Patent ID: 8322661
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A strut clamp for attaching a pipe or conduit or similar circular item to a standard construction strut of the type having a top side with a longitudinal space having a width dimension defined by spaced apart inturned flanges; a metal strip having a first end and a second end, near the first end having a neck portion that has a width that is less than the width dimension of the longitudinal space of the standard construction strut and a retaining tab below the neck portion, the retaining tab having a width that is less than the width dimension of the longitudinal space of the standard construction strut whereby the retaining tab can be attached by straight-in insertion of the retaining tab past the inturned flanges of the construction strut, the retaining tab having a first and second side each extending outwardly on opposite sides of the neck portion, and the first side having an upward facing edge and the second side having an upward extending hook the upward facing edge and the top of the hook being aligned perpendicular to the metal strip and the metal strip near the second end being adapted for passing a fastener through it and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends having a curvature portion; whereby the strut clamp can be attached to the construction strut at its top side, at the first end by the hook on the second side of the retaining tab engaging under an inturned flange of the construction strut; and the curvature of the intermediate portion of the strut clamp defining an opening such that a pipe or conduit or similar circular item may pass across the strut and be captured by the opening; further, for attaching to a standard construction strut having a bottom side that has longitudinally spaced apart slots, the slots having a width dimension and a length dimension, the width of the retaining tab being less than the length dimension of the slot and the width dimension of the retaining tab being greater than the width dimension of the slot; the width of the neck portion being less than the width dimension of the slot; whereby the strut clamp can also be used to clamp a pipe or conduit or similar circular item to the bottom side of the standard construction strut by passing the retaining tab through the slot and turning it so that the hook and the upward facing edge each engage the bottom of the standard construction strut; the second end having a bend across its width to define a flat area in which a hole is positioned and the curvature portion extending lengthwise from the bend to a straight portion that ends at the neck portion; a nut having opposite ends each of the ends being formed as a pair of outwardly extending spaced apart hooks each hook having an upward facing curved element and a central portion extending from the pairs of hooks and having a threaded hole substantially midway of the central portion such that when placed inside the construction strut the hooks of the nut can engage the inturned flanges; and whereby a fastener placed through the hole and threaded to the threaded hole of the nut enables the clamp to be tightened or loosened.