Abstract:
An plumbing pipe locator and support is provided for fixing plumbing pipes in position relative to studs in a building. The pipe locator and support comprises an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower sides extending along opposing sides of a longitudinal axis. A first plurality of longitudinally aligned, larger pipe openings are interspersed with a second plurality of smaller, aligned fastener openings that extend into ends of the strap. The upper and lower sides undulate to provide a substantially uniform width between first holes and the adjacent sides and the second holes and the adjacent sides. This undulating surface can provide a strap using less material, with reduced manufacturing time, and a strap that can bend without forming creases or stress fractures.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/008,854 filed Jan. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,756. The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of application Ser. No. 60/880,879, filed Jan. 17, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pipes that are adapted to mate with a plumbing fixture such as a sink or the like typically extend upwardly between building studs, and then project outwardly for connection to the plumbing fixture. The pipes must be securely fixed in place to prevent vertical, lateral and axial movements under the stress of use. The pipes must also be located a predetermined distance apart to precisely align them with the fixture inlets. One prior art means for securing pipes between studs uses a strap with spaced holes of alternating large and small sizes, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,451. This plumbing strap worked well, but it uses a long strip of material so the strap can extend between studs typically spaced from 16-24 inches. Further, the uniform width of the strap is set by the largest hole in the strap to ensure that there is sufficient material between the edge of the hole and the side of the strap, so that the strap is not only long, but wide. There is thus a need for a strap that uses less material. 
     Further, these straps are typically made by running a narrow coil of metal through dies that punch the holes and advance the metal along the length of the plumbing strap, but it takes time to advance the coil the length of the strap so manufacturing costs and times are increased. There is thus a need for a strap that uses less material and that can be manufactured faster. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention is for a universal plumbing pipe locator and support and a method of making that pipe locator and support. The pipe locator and support comprises a supporting strap which includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings in the form of holes or slots, spaced apart predetermined distances for receiving and thereby locating a pair of pipes in proper spaced relation for attachment to complemental conduits of a plumbing fixture or the like, such as a faucet. A second plurality of smaller holes can be provided to accept nails, screws or the like to secure the strap to usual building studs. Alternatively, a clamp can be used to attach the strap to a waste pipe or the like. For ease of reference this pipe locator and support will be called a plumbing strap. 
     The plumbing strap has a variable width, and preferably, but optionally has a constant length and constant thickness. The maximum width is selected to provide a sufficient amount of material across the width of the strap to support the plumbing pipes or conduits during use of the plumbing strap. The spacing between the largest hole and the edge or side of the strap is roughly maintained along the length of the s trap so the strap is wider at the larger holes and narrower at the smaller holes to form an undulating edge or side. The ends are preferably formed with parallel opposing sides. The undulating sides are preferably symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the strap, but is not symmetric about an axis through the center of the strap and in the plane of the strap containing the opposing sides. This results in a strap that has roughly equal spacing between the outermost edges of the hole and the adjacent edge of the strap. The resulting strap is more flexible than the prior art straps, uses less material than the prior art straps, and that can be made faster than the prior art straps. 
     In one preferred embodiment, there is provided a plumbing strap used in combination with a pair of spaced apart building studs for fixing the pipes in position relative to and an associated pair of pipes. An elongated supporting strap is provided having upper and lower sides extending along opposing sides of a longitudinal axis and having a length sufficient to fasten opposing ends of the strap to the studs. The plumbing strap has a first plurality of longitudinally aligned first openings located between the upper and lower sides and extending between the ends of said strap, with the openings being spaced apart by a predetermined distance so the pipes are alignable and in registration with the openings. The elongated plumbing strap is adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length with the pipes projecting through a pair of the first openings. The plumbing strap further has a second plurality of openings extending between the ends of the strap and being smaller than the first openings. The upper and lower sides undulate to provide a substantially uniform width between first holes and the adjacent sides and the second holes and the adjacent sides along at least an axis through a center of the holes and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and passing through both sides. Thus, the sides are wider adjacent the first openings and narrower adjacent the second openings. Fasteners extend through third holes in the ends and fastening said strap to said studs. The third holes can be the same as the second holes. 
