Patent Abstract:
A plumbing slider bracket and ratchet arm conduit clamp includes a slider bracket with an inner bracket section which is telescopically received within an outer bracket section such that it is slidable back and forth within the outer bracket section to make an extendable slider bracket. Flexible tabs extending from either end of the slider bracket allow attachment of the bracket to an outer stud surface, or within the stud spacing in any desired orientation. Each ratchet arm conduit clamp is received by the slider bracket and is movable along the length of the slider bracket until a conduit is clamped therein. The clamping action both secures the conduit in place within the clamp, and also forces a resilient insert downward against the bottom wall of the slider bracket to anchor the clamp in position within the slider bracket.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/356,640,entitled PLUMBING SLIDER BRACKET AND DOUBLE RATCHET ARM PIPE CLAMP ASSEMBLY, which was filed on Jul. 19, 1999 and application Ser. No. 08/965,302, entitled. PLUMBING SLIDER BRACKET AND DOUBLE RATCHET ARM PIPE CLAMP ASSEMBLY, which was filed on Nov. 6, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,122. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a slider bracket and clamp system for plumbing support, and, more particularly, to such a slider bracket in which a first and a second U-shaped bracket section are shaped to allow the first bracket section to be telescopically received in the second bracket section such that it can slide back and forth within the second bracket section to collectively make a single, length adjustable, slider bracket. One or more flexible tabs are provided on the exposed end of each of the first and second bracket sections. A special ratchet operated pipe clamp assembly has a base which is shaped to be received and retained in either the first or the second bracket section and the clamp assembly is designed such that, when a pipe is secured in place within the clamp assembly, a resilient insert within the clamp base is forced into contact with a bottom wall of the slider bracket to anchor the clamp, and the secured pipe, stationary with respect to the slider bracket. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Manufacturers of plumbing supplies are constantly seeking to improve the convenience and efficiency of their products for the tradesman. Brackets and plumbing supports are increasingly designed for ease of installation and for universal application. An early example of an adjustable bracket is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,386, entitled Adjustable Duct Hanger. In this patent, an “outer” and an “inner rectilinear member” are engaged with each other such that they can be telescopically extended and retracted relative to each other. A prong is attached to the terminal end of each of the telescoping members such that the bracket can be telescopically extended to the full width of an adjacent pair of joists where a duct is to be supported and the prongs driven into the sides of the joists to hold the bracket, and the duct, in place. While the ′386 patent discusses duct support, it can also be used for plumbing support as well. 
     An example of a plumbing bracket which is designed for easy installation in a variety of different environments is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,892 to Glen Dougherty, entitled Plumbing Hanger Bracket Assembly. The Dougherty bracket is a slider bracket in which a first bracket section is received within a second, slightly larger bracket section such that the first bracket section can be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the second section to adjust the overall length of the bracket. The bracket has a plurality of spaced openings in the rear of the bracket and a plastic pipe support sleeve is received within the combined bracket sections such that, when the sleeve is aligned with one of the openings in the bracket a plumbing pipe can extend straight through the sleeve and bracket to be supported thereby. The Dougherty bracket is designed primarily for installation of hot and cold water supply pipes behind plumbing installations such as tub and shower or lavatory supplies. However, brackets such as Dougherty&#39;s are very limited in their application. They are capable only of supporting pipes extending from front to back through the bracket, and the support sleeves do not lock into place, but are slidable within the bracket, i.e. they are held in position only by the pipes themselves. Placement of supported pipes is also limited by the placement of the bracket openings. 
     It is clear that a need exists for a slider bracket which is length adjustable to allow installation in a variety of plumbing support applications between wall studs, floor and ceiling joists, and other building members and to allow for installation either inside or outside of the building component pairs. Such a slider bracket should allow pipes to be supported in any orientation relative to the opening in which it is positioned and should accommodate specialized pipe clamp assemblies which can be secured into a stable position along the length of the bracket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a plumbing slider bracket and clamp assembly for securing plumbing pipes or other conduit in fixed positions within spaces defined by adjacent wall studs, joists and other building or bracketing members. The slider bracket includes inner and outer bracket sections which are U-shaped in cross section, each of which has opposing depending extensions extending into the U shaped channel. The inner bracket section is slightly smaller in dimension that the outer bracket section which allows the inner bracket section to be telescopically received within the outer bracket section such that it is slidable back and forth within the outer bracket section to collectively make a single, length adjustable slider bracket. At least one respective flexible tab is provided on the distal ends of each of the inner and outer bracket sections with the tabs extending in opposing directions and being foldable between an extended position which allows the bracket to be installed on the outside of a pair of stud or joists, i.e. the tabs can be attached to the outer stud surface, or bent inward at a 90 degree angle relative to the bracket which allows the bracket to be installed within the stud spacing in any desired orientation, i.e. the tabs are attached to the inward facing stud or joist surface. 
     Specialized double ratchet arm pipe clamp assemblies for use in the slider bracket are of a three part construction with a base member, a resilient insert and a keeper block engageable with the resilient insert within the base member to clamp a pipe therebetween. Each base member has a rectangular base frame with two pair of opposing gripping steps formed in it at different levels such that it can be received and retained in either the first or the second, or both slider bracket sections. Each base member has a pair of elongate ratchet arms extending outward or upward from the base frame. Each ratchet arm has a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along an outside surface. Each keeper block has a pair of ratchet arm receiving apertures extending through opposite ends thereof, with each arm receiving aperture having an anvil surface. A respective pawl member is positioned within each aperture with each pawl member being resiliently urged toward the anvil surface of the respective aperture. The keeper block is received on the clamp base member with each ratchet arm extending through a respective arm receiving aperture. The ratchet teeth on each ratchet arm engage the respective pawl member in the aperture through which the arm extends. Each pawl member includes an extension which protrudes outward from the keeper block which, if pushed outward, disengages the pawl member from the ratchet teeth to thereby release the ratchet arm. 
     The resilient insert is designed to accomplish two functions, i.e. it forms a resilient upper surface which combines with the keeper block to clamp a pipe in place and, as the keeper block is cinched down against the pipe, the clamped pipe exerts a force against the resilient upper surface, which forces it downward to engage the bottom wall of the slider bracket, thus firmly anchoring the clamp assembly in place within the slider bracket. 
     An alternative embodiment of the pipe clamp assembly is similar to the double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly except that it includes only a single ratchet arm which is longer and more flexible than those of the double ratchet arm assembly. The flexible ratchet arm is adapted to be looped over a pipe cradled against the upper surface of the resilient insert and pulled downwardly into a ratchet arm receiving aperture connected to the clamp base frame. The flexible ratchet arm is cinched down against the pipe, simultaneously anchoring the pipe in place relative to the clamp assembly and forcing the resilient insert downward to anchor the clamp assembly in place within the slider bracket. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal objects of the present invention include: providing a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly which can be telescopically extended to fit between studs, joists, or other building members spaced at varying widths; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly in which the slider includes a first bracket section telescopically received within a second bracket section; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly in which a number of the double ratchet arm clamp assemblies can be securely fitted into a single slider bracket, either in a portion of the slider bracket where the first and second bracket sections overlap, or in a portion where they do not overlap; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly including an insert extending through a base member of the pipe clamp assembly, an upper surface of which engages a pipe secured therein and a lower surface which is driven into a bottom wall of the slider bracket to prevent sliding of the base member relative to the slider bracket; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly in which each double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly includes a resilient insert which provides a cushioned clamping surface for securing a pipe in position within the clamp assembly and which also pushes downward against the bottom wall of the slider bracket in response to clamping forces applied to the pipe which causes the pipe clamp assembly to be anchored in position within the slider bracket; providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly which is universally useful to hold plumbing pipes in place within a structure regardless of their configuration, spacing and routing; and providing such a plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly which is effective yet economical and which is particularly well adapted for its intended purpose. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a plumbing slider bracket secured in position between a pair of wall studs with three double ratchet arm pipe clamp assemblies respectively securing three pipes in position, as for a tub and shower stub out. 
     FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of the plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1, but with no pipe clamped in position within a clamp assembly, and thus with the resilient insert undistorted. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1, but with a pipe secured in a pipe clamp assembly and the resilient insert distorted thereby into contact with the bottom wall of the slider bracket. 
     FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of the plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1, showing a pipe clamp assembly being retained by just the outer slider section. 
     FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of the plumbing slider bracket and double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1, showing a pipe clamp assembly being retained by just the inner slider section. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of one of the inventive double ratchet arm pipe clamp assemblies designed for use with either the slider bracket of FIGS. 7 and 8 or the slider bracket of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the inventive slider bracket. 
     FIG. 8 an assembled view of the slider bracket of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the inventive slider bracket. 
     FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary end view of the second embodiment of the inventive slider bracket and a double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly. 
     FIG. 11 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary end view of the second embodiment of the inventive slider bracket and a double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly which shows the pipe clamp assembly being retained by just the outer slider section. 
     FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary end view of the second embodiment of the inventive slider bracket and a double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly which shows the pipe clamp assembly being retained by just the inner slider section. 
     FIG. 13 is a partial, exploded, perspective view of a flexible ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly designed for use with either the slider bracket of FIGS. 7 and 8 or the slider bracket of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of the flexible ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 is an end view of the flexible ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly of FIG. 13 installed in the slider bracket of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     First Embodiment of the Slider Bracket 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an inventive plumbing slider bracket and pipe clamp assembly including a plumbing slider bracket  1  and three double ratchet arm pipe clamp assemblies  2  is illustrated as being installed between two wall studs  3 . The slider bracket  1  (FIGS. 7 and 8) includes an inner bracket section  4  and an outer bracket section  5  which are each substantially U-shaped in cross section with the inner bracket section  4  being slightly smaller in dimension that the outer bracket section  5 , which allows the inner bracket section  4  to be telescopically received within the outer bracket section  5 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner bracket section  4  has a proximate end  4   a,  a distal end  4   b,  and a bottom wall  6  connecting a front wall  7  to a rear wall  8 . The front and rear walls  7  and  8  each have a respective wall extension or flange  9  which extends inwardly from the respective front wall  7  or rear wall  8  and downwardly toward the bottom wall  6 . The wall extensions  9  are bent back on the respective front wall  7  or rear wall  8  at approximately 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 5, and include a depending ridge  10  which extends along the length of the inner bracket section  4  and extends inward from the wall extensions  9  into the channel formed by the front and rear walls  7  and  8  and the bottom wall  6 . The ridges  10  thus present opposing gripping surfaces within the inner bracket section  4  for retention of the pipe clamp assemblies  2  or  202 , as will be fully explained below. 
     Similarly, the outer bracket section  5  also has a proximate end  5   a,  a distal end  5   b, and a bottom wall  11  connecting a front wall  12  to a rear wall  13 . Each of the front and rear walls  12  and  13  has a respective wall extension or flange  14 . The wall extensions  14  are bent back from the respective front or rear wall  12  or  13  at approximately 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 4, and include a depending ridge  15  which extends along the length of the outer bracket section  5  and extends inward from the wall extensions  14  into the channel formed by the front and rear walls  12  and  13  and the bottom wall  11 . The ridges  15  thus also present opposing gripping surfaces within the outer bracket section  5  for retention of the pipe clamp assemblies  2 , as explained below. A preferred angle for both the ridges  10  and  15  is approximately 20 degrees from vertical. 
     The slider bracket  1  also includes at least one, and preferably two flexible tab  16  which are attached to and extend outward from the distal end  4   b  of the inner bracket section  4  and at least one and preferably two matching, flexible tabs  17 , attached to and extending outward from the distal end  5   b  of the outer bracket section  5 . The tabs  16  and  17  may, respectively, extend outward from the rear walls  8  and  13 , the bottom walls  6  and  11 , the front walls  7  and  12 , or any combination of the above. The tabs  16  and  17  preferably include a number of pre-drilled holes  18  which accommodate fasteners, such as screws  21  (FIGS.  7  and  8 ). The screws  21  can be factory “pre-loaded” into the holes  18  in the tabs  16  and  17  for ease of use by plumbers in the field. The tabs  16  and  17  are flexible enough that they can be easily bent to an angle of at least 90 degrees to allow the slider bracket  1  to be attached to the inward facing surface of two adjacent building members, such as within a wall between the studs  3 , as shown in FIG.  1 . Alternatively, the tabs  16  and  17  can be left in the extended position of FIGS. 7 and 8 to allow the slider bracket  1  to be installed on the outside surface of a single or an adjacent pair of studs, joists, etc. 
     Double Ratchet Arm Pipe Clamp Assembly 
     The first embodiment of the pipe clamp assembly for use with the slider bracket  1  is a double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly  2  of a three part construction, as shown in FIG.  6 . Each clamp assembly  2  includes a base member  22 , a resilient insert  23 , and a keeper block or clamping member  24  engageable with the resilient insert  23  and with the clamp base member  22  to clamp a pipe  25  therebetween. Each base member  22  has a substantially rectangular base frame  26  with two pairs of depending legs  31 , each with a lower gripping step  32  and an upper gripping step  33  formed therein. 
     Each clamp assembly  2  can be snapped into position within the slider bracket  1  or, alternatively, slid into the bracket from the open ends of the channels formed in the inner bracket section  4  or the outer bracket section  5 . When the clamp assemblies  2  are placed into the slider bracket  1  (as shown in FIG.  2 ), the opposing lower gripping steps  32  engage the ridges  10  of the inner bracket section  4  while the opposing upper gripping steps  33  engage the ridges  15  of the outer bracket section  5 . This insures that the clamp assemblies  2  will be securely held in place within the slider bracket  1  at portions of the slider bracket  1  where the inner bracket section  4  overlaps the outer bracket section  5 . In addition, the clamp assemblies  2  will be securely held in place within the slider bracket  1  at portions where the inner bracket section  4  is telescoped away from the outer bracket section  5  or by the lower gripping steps  32 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, and at portions where the outer bracket section  5  is telescoped away from the first bracket section  4  by the upper gripping steps  33 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Each of the lower gripping steps  32  has a top surface  34  and each of the upper gripping steps  33  has a top surface  35 , with the surfaces  34  and  35  each preferably extending outward and downward slightly at an angle of approximately 5 degrees from horizontal. The upper gripping step  33  can extend lengthwise along the entire base frame  26  to provide a more effective gripping surface. Experimentation has shown that the approximate 5 degree angles of the gripping step top surfaces  34  and  35  and the approximate 20 degree angle of the ridges  10  and  15  allow the base frame  26  to be easily snapped into position within the slider bracket  1  while making it very difficult to remove the clamp assembly  2  by pulling outward on it or twisting it. 
     Each pipe clamp assembly base member  22  is preferably made of molded plastic and also includes a pair of elongated ratchet arms  41  and  42  extending outward from the base frame  26 . Each ratchet arm  41  and  42  has a plurality of ratchet teeth  43  formed along an outside surface thereof. The clamp base frame  26  includes a central aperture  44  and a pair of upstanding walls  45  positioned on respective sides of an upper portion  46  of the central aperture  44  which walls  45  each include a notch  51  for cradling a pipe, such as the pipes  25  of FIGS. 1 and 3. The notch  51  may be substantially V-shaped, U-shaped, or semicircular in configuration. The central aperture  44  also includes a lower portion  47  which may be smaller or larger in cross sectional area than the upper portion  46 . 
     Each clamp keeper block  24  includes a keeper block plate  53  with a pair of arm receiving apertures  54  formed therethrough near respective opposite ends and sized to receive respective ones of the ratchet arms  41  and  42 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  6 . Each of the arm receiving apertures  54  has an inner anvil surface  55  and a respective pawl member  61  is positioned within and hingedly attached to an outside wall of the keeper block defining each aperture  54  with each pawl member  61  including a series of teeth  62  spaced to engage the corresponding ratchet teeth  43  on the respective ratchet arm  41  or  42  extending through the aperture  54 . Each pawl member  61  is molded in a manner such that it is resiliently urged toward the anvil surface  55  of the respective aperture  54  so that the ratchet arm teeth  43  are captured by the teeth  62  on the pawl member  61 . Each pawl member  61  includes an extension  64  which protrudes outward from the keeper block plate  53 . The extensions  64 , when pushed outward, disengage the pawl member teeth  62  from the ratchet teeth  43  to thereby release the ratchet arms  41  and  42 . 
     The keeper block  24  also includes a pair of keeper block walls  65  positioned along respective sides of the keeper block plate  53  with each keeper block wall  65  also including a notch  66 . As with the notches  51  of the base member  22 , the notches  66  may be substantially V-shaped, U-shaped, or semicircular in configuration. When the keeper block  24  is ratcheted downward along the ratchet arms  41  and  42 , the notches  66  on the keeper block  24  are positioned in opposition to the notches  51  on the base member  22  to cradle the pipe  25  therebetween. 
     The resilient insert  23  is preferably made of a flexible material which is compatible with all types of plastic used in plumbing applications, including CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride). Dow Affinity (TM) has proven to be a particularly acceptable material. The resilient insert  23  includes a base portion  71  with a first footprint which allows it to be received within the lower portion  47  of the base member central aperture  44 , and an elongate upper portion  72  extending upward from the base portion  71  which has a second footprint which allows it to be received within the upper portion  46  of the base member central aperture  44 . 
