Universal structural attachment for seismic brace

Abstract

A structural attachment fitting for bracing includes a clamp, and a bracket pivotally coupled to the clamp. The structural attachment fitting is part of a sway brace assembly for providing sway bracing for a conduit, pipe, or other system. The clamp is a generally C-shape clamp having a slot for receiving different types of sway braces, such as pipe, angle, or strut. The slot has multiple sections or parts configured to receive different thicknesses of material. A lower leg of the clamp may have a rounded top surface that better engages a pipe used as a sway brace. A set screw of the clamp is tightened to presses the sway brace against a step on the lower leg of the clamp. The set screw is angled toward a closed end of the slot. The pressing of the set screw tip against the sway brace deforms the sway brace material.

1 . A seismic brace structure attachment fitting comprising:
 a seismic brace clamp that includes:
 a main body; and 
 an upper leg and a lower leg attached to the main body; and 
   a bracket pivotally coupled to the clamp;   wherein the upper leg and the lower leg define a slot therebetween; and   wherein the slot includes a pair of slot portions configured for receiving objects of different thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein one of the slot portions has a substantially constant height over its length; and   wherein the other of the slot portions is tapered, having a height that changes over at least part of its length.   
     
     
         3 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 1  wherein the slot portions having different respective heights. 
     
     
         4 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the clamp includes a set screw engaged in a threaded hole in the upper leg; and   wherein a tip of the set screw that is along an axis of the set screw may be moved into the slot by rotating the set screw, to engage and hold a sway brace in the slot.   
     
     
         5 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 4 , wherein the axis of the set screw is angled toward the main body, with the tip toward the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 5 , wherein the axis of the set screw is at an angle of 65 to 75 degrees relative to the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 4 , wherein the lower leg has a step on an upper surface. 
     
     
         8 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 7 , wherein the step is located along the upper surface within 0.2 inches (5.1 mm) of an axis of the set screw. 
     
     
         9 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 7 , wherein the step is closer to the main body than is where the axis is closest to the step. 
     
     
         10 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 7 , wherein the lower leg also has a rounded portion on the upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the rounded portion is a pipe-receiving surface. 
     
     
         12 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the slot portions have respective stops. 
     
     
         13 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the slot portions include a relatively thin slot portion and a relatively thick slot portion; and   wherein the relatively thin slot portion that has a height that is less than a height of that of the relatively thick slot portion.   wherein the stop of the relatively thick slot portion is a curved surface on the upper leg that urges thin objects into the relatively thin slot portion.   
     
     
         14 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 13 , wherein the stop of the relatively thick slot portion is a slope wall of the relatively thin slot portion. 
     
     
         15 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket includes:
 a bracket body with a mounting hole; and 
 an arm attached to the bracket body at an obtuse angle to the bracket body; and 
   wherein the arm is coupled to the main body of the clamp using a fastener passing through holes in the arm and the main body.   
     
     
         16 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the bracket body includes a tab; and   wherein the tab and the arm are on opposite sides of the mounting hole in the bracket body.   
     
     
         17 . The structure attachment fitting of  claim 15 , wherein a center of the clamp is substantially in line with an axis of the mounting hole in the bracket body. 
     
     
         18 . A method of seismic bracing comprising:
 attaching a seismic brace to a seismic brace clamp, wherein the attaching includes:
 inserting the seismic brace into one of a pair of slot portions, configured for receiving objects of different thickness, between upper and lower legs of the seismic brace clamp; and 
 tightening a set screw against the seismic brace; and 
   coupling the seismic brace clamp to building structure, using a bracket that is pivotally coupled to the clamp.