Method and apparatus for piping support
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting pipe such as PCV pipe or metal pipe, said apparatus comprising:
- a standard pipe fittinghaving an outer perimeter of its cross section andconfigured with the addition of one or more mechanical protrusions wherein said protrusions are formed to have a shape of an arced segment of a slice of a cylindrical pipe somewhat larger than the fitting so that the outside diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the slice, the slice being taken perpendicular to the centerline of the larger cylindrical pipe and the inside diameter of the slice being equal to the outside diameter of the fitting anda pipe support comprisingone or more arms,each having an inner surface, andeach extending from a common base in a manner whereby the inner surface or surfaces of the arm or arms generally describe an area having a shape complimentary to said outer perimeter,a gap between the end of the arm and the base or between the ends of the arms,means for temporarily enlarging the gap in a manner whereby the gap is large enough for said pipe fitting to pass through the gap during installation,means for reducing the enlarged gap, after installation, in a manner whereby said arm or arms fit snugly around said fitting in a manner whereby said fitting is held securely in place during use,means for enlarging the gap, after installation, in a manner whereby the installed fitting may be removed from said support if said removal is intended, andone or more recesses of sufficient number shape and position to snugly accommodate said protrusion or protrusions each said recess including an edge which engages an edge of its respective protrusion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe support system comprises a pipe fitting and a pipe support. The pipe fitting is any standard fitting with the addition of two lugs added to the outside surface of the fitting so that they are diagonally opposite each other. The support has two arms joined together at the base and shaped so that they partially wrap around the fitting after installation. The inside surface of each arms is shaped to have a socket, the walls of which fit snugly against the respective lug after installation. The arms are fabricated of a stiff, elastic material so as to allow sufficient flexation of the arms during the installation of the fitting so that the fitting can pass between the tops ends of the arms without the support becoming permanently distorted.
42 Citations
3 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting pipe such as PCV pipe or metal pipe, said apparatus comprising:
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a standard pipe fitting having an outer perimeter of its cross section and configured with the addition of one or more mechanical protrusions wherein said protrusions are formed to have a shape of an arced segment of a slice of a cylindrical pipe somewhat larger than the fitting so that the outside diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the slice, the slice being taken perpendicular to the centerline of the larger cylindrical pipe and the inside diameter of the slice being equal to the outside diameter of the fitting and a pipe support comprising one or more arms, each having an inner surface, and each extending from a common base in a manner whereby the inner surface or surfaces of the arm or arms generally describe an area having a shape complimentary to said outer perimeter, a gap between the end of the arm and the base or between the ends of the arms, means for temporarily enlarging the gap in a manner whereby the gap is large enough for said pipe fitting to pass through the gap during installation, means for reducing the enlarged gap, after installation, in a manner whereby said arm or arms fit snugly around said fitting in a manner whereby said fitting is held securely in place during use, means for enlarging the gap, after installation, in a manner whereby the installed fitting may be removed from said support if said removal is intended, and one or more recesses of sufficient number shape and position to snugly accommodate said protrusion or protrusions each said recess including an edge which engages an edge of its respective protrusion. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of supporting pipe such as PCV pipe or metal pipe, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a pipe support in a desired location, said pipe support being configured to accept, conform with and secure a pipe fitting, said fitting comprising a standard pipe fitting, an outer perimeter of its cross-section, and the addition of one or more mechanical protrusions wherein said protrusions are formed to have a shape of an arced segment of a slice of a cylindrical pipe somewhat larger than the fitting so that the outside diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the slice, the slice being taken perpendicular to the centerline of the larger cylindrical pipe and the inside diameter of the slice being equal to the outside diameter of the fitting, said support comprising one or more arms, each having an inner surface, and each extending from a common base in a manner whereby the inner surface or surfaces of the arm or arms generally describe an area having a shape complimentary to said outer perimeter, a gap between the end of the arm and the base or between the ends of the arms, means for temporarily enlarging the gap in a manner whereby the gap is large enough for said pipe fitting to pass through the gap during installation, means for reducing the enlarged gap, after installation, in a manner whereby said arm or arms fit snugly around said fitting in a manner whereby said fitting is held securely in place during use, means for enlarging the gap, after installation, in a manner whereby the installed fitting may be removed from said support, and one or more recesses of sufficient number shape and position to snugly accommodate said protrusion or protrusions each said recess including an edge which engages an edge of its respective protrusion, and installing said fitting into said support.
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Specification