     The upper portion  72  of the resilient insert  23  is also shaped as a notch  73  with a shape that matches, but extends slightly above the notches  51  of the base member  22 . The notch  73  of the resilient insert  23  forms a resilient receiving surface which receives a pipe  25 , and is forced downward within the base member central aperture  44  as the keeper block  24  is ratcheted downward on the base member ratchet arms  41  and  42 . This downward movement of the resilient insert  23  forces a bottom surface  74  of the base portion  72  to come into contact with the bottom wall  6  of the inner bracket section  4  and to spread outward along that bottom wall  6 . Also, as shown in FIG. 4, in portions of the slider bracket  1  where the outer bracket section  5  is telescoped beyond that of the first bracket section  4 , the bottom surface  74  will be forced downward into contact with the bottom wall  11  of the outer bracket section  5 . This causes the clamp assemblies  2  to be anchored in a set position along the slider bracket  1  since the distorted base portion  71  forces the clamp upward so that the gripping steps  32  and  33  into contact with the respective ridges  10  and  15 , thus forming a spring action which wedges the base frames  26  into place. 
     Second Embodiment of the Slider Bracket 
     An alternative version of the slider bracket  101 , adapted for use with clamp assemblies  2 , is shown in FIGS. 9-12. The slider bracket  101  includes an inner bracket section  104  and an outer bracket section  105  which are each substantially U-shaped in cross section with the inner bracket section  104  being slightly smaller in dimension that the outer bracket section  105 , which allows the inner bracket section  104  to be telescopically received within the outer bracket section  105 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 12, the inner bracket section  104  has a proximate end  104   a,  a distal end  104   b,  and a bottom wall  106  connecting a front wall  107  to a rear wall  108 . The front and rear walls  107  and  108  each have a respective wall extension or flange  109  which extend inwardly from the respective front wall  107  or rear wall  108  and downwardly toward the bottom wall  106 . The wall extensions  109  of the inner bracket section  104  are angled inwardly from the respective front wall  107  or rear wall  108  and downwardly toward the bottom wall  106  at an angle of approximately 15 degrees. The slider bracket  101  generally functions in the same manner as slider bracket  1 , with the lower edges of the wall extensions  109  forming the gripping surfaces for retaining the pipe clamp assemblies  2 . No ridges, such as the ridges  10  of the slider bracket  1 , are required to perform this function in slider bracket  101 . 
     The outer bracket section  105 , as best seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, has a proximate end  105   a,  a distal end  105   b,  and a bottom wall  111  connecting a front wall  112  to a rear wall  113 . Each of the front and rear walls  112  and  113  has a respective wall extension or flange  114 . The wall extensions  114  of the outer bracket section  105  are angled inwardly from the respective front wall  112  or rear wall  113  and downwardly toward the bottom wall  111  at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with the lower edge of the wall extension  114  performing the gripping function of the ridges  15  of the slider bracket  1 . 
     As with the slider bracket  1 , the slider bracket  101  includes at least one, and preferably two, flexible tabs  116  which are attached to and extend outward from the distal end  104   b  of the inner bracket section  104  and at least one, and preferably two, matching, flexible tabs  117 , attached to and extending outward from the distal end  105   b  of the outer bracket section  105 . The flexible tabs  116  and  117  are structurally and functionally identical to the flexible tabs  16  and  17  of the slider bracket  1  described above. 
     When the clamp assemblies  2  are placed into the slider bracket  101  (as shown in FIG.  10 ), the opposing lower gripping steps  32  engage the lower edges of the wall extensions  109  of the inner bracket section  104  while the opposing upper gripping steps  33  engage the lower edges of the wall extensions  114  of the outer bracket section  105 . This insures that the clamp assemblies  2  will be securely held in place within the slider bracket  101  at portions of the slider bracket  101  where the inner bracket section  104  overlaps the outer bracket section  105 . In addition, the clamp assemblies  2  will be securely held in place within the slider bracket  101  at portions where the inner bracket section  104  is telescoped away from the outer bracket section  105  by the lower gripping steps  32 , as shown in FIG. 12, and at portions where the outer bracket section  105  is telescoped away from the first bracket section  104  by the upper gripping steps  33 , as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     Similar to the slider bracket  1 , the 30 degree angle of the wall extensions  114  and the 15 degree angle of the extensions  109  combine with the approximate 5 degree angle of the gripping step top surfaces  34  and  35  to allow the base frame  26  to be easily snapped into position within the slider bracket  101  while making it very difficult to remove the clamp assembly  2 . 
