Bracket and Bracket System for Seismic Cable Sway Bracing System

Abstract

A bracket can be configured for use in a seismic cable sway bracing system to attach a bracing cable to a support structure or to an object to be braced. The bracket can include a base having a base aperture therethrough, and at least one arm integrally formed with and extending from the base. The at least one arm can have an arm aperture therethrough and can be angled upwardly relative to the base to inhibit deformation of the bracket under operating loads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket for use in a seismic cable sway bracing system to attach a bracing cable to a support structure or to an object to be braced, the bracket comprising:
 a base having a base aperture therethrough; and   at least one arm integrally formed with and extending from the base, the at least one arm having an arm aperture therethrough and being angled upwardly at 58° relative to the base to inhibit deformation of the bracket under operating loads.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a first distance is defined along the base and the at least one arm, from a center of the base aperture to an edge of the base opposite the at least one arm, a second distance is defined along the base and the at least one arm, from the center of the base aperture to a center of the arm aperture, and a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is between 1:1.4 and 1:1.6. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the first distance to the second distance is 1:1.45. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the at least one arm are integrally formed from a planar blank. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending from the base at a position that is rotated 90° relative to the first arm. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a first edge of the at least one arm intersects a first edge of the base at a bend line between the at least one arm and the base; and
 wherein, from a top-view perspective, the first edge of the at least one arm extends tangentially to the first edge of the base at the bend line.   
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter of the at least one arm exhibits a tapered rounding, with the outer perimeter being more rounded distal to the base than proximate to the base. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein an inner edge of the arm aperture is at least partly rounded. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 8 , wherein a distal portion of the inner edge, relative to the base, is rounded, and a proximal portion of the inner edge, relative to the base, is flat. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a bracket for use in a seismic cable sway bracing system to attach a bracing cable to a support structure or to an object to be braced, the method comprising:
 forming a planar blank with a base portion, a first arm portion, and a second arm portion;   forming a base aperture in the base portion, a first-arm aperture in the first arm portion, and a second-arm aperture in the second arm portion; and   bending each of the first and second arm portions upwardly to an angle of 58° relative to the base portion, to dispose the first and second arm portions to receive, respectively, first and second bracing cables.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 forming rounded edges of the first-arm and second-arm apertures to inhibit abrasion of the first and second bracing cables.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the planar blank is formed with a first distance from a center of the base aperture to an edge of the base portion that is opposite the first arm portion, and with a second distance from the center of the base aperture to a center of the first-arm aperture; and
 wherein a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is between 1:1.4 and 1:1.6.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 forming rounded edges at distal portions the first and second arm portions, relative to the base portion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second arm portions are formed to retain flat edges proximate to the base portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the planar blank is formed with a first edge of the first arm portion and a second edge of the second arm portion that intersect, respectively, first and second edges of the base portion at a first and second intersection points; and
 wherein, from a top-view perspective, the first edge of the first arm portion extends tangentially to the first edge of the base portion at the first intersection point and the second edge of the second arm portion extends tangentially to the second edge of the base portion at the second intersection point.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein bending the first and second arm portions includes bending the first arm portion at the first intersection point and bending the second arm portion at the second intersection point. 
     
     
         17 . A bracket system for a seismic cable sway bracing system to brace an object with first and second bracing cables and a mounting fastener, the bracket system comprising:
 a first bracket including:
 a first planar base that includes a first base aperture to receive the mounting fastener; and 
 a first planar arm that is integrally formed with the first planar base, extends at an angle of 58° relative to the first planar base, and includes a first arm aperture to receive the first bracing cable; and 
   a second bracket including:
 a second planar base that includes a second base aperture to receive the mounting fastener; and 
 a second planar arm that is integrally formed with the second planar base, extends at an angle of 58° relative to the second planar base, and includes a second arm aperture to receive the second bracing cable, 
   the first bracket being stacked with the second bracket to be secured together to the object by the mounting fastener, with the first planar arm rotationally offset from the second planar arm.   
     
     
         18 . The bracket system of  claim 17 , wherein an outer edge of each of the first and second planar arms is rounded over a portion of the outer edge that is distal to the first and second planar base, respectively; and
 wherein an inner edge of each of the first and second arm apertures is rounded over a portion of the inner edge that is distal to the first and second planar base, respectively.   
     
     
         19 . The bracket system of  claim 17 , wherein a first edge of the first planar arm intersects a first edge of the first planar base at a first bend line between the first planar arm and the first planar base;
 wherein a second edge of the second planar arm intersects a second edge of the second planar base at a second bend line between the second planar arm and the second planar base;   wherein, from a top-view perspective, the first edge of the first planar arm extends tangentially to the first edge of the first planar base at the first bend line; and   wherein, from a top-view perspective, the second edge of the second planar arm extends tangentially to the second edge of the second planar base at the second bend line.   
     
     
         20 . The bracket system of  claim 19 , wherein, with the first bracket stacked with the second bracket, the second edge of the second planar base extends along, and in parallel with, the first bend line.