Seismic bracing connector

• US 6,415,560 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rinderer, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/847,773
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 521/671, 521/674, 527/12--14, 248/59, 248/351, 248/354.1, 248/638, 403/71, 403/119, 403/209, 403/220, 403/243, 403/260, 403/262
• US Class Current: 52/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/403 Threaded clamping parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/18 using screw-thread elements F16B7/025 takes precedence; for turnbuckles F16B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32155 Bearing component clamped to plate or side, e.g., bolted, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/45 Flexibly connected rigid members

Abstract

A connector for connecting a seismic brace to a support rod, such as for a cable tray, to inhibit movement of the rod during seismic activity. The connector comprises a metal connecting member having an upper portion and a lower portion joined at a juncture. Openings in the juncture, upper portion and lower portion define a slot for entry of the support rod into the slot. The connector further comprises a retainer inserted in a gap between the upper and lower portions. The retainer bridges the slot to retain the support rod in the slot. The connector permits bracing to be added without removal of the support rod from the tray and ensures that the brace remains attached during seismic activity, even where a retaining nut holding the connector to the support has become loosened.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a seismic brace to a support rod to inhibit movement of the rod during seismic activity, said connector comprising:

a metal connecting member having opposite sides and opposite ends, a lower portion, an upper portion overlying at least part of said lower portion and spaced therefrom to form a gap between said upper and lower portions, the upper and lower portions being joined at a juncture at one end of the member, openings in the juncture and in said upper and lower portions of the connecting member defining a slot extending from the juncture toward an opposite end of the connecting member, said slot having an open end at the juncture for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed opposite end, and

a retainer adapted for insertion in the gap between said upper and lower portions of the connecting member to a rod-retaining position in which it bridges the slot and in which it is disposed between the juncture and the support rod when the rod is in the slot whereby the support rod is retained in the slot by the retainer, the retainer being adapted to engage the juncture on opposite sides of the slot during seismic activity to prevent the rod from moving out of the slot.

2. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper portion of the connecting member terminates in an edge opposite said juncture, and wherein said slot in the connecting member terminates short of said edge.

3. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting member is a one-piece member of sheet metal bent to form said upper and lower portions.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein said connecting member comprises a blank bent to have a generally J-shape.

5. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises a metal member having a slot extending into the member from one edge thereof, said retainer slot having an open end for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed end, said retainer slot extending generally at right angles to the slot in the connecting member when the retainer is in its said rod-retaining position.

6. A connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retainer is formed to have a friction fit in said gap.

7. A connector for connecting a seismic brace to a support rod to inhibit movement of the rod during seismic activity, said connector comprising:

a metal connecting member having opposite sides and opposite ends, a lower portion, an upper portion overlying at least part of said lower portion and spaced therefrom to form a gap between said upper and lower portions, the upper and lower portions being joined at a juncture at one end of the member, openings in the juncture and in said upper and lower portions of the connecting member defining a slot extending from the juncture toward an opposite end of the connecting member, said slot having an open end at the juncture for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed opposite end, said connecting member being a one-piece member of sheet metal bent to form said upper and lower portions, and

a retainer adapted for insertion in the gap between said upper and lower portions of the connecting member to a rod-retaining position in which it bridges the slot and in which it is disposed between the juncture and the support rod when the rod is in the slot whereby the support rod is retained in the slot by the retainer, the retainer being adapted to engage the juncture on opposite sides of the slot during seismic activity to prevent the rod from moving out of the slot, said retainer comprising a metal member having a slot extending into the member from one edge thereof, said retainer slot having an open end for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed end, said retainer slot extending generally at right angles to the slot in the connecting member when the retainer is in its said rod-retaining position.

8. A seismic brace system for bracing a support rod to inhibit movement of the rod during seismic activity, said system comprising:

a metal connecting member having opposite sides and opposite ends, a lower portion, an upper portion overlying at least part of said lower portion and spaced therefrom to form a gap between said upper and lower portions, the upper and lower portions being joined at a juncture at one end of the member, openings in the juncture and in said upper and lower portions of the connecting member defining a slot extending from the juncture toward an opposite end of the connecting member, said slot having an open end at the juncture for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed opposite end;

a retainer adapted for insertion in the gap between said upper and lower portions of the connecting member to a rod-retaining position in which it bridges the slot and in which it is disposed between the juncture and the support rod when the rod is in the slot whereby the support rod is retained in the slot by the retainer, the retainer being adapted to engage the juncture on opposite sides of the slot during seismic activity to prevent the rod from moving out of the slot; and

a seismic brace having two ends, one attachable to a support such as a ceiling or truss system and the other attachable to the metal connecting member for bracing said support rod.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said upper portion of the connecting member terminates in an edge opposite said juncture, and wherein said slot in the connecting member terminates short of said edge.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said connecting member is a one-piece member of sheet metal bent to form said upper and lower portions.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said connecting member comprises a blank bent to have a generally J-shape.

12. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said retainer comprises a metal member having a slot extending into the member from one edge thereof, said retainer slot having an open end for entry of said support rod into the slot and a closed end, said retainer slot extending generally at right angles to the slot in the connecting member when the retainer is in its said rod-retaining position.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said retainer is formed to have a friction fit in said gap.