Line hanger

Abstract

A line hanger for securing lines, such as transmission, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and other types of lines, to a support structure and a method of mounting and supporting one or more lines from a support structure. The line hanger includes an attachment support provision configured for mounting to the support structure and a pair of spaced-apart clamping arms depending outwardly from the attachment provision. The clamping arms are configured to resiliently separate for slidingly receiving an line and to resiliently relax for applying a clamping force to secure the line. Multiple line hangers may be interlinked or stacked relative to the support structure for support multiple lines.

1 . A mounting device for securing a line to a support structure, comprising: 
 a structure formed of rod material which is formed to have an open end and a closed end, the rod material structure including:    a support attachment provision at the closed end for coupling to the support structure;    a spaced-apart pair of clamping arms extending outwardly from said support attachment provision to define the open end, said clamping arms defining a clamping plane and configured to resiliently separate for slidingly receiving the line therebetween;    first, second, and third closed end angled bends associated with each clamping arm adjacent the closed end, each of the first and second closed end angled bends extending substantially within the clamping plane and coupling one of the clamping arms with the support attachment provision via the third closed end angled bend; and    an open end angled bend formed in each of the clamping arms proximate the open end, the open end angled bends projecting above the clamping plane and being configured to penetrate the clamping plane of an adjacent mounting device of the same construction and interlock with one or more of the first, second, and third closed end angled bends of the adjacent mounting device to secure lines by preventing relative separation of said clamping arms.    
     
     
         2 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein each of said pair of clamping arms has confronting arcuate segments generally arranged on a common radius of curvature, said arcuate segments applying a radially inward force for securing the line therebetween.  
     
     
         3 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said support attachment provision includes a loop defining a passage through which a fastener can extend for coupling the mounting device with the support structure.  
     
     
         4 . The mounting device of  claim 3  wherein said clamping plane defines an angle with respect to a plane defined by said loop.  
     
     
         5 . The mounting device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a terminating element capable of being removably received by said clamping arms, said terminating element operative for coupling together said pair of clamping arms to prevent relative separation when the line is secured therebetween.    
     
     
         6 . The mounting device of  claim 5  wherein said terminating element is a loop dimensioned to fit over a portion of said clamping arms.  
     
     
         7 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping arms are configured to interlock with each other for preventing relative separation of said clamping arms.  
     
     
         8 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping arms and said support attachment provision comprise a unitary monolithic member.  
     
     
         9 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said mounting device is free of welded junctions.  
     
     
         10 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said mounting device is formed of one of a metal and a plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping arms and said support attachment provision are formed from a continuous length of wire.  
     
     
         12 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping plane defines an angle with respect to a plane defined by said support attachment provision.  
     
     
         13 . The mounting device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an adapter configured for coupling said support attachment provision with the support structure.    
     
     
         14 . The mounting device of  claim 13  wherein said adapter is configured for coupling said support attachment provision to an anchor rail.  
     
     
         15 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping arms are configured for supporting lines of different types.  
     
     
         16 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said clamping arms are configured for supporting lines of different dimensions.  
     
     
         17 . The mounting device of  claim 1  wherein said support attachment provision is configured for mounting directly to the support structure free of intervening structures.  
     
     
         18 . A stackable line hanger composed of formed wire, said hanger including a generally U-shaped body with a closed end and an open end, clamping arms extending from the closed end to grip a line, and first, second and third closed end angled bends being formed in the closed end, said clamping arms defining a clamping plane and configured to resiliently separate substantially within the clamping plane for slidingly receiving the line therebetween, said clamping arms having distal ends with open end angled bends formed therein projecting above the clamping plane, the first and second closed end angled bends extending within said clamping plane, the open end angled bends being configured to penetrate the clamping plane of an adjacent hanger of the same construction and to retentively interlock with the one or more of the first, second, and third closed end angled bends of the adjacent line hanger.  
     
     
         19 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a terminating element including a link with terminating element angled bends adapted to join said distal ends of said clamping arms of said line hanger to enclose the line.    
     
     
         20 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 18  wherein said hanger is configured at said closed end to form a support attachment provision.  
     
     
         21 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 20  wherein said support attachment provision comprises a loop bent out of a plane containing said clamping arms.  
     
     
         22 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 21  wherein said closed end angled bends each comprise a recurved portion and each of said opening end angled bends comprises a hook adapted to interlock with a corresponding one of a pair of recurved portions of a cooperating line hanger.  
     
     
         23 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 22  wherein said loop and said hooks extend on one side of said plane.  
     
     
         24 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 22  wherein said loop and said hooks extend on opposite sides of said plane.  
     
     
         25 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 20  wherein said support attachment provision comprises a loop oriented generally coplanar with said clamping arms.  
     
     
         26 . The stackable line hanger of  claim 18  wherein said open end angled bends are configured to interlock with one another to retain the line without the use of a terminating element.  
     
     
         27 . A mounting device for securing a line to a support structure, comprising: 
 a structure formed of rod material which is formed to have an open end and a closed end, the rod material structure including:    a support attachment provision at the closed end for coupling to the support structure;    pairs of first, second, and third closed end angled bends formed adjacent the closed end of the rod material structure;    a spaced-apart pair of clamping arms, each clamping arm extending outwardly from said support attachment provision and the respective first, second, and third closed end angled bends to define the open end, said clamping arms configured to resiliently separate for slidingly receiving the line therebetween;    an open end angled bend formed in each of the clamping arms proximate the open end; and    an upright member joined with each of the corresponding open end angled bends, said upright member of one of said clamping arms capable of being interlocked with said upright member of the other of said clamping arms in a contacting relationship for preventing relative separation of said clamping arms.    
     
     
         28 . The mounting device of  claim 27  wherein said support attachment provision includes a loop defining a passage through which a fastener can extend for coupling the mounting device with the support structure.  
     
     
         29 . The mounting device of  claim 28  wherein said clamping arms define a clamping plane angled with respect to said loop.