JPH01153806A - Clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make position adjustment easier at preliminary clamping and clamp in a secured way with simple structure and operation by constituting a clamp with an upper jaw member with a bearing member and a clamping rib hanging down from the body, a lower jaw member with a bearing member, a clamping rib and an intermediate retention rib projecting from the body, and an adjusting screw. CONSTITUTION: An upper jaw member 31 is formed by a rear engaging portion 35 having a groove 46 hanging down from a body 34 having a screw opening 42, and a clamping rib 36 having a rib 48. A lower jaw member 32 is formed by a rear engaging portion 38 having a tongue 47 projecting from a body 37 having an opening 41, a clamping rib 39 and an intermediate retention rib 40 standing upright. After the upper and lower jaw members 31, 32 are retained with each other by a bolt 35, the space between the clamping ribs 36, 39 is extended so as to mount easily and the clamp is set at the predetermined position, a groove 46 is engaged with the tongue 47, and the screw 33 is tightened. Thus, positioning is easier and it is possible to clamp safely in a secured way with simple structure and operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a clamp particularly suitable for use in hanging cabinets that are removable and adjustable from the support rails of counters and other work surfaces.

In modular furniture structures, such as the types of furniture used in traditional technical laboratories and offices, cabinet structures, drawer units, door mounting structures, shelving structures, etc. are often suspended from work surfaces or support rails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Such units are attached to support structures by screws or bolts, but the connecting members are not always easily accessible, the cabinet units are often heavy, and the connecting points have to be positioned such that screws or other The difficulty of supporting the connecting members as they are inserted and tightened makes installation cumbersome and sometimes quite difficult. The configuration of the fixed connection points also prevents, or at least greatly limits, the range of adjustment of the position of the cabinet unit after the connection members have been inserted and before they have been fully tightened.

Ideally, a means should be provided to suspend the cabinet structure, so that it can be moved laterally along the work surface, and when the desired position is chosen, all gaps between the members should be The mounting device can be easily tightened to pull the cabinet against the underside of the workbench such that the joints are tightly closed and opposing surfaces of the parts are placed in a jammed condition. Although various types of mounting devices have been proposed to allow lateral adjustment of cabinet units, and different constructions of clamps have been shown in the prior art, the devices commonly used heretofore have been complicated and cumbersome to operate. All of these objectives cannot be met due to the inability to achieve the adjustability and safety of the installation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,266,762, 3,185,418, 3,333,799, U.S. Pat.
Reference may be made to specification no. 3.445.081.

No. 870.8 filed June 5, 1986.
No. 89 shows a J-shaped lamp having an upright stem, an upper arm, and a hook-shaped lower arm. The upper arm portion terminates in a rib projecting toward the lower arm portion and has a threaded hole extending along a line parallel to and spaced apart from the lower arm portion.

A screw is threaded into the threaded hole, and when the clamp is in use, the upper arm section is suspended over the flange of the support rail, and the clamp is pivoted to attach the top wall of the cabinet unit supported by the lower arm section. The screw is tightened against the rail so as to push it upwardly into tight engagement with the rail.

Accordingly, the clamp of the above-mentioned US patent application is such that the loosely suspended cabinet is moved into position under the support rail of the workbench and the clamp is tightened with a wrench or other suitable tool so that the clamp holds the cabinet unit. The user is able to pivot and pull upwardly into tight engagement with the rail structure. More than one clamp can be used based on the width of the cabinet unit being hung. Removal of the cabinet structure is simply and easily accomplished by reversing the procedure.

Although the clamp of the above-mentioned US patent application overcomes many of the drawbacks of the prior art, one drawback is noted. That is, such a lamp in the partially tightened condition effectively suspends the entire cabinet in a manner that allows for lateral and fore-aft adjustments in the position of the cabinet, but does not require work when making such adjustments. It may be possible for the user to pull the cabinet forward toward the user to a size that allows the rear flange or lip of the cabinet to disengage from the support beam of the platform or wall structure. Thus, as shown in the above-mentioned patent application and drawings, when the cabinet unit is pulled forward or to the left a sufficient distance, the lip is separated from the beam.

In such cases, although the front of the cabinet is still supported by the clamp or clamps, torsional and torque effects can nevertheless occur and damage the cabinet unit.

In either case, detachment of the lip from the support rail requires that the installer repeat several installation steps and take care to ensure that the same overadjustment does not occur again.6 To correct the problem. Therefore, the main object of this invention is to be simple in structure and operation, to move a loosely suspended cabinet into position under the workbench support rail and to tighten the clamp with a wrench or other suitable tool. and pivot the clamp to pull the cabinet unit upwardly into tight engagement with the rail structure without the risk that such adjustment would result in unintended release of the rear or other parts of the suspended cabinet unit. The object of the present invention is to provide a clamp that allows the user to adjust the position of the cabinet structure before tightening the clamp.

Briefly, the clamp consists of three members: an upper jaw member, a lower jaw member, and a screw adjustably connecting the two jaw members together. The upper jaw member has a horizontally extending body portion having a depending support portion at one end and a depending clamping rib at the other end. Similarly, the lower jaw part has an upright support part at one end,
It has a horizontally extending body portion with an upwardly projecting clamping rib at the other end. Furthermore, the lower jaw member is provided with an intermediate retaining rib. The adjustment screw extends vertically and when the clamp is in use, the head is positioned below the lower jaw member and the threaded portion extends upwardly through the enlarged hole in the lower jaw member.

The upper end of the screw is threaded into the hole provided by the upper jaw member. Because the opening in the lower jaw member is substantially larger than the threaded portion of the adjustment screw, the two upper and lower jaw members can not only move away from each other when the screw is loosened, but also at an angle to each other. Can be placed. Thus, the upper and lower jaw members can be spread apart when the members are loosely preassembled to allow the clamp to be installed in place. The partial tightening of the adjustment screw ensures that the clamp cannot be dislodged, and the longitudinal adjustment of the cabinet is limited by the retaining ribs of the clamp, which prevents the adjustment screw from unintentionally removing the cabinet from the suspended position. With zero partial tightening enabled, the cabinet is free to slide laterally to the desired adjustment position when the clamp is tightened to secure the cabinet in the selected position.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification and drawings.

Embodiment Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 indicates a reinforced counter provided with support rails and beam assemblies 11.

As shown, the beam assembly 11 has a box beam 12 and a channel beam or rail 13. The six box beams 12 and rails 13 provide a rigid support for the counter 10 and the base of the beam assembly 11. They can be bonded together to provide a strong support for the suspended cabinet 14. In all substantial respects, the counter, beam, rail, and cabinet construction is incorporated by reference in U.S. Pat.
It is the same as the member described in No. 0.889. For the purposes of this invention, the shapes of the box beam 12 and the groove members or rails 13 are not limited except as described below, and in fact the box beam 12 can be omitted or reinforcing members of different shapes can be used. Can be replaced.

Regarding the support beam or rail 13, a channel shape is highly preferred but not essential. However, it is important that the support rail 13 has a front wall 13a, a rearwardly extending wall 13b, and a flange 13c extending in the same direction as the front wall 13a.

Cabinet structure 14 can be of various sizes and designs, all as well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, such a cabinet structure 14 includes a peripheral rectangular front frame 15 and side walls 14.
a, a rear wall 15b, and a bottom wall (not shown).

A front opening 16 formed by the front frame 15 is capable of attaching a door (not shown). Since these elements are well known and do not form part of this invention, it is believed that no further explanation is necessary, except as noted below.

The peripheral front frame 15 has an upper frame member 15a terminating in a rear flange 15b depending along the rear. An access opening 17 is provided behind the flanged upper frame member. Means for supporting the upper trailing edge from the wall 18 or wall panel structure is provided by the cabinet structure, in the illustrated embodiment a rearwardly projecting top flange or lip that rests on a support beam or rail 20 secured to the wall or wall panel. 19 is provided in the cabinet structure 14.

As shown in the drawings, particularly in FIG. 1, the clamp 30 includes three members: an upper jaw member 31 and a lower jaw member 32.
and an adjustment screw 33 for connection. The upper jaw member 31 has a generally inverted U-shaped cross section and, in use, has a horizontal arm or body portion 34 and a depending rear latching portion 35.
and a clamp rib 36 forming a hanging front engagement part. Similarly, the lower jaw member 32 has a U-shaped cross-section with a generally horizontal arm or body portion 37 and an upright rear engagement portion 38.
and an upright clamp rib 39.

The body portion 37 of the lower jaw member 32 has a substantially greater horizontal extension than the body portion 34 of the upper jaw member 31, and the lower jaw member 32 has an upright support or rear engagement portion 38. It will be appreciated that there is also an intermediate retaining rib 40 spaced from the upright clamping rib 39.

Aperture 41 extends vertically through body portion 37 at a point between retention rib 40 and upright rear engagement portion 38 . This opening 41 is not threaded, and the adjustment screw 3
The diameter is larger than the elongated threaded portion 33a of No. 3, but smaller in diameter than the head 33b of the adjusting screw 33.

The upper jaw member 31 is provided with a vertical threaded opening 42 that is aligned with the opening 41 and into which the threaded portion 33a of the adjustment screw 33 is threaded when the member is assembled.

The length of the threaded portion 33a is substantially longer than the combined vertical dimensions of the rear engaging portions 35, 38, so that the members of the clamp 30 may be pre-loosely assembled as shown in FIG. The parts 31, 32 can be held together by the adjusting screw 33 even if they are not in contacting engagement with each other. Furthermore, because the opening 41 is substantially larger than the threaded portion 33a of the adjustment screw 33, the lower jaw member 32 is larger than the upper and lower jaw members 31.
32 can be pivoted or tilted away from the upper jaw member 31 to provide greater spacing between the clamping ribs (FIG. 2). Such a widening greatly facilitates the installation of loose clamps into the working position and allows the upper and lower jaw members 3
1.32 is opened wide enough to allow the flange 13c and rear flange 15b of the rail 13 to pass between the clamp rib 36 and the intermediate retaining rib 40, and then partially tighten the adjusting screw 33 to install the clamp. It can be prevented from coming off (Figure 3).

When the partially clamped clamp 7 is in the working position, the upright flange 13c of the rail 13 is arranged behind the clamping rib 36 and the depending rear flange 15b is arranged between the retaining rib 40 and the threaded part 33a. This is very important. The horizontal spacing between the threaded portion 33a and the retaining rib 40 is sufficiently greater than the thickness of the depending rear flange 15b to allow limited longitudinal adjustment of the cabinet, but not sufficient to allow the flange or lip 19 to disengage from the rail 20. Therefore, when the clamp is only partially loosened, the user can easily adjust the cabinet to the desired position without fear of any part of the cabinet coming loose from the suspension device.

Once the cabinet is moved laterally to the desired position and adjusted back and forth, the front of the cabinet will be flush with the front of the box beam 12 and the adjustment screw 33 will be fully tightened to ensure that it is aligned with the box beam 12 and the rail 13. The cabinet can be tightened (Figure 4).

The use of clamps therefore greatly simplifies the task of hanging the cabinet unit from the support beam. The clamp supports the cabinet without the risk of it coming off the suspension when partially tightened, leaving the installer's hands free to move the cabinet into position. Also, in addition to the other benefits we have discussed,
The clamp structure allows the clamp to be inserted into position anywhere along the width of the cabinet unit, so there is no need to slide the clamp from the open end of the cabinet unit or rail.

To ensure proper engagement and locking of the upper and lower jaw members 31.32, the engagement surfaces of the rear engagement portions 35.38 are of a tongue and groove configuration. In the illustration, the hanging rear engaging portion 3
A groove 46 is provided on the lower surface of 5, and an upright rear engaging portion 38
Although the upper surface of the is provided with a matching tongue 47, it will be appreciated that the orientation could be reversed.

A back and forth movement of the upper jaw member 31 relative to the channel member or rail 13 should be avoided, so that the upper jaw member 31 has a structure in which the rail 1
A rib 48 is provided that projects forward or toward the end and engages the front wall portion 13a of No. 3. The hanging clamp rib 36 engages with both the lower wall portion 13b and the flange 13c of the rail 13, and in combination with the rib 48 supports the supporting rail 13.
The upper jaw member 31 is fixed against movement in the front-rear direction.

From the foregoing, it has been shown that clamps are particularly useful for hanging cabinet modules from horizontal support rails or beams, and have at least limited use in pulling side frame members of cabinet structures into tight engagement with vertical support beams. Can be used. Although the details of the preferred embodiment of the present invention have been described in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of these details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp embodying the invention, and FIG. 2 shows the clamp in its pre-loosely assembled condition when the clamp is installed in position to suspend a cabinet 3 from a support rail. Schematic sectional view, 3rd
The figure is a schematic sectional view showing the working relationship of the clamp with the screws partially tightened, and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the working relationship of the clamp with the screws partially tightened. In Figure 0, which is a diagram showing the clamp, 11: beam assembly, 12: box beam, 13: rail, 14: cabinet structure, 15 two front frames, 16: front opening, 17 two entrance/exit openings, 18: wall, 19 : Lip, 20: Rail, 3
0: Clamp, 31: Upper jaw member, 32: Lower jaw member, 33: Adjustment screw, 34.37: Main body part, 35.3
8: Rear engaging portion, 36.39: Clamp rib, 40: Holding rib, 41.42: Opening, 46: Groove, 47: Tongue piece, 48
:rib. Drawing ;γ・:':'l''':,'';knee,,2 none)
Procedural amendment February 16, 1988

