SUPPORT FOR ATTACHMENT TO A STRUCTURAL MEMBER

Abstract

A support for attachment to a structural member comprising, the support comprising a pair of side members; a receiving portion located in each of the pair of side members configured to receive a portion of the structural member; and an end member, wherein the end member includes a connection portion configured to facilitate connection of the end member to an adjacent support, and wherein at least one of the pair of side members comprises a connection portion configured to facilitate connection of a utility object thereto.

Claims

1. A support for attachment to a structural member comprising: a pair of side members; a receiving portion located in each of the pair of side members configured to receive a portion of the structural member; and an end member, wherein the end member includes a connection portion configured to facilitate connection of the end member to an adjacent support, and wherein at least one of the pair of side members comprises a connection portion configured to facilitate connection of a utility object thereto.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a support for attachment to a structural member in the form of an I-beam;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an end view of the support according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an end member for a support according to the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a support for attachment to a structural member in the form of a C-shaped channel structural member;

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a support for attachment to a structural member in the form of an angle iron; and

[0050] FIG. 6 shows an end view of the support according to the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in an embodiment of the invention, a support for attachment to a structural member in the form of an I-beam is generally indicated by arrow 1. In FIG. 1, a pair of supports 1 is shown fixed to opposing ends of a flange 5 of I-beam 3. In FIG. 2, an end view of support 1 is shown. In FIG. 3, a side view of end member 9 and lower member 11 is shown. Support 1 comprises a first side member 7 and a second opposed side member (not shown), an end member 9 and a lower member 11. When assembled, support 1 comprises a receiving portion 13 configured to receive an end of flange 5.

[0052] End member 9 of support 1 is in the form of an L-shaped bracket and comprises two portions 9-1 and 9-2 at substantially right angles to one another. A first portion 9-1 of end member 9 forms an end wall for support 1 and a second portion 9-2 of end member 9 abuts an upper surface of the flange 5 of the structural member 3. A protruding lip 17 associated with first portion 9-1 of end member 9 allows abutment and placement of the end member 9 with respect to a surface of the structural member (not shown) or an adjacent support (not shown). It is envisaged that in use, this configuration substantially precludes movement of the support 1 relative to the I-beam 3 or an adjacent support. The first portion 9-1 of end member 9 comprises an aperture 15 for a mechanical fastener to pass through the end member 9 of support 1 and at least partially through the end member of an adjacent support in the direction indicated by line 100.

[0053] Side member 7 comprises at least one aperture 19 configured to allow a mechanical fastener (not shown) to pass through and secure a secondary support (not shown) for a utility object (such as a water pipe, electricity cable) to the side member of support 1. The secondary support is selected from the group consisting of: pipe support, cable cleat, light bulb, strut or airline support and the utility object is selected from the group consisting of: pipe, cable, light fitting or air-line.

[0054] In use, a support 1 can be positioned with respect to an end of a flange 5 of a structural member 3 by receiving the end of the flange in the receiving portion 13 of the support 1. The support 1 is then clamped to the structural member 3 by passing a mechanical fastener in the form of bolt through the aperture 5 of the end member 9 and through the aperture of the end member of an adjacent support and fixing the end members together with a nut. A secondary support for a utility object (not shown) is then fixed to the side member 7 of the support 1 by passing a mechanical fastener such as a bolt through aperture 9 of the side member and an aperture of the adjacent side member of the support 1. Adjacent side members 7 of the support 1 are then fixed together with a nut.

[0055] In FIG. 4, a pair of dissimilar supports for a C-shaped channel member is shown. Support 1 is essentially as described in FIGS. 1-3 and is fixed to an end of a flange 25 of C-shaped channel member 23. Support 21 is fixed to the web 24 of C-shaped channel member 23. Support 21 comprises a first side member 27 and a second opposed side member (not shown) and an end member 29. End member 29 of support 21 is a substantially planar structure, such as a flat bracket. End member 29 comprises an aperture 35 for a mechanical fastener to pass through the end member 29 of support 21 and at least partially through the end member of adjacent support 1 in the direction indicated by line 100. End member 29 may comprise a protruding lip.

[0056] Side member 37 comprises at least one aperture 39 configured to allow a mechanical fastener (not shown) to pass through and secure a secondary support (not shown) for a utility object such as a water pipe, electricity cable, to the side member of support 30. The secondary support is selected from the group consisting of: pipe support, cable cleat, light bulb, strut or airline support and the utility object is selected from the group consisting of: pipe, cable, light fitting or air-line.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in an embodiment of the invention, a support for attachment to a structural member in the form of an angle iron is generally indicated by arrow 41. In FIG. 5, a pair of supports 41 is shown fixed to opposing ends 45 of angle iron 43. In FIG. 6, an end view of support 41 is shown. Support 41 comprises a first side member 47 and a second opposed side member (not shown) and an end member 49. When assembled, support 41 comprises a receiving portion 53 configured to receive an end 45 of angle iron 43.

[0058] End member 49 of support 41 comprises two portions 49-1 and 49-2 at an obtuse angle to one another, wherein a first portion 49-1 forms an end wall for support 41 and a second portion 49-2 of the end member 49 abuts an upper surface of the flange 45 of the structural member 43. The first portion 49-1 of end member 49 comprises an aperture 55 for a mechanical fastener to pass through the end member 49 of support 41 and at least partially through the end member of an adjacent support in the direction indicated by line 100.

[0059] Side member 47 comprises at least one aperture 59 configured to allow a mechanical fastener (not shown) to pass through and secure a secondary support (not shown) for a utility object such as a water pipe, electricity cable, to the side member of support 41. The secondary support is selected from the group consisting of: pipe support, cable cleat, light bulb, strut or airline support and the utility object is selected from the group consisting of: pipe, cable, light fitting or air-line.

[0060] In use, a support 41 can be positioned with respect to an end of a flange 45 of a structural member 43 by receiving the end of the flange in the receiving portion 53 of the support 41. The support 41 is then clamped to the structural member 43 by passing a mechanical fastener in the form of bolt through the aperture 55 of the end member 49 and through the aperture of the end member of an adjacent support and fixing the end members together with a nut. A secondary support for a utility object (not shown) is then fixed to the side member 47 of the support 41 by passing a mechanical fastener such as a bolt through aperture 59 of the side member and an aperture of the adjacent side member of the support 41. Adjacent side members 47 of the support 41 are then fixed together with a nut.

[0061] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0062] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0063] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.