Patent Abstract:
A duct hanging bracket device that easily fastens to both an air handling duct and a support structure is disclosed. The device includes an elongated linear segment with opposing parallel legs at each end. The legs each have an aperture, one for fastening to the duct and the other for fastening to the support surface. A stop member is spaced from one leg, such that the duct fits between the leg and the stop member, allowing for easy fastening of the duct to the leg.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS, IF ANY 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of now abandoned provisional application Ser. No. 60/106,896, filed Nov. 3, 1998. Application Ser. No. 60/106,896 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX, IF ANY 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for hanging an air handling duct, and more particularly, to a duct hanging bracket device that easily fastens to both the duct and support structure. 
     2. Background Information 
     Air handling ducts are commonly made from sheet metal and are used to transfer air to and from heating and cooling devices. The air handling ducts, commonly called heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts, are generally positioned along the underside of floors or ceilings in residential and commercial structures. This position allows for enclosing the ducts for a more pleasing appearance. The ducts are hung from the overhead support structure, such as ceiling or floor joists, using some type of hanger device. Often the installer merely uses pieces of sheet metal to hang the duct from the joists. The fashioning of these hanging strips can be quite time consuming. Consequently, there is a need for a preformed duct hanging member that is easy to install and provides secure fastening of the duct work to the overhead support structure. 
     Some examples of inventions for hanging duct work have been granted patents. Hoffman, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,145, describes an adjustable hanger apparatus for supporting hot air ducts. Reuter, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,174, discloses an air duct jack used for installing duct work. Bogret, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,388, and Liberman in U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,436, disclose hangers for installing ceiling tile grid work. Herb, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,879, discloses a hanger device for mounting a ceiling air terminal A variety of hangers and supports for duct work and piping are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,350 by Tardoskegyi, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,592 by Forbes and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,141 by Perrault et al. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,592 Aoshika describes a device for hanging duct work or piping, including an anchor embedded in the ceiling of a building. None of these patents disclose or suggest the duct hanging bracket of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a duct hanging bracket member for supporting a duct member. The bracket member comprises a generally planar elongated linear segment with first and second ends, having a first leg section positioned at the linear segment first end and disposed essentially perpendicular thereto, with an aperture centrally position there through. A second leg section is positioned at the linear segment second end and disposed essentially perpendicular thereto and in opposition to the first leg section. The second leg section has an aperture centrally positioned there through, as well. A stop means is secured to the linear segment first end and disposed essentially perpendicular thereto, and in opposition to the first leg section. The stop means is oriented parallel to the second leg section and in spaced apart relation therefrom. The stop means and the second leg section are spaced to accept a duct member there between. The bracket member is secured to a support surface with a fastener positioned in the first leg section aperture, and a duct member positioned adjacent the elongated linear section is supported and secured by the stop means and the second leg section with a fastener positioned in the second leg section aperture. Additional apertures in the elongated linear segment are provided for additional fasteners to secure the duct to the bracket member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an HVAC duct hung from overhead joists by the invention duct hanging brackets. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of an HVAC duct hung from overhead members. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the duct hanging bracket invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the duct hanging bracket invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a simplified alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the invention which may be molded from plastic, this embodiment being also shown in design Pat. No. Des. 405,348. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Nomenclature 
       2  HVAC Duct 
       4  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       6  Upper End of Bracket Member 
       8  Joist 
       9  Fastener 
       10  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       12  First End of Bracket Member 
       13  Second End of Bracket Member 
       14  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       15  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       16  First Segment of First Leg Section 
       17  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       18  Stop Member 
       19  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       21  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       22  Second Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       23  Slot in Elongated Linear Segment 
       104  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       110  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       112  First End of Bracket Member 
       113  Second End of Bracket Member 
       114  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       115  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       117  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       118  L-Shaped Stop Member 
       119  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       120  Leg Section and Stop Assembly 
       121  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       122  Second Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       204  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       210  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       212  First End of Bracket Member 
       213  Second End of Bracket Member 
       214  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       215  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       217  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       218  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       221  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       222  Second Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       304  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       310  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       312  First End of Bracket Member 
       313  Second End of Bracket Member 
       314  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       315  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       317  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       318  V-Shaped Stop Member 
       319  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       320  Leg Section and Stop Assembly 
       321  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       322  Second Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       404  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       410  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       412  First End of Bracket Member 
       413  Second End of Bracket Member 
       414  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       415  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       417  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       418  U-Shaped Stop Member 
       419  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       421  Leg Section and Stop Assembly 
       421  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       422  Second Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       504  Duct Hanging Bracket Member 
       510  Elongated Linear Segment of Bracket Member 
       512  First End of Bracket Member 
       513  Second End of Bracket Member 
       514  First Leg Section of Bracket Member 
       515  Aperture in First Leg Section 
       517  Aperture in Second Leg Section 
       518  Stop Member 
       519  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       520  Leg Section and Stop Assembly 
       521  Aperture in Elongated Linear Segment 
       522  Second Leg section of Bracket Member 
     Construction 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) duct  2  which is suspended by the preferred embodiment of the duct hanging bracket member  4 . Each side of the HVAC duct  2  is provided with a duct hanging bracket member  4  which is fixed at its upper end  6  to the underside of a joist  8  by one or more fasteners  9 , such as a screw or nail. 
     FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  illustrate the preferred embodiment of the duct hanging bracket member  4 . The bracket member  4  includes an elongated linear segment  10  which is deployed in a substantially vertical orientation when the duct hanging bracket member  4  is employed to suspend an HVAC duct  2 . The bracket member  4  has a first end  12  and a second end  13 . At the first end  12  of the elongated linear segment  10  is formed a first leg section  14  which comprises a first segment  16  disposed at a substantial perpendicular from the axis of elongated linear segment  10 . A first aperture  15  is provided centrally in the first leg section  14  for entry of a fastener  9 , such as a screw, there through. The fastener  9  secures the bracket member first end  12  to a joist  8  or similar support surface. 
     The second end  13  of the elongated linear segment  10  opposes the first end  12  thereof and has affixed thereto a second leg section  22  which extends at a perpendicular from the second end  13  of elongated linear segment  10 . The second leg section  22  is linear and extends in a direction from elongated linear segment  10  which opposes the direction of the first leg section  14  from the elongated linear segment  10 . A second aperture  17  through the second leg section  22  is provided to permit another fastener, such as a sheet metal screw, to be passed through the aperture  17  and be affixed to a duct sidewall, thereby securing the bracket member second leg section  22  to the HVAC duct  2 . 
     A stop member  18 , such as a tab or a shelf, is mounted to elongated linear segment  10  to extend therefrom generally in parallel to the second leg section  22 . The stop member  18  is spaced from the top of the bracket member second leg section  22  a distance substantially equal to the height of the HVAC duct  2  to be suspended by the duct hanging bracket member  4 . In the preferred embodiment, the bracket member  4  is fabricated from sheet metal, and the stop member  18  is formed by punching it from the middle portion of elongated linear segment  10 , although other means of mounting or forming the stop member  18  are contemplated, such as attachment by welding, adhesives or by fasteners. A slot  23  remains in the elongated linear section  10  after the stop member  18  is formed. The stop member  18  functions to abut the top of the HVAC duct  2  to be suspended by the duct hanging bracket member  4 . The stop member  18  resists the upward displacement of the HVAC duct  2  when a fastener, such as a sheet metal screw, is driven into the bottom of the HVAC duct after passing through the preformed second aperture  17 . Additionally, third and fourth apertures  19  and  21  are formed in the elongated leg section segment  10  between the stop member  18  and the second leg section  22  to provide openings for additional fasteners, such as sheet metal screws, to fasten the duct hanging bracket member  4  to the HVAC duct  2 . 
     FIG. 6 discloses an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the HVAC duct hanging bracket member  104  includes a planar, elongated vertical segment  110  having a first end  112  and a second end  113 . A combined leg and stop assembly  120  is fastened to the first end  112  of the vertical segment  110 . The leg and stop assembly  120  includes an L-shaped stop member  118  fastened perpendicularly at one end to the elongated segment first end  112 , with a first leg section  114  fastened perpendicularly at the other end of the L-shaped stop member  118 , with the first leg section  114  extending beyond the extended plane of the elongated vertical segment  110 . A first aperture  115  is provided at one end of the first leg section  114  for entry of a fastener to secure the bracket member first end  112  to a joist or similar support surface. 
     A second leg section  122  extends at a perpendicular from the second end  113  of the elongated linear segment  110 , and is essentially parallel to the leg of the L-shaped stop member  118  fastened to the linear segment first end  112 . A second aperture  117  through the second leg section  122  is provided to permit another fastener, such as a sheet metal screw, to be passed through the aperture  117  and be affixed to a duct sidewall, thereby securing the bracket member second leg section  122  to the HVAC duct  2 . Apertures  119  and  121  in the elongated linear segment  110  are provided for further mounting the duct hanging member  104  to the sidewall of a duct being hung, while the aperture  117  centrally located in the second leg section  122  provides an opening for a sheet metal screw to pass though and engage the lower wall of the duct to be hung. The stop member  118  provides a stop for the top of the duct to be hung to facilitate entry of a sheet metal screw into the bottom of the duct  2 . 
     The distance between the bracket member second leg section  122  and the stop member  118  is substantially equal to the height of the HVAC duct  2  to be suspended by the duct hanging bracket member  104 . Again, the bracket member  104  is preferably fabricated from sheet metal for strength, durability, and ease of manufacture. 
