Waveguide hanger

Claim 2

A hanger for attaching a length of waveguide to a support member characterised in that said hanger (10) comprises a generally U-shaped strip the legs (25) of which are interconnected at their outer ends by a bridge (26) which supports said legs (25) to flex apart and toward one another from respective relaxed positions and to spring back toward said relaxed positions, said legs (25) being capable of being flexed apart as an incident to the U-shaped strip being moved lengthwise into straddling relation with a said waveguide (15) and thereafter springing toward one another and embracing said waveguide (15), the inner end portions of said legs (25) terminating in a pair of prongs (31) which are capable of being flexed toward one another as an incident to being inserted into an opening in said support member and thereafter springing apart into engagement with the edge of said opening.

Claim 3

A hanger as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the outboard sides of said prongs (31) carry detents (35) projecting therefrom to restrict outward removal of said prongs (31) from said support member opening.

Claim 4

A hanger as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said detents (35) are formed with inclined surfaces which cam against the edge portion of said opening and force said prongs (31) toward one another as said prongs are inserted into said opening, said detents (35) having outwardly facing shoulders located outwardly of said inclined surfaces and engageable with the inner side of said support member when said prongs (31) spring apart.

Claim 5

A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that abutment feet (37) extend transversely away from one another from the inner end portions of said legs (25), said feet (37) being engageable with the outer surface of said support member adjacent said opening.

Claim 6

A hanger as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said abutment feet (37) include a pair of feet (37) on each leg (25) and located on opposite sides of the prong (31) on such leg (25).

Claim 7

A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the inner end portions (32) of said prongs (31) are tapered inwardly to facilitate insertion of said prongs (31) into said opening.

Claim 8

A hanger as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said opening (30) is circular and each of said prongs (31) has an arcuate outboard outer side curved on substantially the same radius as said opening (30).

Claim 9

A single-piece hanger for attaching a length of waveguide of substantially elliptical transverse cross-section to the outer side of a support member having a circular hole of predetermined radius for receiving the hanger, characterised in that said hanger (10) comprises a single strip of resiliently yieldable metal bent generally into the shape of a U so as to form first and second transversely spaced legs (25) each having inner and outer end portions and also to form a bridge (26) extending between and interconnecting the outer end portions of said legs (25), the resiliency of said strip permitting said legs (25) to flex transversely apart and to flex transversely toward one another from relaxed positions and causing said legs (25) to spring back toward said relaxed positions, said legs (25) being flexed apart as an incident to being slipped inwardly onto said waveguide (15) and thereafter springing into straddling relation with the waveguide (15), the inboard sides of said legs (25) being concave and corresponding substantially in shape to the long sides of the ellipse defined by the outer periphery of the waveguide (15) whereby the legs (25) closely embrace the waveguide (15) when the legs (25) are in straddling relation with the waveguide (15), a pair of transversely spaced prongs (31) projecting inwardly from the inner end portions of said legs (25), each of said prongs (31) having an arcuate outboard side curved on substantially the same radius as said hole, said prongs (31) being flexed toward one another as an incident to being inserted into said hole and thereafter springing apart and frictionally engaging the edge of the hole, transversely projecting detents (35) on the outboard sides of said prongs (31) and engageable with the inner side of said support member (21) adjacent the edge of said hole to restrict outward removal of said prongs (31) from said hole, and oppositely extending feet (37) on the inner end portions of said legs (25) and engageable with the outer side of said support member (21) to restrict turning of said hanger (10).

Claim 10

A single-piece hanger for attaching a length of waveguide of substantially elliptical transverse cross-section to the outer side of a support member having a circular hole of predetermined radius for receiving the hanger, characterised in that said hanger (10) comprises a single strip of resiliently yieldable metal bent generally into the shape of a U so as to form first and second transversely spaced legs (25) each having inner and outer end portions and also to form a bridge (26) extending between and interconnecting the outer end portions of said legs (25), the resiliency of said strip permitting said legs (25) to flex transversely apart and to flex transversely toward one another from relaxed positions and causing said legs (25) to spring back toward said relaxed positions, said legs (25) being flexed apart as an incident to being slipped inwardly onto said waveguide (15) and thereafter springing into straddling relation with the waveguide (15), the inboard sides of said legs (25) being concave and corresponding substantially in shape to the long sides of the ellipse defined by the outer periphery of the waveguide (15) whereby the legs (25) closely embrace the waveguide (15) when the legs (25) are in straddling relation with the waveguide (15), a pair of transversely spaced prongs (31) projecting inwardly from the inner end portions of said legs (25), each of said prongs (31) having an arcuate outboard side curved on substantially the same radius as said hole, said prongs (31) being flexed toward one another as an incident to being inserted into said hole and thereafter springing apart and frictionally engaging the edge of the hole, transversely projecting detents (35) on the outboard sides of said prongs (31) and engageable with the inner side of said support member (21) adjacent the edge of said hole to restrict outward removal of said prongs (31) from said hole, and oppositely extending feet (37) on the inner end portions of said legs (25) and engageable with the outer side of said support member (21) to restrict turning of said hanger (10).

Claim 11

The combination of a support member (20) having an opening (30), a length of waveguide (15), and a hanger (10) for attaching said waveguide (15) to said support member (20), said combination being characterised in that said hanger (10) is as claimed in any preceding claim.

Claim 12

The combination as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the inboard sides of said legs (25) are concave and correspond substantially in shape to the long sides of an ellipse defined by the outer periphery of said waveguide (15).