Abstract:
The present invention is a clip for use with a strut that at least partially surrounds a hanger rod for the purpose of providing stiffness to the hanger rod. The clip includes a handle portion, a rod-clamping portion, and a fulcrum spaced away from the handle portion. The fulcrum is for being mounted to the strut. The rod-clamping portion is for forcing the hanger rod into tight engagement with an engagement surface of the strut in response to the handle being actuated to an operational position. The present invention also relates to a hanger rod stiffening system that uses a clip and a strut, whereby a handle of the clip is actuated to force a rod-clamping portion of the clip into tight engagement with an internal surface of the strut.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/066,964 titled “Strut and Clip Assembly For Stiffening a Hanger Rod,” filed Oct. 22, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its respective entirety. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to hanger rods used in building construction. Specifically, it relates to an assembly that uses a manually actuated clip to stiffen a hanger rod. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A hanger rod is part of a hanger assembly wherein one end of a threaded rod is vertically attached to the building structure, such as a concrete slab or a wood or steel beam. The other end has an attachment mechanism such as a yoke with a supporting structure, which is used to support building components (e.g., water pipes, HVAC ducts, cables, and electrical conduits) at a position relative to the concrete slab or beam. While hanger rods can be provided in any diameter, the typical size is either ⅜, ½, ⅝, ¾, ⅞, 1 or 1¼ inches, depending on the structure that is to be supported. The lengths can be selected as needed for the particular construction project. Generally, a hanger rod is less than about 120 inches in length. 
         [0005]    While these hanger rods are strong enough to support the various building components attached thereto, various assemblies and methods have been proposed to strengthen the hanger rod against deformation due to unusual stresses that may be experienced within the building, such as movement associated with an earthquake. Some devices make use of a stiffening member, such as a channel strut, angle iron, or pipe that is positioned substantially parallel to the hanger rod. One type of connection between the stiffening member and the hanger rod can be provided by welding the member to the rod, which is extremely time-consuming and not practical due to the expense involved. In another type of connection, the stiffening member and the hanger rod are connected in their parallel arrangement by a series of clamping devices by use of several manually driven fasteners, such as screws. Again, connection via fasteners can be a time-consuming process. 
         [0006]    To keep installation costs down, there is a continuing need for stiffening assemblies for hanger rods that are simple to use, easy to make, and require minimal manual effort for installation. The present invention helps to satisfy this market need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect, the present invention is a stiffening system for a hanger rod. The stiffening system includes a strut and a clip. The strut at least partially surrounds the hanger rod and extends along a length of the hanger rod. The strut includes an internal engagement surface adjacent to the hanger rod, and also a pivot region. The clip has a handle portion, a rod-clamping portion, and a fulcrum spaced away from the handle portion. The fulcrum pivotably engages the pivot region of the strut. The rod-clamping portion forces the hanger rod into tight engagement with the internal engagement surface of the strut in response to a pivoting movement about the fulcrum caused by the handle being actuated to an operational position. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the present invention is a clip for use with a strut that at least partially surrounds a hanger rod for the purpose of providing stiffness to the hanger rod. The clip includes a handle portion, a rod-clamping portion, and a fulcrum spaced away from the handle portion. The fulcrum is for pivotable engagement within the strut. The rod-clamping portion is for forcing the hanger rod into tight engagement with an engagement surface of the strut in response to the handle being actuated to an operational position. 
         [0009]    In other aspect, the present invention is a clip for use with a strut that at least partially surrounds a hanger rod for providing stiffness to the hanger rod. The clip comprises a handle portion, a rod-clamping portion, and a fulcrum for being rotatably engaged within a pivot region of the strut. The rod-clamping portion forces the hanger rod into tight engagement with an engagement surface of the strut in response to the handle portion being moved to an operational position as the clip rotates around the fulcrum. 
         [0010]    In other aspects, the present invention also involves methods for using a clip in conjunction with a strut that at least partially surrounds a hanger rod. Within the methods, a handle of the clip is actuatable by the user to wedge a rod-clamping portion of the clip between the hanger rod and the internal surface of the strut. Alternatively, the method may include actuating a handle of the clip by the user to sandwich the hanger rod between a rod-clamping portion of the clip and an internal rod-engaging surface of the strut. 
         [0011]    The invention is also a method of stiffening a hanger rod, comprising (i) inserting the hanger rod into an elongated opening of a strut, (ii) inserting a rod-clamping portion of a clip into the elongated opening of the strut, (iii) moving a handle portion of the clip located external to the strut so as to engage a fulcrum of the clip against an internal surface of the strut, and (iv) rotating the handle portion of the clip toward the strut while the fulcrum is engaged against the internal surface of the strut to wedge the rod-clamping portion between the hanger rod and the internal surface of the strut. 
