Conduit spacer and support

• US 4,618,114 A
• Filed: 03/13/1985
• Issued: 10/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GS Industries of Bassett Inc.
• Original Assignee: LOF Plastics Incorporated
• Inventors: McFarland, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US06/709,999
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 248/68.1, 248/65, 248/69, 248/71, 248/72, 248/73, 248/221.3, 248/221.4, 248/74.1, 248/74.2
• US Class Current: 248/65
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/222 having single supports directly connected together
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/227 each pipe being supported by a separate element fastened to the base

Abstract

A conduit system for supporting and clamping a bank of conduits of different diameters in a substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship which requires a minimum number of parts and which can be assembled simply and rapidly. The basic structure is comprised of a plurality of vertically and horizontally interlocking modular units, each consisting of a frame member having at least one side thereof including an arcuate surface corresponding to the outside diameter of a first conduit. The conduit is supported on the arcuate surface of one frame member and clamped thereon by a second, superimposed, interlocking frame member. A unitary generally U-shaped adapter is employed to support a smaller diameter conduit within the system. One end of the adapter includes a snap-on clip to facilitate attachment to an arcuate surface of a frame member and the opposite end comprises a pair of opposed resilient arms for receiving and holding the smaller conduit in a fixed relationship to the arcuate surface.

Claims

1. A conduit holder comprising:

a generally planar base;

a generally U-shaped body connected to said base and having an open end extending away from said base;

the exterior surfaces of said U-shaped body curving away from said base on either side of the connection to said base so as to define a space between said base and exterior surfaces providing for deflection of the ends of said planar base toward said U-shaped body;

said body having a interior diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of a conduit to be supported thereby;

the open end of said U-shaped body terminating in a pair of opposed portions, the spacing between which is less than the outside diameter of said conduit, said U-shaped body being made of a resilient material to permit spreading of said opposed portions for receipt of said conduit into said body; and

means connected to said base and extending away from said U-shaped body detachably securing said holder to an arcuate side member, said base, said U-shaped body and said securing means comprising an integral one piece structure formed of a resilient plastic material and said securing means comprising at least one pair of spaced opposed legs extending from opposite sides of said base;

said legs having opposed inner wall surfaces formed with inwardly directed shoulders adapted for snap-fitted engagement astride and under said arcuate side member;

said base extending longitudinally beyond said legs with at least the ends of said base adapted for engagement with said arcuate member, the distance between the innermost reach of said inwardly directed, opposed shoulders being less than the width of said arcuate side member, and the distance between said shoulders and said base being substantially greater than the thickness of said arcuate side member so as to accommodate arcuate side members having different degrees of curvature.

2. The conduit holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said base end portions are adapted to engage the top of said arcuate side member in opposed bearing relationship to said shoulders.

3. In a conduit system for supporting a plurality of conduits in parallel, spaced relationship:

a frame member having a pair of opposed sides disposed in a common plane transverse to the axis of said conduit system, at least one of said sides including an arcuate surface having a diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of a first conduit;

an adapter for supporting a second conduit having a diameter smaller than said first conduit;

said adapter including a generally planar base;

a generally U-shaped body connected to said base and having an open end extending away from said base;

the exterior surfaces of said U-shaped body curving away from said base on either side of the connection to said base so as to define a space between said base and exterior surfaces providing for deflection of the ends of said planar base toward said U-shaped body;

said body having a interior diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of said second conduit;

the open end of said U-shaped body terminating in a pair of opposed portions, the spacing between which is less than the outside diameter of said second conduit;

said U-shaped body being made of a resilient material to permit spreading of said opposed portions for receipt of said second conduit into said body; and

means connected to said base and extending away from said U-shaped body for detachably securing said adapter to a portion of said side having said arcuate surface on said frame member, said securing means comprising at least one pair of spaced opposed legs extending from opposite sides of said base, said legs having opposed inner wall surfaces formed with inwardly directed shoulders adapted for snap-fitted engagement astride and under said side having said arcuate surface, said base extending longitudinally beyond said legs with at least the ends of said base in engagement with said arcuate surface, the distance between the innermost reach of said inwardly directed opposed shoulders being less than the width of said side having said arcuate surface, and the distance between said shoulders and said base being substantially greater than the thickness of said side having said arcuate surface.

4. A conduit support system as defined in claim 3, wherein said base, said U-shaped body and said securing means of said adapter are an integral one piece structure formed of a resilient plastic material.

5. A conduit support system as defined in claim 3, including a support strut affixed to said side having said arcuate surface opposite the location at which said adapter is detachably secured, said securing means comprising two pairs of said spaced opposed legs, said pairs being separated so that one of said pairs is adapted to be positioned on either side of said support strut for centering said adapter relative to said strut.