Abstract:
There is provided an apparatus and method for enabling an elongated pipe to be installed below a ceiling using a single installer. A pair of rotatable jaws is provided. The jaws are adapted to temporarily support one end of a pipe. A fastener is provided for removably securing the apparatus to a ceiling. An extension device, in the form of an elongated rod, connects the jaws to the fastener so that one end of the pipe may be temporarily supported a predetermined distance from the ceiling and the installer may connect the other end of the pipe to another pipe or to another connecting member.

Description:
RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
   This is a U.S. non-provisional application relating to and claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/463,303, filed Apr. 15, 2003. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the installation of pipe; more particularly it relates to an apparatus which allows a single installer to install pipe. Drainpipe, water pipe and HVAC duct or pipe used in new construction or remodeling comes in long sections which must be pieced together. PVC drainpipe is often five (5) inches in diameter or larger, twenty (20) feet long and can weigh over one hundred (100) pounds. The installation of these long links of pipe normally requires two persons. One person holds the far end of the pipe adjacent to the ceiling while the other person attaches the other end of the pipe to a previously installed pipe. This adds to the labor costs involved in the installation of pipe. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,403 issued to Carlston shows a device for assisting in the hanging of pipe in the form of a thin, narrow rectangular plate having sharp ends. The plate is adapted to be wedged between adjacent ceiling joists. Wedging is accomplished by hammering the plate so that the sharp ends bite into the ceiling joists. The free end of the pipe is placed between the ceiling joists and is supported by the plate to aid in the installation of the pipe. The use of the Carlston invention pre-supposes that the pipe is to be installed between adjacent ceiling joists, rather than under the ceiling joists. In addition, the Carlston device causes damage to the ceiling joists. Lastly, removal of the support plate from between the ceiling joists by a hammer can cause damage to the pipe. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for enabling an elongated pipe to be installed below a ceiling using a single installer. A first jaw is provided and is adapted to temporarily support one end of the pipe. A fastener is provided for removably securing the apparatus to the ceiling. An extension device is provided for connecting the jaw to the fastener so that one end of the pipe may be temporarily supported at a distance from the ceiling and the installer may connect the other end of the pipe to another pipe. 
   In accordance with another form of this invention, there is provided a method for installing pipe below a ceiling using a single installer and utilizing an apparatus, including a first jaw, a fastener and an extension device connecting the first jaw to the fastener. The method includes the steps of attaching the apparatus to the ceiling using the fastener, placing one end of the pipe in the jaw so that one end of the pipe becomes suspended from the ceiling, and attaching the other end of the pipe to a previously installed pipe or to another connecting member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with other objects and advantages thereof may be better understood taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention with the jaws in the closed position. 
       FIG. 2  shows a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the jaws in the open position. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the water pipe holder removed. 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial view showing the use of the pipe hanger of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a portion of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3  but with the chain omitted. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is provided pipe hanger  10  having a pair of rotatable jaws  12  and  14  each having first and second ends. As shown in  FIG. 1 , jaws  12  and  14  are in the closed position, forming an enclosed space  16  which is adapted to receive one end  18  of elongated plastic drainpipe  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , jaws  12  and  14  are in the open position so that the pipe may be attached to the hanger  10  without the need to pass end  18  of the pipe through opening  16 . Jaw  12  is bifurcated; that is jaw  12  includes a first semi-circular curved element  22  and second semi-circular curved element  24 . Gap  26  is formed between curved elements  22  and  24 . Jaw  14  includes a single semi-circular curved element  28 , portions of which are adapted to be received within a portion of gap  26  when the jaws are in a closed position as illustrated by  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . 
   A plurality of holes  32  are drilled through curved element  22  and a plurality of holes  34  are drilled through curved element  24 . Pin  36  is attached to curved element  28  by a chain  38 . Pin locking spring element  40  is attached to pin  36 . The jaws  12  and  14  are held in the closed position and locked about pipe  20  by inserting pin  36  through the aligned holes  30 ,  32  and  34  of the respective curved elements so that the jaws are removably connected to one another. By utilizing more than one hole through each of the curved elements, the diameter of the circular space  16  is made adjustable so as to accommodate various diameters of pipe. 
