i DK 177819 B1 [Clamp and Screen kit using Clamp]
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clamp configured for sliding on a first member ar-5 rangement in a t-direction and for holding and positioning a second member arrangement in a theta - phi direction relative to the t-direction.
The invention also relates to a screen kit with at least one screen member comprising a first member arrangement comprising a substantially elongated member with a t-10 direction and configured to and for holding and positioning; a clamp as disclosed and thereby configured for holding and positioning in a theta- phi-direction relative to the t-direction, and a second member arrangement configured to receive, at least partially rotate around its axle, and to hold at least one screen member.
15 Background of the Invention
Shields against light, in particular sun light and sound are important on numerous occasions. Either in offices, at home, at work places including workshops and concert halls. As the location of the source required to be shielded for moves or the object that needs to be shielded moves, it is important to be able to adjust the shield accordingly.
20 UK Patent application GB 2 409 234 discloses a clamp allowing angular adjustment of coupled elongate members that can be used to hold umbrellas to shield an area from sunlight.
25 Object of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to provide a more flexible and more easily adjustable clamp than presently known.
It is an object of the invention to provide a clamp that hold a relatively large weight 30 and be operational by use of a relatively small force.
2 DK 177819 B1
It is an object of the invention to provide a clamp and shield or screen assembly with a clamp where the shield or screen can be rotated 720 degrees and translocated.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a clamp and shield or screen assembly 5 with a clamp where the screen or shield size or area can be varied.
It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly that can used to assemble to form a shield from light or sound and preferably interchangeably.
10 Description of the Invention
Accordingly this is achieved by a clamp configured for sliding on a first member arrangement in a t-direction and for holding and positioning a second member arrangement in a theta - phi direction relative to the t-direction, said clamp comprising: - a clamp slider with a slider interior configured to slide on a first member ar- 15 rangement in the t-direction, preferably by means of at least one slider con duct and with a slider exterior configured to receive - a clamp shell at a clamp shell inside so that the clamp shell can rotate, preferably 360-degrees, around the clamp slider in the theta direction and which clamp shell has a clamp shell outside with means for rotatong or tilting, pref- 20 erably in a 180 degree interval, and holding and positioning a second member arrangement in the phi-direction around a rotation al axis of a second worm wheel;; wherein the clamp slider has a recess forming an opening from the slider exterior to the slider interior and in which recess is placed a clamp slider lock 25 configured to have an open position where the clamp slider can slide along a first member arrangement in a t-direction a locked position where the clamp slider lock presses a lock brake into the slider conduct for a pressure against a part of a first member arrangement 30 and presses the lock brake out of the slider exterior and onto the clamp shell inside or a brake ring between the clamp shell inside and the clamp 3 DK 177819 B1 slider exterior so that the clamp slider is locked to a fixed position of a first member arrangement.
Thereby is provide a flexible and easily adjustable clamp that can slide along on a sec-5 ond member arrangement and can adjust and hold a second member arrangement in an angle “720-degrees” around the first member arrangement in a given position.
The clamp can easily turn a second member arrangement 360-degrees, around a first member arrangement. The clamp can rotate or tilt a second member arrangement es-10 sentially 180-degrees, or 90-degrees from the negative t-direction to the positive direction. Thereby a second member arrangement can be positioned in a “720-degrees” angle in relation to the first member arrangement.
In particular this clamp is easily loosened and/or tightened from the first member ar-15 rangement.
The clamp can be configured with single slider conduct for a first member arrangement being an elongated member such as a rod or a tube.
20 The clamp can be configured with a double or multiple slider conducts for a first member arrangement with two or multiple elongated members such as a rods or tubes.
The slider and the slider conduct can be made with a curvature or a limited linear extend and slag so that it can slide on a curved or bend first member arrangement, where 25 the t-direction is the directional vector at a given point.
Materials can be plastics, aluminium or steel.
The slider and the shell can be made in a plastic material, whereas the lock arrange-30 ment can be made of a metal.
