Abstract:
A device is attached to a building structural element adjacent to a position where ductwork will be installed and is used to support that ductwork during installation. One worker can thus install long sections of ductwork without requiring assistance of other workers to support the ductwork. The device is collapsible and is adjustable and includes at least one clamp element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of supports, and to the particular field of supports used in the building industry. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Ductwork is often used in buildings to transfer air, conduits and the like. This ductwork is often shipped in long sections that exceed the length of a worker&#39;s reach. Often, these long sections of ductwork must be mounted in difficult to reach areas, including overhead ceilings and the like. Handling such long sections of ductwork may be cumbersome and difficult, especially for one worker. 
   Therefore, installation of ductwork often requires more than one worker. One worker supports the ductwork while the other worker mounts the ductwork in place. This can be a time consuming job and since more than one worker is involved, the job may become expensive. Often, it is not practical for two or more workers to devote time to installing ductwork. This may require delaying the installation of ductwork until a plurality of workers are available. This may have adverse effects on a building schedule. Also, a self-employed worker may have to hire extra help, which he may not otherwise need, to install ductwork. This may not be cost-effective. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers. 
   Many buildings have varying dimensions adjacent to the ductwork locations. Accordingly, any device which is used in connection with ductwork must be easily adaptable to various dimensions. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which is easily and quickly adjustable. 
   Furthermore, since space is often at a premium, and time is valuable, any tool or device used in the installation of ductwork should be easily stored and amenable to being placed in a condition for storage, yet which will be easy and quick to deploy into a use configuration. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which is easy and quick to deploy into a use and/or a stored configuration. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which provides the worker with an option of supporting the device using fasteners or clamps. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which is easily and quickly adjustable. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which is easy and quick to deploy into a use and/or a stored configuration. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means which can be used to support ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring the assistance of other workers and which provides the worker with an option of supporting the device using fasteners or clamps. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a support device for use in hanging ductwork which comprises a body unit adapted to support ductwork thereon while that ductwork is being installed in a building, the body unit including a central section, a first end section telescopingly attached to the central section, and a second end section telescopingly attached to the central section; a first leg section pivotally attached to the first end section; a second leg section pivotally attached to the second end section; a first attachment element on the first leg section, the first attachment element being adapted to mount on a building structural element adjacent to a position whereat ductwork will be installed; and a second attachment element on the first leg section, the second attachment element being adapted to mount on a building structural element adjacent to a position whereat ductwork will be installed. The device further includes a ducthanger clamp having an attachment element engaging element and knurling, with the knurling being adapted to engage a floor joist to support an associated leg on the floor joist. 
   The device embodying the present invention is easily deployed and is adaptable to different sizes so it can be efficiently stored and deployed. Once deployed, it efficiently and effectively supports ductwork so one worker can install long sections of ductwork without requiring assistance. The device further provides a user with the option of supporting the device on a floor joist using nails or other fasteners or by using clamps. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device for supporting ductwork and which embodies the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a ducthanger clamp included in the device embodying the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a support device  10  for use in hanging ductwork D on a building. Ductwork D is shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 1  and is of undefined length. The ductwork can be of any suitable size and shape as will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. 
   Device  10  comprises a body unit  12  adapted to support ductwork D thereon while that ductwork is being installed in a building. Body unit  12  includes a tubular section  14  which has a first end  16 , a second end  18 , and a longitudinal axis  20  which extends between the first end  16  of the tubular section  14  and the second end  18  of the tubular section  14 . A bore  22  extends between the first end  16  of the tubular section  14  and the second end  18  of the tubular section  14  and has an inner dimension  26  measured across the bore  22 . A plurality of snap locking elements, such as snap locking element  28 , are located on the tubular section  14 . 
   A first end section  30  has a first end  32 , a second end  34 , and a longitudinal axis  36  which extends between the first end  32  of the first end section  30  and the second end  34  of the first end section  30 . Longitudinal axis  36  of the first end section  30  is aligned with the longitudinal axis  20  of the tubular section  14  when the first end section  30  is in place coupled to the first end  16  of the tubular section  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The first end section  30  has an outer dimension  40  which is smaller than the inner dimension  26  of the tubular section  14  and is telescopingly accommodated in the tubular section  14  adjacent to the first end  16  of the tubular section  14  in the use condition shown in  FIG. 1 . The first end section  30  further has a pivot joint  42  on the first end  32  of the first end section  30 . The snap locking elements  28  on the tubular section  14  engage the first end section  30  to hold the first end section  30  coupled to the tubular section  14 . However, the snap locking elements  28  can be easily released to release the first end section  30  from the tubular section  14  to dismantle device  10  for storage as can be understood by one skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. The plurality of snap locking elements  28  permits the device  10  to adopt various sizes to accommodate different building dimensions as required. 
