Break-apart flue support strut and attachment strap

Abstract

An exhaust flue support includes an elongate flue strut having a non-flat channel portion integral with a flat portion; and a mounting strap, these parts formed from a common piece of sheet metal and joined together by plural frangible tabs whereby the strap is easily broken away from the strut. The strap has fastening elements for joining the opposing ends. The flat portion of the strut provides a bendable tab capable of joining the strut to the strap when the strap encircles an exhaust flue.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT [0003] Not applicable. INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC [0004] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”[0005] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0006] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure [0007] This disclosure relates generally to the support of exhaust flue pipes and vents and more particularly to an apparatus capable of providing connected but easily broken apart sheet metal portions for supporting such conduits with an elongate strut and companion strap. [0008] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 [0009] Reynoso, U.S., Des 257947 discloses a design for a bracket for mounting a heater vent pipe between joists and rafters. Williamson, U.S. 851720 discloses a flue support cons...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The prior art described above as well as common practice in the construction trades provides methods and means for securing flue vents and pipes of all types. However there does not appear in the prior art to be a cost effective and convenient to use standoff strut that is able to be mounted to almost any surface and joined to a flue by a simple strap with a connection that does not require hardware to join the strut to the strap. The present invention provides such an apparatus and overcomes the jury-rigging approaches in common practice. Described herein is an exhaust flue support apparatus made up of an elongate flue supporting strut and companion strap. Both of these elements are fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal and are joined by frangible tabs for easily breaking them apart. In one embodiment, several of these two-part assemblies are made from a single piece of sheet metal and are packaged and sold as a group of flue support struts with attached straps for use as needed. The fact that the parts are made at the same time by the same processes of forming and punching, and that they are connected as a single sheet enables low cost and simplified inventorying and convenient carrying to the job site, setting at the job site, i.e. standing it up vertically to take up almost no floor space room when in tight quarters and is therefore an example of a truly significant advance in the art.

[0014] Another objective is to provide a simple flue support strut that has attached to it a removable strap for securing the strut to a flue.

[0016] A still further objective is to provide a set of identical units easily broken away from each other in order to use each one as needed and to conveniently store remaining units for use at a later time.

Problems solved by technology

However there does not appear in the prior art to be a cost effective and convenient to use standoff strut that is able to be mounted to almost any surface and joined to a flue by a simple strap with a connection that does not require hardware to join the strut to the strap.

Images