Hanging device

Abstract: A hanging device includes an attachment member (1) and an elongated wire-like support member (7) connectable to the attachment member. The attachment member has an attachment part (2) and a connecting part (3) joined to and extending from the attachment part. The connecting part (3) has at least one pair of slots (5) extending therethrough transversely of the elongated direction of the support member (7). The support member (7) is insertable between a section of the connecting part (3) between the slots and the remaining surface of the connecting part and is deformable to provide a locked connection with the connecting part (3).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a hanging device according to the preamble of claim 1. Hanging devices of the above type are mainly used to hang various objects, such as tubes, hung ceilings and the like, often from a ceiling. Accordingly, the attachment member of the hanging device is secured to the ceiling and the support member, connected to the attachment is secured to the object to be suspended. Generally, the support member is a wire or wire-like member. The DE-A-8806310 is directed to a hanging device for attaching a support especially for suspended ceilings on a hanging rope. The hanging device comprises an attachment member with two connecting surfaces arranged parallel to each other. Each connecting surface has a hole. A slide with a hole is arranged between both connecting surfaces. The slide is displaceable under excursion of the rope with means of an eccenter beeing stable in its end position. The US-A-3 214 127 discloses a hanging device for attaching a support member of a suspended ceiling onto a frame member. The hanger comprises an elongated body having an upper and a lower end, first means adjacent the upper end for securing the body onto the frame member, a bracket movable along the body adjacent the lower end, second means for securing the bracket onto the support member, third means for locking the bracket in a selected position on the body. The third means includes a crimped portion on the lower end of the body and the crimped portion prevents movement of the bracket with respect to the body. The body is a heavy gauge wire and the bracket includes lugs slidably receiving the wire. A hanging device, as described above, is disclosed in US-A-2,863,149, note Fig. 3. The attachment member has the form of a right angle member. One part of the attachment member is intended to be fastened to a ceiling. The wire support member is connected to the connecting part of the attachment member with the connecting part having a hole through which the support member is passed and twisted. The connection between the attachment member and the support member is disadvantageous in this known hanging device. Based on the thickness of the support member, passing it through the attachment member and twisting it is relatively cumbersome and requires special tools. If an attempt is made to simplify the device by an appropriate reduction in the thickness of the support member, the load carrying capacity of the device is affected, since the connection between the attachment member and the support member may come apart. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a hanging device with an attachment member and a support member wherein a simple and effective connection, capable of carrying the intended load, is provided between the attachment member and the elongated support member. In accordance with the present invention, the attachment part is attachable to a support surface, the connecting surface extends in the elongated direction of the support member, the openings are slots, extending through the connecting part transversely of the elongated direction of the support member, the section of the connecting part is displaceable perpendicularly out of the plane of the connecting surface and displaceable towards the connecting surface for forming bends in the support transversly of the connecting surface. As a result, the support member is in abutment with the displaced section and the connecting surface on the opposite sides of the displaced section. The connection between the attachment member and the support member in the present invention is very simple to fabricate, since slots are only formed by stamping in the connecting part of the attachment member. Due to the formation of the slots a spacing is provided between the section in between the slots and the remaining region of the connecting part with the section between the slots displaced perpendicularly from the plane of the connecting surface of the connecting part. The spacing between the displaced section and the remaining connecting surface corresponds to the thickness of the wire-like support member. It is possible to fix the support member to the attachment member so that it abuts the connecting part on both sides of the displaced region of the connecting part. Accordingly, the advantage is achieved in that the thickness of the support member can be relatively great, since it is unnecessary to twist the support member in connecting it to the attachment member. The thickness of the support member determines the spacing of the displaced region perpendicular to the plane of the connecting surface of the connecting part and such thickness can be selected at random due to the slots. Preferably, at least four or two pair of slots extending transversely of the elongated direction of the support member are provided affording two sections each located between a different pair of slots. Due to the larger number of slots, the abutment surfaces of the connecting part available for the support member can be increased. With the increased number of slots an improvement in the securement between the support member and the attachment member is effected allowing for increased suspendable loads. The number of slots with the displaceable section between the slots can be increased randomly in place of the four slots with the two displaceable sections between the slots, so that the dimension of the connecting part extending in the elongated direction of the support member can be increased. Preferably, the support member is bent at locations between the slots and the remaining planar surface of the connecting part of the attachment member. These bends in the support member matched to the connecting surface of the attachment member creates a positively locked connection between the attachment member and the support member. Therefore, the load to be suspended or hung can be increased. The formation of the positively locked connection can be accomplished in a simple manner by a second deforming or displacing step where the displacement takes place perpendicularly to the plane of the connecting surface of the connecting part. The deformation or displacement can be achieved by extrusion, pressing, rolling, swaging and the like. One of the problems experienced in prior art hanging devices relates to shipment and storage of the devices. If the devices are assembled at the manufacturing point they present a shipping and storage problem, since the assembled device is bulky and difficult to package. In the present invention the attachment member and the support member can be shipped separately and afford compact packaging. At the site where the device is to be used, the support member can be inserted into the attachment member and the connecting part deformed, such as by swaging, to provide the lock connection between attachment member and the support member. Accordingly, the present invention affords low shipping and handling costs. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment member of a hanging device embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the support member inserted into and in locked connection with the attachment member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the Fig. 1 an attachment member 1 of a hanging device is shown made up of an attachment part 2 and a connecting part 3 disposed at a right angle to the attachment part. The attachment part 2 has an opening or hole 4 for receiving a fastening element, such as a nail, screw or the like, for securing the attachment member to a ceiling or other support surface. The connecting part 3 of the attachment member 1 has a plurality of slots 5 extending transversely of the elongated direction of the support member 7, note Fig. 2. Sections 6 of the connecting part 3 located between an adjacent pair of slots 5 are displaced from the planar surface of the connecting part 3 and extend perpendicularly from the plane or surface of the connecting part. The sections 6 can be deformed out of the plane of the remaining surface area of the connecting part 3 by various metal working operations. In Fig. 2 a complete hanging device is shown with the attachment member 1 corresponding to that in Fig. 1 and an elongated support part 7 secured to the connecting part 3 of the attachment member 1. As described above, attachment member 1 has a hole or opening 4 extending through attachment part 2 for receiving a fastening element and a connecting part 3 with slots 5 extending transversely of the elongated direction of the support member 7. In Figs. 1 and 2 two pairs of slots 5 are provided with one section 6 located between each of the pair of slots. Each section 6 is displaced out of the plane of the remaining connecting surface of the connecting part 3 so that openings are provided between the section 6 and the remaining connecting surface of the connecting part 3 for receiving the support part 7. The support part 7 extends between the sections 6 and the remaining planar surface of the connecting surface of the connecting part 3. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the support part 7 extends between each of the sections 6 and the connecting surface with the upper end of the support member 7 bearing against the connecting surface of the connecting part 3. A positively locked connection between the support member 7 and the connecting part 3 is provided by displacing or deforming the sections 6 in the direction towards the remaining surface of the connecting part 3. As a result of the displacement of the sections 6, bends 8 are formed in the support member 7 for effecting the positively locked connection. As shown in Fig. 2, the bends in the wire-like support part 7 are disposed one following the other in the elongated direction of the support part. The deformation of the sections 6 position the bends 8 in bearing and locking contact with the connecting part 3. While the attachment member 2 is illustrated as a right angle member, depending on its specific use, the angular arrangement may be varied or the attachment part 2 and the connecting part 3 could be located in the same plane. The number of pairs of slots 5 and the dimension of the connecting part 3 in the elongated direction of the support member 7 depends on the load to be suspended from the attachment member 1. While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from said principles, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A hanging device comprising an attachment member (1) and an elongated support member (7) made of a wire, said attachment member (1) comprises an attachment part (2) and a connecting part (3) extending from said attachment member (1), said connecting part (3) having a connecting surface, said connecting part (3) having at least a pair of openings extending therethrough, a section (6) of said connecting part (3) located between said at least pair of openings and being displaceable against said connecting surface, said support member (7) being insertable in the elongated direction between and in contact with said displaceable section (6) and said connecting surface, and said displaceable section (6) being displaceable towards said connecting surface for forming bends (8) in said support member for providing a locked connection between said support member (7) and attachment member (1), characterized in that said attachment part (2) is attachable to a support surface, said connecting surface extends in the elongated direction of said support member (7), said openings are slots (5), extending through the connecting part (3) transversely of the elongated direction of said support member (7), said section (6) of the connecting part (3) is displaceable perpendicularly out of the plane of said connecting surface and displaceable towards said connecting surface for forming bends (8) in said support (7) transversely of said connecting surface. A hanging device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least two pair of said slots (5) are formed in said connecting part (7) extending transversely of the elongated direction of said support part (7) with each said pair of slots spaced apart in the elongated direction of said support part whereby at least two said sections (6) are formed in said connecting part (3). A hanging device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment member (1) has said attachment part (2) extending substantially perpendicularly to said connecting part (3). A hanging device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said support member (7) comprises a round wire.

Inventors: GAENSLEN GARY, GAENSLEN, GARY
Applicants: HILTI AG, HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04B9
IPC codes: E04B9, F16B17, F16B5