Abstract:
A strap assembly which may be attached to an overhead hangar is molded with three components used for suspending wires or pipes from an overhead structure such that the three components may be sold and shipped as a single unit, then singulated by the user to use separately. One component is a strap for forming a saddle to hold wires, pipes, and the like; a second component is a dual-function fastener which may be used to permanently attach the strap to a connector, such as a multifunction clip and temporarily fasten the other end of the strap to itself; a third component is a protective tip which may be pushed onto the end of the hangar. The dual-function fastener may be used alone for other purposes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to abandoned commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/083,393 submitted Apr. 8, 2011, by David Newcomb et al, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety. This application is also related to abandoned commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/794,770, which is a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 13/083,393, submitted Mar. 11, 2013 by David Newcomb et al, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the construction of buildings, both residential and commercial, it is very common to have runs of several long items throughout the structure. Examples of the items include cables, UTP phone line, coax cable, CAT5, CAT6, electrical wire or other electrically-conducting wire, pipes, tubing, conduit, and fiber optic cables. Whether various supported elements mayor may not be mixed in a common support structure is a matter for building codes; it is not a limitation of the instant invention. 
     Electrical wire is high voltage, and typically run from a junction box to various end points. In some areas low voltage communications wires and electrical power wires may be commonly supported provided they are separated. For example, the California Electrical Code 800.133(A)(1) allows the two to be mixed specifying they are “ . . . separated from all of the conductors of communications circuits by a permanent barrier or listed divider.” 
     Particularly in a commercial building, there may be a large number of wires in a common run. At certain points a subset of the wires may go in a different direction, thus the number of wires in a given segment can be very variable. Building codes generally require devices which restrain a bundle of communications wires to be no more than five feet apart. Requirements for spacing and clearance, such as space under a ceiling or raised floor, are generally given by the document ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A. The document states that a suspension system may be located above or below a ceiling, within an access floor, in a plenum or non-plenum space. If a non-metallic product is located in a plenum area, it shall be plenum rated. According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (“UL”), the portion of the NEC® that defines the requirements of a cabling pathway is found in Section 300 of the NEC®. 
     There are many devices available in the prior art for suspending communications wires. Many are preconfigured for the number of wires they are designed to carry. A suspension device having a predetermined capacity is problematic in that a builder may need to carry an inventory of various sizes to be able to always have the right one on hand during a given project. Prior art solutions make it difficult to modify (add, remove, reroute) a supported wire bundle. 
     Just as there is an extreme variety of construction types, there is a variety of apparatus for attaching suspension devices to an overhead structure. What is lacking is a convenient way for a given suspension device to be connected which accommodates a variety of connection methods. A contractor may be involved in a plurality of construction jobs, and would prefer to have all required piece parts available in a single kit. This would lower inventory as well as training costs. 
     What is needed is an inexpensive device for holding bundled wires that is fast and easy to install, and which can accommodate a range in the number of wires carried, with flexibility as to how it can be attached to a structure with a minimum of different piece parts required for pre-installation inventory and which may be quickly configured at an installation point. It would be advantageous for the system to conveniently permit modifying or rerouting a portion of a supported wire bundle after initial installation. 
     SUMMARY 
     As will be disclosed hereinafter, the present invention is useful for suspending a variety of items. In the interest of clarity and brevity, only wires, such as communication wires, will be described, which is extendable to many other items, such as electrical cable, tubing, and pipes. In the various embodiments, the instant invention comprises a flexible, electrically nonconductive strap which has been molded to include optional accessories into one piece, wherein the accessories be removed from the main body of the strap and used or not used as needed. The strap itself is configured such that it may be attached to a variety of hangers without modification of the strap. 
     The hanger may be a rigid piece, perhaps embedded in an overhead concrete structure when it is poured. It may also be a wire that has been attached to an overhead member with the wire hanging down. In general, one may visualize the invention as forming a sling for holding the wire(s), which may be attached to a hanger by various means, wherein the sling is a kit comprising removable accessories which may also be used in assembling a complete suspension installation. Included in the one-piece molded kit is a dual-function fastener which permits easy modification without the need to remove any elements of the assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary aspects of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain features of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a first side of a strap for holding wires or pipes, including a detachable dual-function fastener and a removable tip piece. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second side of a strap for holding wires or pipes, including a detachable dual-function fastener and a detachable tip piece, with alignment ridges in view. 
