Conduit bracketry, systems and methods

• US 20100193651A1
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gates Corporation (Gates Industrial Corp. Plc)
• Original Assignee: Gates Corporation (Gates Industrial Corp. Plc)
• Inventors: Payne, Jeffrey David, Gilbreath, Donald R., Bolger, Walker, Railsback, Layne
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/229.24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/04 Clamping or clipping connections friction-grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2235 each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/227 each pipe being supported by a separate element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/237 for two pipes

Abstract

A bracket stores and separates conduits. The bracket includes two interchangeable halves having an engagement extrusion extending from an inner face. Each half has a corresponding receptive slot disposed in the inner face. The bracket half includes at least one conduit receptive channel defined in the inner face. The halves align and engage when each half'"'"'s extrusion is inserted into the other half'"'"'s slot. The channels align to secure a conduit therein. The engagement portions may comprise a dovetail and socket engagement. At least two stages of securement are provided. Securement may comprise snap fit, sliding or other methods. A first, temporary stage of engagement initially joins the halves, adjustably and releasably retaining the halves and the conduits together. The second and subsequent stages of engagement are tighter engagements between the tail and socket, achieved by applying more pressing force to the halves or inserting a fastener.

Claims

1. A bracket comprising:

two generally symmetrical halves, each half comprising;

an engagement extrusion extending from a face of said half;

an engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face and disposed generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, said extrusion; and

at least one conduit receptive channel defined in said face.

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said halves are interchangeable.

3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said extrusion on each of said halves mates with said slot in each of said halves to secure said halves together with each of said channels aligned to secure a conduit therein.

4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein said receptive slot mates with said extrusion in at least two stages of securement.

5. The bracket of claim 4 wherein the at least two stages of securement includes a first stage of securement wherein the receptive slot temporarily engages the extrusion in a snug yet removable manner.

6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the slot further comprises a first step that engages said extrusion during said first stage of securement.

7. The bracket of claim 6 wherein the slot further comprises a second step within said slot.

8. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the at least two stages of securement includes a second stage of securement wherein said receptive slot fully engages the extrusion.

9. The bracket of claim 3, where each of said halves define a mounting hole, the mounting holes aligning following mating of said halves.

10. The bracket of claim 3, wherein said extrusion slides in said slot to engage and disengage said halves.

11. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said extrusion on each of said halves snap-fits with said slot in each of said halves to secure said halves together with each of said channels aligned to secure a conduit therein.

12. The bracket of claim 11, wherein said extrusion on each of said halves comprises a protrusion that snap-fits with a pocket that defines said slot in each of said halves.

13. The bracket of claim 11, wherein said extrusion slides into and out of said slot to disengage said halves.

14. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said engagement extrusion runs a length of said face and said slot runs a length of said face.

15. The bracket of claim 14, wherein said extrusion on each of said halves snap-fits with said slot in each of said halves to secure said halves together with each of said channels aligned to secure a conduit therein.

16. The bracket of claim 15, wherein said engagement extrusion is a tail and said slot is a socket, and said tail and socket form a dovetail and socket engagement.

17. The bracket of claim 16, wherein said tail slides in said slot to disengage said halves.

18. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said engagement extrusion is a tail and said slot is a socket, and said tail and socket form a dovetail and socket engagement.

19. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said halves are molded from a resilient material.

20. A method comprising:

disposing a conduit in a first channel defined in the face of a first conduit bracket half; and

snap fitting a second conduit bracket half to said first conduit bracket half, said snap fitting comprising;

aligning said second conduit bracket half with said first conduit bracket half by fitting a second channel defined in a face of said second conduit bracket half over a part of said conduit not disposed in said first channel; and

pressing said conduit bracket halves together, said pressing comprising;

pressing an engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half into an engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half; and

pressing an engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half into an engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first conduit bracket half and said second conduit bracket half are interchangeable.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

aligning a mounting hole defined in said first conduit bracket half with a mounting hole defined in said first conduit bracket half.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

securing said conduit bracket halves and said conduit disposed therein to a structure using a fastener passing through said mounting holes.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sliding one of said conduit bracket halves relative to the other of said conduit bracket halves to disengage said halves, such that each of said engagement extrusion portions slide in the respective engagement extrusion slot.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

removing said conduit from said bracket halves.

26. A method comprising:

disposing a conduit in a first channel defined in the face of a first conduit bracket half;

aligning a second conduit bracket half with said first conduit bracket half by;

fitting a second channel defined in a face of said second conduit bracket half over a part of said conduit not disposed in said first channel;

aligning an engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half with an engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half;

aligning an engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half with an engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half; and

aligning a mounting hole defined in said first conduit bracket half with a mounting hole defined in said first conduit bracket half;

engaging said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half and engaging said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half to a first stage of securement; and

securing a fastener through the aligned mounting holes to engage said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half and engaging said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half to a second more secure stage of securement.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said first conduit bracket half and said second conduit bracket half are interchangeable.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said securing comprises securing said conduit bracket halves and said conduit disposed therein to a structure using said fastener passing through said mounting holes.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said engaging comprises pressing said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half into said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half and pressing said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half into said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said engaging comprises sliding one of said conduit bracket halves relative to the other of said conduit bracket halves to engage said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said first conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second conduit bracket half and to engage said engagement extrusion portion extending from said face of said second conduit bracket half with said engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first conduit bracket half.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sliding one of said conduit bracket halves relative to the other of said conduit bracket halves to disengage said halves, such that each of said engagement extrusion portions slide in the respective engagement extrusion slot.

32. A bracket assembly comprising:

a first bracket half comprising;

at least one first conduit receptive channel defined in a face of said first bracket half;

a first engagement extrusion extending from said face of said first bracket half;

a first engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said first bracket half, disposed generally parallel to, and spaced apart from said first extrusion; and

at least one first mounting hole;

a second bracket half comprising;

at least one second conduit receptive channel defined in a face of said second bracket half, generally aligned with said first conduit receptive channel securing a conduit therein;

a second engagement extrusion extending from said face of said second bracket half, snap fittingly received by said first engagement extrusion slot;

a second engagement extrusion receptive slot defined in said face of said second bracket half, disposed generally parallel to, and spaced apart from said second extrusion, snap fittingly receiving said first engagement extrusion; and

at least one second mounting hole, generally aligned with said first mounting hole.

33. The bracket assembly of claim 32, wherein said first half and said second half are generally identical and interchangeable.

34. The bracket assembly of claim 32 wherein each of said engagement extrusion runs a length of the respective face and said each of said slots runs a length of the respective face.

35. The bracket assembly of claim 32, wherein said extrusions slide in said slots to engage and disengage said halves.

36. The bracket assembly of claim 32, wherein each of said engagement extrusions is a tail and each of said slots is a socket, and said tails and sockets form a dovetail and socket engagement.

37. The bracket assembly of claim 36, wherein said tails slide in said slots to engage and disengage said halves.

38. The bracket assembly of claim 32, wherein each of said engagement extrusions is a tail and each of said slots is a socket, and said tails and sockets form a dovetail and socket engagement.