FASTENING DEVICE FOR FIXING A BODY TO A STRUCTURAL MEMBER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5
The present invention relates to a novel fastener for fixing a body such as a bar hanger to a structural member.
Bar hangers are used to hold mechanical and electrical mechanisms to structural members such as beams, joist, and the like normally found in buildings and other structures. In particular bar hangers are used to hold electrical lighting units in place. Reference is made to U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 222,042, filed Jan. 2, 1981, U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,677, which describes a typical bar hanger used for this purpose.
Prior art bar hangers often included fasteners at the end portion thereof which were difficult to fasten and align with the structural members of the building, such 2Q as the joists. Also, bar hangers of this type required the manufacture of left-hand and right-hand components which were often confusing to the ulitimate user of the same and added greatly to the manufacturing cost. In addition, fabrication of the bar hanger components 25 often produced a great deal of scrap which wasted a great deal of material.
A fastener having universal qualities in conjunction with a bar hanger would be a great advance in the
electrical and mechanical arts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful fastener for fixing a body such as a bar hanger to a structural member is provided. 35
The structural member may be in the form of a beam, joist, and the like having an edge. The end element connected to the body includes first and second sides with the first and second edges respectively. Means is also provided for penetrating the structural member in 40 order to hold the end piece and body to the same.
The fastener of the present invention also includes means for guiding the position of the end element in relation to the edge of the structural member. The guiding means includes a pair of edges each capable of being 45 aligned with the structural member. One of the edges of the guiding means is connected to the first side of the element while the other edge of the guiding means is connected to the other side of the element. Both edges of the guiding means are positioned outwardly from the 50 respective both edges of the end element.
The first side of the end element includes a notch between the first edge of the first side of the end element and the first edge of the guiding means. The notch is of the size to fit the second edge of the guiding means. 55 Where the first edge of the first side of the end element and the first side of the guiding means are substantially straight an parallel to one one another, the notch possesses a certain depth. The depth of the notch is measured along a line perpendicular to a line coincident 60 with the first edge of the first side of the end element. Also, the second edge of the second side of the end element and the second edge of the guiding means may be substantially straight edges. Lines coincident with these edges are substantially parallel to one another and 65 are separated from one another a certain distance measured along a line perpendicular to and between these coincident lines. This certain distance of separation
would be substantially equal to the depth of the notch heretofore described.
Further, the first edge and the first side of the end element and the first edge of the guiding means would define line coincident therewith and be separated from one another. Such separation would be measured along a line perpendicular to and between such coincident lines. The depth of the notch and the distance between the first and second edges of the guiding means and the first and second edges of the end element as defined hereinabove, would present three distances or dimensions which would be equal to one another. Thus, the fastener of the present invention may have a universal nature and could guide the left or right side of a body fastened to the end element. Also, a multiplicity of such end elements may be fashioned from a single sheet of material with very minimal waste between successive end elements.
The means for penetrating the structural member may include a portion which is split from the end element and bent outwardly therefrom. Such means would not present any impediments to the aliging of the guiding means with the structural member.
It may be apparent that a novel and useful fastener for fixing a body to a structural member has been described.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fastener for fixing a body to a structural member which may be used on either side of the body being fixed to the structural member.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener for fixing a body to a structural member which may be formed from material with the minimum amount of waste as a result of such forming process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastener for fixing a body to a structural member which includes a temporary fixing means and a permanent fixing means which cooperates with means for positioning the fastener in relation to the structural member.
The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the fastener device of the present invention in use as bar hangers for supporting an electrical fixture.
FIG. 2A is a view taken along line 2A—-2A of FIG.
1.
FIG. 2B is a view taken along line 2B—2B of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4 showing movement of the penetrating means into the structural member.
FIG. 6 is a broken top plan view showing the formation of a multiplicity of fastener end portions from a piece of material.
For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the hereinafter described description of the embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the hereinabove described drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
Various aspects of the invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodi
