The present invention relates to a device which may be utilised to retain one or more other parts in a fixed position. Embodiments of the invention find particular use within a suspension system. Such a suspension system is typically used in connection with pipe or cable networks which are suspended from a ceiling or from a bracket on a wall or other upright surface.

Such a system, known in the prior art, typically comprises a system of brackets, mounting points and rods, connected between the pipe/cable or tray carrying the pipe/cable, and the support. Such networks are frequently found in basements, cellars, ceiling voids and the like. The pipes in question may be used for conveying water, waste, gas or any other fluid which needs to be carried from one point to another in a building. The cable may be power, data, fibre optic or otherwise signal or power cable.

In the prior art, pipe support brackets are attached around a pipe and a coupling point located at the top of the bracket is connected to a length of threaded rod which is screwed into the bracket at a first end, and to a support point at a second end. The support point may be in the form of an anchor provided in a ceiling or in the form of a bracket extending from a wall. The anchor in the ceiling may be a specific fastener which is permanently installed in the ceiling, or may be in the form of an attachment to a rail system.

Instead of attaching directly to a pipe, the rod may support a tray which carries pipes and/or cables. The pipes and/or cables may be fastened to the tray. Multiple layers of trays may be provided within a single anchor system.

A particular problem in installing prior art pipe support or hanging systems is that work is performed overhead, which can be strenuous and awkward. The threaded rods which are routinely used to couple the pipe bracket or tray to the support structure require cutting to length using a hacksaw, which often results in sharp portions remaining, which can pose an injury risk to an installer. Screwing in the rods and adding locking bolts is time consuming and awkward.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address shortcomings in the prior art, whether mentioned herein or not.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retaining device comprising a pair of complementary members arranged such that when placed adjacent to each other, the retaining device is substantially annular and relatively elongate and comprises towards a first end thereof an inner circumferential ridge and towards a second end thereof, means for connecting the pair of members.

In an embodiment, an outer circumferential ridge is provided towards the first end.

In an embodiment, the means for connecting the pair of members comprises a circumferential channel arranged to receive a fastening means.

In an embodiment, the fastening means is an O-ring or a spring clip.

In an embodiment, each of the complementary members has a chamfered portion arranged to face a similarly chamfered portion of the other complementary member.

In an embodiment, the chamfered portion is located towards the second end and on an inward facing surface.

In an embodiment, the chamfered portions are arranged such that when means for connecting the pair of members is attached, the retaining device assumes a generally open configuration.

In an embodiment, there is provided a retaining device further comprising a plurality of inner circumferential ridges.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suspension system comprising the retaining device of the first aspect, a receiver arranged to receive the retaining device and a castellated rod.

In an embodiment, there is provided a pipe clamp comprising the retaining device of the first aspect.

In an embodiment, there is provided a first portion arranged to receive the retaining device and a second portion, fastenable to the first portion wherein the first and second portion encircle a pipe.

In an embodiment, there is provided a locking member arranged to lock the pipe clamp and wherein the locking member has a relatively thick portion and relatively thin portion. In an embodiment, there is provided a pipe clamp comprising the retaining device of the first aspect and further comprising a support member comprising a relatively elongate bar with adjacent each end.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a suspension system comprising the steps of: providing a receiver to receive a retaining device; inserting the retaining device into the receiver; inserting a castellated rod into the receiver such that it engages with the retaining device; moving the castellated rod in an opposite direction to the insertion direction; and affixing a locking member between opposed surfaces of the receiver and the retaining device.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figures 1 a and 1 b show an exploded view of a retaining device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an assembled view of the device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a retaining device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows an assembled view of the device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows an assembled view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6 to 9 show a series of views of a retaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention being used in a suspension system; Figure 10 shows a pipe-hanging assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 1 1 (a) and 1 1 (b) show cross-sectional and side views, respectively, of part of the assembly of Figure 10;

Figures 12(a) and 12(b) show plan and side views of a wedge element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 13a-c show a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 shows a collar forming part of an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 15 shows a pipe hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 a shows cross-sectional view of a retaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It comprises a matching pair of members 1 . Figure 1 b shows a plan view from above, revealing that the device 100 comprises matching semi-annular members 1 arranged to form a complete annulus, with a central axial aperture, when assembled.

Each member 1 comprises an inner circumferential ridge 2 adjacent an upper part of the member. The ridge 2 is substantially curved and is arranged to protrude into an inner hollow of the member 1 . The ridge may be continuous or discontinuous i.e. a series of projections.

