Patent Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a support component for suspending a load, comprising: a main body, wherein the main body comprises: a hollowed portion bordered by a top side wall opposite to a bottom side wall, and a proximal lateral side wall opposite to a distal lateral side wall, wherein the proximal and distal lateral side walls join the top side wall to the bottom side wall; a top surface extending perpendicularly outward from the top side wall; and an extension element extending perpendicularly outward from the bottom side wall. Further disclosed herein is a suspension holding device suitable for suspending loads from a hanging element and a method of use.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/482,240 filed on Jun. 26, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Installing heavy equipment, such as air conditioners, is currently time consuming and laborious requiring a wide number of parts. Little has been done to ease installation. Therefore, what is currently needed is a device to ease the installation process of heavy equipment, such as air conditioners, and to reduce the number of materials currently necessary for installation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by a support component for suspending a load, comprising: a main body, wherein the main body comprises: a hollowed portion bordered by a top side wall opposite to a bottom side wall, and a proximal lateral side wall opposite to a distal lateral side wall, wherein the proximal and distal lateral side walls join the top side wall to the bottom side wall; a top surface extending perpendicularly outward from the top side wall; and an extension element extending perpendicularly outward from the bottom side wall. Further the drawbacks of the prior art are alleviated by a suspension holding device suitable for suspending loads from a hanging element and a method of use as disclosed herein. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of an exemplary support component for a suspension holding device; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of an exemplary assembly for suspending a load from a hanging element; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic of a top view of another exemplary suspension holding device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In general, disclosed herein is a suspension holding device. More particularly, disclosed herein is a suspension holding device for supporting a load, wherein the suspension holding device is well adapted to securely suspend loads from the ground. Even more particularly, disclosed herein is a suspension holding device capable of supporting a load from a beam or a rafter, e.g., a ceiling rafter, wherein the load may be any object meeting the capacity requirements of the suspension holding device, and wherein a particularly preferred load is an air conditioning unit. 
   In general, the suspension holding device comprises a support element, wherein the support element comprises at least one, preferably, at least two, support components. The support element may comprise any material having sufficient rigidity and durability to support a desired load. Preferably, the support element comprises wood, metal, plastic, and the like. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support element comprises 18 gauge galvanized sheet metal. The support component(s) forming the support element may comprise a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and geometrical configurations. However, in a preferred embodiment, the support component is specifically configured to fit on hanging element, such as a beam or a rafter such as is typically found in attic ceilings. 
   The suspension holding device may further comprise a pan, wherein the pan comprises any material of sufficient durability for the pan&#39;s intended application. When the load is an air conditioning unit, a particularly preferred pan comprises a condensate drain pan. 
   The suspension holding device may further comprise an adhesive disposed between the support component(s) and the pan, or between the support component(s) and the load to be supported, wherein the adhesive serves as a binding agent to provide greater structural support to the suspension holding device. Exemplary adhesives comprise high-density double sided sticky tape foam, construction adhesives, vibration mounting pads and devices, and the like. 
   The suspension holding device may further comprise one or more hangers for suspending the suspension holding device from a hanging element, wherein the hanging element may comprise a beam or rafter, such as those commonly found in attic roof rafters and ceilings. The hanger(s) may comprise a wide variety of materials including metal, plastic, rope, and the like. The length of the hanger may vary depending on the desired position of the load and the slope of the surface of the hanging element from which the suspension holding device will hang. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the suspension holding device and its components are depicted in  FIGS. 1–3 . Although the exemplary embodiments are made in reference to  FIGS. 1–3 , these Figures are in no way limiting, and slight variations and modifications to these figures are contemplated. 
   As previously stated, the suspension holding device comprises a support element, wherein the support element may comprise one or more support components.  FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary support component. Here, a support component  10  comprises a top portion  12  and a bottom portion  14  separated by a middle portion  16 , wherein middle portion  16  comprises a hollowed portion  18 . Top portion  12  comprises a top surface  24 , which extends outwardly from a top side wall  28 . Preferably, top surface  24  is perpendicular to a top edge of top side wall  28 . Bottom portion  14  comprises an extension element  26 , which is preferably perpendicular to a bottom side wall  30 . Extension element  26  is preferably joined to a top edge of bottom side wall  30 , and extends outwardly from bottom side wall  30  such that top surface  24  and extension element  26  are in horizontal alignment. It can also be conceived that the extension element can be bent in the opposite direction to achieve the same result. The support element can be built either way. 
   Adhesives  20 ,  22  may be disposed on top surface  24  and on extension element  26 . Although shown on both top surface  24  and extension element  26 , it is contemplated that the adhesive may only be disposed on one of these elements. Additionally, rather than a continuous strip, the adhesive may comprise a discontinuous strip or it may be positioned and dimensioned in a wide variety of manners so long as it is capable of securing a pan or a load onto the suspension holding device. 
