초록 ▼

It is one advantage of the invention to provide an interlocking swivel connector for attachment to an existing system supporting a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor without the need to disassemble or disconnect any components of the system. The connector is easy to install and inexpensiv

It is one advantage of the invention to provide an interlocking swivel connector for attachment to an existing system supporting a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor without the need to disassemble or disconnect any components of the system. The connector is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The connector is removably or permanently attachable to a sway brace clamp or attachment to form a connector-clamp assembly. The assembly is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances. It is another advantage of the invention to provide a sway cable brace clamp or fitting for securely attaching to a bracing cable and for supporting a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor. The cable clamp is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The cable clamp is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 pi

1. 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. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal section of said first arm and said proximal section of said second arm are substantially parallel to one another.3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said proximal section of said arm has a through hole and said proximal section of said second arm has a through hole with said holes being generally aligned with one another.4. The connector of claim 3, wherein said pivot pin extends through said holes of said arms.5. The connector of claim 1, wherein each of said slots has a base surface and when said arms mate said base surface of said slot of said medial section of said first arm and said base surface of said medial section of said second arm abut against one another.6. The connector of claim 5, wherein when said arms mate said base surface of said distal section of said first arm and said base surface of said distal section of said second arm abut against one another.7. The connector of claim 1, wherein said passage has a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to said rotation axis of said connector.8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said rod is oriented generally perpendicular to said rotation axis of said connector when said rod is secured within said connector.9. The connector of claim 1, in combination with a nut threadably engaged with said rod for securing said connector to said rod.10. The connector of claim 1, in combination with an attachment device for attaching said connector to a brace.11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said connector and said attachment device are pivotably connected to one another by said pivot pin.12. The connector of claim 11, wherein said connector and said attachment device are permanently connected.13. The connector of claim 11, wherein said connector and said attachment device are removably connected.14. A seismic connector for retrofit attachment to a support element of an installation, comprising:a pivotable first arm comprising a first curved section flanked by a first slot and a second slot of said first arm; a pivotable second arm comprising a second curved section flanked by a first slot and a second slot of said second arm; whereby, interlocking of said slots of said first arm with said second arm to receive selected portions of said second arm within said slots of said first arm and interlocking of said slots of said second arm with said first arm to receive selected portions of said first arm within said slots of said second arm forms an opening generally circumscribed by said first and second curved sections for receiving said support element without requiring disassembly of said installation, wherein said curved sections are generally C-shaped and said opening is generally oval or ellipsoidal. 15. The connector of claim 14, in combination with an attachment device for attaching said connector to a brace.16. The connector of claim 14, wherein said opening has a minor diameter in the range from about 0.95 cm (⅜ inches) to about 1.9 cm (¾ inches).17. The connector of claim 14, wherein said opening has a depth greater than the depth of any of said slots.18. The connector of claim 17, wherein said opening has a depth of about 1.9 cm (¾ inches).19. The connector of claim 14, wherein each of said slots is generally rectangular in shape.20. The connector of claim 19, wherein each of said slots has a depth less than the depth of said opening.21. The connector of claim 20, wherein each of said slots has a depth of about 0.95 cm (⅜ inches).22. The connector of claim 14, wherein said arms are pivotable about a rotation axis and said opening has a generally longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis.23. The connector of claim 14, wherein each of said slots has a base face and when said slots interlock said base face of said first slot of first arm and said base face of said first slot of said second arm abut against one another, and said base face of said second slot of said first arm and said base face of said second slot of said second arm abut against one another.24. A seismic connector for retrofit attachment to a support element of an installation, comprising:a pivotable first arm comprising a first curved section positioned between a first slot and a second slot of said first arm; a pivotable second arm comprising a second curved section positioned between a first slot and a second slot of said second arm; whereby, interlocking of said slots of said first arm with said second arm to receive selected portions of said second arm within said slots of said first arm and interlocking of said slots of said second arm with said first arm to receive selected portions of said first arm within said slots of said second arm forms an opening generally circumscribed by said first and second curved sections for receiving said support element without requiring disassembly of said installation; and each of said slots being generally rectangular in shape, each of said slots having a depth less than the depth of said opening, each of said slots having a depth of about 0.95 cm (⅜ inches). 25. A connector for retrofit attachment to a support, comprising:a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end and a first curved wall therebetween, said first arm including a first slot having a base face and positioned between said first curved wall and said proximal end of said first arm, said first arm also including a second slot having a base face and positioned between said first curved wall and said distal end of said first arm; a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end and a second curved wall therebetween, said second arm including a first slot having a base face and positioned between said second curved wall and said proximal end of said second arm, said second arm also including a second slot having a base face and positioned between said second curved wall and said distal end of said second arm; and said arms being interlockable such that said base faces of said first slots abut against one another amd said base faces of said second slots abut against one another to form a passage generally bounded by said curved walls for receiving said support. 26. The connector of claim 25, wherein said first arm is pivotable about a first rotation axis.27. The connector of claim 26, wherein said second arm is pivotable about a second rotation axis.28. The connector of claim 27, wherein said first rotation axis and said second rotation axis are the same.29. The connector of claim 28, in combination with an attachment device for attaching said connector to a brace, said device being pivotable about said axis.30. The connector of claim 28, wherein said second arm is pivotable about a third rotation axis.31. The connector of claim 30, in combination with an attachment device for attaching said connector to a brace, said device being pivotable about said third rotation axis.32. The connector of claim 25, wherein said first arm comprises an individual component.33. The connector of claim 32, wherein said second arm is pivotable about a rotation axis.34. The connector of claim 33, in combination with an attachment device for attaching said connector to a brace, said device being pivotable about said rotation axis.35. A sway brace assembly, comprising:a connector for retrofit attachment to a rod extending from a support surface, comprising: a first arm having a proximal end, a distal end, a first angled section therebetween and a first slot positioned between said first angled section and said proximal end of said first arm; a second arm having a proximal end, a distal end, a second angled section therebetween and a first slot positioned between said second angled section and said proximal end of said second arm; at least one of said arms being pivotable about a rotation axis of said connector so that when said arms mate at least a portion of each of said arms is received in a corresponding one of said slots, said slots are aligned with one another and said angled sections form a passage for receiving said rod therebetween; and an attachment device coupled to said connector for attaching said connector to a brace, said attachment device comprising a clamp for engaging said brace. 36. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said attachment device comprises a cable fitting for securing a bracing cable.37. The assembly of claim 36, wherein said fitting is pivotably attached to said connector.38. The assembly of claim 36, wherein said fitting comprises:a generally U-shaped main body portion having a generally central and generally U-shaped slot with closed ends; a guide rail having a groove for engaging said cable and directing an end portion of said cable to loop through said fitting; and one or more cable fasteners for securing said end portion of said cable to a remaining portion of said cable. 39. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said passage has a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to said rotation axis.40. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said attachment device is pivotably connected to said connector.41. The assembly of claim 40, wherein said attachment device is pivotable about said rotation axis.42. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said attachment device comprises a fitting having a threaded opening for threadably engaging a threaded end of a bracing pipe.43. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said clamp comprises:a first jaw and a second jaw spaced from one another for receiving said brace; and a screw threadably mounted on said first jaw and movable towards second jaw to grip said brace between said second jaw and said screw. 44. The assembly of claim 43, wherein said second jaw has a recess for receiving deformed material of said brace caused by said screw forcibly engaging said brace.45. The assembly of claim 43, wherein said brace is selected from a group consisting of different sizes of a: bracing pipe, angle iron, channel, I-beam, plate, structural steel and wall.46. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said attachment device comprises a fitting having a pair of side walls spaced by an end wall.47. The assembly of claim 46, wherein said side walls have a pair of aligned holes for receiving a bracing pipe and said end wall has a threadably mounted screw for gripping said bracing pipe to secure said bracing pipe to said fitting.48. The assembly of claim 35, wherein said attachment device comprises a fitting including a plate having though holes for receiving one or more fasteners to connect said fitting to said brace.49. The assembly of claim 48, wherein said fastener comprises a U-bolt which in combination with nuts is adapted to secure said fitting to a pipe by receiving one end of said pipe and engaging said through holes.50. The assembly of claim 48, wherein said fasteners comprise bolts or screws which in combination with nuts are adapted to secure said fitting to a channel by engaging spaced holes at one end of said channel and said through holes.