         [0012]    In a further aspect, the invention is a method of stiffening a hanger rod, comprising, (i) inserting the hanger rod into an elongated opening of a strut, (ii) inserting a rod-clamping portion of a clip into the elongated opening of the strut, (iii) moving a handle portion of the clip located external to the strut so as to engage a fulcrum of the clip against an internal surface of the strut, (iv) rotating the handle portion of the clip toward the strut while the fulcrum is engaged against the internal surface of the strut to sandwich the hanger rod between the rod-clamping portion and an internal rod-engaging surface of the strut. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect, the present invention is a method of stiffening a hanger rod, comprising, (i) inserting the hanger rod into an elongated opening of a strut, (ii) inserting a rod-clamping portion of a clip into the elongated opening of the strut, and (iii) actuating a handle portion of the clip located external to the strut to sandwich the hanger rod between the rod-clamping portion and an internal rod-engaging surface of the strut. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, the present invention is A method of stiffening a hanger rod, comprising, (i) inserting the hanger rod into an elongated opening of a strut, (ii) inserting a rod-clamping portion of a clip into the elongated opening of the strut, and (iii) actuating a handle portion of the clip located external to the strut to wedge the rod-clamping portion between the hanger rod and the internal surface of the strut. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect, the invention is a method of stiffening a hanger rod, comprising, (i) inserting the hanger rod into an elongated opening of a strut, (ii) inserting a plurality of clips into the elongated opening of the strut, each of the plurality of clones being spaced away from each other, and (iii) actuating handle portions of each of the plurality of clips to clamp the hanger rod against an internal surface of the strut. 
         [0016]    Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of a clip and strut assembly for stiffening a hanger rod according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of a clip and strut assembly for stiffening a hanger rod according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a clip and strut assembly for stiffening a hanger rod according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of a clip for stiffening a hanger rod according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4C  is a side view of the clip of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional view of the clip taken along line  4 D- 4 D of  FIG. 4C . 
           [0027]      FIG. 4E  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip of  FIG. 4A  taken along a center line of the clip. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4F  is a first perspective view of the clip of  FIGS. 4A-4E . 
           [0029]      FIG. 4G  is a second perspective view of the clip of  FIGS. 4A-4E . 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a hanger rod within the strut. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates the hanger rod of  FIG. 5  being secured to strut by use of the clip of  FIGS. 4A-4G . 
           [0032]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of a clip and strut assembly for stiffening two sizes of hanger rods according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7B  is an alternative top view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0034]      FIG. 7C  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIGS. 7A-7B . 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a stamped piece of metal that can be formed into the clip illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7C . 
           [0036]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a clip for stiffening a hanger rod according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9B  is a second perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0038]      FIG. 9C  is an end view of the clip of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0039]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 9  that is assembled in the strut, and used with a first hanger rod size. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 10A . 
           [0041]      FIG. 10C  is a side cross-sectional view of the clip and strut assembly of  FIG. 10A . 
           [0042]      FIG. 10D  is another top view of the clip of  FIG. 9  that is assembled in the strut, and used with a second hanger rod size relative to the hanger rod size in  FIGS. 10A-10C . 
       
    
    
       [0043]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.” 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a hanger rod  10  is located within an elongated channel-type strut  20  that has an opening for receiving the hanger rod  10 . The hanger rod  10  is typically part of a hanger assembly such that one end of the hanger rod  10  is vertically attached to a building structure (e.g., a concrete slab or a beam) and a connecting member is threadably coupled to the hanger rod  10  for supporting an additional building component, such as a water pipe. The strut  20  has a first wall  22 , a second wall  24 , and a third wall  26 . The opening on the strut  20  that initially receives the hanger rod  10  is opposing the second wall  24 . The second wall  24  includes an internal rod-engagement surface against which the hanger rod  10  is clamped by a clip  30 . On either side of and adjacent to the opening in the strut  20 , the strut  20  includes a pair of clip-engagement surfaces  28  that act as the strut&#39;s pivot region for a fulcrum portion of the clip  30 , as described in more detail below. Accordingly, the hanger rod  10  is at least partially surrounded by the channel-type strut  20 . 
