IL29044A - Clamps for sheet materials - Google Patents

Description

a ID p 3 Π 24 D 3 3 1 Π Ί D D D n 0 n n p n 1 CLAMPS SHEET MATERIALS ΠΠΝΧΙιΊ The present relates to sheet clamps for clamping sheets to channel members used in such A variety of flexible plastic sheets polyvinyl are now available for different for example for covering field and for building hothouses and temporary building In such there is a need for a simple and effective sheet clamp that can be used for supporting these sheets for joining the ends of two sheets The invention aims to provide such a sheet clamp which is particularly useful respect to plastic but which can also be used with respect to other flexible such as and the According to the there is provided a sheet clamp for flexible sheets characterised in that it includes a channel member of sec ion including a pair of parallel legs and a the channel member further including a pair of extensions each formed as a continuation of the free end of one of the channel legs each of extensions extending into the channel member toward the bridge but terminating short of the extensions spaced from each other and from their respective channel and a tube adapted to be inserted within the channel member between said extensions for clamping the flexible sheet the diameter of said tube being larger the space between said extensions and also being larger distance between the free end of and said the elasticity of said free extensions applying a force against said when the tube is urging same toward th bridge for firmly griping the flexible sheet therebetween and also between said extensions and said The clamp preferably not further includes a plurality of clamping devices adapted to be applied to the channel members along spaced each of the clamping devices being adapted to engage the free ends of the channel legs and to force them toward each other after the flexible sheet and the tube have been The present invention also provides a channel member as described above for use with the sheet Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description The drawings illustrate several sheet clamps constructed in accordance with the by way of example 1 is an exploded perspective view of one form of sheet clamp constructed in accordance with the 2 is a transverse section of the sheet clamp of 1 in clamping a modification to sheet clamp of illustrates further and illustrates a variation in the sheet clam of The sheet clamp illustrated in 1 and 2 is used for two plastic sheets 2 and It includes a channel member 10 of substantially section having a pair of parallel legs 12 and 14 and a bridge channel member is made of sheet such as mm galvanized The free end of each channel leg 12 and is formed with an 18 and 20 extending into the channel member in the direction toward the bridge Each extension is joined to its channel leg by a and substantially lar to its respective the remaining and of the extension being substantially parallel to but spaced from respective channel The straight portions and of the extension are spaced from each other and terminate short of the bridge the length of shoulders and is of the width of the channel and the free ends of the straight extensions and are spaced bridge l6 a distance which is less than of the height of the channel member but less than sheet clamp of 1 and 2 also includes a tube preferably of plastic or having an outer diameter larger the space between portions and of the and also larger tha the distance between the free end the 1 and of the extensions and of bridge The sheet clamp further includes a plurality of clamping devices adapted to be applied to channel member 10 along spaced locations Each of the clamping devices includes a pair of nnrable jaws 26 28 adapted to engage the 10 each jaw terminating at one end in an and The two arms each other and fastner threaded through both at point adjacent to their respective The opposite end of the arms so as to form a By threading fastener through the arms 30 and jaws 26 and 28 are brought each These are configured so that when the clamp is tightened in the manner the jaws engage the free end upper 1 and 2 of their respective channel legs and force them toward each Arms and 32 are further formed with openings 3 adapted to receive a fastener or other member for attaching or supporting the clamp and the sheets clamped In the two sheets 2 and k to and clamped b the sheet clamp are laid over the top of the channel member 10 in overlapping relationship as shown in and then tube 22 is pressed into the space between the vertical portions and 20 of extensions 18 and Even though tube 22 is of larger diameter than the space between these the latter extensions will give because of their elasticity made of sheet In tube is not perfectly but is and therefore will also give to permit its entry between exentsions 18 and It will be seen that after the tube 22 is forced within the channel the elasticity of the fre extensions apply a force against tube 22 urging it toward the bridge The flexible sheets 2 and are tightly gripped along three continous lines of namely between the tube 22 and the bridge and between 22 and the two extensions 18 and In order to more positively hold the flexible sheets within the channel member when very strong forces are to be a plurality of the clamping devices are attached at spaced locations along the channel The screws of the clampin devices are then This causes the free end of the channel 18 and 20 to be forced toward each other as shown in The clamping devices should not be tightened to the point where the tops of extensions 18 and 20 come into contact with each or where the free ends of the extensions contact their respective channel legs 26 and The whole assembly including the clamped flexible sheets may then be attached to any supporting structure by means of the openings in the clamping devices In order to avoid tearing of the clamp flexible the junctures between portions and of extension and similarly between portions and of extensions should be as In some it may be desirable to include a lining of plastic or material so as to protect the flexible sheets from This is shown in wherein the lining is illustrated as a separate strip of plastic or rubber material interposed between tube 22 and the extensions 18 and 20 of the member 10 so as to protect the sheets when applied thereover The clamping devices 24 are not essential and would normally be used only when the sheets to be clamped are expected to be subjected to Other types 1 of clamping devices could also be for example the type illustrated in the clamp is of section and includes a pair of fixed jaws One contains a screw 46 at the top adapted to engage the top of leg 14 of the channel member and to force it toward leg The bottom of leg is free and is not moved when the screw is If the opposite 48 of the clamp could contain a similar but this is not illustrates a variation which does not require the use of clamping devices 24 or In this the channel member is also of including a pair of channel legs and connected by a bridge The free extensions 60 include converging portions and 60 and diverging portions and in the direction of the bridge The free extensions here are joined to the upper ends of the channel legs by shoulders 62 and 64 which are substantially perpendicular to the respective channel The dimensions of these well as the distance between bridge 56 and the lower ends of the extensions 58 and 60 may have substantially the same relationship as described above with reference to the structure of As in tube to tube in may be between the extensions to firmly grip the clamped flexible sheet between it and the sides of the two as well as between it and the bridge o the channel Where the construct ons of are used with an outer clamp or closing the outer clamp will cause the channel member to be bent so that the angle between the bridge and each leg 16 l respectively in will be less than This is advantageous under the longitudinal bending forces will tend to flex the legs toward each other thus more positively securing the tube and the sheet within Where this construction is used without an outer it is preferable to make this angle less than in the member so that the same action is provided under Further variations and applications of the invention will be insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (8)