     Flexible Ratchet Arm Pipe Clamp Assembly 
     An alternative embodiment of the pipe clamp assembly is a flexible ratchet arm pipe clamp  202  as shown in FIGS. 13-15. Each clamp assembly  202  includes a base member or clamp base  222  with a base frame  226  which is similar in construction to the base frame  26  of the double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly  2  described above. The base frame  226  accepts a resilient insert  223  which is generally identical to the insert  23  of the double ratchet arm clamp assembly  2 . Unlike the double ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly  2 , however, the flexible ratchet arm pipe clamp assembly  202  has only a single elongate flexible ratchet arm or ratchet strap  241  extending outwardly from the base frame  226  of the respective base member  222 . The flexible ratchet arm  241  includes a plurality of ratchet teeth or ratchet members  243  formed along an outside surface thereof. 
     On the side of the base frame  226  opposite the flexible ratchet arm  241 , the clamp assembly  202  includes an extension arm  275  having a head or ratchet arm receiving block or member  277  with a ratchet arm receiving aperture  279  formed therethrough and sized to receive the flexible ratchet arm  241 . The arm receiving aperture  279  is angled downwardly and away from the flexible ratchet arm  241 . The flexible ratchet arm  241  is longer and more pliable than the ratchet arms  41  and  42  of the clamp assembly  2  so as to be capable of being looped over a pipe  25  cradled in the notch  273  of the resilient insert  223  and pulled downwardly to be received by the ratchet arm receiving aperture  279 . 
     An inner anvil surface  281  is formed within the ratchet arm receiving block  277  along the ratchet arm receiving aperture  279 . A pawl member  283  is hingedly attached to an outside wall of the ratchet arm receiving block  277  and extends into the ratchet arm receiving aperture  279 . The pawl member  283  including a series of teeth  285  spaced to engage the corresponding ratchet teeth  243  on the flexible ratchet arm  241  extending through the aperture  279 . The pawl member  283  is molded in a manner such that it is resiliently urged toward the anvil surface  281  of the aperture  279  so that the ratchet arm teeth  243  are captured by the teeth  285  on the pawl member  283 . The pawl member  283  includes an extension  287  which protrudes outward from the head  277  of the extension arm  275 . The extension  287 , when pushed outward, disengages the pawl member teeth  285  from the ratchet teeth  243  to thereby release the flexible ratchet arm  241 . 
     As the flexible ratchet arm  241  is pulled through the ratchet arm receiving aperture  279  around a pipe  25  cradled in the notch  273  of the resilient insert  223 , the pipe  25  is secured relative to the clamp assembly  202  and the resilient insert  223  is simultaneously forced downward within the base member central aperture  244 . This downward motion of the resilient insert  223  forces the bottom surface  274  of the base portion  271  to come into contact with the respective bottom wall  6  or  11  of the slider bracket  1 , or bottom wall  106  or  111  of the slider bracket  101 , causing the clamp assembly  202  to be anchored in a set position along the slider bracket  1  or  101 . 
     Conclusion 
     While the plumbing slider brackets  1  and  101  and ratchet arm pipe clamp assemblies  2  and  202  have been described and illustrated for use with plumbing pipes, they can be equally useful with other conduits including electrical or communications cables, fiber optic bundles, wire bundles, or any other elongate structure to be routed through a building structure, therefore, the terms “pipe” and “plumbing” are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Particular details such as the generally rectangular cross sectional shape of the inner and outer bracket sections  4  and  5 , the number and placement of the gripping steps  32  and  33 , etc. are meant to be exemplary only, and can be varied considerably and still accomplish the intended results. 
     It is to be understood that slider brackets  1  and  101  are fully interchangeable, as are the pipe clamp assemblies  2  and  202 . Either of the clamp assemblies  2  or  202  may be used with either of the brackets  1  or  101 . It is also to be understood that other ratchet assemblies could be utilized for drawing down and holding a clamping member. For example, it is foreseen that the ratchet assembly could be constructed as a cable tie such as one comprising a strand of balls which can be threaded through a conical ratchet receiver with an inlet approximately the same size as the balls and an outlet formed from resilient quarter sections of the cone and being smaller in diameter than the balls. It is also to be understood that other mechanisms currently known in the art or later developed for drawing down the clamping member could be used, including but not limited to a hose clamp assembly and other threaded mechanisms or with straps drawn through clasps or the like. It is thus to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8