Hanger bar assembly

• US 20030006353A1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh, Drane, Mark R., Gupta, Harsh
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/073 Reinforcement members preventing slide dislocation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/088 Ceiling fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A hanger bar assembly for supporting an outlet box between spaced apart support elements including a first channel member being longitudinally slidingly engagable with a second channel member forming a longitudinally adjustable support bar. The first channel member has a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves and the second channel member having a plurality of longitudinally extending rails slidingly received in the grooves such that lateral movement between the first and second channel members is resisted. A clamping device is provided for urging the first and second channel members into respective forced engagement thereby restricting movement between the first and second channel members. A securement device attached to the support bar for securing the support bar to the spaced support elements is further provided. The first and second channel members have apertures formed therein to accommodate fasteners for securing end plates to the support.

Claims

1. A hanger bar assembly for supporting an outlet box between spaced apart support elements comprising:

a first channel member being longitudinally slidingly engagable with a second channel member forming a longitudinally adjustable support bar, said first channel member having a plurality of longitudinally extending first grooves and a plurality of longitudinally extending first rails, said second channel member having a plurality of longitudinally extending second rails and a plurality of longitudinally extending second grooves, the first rails being slidingly received in said second grooves and said second rails being slidingly received in said first grooves such that rotational movement between said first and second channel members is resisted;

a clamping device for urging said first and second channel members into respective forced engagement thereby restricting movement between said first and second channel members; and

a securement device attached to said support bar for securing said support bar to the spaced support elements.

2. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and said second channel members have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile having a channel interior, and said second channel member is inverted with respect to the first channel member.

3. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the securement device includes a pair of end plates secured to ends of said support bar.

4. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second channel members include apertures formed therein to receive fastening hardware to secure said end plates to said support bar.

5. A hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said pair of end plates each include at least one spike member extending outwardly for engagement with the support elements, and said at least one spike member includes an elongate portion having a substantially uniform cross-section terminating in a tapered endpoint.

6. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second channel members have substantially similar cross-sectional profiles.

7. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamp includes a bracket slidingly positionable over said support bar and engagable with the outlet box, said clamping device further including a fastener securable with said bracket such that upon securing said fastener to said bracket said first and second channel members are clamped together between said bracket and the outlet box.

8. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second channel members include a plurality of longitudinally extending shims extending therefrom.

9. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second channel members are formed of an extruded material.

10. A hanger bar assembly for supporting an outlet box between spaced apart support elements comprising:

a first channel member and a second channel member each having a plurality of apertures integrally formed therein adapted to receive fasteners, said first channel member being longitudinally slidingly engagable with said second channel member forming an longitudinally adjustable support bar;

a clamp for urging said first and second channel members into respective forced engagement thereby restricting movement between said first and second channel members; and

a pair of end plates attached to opposed ends of said support bar by a plurality of fasteners extending into said plurality of apertures, said pair of endplates adapted to secure said support bar to the spaced support elements.

11. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first channel member includes a first and second spaced side wall extending from a connecting wall to define a channel, said first side wall including one of said plurality of apertures formed therein.

12. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first channel member second side wall includes a second and a third of said plurality of apertures formed therein.

13. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second channel members have substantially similar cross-sectional profiles.

14. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second channel members upon engagement form a plurality of laterally spaced interlocking rail and groove combinations that prevent lateral separation of said first channel member from said second channel member.

16. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said first and second channel members have substantially the same cross-sectional profile.

18. The hanger bar as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second channel members upon mutual engagement form a plurality of laterally spaced interlocking rail and groove combinations that resist lateral separation of said first and second channel members, and said shims being formed on said rails of said first channel member.

19. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said second channel member includes a plurality of shims formed thereon, said second channel member shims being engagable with opposed surfaces of said first channel member.

20. The hanger bar assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second channel members include extruded members having a uniform cross sectional profile.

15. A hanger bar assembly for supporting an outlet box between spaced apart support elements comprising:

a first channel member being longitudinally slidingly engagable with a second channel member forming an longitudinally adjustable support bar, said first and second channel members upon mutual engagement form a plurality of laterally spaced interlocking rail and groove combinations that resist lateral separation of said first and second channel members;

a clamp for urging said first and second channel members into respective forced engagement thereby restricting longitudinal movement between said first and second channel members; and

a securement device attached to said support bar for securing said support bar to said spaced support elements.

17. A hanger bar assembly for supporting an outlet box between spaced apart support elements comprising:

a first channel member being longitudinally slidingly engagable with a second channel member, each of said first and second channel members including a pair of side walls spaced by a connecting wall to form a channel interior

said first channel members having a plurality of longitudinally extending shims projecting therefrom and being engagable with opposed surfaces of said second channel member, said shims effecting a fit between said first and second channel members;

a clamp for urging said first and second channel members into respective forced engagement thereby restricting movement between said first and second channel members; and

a securement device attached to said first and second channel members for securing the hanger bar assembly to the spaced support elements.