Each member also comprises an outer circumferential projection 3 which comprises an angled lower portion. The projection may be continuous or discontinuous i.e. a series of projections.

Each member comprises a channel 4 adjacent a lower part of the member. The channel forms a complete circular recess once the two members 1 are placed adjacent each other as shown in Figure 2. An O-ring 10 is provided to sit in the channel 4 and maintain the two members in close proximity for use.

The members are preferably formed from a metal, most preferably steel. They are formed to be fireproof and able to withstand high temperatures and to be mechanically strong.

The O-ring 10 may be formed from a resilient material, preferable a rubber, elastic or silicone material, which enables it to be fitted into the channel 4 and maintain both members 1 in close proximity. Figures 3 and 4 show views analogous to Figures 1 a and 2 of a second embodiment. This embodiment differs in that it does not use an O-ring, but instead uses a split ring 1 1 which serves a similar purpose to the O-ring. The split ring may be formed from a metal, preferably steel and serves to hold the two members 1 in close proximity.

Figure 5 shows a device 101 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This has the same basic structure as the first and second embodiments described so far but comprises a pair of members 1 a which differ from member 1 in that they include an additional inner circumferential ridge 2. The additional ridge 2 is located part way along the inner aperture of the device 101 at a defined distance from the first ridge (shown in Figure 1 a).

All three of the embodiments mentioned feature a chamfered or angled surface 5 on opposed lower faces of each member 1 , 1 a. The chamfered surfaces 5 are provided such that when the two members 1 or 1 a are brought into proximity and the O-ring 10 or split ring 1 1 is attached, then the two members tend to adopt an‘open’ configuration where the upper parts of the two members 1 , 1 a are biased apart from each other, as shown in Figure 6. In the absence of any other force acting on the device, this is the default position of the device 100.

Figure 6 also shows a receiver 200, which is arranged to receive the retaining device 100. The receiver 200 is formed from the same material as the retaining device 100 and is substantially cylindrical with a central aperture to receive the retaining device 100. The aperture is relatively wider at an upper end, and the transition between the lower narrower part and the upper wider part is marked by angled surface 203.

The receiver 200 is arranged to be attached to a supporting surface. The supporting surface may suitably by a ceiling and it may be attached thereto by means of a fastening such as a screw or bolt (not shown) which passes through an upper surface of the receiver 200 and into the supporting surface. A fixing aid such as a plug, anchor or similar may be provided if necessary, to provide a secure fixing. The receiver may, alternatively, be integrally formed with an attachment device so that the entire receiver may be attached to a suitable surface. This may take the form of an integral screw element, for instance. In a still further embodiment, the receiver 200 is arranged to itself be received into a pre-positioned rail system, allowing a plurality of receivers 200 to be positioned in the rail in an elongate manner. Essentially, the receiver may be fastened in any number of ways to a supporting surface, The details of such attachment are intendent of the operation of embodiments of the invention.

In use, the retaining device 100 is inserted into the receiver 200. To do this, the upper parts of the device 100 are pressed towards each other. This requires minimal force and may be provided easily in a manual manner with no tool required. Once in this‘closed’ position, the upper part of the retaining device 100 is inserted into the receiver 200. This is illustrated in Figure 7. Once the upper part of retaining device 100 is inserted, it naturally reverts to the default‘open’ configuration as shown. In this way, the retaining device is temporarily retained loosely within the receiver. It is prevented from falling out by a combination of the force which tends to hold it in the‘open’ position and the cooperation of the outer circumferential projection 3 which comprises an angled lower portion which rests on the angled surface 203.

With the retaining device 100 retained in the receiver, the next step is to introduce castellated rod 300. The rod 300 is elongate and of a width to be accommodated within the retaining device 100. Along at least a part of its length it has alternating protruding portions 302 and recessed or waisted portions 301 .

In order to insert the rod 300 into the retaining device 100, it is necessary to provide sufficient upward force to overcome the biasing force provided by the O-ring 10 or spring clip 1 1 . In this way, the rod penetrates the retaining device and travels upwards until it reaches the upper portion of the receiver 200. Once in this position, the upper parts of the retaining device are forced relatively inwards, towards each other, and the inner circumferential ridge 2 is urged towards the rod 300 and naturally engages with the waisted portion 301 . This is shown in Figure 8.

As can be seem, the two members 1 are now substantially parallel with each other and the retaining device 100 fits snugly around the rod 300, In this configuration, downward force on the rod 300 actually serves to secure the retaining device 100 more securely in position. In order to lock the configuration, locking member 30 is positioned between the opposed lower surfaces of the retaining device 100 and receiver 200 as shown. Locking member 30 is formed in a substantially planar C-shape and is dimensioned to be resiliently deformable and is held in position by its natural resilience. It can be formed from metal, such as steel, for fire-safe applications. In other applications, it can be formed from a plastic material.

As long as there is a steady downward force on the rod 300, it will remain static. The locking member 30 is provided for additional stability and can guard against vibrations.

With the locking member 30 in place, as shown in Figure 9, the relative positions of the various elements is controlled and the rod 300 is fixed relative to the receiver 200.

The elongate rod can then be coupled to the tray, pipe or cable which is to be suspended. In order to couple to e.g. a tray, then the same receiver 200, retaining device 100 and locking member 30 can be used to anchor the distal end of the rod. If the third embodiment 101 of Figure 5 is used, then the additional projections 2 are arranged to engage with adjacent recessed portions 301 of the elongate rod and so provide improved mechanical strength, if required. The spacing between the projections 5 matches the spacing between recesses 301 .

In order to disassemble the arrangement shown in Figure 9, the steps involved in the assembly are effectively reversed. Firstly, the locking member 30 is removed by withdrawing it sideways. This allows a small degree of relative movement between the rod 300 and retaining device 100 on one hand, and the receiver 200 on the other. In order to withdraw the rod 300, the retaining device is urged upwards so that it is fully inserted into the receiver 200. This provides additional space at the upper portion of the receiver, into which the upper parts of retaining device 100 can move as the rod 300 is pulled downwards. During the pulling downwards operation, the retaining device 100 is urged upwards to ensure that the rod 300 can be withdrawn. Once the rod 300 is withdrawn, the retaining device 100 can be simply withdrawn.

The materials selected e.g. steel or other metal, for the retaining device 100, receiver 200 and rod 300 ensure that the entire assembly is fireproof or at least fire resistant. In the event of a fire, the O-ring 10 may perish, but once the assembly is complete as shown in Figure 9, the O- ring serves no structural purpose and is only provided to ease assembly in the first place.

Figure 10 shows a particular use of an embodiment of the present invention, related to a pipehanging system. There are many situations in which a length of pipe is required to be suspended from a surface, such as a ceiling. Such pipe systems may be required to convey liquids, such as water or fuel, gasses, such as natural gas or methane or waste products. The length and diameter of such pipes varies depending upon the particular system.

In prior art installations, threaded rods are typically used which screw into a receiver in the supporting surface and then attach to a collar-like device which encircles the pipe and supports it.

However, in certain situations, especially in the manufacture or processing of food and beverage products, the use of threaded rods is undesirable. In such cases, an embodiment of the invention may find particular utility.

In the manufacture of food and beverage products, it is usually desirable or required to ensure that any pipes are arranged with a particular slope, thereby allowing the contents to flow freely and for them to be maintain a desired flow profile. Typically, for every metre of a run of pipe, 10mm of height must be lost. In other words, the angle of the pipe is approximately 0.6° from the horizontal. This may be expressed as tan ¹ (1/100) * 0.6°.

The view in Figure 10 of the pipe assembly 400 is deliberately exaggerated to illustrate the concept. The distance between the centres of the castellated rods 300 is 1 metre and the height difference between the two distances of the pipe from the supporting surface is 10mm. The height difference can be created by cutting the rod 300 to the desired length. The notches which form the castellated structure can be a useful guide in this regard.

The end of the rod 300 nearest the pipe 410 engages with a retaining device 100, as previously described which is retained in an upper portion 200’ of a pipe clamp which engages with a lower portion 420 which is fastened to the upper portion 200’ by means of a fastener 430 such as a screw, nut, bolt or similar.

The upper 200’ and lower 420 portions completely surround the pipe 410 and grip it firmly in position.

As in the previous embodiments, the retaining device 100 is retained in the receiver 200’ and is, initially, relatively free to move until the locking member 30 is introduced. However, unlike the locking member 30, in the present invention, the locking member 500 is provided with a height variation between opposed sides of the device. This can be seen in the close up portion of Figure 10.

Figures 1 1 (a) and 1 1 (b) show, respectively, cross-sectional and side views of the upper portion 200’ of the pipe clamps shown in Figure 10. In each case, the pair of parallel dotted lines 450 show true vertical and illustrate that the rod 300 is arranged in a truly vertical manner, or at least, substantially so. This aids fixing the rod at its upper and lower ends.

Note that there is a deliberate exaggeration in the figures to illustrate the concept. In Figure 1 1 (a), it can be seen that the retaining device 100 is arranged to be slightly non-aligned to the interior of the receiver 200’. This causes the receiver 200’ to lie off true-vertical and, in this way, the pipe 410 can be arranged at a desired angle.

In order to lock the receiver 200’ in the desired position, the locking member 500 is required. Since this locking member 500 has a variation in thickness, it forces the arrangement shown to be adopted, such that the thicker end of the locking member 500 pushes the receiver 200’ into the position shown. Once locked in this way, a combination of the locking member and the angle adopted by the pipe is maintained and the installation of a pipe system having the desired angle can be simply achieved, with reduced installation time and a more reliable installation. Unlike the use of threaded rod, as per the prior art, there is no risk of trying to screw a threaded rod into a receiver at an off-true angle, which can be difficult or even impossible.

Figure 12(a) shows a plan view of the locking member 500. It essentially resembles a C-shape and is arranged to be inserted between the retaining device 100 and the receiver or upper part 200’ of the pipe clamp. The relatively open side is thinner than the relatively closed side. The change in thickness can be as a step change, as shown in Figure 10 or, in a regularly tapering manner as shown in Figure 12(b).

Figures 13a-c show a further embodiment of the present invention. This is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 a-c. However, in that embodiment, the retaining device 100 is arranged to be retained within a receiver in such a way that the retaining device is held captive while a rod is introduced from below. The embodiment of Figure 131 -c differs in that it is not arranged to be held captive, but rather to be used to attach items to a lower portion of a rod. This is best illustrated in Figure 15 which shows a pipe hanger. The following description is best read in the context of Figures 13-15.

The retaining device 100’ differs from the retaining device 100 in that the outer circumferential projection 3 is missing and the upper portion of the retaining device 100’ is substantially uniform and vertical. In all other respects, the retaining device 100’ operates and is constructed as per the retaining device 100 and so further description is omitted for reasons of brevity.

Figure 14a shows a sectional view of a collar 620 arranged to surround the retaining device 100’ in use. The purpose of the collar 620 is to ensure that the retaining device 100’ remains in a closed position, whereby it grips a rod inserted therein and cannon move up or down the rod. The collar is essentially a short tubular section of steel or other suitable material dimensioned to fit snugly around the retaining device 100’.

Figure 15 shows a pipe hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention which incorporates the retaining device 100’ of Figure 13.

The pipe hanger 600 comprises a relatively thin elongate steel bar which has a hole near each end. The bar is then bent, as shown into a pear-shape whereby a pipe 610 can be accommodated within it and a castellated rod 300 passes through both holes. The retaining device 100’ is slid into position from the bottom of the rod 300 and the upper section thereof passes through the holes. In this way, the lower portion of the retaining device 100’, which accommodates the O-ring or split ring, has a larger diameter than the holes and so will not pass through the holes.

The collar 620 is then slid into position from the top of the rod 300, thereby securing the retaining device 100’ in position and preventing it from moving up or down the rod.

From here the upper end of rod 300 can be anchored as described previously, using a retaining device 100 of Figure 1 , for instance.

Although the collar 620 should stay in place in all normal circumstances, for extra security, a retaining clip 630 can be added just above its upper end. The retaining clip 630 may be formed from a metal or plastics material, as required and is simply arranged to provide a snug fit to the bar 300 and to prevent the collar 620 moving once fitted.

The pipe hanger 600 can be dimension, as required, to fit any particular pipe, by simply altering the length of the elongate rod which forms it.

The embodiments described herein refer to castellated rod i.e. an elongate rod provided with alternating protruding and recessed portions. However, in order to benefit from the techniques disclosed herein, only a single recessed portion is required. The castellated rod is illustrated since this has the advantage that it may be simply cut to an appropriate length and there will always be a suitable groove close at hand.

Embodiments of the present invention are easy to assemble and disassemble. Unlike prior art techniques involving threaded rod and nuts which must be time-consumingly screwed into place, embodiments of the present invention offer a simple snap-fit style connection which is strong, durable, fire-proof and intuitive.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.