         [0046]    The clip  30  includes a rod-clamping portion  32  that is located within the strut  20  and a handle portion  34  that is located external to the strut  20 . The rod-clamping portion  32  is in a transverse orientation (e.g., generally perpendicular in the illustrated embodiments) relative to the handle portion  34 , such that the clip  30  has generally an L-shaped configuration. The rod-clamping portion  32  includes an engagement surface  36  that is moved into position against and engages the hanger rod  10 . The clip  30  also includes a fulcrum portion  38  that engages the pair of clip-engaging surfaces  28  located on the strut  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the fulcrum portion  38  is part of the surface on the rod-clamping portion  32  that opposes the rod-engagement surface  36 . The fulcrum portion  38  can also be located at other regions of the clip  30  that are spaced away from the manually actuatable handle portion  34  and, thus, can be outside the rod-clamping portion  32 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 1B  illustrates two clips  30   a  and  30   b  into different positions on the strut  20 . In particular, the lower clip  30   a  is in the “open” position, where it has been initially inserted into the strut  20  by manual operation from the user. When the clip  30  is in the open position, the clip  30  is moveable within the strut  20  along a length of the hanger rod  10  so that its final location on the hanger rod  10  can be selected by the user. In the open position, the handle portion  34  of the lower clip  30   a  extends away from the strut  20  as the rod-clamping portion  32  is inserted into the opening of the strut  20 . The engagement surface  36  is located away from the hanger rod  10  when the clip  30   a  is oriented in the open position. As shown by the arrow “R” in  FIG. 1A , the lower clip  30   a  pivots around the fulcrum portion  38 , which itself is engaged against the clip engaging surfaces  28  of the strut  20 , as a manual force is placed on the handle portion  34 . The rotational movement causes the engagement surface  36  to move towards the hanger rod  10 . 
         [0048]    The upper clip  30   b  is in the “closed” or operational position as its handle portion  34  has been fully rotated towards the strut  20 . The rotational movement of the clip  30   b  causes the engagement surface  36  to be forced against the hanger rod  10 , such that the hanger rod  10  is clamped (sandwiched) between the engagement surface  36  of the rod-clamping portion  32  and an internal surface on the second wall  24  of the strut  20 . In other words, the rotational movement of the handle portion  34  of the clip  30   b  causes the rod-clamping portion  32  of the clip  30  to be wedged between the internal surface  28  of the strut  20  (which is engaging the fulcrum  38  of the clip) and the hanger rod  10 . When in the closed position, the assembly of the strut  20  and the clip  30  functions to stiffen the hanger rod  10  and resist buckling under compression forces, which may result from building movements caused by vibrations or earthquakes. 
         [0049]    The present invention contemplates placing multiple clips  30  along the length of a single hanger rod  10 , such that the clips  30  are generally spaced apart by a distance that is calculated in accordance with accepted engineering practice to provide the required resistance to buckling of the hanger rod  10  under a calculated compression loading, such as that experienced in earthquakes, by bracing the hanger rod  10  with the clips  30 . Generally, the accepted engineering practice is to use the American Institute of Steel Construction buckling formula, Kl/r, where K is a variable representing the buckled shape of the hanger rod  10 , l is the maximum spacing between clips  30 , and r is the least radius of gyration of the hanger rod  10 . 
         [0050]    The strut  20  is typically a standard, commonly used strut for building construction. For example, one common strut  20  has cross-sectional dimensions of 1⅝ inches by 1⅝ inches. Because of the desire to wedge the rod-clamping portion  32  of the clip  30  between the internal surface  28  of the strut  20  and the rod  10 , the dimensions of the rod-clamping portion  32  of the clip  30  and the location of the fulcrum  38  are dependent on the strut  20  to which the clamp  30  is to be assembled. 