     FIG. 7 shows a simplified alternative embodiment of the duct hanging member  204  wherein an elongated vertical segment  210  is provided with a first leg section  114  at its first end  212  and a second leg section  222  at its second end  213 . The first leg section  214  and second leg section  222  are each perpendicular to the elongated vertical segment  210  and extend therefrom in opposing directions. Each leg section  214 ,  222  has a centrally located aperture  215 ,  217 , respectively, for securing the bracket member  204  to a support surface and the duct to be hung. Apertures  219  and  221  are provided for further mounting the duct hanging member  204  to the sidewall of a duct being hung, while the aperture  217 , centrally located in the second leg section  222 , provides an opening for a sheet metal screw to pass though and engage the lower wall of the duct to be hung. In this embodiment, the bracket member  204  is sized to hold the HVAC duct  2  tightly against the joist  8  or other support surface. Again, the bracket member  204  is preferably fabricated from sheet metal for strength, durability, and ease of manufacture. 
     FIG. 8 discloses another alternate embodiment of the duct hanging member  304 . The elongated vertical segment  310  is connected to the combined leg and stop assembly  320 , similar to the assembly  120  described for FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, the stop member  318  is V-shaped and composed of two sections joined at an acute angle. The first leg section  314  extends beyond the extended plane of the elongated vertical segment  310 . A first aperture  315  is provided at one end of the first leg section  314  for entry of a fastener to secure the bracket member first end  312  to a joist or similar support surface. 
     A second leg section  322  extends at a perpendicular from the second end  313  of the elongated linear segment  310 , and is essentially parallel to the leg of the V-shaped stop member  318  fastened to the linear segment first end  312 . A second aperture  317  through the second leg section  322  is provided to permit another fastener, such as a sheet metal screw, to be passed through the aperture  317  and be affixed to a duct sidewall, thereby securing the bracket member second leg section  322  to the HVAC duct  2 . Apertures  319  and  321  are provided for further mounting the duct hanging member  304  to the sidewall of a duct being hung, while the aperture  317  centrally located in the second leg section  322  provides an opening for a sheet metal screw to pass though and engage the lower wall of the duct to be hung. The stop member  318  provides a stop for the top of the duct to be hung to facilitate entry of a sheet metal screw into the bottom of the duct  2 . 
     The distance between the bracket member second leg section  322  and the stop member  318  is substantially equal to the height of the HVAC duct  2  to be suspended by the duct hanging bracket member  304 . Again, the bracket member  304  is preferably fabricated from sheet metal for strength, durability, and ease of manufacture. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the duct hanging member  404  invention. The duct hanging member  404  comprises an elongated linear segment  410  jointed to a second leg section  422  at the second end  413  thereof At the first end  412  of the elongated linear segment  410  is attached the leg and stop member assembly  420 . The stop member  418  comprises a U-shaped member interposed between the linear segment first end  412  and the first segment  416  of the first leg section  414  attached thereto. The first and second leg sections  414 ,  422  are oriented perpendicular to the elongated linear segment  410  and in opposition to each other. The U-shaped stop member  418  is in spaced relationship from the second leg section  422  so as to accommodate a HVAC duct  2  there between. The first and second leg sections each have an aperture  415 ,  417 , respectively. The first leg section aperture  415  is used to fasten the bracket member  404  to an overhead support surface, while the second leg section aperture  417  functions to fasten a HVAC duct  2  lower wall to the bracket member  404 . Additional apertures  419 , 421  are provided in the elongated linear segment  410  for additional fasteners to secure the duct  2  to the bracket member  404 . Again, the bracket member  404  is preferably fabricated from sheet metal for strength, durability, and ease of manufacture. 
     The duct hanging bracket members  104 ,  304 , and  404  are preferably fabricated from sheet metal by stamping and forming a single linear piece into the respective configurations shown. This method of manufacture allows the intricate structure of the combined leg and stop member assemblies  120 ,  320  and  420  respectively, to be formed from the first end of the planar elongated linear segment of each of these bracket members. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a duct hanging member  504 , which may be molded of polymeric resin or plastic material. The hanging member  504  comprises an elongated linear segment  510  with a first leg section  514  perpendicularly formed at one end and a second leg section  522  perpendicularly formed at an opposite end. The two leg sections  514 ,  522  are oriented in opposition to each other, and each contains a centrally located aperture  515 ,  517  for a fastener. Adjacent the first leg section  514  is a stop member  518  oriented essentially perpendicular to the elongated linear segment  510  and in opposition to the first leg section  514 . The stop member  518  resists the upward displacement of the HVAC duct  2  when a fastener, such as a sheet metal screw, is driven into the bottom of the HVAC duct  2  after passing through the preformed second aperture  517 . Additionally, third and fourth apertures  519  and  521  are formed in the elongated leg section segment  510  between the stop member  518  and the second leg section  522  to provide openings for additional fasteners, such as sheet metal screws, to fasten the duct hanging bracket member  504  to the HVAC duct  2 . The plastic composition of this bracket member  504  provides for light weight with ease in handling and installation without concern for cuts and abrasions that can occur when using brackets made of sheet metal. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4