Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a support channel assembly that secures and supports a bundle. The support channel assembly includes a support channel having a bottom and two sides and at least one flange. Each side of the support channel having a hook at a distal end. The flange has a top, a bottom and sides. The flange includes a locking tie receiving area for receiving a locking tie to secure the bundle and a support channel engaging area for receiving the hooks of the support channel to secure the flange to the support channel.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/790,584, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a support channel, and more particularly, to a flange used to secure a bundle to a support channel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to a support channel assembly designed to support a bundle. The support channel has a bottom and two sides. Each side includes a hook at a distal end of the side. The assembly also includes a flange that engages the support channel. The flange has a top, a bottom and sides. The sides of the flange define a locking tie receiving area to receive a locking tie to secure the bundle and a support channel engaging area for receiving the hooks of the support channel. 
         [0004]    The present invention is also directed to a support channel assembly with a support channel having a bottom, a long side, and a short side. The long side and the short side of the support channel each having a hook at a distal end. The flange has a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The top of the flange defines a locking tie receiving area and the first side and the second side of the flange define support channel engaging areas for receiving the hooks of the support channel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a bundle secured to an outside flange installed in a support channel. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an outside flange installed in the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the outside flange and support channel of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange and support channel of  FIG. 3  taken along line A-A. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of the outside flange positioned above the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5B  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange of  FIG. 5A  positioned above the support channel. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of the outside flange rotated into position to be installed in the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6B  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange of  FIG. 6A  positioned to be installed in the support channel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the outside flange partially installed in the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange of  FIG. 7A  partially installed in the support channel. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8A  is a top view of the outside flange partially installed in the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8B  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange of  FIG. 8A  partially installed in the support channel. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9A  is a top view of the outside flange installed in the support channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9B  is a cross sectional view of the outside flange of  FIG. 9A  installed in the support channel. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an inside flange installed in an alternative support channel. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the inside flange installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the inside flange positioned to be installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the inside flange partially installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is an end view of the inside flange partially installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is an end view of the inside flange partially installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is an end view of the inside flange installed in the support channel of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the outside flange for support channel assembly  30  of the present invention. An outside flange  32  is installed in a support channel  60 . A bundle  160  is secured to the outside flange  32  via a metal locking tie  150  with a cushion sleeve  152 . The support channel  60  is U-shaped with a bottom  62  and two sides  64  (see  FIG. 4 ). The distal end of each of the sides  64  includes a hook  66 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support channel  60  includes end plates  68  positioned at each end of the support channel  60 . 
         [0027]    The outside flange  32  includes a top  38 , sides  40 , and a groove  42  defined in one of the sides  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the groove  42  receives the cushion sleeve  152  and metal locking tie  150 . The outside flange  32  also includes cut-out notches  44  in each side  40  and a bottom  50 . Each cut-out notch  44  defines a top surface  46  and an indentation  48 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the indentations  48  receive the hooks  66  at the distal end of the sides  64  of the support channel  60 . A spring  52  extends from the center of the bottom  50  of the outside flange  32 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A-9B  illustrate the installation of the outside flange  32  into the support channel  60 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the outside flange  32  is positioned to be installed in the support channel  60 . Next, the outside flange  32  is rotated 90 degrees (see  FIGS. 6A-6B ) and placed in the support channel  60  (see  FIGS. 7A-7B ). The spring  52  is then compressed to allow the outside flange  32  to rotate 90 degrees back to its original position (see  FIGS. 8A and 8B ). Once the outside flange  32  has been rotated to its original position, the outside flange  32  is released allowing the spring  52  to expand and the outside flange  32  to raise towards the hooks  66 . As a result, the hooks  66  at the distal ends of the sides  64  of the support channel  60  are positioned in the indentations  48  of the outside flange  32  (see  FIGS. 9A and 9B ). 
         [0029]    Once the outside flange  32  is installed in the support channel  60 , the metal locking tie  150  and cushion sleeve  152  are looped around the bundle  160  being secured. The metal locking tie  150  is rotated to a convenient location and tensioned by a metal locking tie tool (not illustrated). 
