Patent Publication Number: US-2005121559-A1

Title: Simplified pipe support assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to pipe supports, principally for plastic pipe.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The purpose of the present invention is the support of plumbing pipes in the walls of structures. If pipes are not supported, they may shake and rattle when faucets are turned on and off and, without support, the weight of water in the pipes may cause pipes to sag and be damaged. Also, when the pipes protrude through the walls, the supports keep pipes lined up during the installation of drywall and also hold the pipes from behind, enabling the plumber to attach end valves on the outside of the wall.  
      In accordance with prior practice various metal support straps are sold with holes along their length. These supports are nailed between wall studs, and pipes are wired or clamped to the metal straps. Some metal supports telescope to fit between studs and others are cut with a hack saw to fit between the studs. If a metal support strap is not used, a section of 2×4 inch scrap lumber is cut and nailed between studs and notches cut for the pipes. Then the pipes are secured to the 2×4 inch support using metal tape.  
      Regarding prior art patents, the following patents show a variety of pipe and rod supports which have been used heretofore:  
                                                            998,112   5,542,631   5,943,985           1,056,596   5,547,152   6,227,757           2,801,064   D 375,890   6,296,211           3,363,864   5,595,363   6,367,744           4,202,090   5,791,607   6,390,421           4,695,019   5,833,179   6,543,731           D 295,725   5,906,341   6,554,231           D 355,582                      
 
      In reviewing the prior art patents the —731 patent is of interest in disclosing the use of plastic pipe support elements. However, the disclosed arrangements are relatively rigid and inflexible, making additions and reworking difficult and inconvenient.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with an illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention a plastic support pipe is mounted to a structure, for example between two 2×4 inch studs, by two plastic snap-on clip fittings. Each of these fittings includes a base portion having holes for receiving mounting nails or screws, and an integral, partially open, snap-on clip portion for receiving the support pipe. A double snap-on plastic clip fitting includes a first partially open snap-on clip portion for mounting on the support pipe, and a second integral, partially open, snap-on clip portion for receiving a fluid flow system pipe, such as a water pipe.  
      The pipe-to-pipe double snap fittings are made in a combination of sizes to snap onto various sizes and types of pipes When the wall-to-pipe and pipe-to-pipe snap fittings are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) and the water piping is PVC or CPVC, the support and water pipe system may be solvent welded together to make it rigid.  
      Concerning installation, a length of common plastic pipe is cut to fit between 2×4 inch studs of a wall. A wall-to-pipe snap fitting is nailed or screwed to the 2×4 stud on each side of the space where a water pipe is to be mounted. The cut length of pipe is snapped into the mounted wall-to-pipe fittings. A pipe-to-pipe snap fitting is snapped onto the support pipe and the water pipe is snapped into the same pipe-to-pipe fitting. PVC or CPVC solvent cement may be applied to pipes and clamps to make the support system rigid.  
      Advantages of the system include the fact that a plumber is using familiar tools and materials to make a support system for his pipes. Cutting pipe to fit between the studs is easy and requires no precise measuring. The whole system snaps together and may be unsnapped easily for reworking. The system is corrosion proof as no metallic parts are used. The system does not damage pipes as the support materials used may be the same as the water pipe materials. The system when made of CPVC or PVC may be solvent welded together with pipes making a rigid assembly.  
      The pipe-to-pipe fittings may include one snap-on portion for securing to a ½ inch support pipe, and a second integral snap-on portion for securing to a ¾ inch water pipe, by way of example.  
      The wall-to-pipe snap-on fittings as discussed above may be employed with a support pipe; and any suitable pipe-to-pipe fitting may be employed to support a water pipe from the support pipe. In some cases, a water pipe may be secured directly to a wall-to-pipe fitting.  
      The fittings and support pipes are preferably made from the same type of plastic as the water pipe to avoid damage to the water pipe and to permit easy solvent bonding. In addition the short lengths of support pipe may be available as scrap from pipe length cut to water pipe usage.  
      The “jaws” of the snap-on portion of the fittings may define a predetermined diameter for receiving a pipe; and the opening of the jaws should be slightly less than this diameter, preferably in the order of three quarters of the diameter. More generally, the opening of the jaws of the fitting will vary depending on the flexibility of the plastic material and its thickness, but should be such that a pipe can be snapped into engagement with the fitting with normal force of a few pounds up to 5, 10 or even 15 pounds.  
      It is also desirable that the axial extent of the jaws is substantial, for example more than one-half the outer diameter of the pipe to be held by the jaws, to accommodate support pipes of varying lengths.  
      Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a pipe support system mounted on the studs within a wall, illustrating the principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  shows an alternative application of the principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  shows a wall-to-pipe snap fitting;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a double, pipe-to-pipe snap fitting; and  
       FIG. 5  shows a pipe-to-pipe snap fitting similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but adopted for use with different size pipes. 
    
