Hanger System

Abstract

A hanger can be configured to support an object, such as a pipe, relative to a structure. The hanger can include a blocking arm configured to block vertical movement of the object, when the object is supported by the hanger.

1 . A hanger to support an object relative to a structure, the hanger comprising:
 a saddle at least partly defining an interior area of the hanger that is configured to receive and support the object;   a top portion configured to connect the saddle to the structure; and   a blocking arm that is moveable to a first orientation to admit the object into the interior area, and to a second orientation in which the blocking arm blocks vertical movement of the object within the interior area.   
     
     
         2 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein a first side of the saddle includes a first opening; and
 wherein, in the first orientation, a first end of blocking arm extends through the first opening to outside of the interior area.   
     
     
         3 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein, in the second orientation, the first end of the blocking arm extends through the first opening to the outside of the interior area by a smaller distance than in the first orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein a second side of the saddle includes a second opening;
 wherein, in the first orientation, a second end of the blocking arm is clear of the second opening and the second side of the saddle; and   wherein, in the second orientation, the second end of the blocking arm extends into the second opening.   
     
     
         5 . The hanger of  claim 4 , wherein, in the second orientation, the blocking arm engages the saddle at the second opening to provide a load path to support the object relative to the structure, the load path extending between a bottom of the saddle and the top portion of the hanger. 
     
     
         6 . The hanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a leg connected to the blocking arm;   wherein the leg pivots relative to the top portion of the hanger to admit the object into the interior area.   
     
     
         7 . The hanger of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a catch arm extending outside of the interior area to receive the object and direct the object into the interior area.   
     
     
         8 . The hanger of  claim 7 , wherein a top end of the leg is pivotally secured to the top portion of the hanger; and
 wherein the catch arm is integrally formed with the saddle and is configured to receive the object on a top surface of the catch arm to direct the object into the interior area.   
     
     
         9 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein, with the object supported by the saddle and with the blocking arm in the second orientation, the blocking arm blocks upward movement of the object within the interior area. 
     
     
         10 . A hanger to support an object relative to a structure, the hanger comprising:
 a saddle configured to receive and support the object relative to the structure, the saddle at least partly defining an interior area of the hanger;   a leg configured to pivot relative to the saddle, from a first orientation to a second orientation, to admit the object into the interior area; and   a blocking arm connected to the leg;   the blocking arm being disposed to block vertical movement of the object within the interior area when the object is supported by the saddle and the leg is in the first orientation; and   the blocking arm being disposed to admit the object into the interior area when the leg is in the second orientation.   
     
     
         11 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein a first side of the saddle includes a first opening; and
 wherein, with the leg in the first orientation, the blocking arm extends through the first opening to outside of the interior area.   
     
     
         12 . The hanger of  claim 11 , wherein a second side of the saddle includes a second opening;
 wherein, with the leg in the first orientation, at least one of the blocking arm and the leg extends into the second opening; and   wherein, with the leg in the second orientation, the blocking arm and the leg are clear of the second opening and the second side of the saddle.   
     
     
         13 . The hanger of  claim 12 , wherein, with the leg in the first orientation, one or more of the blocking arm and the leg engages the saddle at the second opening to provide a load path to support the object relative to the structure, the load path extending from the saddle through the leg. 
     
     
         14 . The hanger of  claim 13 , wherein the load path is a first load path; and
 wherein a second load path to support the object relative to the structure extends along a different side of the interior area than the first load path.   
     
     
         15 . The hanger of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a hook at a junction between the leg and the blocking arm;   wherein the hook engages the saddle at the second opening to provide the load path.   
     
     
         16 . The hanger of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a catch arm extending outside of the interior area to receive the object and direct the object into the interior area;   wherein the hook engages the saddle at a junction between the catch arm and the saddle.   
     
     
         17 . The hanger of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a top portion configured to support the saddle relative to the structure;   wherein the leg is pivotally secured to the top portion at a top end of the leg in order to pivot relative to the saddle; and   wherein, in the second orientation, a bottom end of the leg is disposed within the interior area.   
     
     
         18 . A hanger to support an object relative to a structure, the hanger comprising:
 a fixed portion that at least partly defines an interior area of the hanger to support the object relative to the structure; and   a moving portion that pivots into the interior area, to an open position, to admit the object into the hanger from a lateral side of the hanger,   the fixed portion including a catch arm that extends laterally beyond the moving portion, when the moving portion is in the open position, to guide the object into the interior area; and   the moving portion including a blocking arm that extends into the interior area, when the moving portion is in a closed position, to block vertical movement of the object within the interior area.   
     
     
         19 . The hanger of  claim 18 , wherein, when the object is admitted into the hanger and the moving portion is in the closed position, a load path to support the object against gravity extends from the fixed portion through the moving portion. 
     
     
         20 . The hanger of  claim 18 , wherein the catch arm and the blocking arm are substantially aligned, at an edge of the interior area, when the moving portion is in the closed position.