         [0051]    Turning now to  FIG. 2A and 2B , the hanger rod  10  and the channel-type strut  20  are shown relative to a different embodiment of a clip  130 . It should be noted that structures and function of the clip  130  are similar to the general structures and functions of the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  (except for the differences noted below), and that 100-series reference numerals have been used in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  to delineate those similar structures (e.g., the handle portion  134  in the clip  130  in  FIGS. 2A-2B  is similar to the handle portion  34  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , etc.). In this embodiment, the engagement surface  136  of the rod-clamping portion  132  is located within a groove  137 . While the groove  137  can have various shapes, the groove  137  is sized to receive a certain size of hanger rod  10  to provide some lateral frictional resistance when the clip  130  is in the closed position. In other words, the groove  137  receives a portion of the hanger rod  10  such that there are regions of the rod-clamping portion  132  located on either side of the hanger rod  10 . The present invention contemplates having different clips  130  with different sized grooves  137  that can receive different diameters of hanger rods  10 . For example, one size groove  137  on a first clip  130  may be useful for a few different diameters of hanger rods  10 . And a second size groove  137  on a second clip  130  may be useful for other diameters of hanger rods  10 . 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the hanger rod  10  and the channel-type strut  20  are shown relative to a different embodiment of a clip  230 . It should be noted that structures and function of the clip  230  are similar to the general structures and functions of the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  (except for the differences noted below), and that 200-series reference numerals have been used in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  to delineate similar structures (e.g., the handle portion  234  in the clip  230  in  FIGS. 3A-3B  is similar to the handle portion  34  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , etc.). In this embodiment, the clip  230  includes a smaller rod-clamping portion  232  that has a curved shape when viewed from the side, as shown in  FIG. 3B . However, the rod-clamping portion  232  is still generally transverse to the handle portion  234 . The fulcrum portion is located on a pair of rounded protrusions  238  that extend outwardly from the rod-clamping portion  232 . Another difference is that the groove  237  on the rod-clamping portion  232  defines a curved rod-engagement surface  236 . The radius of curvature of at least a portion of the curved rod-engaging surface of the groove  237  is approximately the same as a radius of curvature of the hanger rod  10 . Due to the combination of the curved shape of the rod-clamping portion  232  and the curved rod-engagement surface  236  within the groove  237 , the rod-clamping portion  232  slides upwardly along the hanger rod  10  as the handle portion  234  is rotated downwardly to the closed or operational position, such that different portions of the rod-engagement surface  236  come into engagement with the hanger rod  10  before the clip  230  reaches its final closed position. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4G , a different embodiment of a clip  330  for stiffening a hanger rod  10  is shown. It should be noted that structures and function of the clip  330  are similar to the general structures and function of the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  (except for the differences noted below), and that 300-series reference numerals have been used in  FIGS. 4A-4G  to delineate similar structures (e.g., the handle portion  334  in the clip  330  in  FIGS. 4A-4G  is similar to the handle portion  34  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , etc.). The rod-clamping portion  332  includes a groove  337  with a slightly concave, rounded engagement surface  336  for engaging the hanger rod  10 . The fulcrum is located on surfaces of a pair of wing-shaped projections  338  extending outwardly from the rod-clamping portion  332 , as shown best in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 4D , which is taken along line  4 D- 4 D in  FIG. 4C . Like the clip  230  of  FIGS. 3A-3B , the rod-clamping portion  332  of the clip  330  has a rounded profile, as shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4E , which is taken along the centerline of the clip  330 . The handle portion  334  becomes wider to provide a larger surface for receiving a manual force from the user to actuate the clip  330  and move the clip  330  into its operational or closed position whereby it clamps the hanger rod  10  against an inner surface of the second wall  24  of the strut  20 . The clip  330  can be formed by various processes, such as casting. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 5-6  illustrate the clip  330  of  FIGS. 4A-4G  in use on an exemplary hanger rod  10  located within an exemplary channel-type strut  20 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the hanger rod  10  positioned against a rear internal surface of the strut  20 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the clip  330  in its operational position after the handle  334  has been moved downwardly against the strut  20 . When the rotational movement of the handle  334  toward the strut  20  occurs, the clip  330  pivots around the fulcrum on the projections  338  (which are engaging internal surfaces of the strut  10  adjacent to the elongated opening of the strut  20 ), causing the rounded rod-engagement surface  336  to be force the hanger rod  10  against the rear internal surface of the strut  20 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7C , another embodiment of a clip  430  for stiffening a hanger rod  10  is shown. It should be noted that structures and function of the clip  430  are similar to the general structures and function of the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  (except for the differences noted below), and that 400-series reference numerals have been used in  FIGS. 7A-7C  to delineate similar structures (e.g., the handle portion  434  in clip  430  in  FIGS. 7A-7C  is similar to the handle portion  34  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , etc.). The clip  430  is somewhat asymmetric in that there are two different rod-engagement surfaces  436   a  and  436   b  having different sizes. The first rod-engagement surface  436   a  is configured to engage a first size of hanger rod  10   a  ( FIG. 7A ) such as a ½ inch diameter hanger rod, while the second rod-engagement surface  436   b  is configured to engage a second size of hanger rod  10   b  ( FIG. 7B ) such as ⅜ inch diameter hanger rod. As can be seen in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the first rod-engagement surface  436   a  clamps the hanger rod  10   a  in an upper corner defined by two internal surfaces of the strut  20 , while the second rod-engagement surface  436   b  clamps the hanger rod  10   b  in a lower corner defined by two internal surfaces of the strut  20 . Accordingly, the present invention also contemplates a single clip and strut assembly for independently stiffening multiple sizes of hanger rods by clamping those hanger rods at different locations within the strut  20 . Thus, the clip  430  presents more of a modular design. 
