Ceiling hanger clip

Abstract

A clip is formed from sheet stock and has first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion forms a tab for attaching the clip to an overhead. The second end portion forms a U-bend channel for carrying a wire on the clip. The tab extends transversely away from a first upper end of the U-bend channel. The clip has a first prong and a second prong. The first prong partly blocks a first lateral end of the U-bend channel and is spaced apart from the first lateral end of the U-bend channel adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the first prong and the first lateral end of the U-bend channel. The second prong partly blocks a second lateral end of the U-bend channel. The second prong is spaced apart from the second lateral end of the U-bend channel adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the second prong and the second lateral end of the U-bend channel. The first prong and the second prong lean toward a bottom end of the U-bend channel to obstruct removal of a wire element positioned in the channel. The clip may be shipped separately from the wire element to avoid entanglements and assembled on site.

1 . A clip which is formed from sheet stock and has first end portion and a second end portion, 
 said first end portion forming a tab for attaching the clip to an overhead,    said second end portion forming a U-bend channel for carrying a wire on the clip,    the tab extending transversely away from a first upper end of the U-bend channel,    said clip having a first prong and a second prong,    said first prong partly blocking a first lateral end of the U-bend channel and being spaced apart from the first lateral end of the U-bend channel adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the first prong and the first lateral end of the U-bend channel,    said second prong partly blocking a second lateral end of the U-bend channel and being spaced apart from the second lateral end of the U-bend channel adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the second prong and the second lateral end of the U-bend channel,    said first prong and said second prong leaning toward a bottom end of the U-bend channel to obstruct removal of a wire element positioned in the channel.    
   
   
       2 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein a second upper end of the U-bend channel is generally T-shaped, defining a first arm and a second arm, and the first prong extends from the first arm.  
   
   
       3 . A clip as in  claim 2  wherein the second prong extends from near the first upper end of the U-bend channel.  
   
   
       4 . A clip as in  claim 3  wherein the first prong terminates at a position spaced apart from an edge of the tab adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the end of the first prong and the edge of the tab.  
   
   
       5 . A clip as in  claim 4  wherein the second prong terminates at a position spaced apart from the second arm of the T adequately to permit passage of a wire element between the end of the second prong and the second arm of the T.  
   
   
       6 . A clip as in  claim 5  wherein the tab has an upper surface which forms a depression deep enough to at least substantially contain a fastener point, to permit the clip to carry a fastener without interference from the point of the fastener when the clip is positioned against an overhead surface.  
   
   
       7 . A clip as in  claim 5  wherein the first prong and the second prong extend substantially all the way across the U bend channel.  
   
   
       8 . A clip as in  claim 6  wherein the channel has a lower surface which forms a ridge extending from the first upper end of the U-bend channel to the second upper end of the U-bend channel.  
   
   
       9 . A clip as in  claim 8  further comprising, in combination, a nail carried by the tab, with the point of the nail being at least substantially contained in the depression.  
   
   
       10 . A clip as in  claim 9  wherein the nail further comprises a propellant head element.  
   
   
       11 . A clip as in  claim 10  further comprising, in combination, a wire element having an end loop, said end loop being positioned in the channel.  
   
   
       12 . A clip as in  claim 8  further comprising, in combination, an overhead, a nail passing through the tab of the clip and attaching the clip to the overhead, a ceiling frame element, and a wire element having an end loop, said end loop positioned in the channel of the clip, said wire element fastened to the ceiling frame element.  
   
   
       13 . A method for hanging a ceiling frame element, said method comprising 
 providing a clip as in  claim 1 ,    providing a wire element having an end loop,    positioning the end loop of the wire element in the channel of the clip,    attaching the clip to an overhead,    providing a ceiling frame element, and    fastening the wire element to the ceiling frame element to hang the ceiling frame element from the overhead.    
   
   
       14 . A method for hanging a ceiling frame element, said method comprising 
 providing a clip as in  claim 9 ,    providing a wire element having an end loop,    positioning the end loop of the wire element in the channel of the clip,    positioning the nail in a nail gun adapted for same,    positioning the clip against an overhead,    firing the nail gun to secure the clip to the overhead with the nail,    providing a ceiling frame element, and    fastening the wire element to the ceiling frame element to hang the ceiling frame element from the overhead.    
   
   
       15 . A method for hanging a ceiling frame element, said method comprising 
 providing a clip-wire element combination as in  claim 11 ,    positioning the propellant head in a nail gun adapted for same,    positioning the clip-wire element combination against an overhead,    firing the nail gun to secure the clip-wire element combination to the overhead with the nail,    providing a ceiling frame element, and    fastening the wire element to the ceiling frame element to hang the ceiling frame element from the overhead.