Patent Publication Number: US-2007114338-A1

Title: Vertical pipe guard

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a pipe support system and more particularly, relates to a pipe support system for vertically extending pipes.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In the installation of pipes and the like in various types of buildings and in particular pipes associated with air conditioning, refrigeration and heating, such as may be utilized in many commercial and industrial establishments, conventional practice is that the pipes are hung from the ceiling by strap hangers.  
      The most common type of strap hanger employed in the industry comprises a metal strap having apertures for fastening purposes. The strap is looped about the pipe to be secured and then a fastening such as a screw or a similar member is secured to a substrate such as a beam or rafter through the apertures. A similar arrangement is employed when the pipes follow a vertical outline as is also frequently required in their transporting of a fluid from one location to another.  
      This conventional means of fastening pipes suffers from several disadvantages. Initially, each pipe must be installed individually and as such the installation process is relatively labour intensive. Secondly, the hangers can cause rupturing of the pipes after a period of time. This would occur due to movement of the pipe within the pipe hanger and subsequent surface damage. This movement can occur either due to mechanical vibrations, and/or to a thermal expansion and contraction.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe support system which may be used in vertical runs of pipes.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pipe support assembly comprising a body having a recess formed therein, the recess having a generally U-shaped configuration and being open at a top end thereof, the recess being defined by a bottom wall and first and second side walls, a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface of the bottom wall, at least four of the ribs extend transversely thereof to define first and second spaced apart body channels, a clamping portion extending downwardly from the body, the clamping portion comprising first and second resilient members, each of the first and second resilient members comprising a vertical side wall and an inwardly extending end segment, a cover member for the body, the cover member having an arcuate configuration and being sized to fit between the first and second side walls, the cover member having first and second cover channels formed on an exteriorly facing surface the channels extending transversely thereof, each of the first and second cover channels being aligned with the body channels formed on the bottom wall.  
      According to a further aspect of the present invention, in a building having a plurality of pipes and truss members and wherein the pipes include a vertical portion, the improvement comprising a pipe support assembly secured to a vertically extending truss member, the pipe support assembly comprising a body having a recess formed therein, the recess having a generally U-shaped configuration and being open at a top end thereof, the recess being defined by a bottom wall and first and second side walls, a plurality of ribs on an extension surface of the bottom wall, at least four of the ribs extend transversely thereof to define first and second spaced apart body channels, a clamping portion extending downwardly from the body, the clamping portion comprising first and second resilient members, each of the first and second resilient members comprising a vertical side wall and an inwardly extending end segment, a cover member for the body, the cover member having an arcuate configuration and being sized to fit between the first and second side walls, the cover member having first and second cover channels formed on an exteriorly facing surface the channels extending transversely thereof, each of the first and second cover channels being aligned with the body channels formed on the bottom wall.  
      The pipe support assembly of the present invention is designed to be used for vertically extending pipes and to this end, there is provided a cover member which is secured to the bottom member by means of a tie wrap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pipe support assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention with a pipe being shown in phantom;  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational thereof;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof; and  
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the upper cover member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a pipe support assembly which is generally designated by reference numeral  5 .  
      Pipe support assembly  5  includes a lower support member  10  and an upper support member  11 . Lower support member  10  includes a central body portion generally designated by reference numeral  12  and which body portion  12  comprises a bottom wall  14  which of an arcuate configuration and upwardly extending side walls  16  and  18 .  
      On the exterior facing surface of bottom wall  14  and side walls  16 ,  18  there are provided spaced transverse flanges  20 . As will be noted, there are also provided longitudinally extending flanges  22 , with three such flanges being illustrated.  
      Lower support  10  is designed to be attached to a trust type support and to this end, there are provided a pair of fastening or clamping members generally designated by reference numerals  24  and  26 . Fastening members  24 ,  26  each have a respective side wall  28 ,  30  which extends outwardly from bottom wall  14 . Each side wall  28 ,  30  in turn has respective inwardly extending end segments  32 ,  34 . End segments  32 ,  34  have a respective end wall  36 ,  38  such that there is defined therebetween a recess designed to fit around a trust member. Naturally, it will be understood that side walls  28 ,  30  are somewhat flexible or resilient in order that they can be placed about the trust member.  
      At one end of pipe support of member  10 , there is provided an extended tongue portion generally designated by reference numeral  40 . It will be noted that there is provided a rib  42  extending thereabout for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow. Similarly, at the other end of central body portion  12 , there is provided a second extended tongue  44  having rib  46  associated therewith. Each one of tongues  40 ,  44  is characterized by a side wall which is of a lesser height than a central portion of the side walls.  
      Upper support member  11  has an arcuate body  58  which includes a centre channel  60  extending in a longitudinal direction. On the outer facing surface of upper support member  11 , there are provided a pair of longitudinally extending flanges  62  and  64 . As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , there are provided a pair of notches or recesses  66 ,  68  in flange  62 . Similarly, a pair of notches  70 ,  72  are provided in flange  64 .  
      As previously mentioned, there is provided a rib  42  in extended tongue portion  40  and which, with a rib in the main body portion, defines a channel  85  at the point of juncture of the extended tongue portion  40  with main body portion  12 . Similarly, at the other end, there is provided a channel  83  partially defined by rib  46 .  
      The arrangement is such that once a pipe is placed in lower support member  10 , cover portion  11  may then be placed thereabout and a tie wrap  74  used to secure cover  11  to body portion  12 . Tie wrap  74  may be then be secured in position and tightened as it passes within a respective channel  83 ,  85  and notches  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72 .  
      It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.