HAVING NOV particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-

1. A sheet clamp fo flexible sheets, characterised in that it includes a channel member of substantially U-shape section including a pair of parallel: legs and a bridge, the channel member further including a pair of extensions each formed as a continuation of the free ea« of one of the channel legs, each of said extensions extending into the channel member toward the bridge but terminating short of the bridge, said extensions being spaced from each other and from their respective channel legs, and a tube adapted to be inserted ithin the channel member between said extensions for clamping the flexible sheet therein, the diameter of said tube bein larger than the space between said extensions and being clarger than twice the distance between the free end of aai d extension^ and said bridge, the elasticity of said free extensions applying force against said tube, when the tube is inserted, urging same toward the bridge for firmly griping the flexible sheet therebetween and also between said extensions and said tube.

2. A sheet clamp according to either of Claimyi 1 ff wherein each of said free extensions is Joined to its respective channel leg by a shoulder extending substantially perpendicular to the channel leg, the length of said shoulder being from 28-36$ of the width' of said channel member, and the free end of said extensions being spaced from said bridge less than of the height of the channel member but. no less than k mm.

3. · A sheet clamp according to either of Claims l >r 2, vherein each of said extensions is aubstantially straight and parallel to its respective channel leg.

4. A sheet clamp according to an one of Claims 1-3, further including a plurality of clamping devices adapted to be applied to the channel member along spaced points thereof, each of said clamping devices adapted to engage the free ends of the channel leg and to force them toward each other after said flexible sheet and tub have been inserted into the channel member.

5. * A sheet lamp according to Claim , vherein each of said clamping devices comprises a pair of movable jaws adapted to be disposed on opposite tsides of the channel member to be engageable vith the free ends of the channel legs but not with the ends thereof Joined to the channel bridge, each of said jaws having an arm, the tvo arms of the tvo jaws facing each other and receiving a fastener for drawing them together to thereby also force the jaws and the free ends of the Channel legs toward each other.

6. A sheet clamp according to Claim 4, vherein said arms are formed with openings o other fastening means for attaching the sheet clamp to a support.

7. « A shee clamp according to Claim 4, vherei each of said clamping devices comprises a pai of fixed aws adapted to be disposed on. opposite sides of the channel member and a threaded member in one or both javs adapted to engage the free end of the respective channel leg for forcing one or both toward the other*

8. A sheet clamp according to either of Claims 1 or 2, vherein said extensions converge toward each other and then diverge avay fran each other in the direction twoard the channel bridge. 9» A sheet clamp according to any one of Claims 1-8, wherein said tube is made of rubber or plastic. 10. A sheet clamp according to any one of Claims 1-9, wherein a separate lining strip of plastic or rubber is interposed between the tube and the extensions of the channel member. 1.1. A sheet clamp according to any one of Claims 1-10, in combination with one or more flexible sheets clamped thereby. COHEN ZEDE & SPISBACH P.O.BOX 33116, TEL AVIV RNEYS FOR APPLICANTS.