Adjustable hanger bracket assembly

Abstract

An adjustable hanger bracket and bracket assembly for tubular members. The assembly includes a longitudinally extendable span member arranged to be fastened to facing sides of laterally spaced supporting members, such as horizontally disposed joists or vertically positioned wall studs. Longitudinally adjustable brackets slidably engage the external surface of the slidably adjustable span member to support tubing or piping sections which may be positioned between adjacent studs or joists.

1 . An adjustable hanger bracket assembly for supporting an object positioned between a pair of spaced apart stationary support members, said assembly comprising: 
 an elongated longitudinally extendable, span member, said span member having a first segment and a second segment, said second segment overlaying and being longitudinally slidable relative to said first segment, each of said segments having a distal end including means for securing its respective segment to a respective one of said pair of stationary support members; and    at least one clamping member for supporting said object, said clamping member including a base and at least one pair of bifurcated arms laterally extending from said base, said bifurcated arms being of resilient material and being configured to surround and to releasably grasp an exposed surface of a segment of said span member.    
   
   
       2 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the segments of said span member are each of substantially identical cross-sectional configuration, and wherein each segment includes an elongated base portion and oppositely disposed, angularly bent apron portions, and further wherein the apron portions of said second segment include a distal marginal edge portion laterally extending beyond the marginal edge of the respective apron portions of said first segment and being bent inwardly to wrap around and slidably receive the marginal edges of the respective apron portions of said first segment.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said supported object is a tube having a cylindrical outer surface, and wherein said clamping member releasably supports said object.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  further including a second pair of bifurcated arms including inwardly curved surfaces arranged to releasably receive said object.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said bifurcated arms are further formed with a protuberance at their respective distal ends for snap-in-place reception of the exposed surface of said segment.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket assembly of  claim 4  wherein the second pair of bifurcated arms are further formed with a protuberance at their respective distal ends for snap-in-place reception of said object.  
   
   
       7 . An adjustable bracket for supporting an object along a span member comprising: 
 a base supporting first and second oppositely extending pairs of bifurcated arms for releasably and adjustably supporting said object on said span member;    said first pair of bifurcated arms including inwardly curved surfaces arranged to receive and embrace the surface of said object; and    said second pair of said bifurcated arms including inwardly facing surfaces arranged to receive and to grasp an exposed surface of said span member.    
   
   
       8 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 7  wherein said first pair of bifurcated arms are further formed with a protuberance at their respective distal ends for snap-in-place reception of said object.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 7  wherein said second pair of bifurcated arms are further formed with a protuberance at their respective distal ends for snap-in-place reception of said span member.  
   
   
       10 . The bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein said clamping member is formed from a single, integrally molded, resilient plastic material.  
   
   
       11 . The bracket assembly of  claim 10  wherein the plastic material contains Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene.