US4550451A — Universal plumbing pipe locator and support

Claim 1

Independent Claim 181 words

In combination with a pair of spaced apart building studs and an associated pair of pipes, an improved universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing said pipes permanently in position relative to said studs, said improved locator and support comprising: an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower edges, and further having a first plurality of longitudinally aligned openings located between said upper and lower edges and extending the full length of said strap, said openings being spaced apart by a predetermined distance wherein said pipes are alignable and in registration therewith, said elongated supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length, said pipes projecting through a pair of said openings, said strap further having a second plurality of openings extending the full length of said strap; fastener means extending through said plurality of openings and permanently fastenening said strap to said studs; and means fixing said pipes within said pair of openings, whereby said pipes are fixed in position in predetermined spaced apart relation for attachment to a pair of plumbing fixture conduits.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 181 words

In combination with a pair of spaced apart building studs and an associated pair of pipes, an improved universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing said pipes permanently in position relative to said studs, said improved locator and support comprising: an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower edges, and further having a first plurality of longitudinally aligned openings located between said upper and lower edges and extending the full length of said strap, said openings being spaced apart by a predetermined distance wherein said pipes are alignable and in registration therewith, said elongated supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length, said pipes projecting through a pair of said openings, said strap further having a second plurality of openings extending the full length of said strap; fastener means extending through said plurality of openings and permanently fastenening said strap to said studs; and means fixing said pipes within said pair of openings, whereby said pipes are fixed in position in predetermined spaced apart relation for attachment to a pair of plumbing fixture conduits.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of openings in said strap are cylindrical and circumferentially coextensive with the adjacent circumference of said pipe.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of openings in said strap are laterally open whereby said pipes may be laterally received therein.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means fixing said pipes comprises cylindrical inserts disposed through said pair of openings and centrally receiving said pipes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of openings are of two different diameters and alternate along the length of said strap.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 85 words

The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said inserts is characterized by a flange engaged upon one face of said strap, and a skirt projecting from the opposite face of said strap, said skirt in a relaxed state having an inner surface of diminishing diameter in a direction away from said opposite face whereby location of one of said pipes within said surface is accompanied by outward deformation of said skirt to a diameter greater than that of the associated one of said openings.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 4, wherein each of said inserts includes a radially extending slot whereby the associated one of said pipes may be laterally received therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said inserts includes a radially extending slot whereby the associated one of said pipes may be laterally received therein.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination of claim 6 wherein said skirt comprises spaced apart coaxial inner and outer sleeves, and radially directed webs connecting said sleeves.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 140 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing permanently in position a pair of pipes located adjacent a pair of building studs, said locator and support comprising: an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower edges, and further having a first plurality of longitudinally aligned openings extending the full length of said strap and located between said upper and lower edges for receiving said pipes, said first plurality of openings being spaced apart by a predetermined distance wherein said pipes are alignable and in registration therewith, said elongated supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length, said strap further having a second plurality of openings extending the full length of said strap; and fastener means adapted to extend through said second plurality of openings for permanently fastening said strap to said building studs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 140 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing permanently in position a pair of pipes located adjacent a pair of building studs, said locator and support comprising: an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower edges, and further having a first plurality of longitudinally aligned openings extending the full length of said strap and located between said upper and lower edges for receiving said pipes, said first plurality of openings being spaced apart by a predetermined distance wherein said pipes are alignable and in registration therewith, said elongated supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length, said strap further having a second plurality of openings extending the full length of said strap; and fastener means adapted to extend through said second plurality of openings for permanently fastening said strap to said building studs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 10 wherein said first plurality of openings in said strap are laterally open whereby said pipes may be laterally received therein.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 10 and including means adapted to fix said pipes within a pair of said first plurality of openings, said means comprising cylindrical inserts adapted to fit within said pair of openings and centrally receive said pipes.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 95 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 12 wherein each of said inserts is characterized by a flange for engagement upon one face of said strap, and a skirt for projection from the opposite face of said strap, said skirt in a relaxed state having an inner surface of diminishing diameter in a direction away from said opposite face whereby location of one of said pipes within said surface is accompanied by outward deformation of said skirt to a diameter greater than that of the associated one of said pair of openings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 13 wherein each of said inserts includes a radially extending slot whereby the associated one of said pipes may be laterally received therein.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 13 wherein said skirt comprises spaced apart coaxial inner and outer sleeves, and radially directed webs connecting said sleeves.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 205 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing in position at least one pipe adjacent fixed building structure, said pipe locator and support comprising: a supporting strap having opposite flat faces and means for securement of said strap to said building structure, said strap further having at least a pair of openings spaced apart by a predetermined distance, said supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length; and a circumferentially discontinuous insert having an annular flange and a cylindrical skirt, said skirt being freely movable into at least one of said openings to seat said flange against an adjacent face of said supporting strap, said insert further having a central bore terminating in a flange end and a skirt end and axially tapering from a maximum diameter adjacent said flange end to a minimum diameter adjacent said skirt end whereby forcible insertion into said bore of a pipe having an exterior diameter approximating the diameter of said flange end spreads and flares said skirt for tightly gripping said pipe adjacent said skirt end and thereby constraining said pipe against axial movement, and for tightly engaging the margins of said opening and thereby constraining said insert against axial movement.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 205 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support for precisely and rigidly fixing in position at least one pipe adjacent fixed building structure, said pipe locator and support comprising: a supporting strap having opposite flat faces and means for securement of said strap to said building structure, said strap further having at least a pair of openings spaced apart by a predetermined distance, said supporting strap adapted to be dimensioned to a predetermined elongated length; and a circumferentially discontinuous insert having an annular flange and a cylindrical skirt, said skirt being freely movable into at least one of said openings to seat said flange against an adjacent face of said supporting strap, said insert further having a central bore terminating in a flange end and a skirt end and axially tapering from a maximum diameter adjacent said flange end to a minimum diameter adjacent said skirt end whereby forcible insertion into said bore of a pipe having an exterior diameter approximating the diameter of said flange end spreads and flares said skirt for tightly gripping said pipe adjacent said skirt end and thereby constraining said pipe against axial movement, and for tightly engaging the margins of said opening and thereby constraining said insert against axial movement.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

A universal plumbing pipe locator and support according to claim 16 wherein said skirt comprises spaced apart coaxial inner and outer sleeves, and radially directed webs connecting said sleeves.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-11-04	1989-05-06	1989-11-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-11-04	1993-05-06	1993-11-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-11-04	1997-05-06	1997-11-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Universal plumbing pipe locator and support

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