GB2592995A

GB2592995A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2592995A
Application number: GB2005135.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Taylor Mark
Original assignee: Ischebeck Titan Ltd
Current assignee: Ischebeck Titan Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-04
Filing date: 2020-04-07
Publication date: 2021-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-07
Also published as: GB202316329D0; GB202001474D0; GB2592995B; GB202005135D0

Abstract

The clamp 1 for clamping two or more bars 2, 3 to one another includes first and second clamping members 4, 5 that are bolted together. The first clamping member has a guide (7, Figure 2) arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars. The first clamping member includes first and second jaws (10, 11, Figure 3), which are spaced from one another. Each of the jaws has a notch 7a formed therein. The notches in the first and second jaws together define the guide. The notches may have curved profiles. The jaws may be planar and parallel to one another. The first clamping member may be a U-shaped plate. The second clamping member may be a U-bolt. An alternative clamp (Figure 7) for clamping two or more bars to one another includes a pair of first clamping members and a pair of second clamping members that are bolted together. The first clamping members are parallel to one another. The second clamping members are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first clamping members. The bars may be reinforcing bars (rebar) that form part of a formwork for use in e.g. steel reinforced concrete construction.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a clamp. In particular to a clamp that is suitable for clamping two or more bars to one another. The bars may comprise reinforcing bars that form part of a formwork for use in steel reinforced concrete construction, or otherwise.

Steel reinforcing bar, commonly abbreviated and referred to as "rebar" is widely used for reinforcing concrete structures. In the formation of poured concrete 10 slabs, for example, rebar lattices/meshes are commonly used, which comprise a plurality of bars fastened together.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved means for fixing bars parallel to one another to make them suitable for receiving mechanical loads.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a clamp for clamping two or more bars to one another, the clamp comprising first and second clamping members that are bolted together, the first clamping member comprising a guide arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars, wherein the first clamping member comprises first and second jaws, which are spaced from one another, each of the jaws having a notch formed therein, with the notches in the first and second jaws together defining the guide.

The second clamping member may comprise a U-bolt. In such case, the legs of the U-bolt define the pair of bolts.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a clamp for clamping two or more bars to one another, the clamp comprising a pair of first clamping members and a pair of second clamping members that are bolted together, the first clamping members are parallel to one another and each comprise a guide arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars, wherein the second clamping members are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first clamping members.

Further, preferred, features are presented in the dependent claims.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, 5 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the clamp in use, clamping a pair of reinforcing bars parallel to one another; Figure 2 shows a front view of the clamp of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of the clamp of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a front view of a clamp according to a second embodiment; Figure 5 shows a front view of a clamp according to a third embodiment; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of a clamp according to a fourth embodiment; and Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the fourth embodiment of the clamp in use, clamping a pair of reinforcing bars perpendicular to one another.

The present invention provides a clamp 1 for clamping two or more bars 2, 3 to one another. The clamp comprises a first clamping member 4 and a second clamping member 5 that are bolted together by one or more bolts 6. The first clamping member 4 comprises a guide 7, as best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5 which is arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars. The first clamping member comprises first and second jaws 10, 11, which are spaced from one another. Each of the jaws has a notch 7a formed therein, with the notches in the first and second jaws together defining the guide 7.

The axes of both bolts 6 lie on a plane P transecting the clamp. The plane P is shown in Figure 3. The guide 7 in the present arrangement is arranged perpendicular to the plane P transecting the clamp.

Where the second clamping member 5 comprises a U-bolt, the spaced parallel legs 8 of the U-bolt define the bolts 6. The axes X, X of the bolts 6 defined by the legs 8 are shown in the front view of Figure 2.

As is clearly shown in Figure 1, with a pair of bars clamped using the clamp, the orientation of the bar 2 that is engaged by the first clamping member 4 (the upper bar 2 in Figure 1) is fixed by the guide 7. The clamping force presses the bar 2 into the guide 7, which prevents its rotation.

The first clamping member in the present arrangement is formed from a U-shaped plate, as seen most clearly in Figure 3. The first clamping member 4 thereby comprises a base 9 and the pair of jaws 10, 11 that depend from the long edges of the base. The jaws are preferably each arranged at substantially 90 degrees to the base, parallel to one another. As is clear, by such arrangement, the jaws are spaced from one another by substantially the width of the base and are substantially planar.

With reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the guide 7 is further considered. As is clear, the notches 7a that define the guide 7 are aligned with one another along the length of the first clamping member 4, wherein the form of the notches 7a is such that they define the guide 7 with its axis perpendicular to the plane P. The guide has a substantially triangular form with curved apex, as seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5. This is achieved by the curved form of the notches 7a. The form of the guide may of course be varied by varying the profile of the notches.

In use, by tightening the bolts 12, the first and second clamping members 4, 5 are brought together, the bars received by the clamp are urged against one another with the bar 2 pressed into the guide 7.

In the present arrangement, the second clamping member 5 comprises a U-bolt. In alternative arrangements the second clamping member 5 may be similar, or identical, in form to the first clamping member 4. With such an arrangement both the bars will have their orientations fixed relative to the clamp. This is in contrast to the arrangement of Figure 1 with the U-bolt in which only the bar 2 engaging the first clamping member 4 has its orientation fixed. The other bar 3 has its movement restricted by passing through the U-bolt and being clamped but some rotation remains possible. It is not guided such that its positioning is specifically directed.