         [0030]    The outside flange for the support channel assembly is an improvement over other bundle attaching devices because the installation time has been reduced and the number of parts has been reduced. The outside flange can accommodate a wide range of conduit, pipe, or cable diameters. The outside flange can be repositioned at any point along the support channel and the outside flange is compatible with common channel support systems. The outside flange is tamper resistant and provides a lower profile than traditional fastening methods. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 10-16  illustrate an alternative inside flange for support channel assembly  80 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an inside flange  82  is installed in the J-shaped support channel  120 . A metal locking tie  150  with a cushion sleeve  152  secures a bundle  160  to the inside flange  82  installed in the support channel  120 . 
         [0032]    The support channel  120  is generally J-shaped with a bottom  122 , a short side  124 , and a long side  128 . The distal end of each side  124 ,  128  includes a hook  126 ,  130 , respectively. The support channel  120  is designed with one side shorter than the other to enable placement of a metal locking tie  150  into the support channel  120  while the bundle  160  rests on the longer side  128 . The metal locking tie  150  is tensioned via a metal locking tie tool (not illustrated) to secure the bundle  160  firmly against the support channel  120 . 
         [0033]    The inside flange  82  includes a top  84 , a first side  86 , a bottom  94 , and a second side  104 . The first side  86  includes an opening  88  dividing the first side  86  into an upper first side  90  and a lower first side  92 . The inside flange  82  also includes a groove  98  defined by the top  84 , the upper first side  90 , and the opening  88 . The groove  98  receives the cushion sleeve  152  and the metal locking tie  150 . The inside flange  82  also includes a top engagement surface  100  with a projection  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , when the inside flange  82  is installed in the J-shaped support channel  120 , the hook  126  at the distal end of the short side  124  engages the top engagement surface  100  of the inside flange  82 . 
         [0034]    The second side  104  includes an upper second side  106  and an angled second side  108 . The angled second side  108  extends from the bottom  94  to a projection  110 . The second side  104  also includes an indentation  112  that is defined by the projection  110  and the upper second side  106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , when the inside flange  82  is installed in the J-shaped support channel  120 , the hook  130  at the distal end of the long side  128  engages the indentation  112  of the second side  104 . 
         [0035]    The bottom  94  includes a spring  96  attached at the center of the bottom  94 . As discussed below, the spring  96  enables the inside flange  82  to be installed in the support channel  120 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 12-16  illustrate the installation of the inside flange  82  in the J-shaped support channel  120 .  FIG. 12  illustrates the inside flange  82  positioned to be inserted into the support channel  120 . The lower first side  92  contacts the outer surface of the hook  126  at the distal end of the short side  124  of the support channel  120 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the inside flange  82  being rotated and pushed downward compressing the spring  96  attached to the bottom  94  of the inside flange  82 .  FIG. 15  illustrates the inside flange  82  pushed downward until the spring  96  is fully compressed and the inside flange  82  is positioned in the support channel  120 . Once the inside flange  82  is released, the spring  96  expands raising the inside flange  82  to the installed position.  FIG. 16  illustrates the inside flange  82  in the installed position. The hook  126  at the distal end of the short side  124  engages the top engagement surface  100 . The hook  130  at the distal end of the long side  128  engages the indentation  112 . The inside flange  82  is held in place by the spring  96  until the metal locking tie  150  is installed. 
         [0037]    The inside flange for the support channel assembly is also an improvement over other bundle attaching devices because the installation time has been reduced and the number of parts has been reduced. The inside flange can accommodate a wide range of conduit, pipe, or cable diameters. The inside flange can be repositioned at any point along the support channel. The inside flange is tamper resistant and provides a lower profile than traditional fastening methods. 
         [0038]    The inside flange can be added to the support channel after the bundle is installed for additional support, if necessary. The J-shaped support channel is manufactured with less steel than a tradition U-shaped channel. Thus, the J-shaped channel is less expensive and lighter than traditional support channels. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8