GB2525010A

GB2525010A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2525010A
Application number: GB1406428.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Blenkinsopp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-09
Filing date: 2014-04-09
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Also published as: GB201406428D0

Abstract

A clamp 10 clamps a first structure 11, such as an electrical back box, to a second structure 16 such as a wall. The first structure comprises a first flange 17 for engaging a first surface 14 of the second structure, and a second flange 18 for lining sides 12 of the opening 13 in the second structure. The second flange has one or more access openings (19, Fig 2). The clamp has a mounting means 20 that has two spaced flanges 21, 22 each of which receives a screw. The clamping member 25 has a clamping region 27, a stop region (29, Fig 2), and a threaded hole to receive the screw. The clamping member is arranged such that rotation of the screw firstly moves the clamping member through the access opening until the stop region of the clamping member engages the second flange. Further rotation of the screw moves the clamping region towards the second surface of the first structure 11. The spaced flanges may be part of a bracket (Fig 4), or may be bent from the second flange (Fig 3).

Description

A Clamp THIS INVENTION relates to clamps for clamping a first structure against a second structure, and in particular, although not exclusively, to clamps for clamping a first structure (hereinafter called "first structure") that includes frames, access panel and door frames, and boxes (for example, electrical or gas meter supply boxes, fire hydrant outlets, plumbing pipe outlets such as, for example, radiator pipes, and electrical sockets or switch boxes) in an opening in a second structure such as, for example, a wall, bulkhead or other planar surface.

There is a need for securing such first structures in openings in second structures with fixing means that are not visible. This is particularly difficult where the thickness of the wall varies, or the wall is clad with a facing panel such as plasterboard (sometimes referred to as a dry wall lining) that may be of indeterminable thicknesses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for clamping a first structure against a second structure wherein rotation of a clamping member of the clamp relative to the second structure causes the clamping member to engage and constrain the first structure in contact with the second structure.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a clamp for securing a first structure in an opening in a wall, bulkhead or other planar surface, wherein rotation of a component of the clamp relative to first component of the clamp causes the second component to constrain the first structure in contact with the wall, bulkhead or other planar surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided A clamp for clamping a first structure to a second structure, wherein the first structure comprises a first flange for engaging a first surface of the second structure, and a second flange for lining sides of the opening in the second structure, the second flange has one or more access openings that allows a clamping member of the clamp to be positioned facing towards a second surface of the first flange, and the clamp comprises a mounting means that has two spaced flanges each of which has a hole that is positioned, aligned, and dimensioned to receive a screw threaded screw; the said clamping member having a clamping region, a stop region, and a threaded hole to receive the screw when the clamping member is positioned between the flanges of the mounting means with the clamping region facing towards the head of the screw; the clamping member being shaped positioned and dimensioned relative to the access opening such that rotation of the screw firstly allows the clamping member to move from a first position on one side of the second flange of the first structure, through the access opening in the second flange of the first structure, to a second position on the other side of the second flange of the first structure until the stop region of the clamping member engages the second flange of the first structure, and then further rotation of the screw moves the clamping region towards the first flange of the first structure.

Preferably the mounting means comprises a bracket that is fixable to the second flange of the first structure and has two spaced flanges and two aligned holes for receiving the screw.

Alternatively the mounting means comprises two spaced flanges formed on the second flange of the first structure by moulding, casting or bending the flanges out of the second flange of the first structure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a first structure incorporating one or more clamps according to the present invention.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention taken along line A-A of Figure 2 and shows the clamp located adjacent an aperture in a sidewall of a frame that holds an access panel; Figure 2 shows in greater detail a plan view of the clamp of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative mounting means of the clamp of figures land 2 in the form of a bracket; and, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the clamping member of the clamp shown in figures land 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a clamp 10 for fixing a first structure in the form of a rectangular frame 11 in an opening 12 in a second structure 16 (such as for example a wall 16 of a building). The frame 11 serves to hold a hinged access panel or door 13. In use, two or more identical clamps 10 are used to secure the frame 11 in the opening 12 in the wall 16, but for reasons of clarity only one clamp 10 is described here.

The frame 11 is made of a metal or a plastics material, and each side of the frame comprises a first flange 17 that in use lies flush with a first outer surface 14 of the first structure 16 and a second flange 18 at right angles to the first flange 17 and which lines the sides of the opening 12 in the first structure 16. The second flanges 18 of two confronting sides of the frame 11 have an opening 19. The openings 19 allow access of a clamping member 25 of the clamp 10 through the opening 19 so that it can be positioned facing towards the back face of the first flange 17 of the frame and a second surface 15 of the wall 16 as explained below.

There is normally a pair of clamps 10; one attached to a second flanges 18 of one of the two confronting sides of the frame 11, and another connected to the confronting second flange 18 of another of the confronting sides of the frame. For reasons of clarity, only one clamp 10 is described and shown.