         [0056]    Additionally, the clip  430  includes a pair of registration tabs  439  near the pair of fulcrum portions  438 . The pair of registration tabs  439  is for the purpose of maintaining the clip  430  in proper alignment and registration with the elongated opening of the strut  20 . Each of the registration tabs  439  engages a corresponding surface that defines the opening of the strut  20  to help maintain the clip  430  in the proper horizontal orientation during insertion into the vertically oriented strut  20 . The registration tabs  439  also maintain the proper orientation of the clip  430  during actuation of the handle  434  to transition the clip  430  into the closed position. 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  illustrates one method that the clip  430  can be manufactured. Specifically, the clip  430  can be stamped from a piece of steel, and then bent into the final configuration that is shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . As one example, the clip  430  can be stamped from a flat piece of AISI 1008 or AISI 1010 zinc-plated steel having a thickness of between 0.15 and 0.25 inch. Each of the rod-engagement surfaces  436   a  and  436   b  can be formed by bending elongated tabs that extend outwardly from the main body of the rod-clamping portion  432 . Similarly, the pair of registration tabs  439  can be bent from the clip  430  at regions that are adjacent to the rod-clamping portion  432 . To create the transverse orientation between the handle  434  and the rod-clamping portion  432 , the clip  430  can be bent around a primary bend line BL to an angle that is sufficient to allow the clip  430  to function in a manner that causes the hanger rod  10  to be forced into the corners of the strut  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate a clip  530  according to an embodiment of the present invention that is used for stiffening multiple sizes of hanger rods  10 . It should be noted that structures and function of the clip  530  are similar to the general structures and function of the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  (except for the differences noted below), and that 500-series reference numerals have been used in  FIGS. 9A-9C  to delineate similar structures (e.g., the handle portion  534  in clip  530  in  FIGS. 9A-9C  is similar to the handle portion  34  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , the fulcrum portion  538  in clip  530  in  FIGS. 9A-9C  is similar to the fulcrum portion  38  in the clip  30  in  FIGS. 1A-1B , etc.). The clip  530  is asymmetric in that there are two different rod-engagement surfaces  536   a  and  536   b  for engaging rods of different sizes, as will described below relative to  FIGS. 10A-10D . 
         [0059]    Additionally, the handle portion  534  of the clip  530  includes a locking portion  540  with a pair of latching fingers  542 . The handle portion  534  is split into two sections via an elongated notch  544  that separates the pair of latching fingers  540 . The elongated notch  544  is positioned along the central axis of the handle portion  534  so as to allow the latching fingers  540  to spring inwardly during insertion into the strut, which is shown in  FIG. 10  below. The latching fingers  540  engage an inner surface of the strut  20  to help retain the clip  530  within the strut  20  as the clip  530  holds the hanger rod. Although not shown, the locking portion  540  may further include one or more holes that permit insertion of a tool (e.g., a screwdriver) that can twist the latching fingers  542  inwardly and overcome the spring force of the two sections of the handle portion  540  during removal of the clip  530  from the strut  20 . The dimensions (width and length) of the elongated notch  544  are chosen to optimize the spring force associated with the handle portion  540 . 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C , the first rod-engagement surface  536   a  is configured to engage a first size of hanger rod  10   a,  such as a ½ inch diameter hanger rod. As can be seen best in  FIG. 10A , the first rod-engagement surface  536   a  clamps the hanger rod  10   a  in a first corner defined by two internal surfaces of the strut  20 . On the other hand, as show in  FIG. 10D , in an alternative use, the second rod-engagement surface  536   b  clamps the smaller hanger rod  10   b  (e.g. ¼ inch diameter hanger rod) in a second corner defined by two internal surfaces of the strut  20 . Like the clip  430  of  FIG. 7 , the clip  530  presents more of a modular design, allowing for a single clip and strut assembly to independently stiffen multiple sizes of hanger rods by clamping those hanger rods at different locations within the strut  20 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 10A-10D  also illustrate the locking portion  540  of the clip  530  in use. During assembly, the pair of latching fingers  542  engage the inner walls of the strut  20  and are forced toward each other as the handle portion  534  is moved downwardly into the operational position. The dimensions of the clip  530  are chosen such that the handle portion  432  is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strut  20  as the latching fingers  542  clear the space of the inner walls of the strut  20  and resiliently snap outwardly to help lock the clip  530  in place along the strut  20 . At this point, one of the engaging surfaces  536   a  or  536   b  is forcing the hanger rod  10 A or  10 B into tight engagement with the corners of the strut  20  and the final assembly process is complete. The locking portion  540  can also be applied to any of the designs of the previous clips described relative to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
         [0062]    Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.