   A second end section  50  has a first end  52 , a second end  54 , and a longitudinal axis  56  which extends between the first end  52  of the second end section  50  and the second end  54  of the second end section  50 . Longitudinal axis  56  of the second end section  50  is aligned with the longitudinal axis  20  of the tubular section  14  when the second end section  50  is in place coupled to the second end  18  of the tubular section  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The second end section  50  has an outer dimension  58  which is smaller than the inner dimension  26  of the tubular section  14  and is telescopingly accommodated in the tubular section  14  adjacent to the second end  18  of the tubular section  14  in the use condition shown in  FIG. 1 . The second end section  50  further has a pivot joint  62  on the first end  52  of the second end section  50 . The second end section  50  also has a plurality of snap lock elements to releasably lock the second end section  50  to the tubular section  14  for use. The snap lock elements on the end sections  30 ,  50  correspond in operation to the snap lock elements  28  on the tubular section  14  and are placed to allow device  10  to be sized according to the needs of a specific job. 
   A first leg section  70  has a first end  72 , a second end  74 , and a longitudinal axis  76  which extends between the first end  72  of the first leg section  70  and the second end  74  of the first leg section  70 . The second end  74  of the first leg section  70  is pivotally connected to the pivot joint  42  on the first end  32  of the first end section  30 . The first leg section  70  further includes an eyelet element  80  on the second end  74  of the first leg section  70 . Eyelet element  80  on the first leg section  70  is adapted to be attached to a building element to support the first leg section  70  in place on the building element. The first leg section  70  further includes at least one snap lock element  82  and at least one hanger element  84  mounted thereon. The first leg section  70  is movable between a first position having the longitudinal axis  76  of the first leg section  70  oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  36  of the first end section  30  as shown in  FIG. 1  and a second position having the longitudinal axis  76  of said first leg section  70  oriented at an oblique angle, θ, to the longitudinal axis  36  of the first end section  30 . The hanger elements  84  can be used to attach the device  10  to elements on the building as convenient. Thus, the device  10  is very versatile and can be used in connection with nearly any building situation. 
   A second leg section  90  has a first end  92 , a second end  94 , and a longitudinal axis  96  which extends between the first end  92  of the second leg section  90  and the second end  94  of the second leg section  90 . The second end  94  of the second leg section  90  is pivotally connected to the pivot joint  62  on the first end  52  of the second end section  50 . The second leg section  90  further includes an eyelet element  100  on the second end  94  of the second leg section  90 . Eyelet element  100  on the second leg section  90  is adapted to be attached to a building element to support the second leg section  90  in place on the building element. Second leg section  90  further includes at least one snap lock element  102  and at least one hanger element  104  mounted thereon. The second leg section  90  is movable between a first position shown in  FIG. 1  having the longitudinal axis  96  of the second leg section  90  oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  56  of the second end section  50  and a second position having the longitudinal axis  96  of the second leg section  90  oriented at an oblique angle, θ 1 , to the longitudinal axis  56  of the second end section  50 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the device of the present invention further includes a ducthanger clamp  120  which includes a first handle section  122  having a handgrip end  124 , a floor joist-engaging end  126 , and a pivot section  128  which is located between the handgrip end  124  and the floor joist-engaging end  126 . Knurling  130  is located on the floor joist-engaging end  126  and a pivot pin-accommodating hole  132  is defined through the pivot section  128 . A second handle section  140  has a handgrip end  142 , a floor joist-engaging end  144 , and a pivot section  146  which is located between the handgrip end  142  of the second handle section  140  and the floor joist-engaging end  144  of the second handle section  140 . Knurling  148  is located on the floor joist-engaging end  144  of the second handle section  140 , and a pivot pin-accommodating hole  150  is defined through the pivot section  146  of the second handle section  140 . 
   A pivot pin  160  extends through the pivot pin-accommodating hole  132  on the first handle section  122  and through the pivot pin-accommodating hole  150  on the second handle section  140 . 
   A spring  164  is mounted on the pivot pin and has a first end  166  engaging the first handle section  122  and a second end  168  engaging the second handle section  140 . An eyelet element-engaging element  170  is located on the second handle section  140  near the pivot section  146  of the second handle section  140 . 
   The knurling  130  on the first handle section  122  and the knurling  148  on the second handle section  140  are adapted to engage a floor joist and support an associated leg section on the floor joist via the eyelet element on the associated leg section whereby the user can choose between the eyelet element or the clamps to support the device as suitable depending on the load and/or the weight of the duct. The duct hanger hooks onto the clamps and all of the weight of the duct and the duct hanger is held to the floor joist. There can be two ducthanger clamps, one for each leg of the device. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.