     In further preferred variations, the first plurality of openings in the strap are cylindrical and circumferentially coextensive with the adjacent circumference of said pipe. Moreover, the first and second openings are preferably of two different diameters and alternate along a substantial length of said strap. Further, the sides are preferably mirror images of each other about the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the strap advantageously has ends containing a plurality of said second openings but not the first openings. Finally, and optionally, the strap has at least one shaped opening therein having a square shape sized to engage a shut-off valve of a bottle of combustable gas. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, a pipe locator and support is provided for extending between studs in a building to hold plumbing pipes in position. The pipe locator and support has an elongated strap with a longitudinal axis and opposing sides. The strap further has a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes alternating with the first plurality between first and second ends. The second plurality of holes is smaller than the first plurality and the sides undulate to provide a larger width at the first holes and a narrower width at the second holes. 
     In further optional variations on this alternative embodiment, the first plurality of holes are equally spaced apart and the second plurality of holes is equally spaced apart with the first and second holes centered on the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the ends advantageously each have at least one hole sized to allow a shaft of a fastener to extend therethrough during use, while preventing an enlarged head of the fastener from passing therethrough during use of the strap. In a further variation, the pipe locator and support comprises a flat strap having a width axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in the plane of the strap, with the undulating sides providing a substantially uniform width between the first and second holes and the adjacent sides at the largest dimension of the holes when measured along the width direction through a center of the holes. In a further variation, the first end is preferably adjacent a first hole and the second end is adjacent a second hole. Preferably, the sides are mirror images of each other about the longitudinal axis. 
     Moreover, in further variations the holes are preferably circular and the sides have a first largest width formed by first flats on opposing sides of the first holes and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the sides having a second width smaller than the first width and formed by second flats on opposing sides of the second holes with inclines joining the first and second flats and with the flats being parallel to the longitudinal axis. Additional variations have the first and second ends including sides with a third width that is smaller than the first width and larger than the second width. The inclines are preferably formed at an angle of about 58° relative to the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the ends may contain shaped holes sized to engage a gas-shut-off. Still more preferably, the holes are circular with a width w between the first holes and the adjacent first flats measured along the width axis through the center of the first holes being about the same as the width w between the second holes and the adjacent second flats measured along the width axis through the center of the second holes. 
     In a still further embodiment a plumbing strap is provided with a length sufficient to fastening plumbing pipes between studs of a building. The plumbing strap includes a flat strip of metal having a longitudinal axis and a width axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a thickness. The plumbing strap has ends with parallel sides and a middle portion with undulating sides undulating between a larger first width and a smaller second width, the strap having a first series of holes extending through the thickness and along the length of the middle portion and located at the first undulations with a second series of smaller holes extending through the thickness and located in the second undulations. Each end has a plurality of spaced-apart third holes extending through the thickness. 
     In further variations of this further embodiment, the first holes are spaced the same distance apart and the second holes are spaced the same distance from each other. Moreover, the middle portion can have a first hole adjacent the first end and a second hole adjacent the second end. Additionally, the middle portion can include an undulation having the first width adjacent the first end and an undulation having the second width adjacent the second end. Further, the second width can contains a second hole that is spaced apart from the center of the adjacent third hole a distance that is the same as the spacing between the centers of the third holes. Moreover, the ends can have a third width that is smaller than the first width and larger than the second width. Further, the undulations are preferably formed by straight segments some of which are parallel to the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the third holes can be square and sized to engage a gas-shutoff valve. Further, one of the third holes in each end can be square shaped and sized to engage a gas-shutoff valve, with the shaped holes rotated 45° in the plane of the strap relative to each other. Preferably, the first holes are circular with a width w between the first holes and the adjacent undulating side measured along the width axis through the center of the first holes, and about the same as the width w between the second holes and the adjacent undulating side measured along the width axis through the center of the second holes. In the preferred commercial embodiment, the ends have a width of about 1 inch. 
     There is also provided a method of making a plumbing strap from an elongated strip of metal having a width corresponding to a length of the strap as measured along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The method includes configuring punch dies to form opposing sides of at least one plumbing strap where the strap has opposing first and second ends with a middle portion. The middle portion has undulating first and second opposing sides which are substantially mirror images of each other about the longitudinal axis, with a first undulation width larger than a second undulation width and the ends having a common width that is between the first and second undulation widths. The middle portion begins with one of a first or second undulation width adjacent the first end and ending with the other of a first or second undulation width adjacent the second end. The undulations being regularly spaced along the longitudinal axis. 
     The method also includes orienting the punch dies and the strip of metal so the longitudinal axis of the strap extends across the width of the strip of metal. Finally, the method includes repeatedly moving the dies to punch opposing sides of at least one strap successively from the strip of metal as the strip of metal advances past the dies a distance corresponding to a multiple of the width of an end of the strap that is at least twice the width of an end of the strap. 
     In further variations, the method includes punching a first large hole centered in each of the first widths and along the longitudinal axis and punching a second smaller hole centered in each of the second widths and along the longitudinal axis. The holes are preferably round and may be punched before the dies are moved, after the dies are moved, or punched as the dies are moved. 
     The method can also include punching a plurality of third small holes in each end, preferably with the third small holes being located along the longitudinal axis. Another variation includes punching a plurality of third small holes in each end, with the third small holes being located along the longitudinal axis. The third holes can be punched the dies are moved, punched after the dies are moved, or punched as the dies are moved. Moreover, the method can include configuring the die to punch opposing sides of more than one strap, with the metal advancing past the dies a distance corresponding to 1+(the number of sides being cut)/2. 
     In another embodiment, a plumbing strap is provided having a plurality of alternating large and small holes with the large holes sized to receive plumbing pipes and the small holes sized to receive a fastener to fasten the strap to a stud during use. The strap in this embodiment also has a length sufficient to extend between adjacent studs of a building during use, and further has square openings in opposing ends of the strap with the square openings sized to engage a shut-off valve of a bottle of combustable gas. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a pipe locator and support; 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the pipe locator and support of  FIG. 1 , with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is an end plan view of the pipe locator and support of  FIG. 1 ; with the opposing end view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the pipe locator and support of  FIG. 1  in use; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a sheet of metal showing the manufacture of the pipe locator and support of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a prior art plumbing strap in use; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a punch die used to form the sides of the plumbing strap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side schematic view of a manufacturing sequence for producing the pipe locator and support of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a plumbing strap with shaped wrenching holes in it; and 
         FIG. 10   a  is a plan view of a plumbing strap with multiple sized pipe holes and with shaped wrenching holes in the strap. 
         FIG. 10   b  is a perspective view of a plumbing strap with multiple sized pipe holes and with shaped wrenching holes in the strap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a pipe locator and support  20  (hereinafter a “plumbing strap”) is provided comprising an elongated member having various widths W, a thickness T, and a length L measured along a longitudinal axis  22 . The plumbing strap  20  has a first plurality of holes  24  having a first diameter. A second plurality of smaller holes  26  alternates with the first plurality of holes  24 , and both are advantageously centered on the same axis, preferably the longitudinal axis  22 . There are thus a series of alternating holes having different sizes. The holes  24 ,  26  are preferably circular with larger and smaller diameters D 1  and D 2 , respectively. The larger diameter holes  24  have a size selected sized to receive the plumbing pipes  28  ( FIG. 4 ) and the smaller holes  26  are sized to receive fasteners  30  such as nails, screws, wire, etc. to fasten the plumbing strap  20  to studs  32  of a building ( FIG. 6 ). The ends of the plumbing strap  20  preferably, but optionally, have a series of small holes  26  with no intermittent large holes  24 , so the plumbing strap can be positioned laterally and still have the small fastener holes  26  overlap a stud  32  at each end of the strap. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the plumbing strap  20  has undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  forming a variable width strap  20  such that the major length of the strap has a generally uniform width “w” of material extending between the edge of the holes  24 ,  26  and the adjacent side  34   a ,  34   b  of the plumbing strap, at least along an axis through the center of the holes  24 ,  26  and in the plane containing the sides  34   a ,  34   b  and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22 . The width “w” is substantially uniform in that it varies by about 20% or less along the width axis passing through the center of the holes  24 ,  26  in the plane of the strap and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and preferably varies by about 10% or less. 