         FIG. 3  shows a strap with accessories detached from the main strap body. 
         FIG. 4  is various components that may comprise an attachment system. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a strap system partially assembled, including a dual-function fastener that may be inserted between two opposing ends of the strap to hold the two ends together. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 5  with a dual-function fastener aligned to hold the two ends of a strap together and fastening an attachment clip to the strap. 
         FIG. 7  is an optional assembly for holding wires or pipes, including attachment to a rigid piece descending from an overhead structure. 
         FIG. 8  is an optional assembly for holding wires or pipes, including attachment to a flexible piece descending from an overhead structure. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , including a suggestion of how a bundle of wires may be held within a strap. 
         FIG. 10  is another version of an assembly for holding wires or pipes wherein a flexible wire hanger may be routed through restraining protrusions on a strap, then twisted about the vertical descending wire, including a protective tip. 
         FIG. 11  is a detailed view of a dual-function fastener. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a dual-function fastener. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the claims. In some embodiments, the example of holding wires is shown, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that pipe, electrical wire, tubing, and conduit may be held as well. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , in the various embodiments a restraining strap assembly  100  comprises a relatively long, narrow flat portion  102 , a number of protrusions  108 , holes  110  that may be reinforced  112 , a removable dual-function fastener  104 , and a removable protective tip  106 . In some embodiments the items  102 ,  104 , and  106  may be molded together for cost reduction and for convenience in shipping and field use. In some embodiments the items  102 ,  104 , and  106  may be molded separately and delivered as a kit; for simplicity of description we will describe them as a complete single assembly  100 . The strap assembly  100  may be made from a nonmetallic, flame resistant material, for example PVC, polypropylene, or ABS plastic, wherein the material satisfies safety requirements for fire resistance and anti-chafing. Alignment ridges  114  may be molded onto the side that would be the outer surface when the flat strap  102  is wrapped around a wire bundle  905 , wherein the ridges  114  are parallel to the flat strap  102  long edges and themselves, spaced such that an industry standard multifunction clip  402  may fit between the ridges  114 , thereby be restrained from rotating during assembly and use. In some embodiments the ridges  114  are only molded on one end of the strap assembly  100 , in other embodiments the ridges  114  are molded on both ends and/or on both sides of the flat strap  102 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates various components that may comprise an apparatus for holding a wire bundle  905 . The dual-function fastener  104  and protective tip  106  are shown after being detached from a complete strap assembly  100 . Note that either the dual-function fastener  104  or the tip  106  or both or neither may be used during a given assembly. A wire hanger  406  may have a free end inserted into the protective tip  106 . In some embodiments the tip  106  is sized for a wire hanger  106 , in other embodiments the tip  106  is sized for a rigid hanger  404 . 
     In some installations a rigid piece  404  extends down from an overhead structure, such as concrete. A multifunction clip  402  may be used to connect the strap  102  to a hanger  402 ,  406 . 
       FIG. 5  details the spatial relationship between the holes  110  at each end of the strap  102  and the dual-function fastener  104  when assembled. 
       FIG. 6  shows the spatial relationship between a multifunction clip  402 , flat strap  102  ends, strap holes  110  and the dual-function fastener  104 . The holes  110  may be reinforced by additional thicknesses  112 . Note the ridges  114  which may be on the same side of the flat strap  102  end to restrain the multifunction clip  402  from rotating. An example of the multifunction clip  402  is CADDY Erico part number 4Z34, available from Erico Corporation in Solon, Ohio. There are many other suitable and similar multifunction clips  402  available from a variety of vendors, which the instant invention may accommodate. 
     Looking to  FIG. 8 , protrusions  108  are available for an optional assembly method wherein a flexible vertical hanger  406 , for example wire, may be routed through one or more of the protrusions  108 . In some construction strategies the optional tip  106  is removed from the strap assembly  100  and pushed onto the end of a wire hanger  406  to reduce scratching. In some construction strategies the strap portion  102  is partially preassembled with a wire  406  routed through the protrusions  108 , the tip pushed onto the bottom end of the wire. The top end of the wire may be attached to an overhead structure. A series of such subassemblies may be attached along a desired route below an overhead structure, then a wire bundle  905  deployed underneath, and finally the bundle  905  held to the level of the preassembled flat strap  102 , which is then pulled around the wire bundle  905  until the holes  110  on opposing ends of the flat strap  102  are aligned with the dual-function fastener  104  between the ends. The ends may be pushed together such that the dual-function fastener  104  is secured to both ends of the flat strap  102 . 
     The wire hanger  406  and flat strap  102  assembly in the just-above description may be simply pulled around the bundle  905  and a free end of the hanger  406  twisted around itself, thereby holding the free end to the portion of the wire  406  descending from the overhead structure. This configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     As illustrated by the example in  FIG. 7 , a rigid hanger piece  404  may descend from an overhead structure, with the multifunction clip  402  engaging the hanger  404  while also attached to the strap  102  by the dual-function fastener  104 . In this configuration, the ribbed end of the dual-function fastener  104  may be pushed through a first hole  110  and through a matching hole in the multifunction clip  402 , the strap  102  wrapped around a wire bundle  905 , then the round end of the dual-function fastener  104  pushed through a second hole  110  on the other end of the flat strap  102 . 
     Alternatively, similar to the configuration of  FIG. 7 , the flat strap  102  may be attached to a wire hanger  406  using the multifunction clip  402 , as illustrated by  FIG. 8 . 
     The protrusions  108  may be formed in a variety of ways in practicing the invention. In one embodiment the protrusions  108 , the flat strap  102 , the dual-function fastener  104 , and the tip  106  are molded as a single solid piece. In other embodiments the flat portion of the strap assembly  100  is processed with a male punch and a matching female die (not shown) such that a protrusion  108  is formed by stretching the punched-out material into the die. There may be any number of protrusions  108  on a flat strap  102 . In some embodiments the strap assembly  100  is made available in a variety of lengths, to accommodate more or fewer wires in a bundle  905 . In some embodiments the strap assembly  100  is provide individually, in other embodiments the strap assembly  100  is shipped along with a hanger  404  or  406  and may optionally have the strap assembly  100  and wire hanger  406  provided preassembled. In some embodiments the strap assembly  100  is shipped with a multifunction clip  402  pre-attached to one end of the strap  102 . Other configurations will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 10  the overhead structure may be a ceiling or beam. A wire hanger  406  may be connected to the overhead structure using an Erico CADDY #4H24 from Erico Corporation in Solon, Ohio. In another example the overhead structure may be a concrete ceiling and the hanger  406  connected to the structure using a Ramset #SDC125 from ITW Ramset, Glendale Heights, Ill. 
     Looking to  FIG. 11 , the dual-function fastener  104  is detailed. The dual-function fastener  104  comprises an end  1130  comprising a number of flexible ribs  1110 , wherein the ribs  1110  are relatively thin and angled back  1105  towards the middle. The diameter DIA 4  of the ribs  1110  may be larger than a matching hole  110  on the strap  102  such that the dual-function fastener  104  may have the ribbed end  1130  pushed through a hole  110 . 
     The other end of the dual-function fastener  104  may be formed to include a bulbous or spherical knob  1135 . The knob  1135  may be molded with a size DIA 1  that is slightly greater than the hole  110  of the flexible strap  102 . A smaller area of a diameter DIA 2  may approximate the size of a receiving hold, for example the hole  110  of the strap  102 . A taper enlargement of size DIA 3  may be provided to minimize movement within the hole  2110 . A flange  1125  may provide a barrier between what is being held (not shown) by the ribbed end  1130  and the knob  1135 . 
     The dual-function fastener  104  enables an assembly that may easily be modified after the fact. That is, one may have a run of several locations where wires  905  are bundled, then at a later time easily open up the end of the strap  102  being held by the dual-function fastener  104  knob  1135  in order to add, remove, or reroute one of more wires  90 S, then simply snap the strap  102  closed on the knob  1135 , while the ribbed end  1130  stays connected to its load, for example the other end of the strap  102  and a multifunction clip  402 . 
     In some embodiments the holes  110  in the strap  102  are 0.25 inches, DIA 1  is 0.28 inches, DIA 4  is 0.30 inches, and the flange  1125  is 0.70 inches. In one embodiment the ribs  1110  are slanted 38 degrees  1105 . These are simply examples of a given embodiment; other sizes will be understood to be within the scope of the claims of the invention. 
     The dual-function fastener  104  is shown and described as part of the assembly  100 , however the dual-function fastener  104  may be used not as part of the assembly  100  anywhere one desires a fastener providing a permanent attachment at one end and a removable attachment at the other end. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the dual-function fastener  104  for clarity. 
     The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.