Snap lock pipe mounting clamp

• US 6,073,891 A
• Filed: 01/12/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPS Corporation (Milliken & Company)
• Original Assignee: IPS Corporation (Milliken & Company)
• Inventors: Humber, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berger, Derek J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nornberg, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US09/004,976
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 248/547, 248/60, 248/62, 248/67.5, 248/67.7, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/74.5, 248/71, 248/207, 248/220.1, 248/216.1, 248/217.2
• US Class Current: 248/74.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence

Abstract

A pipe mounting clamp comprises a generally C-shaped piece of plastic or other resilient material which is sufficiently flexible to allow a pipe to be snapped into a central pipe receiving cavity thereof while firmly retaining the same. The C-shaped member has a pair or orthogonal bores for receiving nails, screws or other fasteners which attach the C-shaped member to a stud or joist. The bores are positioned to permit the C-shaped member to be attached to a stud or joist in the appropriate orientation best suited for receiving and retaining the pipe. The bores may be formed of a plurality of offset slots that open onto opposite sides of the C-shaped member to allow the clamp to be injection molded without mold parts that move. The central pipe receiving cavity may be formed with a plurality of radially inwardly directed pipe engaging ribs.

Claims

1. A snap lock pipe mounting clamp, comprising:

a generally C-shaped member having a hole therein accessible through a gap on a side of the C-shaped member, the hole adapted to have a diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of a pipe to be received by the C-shaped member, the C-shaped member being made of a resilient, flexible material so that a pair of outer legs of the C-shaped member can deflect outwardly for receiving the pipe into the hole and will thereafter return to their original positions for holding the pipe in place, the C-shaped member being formed with a pair of opposing bores which extend therethrough in orthogonal relationship for receiving a fastener therethrough to secure the C-shaped member to a structural member in different configurations.

2. The clamp according to claim 1 wherein the C-shaped member is made of plastic.

3. The clamp according to claim 1 wherein the C-shaped member includes a pair of opposing shoulders which define the gap therebetween.

4. The clamp according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the opposing shoulders of the C-shaped member is adapted to be configurated to be less than about seventy-five percent of the outside diameter of the pipe.

5. The pipe clamp according to claim 3 wherein a distance between the opposing shoulders of the C-shaped member is adapted to be configured to be less than about two-thirds the outside diameter of the pipe.

6. A snap lock pipe mounting clamp, comprising:

a generally C-shaped member having a hole therein accessible through a gap on a side of the C-shaped member, the hole adapted to have a diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of a pipe to be received by the C-shaped member, and the C-shaped member being made of a resilient, flexible injection molded plastic so that a pair of outer legs of the C-shaped member can deflect outwardly for receiving the pipe into the hole and will thereafter return to their original positions for holding the pipe in place, the C-shaped member being formed with a pair of opposing bores which extend therethrough in orthogonal relationship for receiving a fastener therethrough to secure the C-shaped member to a structural member in different configurations, each of these bores being defined by a plurality of offset slots that open on opposite sides of the C-shaped member.

7. The clamp according to claim 6 wherein C-shaped member is formed with a plurality of ribs that extend radially inwardly from a permimeter of the hole.

8. A snap lock pipe mounting clamp, comprising:

a generally C-shaped member having a hole therein accessible through a gap on a side of the C-shaped member, said side being adapted to engage a mounting structure in a first mounting configuration, said C-shaped member having another side which is adapted to engage a mounting structure in a second mounting configuration, and a pair of bores extending through said C-shaped member in orthogonal relationship and exiting through respective ones of said sides for receiving a fastener that mounts said clamp to a structural member in different configurations.