According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that the clamp slider lock where the lock brake on one side has a lock spring configured to press the 4 DK 177819 B1 lock brake out of the slider conduct towards the open position and against a eccentric shaft tumably located in the recess between the lock brake and a wall in the recess of the slider interior, which eccentric shaft is turnable by an lock arm and when turned is configured so that the eccentric shaft forces the lock brake into the slider conduct and 5 onto the clamp shell inside or onto the brake ring.
Thereby the clamp is provided a particular easy and flexible lock that can be operated with a minimum of force thereby enabling and at the same time provide a sufficient locking force to hold larger loads from a second member arrangement.
10
The clamp is furthermore simple and durable as it only has a few and individually simple parts.
In particular having a clamp with two slider conducts where one is configured with a 15 lock and the another conduct only for guiding will provide a particular stable slide and hold since one say elongated member of the first member arrangement will not be worn by the locking mechanism and thereby over time provide for the more or less same support without the introduction of slack.
20 According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that said clamp shell comprises a worm drive with a worm knot interacting with a first worm gear for turning a worm interacting with a second worm gear for turning a worm wheel connected to a second member arrangement rod configured to hold a second member arrangement and for turning the second member arrangement rod in the phi-direction.
25
Thereby the clamp is provided means for tilting or turning a second member in the phi-direction by a worm drive or worm arrangement. Such worm drive allows for a gearing to that the load from a second member arrangement when placed on the clamp easily can be turned by the power in one hand from a child, a petite female or a person.
In particular the worm will provide a locking mechanism so that the gravitational forces from a second member arrangement on the worm wheel will not result in a de- 30 5 DK 177819 B1 turning of the position of the second member arrangement rod in the phi-direction, but a stable and fixed position only changeable by turning the worm knot.
Preferred materials for the worm drive components are steels or hardened steels.
5
According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that said worm drive is configured with a gearing transforming between 1 kg to 10 kg on the interface for thumb-index finger grip-and-tum of the worm knot to between 100 kg to 500 kg on the periphery of the worm wheel, which corresponds to a gearing ratio between 1:100 10 and 1:50, and preferably transforming about 1-2 kg to about 150-200 kg, which corresponds to a gearing ratio between 1:150 and 1:100.
These loads are by no means limiting and merely examples of ranges and gearing ratios.
15
According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that the worm is oriented in the t-direction in the proximity of the clamp shell inside and with a worm closure further reinforced by a clamp lid preventing movements of the worm drive in the t-direction.
20
Thereby further stability is provided by having the worm drive as close to a first member arrangement as possible and providing further reinforcement of the worm drive to prevent the introduction of slack.
25 According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that second member arrangement rod is configured with a friction lock arrangement and with an rod axle configured to receive, at least partially rotate around its axle, and to hold at least one screen member.
30 In this particular embodiment there is provided means that enable a rotation of a second member arrangement around the axle defined by the theta-phi direction. Thereby is provided even more flexibility in the positioning of members held by the clamp.
6 DK 177819 B1
An object of the invention is achieved by a screen kit with at least one screen member comprising: - a first member arrangement comprising a substantially elongated member with a t-direction and configured to and for holding and positioning 5 - a clamp as disclosed and thereby configured for holding and positioning in a theta- phi-direction relative to the t-direction, - a second member arrangement configured to receive, at least partially rotate around its axle, and to hold at least one screen member.
10 It is understood that the screen kit can be the kit of elements to be assembled or an assembled kit, i.e. a screen. The screen can also be understood as a shield, a reflector, a damper, or a protector or a lamp depending on the type of the second member arrangement.
15 In one embodiment the first member arrangement is an elongated member such as a rod or a tube.
According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that the first member arrangement comprises at least two substantially elongated members each 20 with a t-direction arranged in parallel and a clamp.
In one embodiment there is one elongated member say in steel (or a hard and structurally stable material) providing stability and capability to carry a certain weight and there is another elongated member say in aluminium or as a wire providing support for 25 the locking mechanism for fixing the position of the clamp in a certain t-position.
According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that the second member arrangement comprises - a second member arrangement rod configured to receive, at least partially rotate 30 around its axle, and to hold at least one screen member, and - at least one screen member configured to engage, at least partially rotate around, and to be held by the second member arrangement rod and which least one screen member has at least on screen.
7 DK 177819 B1
Thereby the screen member can easily be rotate and positioned in an angle around the fixed theta-phi-direction.
5 According to an embodiment of the invention this is further special in that the screen kit further comprises a balance load configured to be connected to the clamp and configured to have a variable load to balance the weight of the clamp and weight of the second member arrangement; and which first member arrangement and balance load are configured to have the load slide along the t-direction, and most preferably to be 10 configured for the balance load to slide inside a member of the first member arrangement.
Thereby a second member arrangement such as an arrangement of screens can easily be moved as the loads are arranged to counter load the weight of the second member 15 arrangement. Thus this further enhances the easiness of operating or adjusting say a screen.
In a particular embodiment the loads or counter loads and the first member arrangement is configured so that the loads can slide inside the first member arrangement. A 20 person skilled in the art will be able to choose the appropriate wires, reels and arrange the balance load.
Description of the Drawing
Explanatory embodiments of the invention will be described in relation to the drawings whereon: 25
Fig. 1 shows a clamp assembly for sliding on a first member arrangement in a t-direction and for turning a second member arrangement in the theta-direction and phi-direction; 30 Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a clamp in an open position and a locked position;
Fig. 3 shows an isometric and exploded view of a clamp slider lock; 8 DK 177819 B1
Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of a cross section of a clamp with a worm drive;
Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of a worm; 5
Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of a worm knot;
Fig. 7 shows an isometric view of a second member arrangement rod; 10 Fig. 8 shows embodiments of a screen member with different shapes of screens;
Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit with a clamp holding three screen members in a first member arrangement configured to stand on a floor or a desk; 15
Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit with a clamp holding three screen members in a first member arrangement configured to be mounted in a sealing;
Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit with a clamp holding three 20 screen members aligned over each other; and
Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit with a clamp holding three screen members aligned over each other in one situation and spread out in another situation.
25 Detailed Description of the Invention
Parts list:
No Part 1 Clamp 2 First member arrangement 3 t-direction 4 Second member arrangement 5 Theta-direction 9 DK 177819 B1 6 Phi-direction 7 Clamp slider 8 Slider interior 9 Slider conduct 10 Slider exterior 11 Clamp shell 12 Clamp Shell inside 13 Clamp shell outside 14 Recess 15 Clamp slider lock 16 Open position 17 Locked position 18 Lock brake 19 Lock spring 20 Eccentric shaft 21 Lock arm 22 Worm drive 23 Worm knot 24 First worm gear 25 Worm 26 Second worm gear 27 Worm wheel 28 Second member arrangement rod 29 Worm closure 30 Clamp lid 31 Friction lock arrangement 32 Rod axle 33 Omega-direction 34 Friction lock arm 35 Brake ring 50 Screen kit 51 Screen member 10 DK 177819 B1 52 Screen 53 Screen frame
Fig. 1 shows a clamp assembly for a clamp 1 configured to slide on a first member arrangement 2 in a t-direction 3 and for turning a second member arrangement 4 in the theta-direction 5 and phi-direction 6.
5
It is understood that the clamp assembly or clamp 1 is a particular embodiment of the invention and that a person skilled in the art will be able to under stand various parts of the invention and modify each part of the clamp assembly as a whole and still be within the scope of the invention.
10
In this embodiment the first member arrangement 2 comprises two elongated tubes 2’, 2’ ’ that are straight and hence the t-direction 3 is linear.
The clamp 1 comprises a clamp slider 7 with a slider interior 8 with slider conducts 9, 15 here with two slider conducts 9’, 9” each for allowing the first member arrangement 2 to pass through.
The clamp slider 7 has a slider exterior 10 around which a clamp shell 11 with a clamp shell interior 12 is configured to rotate in the theta-direction 5. In this particular em-20 bodiment the clamp shell 11 can turn 360 degrees around the clamp slider 7.
The clamp shell 11 has a clamp shell outside 13 and between this and the clamp shell inside 12 is a recess 14 for housing a clamp slider lock 15.
25 The clamp slider lock 15 has an open position 16 where the clamp 1 can slide along a first member arrangement 2 in the t-direction 3, when the clamp 1 is placed on a first member arrangement 2.
The clamp slider lock 15 has a locked position 17 where the clamp 1 is locked in a 30 given position, say tx, of a first member arrangement 2, when the clamp 1 is placed on a first member arrangement 2.
11 DK 177819 B1
In this embodiment the clamp slider lock 15 comprises a lock brake 18 with one end, an inner end, for pressing against a first member arrangement 2 when it is placed in the slider conduct 9 and with another end, an outer end, for pressing against the clamp 5 shell inside 12. In a particular embodiment the clamp shell inside further comprises a ring for pressing the outer end of the lock brake 18 into.
The lock brake 18 is pressed towards the open position 16 by a lock spring 19 and against an eccentric shaft 20 coupled to a lock arm 21 and configured in the recess 14 10 so that when turning the lock arm 21, the eccentric shaft 20 presses the lock brake 18 towards the locked position 17 where the lock brake 18 presses into the slider conduct 9 there onto a first member arrangement 2 and at the same time presses the lock brake 18 against the clamp shell inside 12 thereby locking the clamp 1 to a position on the first member arrangement 2.
15
The eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 20 in combination with the length of the lock arm 21 can easily be adjusted to provide for the required friction force to lock the clamp 1 to the first member arrangement 2.
20 In this embodiment the clamp slider lock 15 only engages with one of the elongated members 2’ of the first member arrangement 2. The other elongated member 2” is used to provide for a precise and slack-free movement of the clamp 1 along the t-direction 3 of the first member arrangement 2.
25 The clamp shell outside 13 has a worm drive 22 operable by a worm knot 23 or worm knot arrangement via a first worm gear 24 or coupling between the worm knot 23 and a worm 25. Furthermore, the worm 25 via a second worm gear 26 or coupling couples to a worm wheel 27, which is coupled to a second member arrangement rod 28.
30 The second member arrangement rod 28 is prepared to receive and form part of the second member arrangement 4.
12 DK 177819 B1
Preferably the second member arrangement rod 28 radiates radially out from the worm wheel 27 and arranged so that when the worm knot 23 is turned, multiple turns, the worm wheel 27 turns the second member arrangement rod 28 in the phi-direction 6. In this embodiment the second member arrangement 4 can be turned between 0- to 90-5 degrees. The worm drive 22 is fixed in a hole in the clamp shell by a worm closure 29, which again is further secured by a clamp lid 30.
The second member arrangement rod 28 is configured with a friction lock arrangement 31 so that members can be turned around a rod axle 32, in this case 360-degrees, in an 10 omega-direction 33. The friction lock arrangement can be further fixed by a friction lock arm 34 that will tighten the hold and increase the friction.
In this embodiment there is a brake ring 35 that can surround the clamp slider 7 and be surrounded by the clamp shell 11. The brake ring 35 covers the opening in the slider 15 exterior 10 at the recess 14 and will provide a counter force to the lock brake 18 so that the frictional force can be applied a first member arrangement 2 in the slider conduct 9. Thereby the clamp slider 7 can be locked in a t-position on the first member arrangement 2 and the clamp shell 11 can be rotated round the clamp slider 7 and the brake ring 35. In this embodiment the brake ring 35 rests on a slider plateau.
20
The brake ring 35 is configured to flush with the slider exterior 10 on the inside and with the clamp shell inside 12 on the outside. Furthermore the brake ring 35 is encapsulated in between the clamp shell 11 and the clamp slider 7 without movements in the t-direction 3.
25
All elements in the clamp assembly can be fixed or mounted together by various fixing means thereby forming the clamp 1.
Fig. 2 shows in continuation of Fig. 1 a cross section of the clamp 1 in an open posi-30 tion 16 and a locked position 17.
The clamp slider 7 is seen with the slider conducts 9 surrounding a first member arrangement 2 with two elongated members 2’, 2”. The clamp slider 7 is surrounded by 13 DK 177819 B1 the clamp shell 11. The recess 14 is seen to extend from the slider exterior 10 to the slider conduct 9. In the recess 14 there is the lock brake 18 configured to provide frictional contact with a part of a first member arrangement 2 and here the brake ring 35.
5 There brake ring 35 surrounds the clamp slider 7 and the clamp shell 11 can rotate around the clamp slider 7 and the brake ring 35.
The lock brake 18 is operable by turning the eccentric shaft 20 by the lock arm 21.
10 In the open position 16, the lock brake 18 is seen neither to be in contact with part of the first member arrangement 2 nor the brake ring 35.
The elements in the locked position 17 are readily identifiable in the open position 16.
15 Fig. 3 shows an isometric and exploded view of a clamp slider lock 15 and in particular how the clamp slider lock 15 can be assembled. The clamp slider lock 15 assembly elements are readily identifiable from Fig. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of a cross section of a clamp 1 with a worm drive 22 20 comprising a worm knot 23 arrangement interacting via the first worm gear 24 with the worm 25, which again via the second worm gear 26 interacts with the worm wheel 27. The worm wheel 27 connected to the second member arrangement rod 28 and the worm drive 22 is arranged so that turning the worm knot will turn the second member arrangement rod 28 in the phi-direction 6.
25
Furthermore, the friction lock arrangement 31 on the second member arrangement rod 28 is seen with three slots configured to receive a screen member, as will be described, so that the screen member can rotate 360-degrees around the rod-axle in the omega direction 33.
Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the worm 25 arrangement, Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of the worm knot 23 arrangement, and Fig. 7 shows an isometric view of the 30 14 DK 177819 B1 second member arrangement rod 28 with the means forming the friction lock arrangement 31.
These figures show a particular embodiment with spanners, rings, connectors and a 5 person skilled in the art will be able to use this as a starting point for further variants.
Fig. 8 shows embodiments of a screen member 51 with different shapes of screens 52 in a screen frame 53. One embodiment has a circular frame holding a circular screen 52. Another embodiment has a rectangular frame holding a rectangular screen 52.
10
The screens 52 can be made of light materials for blocking sunlight completely or in part. The screen 52 can be coloured or reflective. The screen 52 can be a sound absorber.
15 The screen frame 53 is configured to engage with the friction lock arrangement 31 on the second member arrangement rod 28 as will be apparent from the following figures.
Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit 50 with a clamp 1 holding three screen members 5Γ, 51”, 5Γ” as part of a second member arrangement 4 in a 20 first member arrangement 2 configured to stand on a floor or a desk;
It is understood that the clamp 1 can be shifted in the t-direction 3 on the first member arrangement 2. It is understood that the clamp 1 can turn the second member arrangement 4 360-degrees around the first member arrangement 2 in the theta-direction 5. It 25 is understood that the clamp 1 can tilt the second member arrangement 4 (in this embodiment) 90-degrees in the phi-direction 6. It is understood that each screen member 51 can be rotated 360-degrees around the second member arrangement rod 28 in the omega-direction 33.
30 In this embodiment the friction lock arm 34 for tightening the screen members 51 in the friction lock arrangement 31 is seen.
15 DK 177819 B1
Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit 50 with a clamp 1 holding three screen members 5Γ, 51”, 5Γ” in a first member arrangement 2 configured to be mounted in a sealing; 5 Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit 50 with a clamp 1 holding three screen members 51’, 51”, 51” aligned over each other and held in the second member arrangement rod 28 in a friction lock arrangement 31. It is understood that the friction of friction lock arrangement 31 holding the screen members 51 is adjusted so that each screen member 51 can be rotated and subsequently held by the friction with-10 out the need of a further tightening from a friction lock arm 34.
Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of an assembled screen kit 50 with a clamp 1 holding three screen members 51’, 51”, 51”’ aligned over each other in one situation and spread out in another situation thereby screening a minimum area and a maximum 15 area. It also shows that the screen members can provide a maximum screening or a minimum screening since each screen 52 will contribute with a certain amount of screening that will accumulate when the screens 52 are overlaid.