Claims (14)

[Claims] (1) A top wall with a depending rear flange on a support rail having a front wall, a rearwardly extending wall, and a flange projecting from the rearwardly extending wall and spaced behind the front wall. A clamp for securing a cabinet having an upper frame member, comprising separable upper and lower jaw members and an adjustable coupling extending between the upper and lower jaw members, the upper jaw member having a support at one end and depending at the other end. The lower jaw member has a generally horizontally extending arm having a clamping rib, the lower jaw member having a support at one end, an upright clamping rib at the other end, and an upper spaced apart arm between the clamping rib and the support of the lower jaw member. the lower jaw member has a lower opening extending vertically therethrough at a point between the support and the retention rib, and the upper jaw member has a screw thread alignable with the lower opening of the lower jaw member. a through-cut upper opening, the coupling device having an adjustment screw with a head located below the lower jaw member and extending upwardly through the lower opening and threaded into the upper opening; The clamp rib of the upper jaw member is suspended from the flange of the support rail, and the clamp rib of the lower jaw member is suspended below the upper frame member of the cabinet in front of the flange. when the adjustment screw is tightened, the cabinet is raised so that the upper and lower jaw members are moved toward each other and into engagement with the rail, without restricting lateral movement when the adjustment screw is only partially tightened. A clamp characterized in that the retaining rib and the threaded portion are capable of engaging a depending flange of the cabinet to limit relative longitudinal movement of the cabinet. (2) The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the arm of the lower jaw member is substantially longer than the arm of the upper jaw member. (3) The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the support portions of the upper and lower jaw members extend facing each other. (4) The clamp according to claim 3, wherein one of the supporting parts is provided with a groove, and the other supporting part is provided with a tongue piece that is received in the groove. (5) The clamp according to claim 4, wherein the combined height of the support portions of the upper and lower jaw members is higher than the combined height of the clamp ribs of the upper and lower jaw members. 6. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the upright clamping rib of the lower jaw member projects substantially above the upper limit of the retaining rib. (7) The clamp according to claim 1, wherein a second rib is provided at one end of the upper jaw member, and the second rib projects from the opposite end in a direction away from the one end of the upper jaw member. (8) a support frame having a front wall; a horizontal rail having a horizontal wall extending rearwardly from the front wall; and a flange projecting upwardly from the horizontal wall and spaced behind the front wall; and a top frame; In combination with a cabinet having a depending rear flange and a cabinet removably suspended from a horizontal rail, the upper The jaw member has a substantially horizontally extending arm having a support at one end and a depending clamp rib at the other end, and the lower jaw member has a support at one end and an upright clamp rib at the other end, and has a support at one end and an upright clamp rib at the other end. the lower jaw member has an upwardly projecting retention rib spaced between the support portions of the jaw member, the lower jaw member has a lower opening extending vertically therethrough at a point between the support portion and the retention rib; The jaw member has a threaded upper opening alignable with the lower opening of the lower jaw member, and the coupling device has an adjustment screw with a head located below the lower jaw member and the lower opening. a threaded portion extending upwardly through the upper opening and threaded into the upper opening so that the clamping rib of the upper jaw member is suspended over the flange of the support rail and the clamping rib of the lower jaw member is suspended from the rear flange. When the front cabinet is lifted under the upper frame member, the tightening of the adjustment screw moves the upper and lower jaw members toward each other and lifts the cabinet into engagement with the rail; A clamp characterized in that the retaining rib and threaded portion are capable of engaging a depending flange of the cabinet so as to limit relative longitudinal movement of the cabinet without restricting lateral movement when tightened. (9) The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the arm of the lower jaw member is substantially longer than the arm of the upper jaw member. (10) The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the support portions of the upper and lower jaw members extend facing each other. (11) One of the support parts is provided with a groove, and the other support part is provided with a tongue piece that is received in the groove.
Clamp described in item 0. (12) The clamp according to claim 11, wherein the combined height of the support portions of the upper and lower jaw members is higher than the combined height of the clamp ribs of the upper and lower jaw members. 13. The clamp of claim 8, wherein the upright clamping rib of the lower jaw member projects substantially above the upper limit of the retaining rib. (14) a second rib is provided at one end of the upper jaw member;
9. The clamp of claim 8, wherein the second rib projects away from one end of the upper jaw member from the opposite end.