Patent Publication Number: US-2007108353-A1

Title: Adjustable vent pipe support

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to the field of home construction and, more particularly to an apparatus which aids the home builder in installing vent pipes.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      When constructing a house, it is necessary to provide for venting of noxious gases, such as from a sewer or a furnace. Typically, a vent pipe is vertically installed through a wall to the attic, and then laterally over the ceiling or floor joists in the attic to a point, at which the vent pipe becomes vertical once again as it passes through the roof.  
      It is important that there be a slight rise in the pitch of the vent pipe during its lateral run so that the noxious gases do not form pockets in the vent pipe. Installers typically cut small pieces of board and wedge them into between the vent pipe and the top surface of the ceiling or floor joist to provide the proper pitch.  
      Cutting boards is time consuming as it involves the installer finding and old board, setting the board on a horse and then cutting small pieces of the board. Often times different sized board widths are required to pitch the pipe. This process is time consuming.  
      Another problem with this process is that the boards often become loose and vibrations in the house cause them to fall out of place.  
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to improve the art of home construction.  
      It is another object of the present invention to improve the method and apparatus used to install vent pipes.  
      It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pipe support that is quickly adjustable for height placement of a vent pipe over a ceiling or floor joist.  
      It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable pipe support that prevents lateral movement of various sized vent pipes.  
      It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable pipe support that prevents both lateral and longitudinal movement of various sized vent pipes.  
      These and other objects are provided in accordance with the present invention in which there is provided an adjustable vent pipe support which supports and provides proper pitching of a vent pipe over a ceiling joist. The adjustable vent pipe support includes a pipe support member which supports a vent pipe therein. Openings provided in a lower securing member allow the adjustable vent pipe support to be secured to the ceiling joist via screws or nails. Thus, the pipe support member is adjusted for height simply by determining an appropriate position in which to install the screw or nail.  
      A transverse member disposed between the pipe support member and the lower securing member is superposed over the top surface of the ceiling joist. Thus, the transverse member provides additional weight support. A spacer or a number of spacers are installed between the transverse member and the top surface of the ceiling joist to provide height adjustment.  
      A pair of opposing lower leg members installed on the ends of the transverse member provide additional support to prevent the pipe from rotating the vent support in a longitudinal direction relative to the pipe.  
      The pipe support member includes a lower arcuate surface which has a first radius. An interrupted arcuate surface having a larger second radius is eccentrically superposed over the lower arcuate surface. Thus, a larger diameter pipe sits on the interrupted arcuate surface, while a smaller diameter pipe slides through the interrupted portion and sites on the lower arcuate surface.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an adjustable vent pipe support of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the adjustable vent pipe support of  FIG. 1  in use with a ceiling joist and a vent pipe;  
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a pair of adjustable vent pipe supports of  FIG. 1  as installed on a set of ceiling joists;  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of an adjustable vent pipe support in use with a spacer and a ceiling joist;  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of another alternative embodiment of a pair of adjustable vent pipe supports in use with a pair of ceiling joists; and  
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of an upper pipe support member of the adjustable vent pipe support of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      The present invention shall now be described in accordance with the FIGS. An adjustable vent pipe support  10 , depicted in  FIG. 1 , includes an upper pipe support member  12 . The upper pipe support member  12  includes an arcuate surface  14  which has a one inch radius that supports a two inch outside diameter vent pipe  26 , shown in  FIG. 2 . An interrupted arcuate surface  16  having a one and one quarter inch radius, for supporting a two and one half inch outside diameter vent pipe, is eccentrically superposed above the one inch radius arcuate surface  14  in the upper pipe support member  12 .  
      A two and one half inch outside diameter vent pipe rests on the interrupted arcuate surface  16 , whilst a two inch outside diameter pipe  26  slides through the interrupted portion  17  of the interrupted arcuate surface  16  and fits comfortably onto the one inch radius arcuate surface  14 . Thus, the upper pipe support member  12  comfortably supports two different sized vent pipes so that there is no lateral sway of the vent pipes.  
      It should also be obvious that the upper pipe support member  12  may include only one size to accommodate only one sized pipe or smaller. Further, the upper pipe support member  12  can include a number of interrupted arcuate surfaces so that various sizes of vent pipes are accommodated. Looking at  FIG. 6 , a second interrupted arcuate surface  40  accommodates a three and one half inch outside diameter vent pipe, while allowing smaller diameter vent pipes to slide through the interrupted segment  42 .  
      The vent pipe support  10  of the present invention allows the vent pipe to be properly pitched so that unwanted gases pass upward through the pipe  26  and out of the house. Since most vent pipes  26  have either a three inch or four inch outer diameter, both of these diameters are accommodated by the upper pipe support member  12 .  
      The vent pipe support  10  is attached to one or more ceiling joists  24  at such varying heights to keep the proper pitch in the vent pipe  26 , depicted in  FIG. 3 . A securing member  18  extends from the pipe support member  12  and includes one or more openings  20  through which a fastener such as a threaded screw  36  or nail (not shown) is installed into the ceiling joist  24 . As such, it is easy to adjust the height of the upper pipe support member  12  and, thus, control the pitch.  
      A transverse member  22  disposed between the upper pipe support member  12  and the securing member  18 , depicted in  FIG. 4 , provides additional structural integrity to the vent pipe support  10  when the weight of the pipe  26  is provided onto the upper pipe support member  12 . The transverse member  22  fits over a top surface  25  of the ceiling joist  24  and supports the weight of the vent pipe  26  so that such weight is not transferred to the threaded screw  36 .  
      The height of the vent pipe support  10  is adjusted when in conjunction with the transverse member  22  by either providing varying height upper pipe support members  12  or by providing a spacer  28  which fits between the transverse member  22  and the top surface  25  of the ceiling joist  24 . The height of the vent pipe support  10  is now adjusted by adding or removing spacers  28 .  
      To prevent slipping of the spacer  28  or the transverse member  22  openings  30  and  32  are provided there through so that the screw  36  is installed through both openings  30 ,  32  and into the top surface  25  of the ceiling joist  24 .  
      Opposing leg members  34  disposed off of each end  23  of the transverse member  22 , depicted in  FIG. 5 , provide additional support which prevents longitudinal movement of the vent pipe  26 . Once again spacers  28  allow for height adjustment of the vent pipe support  10 .  
      Any of the embodiments of the vent pipe support  10  described herein are made from any suitable material, but preferably a plastic or polycarbonate type material. The vent pipe support  10  is one piece injected molded as are the associated spacers  28 .  
      Various changes and modifications, other than those described above in the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments and exemplifications, it is not intended to. limit the scope of the invention thereby, but solely by the claims appended hereto.