GB2148442A

GB2148442A - Fasteners for clamps

Info

Publication number: GB2148442A
Application number: GB08426947A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Gordon Mackinnon
Original assignee: ICC CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Current assignee: ICC CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-25
Filing date: 1984-10-25
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB2148442B; GB8426947D0; GB8328523D0

Abstract

A fastener 6 suitable for use in a clamp 1, comprises an elongate member 9 provided with a head 11 having a channel or groove 13 in one side extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member 9. One or more such fasteners 6 is used in a clamp 1 in which the channel or groove 13 is dimensioned for receiving a free edge portion of a strap 5, on a first member 2, and the elongate member 9 has an engagement portion 8; the clamp 1 comprising a clamping member 7 having an abutment portion 16 for abutment with a second member 3 and having at least one aperture 19 spaced from said abutment portion 16 for receiving therethrough at least part of said engagement portion 8 of a respective fastener 6. The clamp 1 includes engaging means 22 for securing together the clamping member 7 and the fastener 6 at said engagement portion 8 so as to clamp the second member 3 between the clamping member 7 and said first member 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamp and fastener The present invention relates to clamp and fasteners, especially fasteners suitable for use in clamps for securing a first member to a second member.

Various clamps and fasteners are known for securing two different members together. In general though the application of such clamps requires that the members to be clamped together should be held together and/or the clamp parts be held carefully in position until a balanced and significant clamping force is exerted through the clamp. This can often be a rather awkward and difficult process requiring several hands especially where either or both of the members to be clamped together is rather heavy.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a fastener suitable for use in a clamp, which fastener comprises an elongate member provided with a head having a channel or groove in one side extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

Preferably the channel or groove has a depth extending over a major part of the width of the head and/or is relatively narrow in comparison with its depth. Conveniently the head is generally U- or C- shaped in profile, most conveniently substantially Ushaped.

At least part of the shank of the fastener is desirably provided with engagement means, for example, in the form of a screw-threaded portion.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a clamp suitable for use in clamping a first member having at least one generally rigid strap having a predetermined thickness to a second member, said clamp comprising at least one fastener of the invention wherein the channel or groove is dimensioned for receiving therein at least a free edge portion of said strap, and the elongate member has an engagement portion; and a clamping' member having an abutment portion for abutment in use of the clamp with said second member and having at least one aperture or slot spaced from said abutment portion and formed and arranged for receiving therethrough at least part of said engagement portion remote from said head, of a respective fastener said clamp including engaging means for securing together of the clamping member and the fastener at said engagement portion of the latter so as to clamp the second member between the clamping member and said first member. In use of the clamp the head of the or each fastener is hooked over the free edge of the strap and is substantially supported thereby with a degree of rigidity corresponding to the closeness of the fit in the channel or groove so that is no longer necessary to support the fastener separately.The clamp member can then in turn be supported on the fastener with little or no additional assistance so that the positioning and securing of the various parts preparatory to final clamping is substantially simplified as compared with previously proposed systems.

Preferably the clamp includes two or more fasteners of the invention.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a clamp of the invention in use securing a security door system.

Fig. 1 shows a clamp 1 of the invention in use to secure the door surround 2 of a security door system to the jamb 3 of a door opening. The door surround 2 includes a plurality of horizontally extending straps 5 (only one shown) having a predetermined thickness.

The clamp 1 comprises two fasteners 6 of the invention, a clamping plate 7 and engaging means in the form of nuts 8. Each fastener comprises an elongate member 9 which is screw-threaded 10 and has a substantially U-shaped head 11 at one end 1 2. The head 11 is in the form of a relatively broad (compared with the thickness of the elongate member 9) plate formed into a U-shape defining a relatively narrow channel or groove 1 3 which is a more or less close fit around the strap whose upper free edge portion 14 is received therein. The head 11 is mounted in the elongate member so that the channel 1 3 extends substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the elongate member extending from one outer side 1 5 of the U-shaped head being secured thereto e.g.

by welding or possibly integrally formed therewith.

The clamping plate 7 has an abutment portion 1 6 at one side which abuts one side 1 7 of the jamb 3 the door surround 2 abutting against the other side 1 8 of the jamb 3.

Two laterally spaced apart apertures 1 9 are provided in the clamping plate 7 at its other side and are dimensioned for receiving therethrough the screw-threaded elongate members 9 of two side-by-side fasteners 6.

The inner fastener 6a (closest to the jamb functions as a clamping element whilst the outer fastener 6b functions as a spacer element. The latter has a first nut 20 between the clamping plate 7 and the head 1 5 and a second (optional) nut 21 on the other side of the clamping plate 7 securing the clamping plate against the first nut 20. The first nut is positioned so as to hold the clamping plate 7 at a distance from the head 11 and door surround 2 corresponding generally to the thickness of the jamb 3, so that the clamping plate will be held generally parallel to the strap 5. A third nut 22 is threaded on to the clamping element 6a on the side of the clamping plate 7 remote from the head 11 and as it is tightened will force the clamping plate against the jamb 3 at one side and the first nut 20 of the spacer element 6b.

It will be appreciated from the above that the clamp of the present invention is particularly easy to apply because it is substantially supported on the door surround 2 during assembly of the parts preparatory to final clamping together.

Claims

1. A fastener suitable for use in a clamp, which fastener comprises an elongate member provided with a head having a channel or groove in one side extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel or groove has a depth extending over a major part of the width of the head.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the channel or groove is relatively narrow in comparison with its depth.

4. A fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the head is generally Uor C- shaped in profile.

5. A fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least part of the shank of the fastener is provided with engagement means.

6. A fastener as claimed in claim 5 wherein the shank is in the form of a screwthreaded portion.

7. A clamp suitable for use in clamping a first member having at least one generally rigid strap having a predetermined thickness to a second member, said clamp comprising at least one fastener according to claim 1 wherein the channel or groove is dimensioned for receiving therein at least a free edge portion of said strap, and the elongate member has an engagement portion; and a clamping member having an abutment portion for abutment in use of the clamp with said second member and having at least one aperture or slot spaced from said abutment portion and formed and aranged for receiving therethrough at least part of said engagement portion remote from said head, of a respective fastener said clamp including engaging means for securing together of the clamping member and the fastener at said engagement portion of the latter so as to clamp the second member between the clamping member and said first member.

8. A clamp as claimed in claim 7 which includes a second said fastener as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the clamping member has two laterally spaced apertures for receiving therethrough respective elongate members of said fasteners, the second said fastener being provided with securing means for securing of the clamping member, on its engagement portion at a predetermined spacing from its head corresponding generally to the thickness of said second member.

9. A clamp as claimed in claim 8 wherein said fastener engagement portions are screwthreaded and wherein said engaging and securing means comprise nut means.

1 0. A fastener substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A clamp substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.