US2726060A

US2726060A - Cam actuated attachment fitting

Info

Publication number: US2726060A
Application number: US368369A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin C Elsner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-07-16
Filing date: 1953-07-16
Publication date: 1955-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1972-12-06

Description

1955 E. c. ELSNER 2,726,060

5 CAM ACTUATED ATTACHMENT FITTING Filed July 16, 1955 H /6 4 39 5 1 32 39 2 if 29 28 29 26 29 I 29 FQ wm C Eisner E .1 3/ lflVENTOR,

Uite i Patented Dec. 6, 1955 CAM ACTUATED ATTACHMENT FITTING Edwin C. Eisner, Glendale, Calif. Application July16, 1953, Serial No.368,369 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-361) The present invention relates generally to connecting and fastening devices, and is more, particularly concerned with a quick action fitting for holding partsormembers in position by a clamping action exerted against asurface of the part or member to be secured.

it is an object of the invention toprovide compact, rugged sturdy fastening means which are arranged for quick attachment and detachment with respect to a complementary anchor member, and which incorporates novel manual operable cumming surfaces adapted to clampingly cooperate in the holding of other members or objects against movement from a desired position or location. For example, such fittings are especially advantageous and useful in the securing of elongate members having openings therein to floors, decks or the like, and when so secured will be held against movement away from the floor or deck as well as against lateral movements along the floor or deck, the fitting in the latter respect acting as a stud which extends into the opening.

Another object is to provide in a device of the character described, novel adjusting means for the camming surfaces in order to accommodate the fitting for utilization with members, which are to be secured to the floor or deck, of different thicknesses.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fitting embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken substantially 011 line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view,taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showingthe jaw members in closed position; and

ig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, except that the jaw members are shown in open position.

Referring generally to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention has been shown as embodying according to the broad concepts of the invention complementary structures A and B. In general these complementary structures are so arranged that one may be anchored to the other, and when so anchored may be manipulated for releasably securing a member or object to a floor or deck, and when so used will hold the object in position against the floor or deck and also retain the object against lateral displacement. The invention is thus susceptible of varied and of sundry applications.

The structure A comprises a stud 10, which may be supported in any suitable manner in a fioor or deck, and is shown herein as being positioned in a deck rail or channel 11 so as to be recessed below the plane of the lateral flanges 12-12 of the channel structure.

The structure A is of conventional. construction and the stud 10 has a circumferentially extending groove 13 which resultsin the formation of an enlarged head end portion 14, as shown in Fig. 5, at the projecting end of the stud.

The structure B is disclosed as comprisinga body 15, in this instance of generally cylindrical construction, composed of integrally formed

sections

16 and 17, the latter of which is of smaller diameter and externally threaded as shown at 18 to form a threaded upper end upon which there is adjustably mounted tan adjusting nut 19. Adjusting movement of the nut 19 in an upward direction is arrested by means of an abutment washer 20 which is secured to the end section 17 by means of a retaining screw 21, the washer 20 having its peripheral margin projecting beyond the threads in the line of movement of the adjusting nut.

The section 16 is formed with an axially positionedend recess 22 adapted to receive endwise therein the head end 14 of structure A. This section has diametrically aligned

side opening slots

23 and 24 which extend at their lower most ends into the recess 22 and have their bottom surfaces separated by a web 25 the lower end of which presents an abutment surface 26 at the bottom of the recess 22. This abutment surface limits the inward movement of the head end 14 of structure A, when it is inserted endwise into the recess.

The

slots

23 and 24 provide mounting spaces respectiveiy for

jaw members

27 and 28, these jaw members being of elongate construction and in each case rockingly pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pivot pin 29.

The jaw members are similarly constructed and are each provided with outer edge cam faces 30 and 31 arranged in angularly outward diverging relation, for a pur- A "pose which will subsequently be further explained. The

cam face 3!) is positioned at one end of the jaw, while the opposite end of the jaw member is in each case provided with segmental groove 32, the lower wall of which forms a contiguous inwardly projecting arcuate end flange 33. The groove and end flange of each jaw memher are thus arranged, in the closed position of the jaws, to interfittingly grip the head end 14 of the structure A, peripheral portions of the head end fitting into the segmental groove 32, and the end flange being adapted to extend into the groove 13 below the head end so as to anchor the structure B to the structure A.

The

jaw members

27 and 28 are arranged to be actuated into gripping and non-gripping positions by means of a tubular sleeve 34 which is mounted for reciprocable movements axially of the body 15'. This sleeve on diametrically opposite sides is provided with longitudinally extending end opening slots 35-35 for the passage of the end portions of a shaft 36 which is mounted inthe body section 17, as will hereinafter be explained more fully. The slots 35 permit and limit upward movement of the sleeve 34, while downward movement is limited by end flanges 37-37 at the outer end of body section 16.

In relation to the slots SS-35, the sleeve 34is provided with diametrically positioned rectangular openings 38-38, these openings being separated from the lowermost end of the sleeve by a bridging portion 39 in each case.

As shown in Fig. 5, it will be observed that with the sleeve 34 moved downwardly until it abuts the flanges 3737, the bridging portions 39 bear against the associated cam faces 31 of the adjacent jaw and act to force the jaws into closed gripping position. In this position of the jaws, it will be observed that the jaw end containing the cam face 30 projects through the associated opening 38. The jaws may be actuated to non-gripping or open position by moving the sleeve 34 upwardly. This may be done by manually grasping the upper end of the sleeve,

this end being provided with circumferentially extending spaced ridges 40 to provide a non-slipping hold on the sleeve. Upward movement of the sleeve causes the bridging portions 3939 respectively to engage the cam faces 3030 of the jaws and swing them about their respective pivot pins in a direction to swing the lowermost end of the jaws outwardly to open position, as shown in Fig. 6. In this position, the lower end edge of the sleeve 34 will be raised sufficiently to pass a spring biased ball detent 41 which serves to releasably retain the sleeve in raised position. In the lowered position of the sleeve 34, the ball detent 41 extends above the closed end of slot 35 so as to thus act as a deterrent to inadvertent raising of the sleeve.

The mechanism of the fitting as thus far described is primarily for the purpose of quickly releasing and securing the complementary structures A and B with respect to each other, and so that the structure A may form an anchor for structure B, the structure B then providing in effect a swivel stud which may serve as a support for a clamping mechanism which will now be described.

As shown best in Fig. '4, the shaft 36 extends through a transverse slot or passage 42 in the body section 17, this passage being elongated in an axial direction of the body section so as to permit lateral movements of the shaft 36 in a direction axially of the body 15. The shaft 36 is biased in an upward direction by means of an expansion coil spring 43, one end of this spring being seated in a recess 44 and the other end bearing against the shaft 36. The shaft 36 may be adjustably raised and lowered in the passage 42 by manipulating the adjusting nut 19. The lowermost edge of this nut bears against the shaft 36 and is provided with suitable notches or dwell points 45 which operate to hold the nut against inadvertent rotation, when the shaft 36 is disposed in one of the notches.

The projecting ends of the shaft 36 support in each case a cam member 46 which is shown as being integrally formed at the inner end of a lever arm 47, the two lever arms being joined at their outermost ends by a connecting member 48 so as to form a two-legged cam operating handle adapted to be swung from an upright full line position as shown in Fig. 1 to a substantially horizontal dotted line position in order to apply the full throw of the cam in a downward direction axially of the structure vA.

The fitting of the present invention is designed primarily to be utilized with members or objects having more or less standard spacing of parallel surfaces such as in a plank or board, such a member being generally indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the numeral 49, and as having a hole or opening 50 therein of snfiicient diameter to enable endwise insertion of the structure B and associated sleeve 34 therein.

When the structure B is thus inserted, the sleeve 34 is in raised position so as to actuate the

jaws

27 and 28 to opened position. By inserting the structure B into the opening50 and engaging the jaws over the head end 14 of an associated structure A, the structure B may be rigidly anchored in position by pushing the sleeve 34 downwardly so as to close the

jaws

27 and 28.

With the position of the shaft 36 properly adjusted, the handle of the cam mechanism may be moved from upright position to substantially horizontal position so as to cause the respective cams 46-46 to engage the adjacent top surface of the member 49 and force it downwardly against the upper surfaces of flanges 12--12, and thus clamp the member to the floor or deck. Moreover, the structure B being securely anchored also forms in effect a vertical projecting stud positioned within the opening 50 so that the member 49 is likewise held against lateral movements or shifting over the floor or deck surface.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of the attachment fitting may be made and substituted for thoseherein' shown and described, without departing from the spirit 4 of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connecting and fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of elongate jaw members supported adjacent one end of said body structure for movements to closed and opened positions, the other end of said body structure being externally threaded and having a transverse slot; a tubular sleeve axially slidable on said body; connections between said sleeve and jaw members for actuating the jaws to closed and opened positions in response to the axial movements of said sleeve; a shaft extending through said slots; cams respectively carried by the shaft ends; means biasing said shaft towards the adjacent end of said body; a stop nut adjust able on said threaded end, said nut being in the path of biased movement of said shaft; and a handle connected with said shaft for moving said cams, said handle straddling said body and having leg portions connected respectively with said cams.

2. A connecting and fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of elongate jaw members supported adjacent one end of said body structure for movements to closed and opened positions, the other end of said body structure being externally threaded and having a transverse slot; a tubular sleeve axially slidable on said body; connections between said sleeve and jaw members for actuating the jaws to closed and opened positions in response to the axial movements of said sleeve; a shaft extending through said slot; cams respectively carried by the shaft ends; means biasing said shaft towards the adjacent end of said body; a stop nut adjustable on said threaded end, said nut being in the path of biased movement of said shaft; and a handle connected with said shaft for moving said cams.

3. A connecting and fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of elongate jaw members supported adjacent one end of said body structure for movements to closed and opened positions, the other end of said body structure being externally threaded and having a transverse slot; a tubular sleeve axially slidable on said body; connections between said sleeve and jaw members for actuating the jaws to closed and opened positions in response to the axial movements of said sleeve; a shaft extending through said slot; cams respectively carried by the shaft ends; means biasing said shaft towards the adjacent end of said body; a stop nut adjustable on said threaded end, said nut being in the path of biased movement of said shaft; and means for rotating said cams.

4. A connecting and fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of elongate jaw members supported adjacent one end of said body structure for movements to closed and opened positions; a tubular sleeve axially slidable on said body; connections between said sleeve and jaw members for actuating the jaws to closed and opened positions in response to the axial movements of said sleeve; a shaft supported on said body for lateral adjusting movements axially of said body; cams respectively carried by the shaft ends; and a handle connected with said shaft by which said cams may be rotated.

5. A connecting and fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of elongate jaw members supported adjacent one end of said body structure for movements to closed and opened positions; a tubular sleeve axially slidable on said body; connections between said sleeve and jaw members for actuating the jaws to closed and opened positions in response to the axial movements of said sleeve; rotatable cams supported on said body adjacent its other end, said cams being diametrically positioned on opposite sides of said body; and a manually operable handle for rotating said cams.

6. In a connecting and fastening device for releasably securing a member against a surface area, said member having an opening therein: a body structure adapted to be inserted endwise into said opening; means carried by said body structure adapted for movement into gripped and non-gripped association with an anchor part associated with said surface area; and a manually operable cam carried by said body structure having a camming surface adapted to engage said member and upon operation force the member against said surface area, said body structure forming in effect a stud for holding said member against lateral movements.

7. In a device for removably securing and holding a member against a floor or deck surface, and against lateral shifting movement thereon, said member having an opening therein: a body structure adapted for endwise insertion in said opening and movement to a seated position with its upper end projecting above said member; elements carried by the inserted end of said body structure adapted in said seated position for gripping and nongripping association With a floor or deck anchored means axially aligned with said opening and positioned adjacent its inner end; means accessible at the upper end of said inserted body for manually actuating said elements, said elements, when in gripping association With the anchored means, acting to retain the body structure in upstanding position and prevent lateral shifting of the member; and a manually operable cam carried at the upper end of said inserted body having a camming surface engageable with an adjacent surface of said member, said cam acting to press said member against the floor or deck and hold it against raising displacement therefrom.

8. In a device for removably securing and holding a member against a floor or desk surface, and against lateral shifting movement thereon, said member having an opening therein: a body structure adapted for end- Wise insertion in said opening and movement to a seated position With its upper end projecting above said member; elements carried by the inserted end of said body structure adapted in said seated position for gripping and non-gripping association with a floor or deck anchored means axially aligned with said opening and positioned adjacent its inner end; means accessible at the upper end of said inserted body for manually actuating said elements, said elements, when in gripping association with the anchored means acting to retain the body structure in upstanding position and prevent lateral shifting of the member; a transverse shaft supported at the upper end of said inserted body structure for raising and lowering relative movement; an abutment adjustable axially of said body structure for limiting raising movement of said shaft; a spring resilient retaining said shaft against said abutment; and a manually rotatable cam carried by said shaft, said cam having a camming surface engageable with an adjacent surface of said member, said cam acting to press said member against the floor or deck and hold it against raising displacement therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,182 Ray Sept. 7, 1937 2,113,852 Meade Apr. 12, 1938 2,654,135 Grizzard Oct. 6, 1953