AU2008100442A4

AU2008100442A4 - A Clamp

Info

Publication number: AU2008100442A4
Application number: AU2008100442A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Nielson
Original assignee: G E J A Pty Ltd
Current assignee: G E J A Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-13
Filing date: 2008-05-14
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-13
Also published as: US20090126169A1; AU2008100442B4; AU2007101088B4; AU2007101088A4; AU2007101088C4

Description

00 O O 0',

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR AN INNOVATION

PATENT

Name of Applicant: Address for Service: Invention Title: G E J A Pty Ltd CULLEN CO.

Level 26 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 A Clamp The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: 00 1 C A Clamp ct Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to a clamp. In particular, the present invention relates to a clamp for a planar object, such as a glass panel.

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Background Art.

Panels are often used for fencing (such as pool fencing), decorative screens, noise 00 barriers and the like.

NI When panels are constructed from wood or metal and the like, retaining the panels in place is a simple matter of fixing the panel to a support using a screw, bolt, nail and so on passed through the panel itself. However, when glass panels are used, drilling holes into the glass is not recommended for a number of reasons. Firstly, glass panels, particularly those provided with decorative patterns, etching etc, can be very expensive, and drilling holes into this type of panel not only affects the aesthetics of the panel but also risks breaking the panel during the drilling process. Furthermore, drilling a hole in a glass panel results in a weak point in the panel at which mechanical stresses accumulate. This could lead to the panel cracking or breaking when in use.

In order to avoid this kind of damage, glass panels are often held in place using clamps that allow the panel to be retained in place without damaging the surface of the panel. Since excessive movement of the glass panel would result in it cracking or breaking, clamps for glass panels must themselves be held fixedly in place. Typically, this has been achieved by fixedly attaching the clamps to a solid substrate, such as concrete. However, the necessity of attaching the clamps to a solid substrate severely limits the applications in which glass panels may be used as barriers.

Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide a clamp which allowed glass panels to be used in a wide variety of locations while simultaneously assisting in preventing damage to the glass panel.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this 00 2 reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the termn "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates N otherwise.

Object of the Invention.

00 It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp which may overcome at least some of the abovementioned disadvantages, or provide a useful or commercial choice.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a clamp for a planar object, the clamp comprising a body, said body including at least one portion adapted to receive and retain a planar object therein, said body further including a tapered portion at an upper end of the body.

Wh-ile the clamp may be used to clamp any suitable planar object, it is preferred that the clamp is used with planar objects in the formn of sheets of glass.

Preferably, the clamp further comprises attachments means, the attachment means adapted to connect the clamp to suitable anchor means in order to prevent movement of the clamp when in use. The clamp may be connected to the anchor means in a fixed or removable engagement.

The attachment means may comprise any suitable means. However, it is preferred that the attachment means allows the clamp to be connected to anchor means under a wide variety of ground conditions, not just conditions in which the clamp is attached to a solid substrate (such as concrete).

In some embodiments of the present invention, the attachment means comprises a bore. The bore may be located in a lower end of the body of the clamp. In one embodiment of the invention, the bore may be located through a lower surface of the OO 00 3 cI clamp and extend partially through the body. Preferably, the bore is oriented so as to extend substantially coaxially with a central axis through the cylindrical body of the clamp.

The anchor means may be of any suitable form, such as, but not limited to, a ,I projection, such as a rod, adapted to be retained within the bore of the clamp. The projection may be screw threaded. In this embodiment of the invention, the bore may _be provided with a complimentary screw thread adapted to retain the projection in the 00

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Sbore in a screw-threaded engagement. The anchor means may be fixed into the ground under any suitable ground conditions, either where there is a stable substrate (such as a concrete slab or wooden floor, for instance) or under less stable conditions (directly into soil, submerged in water etc).

In some embodiments of the invention, at least a portion of the clamp may be located below the surface of the substrate or the ground to which it is connected when in use.

In these embodiments of the invention, the clamp may be provided with one or more plates through which the cylindrical body of the clamp may pass. The one or more plates are adapted to be retained at, for instance, ground level, when the clamp is in use.

The body of the clamp may be of any suitable dimensions and configuration.

However, it is preferred that the body of the clamp is constructed so as to be substantially cylindrical. More preferably, the substantially cylindrical body comprises a solid member. By constructing the body of the clamp as a solid cylinder, the clamp is heavier and therefore more rigid and less likely to deform under conditions of strong wind and the like. By reducing the likelihood of movement of the clamp, the chance of a glass panel breaking due to movement of the clamp us significantly reduced. In some embodiments of the invention, the body of the clamp is constructed from a high-strength, corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. A highstrength, corrosion resistant material is preferred so as to ensure that the clamp has a long service life and can be used under a wide variety of climatic conditions and in a wide variety of duties.