     Because the middle portion of the plumbing strap  20  between ends  42 ,  44  has alternating large and small holes, the middle portion of the strap has edges or sides that undulate from larger to smaller. The undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  are preferably, but optionally formed by straight segments comprising opposing flat tops  36  adjacent the larger holes  24  and flat bottoms  38  adjacent the smaller holes  26 , joined by inclines  40 . The undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  are mirror images of each other about the longitudinal axis  22 . The angle θ (theta)) of the inclines  40  is about 58° from the horizontal, so that the width “w” between each hole  24 ,  26  to the adjacent edge  34   a ,  34   b , is about the same, at least along the width axis through the center of the holes  24 ,  26  as discussed in the above paragraph. 
     The largest width of the plumbing strap  20  has a width W 1  comprising the diameter D 1  of the larger hole  24  with the width “w” on each side, so the width W 1 =D 1 +2w, where W 1  is the width of the strap between opposing outer flats  36 . 
     The two opposing ends  42 ,  44  of the plumbing strap have a width W 2  that is slightly greater than the width or diameter D 2  of the smaller holes  26  plus twice the generally uniform width “w” such that W 2  is slightly greater than D 2 +2w. The width of the ends  42 ,  44  is intermediate the width of the plumbing strap  20  at the larger first holes  24  and the smaller second holes  26 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the left end  42  is adjacent the small width containing smaller hole  26 , so the end  42  is has a width that is larger than the adjacent section of the plumbing strap  20 . The right end  44  is smaller than the adjacent section of the plumbing strap that contains the larger hole  22 . Thus, adjacent the one end  42 , the plumbing strap  20  necks down, while at the opposite end  44  the plumbing strap expands or necks outward. 
     The narrowest width W 3  of the plumbing strap  20  is preferably at the location of the smaller fastener holes  26  intermediate the larger holes  24 , with the width W 3  about twice the generally uniform width “w” plus the diameter of the smaller holes  26 , so that W 3 =D 2 +2w, where W 3  is the width between opposing inner flats  38 . These width calculations are not exact and are instead general approximations, as will become apparent later when the manufacturing method is explained, and some variation in the widths can occur while still achieving the advantages of this invention and accommodating various sized holes. 
     The undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  of the plumbing strap  20  comprise a series of inner flats  38  on opposing sides of a smaller hole  26  alternating with a series of outer flats  36  on opposing sides of a larger hole  24 , where the distance from the edges of the holes  24 ,  26  to the adjacent sides formed by the outer or inner flats  36 ,  38  is about the width “w.” The larger holes  24  are preferably about 0.5 inches in diameter or slightly larger to accept 0.5 inch plumbing pipes, but the size can vary. The holes  24  are preferably, but optionally spaced about 2 inches apart, center-to-center. The smaller holes  26  are preferably about 3/16 inches in diameter and are also spaced about 2 inches apart, center-to-center, alternating with the larger holes  24 . 