   The hanger further includes an extension device which preferably is in the form of elongated rod  42 . Rod  42  includes threads  44  located at the lower end. The hanger  10  further includes connection member  46 , including a first plate  48  and a second plate  50 . A threaded channel  52  extends between plates  48  and  50  and is adapted to receive and engage with threads  44  on rod  42 . Curved elements  22  and  24  are rotatably attached to plate  48  and curved element  28  is rotatably attached to plate  50  by means of holes  51 ,  53  and  55  through the respective plates and curved elements with pins  57  and  59  being placed there through. The threads  44  enable one to make minor vertical adjustments to the position of jaws  12  and  14  and thus, the vertical position of opening  16  by rotating the jaws about the axis of rod  42 . 
   A fastener, preferably in the form of clamp member  54 , is attached to rod  42  towards the top of the rod. Clamp member  54  includes “C” clamp  56  having first setscrew  58  attached thereto. “C” clamp  56  is also attached to boss  60 . Boss  60  includes a hole  61  there through for receiving a rod  42 . Second setscrew  62  is attached to boss  60  and is able to make contact with rod  42  to hold clamp member  54  in place on the rod. This arrangement also enables jaws  12  and  14  and thus, pipe receiving opening  16  to be adjusted vertically along the length of rod  42  so as to enable major vertical adjustments. “C” clamp as shown in  FIG. 4 , is adapted to engage with ceiling joist  64 . Setscrew  58  holds the “C” clamp and thus, hanger  10  firmly to ceiling joist  64 . 
   The hanger  10  is operated as follows:
         the vertical distance between previously installed pipe  66  as shown in  FIG. 4  and ceiling joist  64  is measured or estimated by installer  68 ;   installer  68  then attaches hanger  10  to ceiling joist  64  by means of clamp member  54  at a distance from the free end  70  of a preinstalled pipe  66  of slightly less than the length of pipe  20 ;   in order for pipe  20  to be installed in the proper position, the distance between opening  16  of pipe hanger  10  and ceiling joist  64  is made equal to the distance between pipe  66  and ceiling joist  64  by moving rod  42  through opening  61  in boss  60  and its position is then fixed by tightening setscrew  62  on to rod  42 ;   finer height adjustments may be done by rotating jaws  12  and  14  about the axis of rod  42  so that they move up rod  42  due to threads  44 ;   installer  68  then adjusts the diameter of opening  16  by moving rotatable jaws  12  and  14  to the appropriate position and aligning holes  30 ,  32  and  34  and inserting rod  36  there through so that the diameter of opening  16  is slightly larger than the diameter of pipe  20 ;   installer  68  may then place the end  18  of pipe  20  through opening  16  between jaws  12  and  14  of hanger  10  (alternatively, the installer may first open the jaws  12  and  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 , place pipe  20  between the open jaws, and then close and fix the jaws as shown in  FIG. 1 ); and   installer  68  then places the end  72  of pipe  20  against end  70  of fixed pipe  66 . Normally one end of one of the pipes is bell-shaped while the other end is a spigot so that the spigot end fits into the bell end. The installer may then glue or otherwise attach the pipes together. The installer then applies a permanent strap between end  18  of pipe  20  and ceiling joist  64 . Pipe holder  10  is then removed from pipe  20  and the ceiling joist by the installer by removing pin  36  and opening the jaws as shown in  FIG. 2  and then releasing the “C” clamp  54  from the ceiling joist by rotating the setscrew  58  in the counter-clockwise direction. Thus, pipe  20  may be installed by a single person.       

   In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , “C” clamp  56  from  FIG. 1  is replaced with an “O” clamp  74 . The “O” clamp includes a hollow pipe structure  76  having a setscrew  78  received therein. Pipe structure  76  is adapted to receive a small pipe  80 . This “O” clamp structure enables one to use this pipe hanger  10  in situations where there are spaced apart bar joists just below the ceiling. That is, pipe  80  is placed between the spaced apart bar joists and supported thereby. 
   Hanger  10  may also include water pipe support bracket  82  having hole  84  there through for receiving rod  42 . Water pipe bracket  82  includes a first groove  86  for receiving and supporting a hot water pipe and a second groove  88  for receiving and supporting a cold water pipe. Thus, installer  68  may also use pipe hanger  10  to install hot and cold water pipes using the same techniques as used in the installation of drainpipe  20  as described above. 
   From the foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It will be understood, however, that these embodiments of the invention are exemplifications of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto.