Unitized seismic brace

{
  "publication_number": "US6421965B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Unitized seismic brace",
  "abstract": "A seismic brace for fastening to a support rod at one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end. The brace is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it. The brace arm part is bent at an angle of 45° to form a base bracket that connects to the support rod. A locking bracket is hinged to the brace arm to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle, the slots are arranged so that they form an aperture when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket part of the brace arm to completely enclose the support rod.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A brace to prevent sway between a support and a structure during movement of the structure and support from seismic activity, the brace comprising: a brace arm having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to extend from the support, and the second end is adapted to connect the brace arm to an element which is connected to the structure, the brace arm being bent perpendicular to its length between its first and second end, the part of the brace arm at its first end forming a base bracket having an opening extending from an edge thereof towards a center of the base bracket; and a locking bracket, having a first and second end, the first end being flexibly attached to the brace arm, said locking bracket having an opening extending from an edge thereof towards a center of the locking bracket; whereby when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket, the locking bracket and the base bracket form an opening which is adapted to completely enclose the support.",
    "2. The brace of claim 1 wherein the opening in the base bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support, and wherein the opening in the locking bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support.",
    "3. The brace of claim 1 wherein the brace arm is bent at an angle of 45° from the base bracket.",
    "4. The brace of claim 1 wherein the locking bracket is flexibly attached to the brace arm by a hinge.",
    "5. The brace of claim 4 wherein the hinge comprises: a pair of upstanding ears having apertures therethrough attached to the brace arm; a cylinder at the first end of the locking bracket; and a pin passing through the upstanding ears and the cylinder in the locking bracket.",
    "6. The brace of claim 5 wherein the pin is a nut and bolt.",
    "7. The brace of claim 5 wherein the pin is a rivet.",
    "8. The brace of claim 1 wherein the locking bracket is flexibly attached to the brace arm by a metal ring attached to the brace arm and passing through an aperture in the first end of the locking bracket.",
    "9. The brace of claim 1 wherein the opening in the base bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in the locking bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support, and wherein the main axis of the base bracket slot is different from the main axis of the locking bracket slot.",
    "10. The brace of claim 9 wherein the main axis of the base bracket slot is at ninety degrees to the main axis of the locking bracket slot.",
    "11. A brace to prevent sway between a support and a structure during movement of the structure and support from seismic activity, the brace comprising: a brace arm, having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to extend from the support, and the second end is adapted to connect the brace arm to an element which is connected to the structure, the brace arm being bent perpendicular to its length between the first and second end, the part of the brace arm at its first end forming a base bracket having an opening extending from an edge thereof towards a center of the base bracket; and a locking bracket, having a first and second end, the first end being flexibly attached to the first end of the brace arm, said locking bracket having an opening extending from an edge towards a center of the locking bracket; whereby when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket, the opening of the locking bracket and the opening of the base bracket form an opening which is adapted to completely enclose the support.",
    "12. The brace of claim 11 wherein the opening in the base bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support, and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support.",
    "13. The brace of claim 11 wherein the brace arm is bent at an angle of 45° from the base bracket.",
    "14. The brace of claim 11 wherein the locking bracket is flexibly attached to the base bracket by a hinge.",
    "15. The brace of claim 14 wherein the hinge comprises a metal ring attached to the brace arm and passing through an aperture in the locking bracket.",
    "16. The brace of claim 11 wherein the opening in the base bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support, and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support, and wherein the main axis of the base bracket slot is different from the main axis of the locking bracket slot.",
    "17. The brace of claim 16 wherein the main axis of the base bracket slot is at ninety degrees to the main axis of the locking bracket slot."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nToday's commercial buildings use hangers suspended by rods from the underside of the floor above to run pipes, electrical cables, HVAC ducts, communication lines, etc. A seismic brace is used in buildings to prevent adverse sway or movement in the event of an earthquake. Those braces keep the various independent elements of such suspended items within a building intact during an earthquake. Without seismic braces, the independent elements, like pipe hangers, for example, will move independently. This independent movement can result in the pipes suspended in these hangers to break away from their installed positions causing damage or at least inoperable conditions.\n\n2. Description of Prior Art\n\nVarious types of seismic braces are in current use, each having multiple parts or requiring various degrees of effort and time to install. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,218 shows a one piece seismic brace having a first channel iron that connects to a building element hinged to a second channel iron which attaches to the item supported. This brace takes considerable time to install because the fastener of the supported element must be completely undone to attach this brace.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 5,188,317 shows a brace for a hanger for pipes, electrical cables or the like. The hanger is suspended from a series of rods attached to the overhead floor. This brace uses a separate detached interlock element so that the brace may be attached to the rod without completely removing a hanger from its supporting rod. The interlock element must mate with the rod connecting end in a precise manner to function correctly.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16L 3/24",
    "F16B 2200/403",
    "F16B 9/05",
    "Y10T 403/32155",
    "Y10T 403/32409",
    "Y10T 403/32606",
    "Y10T 403/45"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 9/02",
    "F16L 3/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Tomarco Contractor Specialties Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William J. Thompson",
    "Keith L. Watkins"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2001-02-23",
  "publication_date": "2002-07-23",
  "grant_date": "2002-07-23",
  "priority_date": "1998-09-28",
  "application_number": "US-79103601-A",
  "family_id": "26858323",
  "cited_by_count": 26,
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  ]
}