     The plumbing strap  20  is typically about 16 inches or 24 inches long so it can extend between studs typically spaced about 16 inches apart in residential buildings, and about 24 inches apart in commercial buildings or on non-load bearing walls. The strap may be slightly longer to accommodate errors in stud spacing. The four smaller holes  26  on the ends  42 ,  44  are preferably spaced about 0.5 inches apart, center-to-center, and may be considered as a third set of holes  26   a  even though they are preferably, but optionally, the same size and shape as the second set of holes  26 . The ends  42 ,  44  can vary in length, as can the number and arrangement of holes  26  in the ends, but the ends are preferably long enough to accommodate errors in stud spacing so a fastener (e.g., nail, screw, etc.) can pass through a hole  26  in the end to fasten the strap to the stud. 
     The plumbing straps are preferably not symmetric as the left end  42  as seen in  FIG. 1  has four small holes  26  adjacent a narrow segment with inner flats  38  on opposite sides of a small hole  26 . The opposing end  44  on the right as seen in  FIG. 1  has four small holes  26  adjacent a larger segment with outer flats  36  on opposing sides of a large hole  24 . 
     The width W 2  of the strap on ends  42 ,  44  has a width that is intermediate the widths W 1  and W 3 . Thus, on the ends  42 ,  44  the width between the edge of the holes  26  and the adjacent side  34   a ,  34   b  of the plumbing strap  20  is slightly larger than the width “w.” 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , the prior art plumbing straps had parallel sides, and the commercial embodiment had a width of about 1.25 inches when the larger holes were about 0.5 inches in diameter with about 2 inch center to center spacing and the intervening smaller holes were about 5/16 inches in diameter. That leaves a width of about ⅜ inch between each of the large holes and the adjacent side of the prior art plumbing strap, and a much larger width between the small holes and the sides of the prior art plumbing strap. 
     In comparison with the prior art strap, the plumbing strap  20  has ends with a width of about 1 inch (not 1.25 in.), about 20% smaller and representing about 20% less material, while still allowing a width “w” of about ⅜ inch between each of the larger holes  24  and the adjacent sides  34   a ,  34   b  of the plumbing strap  20 . This reduction in material is achieved by the undulating sides  34 , which also allows an improvement in the manufacture speed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the plumbing straps  20  are made by advancing a sheet of wide, flat material  50 , preferably metal such as brass, copper, tin, aluminum or other sheet metal through a punch press along an axis D along the width of the plumbing straps  20  and perpendicular to longitudinal axis  22 . The sheet of material  50  is preferably a coil of metal about 19-20 inches wide where the resulting plumbing strap is for use with 16 inch stud spacing. The first and second series of larger and smaller holes  24 ,  26  can be punched before or after the sides  34   a ,  34   b  are cut, or less preferably, the holes and sides can be formed simultaneously.  FIG. 8  illustrates a separate operation to form these holes using a punch having a die or punch  58  to punch the large holes  22  and a separate punch  60  for the smaller holes  26  before forming the sides  34   a ,  34   b  and a later punch  54  to form side  34   b  and a punch  52  to form side  34   a . This figure shows all holes  24 ,  26  being punched simultaneously, but either of the larger or smaller holes  24 ,  26  could be punched first. Further, the rods forming portions of the dies  58 ,  60  could extend through dies  52 ,  54  so all holes and sides could be formed simultaneously. 
     The plumbing straps  20  are preferably, but optionally, formed in pairs,  20   a ,  20   b . Each adjacent plumbing strap  20  is oriented 180° oppose the adjacent strap, rotated in the plane of the sheet of material  50 . Thus, every other plumbing strap  20  has its end  34   a  on the left side of the sheet of material  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 , with the intervening straps having the end  34   a  along the right side as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Thus, along the left and right sides of the sheet of material  50  as seen in  FIG. 5 , the part of the inward plumbing strap  20   b  containing the most distal large hole  24  adjacent end  34   b  nests with the part of the adjacent, outward or distal plumbing strap  20   a  containing the most distal small hole  26 . Alternatively stated, along either side of the material  50 , the hole closes to the edge of the material  50 , alternates between large hole  24  and small hole  26 . 
