Unitized seismic bracket

Abstract

A seismic brace having a brace arm for fastening to a support rod on one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end, is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it by a base bracket hinged to the brace arm and a locking bracket hinged to the brace arm or the base bracket to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle with one slot offset form the other by ninety degrees (90°).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A brace to prevent sway between a support and a structure during movement of the structure and support from seismic activity, the brace comprising: 
       a brace arm having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to extend from the support, and the second end is adapted to connect the brace arm to an element which is connected to the structure;  
       a base bracket, having a first and second end, flexibly and permanently attached  hinged to the first end of the brace arm by its first end, said base bracket having an opening extending from an edge towards a center of the base bracket; and  
       a locking bracket, having a first and second end, flexibly and permanently attached  hinged to the second end of the base bracket by its first end, said locking bracket having an opening therein extending from an edge towards a center of the locking bracket, whereby when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket, the opening of the locking bracket and the base bracket form an opening which is adapted to completely enclose the support.  
     
     
       2. The brace of  claim 1  wherein the opening in said base bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the main axis of the slot is at ninety degrees to the main axis of the slot in the base bracket . 
     
     
       3. The brace of  claim 1  wherein the base bracket is flexibly and permanently  attached to the brace arm by a hinge arrangement formed out of the base bracket and brace arm, and wherein the locking bracket and base bracket are flexibly and permanently  attached by a hinge arrangement formed out of the locking bracket and base bracket. 
     
     
       4. The brace of  claim 3  wherein the opening in said base bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the main axis of the slot is at ninety degrees to the main axis of the slot in the base bracket. 
     
     
       5. A brace to prevent sway between  A seismic brace for use with a support and a structure during movement of the structure and support from seismic activity , the brace comprising: 
       a brace arm having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to extend from the support, and the second end is adapted to connect the brace arm to an element which is connected to the structure;  
       a base bracket, having a first and second end, flexibly and permanently attached  hinged to the first end of the brace arm, by its first end, said base bracket having an opening extending from an edge towards a center of the base bracket; and  
       a locking bracket, having a first end and second end, flexibly and permanently attached  hinged to the first end of the brace arm, by its first end said base  locking bracket having an opening extending from an edge towards a center of the locking bracket;  
       wherein when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket, the opening of the locking bracket an the opening of the base bracket form an opening which is adapted to completely enclose the support.  
     
     
       6. The brace of  claim 5  wherein the opening in said base bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the main axis at ninety degrees to the main axis of the slot in the base bracket . 
     
     
       7. The brace of  claim 5  wherein the base bracket is flexibly and permanently  attached to the brace arm by a hinge arrangement formed out of the base bracket and brace arm, and wherein the locking bracket and brace arm are flexibly and permanently  attached by a hinge arrangement formed out of the locking bracket and brace arm. 
     
     
       8. The brace of  claim 7  wherein the opening in said base bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the main axis of the slot in the locking bracket is at ninety degrees to the main axis of the slot in the base bracket. 
     
     
       9. The brace of claim  7   5 further comprising a clasp at the second end of the locking bracket to engage the second end of the base bracket. 
     
     
       10. The brace of  claim 9  wherein the opening in said base bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the opening in said locking bracket is a slot having a width wherein the width is adapted to be slightly larger than the diameter of the support and wherein the main axis at ninety degrees to the main axis of the slot in the base brackets . 
     
     
       11. A seismic brace for use with a support and a structure, the brace comprising: 
       
         a brace arm having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to extend from the support, and the second end is adapted to connect the brace arm to an element which is connected to the structure;  
       
       
         a base bracket having a first and second end flexibly attached to the first end of the brace arm by its first end, said base bracket formed to partially surround the support; and,  
       
       
         a locking bracket having a first and second end flexibly attached to the first end of the brace arm by its first end, said locking bracket formed to partially surround the support;  
       
       
         wherein when the locking bracket overlaps the base bracket, the locking bracket and the base bracket form an opening which is adapted to enclose the support.