GB2222431A

GB2222431A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2222431A
Application number: GB8820635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Jennings Hepworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-09-01
Filing date: 1988-09-01
Publication date: 1990-03-07
Also published as: GB8820635D0

Abstract

A clamp having a pair of spaced apart abutments (15) and a fastener (16) being provided capable of moving towards said abutments (15) to clamp a pair of tubes (16, 17) between the fastener (16) and the abutments (15). <IMAGE>

Description

CLAMP This invention relates to a clamp.

In the construction of frameworks from elongate members such as lengths of tubular metal, there is a need for a clamp which can connect two such members either parallel or at right angles quickly and simply and in a releasable fashion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cheap and convenient clamp for effecting such a releasable connection between a pair of elongate members.

Accordingly the invention provides a clamp having a pair of spaced apart abutments and, between the abutments and spaced therefrom a fastener arranged to be moved towards the abutments to clamp a pair of members between the abutments and the fastener.

Preferably the clamp is generally U-shaped having a pair of limbs and an internal uniting body, the abutments being provided adjacent respective one ends of the limbs remote from the body and the fastener being provided on the body.

The abutments can be constituted by respective bearing surfaces of aligned apertures in the limbs.

Alternatively the limbs can have outwardly-open apertures, the abutments being constituted by inwardly directed lugs.

The fastener can be a screw, a bolt or the like.

The fastener could be a toggle action fastener for quick releasable connection between the two members.

To allow this device to be used with elements of different shape the toggle could be screw adjusted to enable its operating position to be varied.

The clamp can be adapted to be used with rectangular tubes extending parallel to each other or at an angle, for example a right angle to each other.

Preferably, the abutment is part of a formation which snugly engages one of the elements and a space between said elongate element and a second elongage element is shaped by material of the clamp to form a snug fit for the second elongate element.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred clamp of the invention in use interconnecting a pair of elongate elements; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the clamp assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sketch showing a second embodiment; Fig. 4 is a sketch showing a third embodiment; Fig. 5 is a sketch showing a fourth embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a partial fragmentary sketch showing a detail.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a first preferred embodiment of clamp 10 of the invention is made from sheet metal and is generally U-shaped in configuration having two limbs 11,12 and a body 13. The two limbs are parallel and the body 13 extends at right angles thereto to define a rectangular space therebetween.

Each limb 11,12 has a rectangular aperture 14 therein, One side 15 thereof forms an abutment. Centrally of the body 13 is a fastener in the form of a socket screw 16 threadedly engaged with a collar 20 attached to the body 13. The aperture 14 is dimensioned slidably to receive a first elongate element in the form of a hollow rectangular metal tube 17. When the tube 17 is in position it defines with the limbs 11,12 and the body 13 a rectangular space within the clamp.

This space is dimensioned to snugly receive a second elongate element in the form of a tube 18.

It will be noted that the tube 17 and 18 extend at right angles to each other as this will be a configuration which is probably most often used in practice. However, it is also possible for the limbs 11 and 12 and the body 13 to be so mutually disposed and arranged that the two elongate elements 17, 18 are disposed at any convenient angle to each other.

When the desired positions of tubes 17 and 18 have been determined they are clamped together by means of the scew 16 which urges tube 18 towards tube 17. This is perhaps best seen in Fig.2 which also illustrates clearance 19 between the tube 17 and the aperture 14.

Although not shown it is possible for the aperture 14 to be considerably larger than the tube in question so as to allow a combined range of tubes to be used.

Fig. 3 illustrates how a second clamp 21 of the invention can be used to unite a pair of parallel elongate elements 22,23 in the form of hollow tubes.

In this case two limbs 24 of clamp 21 each have aligned elongate slots into which the two elements 23,22 can be placed side-by-side. A fastener in the form of a clamping screw 25 can be urged to hold the two tubes 22,23 firmly in their desired interrelationship. It will be appreciated, of course, that the clamp 21 can be used to unit a third,vertical elongate element to the two tubes 22,23 if desired. If the apertures 26 were to be made rectangular a single vertical rectangular tube could be urged into engagement with the two tubes 22,23 which would, in that case, be disposed one above the other (in Fig.3).

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of clamp 27 which has limbs 28 each having a circular aperture 29 for receiving a circular or part circular elongate element (not shown). A fastener 30 comparable to fastener 16 can serve to urge an upright elongate element (not shown) of any convenient form into engagement with a elongate element engaged within the apertures 29. For further securement of the upright elongate element an additional fastener, for example in the form of a screw 21, again comparable to screw 16 can be provided in one limb 28 of the clamp 27. This modification can be made to each and everyone of the other embodiments if desired.

Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of clamp 32 not in great detail. However, here it will be seen that clamp 32 has two limbs 33 and an abutment consituted by inwardly directed lugs 34 adjacent an outwardly open aperture 35. The clamp 32 is used in exactly the same manner as the clamps 10, 21 and 27 and has fasteners 36 and 37 comparable to fasteners 30,31.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a body wall 38 of a clamp of the invention illustrating how a stepped collar 39 -can be disposed with its larger diameter portion 40 bearing on the inside surface of the wall 38 and its smaller diameter portion 41 disposed within an aperture 42 in the wall 38. The larger portion 40 is welded to the inner surface of the wall 38 at 43.

This is a particularly convenient way of transferring the force of the fastener 16 to the wall of the clamp.

In each of the embodiments instead of the fastener being in the form of a screw extending through a threaded boss, a nut and bolt could be used, the nut being loose or captive within the body.

Instead of the screws a toggle action fastener could be used having a direction of motion towards the elements to be clamped. The toggle action fastener could be adjustable, for example by means of a threaded part, to have its operative position movable in a direction towards and away from the elongate elements to be clamped to enable it to be used with a range of different sizes of elongate elements.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A clamp having a pair of spaced apart abutments and, between the abutments and spaced therefrom a fastener arranged to be moved towards the abutments to clamp a pair of members between the abutments and the fastener.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp is generally U-shaped having a pair of limbs and an internal uniting body, the abutments being provided adjacent respective one ends of the limbs remote from the body and the fastener being provided on the body.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the abutments are constituted by respective bearing surfaces of aligned apertures in the limbs.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the limbs have outwardly-open apertures, the abutments being constituted by inwardly directed lugs.

5. A clamp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fastener is a screw or bolt.

6. A clamp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fastener is a toggle action fastener for quick releasable connection between the two members.

7. A clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein to allow the device to be used with elements of different shape, the toggle is adjustable to enable its operating position to be varied.

8. A clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the adjustment is by a screw.

9. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim and adapted to be used with rectangular tubes.

10. A clamp as claimed in claim 8 wherein the tubes extend parallel to each other or at an angle to each other.

11. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the abutment is part of a formation which snugly engages one of the elements and a space between said elongate element and a second elongate element is shaped by material of the clamp to form a snug fit for the second elongate element.

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