    
      While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring more particularly to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a support pipe  12  extending between two supports  14  and  16  which may be 2×4 inch studs within a wall. Two wall-to-pipe fittings  18  and  20  are provided, with the base portion  22  of fitting  20  being provided with holes  24  to receive nails or screws to fasten the fitting  20  to the stud  16 .  
      At the upper end of fitting  20  is an integral, partially open snap-on clip portion  28  into which one end of the support pipe  12  may be snapped.  
      The other end of support pipe  12  may be snapped into the upper portion  32  of fitting  18 . Openings  34  in fitting  18  serve to receive fasteners to hold the base  35  of fitting  18  to the stud  14 . It may be noted that the length of support pipe  12  need not be exact, and the end  38  of support pipe  12  is shown spaced back slightly from the end  40  of circular portion  32  which faces stud  14 . With the clip-on portions  28  and  32  on the fittings  18  and  20  having a substantial axial extent, the length of the support pipe need not be precise but may be merely roughly measured by the plumber or other workman making the installation.  
      The water pipe  46  may be mounted to the support pipe  12  by the double snap-on clip fitting  48  having a lower snap-on portion  50  mounted onto support pipe  12 , and an upper snap-on portion  52  engaging the water pipe  46 . The water (or other fluid) pipe  46  mates with a conventional “L” fitting  54  to which is mounted a vertical pipe  56  forming part of the water system of a structure which includes the studs  14  and  16 .  
       FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  in some respects including the two wall-to-pipe fittings  18 ′ and  20 ′ and the support pipe  12 ′. However, the vertically extending water pipe  60  has a greater diameter than support pipe  12 ; and the fitting  62  accordingly has different size snap-on portions  64  and  66 , with the snap-on portion  64  having a larger diameter to mate with the larger diameter water pipe  60 .  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of fitting  20  of  FIG. 1 , with the support pipe  12  removed. In  FIG. 3  the upper snap-on portion  28  may be seen to advantage, and it has a generally circular configuration with one portion of the circular clip on portion being partially open. The open portion is preferably greater than one-quarter of the circumference of the pipe to be contained in the snap-on portion, and is preferably less than one-half of the diameter, so a positive holding action is obtained.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective showing of a pipe-to-pipe clip-on fitting  62  with two snap-in structures  64  and  66  mounted back to back. Again, the open portion is somewhat less than one-half the diameter of the pipe to be mounted but greater than one-quarter of this diameter, to provide firm clip-on action when a pipe is pushed against the open jaws.  
      The pipe-to-pipe fitting embodiment of  FIG. 5  is similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but includes a rear snap-on portion  72  dimensioned to fit a fairly small support pipe, such as nominal one-half inch pipe. The front snap on portion  74 , however, is dimensioned to fit a larger pipe such as a nominal three-quarters inch pipe, or a one inch pipe.  
      Concerning dimensions, in one practical embodiment which has been successfully employed with ½ inch pipe, the base portion  22  was 0.7 inch wide and 0.1 inch thick; the entire height of the unit was 2.21 inches high; the inner diameter across between the curved portions of the fitting was 0.622 inch, and the outer diameter of the “jaws” was 0.830 inch. The axial length of the pipe receiving opening was 0.70 inch, and thus had an axial extent greater than ½ of the inner diameter (or the O.D. of the support pipe). The holes for screws or nails were 0.20 inch in diameter. Regarding the pipe-to-pipe fitting for coupling a one-half inch support pipe to a one-half inch water pipe, the inner and outer diameters of the “jaws” were the same as noted above for the pipe-to-wall fittings. It may be noted in passing that the opening for receiving pipes may be squared off as shown, or may be rounded at the side of the fittings opposed to the open “jaws”.  
      It is to be understood of course that the specific dimensions set forth above are merely representative of one preferred embodiment, and different dimensions would be employed for different size pipe and for different applications.  
      Concerning materials, the preferred material for the fittings is chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, which is widely used for water pipes. Other plastic materials may also be used.  
      In some cases when it is desired to make the pipe assembly in a permanent configuration the support pipes may be solvent welded to one-another, and to the water pipes. In other cases, where modification of the system may be contemplated or when it is desired to allow for expansion and contraction of hot water pipes, the solvent welding need not be used, leaving the pipe assembly capable of being snapped apart, and reworked.  
      In the foregoing detailed description and in the drawings, illustrative preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail. Various changes and modifications can, however, be accomplished without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, while it is preferred that the fittings be molded in one piece, they may be molded in more than one piece, and solvent welded together. Also, it is to be understood that the dimensions given were for standard one-half inch plastic pipe, and that for other size pipe, other comparable dimensions would be used. Also, changes in the thickness, width and length of the base members fastener holes may be made; and the base members could even be circular instead of rectangular, for examples. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the precise embodiments as shown in the drawings and described in detail hereinabove.