Accessory hanger
View Patent ↗The technology includes an accessory hanger that allows a horizontally mounted pipe to be supported from an adjacent vertically mounted pipe. A pipe-mounted coupler mounts on the vertically configured pipe end to allow one or more accessory connections to be affixed to a vertical rectangular extrusion. Channel openings and channel walls on the accessory hanger are mated with the grooves on the pipe-mounted coupler creating a clamped, friction mating such that the accessory hanger is securely fastened to the pipe-mounted coupler. The accessory hanger has a hook or other circular section that is affixed to the channel walls to support a substantially cylindrical, horizontally mounted pipe or tube. The circular section may snap around the pipe and secure the pipe in place.
1 . An accessory hanger to mount to pipe-mounted couplers, comprising:
a vertical portion transitioning downward into an upwardly opening semi-circular body, the vertical portion comprising an exterior surface facing away from the upwardly opening semi-circular body, the exterior surface comprising:
a concave shape configured to conform to an exterior surface of a pipe-mounted coupler; and
a wedge extending outward from the exterior surface, the wedge comprising:
a top wedge surface comprising a top width greater than a bottom width of a bottom wedge surface, and
side surfaces tapering inward toward the exterior surface,
wherein the accessory hanger is configured to support a horizontal pipe by affixing the wedge to an opening in the pipe-mounted coupler and inserting the horizontal pipe into the upwardly opening semi-circular body.
2 . The accessory hanger of claim 1 , the semi-circular body extending greater than 180 degrees to secure a portion of the horizontal pipe enclosed within the accessory hanger.
3 . The accessory hanger of claim 1 , the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger deformable to accept a portion of the horizontal pipe.
4 . The accessory hanger of claim 3 , the semi-circular body configured to conform to an outer surface of the portion of the horizontal pipe to secure the horizontal pipe within the accessory hanger.
5 . The accessory hanger of claim 1 , the semi-circular body comprising a deformable material.
6 . The accessory hanger of claim 5 , the deformable material comprising one or more of a plastic, a fiberglass-embedded nylon, or a rubber.
7 . A method to mount an accessory hanger to a coupler, comprising:
affixing an accessory hanger to a coupler, the accessory hanger comprising:
a vertical portion transitioning downward into an upwardly opening semi-circular body, the vertical portion comprising an exterior surface facing away from the upwardly opening semi-circular body, the exterior surface comprising:
a concave shape configured to conform to an exterior surface of the coupler; and
a wedge extending outward from the exterior surface, the wedge comprising:
a top wedge surface comprising a top width greater than a bottom width of a bottom wedge surface, and
side surfaces tapering inward toward the exterior surface,
wherein the accessory hanger, when the wedge is mated with an upwardly opening slot in the coupler, is affixed to the coupler,
extending an opposing end of the accessory hanger such that a diameter of the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger increases; and
inserting a pipe into the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger with the increased diameter, wherein the diameter of the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger decreases to correspond with an outer diameter of the pipe securing the pipe within the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the semi-circular body extends greater than 180 degrees and is configured to secure a portion of the pipe to be enclosed within the accessory hanger.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein extending the opposing end of the accessory hanger comprises deforming the semi-circular body to accept the portion of the pipe.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the semi-circular body conforms to an outer surface of the portion of the pipe securing the pipe within the accessory hanger.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein extending the opposing end of the accessory hanger comprises:
positioning the pipe above the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger; and
applying a downward force on the pipe to secure the pipe within the semi-circular body of the accessory hanger.
12 . An accessory hanging system comprising:
an accessory hanger comprising:
a vertical portion transitioning downward into an upwardly opening semi-circular body, the vertical portion comprising an exterior surface facing away from the upwardly opening semi-circular body, the exterior surface comprising:
a concave shape configured to conform to an exterior surface of a pipe-mounted coupler; and
a wedge extending outward from the exterior surface of the semi-circular body, the wedge comprising:
a top wedge surface comprising a top width greater than a bottom width of a bottom wedge surface, and
side surfaces tapering inward toward the exterior surface;
the pipe-mounted coupler; and
a horizontal pipe.
13 . The accessory hanging system of claim 12 , the pipe-mounted coupler comprising an upper region, the upper region encompassing an upwardly opening well formed within a body of the upper region, the upwardly opening well of the upper region defining a plurality of upwardly opening slots.
14 . The accessory hanging system of claim 13 , each of the plurality of upwardly openings slots comprising an upper dimension greater than a lower dimension forming a V shape.
15 . The accessory hanging system of claim 14 , the V shape of the wedge configured to mate with the V shape of an upwardly opening slot of the plurality of upwardly openings slots to secure the accessory hanger to the pipe-mounted coupler.
16 . The accessory hanging system of claim 13 , each of the plurality of upwardly openings slots comprising an upper dimension greater than a lower dimension.
17 . The accessory hanging system of claim 14 , the wedge configured to mate with an upwardly opening slot of the plurality of upwardly openings slots to secure the accessory hanger to the pipe-mounted coupler.