Ceiling hanger and method of using same

Abstract

The present invention comprises a collapsible hanger for supporting, among other things, cables from the ceiling of mines. The collapsible hangers of the present invention allow the cables to fall to the floor when tension, pressure, and/or weight is applied to the hangers, either directly or indirectly.

1 . A method of suspending and releasing a cable from a ceiling comprising the steps of:
 providing a hanger having an upper hook, at least one lower hook;
 and a connecting member that connects the upper hook to the at least one lower hook; 
   installing the upper hook of the hanger into the ceiling;   placing the cable within the at least one lower hook to suspend the cable from the ceiling; and   plastically deforming the hanger to release the suspended cable from the hanger.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of installing the upper hook into the ceiling comprises the steps of (i) attaching a ceiling plate to the ceiling and (ii) attaching the upper hook to the ceiling plate. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of installing the upper hook into the ceiling further comprises the step of (iii) connecting the connecting member to the upper hook. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of installing the hanger into the ceiling further comprising the step of (iv) connecting the at least one lower hook to the connecting member. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of plastically deforming the hanger further comprises the step of plastically deforming the at least one lower hook. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of plastically deforming the hanger further comprises the step of plastically deforming the connecting member. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of plastically deforming the hanger further comprises the step of plastically deforming the upper hook. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of leaving a portion of the upper hook in the ceiling after the cable is released. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of leaving the upper hook connected remains in a roof plate when tension is applied to the cable. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of plastically deforming the hanger further comprises the step of applying tension to the suspended cable to break the hanger. 
     
     
         11 . A hanger for carrying an overhead cable used in a mine, the hanger designed to intentionally break and release the cable from the hanger, the hanger comprising:
 an upper hook that securely hangs from a ceiling of the mine;   at least one lower hook that carries and supports the cable; and   a connecting member operably disposed between the upper hook and the at least one lower hook to form interconnecting members of the hanger,   wherein one or more of the interconnecting members of the hanger break to release the cable and facilitate safe removal of the cable from the mine when tension or pressure is applied to the lower hook by the cable.   
     
     
         12 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the broken interconnecting member is the at least one lower hook. 
     
     
         13 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the broken interconnecting member is the connecting member. 
     
     
         14 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the broken interconnecting member is the upper hook. 
     
     
         15 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , further comprising one or more chain links being connected to the upper hook and the connecting member. 
     
     
         16 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the upper hook comprises a distal end being attachable to the connecting member and a proximal end being attachable to the ceiling. 
     
     
         17 . The hanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one lower hook and the connecting member are formed from a single piece of plastically deformable material, wherein a distal end of the single piece of plastically deformable material is formed into a loop disposed about the distal end of the upper hook and a proximal end of the single piece of plastically deformable is formed into the at least one lower hook. 
     
     
         18 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , further comprising only one chain link directly connected to the upper hook and the connecting member. 
     
     
         19 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the interconnecting members are formed from a single piece of plastically deformable, and further wherein the at least lower hook is formed into two hooks by cutting in half a proximal end of the single piece of plastically deformable and by bending the halved proximal ends outward. 
     
     
         20 . The hanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one lower hook and the connecting member are formed from a single piece of plastically deformable, wherein the connecting member is defined in a mid-section of the single piece of plastically deformable and formed into a loop disposed about a distal end of the upper hook and each end of the single piece of plastically deformable is formed into one hook of the at least one lower hook.