00 4 ri The tapered portion at an upper end of the body of the clamp may be provided with any suitable incline. However, it is preferred that the incline on the inclined surface of the tapered portion is between about 400 and 80', more preferably between about and 700, and still more preferably between about 550 and 650 to the vertical. At these inclinations, the inclined surface of the tapered portion is angled so as to prevent a N person, such as a child, from being able to get a climbing toehold on the clamp in order to climb the glass panel. This is of particular importance when, for instance, the glass panels retained by the clamp are being used as pool fencing and the like.

00 While the cross-sectional shape of the tapered portion may be of any suitable configuration, it is preferred that the cross-sectional shape of the tapered portion is frusto-conical.

The portion of the clamp adapted to receive a planar object may be of any suitable configuration. Preferably, however, the portion of the clamp adapted to receive a planar object comprises a slot, channel, recess or the like (hereinafter referred to as a "slot" for simplicity) into which an edge of the planar object may be inserted.

Preferably, the slot extends downwardly into the body of the clamp from an upper surface of the clamp. It is preferred that the slot extends a sufficient distance into the body of the clamp to ensure that a planar object may be retained firmly and securely in the slot.

Once received in the slot, the planar object may be retained in place through the use of one or more securing means. The securing means may comprise any suitable form.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprise one or more screws, such as grub screws, which may be tightened against the surface of the planar object to secure the planar object within the slot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp comprises two grub screws.

Preferably, the attachment means may extend at least partially into the slot through a wall of the body. The attachment means may extend partially through the wall, or may extend entirely through the wall of the body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment means are located in one or more bores extending 00 perpendicular to the central axis through the body of the clamp. The attachment means may be situated such that the head of the attachment means is accessible to the outside of the clamp, while the other end of the attachment means extends at least partially into the slot during use. Thus, when the user wishes to clamp a planar object within the slot, the head of the attachment means is accessible for tightening, thereby clamping the other end of the attachment means against the surface of the plana r object. Similarly, when a user wishes to remove a planar object from a clamp, the head of the attachment means is accessible for the user to loosen the attachment 00 means, thereby releasing the planar object for removal from the slot. If more than one attachment means is provided, all of the attachment means may be provided on the same side of the slot, or one or more attachment means may be provided on each side of the slot.

In some embodiments of the invention, the clamp may be provided with protection means for protecting the surface of, for instance, a glass panel to be retained within the slot. The protection means may comprise any suitable form. However, it is preferred that the protection means comprises means adapted to be placed against at least a portion of the surface of the planar object within the slot. More preferably, the protection means is adapted to cover all surface of the planar object that are retained within the slot.

It is preferred that the protection means is constructed from a material that will not damage the surface of the planar object when in contact with the planar object.

Additionally, it is preferred that the protection means is constructed from a material that will not be damaged by the action of the attachment means on the protection means. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protection means is constructed from rubber or a similar deformable material.

The clamp may further be provided with one or more force distribution means. The force distribution means may be adapted to spread the pressure created by the tightening of the attachment means across a relatively wide area of the planar object.

In this way, the pressure created by the tightening of the attachment means is not concentrated at one or more points on the surface of the planar object, a situation 00 6 Swhich could lead to damage to the planar object. The force distribution means may be of any suitable form, such as, but not limited to, a plate. Preferably, the plate is made from a resilient material, such as steel or some other metal.

Preferably, the force distribution means is positioned between an internal wall of the C slot and the protection means, such that the force created by the tightening of the attachment means is distributed across the surface of the force distribution means, which in turn exerts a force on the protection means without any localised pressure 00 0points.

In some embodiments of the invention the clamp comprises a pair of force distribution means, one located against each internal wall of the slot.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates clamps according to an embodiment of the present invention in use.

Detailed Description of the Drawings.

It will be appreciated that the drawings have been provided for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and that the invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the drawings.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a clamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The clamp 10 comprises a solid cylindrical body 11 with a tapered portion 12 at the upper end of the body 11. The upper end of the body 11 comprises a slot 13 00 7 into which a planar object (not shown), such as a plane of glass may be received and retained. When a planar object (not shown) is'-eceived in the slot 13, the planar object (not shown) may be retained in the slot 13 by tightening attachment means in the form of a pair of grub screws 14. The grub screws 14 pass through corresponding bores that extend through the outer wall of the body 11 and into the slot 13.

Tightening of the grub screws 14 exerts pressure on the force distribution means 16 in the form of a plate. The force distribution means 16 spreads the pressure applied by 00 the grub screws 14 across the surface of the plate 16 meaning that no pressure points are created that could damage the surface of the planar object (not shown). In use, the force distribution means 16 is sandwiched between the attachment means 14 and the protection means 17.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the protection means 17 comprises two vertical pieces and a separate intermediate horizontal piece. However, the skilled addressee will understand that the protection means 17 could also be constructed in two sections, or as a single piece.

In use, the planar object (not shown) is received in the substantially U-shaped channel formned by the protection means 17. In this way, when in the slot 13, no part of the planar object (not shown) is in direct contact with the body 11I of the clamp, ensuring that the likelihood of damage to the planar object (not shown) is reduced.

Turning now to Figure 2 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the clamp 10 of the present invention. The clamp 10 comprises a solid cylindrical body 11I with a tapered portion 12 at an upper end of the body 11. The body 11I of the clamp includes a slot 13 adapted to receive a planar object, such as a glass panel (not shown). A glass panel (not shown) may be retained within the slot 13 by tightening a pair of grub screws 14 against the glass panel (not shown). The grub screws 14 pass through corresponding bores 15 that extend through the outer wall of the body 11I and into the slot 13.

Tightening of the grub screws 14 exerts pressure on the force distribution means 16 in 00 8 the form of a plate. The force distribution means 16 spreads the pressure applied by the grub screws 14 across the surface of the plate 16 meaning that no pressure points are created that could damage the surface of the planar object (not shown). In use, the force distribution means 16 is sandwiched between the attachment means 14 and the protection means 17.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the protection means 17 comprises two vertical pieces and a separate intermediate horizontal piece. However, 00 the skilled addressee will understand that the protection means 17 could also be constructed in two sections, or as a single piece.

The clamp 10 of Figure 2 further comprises a bore (obscured) extending through the lower surface of the body 11I and extends partially through the body 11. The bore (obscured) may be provided with a screw thread so that the clamp 10 may be retained on an anchor in the formn of a screw threaded rod 18 anchored in the ground or in a substrate such as a concrete pad (not shown).

The clamp 10 also includes a plate 19. The plate 19 is adapted such that the body 11I of the clamp 10 may pass therethrough. The plate 19 is adapted to be retained at ground level or on the surface of a substrate when the clamp 10 is in use.

In Figure 3 a partial cross-section of the clamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The body 11I of the clamp 10 comprises a bore 20 through the lower surface of the body 11I and extending partially through the body 11. The bore 20 may be provided with an internal screw-thread adapted for engagement with anchor means in the form of a screw-threaded rod 18, such that the clamp 10 may be retained on the rod 18. The rod 18 is typically anchored in the ground or in a substrate such as a concrete pad (not shown). The clamp 10 includes a plate 19, the plate 19 adapted to be retained at ground level when the clamp 10 is in use.

In Figure 3 the bores 15 for the grub screws (not shown) may be clearly seen.

Tightening of the grub screws (not shown) exerts pressure on the pressure distribution means 16 located within the slot 13 in the body 11. The protection means 17 are also 00 9 N, located within the slot 13.

SThe tapered portion 12 at the upper end of the body 11 may also be clearly seen in Figure 3. In this embodiment of the invention, the inclined surface 21 of the tapered portion 12 is provided at an angle of about 600 to the vertical in order to prevent Schildren, for instance, from obtaining a toehold when climbing on the clamp Turning to Figure 4 there is shown a pair of clamps 10 according to an embodiment of 0the present invention when in use. The clamps 10 are positioned such that a portion of 10 the body 11 of each clamp 10 is located beneath ground level 22. A planar object 23, such as a glass panel is retained by the clamps 10 by tightening grub screws 14 which exert a pressure on the planar object 23 of sufficient magnitude to retain the planar object 23 fixedly in place.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A clamp for a planar object, the clamp comprising a body, said body including at least one portion adapted to receive and retain a planar object therein, said body further including a tapered portion at an upper end of the body.

2. A clamp according to claim I wherein the body of the clamp comprises a solid cylindrical member. 00

3. A clamp according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the clamp further comprises Ni 10 attachment means adapted to connect said clamp to anchor means to prevent movement of the clamp during use.

4. A clamp according to claim 3 wherein the attachment means comprises an internal bore extending substantially coaxially with a central axis through the body of the clamp.

5. A clamp according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein an inclined surface of the tapered portion is inclined at an angle of between about 500 and 700 to the vertical.