     Reversing the orientation of very other plumbing strap  20 , and using a strap that is not symmetric about the axis D allows the undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  to be formed. Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , preferably two cutting blades or punches are used, a first blade or punch  52  to form one side  34   a  simultaneously, and a second blade or punch  54  to form side  34   b . The blades or punches can be formed on separate members, or formed on the same member and offset (stepped) in a direction perpendicular to the sheet of material  50  along which direction the sheet of material  50  is cut or sheared. A 150 ton punch press is believed suitable to simultaneously cut sides  34   a ,  34   b  to form two straps  20  with a length of about 19.5 inches and a thickness of about 0.060 inches (60 gage metal) for use with studs that are spaced 16-18 inches apart. 
     During manufacture, the dies or punches  52 ,  54  and sheet of material  50  are arranged so the length of the strap  20  extends across the width of the sheet of material  50 . The undulating sides  34   a  of the die  52 ,  54  comprise an interior side on the advancing sheet of material  50  with side  34   b  forming a distal side located further in the direction D in which the sheet of material is advancing. The sheet of material  50  is advanced a distance equal to one plus (the number of sides being cut divided by two). For a die or punch containing one set of opposing sides  34   a  and  34   b  (2 sides being cut), the elongated sheet of material  50  advances a distance of (1+2/2=2) twice the width of end  42  or  44 . Thus, the interior die cutting side  34   b  forms a distal end on the sheet of material  50  that, after the punch or cut is completed, advances past the distal die forming side  34   a . Cutting side  34   a  releases the distal plumbing strap  20   a  and also releases interior strap  20   b.    
     If four cutting or punching edges (two edges  52  and two edges  54 ) are provided, the sheet of material  50  would advance 1+4/2=3 times the width of end  42  or end  44 . Thus, for each pair of cutting blades or punching edges  52 ,  54 , one additional strap  20  is formed, and the sheet of material is advanced one additional width of the end piece  42  or  44 . The sides  34  and holes  24 ,  26  could be formed by other means, including plasma cutting, laser cutting, high pressure liquid cutting, and other means now known or developed in the future, in which event the distance the sheet of material is advanced will vary. 
     The reversal and nesting of the undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  for a non-symmetric (about axis D) plumbing strap  20  allows a smaller width on the strap  20 , which allows a faster feed of the straps through the punch or cutting press, and which reduces the material used on each strap. By reversing the orientation of the plumbing straps  20  on the sheet of material  50 , and by having the straps non-symmetric when folded about a midpoint on the longitudinal axis  22 , the undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  can be formed in a more efficient manner, and faster. 
     The undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  forming the fairly constant width “w” between the holes  24 ,  26  and the adjacent sides  34   a ,  34   b , also provides a more flexible plumbing strap when the straps are grabbed at the ends and bent about axis D. When prior art plumbing straps with straight and parallel sides are flexed or bent, the straps form crease lines or stress concentration lines along which the material fractures. The crease lines typically extend through one of the larger holes, and this is believed due to the large difference at the location of the large and small holes. The stiffness at the location of the small holes is several times larger than the stiffness at the location of the large holes, so the straps bend at the weakest point which is located at a large hole between the locations where the strap is gripped to bend it. In the plumbing strap  20 , the width “w” at the large and small holes  24 ,  26  is about the same, so the strap bends more uniformly, lacks the stress concentrations of the prior art, and does not kink or form crease lines as with the prior art straps. The undulating sides  34  provide a more uniform amount of material between the holes and the sides, and thus provide means for reducing stress concentrations and crease lines. 
