Patent ID: 6896226

Claim:
A connector for retrofit attachment to a threaded rod extending from a support structure for supporting a suspended load against sway and seismic disturbances, comprising: a longitudinal axis and a pivot pin defining a rotation axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; a first arm pivotable about said rotation axis, comprising: a proximal section being pivotably attached to said pivot pin; a medial section being angled relative to said proximal section of said first arm and having a slot extending generally upwards from a lower edge thereof; a distal section being angled relative to said medial section of said first arm and having a slot extending generally upwards from a lower edge thereof, said distal section and said medial section of said first arm connecting at a junction to form a curved wall between said slots of said first arm; a second arm pivotable about said rotation axis, comprising: a proximal section being pivotably attached to said pivot pin; a medial section being angled relative to said proximal section of said second arm and having a slot extending generally downwards from an upper edge thereof; a distal section being angled relative to said medial section of said second arm and having a slot extending generally downwards from an upper edge thereof, said distal section and said medial section of said second arm connecting at a junction to form a curved wall between said slots of said second arm; whereby, said arms are pivotable to interlock and mate with one another such that said slot of said medial section of said first arm is aligned with said slot of said medial section of said second arm and said slot of said distal section of said first arm is aligned with said slot of said distal section of said second arm to form a passage bounded by said curved walls and flanked by said slots for capturing said rod therebetween.