   Support component  10  may comprise a wide variety of geometrical shapes and sizes. However, in a preferred embodiment, support component  10  comprises a height of up to about 13 inches, with up to about 7.5 inches more preferred, and up to about 6.5 inches especially preferred. Preferably, hollowed portion  18  comprises a height of about 1.5 to about 8 inches, with about 3 inches more preferred. Additionally, a top side wall  28  preferably comprises a height of about 1 inch to about 3 inches, with about 2.0 inches more preferred. A bottom side wall  30  preferably comprises a height of about 0.5 inch to about 2 inches, with about 1 inch more preferred. Furthermore, top surface  24  and/or extension element  26  preferably comprises a width of about 1.5 to about 4 inches, with about 2 to about 3 inches more preferred, with about 2.5 inches especially preferred. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , exemplary suspension holding devices may comprise a support element comprising at least two support components, wherein the support components are identical to or similar to that described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . For example,  FIG. 2  depicts a suspension holding device  40  comprising two support components  42 ,  44  such as that described in reference to  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, suspension holding device  40  comprises an optional pan  46  disposed between support components  42 ,  44 . Support components  42 ,  44  each comprises a hollowed portion  48 ,  50  respectively through which ends  52 ,  54  of pan  46  extend. Hollowed portions  48 ,  50  are bordered, in part, by top side walls  56 ,  58  and by bottom side walls  60 ,  62  respectively. At least one of support components  42 ,  44  may further comprise an adhesive (not shown) disposed on at least a portion of at least one of extension elements  64 ,  66 , such that a bottom surface of pan  46  in contact with the adhesive is further secured to suspension holding device  40 . 
   Suspension holding device  40  further comprises hangers  68  attached to proximal  70 ,  72  and distal  74 ,  76  end portions of respective support components  42 ,  44 . Hangers  68  can be used to suspend suspension holding device  40  from a hanging element  67 , wherein hanging element  67  may comprise, for example, a beam, a rafter, a ceiling, etc. It is contemplated that any number of hangers may be attached to a single support component at any point on the support component so long as the support component remains balanced and secured when the suspension holding device is suspended and a load is disposed onto the suspension holding device. 
   Although the length of each hanger  68  may vary depending on the desired position of the load and the slope of the surface from which the suspension holding device will hang, each hanger  68  preferably comprises a length of about 10 inches to about 72 inches, with a length of about 20 inches to about 60 inches more preferred, and about 24 inches to about 48 inches especially preferred. 
   Hangers  68  may be attached to support components  42 ,  44  by a wide variety of means. For example, holes (as shown in  FIG. 1  by reference numeral  32 ) may be formed through top surfaces  78 ,  80  at proximal end portions  70 ,  72  and distal end portions  74 ,  76  respectively such that a first end of hanger  68  may be inserted through the hole and then bent or knotted such that the first end will not disengage from the respective support component. Alternatively, hangers  68  may be secured to their respective support component by means of nuts, washers, screws, and the like for example. 
   Hanger  68  may be formed in a wide variety of ways such that a free end of hanger  68  is capable of securing suspension holding device  40  from a beam, rafter, ceiling, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the free end of hanger  68  comprises a hook structure (not shown) capable of hooking onto a rafter or beam. Alternatively, the free end of hanger  68  may be tied around, nailed to, screwed onto, or welded onto the beam or rafter. 
   Once suspension holding device  40  is secured onto a hanging element, a load  65  may be positioned, balanced, and secured onto top surfaces  78 ,  80 , with, or without the assistance of an adhesive. Alternatively, a load  65  may be disposed onto pan  46 . Where for whatever reason, it is undesirable for the load to directly rest on pan  46 , a buffer element may be disposed between the load and the pan. The buffer element may be any structure capable of supporting the force of the load and which separates the load from the pan, and may include an adhesive (such as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
   An alternative embodiment of a suspension holding device is depicted in  FIG. 3 . Here, a suspension holding device  90  comprises support components  92 ,  94  identical to or similar to that described in reference to  FIG. 1 . Suspension holding device  90  further comprises a pan  96  disposed onto a top surface  98 ,  100  of respective support components  92 ,  94 . An adhesive (not shown) may be disposed between pan  96  and at least one of top surfaces  98 ,  100 . Additionally, suspension holding device  90  comprises an optional adhesive  102  disposed onto a surface  104  of pan  96 . Although  FIG. 3  depicts optional adhesive  102  as two blocks of adhesive, wherein each block is aligned with the central point of top surfaces  98 ,  100  respectively, it is contemplated that optional adhesive  102  may comprise a continuous single piece of adhesive, or any number of pieces of adhesive, such that the load to be suspended is both secured and balanced when placed onto the pan. Optional adhesive  102  secures a load (not shown) to pan  96  while preventing actual physical contact between pan  96  and the load. Optional adhesive  102  preferably comprises a double-sided sticky tape, wherein the sticky portions are in contact with surface  104  and the load. 
   Although not shown, hangers, such as those described above in reference to  FIG. 2 , may be attached to holes  106  formed on top surfaces  98 ,  100 . Such hangers may be attached to a hanging element as described above in reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   The suspension holding devices disclosed herein contain several advantages over the prior art. First, fewer accessory parts are required for installing heavy pieces of equipment. Second, installation can be accomplished in few steps, as the suspension holding device can be pre-assembled to fit standard rafters. Third, the holding device can securely hold heavy loads in a convenient and unobtrusive fashion, wherein each support component can support up to about 500 pounds. Additionally, where the support component comprises thick gauge metal of about 0.25 inch to about 0.375 inch or more, the weight limit which the support component can support may increase considerably. 
   While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0