AU676883B2 - A clamp - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): CONTRACT HARDWARE MANUFACTURING PTY. LTD.

A.C.N. 006 097 918 Invention Title: A CLAMP r r o The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: I I, 2 A CLAMP This invention relates to a clamp suitable for mounting on a rail. The clamp may carry a mounting bracket for a shower head.

Clamps for attaching shower head brackets to rails are known. When the rail is a hand rail, such as are commonly provided for disabled people, the curved ends of the hand rail may prevent a simple collar-shaped clamp from being installed by sliding the clamp onto the rail. An advantage of the simple collar-shaped clamp is its o• aesthetic appeal. One known approach is for the hand rail manufacturer to cut the rail in its straight portion, slide the clamp onto the rail and then join the two cut pieces of rail. This approach has the disadvantage that the rejoined rail cannot be easily finished to completely obliterate the unsightly join marks, but on the other hand it has the advantage that the clamp itself retains its aesthetic appeal.

Another known approach is to leave the rail intact and to provide a hinged collar on the clamp, allowing the clamp to be positioned directly onto the rail in the open-hinged position and fastened into the closed position by a wingnut and bolt holding two flat lateral protrusions together on the side of the collar opposite the hinge. A disadvantage of this approach is the unsightly appearance of the hinge and/or wingnut fastening structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, there may be provided a clamp which simultaneously is simple, aesthetically appealing and which can be installed without cutting the rail.

Therefore in accordance with a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a clamp for mounting on a rail, comprising a first segment, a second segment and coupling means for removably coupling the first and second segments in a mutually opposed relationship such that when the clamp is mounted on the rail the clamp will encompass the rail, wherein the first and second segments each have a protrusion, said protrusions together forming an externally 10 screw threaded split boss; and trae (ii) the coupling means comprises an internally .threaded nut adapted to engage the split boss.

the first and second segments each further comprise a second protrusion, said second protrusions in the assembled state together forming a second externally threaded split boss on an opposite side of the clamp; and the coupling means further comprises a second internally threaded nut adapted to engage the second split boss.

"Preferably further, the clamp further comprises in the assembled state an internally threaded hole disposed *such that when the clamp is mounted on the rail it will be transverse to the rail; and a threaded screw adapted to engage the hole so that when the threaded screw is tightened the resistance of the clamp to sliding along or about the rail is increased. The hole may be formed within the split boss.

Preferably too, the clamp further comprises a flexible split sleeve such that when the clamp is mounted on a rail the split sleeve is interposed between the rail and the rest of the clamp.

The clamp may carry a mounting bracket for a shower head.

According to the invention there is also provided a method of manufacturing first and second segments for a clamp of the above defined kind, comprising the steps of forming a collar with an externally screw threaded boss; and (ii) cutting the collar longitudinally into two pieces through the boss thereby producing said first and second segments with said protrusions 10 which together form the split boss.

In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where Figure 1 is an exploded view of the clamp and rail showing the component parts; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled clamp from one side; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled clamp from another side.

Referring now to Figure 1, the clamp of the *.preferred embodiment comprises a first semi-cylindrical segment 1 and a second semi-cylindrical segment 2.

Protrusions 2A and 2B on the respective first and second segments each have half of an external screw thread adapted when brought together into an assembled position to form a first split boss wlhich can engage with an internally screw threaded ring nut 3. Second protrusions 4A and 4B (not shown in Figure 1) are provided on an opposite side of the clamp and are similarly adapted to engage with a second ring nut The protrusions 2A and 2B also each have half of an internal screw thread adapted when brought together into the assembled state to engage a threaded screw 6 to which is attached a knob 7. Integral with the first segment 1 is fixture 8 adapted to act as a bracket for a shower head. A flexible split sleeve 9 which may be made from plastic is interposed between the rail 10 and the assembled clamp.

The flexible split sleeve 9 contains grooves 11 adapted to meet with ridges 12 on the interior face of the segments and thereby to be held in a non-sliding relationship with the rest of the clamp.

Referring now to Figure 2, the clamp in the assembled state is held together by the ring nuts 3 and .The knob 7 is turned manually so that the threaded screw 6 impinges on the flexible sleeve 9 and wedges it against the rail 10, thereby increasing the resistance of the clamp to sliding along or about the rail 10. In operation, the clamp may be moved from one position to another in the usual manner by manually loosening the screw by turning the knob 7, repositioning the clamp by sliding it along and rotating it about the rail 10, and re-tightening the screw 6.

^Referring now to Figure 3, the second ring nut is shown engaged with the second split boss formed from the protrusions 4A and 4B.

o The first and second segments of the pxzferred embodiment may be advantageously manufactured by forming a collar with screw threaded bosses, and cutting the collar into two pieces along the centre line of the bosses in a milling machine.

Alternative embodiments may comprise a longitudinal hinge joining the first and second segments in place of the ring nut 5 and protrusions 4A and 4B; (ii) an internally threaded hole and boss disposed in the face of one of the segments in place of the internally threaded hole disposed inside the first split

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boss; (iii) a different fixture suitable for articles other than shower heads; (iv) a clamp adapted to encompass a rail of noncircular cross-section.

Further modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art of clamp design. These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description, the drawings and the claims.

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Claims (7)

1. A clamp for mounting on a rail, comprising a first segment, a second segment and coupling means for removably coupling the first and second segments in a mutually opposed relationship such that when the clamp is mounted on the rail the clamp will encompass the rail, wherein the first and second segments each have a protrusion, said protrusions together forming an externally screw threaded split boss; and the coupling means includes an internally threaded nut adapted to engage the split boss. 4 0 0"0 2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein che first and second segments each further comprise a second protrusion, said second protrusions in the assembled state together forming a second externally threaded split boss on an opposite side of the clamp; and the coupling means further comprises a second internally threaded nut adapted to engage the second split boss.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first S.0. and second segments are connected by a longitudinal hinge on an opposite side to said protrusions.

4. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising in the assembled state an internally threaded hole disposed such that when the clamp is mounted on the rail the hole will be transverse to the rail; and a threaded screw adapted to engage the hole such that when the threaded screw is tightened the resistance of the clamp to sliding along or about the rail is increased. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hole is formed within the split boss. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 wherein the 8 internally threaded hole is disposed in the face of one of said segments.

7. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising a flexible split sleeve such that when the clamp is mounted on the rail the sleeve is interposed between the rail and the rest of the clamp.

8. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 10 wherein the clamp carries a mounting bracket for a shower head. 0

9. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the clamp has a circular cross-section to encompass a rail of circular cross-section. A method of manufacturing the clamp of claim 1, comprising the steps of forming a collar with an externally screw threaded boss; and (ii) cutting the collar longitudinally into two pieces through the boss thereby producing said first and second segments with said protrusions which together form the split boss.

11. A clamp for mounting on a rail substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 8TH DAY OF APRIL 1994 CONTRACT HARDWARE MANUFACTURING PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia ABSTRACT A clamp is provided which is suitable for mounting on a rail and securing attachments such as shower heads. The clamp of the preferred embodiment comprises a first semi-cylindrical segment 1 and a second semi- cylindrical segment 2. Protrusions 2A and 2B on the respective first and second segments each have half of an external screw thread adapted when brought together into an assembled position to form a first split boss which can engage with an internally screw threaded ring nut 3. .I *Second protrusions 4A and 4B (not shown in Figure 1) are provided on an opposite side of the clamp and are similarly adapted to engage wIth a second ring nut