Patent Publication Number: US-2020278050-A1

Title: Saddle pipe support

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and all the benefits of United States Provisional Application No. 62/583,764, filed on Nov. 9, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a pipe support. More particularly, the invention relates to a saddle pipe support adapted for connection to a channel for receiving and supporting a pipe. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional pipes are used to convey or transfer fluids in various commercial and industrial applications and buildings, such as water and sprinkler systems, refrigeration systems, and heating/cooling systems. The pipes are commonly encased in a cellular foam insulation tubing, which maintains the fluid within the pipes at a desired temperature. The pipe insulation tubing is commonly provided in predetermined lengths that are aligned end-to-end to cover an entire length of pipe. 
     In a typical application and installation, the insulated pipe, that is, the pipe encased by the insulation tubing, is disposed along a support structure, such as a ceiling of the building. The insulated pipe is commonly supported along the support structure by a plurality of spaced apart clevis hangers or straps. An elongated metal U-shaped channel is typically fixedly secured to the support structure or ceiling for supporting the clevis hangers. The clevis hanger typically includes an upper member mounted to the channel and a generally U-shaped lower member coupled to the upper member for supporting the insulated pipe spaced below the channel. The shape of the lower member complements that of the outer periphery of the insulated pipe, thereby allowing the clevis hanger to support and retain the insulated pipe along the channel. Examples of common clevis hangers for supporting insulated pipes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,207,527 and 7,520,475. 
     It is also known to provide a saddle shaped pipe support adapted to be connected to the U-shaped channel and shaped complementary to the insulated pipe to support a longitudinal length of the insulated pipe. The saddle pipe support includes a body portion having a curved bottom and arcuate upwardly extending walls for receiving and supporting the insulated pipe. A pair of spaced apart members having inwardly extending hooks or barbs extend downwardly from the body portion for receiving the outer walls of the channel therebetween to secure the saddle pipe support to the channel. A saddle pipe support known in the prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,943. 
     However, it remains desirable to provide a more secure and stable connection between the saddle pipe support and the channel for supporting the insulated pipe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pipe support is provided for receiving and supporting a pipe. The pipe support comprises a body portion extending axially between opposite ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The body portion includes a generally arcuate bottom floor and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls projecting generally upwardly from the bottom floor. A pair of axially spaced apart channel locks project downwardly from the outer surface of the body portion and a retainer strap selectively connects to and between the channel locks for operatively coupling the pipe support to a support structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the saddle pipe support according to one embodiment of the invention for supporting an insulated pipe; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the saddle pipe support; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the saddle pipe support connected to a U-shaped channel for supporting an insulated pipe; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the saddle pipe support; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a saddle pipe support  10 , preferably fabricated by molded plastic is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , for supporting an elongated pipe  15 . The pipe  15  is generally a fluid pipe used in commercial or industrial buildings for transferring fluid in water, refrigeration, or heating/cooling systems. Further, the pipe  15  is typically encased in a cellular foam insulation tubing for maintaining the temperature of the fluid in the pipe  15 , collectively referred to herein as an insulated pipe  15 . 
     The saddle pipe support  10  is adapted to be removeably coupled to a support structure commonly known as an elongated metal U-shaped channel  24  which is typically fixedly secured to a wall or ceiling of the building. The channel  24 , which is commonly known in the art, includes a flat top base  42  extending between a pair of spaced apart upright sidewalls  44 . A bottom plate  46  projects inwardly from each of the respective sidewalls  44  and is generally parallel to the top base  42 . Each bottom plate  46  terminates with an upwardly turned flange  48  projecting toward but spaced from the top base  42 . An elongated slot  50  is defined between the spaced apart and opposite facing flanges  48 . 
     The pipe support  10  includes an elongated semi-cylindrical or generally U-shaped body portion  12  having an inner support surface  14  for supporting the insulated pipe  15  and an outer surface  16  reinforced by a plurality of transverse structural ribs  18 . More specifically, the body portion  12  includes an arcuate bottom floor  52  and a pair of spaced apart upwardly or vertically extending sidewalls  54 ,  56 . The body portion  12  extends axially, or longitudinally, between opposite ends and may terminate with downwardly curved or tapered lips projecting from the bottom floor  20 . The structural ribs  18  are spaced apart transverse to the axial length of the body portion  12  and extend around the outer surface  16  of the bottom floor  20  and each sidewall  22 ,  24  to provide structural rigidity and strength to the pipe support  10 . 
     A pair of spaced apart channel locks  20 ,  22  project downwardly from the outer surface  16  of the body portion  12  for connection to the elongated channel  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . More specifically, each channel lock  20 ,  22  includes a vertical leg portion  25  extending downwardly from the body portion  12  to an elongated socket portion  26  projecting outwardly from the distal end of each leg portion  25  and between lateral socket ends to lockingly secure the saddle pipe support to the channel  24 . 
     Finally, the saddle pipe support  10  further includes a retainer strap  28  for selectively engaging with and between the channel locks  20 ,  22  around the bottom plates  46  of the channel  24  to lockingly secure the saddle pipe support  10  to the channel  24 . More specifically, the retainer strap  28  includes an elongated strap portion  30 , a pair of spaced apart legs  34  extending outwardly and upwardly from each opposite end of the strap portion  30 , and an elongated cylindrical rod  32  extending and supported between the spaced apart legs  34  and sized to be locking received and snapped into the respective elongated socket portions  26  of the channel lock  20 ,  22 . The legs  34  projecting from each end of the strap portion  30  and supporting the rod  32  also provide a lateral abutment of the retainer strap  28  when coupled between the channel locks  20 ,  22 . 
     In operation, the longitudinal axis of the saddle pipe support  10  is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the channel  24  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The leg portions  25  of the channel locks  20 ,  22  are positioned to straddle the opposite sidewalls  44  of the channel  24  with the outwardly extending sockets  26  adjacent the bottom plates  46  of the channel  24 . The retainer strap  28  may be removably connected to the channel locks  20 ,  22  to retain the saddle pipe support  10  to the channel  24 . That is, the rods  32  are sized to be snap fit into socket openings formed and defined by the respective elongated sockets  26  to lock the channel locks  20 ,  22 , and thus the saddle pipe support  10 , to the channel  24 . The legs  34  define end walls to prevent the retainer strap  28  from sliding laterally out of the sockets  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the pipe support  10  is coupled to the channel  24 , the sidewalls  44  of the channel  24  are seated in the space formed between the channel locks  20 ,  22 . Once the saddle pipe support  10  is coupled to the channel  24 , a length of insulated pipe  15  may be inserted between the sidewalls  54 ,  56  and supported by the bottom floor  52  of the body portion  12 . It should be appreciated that the saddle pipe support  10  is configured to receive and support a pipe  15  whether encased in the insulation tubing or not. 
     If it desirable to disconnect the saddle pipe support  10  from the channel  24 , the retainer strap  28  may be disconnected from the channel locks  20 ,  22  by simply removing one or both of the rods  32  from snap fit engagement with the respective sockets  26  and allowing the saddle pipe support  10  to be repositioned or removed from the channel  24 . 
     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.