     The holes  24 ,  26  are preferably circular, but could have other shapes. The holes  24 ,  26  can be various sizes to accommodate various sized pipes through the holes. The holes may be larger than the pipes to accommodate collars affixed to the holes or the strap, through which the pipes pass. Such collars are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,451, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The small holes  26  are advantageously sized to allow passage of the diameter of the shaft of the fastener  30  (e.g., nail or screw) passing through the holes while restricting passage of the enlarged head of the fastener. But other shapes could be used for these holes as well. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the small holes  26  preferably include one or more shaped holes  56 . In the illustrated plumbing straps  20  the shaped holes  56  are square with one shaped hole formed in each end  42 ,  44 . Preferably, but optionally, one shaped hole  56  has opposing sides generally parallel to longitudinal axis  22 , while the other shaped hole  56  has its corners aligned with that axis (i.e., rotated 45° from the first hole). The shaped holes  56  are preferably sized and shaped to engage a gas shut-off valve on a bottle of MAPP gas commonly used by plumbers to solder pipes. A square about 0.2 inch on a side is believed suitable. Thus, the plumbing strap  20  can be used as a wrench. By rotating one shaped hole  56  relative to the other hole, one of the shaped holes may be easier to engage a shut-off valve. The shaped holes  56  are not limited to use with the improved plumbing strap  20 , and may be added to preexisting art plumbing straps or used with straps having parallel sides with a constant width and various combinations of holes therein. 
       FIG. 9  shows a plumbing strap  20  with alternating large and small holes to accommodate pipes in the larger holes and fasteners in the smaller holes. This hole pattern is in the prior art. But the strap  20  has shaped holes  56  in the ends of the strap which are not believed to be in the prior art. The shaped wrenching holes  56  are preferably, but optionally, the most distal or last holes in the strap. The prior art included straps with more than one sized pipe hole in the strap.  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b  show a further plumbing strap  20  having three different sizes of pipe holes, located on diagonal centers along diagonal lines. Straps with different sized holes and with fastener holes are in the prior art, but such straps with the shaped openings  56  are not believed to be in the prior art. In  FIGS. 10   a - 10   b , the holes alternate on the diagonals with a first diagonal  70  having a small pipe hole  72 , a large pipe hole  74  and optionally a fastener hole  26 , and the adjacent diagonal having a small pipe hole  72 , a medium pipe hole  76  and an optional fastener hole  26 . Fastener holes  26  are optionally placed along the centerline of the plumbing strap. Further, to accommodate the different sized holes the plumbing strap  26  is wider, and two rows of fastener holes  26  are provided. The shaped wrenching holes  56  are preferably located closest to the ends of the strap. The shaped openings  56  are thus adjacent the end of the strap—within the last few fastener holes  26  and preferably the last hole  26  before the end. The shaped openings  56  can be on the same row or on diagonally opposite rows. Each shaped opening  56  is advantageously aligned about a different axis, and are preferably orientated 45° relative to each other. Thus, the opening  56  in the right end of  FIG. 56  has its sides parallel to the sides and ends of the rectangular plumbing strap while the opening  56  in the left end has a corner pointing toward each of the sides of the rectangular plumbing strap  20 . The above embodiments show a single shaped opening  56  on each end of the strap, but there could be more than one shaped opening  56  on one or both ends. Further, while the shaped opening is preferably on the ends, it could be located anywhere along the length of the strap, and if so is preferably, but optionally adjacent an edge of the strap. 
     The undulating sides  34   a ,  34   b  are described as formed with straight segments. Sides  34  formed with curved segments are also believed suitable, but the dies to form the sides may be more expensive to form. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. For example, the undulating sides are formed with straight segments but could be continuously curved or could have more rounded corners joining the straight segments. The holes  24 ,  26 ,  26   a  are shown a circular, which is preferred, but other shaped holes could be used, especially if collars or inserts are interposed between the holes and the plumbing pipes inserted through the holes. In particular, the holes sized for fasteners (e.g., holes  24 ,  26 ) could be elongated to allow variation in placement of the fasteners extending through the holes. Further, the ends  42 ,  44  could be omitted with the holes  24 ,  26  extending the entire length of the strap plumbing  20 . Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.