US3232573A

US3232573A - Support bracket

Info

Publication number: US3232573A
Application number: US149330A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert I Berman
Original assignee: PENN CHEM CORP
Current assignee: PENN CHEM CORP
Priority date: 1961-11-01
Filing date: 1961-11-01
Publication date: 1966-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-01

Description

Feb. 1, 1966 H. l. BERMAN 3,232,573

SUPPORT BRACKET Filed Nov. 1. 1961 Herberf Barman INVENTOR.

Ammey:

United States Patent 3,232,573 SUPPORT BRACKET.

Herbert I. Bel-man, Lancaster, Pa., assign'o'r to Penn- Chem Corporation, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 1,1961; Ser. No. 149,330 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-226) This invention relates to brackets or clamps, and more particularly to a' clamp' adapted to support a standard scientific laboratory transformer on a standard laboratory ring stand or on a one-half to fifty-four hundredths inch diameter metal rod or on a pipe having a similar outside diameter.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a device for mounting transformers or' other articles above a laboratory table or bench for saving space and removing the transformer to a relatively safe position where it is free from damage due to spillage of liquids, chemicals, compounds, etc. thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support bracket for transformers which permits safe, quick and easy mounting of the transformer in an elevated position without requiring any skill or special tools on the part of the operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting various objects on a rod or pipe which is of relatively simple design, of economical construction, durable in use and requires a minimum of maintenance.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting various objects which is particularly adapted to be manufactured by an extrusion process.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting objects on straight rods or pipes which may be inserted on and removed from the support in a radial direction, thereby not requiring that the bracket be inserted over the end of the support.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the bracket installed on a vertical rod and supporting a transformer thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel bracket or clamp; and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of FIGURE 1 on a reduced scale with the transformer removed.

With continuing reference to the various figures of the drawings wherein identical reference numerals indicate like parts, it can be seen that the bracket is secured to the rear of a standard scientific laboratory transformer 12 and supports it in an elevated position on a vertically extending rod 14. The rod 14 comprises a portion of a standard laboratory ring stand which has approximately one-half inch diameter. The transformer 12 is of the variable voltage type generally employed in scientific laboratories.

The transformer 12 has a generally cylindrical housing 16 and a control mechanism 18 on its forward vertically extending face. The back wall of the housing 16 includes a vertically extending circular plate 20. The plate is slightly larger in diameter than the housing 16 and has three mounting wings 21 of arcuate shape spaced 120 apart around its periphery. Each wing has a threaded bore 23 for receiving a stud 50 of bracket 10.

The bracket 10 is of generally rectangular configuration and includes four

rectangular sides

22, 24, 26 and 28 of 3,232,573 M e re 1219 equal sizeand of the same shape, and further includes two parallel end walls 30 and 32. I

The bracket 10 is formed with ag'roove 34'which extends longitudinally there'through, and'the groove further extends through the front wall'24' inwardly at an angle to the side walls 22 and 26 towards the center of the bracket. The groove 34 extends slightly beyond the center of the bracket and terminates in a'V-shaped trough 36 having an apex 38. The groove 34' has two parallel walls 40 and 42'which form an angle of approximately 30 with the side walls 22 and 26. The walls' 4 0 and 42 terminate inwardly at the outer edges of the side walls of the trough 36. V

The side walls 44 .and 460i trough 36 form'an angle of approximately with each other and the w all 44 is parallel to the back wall 28 of the bracket.

A plurality of threaded spaced bores 48 are provided in the center of the side wall 44 and extend perpendicular thereto. Threaded cylindrical studs 50 are screwed into the bores 48. The studs 50 have conventional screwdriver slots 52 in their outer ends, and the inner ends thereof are provided with tapered surfaces 54.

The side wall 26 is provided with a plurality of bores 56 which in turn are provided with threads for receiving and mating with the threads on stud 58. The stud 58 is provided with a conventional wing head 60 to facilitate manual rotation thereof and its inner end is rounded as shown at 62. The bores 56 for studs 58 are arranged in a row parallel with the front wall 24.

In operation, the bracket 10 is mounted in a vertical position offset from the vertical center of the back plate 20 of transformer 12 so that threaded bores 48 are aligned with two of the threaded bores 23 in the wings 21 of the plate 20. Screws 50 are then rotated by a conventional tool such as a screwdriver so that the inner ends thereof are threaded into the bores in the plate 20 and the head of the studs 50 become flush with the side wall 44 or extend inwardly into the bores 48. The transformer is then manually lifted and moved so that groove 34 receives rod 14 and the rod abuts against the side walls 44 and 46 of trough 36. The transformer and bracket 10 are then rotated about the axis of rod 14 to the desired angular position and then slid or moved vertically along the rod 14 to the desired vertical position, and then the screws 58 are rotated until their inner ends 62 tightly abut one side of the rod 14 and urge it tightly against

walls

42, 44 and 46. It is to be noted, that the rod 14 is a part of a conventional laboratory stand and is one-half to .540 inch in diameter. The axis of bores 56 and studs 58 are spaced a distance from the wall 44 which is slightly greater than the radius of the rod 14, and this distance may be for example or A of one inch. This ensures that the curved end 62 of stud 58 will contact the rod 14 so as to urge it inwardly within groove 34.

While this novel clamp or bracket 10 has been particularly designed for laboratory use as explained above, it is apparent that the bracket may be made in larger or smaller sizes if desired to be used for other purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

For use in releasably mounting a unit having a substantially planar base on an elongated cylindrical support rod, a vertically elongated member, said member having a groove formed in one side thereof, said groove extending longitudinally throughout the full length of the mem her, said groove being of a depth suificient so as to accommodate a major portion of a support rod, said groove terminating in a fiat bottom Wall, said bottom wall being substantially parallel to the side of the elongated member opposite from said one side, this opposite side being substantially planar and adapted to receive the planar base fiat thereagainst, a plurality of fasteners for securing said base to the elongated member, said fasteners being vertically spaced along said member and engageable with said base through the bottom wall of said member, and vertically spaced along said member and engageable with said base through the bottom wall of said member, and vertically spaced adjustable fastening means extending through said member and engageable with a support rod positioned within the groove for fixing the position of the member on a rod, the side walls of the groove diverging outwardly from opposite edges of the bottom wall toward said one side, one of said walls having the outer portion 20 thereof angled so as to extend substantially parallel to the other side wall, said outer portion terminating at said one side inwardly of the corresponding edge of the bottom wall, said side walls, including said outer port-ion, being fiat, said fastening means extending into the groove from the other side wall in a manner so as to force a cylindrical rod into line contact with the bottom wall and inner and outer portions of said one side Wall.

FOREIGN PATENTS 531,774 10/1921 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,232 573 February 1 1966 Herbert I Berman It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant (only) line 1, for "Herbert L. Berman" read Herbert I. Berrnan Signed and sealed this 20th day of December 1966.

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents