GB2024925A - Clamping devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamping device, suitable for supporting fabrics or other articles, comprises a first member 10 having a hook portion 14 by means of which it may be suspended, and a slider 11 slideable longitudinally on the first member. The slider co-operates with inclined surfaces 12 on the first member so that as it is slid longitudinally on the first member a jaw 19, 21 thereon is brought closer to a surface 13 of the first member, and grips any article inserted therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to clamping devices This invention relates to devices for clamping articles against inadvertent displacement from the positions in which they are clamped. The invention is applicable for example to the clamping of fabrics, draperies, clothes or the like but is not limited thereto and may be used for the clamping, gripping or retention of rigid or inflexible articles or bodies.

The main object of the invention is to provide a clamping device of the aforesaid general character which will clamp or grip the articles to be retained thereby in a particularly tenacious manner.

without damaging the articles. A further object is to provide a clamping device which may be rapidly and inexpensively manufactured by production methods.

In accordance with the invention the clamping device comprises two members slideably associated with each other in such manner that with one of the members slid to one position relatively to the other member a gap is left between the members into which the article to be clamped is inserted, sliding movement of the first member to another position reducing or closing the gap to clamp the article therein between the two members.

The first member is preferably slideable longitudinally with respect to the second member with which it co-operates by means of an inclined or cam surface so that the gap between the members is progressively reduced from maximum to minimum during the said longitudinal sliding movement.

One of the members may be arranged for anchoring to a fixed support while the other is in the nature of a jaw slideable longitudinally thereon, outward sliding movement of the jaw reducing the effective opening of the latter. The jaw is ribbed or serrated whereby any tendency of an article held in the jaw to move outwardly of the latter draws the jaw outwardly with it and increases the clamping effect.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a clamping device in its open position, Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing the device in its closed position, Figure 3 is a view looking from the right of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an underneath view of the device.

The form of clamping device shown in the drawings comprises a clip which may be used instead of a clothes peg for the suspension of heavy clothes such as wet sheets from a line.

The clip consists of two members 10, 11 only, each formed as a light alloy pressing. One of the members 10 is of substantially U-shape in cross section the limbs 12 of the U being of substantial length at one end of the member and being of decreasing length towards the other end so that the edges of the limbs are inclined with respect to the web portion 1 3 of the U. This web portion 1 3 is substantially flat. For some distance from the said other end of the member the limbs of the U are of constant small length and this portion 14 of the member is bent to hook form so that it may be hung upon a line, hook, rod or the like the edges of the limbs gripping the line or the like to prevent undesirable movement of device therelong.An inward protrusion 1 5 is formed on the hook portion to reduce the likelihood of the clip coming free of the line or the like.

The other member 11 of the clip takes the form of a slider inasmuch as it may be short as compared with the first member 10 and has side portions 1 6 which embrace the limbs of the U of the first member, the side portions having their edges turned inwardly to form flanges 1 7 which lie against the inclined edges of the first member.

The side walls 1 6 of the slider are of decreasing width from one end to the other so that they conform to the inclined edges of the first member and their flanges 1 7 lie against said inclined edges along the complete length of the flanges, save for a short curved recess 18 formed in each side wall 16 and flange 17 adjacent to the outer end of the slider.

The side walls 16 of the slider 11 are connected by an intervening re-entrant portion 1 9 which is of substantially U-shape in cross section so that with the slider 11 in its outermost position upon the first member 10 the web portion of this U-shaped intervening portion lies against the web portion 13 of the U of the first member, as shown in Figure 2. With the slider in its innermost position, however, as shown in Figure 1, due to the decreasing depth of the section of the first member, the web portion of the U of the slider 11 moves away from the web portion of the U of the first member 10 (with the flanges 17 of the slider remaining against the inclined edges of the first member) and lies parallel with the latter.The side walls 16 of the slider are cut away to form openended slots 20 extending from its wider outer end so that the member 11 forms a jaw slideable upon the first member 10 and of a gradually diminishing effective opening as it slides outwardly along the first member. From its outer end the U-shaped intervening portion 1 9 of the slider .11 is formed with one or more transverse ribs or serrations 21 in order to enable it to grip firmly an article placed in the gap. By cutting away the side walls of the slider as already described articles of any width may enter the gap, the thickness of the articles being limited by the maximum opening of the jaw, that is to say the distance between the web portion of the U of the slider and the corresponding portion of the first member when the slider is in its innermost position thereon.

It will be understood that, due to the provision of the tranverse ribs 21 on the slider, any tendency of the article gripped between it and the first member 10 to be withdrawn outwardly only increases the clamping effect. The device is therefore suited to the suspension of heavy draperies, carpets or the like on exhibition in stores or in any other circumstances where a clamping or gripping device which will tenaciously retain the clamped articles is required.

Claims (6)

1. A clamping device comprising two members slideably associated with each other in such manner that with one of the members slid to one position relatively to the other member a gap is left between the members into which the article to be clamped is inserted, sliding movement of the first member to another position reducing or closing the gap to clamp the article therein between the two members.

2. A clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the first member is slideable longitudinally with respect to the second member with which it co-operates by means of an inclined or cam surface so that the gap between the members is progressively reduced from maximum to minimum during the said longitudinal sliding movement.

3. A clamping device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the members is arranged for anchoring to a fixed support while the other is in the nature of a jaw slideable longitudinally thereon, outward sliding movement of the jaw reducing the effective opening of the latter.

4. A clamping device according to claim 3, wherein the jaw is ribbed or serrated whereby any tendency of an article held in the jaw to move outwardly of the latter draws the jaw outwardly with it and increases the clamping effect.

5. A clamping device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said one member is formed with a hook for suspending the device from a fixed support.

6. A clamping device substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.