Hanger clamp with hanger strap

Abstract

A hanger for hanging a circular cross-section object, such as a pipe or conduit, includes a top portion that has a channel for receiving a rod therethrough, and a bottom strap portion that supports the pipe and conduit. Ends of the bottom strap are fastenerlessly connected to the top portion on opposite sides of the top portion central portion. The ends of the bottom portion may fit into slots or notches in the top portion. Ends of the top portion may be bent to maintain the coupling between the portions. The bottom portion may include a flexible portion, such as looped flexible cable, with an end of the cable loop secured at one end of the top portion by inserting the cable into cable-receiving channels in the top portion. Alternatively the bottom portion may include a relatively rigid strap, such as a sheet metal strap.

1 . A hanger comprising: 
 a top portion having a central channel for receiving a threaded rod therein; and    a bottom portion that includes a strap, and that is fastenerlessly coupled to the top portion;    wherein bottom portion ends of the bottom portion are coupled to respective top portion ends, on respective sides of the central channel.    
   
   
       2 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a flexible strap.  
   
   
       3 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible strap includes flexible cable.  
   
   
       4 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible strap includes a loop of cable.  
   
   
       5 . The hanger of  claim 4 , 
 wherein the top portion includes a pair of hooks on respective sides of a center plane of the top portion; and    wherein cable portions of the cable are coupled within cable-receiving channels defined by the hooks.    
   
   
       6 . The hanger of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the top portion is a folded over sheet metal part; and    wherein the hooks are bent portions of the sheet metal part.    
   
   
       7 . The hanger of  claim 6 , wherein the top portion includes a cable-receiving notch immediately above the hooks.  
   
   
       8 . The hanger of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion also includes an upper fold back above the cable-receiving notch.  
   
   
       9 . The hanger of  claim 4 , 
 wherein the cable loop passes through a pair of holes in a slotted plate; and    wherein bushings secured to cable ends of the cable loop keep the cable ends from passing out of the holes.    
   
   
       10 . The hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the slotted plate includes a slot for passing one of the top portion ends thereinto.  
   
   
       11 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the slotted plate is coupled to the one of the top portion ends by engaging a notch on a top edge of the top portion.  
   
   
       12 . The hanger of  claim 11 , wherein the one of the top portion ends has a pair of tabs that are bendable in opposite directions, away from a center plane of the top portion, to secure the slotted plate in the notch.  
   
   
       13 . The hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the bushings are crimped onto the cable ends.  
   
   
       14 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a metal strap having slots at opposite strap ends thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The hanger of  claim 14 , 
 wherein the top portion ends pass through respective of the slots; and    wherein the strap ends engage respective notches in the top portion ends.    
   
   
       16 . The hanger of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the top portion ends have respective pairs of tabs; and    wherein the tabs of each pair of tabs may be bent in opposite directions, away from a center plane of the top portion, to secure the strap ends in the notches.    
   
   
       17 . A method of supporting a pipe or conduit, the method comprising: 
 securing a top portion of a hanger to a rod, wherein the securing includes passing the rod through a central channel of the top portion;    connecting a first strap end of a flexible strap to a first top portion end, on a first side of the central channel;    passing the flexible strap around the pipe or conduit; and    connecting a second strap end of the strap to a second top portion end, on a second side of the central channel.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the strap is a loop of flexible cable.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the connecting the second strap end includes: 
 passing an end of the loop in a notch in the top portion; and    engaging cable portions of the cable in cable-receiving channels within hooks of the top portion.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting the first strap end includes: 
 passing cables ends of the cable through respective holes in a slotted plate;    crimping bushings onto the cable ends to prevent the cable ends from being removed from the holes; and    engaging a slot of the slotted plate in a notch on a top edge of the top portion.