Figures 4 and 5 show alternative arrangements. In each arrangement, the second clamping member 5 is identical to the first clamping member 4. The bolts 6 joining the first and second clamping members may comprise a pair of threaded bars or conventional bolts.

With reference to Figure 4, there is shown an arrangement for clamping two bars parallel to one another. The guides 7 of the first and second clamping members 4, 5 face one another, as clearly seen in Figure 4.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown an arrangement for clamping three or more bars parallel to one another. In this arrangement, in addition to the first and second clamping members 4, 5, there is provided a third clamping member 13. The third clamping member 13 is provided between the first and second clamping members 4, 5. The guide 7 of the third clamping member 13 preferably faces the guide 7 of the second clamping member 5, as clearly seen in Figure 5. In use, first and second bars may be clamped between the second and third clamping members 5, 13 and a further bar may be clamped between the first and third clamping members 4, 13, with all three bars parallel to one another.

It should be noted that whilst the first and second clamping members 4, 5 in the arrangement of Figure 4 are identical to one another, this need not be case. Also, whilst the first, second and third clamping members 4, 5, 13 are identical to one another, again, this need not be the case. In one particular example, the second clamping member 5 in the arrangement of Figure 5 could comprise a U-bolt in the manner of the arrangement of the arrangement of Figure 1. Moreover, whilst there are three clamping members provided in the arrangement of Figure 5, arrangements are possible with four or more clamping members.

In each of the above arrangements, the first clamping member 4, the second clamping member 5 and the third clamping member 13 (where present) comprises a guide 7 that has its guide axis arranged perpendicular to the plane P transecting the clamp. In alternative arrangements, one or more or all of the first clamping member 4, the second clamping member 5 and the third clamping member 13 may instead comprise a guide that is arranged such that its guide axis is other than perpendicular to the plane P. (For providing the guides with their axes other than perpendicular to the plane P, the notches in the opposed jaws that together define a respective one of the guides may be offset from one another along the length of the respective clamping member). Any combination of perpendicular and other than perpendicular guides may be provided. The guide axis of any of the guides could, for example, be at an oblique angle to the plane transecting the clamp. The oblique angle may be 45 degrees. When the axes of two or more of the guides 7 are arranged at an oblique angle to one another, they may be arranged with their guide axes at 90 degrees to one another (both guide axes may be arranged at 45 degrees to the plane P but in different directions).

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown an arrangement for clamping two bars perpendicular to one another. In this arrangement, the clamp comprises two of the first clamping members 4 bolted to two of the second clamping members 5. Each of the first clamping members 4 is bolted to both of the second clamping members 5. The first clamping members 4 are parallel to one another and the second clamping members 5 are parallel to one another and the first clamping members 4 are perpendicular to the second clamping members 5.

In the depicted arrangement, as clearly shown, the second clamping members 5 comprise U-bolts, wherein the spaced parallel legs 8 of the U-bolts define the bolts 6. In alternative arrangements the second clamping members 5 may be similar, or identical, in form to the first clamping member 4. The first clamping members 4 and the U-bolts 5 are identical to those discussed above in respect of the other embodiments and may be varied/modified as discussed.

In alternative arrangements, the features of the arrangement of Figure 5 may be combined with the features of the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7. In such an 30 arrangement, for example, there may be provided two of each of the first, second and third clamping members 4, 5, 13.

The clamp, in accordance with any of the above described arrangements/alternatives may find particular use in the formation of reinforcing bar structures for use in the reinforcement of poured concrete slabs or otherwise. Particularly where those structures will be subjected to mechanical loading.

Claims

Claims 1. A clamp for clamping two or more bars to one another, the clamp comprising first and second clamping members that are bolted together, the first clamping member comprising a guide arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars, wherein the first clamping member comprises first and second jaws, which are spaced from one another, each of the jaws having a notch formed therein, with the notches in the first and second jaws together defining the guide.
2. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the notches have curved profiles.
3. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the jaws are each substantially planar.is
4. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jaws are substantially parallel to one another.
5. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first clamping member comprises a plate that is substantially U-shaped.
6. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second clamping member comprises a U-bolt.
7. A clamp as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 5, wherein the second clamping 25 member comprises first and second jaws, which are spaced from one another, each of the jaws having a notch formed therein, with the notches in the first and second jaws together define a guide.
8. A clamp as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the guides of the first and second 30 clamping members face one another.
9. A clamp as claimed in any preceding comprising a third clamping member comprising first and second jaws, which are spaced from one another, each of the jaws having a notch formed therein, with the notches in the first and second jaws together define a guide.
10. A clamp as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the third clamping member is 5 provided between the first and second clamping members.
11. A clamp as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the guide of the third clamping member faces the second clamping member.
12. A clamp as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, which comprises two of the first clamping members and two of the second clamping members.
13. A clamp as claimed in Claim 12, wherein each of the first clamping members is bolted to both of the second clamping members.
14. A clamp as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the first clamping members are parallel to one another and the second clamping members are parallel to one another and the first clamping members are perpendicular to the second clamping members.
15. A clamp as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14, when dependent on any of Claims 9 to 11, which comprises two of the third clamping members.
16. A clamp for clamping two or more bars to one another, the clamp comprising a pair of first clamping members and a pair of second clamping members that are bolted together, the first clamping members are parallel to one another and each comprise a guide arranged to direct the positioning of one of the bars, wherein the second clamping members are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first clamping members.