Each clamp 10 has a mounting means 20 in the form of two spaced flanges 21, 22 each with a hole 21, 22, formed on the second flange 18 of the frame 11. Where the frame 11 is made of metal (as shown in figure 1) the flanges 21, 22 may be formed by bending them out of the second flange 18. Where the frame 11 is made of a plastics material or other mouldable material, or a material that can be cast, the flanges 21, 22 could be formed by moulding, or casting them.

The holes 23, of the mounting means 20 are positioned, aligned and dimensioned, to receive a screw threaded screw 22. In an alternative embodiment, the Flanges 21, 22 may form part of a bracket 20 as shown in Figure 3 that is fixed to the inside surface of the second flange 18.

A clamping member 25, which is shown in more detail in Figure 2, has a screw threaded hole 26, a clamping region 27 for engaging with the first structure 16, and a stop region 29 for engaging the outer surface of the second flange 18 of the frame. With the clamping member 25 positioned between the flanges 21, 22, and the clamping region 27 facing towards the head of the screw 22, the screw 22 is inserted into the holes 23 of the flange 21 and screwed into the threaded hole 26 of the clamping member 25 until the distal end 30 of the screw 22 projects from the clamping member 25. The distal end 30 of the screw 22 is inserted into the hole 23 of the other flange 22 and a circlip 22(a) is fitted on the end of the screw 22.

The flanges 21, 22, project from the side of the second flange 18 that faces inwards at a location adjacent an access opening 19 in the second flange 18 of the frame 11 so that the head of the screw 22 is accessible from outside the frame 11 by reaching into the frame 11. The flanges 21, 22 are positioned close to the edge of the access opening 19 so that rotation of the screw 22 causes the clamping member 25 to swing from a one side of the second flange 18 inside the frame 11 through the access opening 19 to a position outside of the frame 11. If necessary the clamping member 25 can be pushed through the access opening 19 to assist placing the clamping member to the outside of the second flange 18.

Rotation of the clamping member 25 is arrested by the stop region 29 of the clamping member 25 engaging the outer surface of the second flange 18. Further rotation of the screw 22 causes the clamping member 25 to slide in contact with the outer surface of the second flange 18 of the frame 11 until the clamping region 29 engages the second surface 15 of the first structure 16, and urges it against the back face of the first flange 17 of the frame 11. This action causes the first flange 17 to be pulled tight against the outside surface of the wall 16 and thereby secures the frame 11 in the opening in the wall 16. Once the frame 11 is secured in the wall 16, the panel or door 13 is fitted into the frame.

The length of the screw 22 and second flange 18 are chosen to suit different thicknesses of wall 16. However where the wall 16 is thicker than the depth of the second flange 18 (measured from the front flange 17), a recess (not shown) may be cut into, or gouged out of, the sides of the opening 12 in the wall 16. The recess must be large enough to allow the clamping member 25 to swing into the recess. In this case rotation of the screw 22 tightens the clamping region 29 against the side of the recess (not shown) and pulls the first flange 17 tight against the wall 16.

It will be appreciated that where the first structure is, for example, an electrical socket box the two screws 22 are readily accessible from within the box and one simple act of screwing two screws with an electric powered screwdriver quickly swings the clamping member 25 into a position behind the walll6 (or into the recess) and thereby locates and fixes the socket box in the opening 12 in the wall 16.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A clamp for clamping a first structure to a second structure, wherein the first structure comprises a first flange for engaging a first surface of the second structure, and a second flange for lining sides of the opening in the second structure, the second flange has one or more access openings that allows a clamping member of the clamp to be positioned facing towards a second surface of the first flange, and the clamp comprises a mounting means that has two spaced flanges each of which has a hole that is positioned, aligned, and dimensioned to receive a screw threaded screw; the said clamping member having a clamping region, a stop region, and a threaded hole to receive the screw when the clamping member is positioned between the flanges of the mounting means with the clamping region facing towards the head of the screw; the clamping member being shaped positioned and dimensioned relative to the access opening such that rotation of the screw firstly allows the clamping member to move from a first position on one side of the second flange of the first structure, through the access opening in the second flange of the first structure, to a second position on the other side of the second flange of the first structure until the stop region of the clamping member engages the second flange of the first structure, and then further rotation of the screw moves the clamping region towards the first flange of the first structure.
2. A clamp according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a bracket that has two spaced flanges and two aligned holes for receiving the screw.
3. A clamp according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises two spaced flanges formed on the second flange of the first structure by moulding, casting or bending the two spaced flanges out of the second flange of the first structure.
4. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stop region of the clamping means is a flat surface that in use contacts the second flange of the first structure.
5. A first structure incorporating one or more clamps constructed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
6. A clamp substantially as herein described with reference to, and shown in the attached drawings.
7. A first structure substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings incorporating one or more clamps according to any one of the preceding claims.