane of said second jaw acts on said second jaw.

43. The seismic fitting of claim 38, wherein said center plate has a face closely positioned to said screw to prevent movement of said screw when a compressive load is applied to said support element.

44. The seismic fitting of claim 38, wherein said screw and said face are angled a small amount.

46. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said recess has a face generally defining the depth of said recess and an opposing open face.

47. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said jaw has a width and said recess has a width about the same as said width of said jaw.

48. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said recess is substantially aligned with said screw.

49. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said recess has a pair of edges on said jaw generally defining said length of said recess.

50. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said recess is sized and positioned on said jaw such that said brace can extend along said jaw beyond said recess so as to be able to deform more readily when forcibly engaged by said screw.

51. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said recess has a sharp corner adapted to engage said deformed material to resist withdrawal of said brace from said fitting.

52. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, wherein said screw is angled a small amount so that when a tension load is applied to said brace said screw is forced more tightly into said brace.

53. The sway brace assembly of claim 45, further comprising a pin connecting said clamp and said member.

54. The sway brace assembly of claim 53, wherein said jaw has a rear portion with a hole with said pin being received therethrough.

55. The sway brace assembly of claim 54, wherein said hole has a longitudinal axis and said screw has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said hole.

56. The sway brace assembly of claim 55, wherein said member has at least one hole substantially aligned with said hole of said jaw and with said pin being received therethrough.

57. The sway brace assembly of claim 53, wherein said clamp and said member are pivotally connected.

58. The sway brace assembly of claim 53, wherein said member has a wall with a hole for receiving a fastener to attach said sway brace assembly to said support surface.

60. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said clamp has a second jaw to form a gap between said jaws in which said wall of said brace is received.

61. The sway brace system of claim 60, wherein said second jaw has a threaded opening in which said screw is mounted.

62. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said jaw has a length and said recess has a length less than said length of said jaw.

63. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said wall of said brace extends along said jaw beyond said recess so as to be able to deform more readily when engaged by said screw.

64. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said recess has a sharp corner adapted to engage said deformed material to resist withdrawal of said brace from between said jaws.

65. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said screw is angled a small amount so that when a tension load is applied to said brace said screw is forced more tightly into said brace.

66. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said recess has a width and said screw has threaded portion with a diameter about the same as said width of said recess.

67. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said screw has a cone point.

68. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said clamp has a passage at a rear portion of said jaw for receiving a connector pin.

69. The sway brace system of claim 59, in combination with a member attached to said clamp for connecting said clamp to a support surface.

70. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said brace comprises a pipe.

71. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said brace comprises an angled bar.

72. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said brace comprises a channel.

73. The sway brace system of claim 59, wherein said brace comprises a plate.

45. A sway brace assembly for connection to a brace for supporting a load against sway and/or seismic disturbances, comprising:

a clamp of rigid material, comprising;

a jaw on said clamp, said jaw having a length;

a screw threadably mounted on said clamp and movable towards said jaw to grip said brace between said jaw and said screw;

a recess on said jaw for receiving deformed material caused by said screw forcibly engaging said brace, said recess having a length less than said length of said jaw; and

a member attached to said clamp for connecting said clamp to a support surface.

59. A sway brace system, comprising:

a brace;

a clamp of rigid material, comprising;

a jaw engaged with a wall of said brace;

a screw having an end deformingly engaged with said wall of said brace, said jaw and said screw being on opposed sides of said wall;

said jaw including a recess formed on an inner surface of said jaw and containing deformed material of said brace caused by the engagement between said screw and said brace;

whereby, said brace is firmly connected to said clamp.

74. A method of securely attaching a sway brace to a clamp comprising a jaw and a screw threadably movable towards said jaw, comprising the steps of:

positioning said jaw of said clamp adjacent a wall of said brace;

positioning an end of said screw of said clamp adjacent said wall of said brace such that said screw and said jaw are on opposed sides of said wall;

rotating said screw to engage said wall of said brace; and

gripping said wall of said brace between said screw and said jaw with sufficient force to deform a portion of said wall into a recess formed on an inner surface of said jaw.

75. The method of claim 74, further including a step of pivotally connecting said clamp to a support.

76. The method of claim 74, further including a step of pivotally connecting said clamp to a connection member.

77. The method of claim 76, further including a step of attaching said connection member to a support.

79. The sway brace attachment of claim 78, wherein said recess has a sharp edge to facilitate interlocking with said deformed material to firmly connect said attachment to said brace.

78. A sway brace attachment, comprising:

a lower jaw;

an upper jaw spaced from said lower jaw to form a gap therebetween and being rigidly connected to said lower jaw;

a screw threadably mounted on said upper jaw and movable towards said lower jaw to clamp a portion of a brace between said lower jaw and said screw; and

said lower jaw comprising a recess configured to receive deformed material of said brace displaced by said screw forcibly engaging said brace.