MODULAR ROOFTOP PIPE SUPPORT

• US 20100155545A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Original Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Inventors: Lynch, Edward J., Laughlin, Raymond S., Birli, Mary E., Olle, Raymond M., Anderson, Scott E., Osborn, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/70
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/127 and extending away from the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/20 allowing movement in transverse direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2235 each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/237 for two pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/243 the special member being inserted in the profiled girder

Abstract

An extruded or molded elastomeric (e.g., rubber) or polymeric multi-piece (e.g., two-piece) modular pipe support system utilizes a wide base with protrusions and/or recesses, and a separate top with recesses and/or protrusions that engage the protrusions and/or recesses of the top. The tops are configured to securely capture a pipe/conduit without any additional parts, straps, etc. The top may have one or more pipe-receiving recesses for receiving the pipes (conduits).

Claims

1. A rooftop pipe support comprising:

a base; and

a top portion (insert) having a pipe-receiving recess;

wherein one of the top portion or the base has protrusions that engage recesses in the other of the top portion or the base, holding the base and the top portion together.

2. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the base are both made of an elastomeric or polymeric material.

3. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the base are both made of the same material.

4. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the base are both made of a polymeric material.

5. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the base has a trapezoidal shape.

6. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the base and the top portion are both monolithic continuous pieces of a single material.

7. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein at least part of the top portion is received into a vertical channel in the base.

8. The pipe support of claim 7,

wherein the protrusions include teeth of the at least part of the top portion;

wherein the recesses are tooth-receiving recesses on opposing inner surfaces of the channel.

9. The pipe support of claim 8, wherein the teeth are angled downward, toward a bottom wall of the base.

10. The pipe support of claim 8, wherein the top portion may be engaged to the base at multiple different heights above a bottom wall of the base.

11. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion includes a toothed post that is inserted into and engaged with a tooth-lined channel of the base.

12. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the support is a modular pipe support, with the top portion being one of a set of multiple top portions, each of which is configured to engage the base.

13. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion has arms that define a pipe-receiving recess.

14. The pipe support of claim 13, further comprising a collapsible web in the pipe-receiving recess.

15. The pipe support of claim 13, further comprising a clip coupling the arms together.

16. The pipe support of claim 15, wherein the clip engages lips at distal ends of the arms.

17. The pipe support of claim 13, wherein top portion has one or more grooves facing the bottom of the pipe receiving surface.

18. The pipe support of claim 1, wherein the top portion includes a collapsible web that changes shape to accommodate different sizes of objects placed in contact with the web.

19. A method of supporting a pipe above a roof, the method comprising:

providing a base in contact with the roof;

selecting a top portion that is engagable with the base, wherein the top portion is one of a set of top portions, engageable with the base, that have pipe-receiving surfaces; and

mechanically coupling the top portion to the base by engaging a protrusion in one of the top portion or the base with the other of the top portion or the base.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the set of top portions include top portions configured for supporting different sizes of pipes and/or configured for supporting pipes at different heights above the rooftop.