Hoist Clip

Abstract

A connection between a hoist and a structural panel, wherein a clip connects a sling of the hoist to the structural panel, and the clip includes a plate portion having an eye opening receiving the sling. The clip also includes a tongue portion extending from the plate portion, the plate portion lying in registration with the attachment surface of one or more structural member that form part of the structural panel. Fasteners connect the tongue portion of the clip to the attachment surface of the structural member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A connection between a hoist and a structural panel, the connection comprising:
 a. the hoist, having at least one sling;   b. the structural panel having a top surface and one or more structural members;   c. a clip connected to the structural panel and the hoist, the clip comprising:
 i. a plate having an eye opening, the eye opening receiving at least one sling connected to the hoist, and; 
 ii. a tongue extending from and connected to the plate, the tongue lying in registration with an attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel, the tongue having first and second strengthening flanges formed at opposed first and second side edges of the tongue, and the first and second strengthening flanges extending into the plate along first and second side edges of the plate; and 
   d. fasteners connecting the tongue of the clip to the attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel.   
     
     
         2 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the plate has a neck portion and a body portion with the neck portion being disposed between the tongue and the body portion of the plate; and   b. the body portion of the plate between the first and second side edges of the plate is wider than the tongue between the first and second side edges of the tongue with the neck portion having first and second side edges and the first and second side edges of the neck portion flaring outwardly and extending from the first and second side edges of the tongue to the first and second side edges of the plate.   
     
     
         3 . The connection of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first and second strengthening flanges extend substantially the length of the clip from a tongue end of the clip and along the tongue, the neck portion and the body portion of the plate to a plate end of the clip.   
     
     
         4 . The connection of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a. the tongue is a substantially planar member having an open surface and an opposed connection surface that interfaces with the attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel; and   b. the first and second strengthening flanges extend upwardly away from the open surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         5 . The connection of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a. the plate is also a substantially planar member disposed in the same plane as the tongue, and   b. the first and second strengthening flanges extend upwardly and away from the tongue and plate a similar height all along the length of the clip, except at the plate end and the tongue end of the clip.   
     
     
         6 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the eye opening in the plate has a perimeter edge; and   b. the perimeter edge is formed with a rolled strengthening flange.   
     
     
         7 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clip has a portion that extends through an opening in the top surface of the structural panel such that at least a portion of the plate extends above the top surface of the structural panel.   
     
     
         8 . The connection of  claim 7 , wherein:
 a cap, having a barrier member with the barrier member having a fitted opening, is placed in alignment with the opening in the top surface of the wall such that the cap substantially covers the opening and the clip extends through the fitted opening in the cap.   
     
     
         9 . The connection of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is no more 1.5 inches wide and the tongue of the clip is received in the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the structural panel is a wall and the one or more structural members are studs that form part of the wall, with the studs arranged in a spaced-apart, generally parallel manner.   
     
     
         11 . The connection of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the wall has a top track with the top track connected to and disposed above the one or more upright studs.   
     
     
         12 . The connection of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more upright studs are set at an angle to the top track and are connected to the top track.   
     
     
         13 . The connection of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is formed in the top track and the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is no more than 1.5 inches wide.   
     
     
         14 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the clip has a longitudinal axis that extends from a plate end of the plate to an opposed tongue end of the tongue and a lateral axis that extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; and   b. the tongue is formed with a plurality of fastener openings for receiving the fasteners, and the plurality of fastener openings includes a front pair of fastener openings formed closer to the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the front pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.   
     
     
         15 . The connection of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a. the plate has a neck portion and a body portion with the neck portion being disposed between the tongue and the body portion of the plate;   b. the body portion of the plate between the first and second side edges of the plate is wider than the tongue between the first and second side edges of the tongue with the neck portion having first and second side edges and the first and second side edges of the neck portion flaring outwardly and extending from the first and second side edges of the tongue to the first and second side edges of the plate; and   c. the fastener openings that make up the front pair of fastener openings are spaced between ½″ and 1″ from the interface between the neck portion and the tongue.   
     
     
         16 . The connection of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of fastener openings includes a back pair of fastener openings formed farthest away from the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the back pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.   
     
     
         17 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 no more than twelve fasteners are used to connect the clip to the structural panel.   
     
     
         18 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fasteners are threaded.   
     
     
         19 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the clip has a longitudinal axis that extends from a plate end of the plate to an opposed tongue end of the tongue and a lateral axis that extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; and   b. the tongue is formed with a plurality of fastener openings for receiving the fasteners, and the plurality of fastener openings includes a back pair of fastener openings formed farthest away from the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the back pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.   
     
     
         20 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plate has a plate end opposed from the tongue and the plate end is formed with chamfered corners.