US3308831A

US3308831A - Clamp device

Info

Publication number: US3308831A
Application number: US493004A
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor J Kritske
Original assignee: Mayline Co
Current assignee: Mayline Co Inc; Mayline Co
Priority date: 1965-10-05
Filing date: 1965-10-05
Publication date: 1967-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-14

Description

March 14, 1967 v. J. KRITSKE CLAMP DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1965 United States Patent 3,308,831 CLAMP DEVICE Victor J. Kritske, Sheboygan, Wis, assignor to Mayline Company, Inc., Sheboygan, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,004 4 Claims. (Cl. 12916.7)

This invention relates to a clamp device and more particularly to such a device for holding sheets of material adjacent an edge thereof.

The present invention contemplates a clamp device adaptable for binding sheets of material as, for example, engineering, architectural, and construction plans. Frequently it is necessary to release the clamp device to insert additional or revised sheets into a set of plans or to insert a new set of plans. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved clamp device which will securely hold one or several sheets of material, which may be easily and quickly released, and so arranged that the parts will not be accidentally disassembled.

Prior binders for plans have had gripping jaws for gripping the sheets adjacent an end thereof and these jaws or gripping members have been resiliently-urged apart by a spring or springs disposed between the jaws. Such springs have frequently interfered with the sheets being inserted between the jaws; therefore it is another object of this invention to provide a new and useful clamp device wherein the area between the gripping members is substantially free from the presence of springs or the like. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp device including a support member and gripping members and having an improved means for supporting the gripping members on the support member.

Other objects are to provide an improved clamp de- .vice which is generally lightweight, the parts of which may be formed by extrusion, and which has gripping members having a generally identical cross-section.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention shown binding a plurality of sheets of material;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale and having portions broken away to better illustrate the relationship of the parts;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a gripping member constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the clamp device indicated at is illustrated as holding in assembled relation a plurality of sheets of material 12 such as drawings, plans, pages of sheet material and the like. While the clamp device is illustrated as clampingly engaging a plurality of sheets of material, it should be understood that the device may be used to clamp a single sheet of material if desired.

In general, the clamp device 10 includes an elongate support member 14, first and second gripping members or jaws 16 and 16', a means for resiliently urging the gripping members apart herein shown as compressiontype helical spring 18, and an actuating means for moving the gripping members toward each other to grip the sheets of material as will hereinafter be described.

In the embodiment illustrated, support member 14 is preferably formed by extruding any suitable material such as aluminum. The support member includes generally

parallel flanges

21 and 22 which are connected by intermediate portion or web 23, and which define an elongate slot 24, best shown in FIG. 3. Flange 21 has a generally C-section edge portion 25 best shown in FIG. 3, and which extends generally the full length of the flange. The C-section edge portion has an inner surface 26 which is generally equidistant from a radius point thereby defining a generally smooth groove extending the full length of the flange. Inner surface 26 terminates at

edges

27 and 28 which are spaced apart to provide a groove opening which faces the elongate slot 24. Preferably, the included angle between

edges

27 and 28 and the radius point is less than for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. Flange 22 likewise has a C-section edge portion 25' which is similar in description to that described above for flange 21, and similar parts are designated by the same numeral followed by prime Gripping members 16 and 16' are preferably formed by extruding any suitable lightweight material such as aluminum. The gripping members are preferably of identical configuration so that the same extrusion may be utilized for both gripping members. The following therefore, will describe first gripping member 16 but is equally applicable to second gripping member 16 and like parts are indicated on the drawings by the same numeral followed by prime The gripping member or jaw, best illustrated in FIG. 4, includes a first body portion 31 and a second body portion 32 conveniently disposed obliquely to the first body portion. Attached adjacent an end of the second. body portion is a gripping means of any convenient configuration for engaging the material to be clamped but herein illustrated in the form of

teeth

33 and 34. Oppositely extending

lateral portions

35 and 36 are attached adjacent the end of first body por tion 31. Lateral portion 35 preferably comprises a bead 37 having a generally cylindrical surface and shaped for lying closely adjacent the surface 26 of the support member. For :a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, lateral portion 36 preferably has upper and lower rounded portions adjacent an end thereof and these porti-ons are conveniently in the form of a bead 38. As best seen in FIG. 3, when the gripping members are assembled with the support member, as by sliding head 37 in the groove of the C-section 25, a hinge connection is formed. The opening between

edges

27 and 28 is preferably less than the size of the bead whereby the head is restrained from lateral removal from the groove. For this purpose the aforedescribed included angle is less than 180 and, in this manner, the clamp device cannot he accidentally disassembled.

An actuating means, generally designated by the numeral 40, is provided for pivoting the gripping members about the hinge connection to move the gripping members into gripping position and for retaining the same in such position. Preferably at least two actuating means are provided, and in the embodiment illustrated, each is in the form of a bolt 41 and a wing nut 42.' For insertion of the bolt, an opening 29 is provided in support member 14 (see FIG. 2). The bolt is operatively connected to the first and second gripping members. 16 and 16' as by engaging the lower portion of head 38. For this purpose, each support member has an opening 39 which cooperates with an adjacent opening in the opposite support member to provide a generally aligned opening with opening 29. Bolt 41 has a head 43 engaged with the underside of head 38 and a shoulder 44 disposed in opening 39. As shown, opening 39 and shoulder 44 are preferably of cooperating configuration to provide for axial restraint of the bolt as nut '42 is tightened on the bolt. It can be seen that head 43 engages the lower rounded portion of beads 38 and 38' thereby providing minimum friction.

As stated above, means is provided for resiliently urging the gripping members apart to open position, and this is conveniently in the form of a spring means such as compression-type helical spring 18 conveniently disposed around the shank of bolt 41. In this manner, the bolt operates to position the spring. It can be seen that as wing nut 42 is loosened, the spring will operate to push on the upper surface of beads 38 and 38' to pivot the gripping members about the hinge connection and force the teeth of the respective gripping members apart thereby releasing the sheet material being held. It can be seen that engagement of the spring on the rounded bead provides a minimum of friction during movement. As best seen in FIG. 3, the respective lateral portions of the gripping members extend generally to the center of elongate slot 24 and substantially span the slot, and spring 18 is disposed in the elongate slot between the lateral portions and web 23. In this manner, the spring means will not interfere with the material being gripped.

In this example, the elongate support member 14 is longer than the length of gripping members 16 and 16' and is provided with end portions 48 which extend a suitable selected distance beyond the ends of each of the gripping members 16 and 16'. Each portion 48 provides convenient support means for spanning distance between generally parallel rack members 50 for supporting the clamp device and sheets of material 12 conveniently held thereby in a vertical depending position as shown. It will be noted that the extremities of each end portion 48 are provided with a protective covering 49 of any suitable material.

It is now deemed obvious that the present invention comprises an improved clamp device wherein the gripping members may be formed of the same extrusion and in which the clamp device cannot he accidentally disassembled. It is also deemed obvious that the arrangement of the spring means is such that there will be no interference with the sheet of material being held and that the resulting clamp device is generally lightweight and attractive.

While I have thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clamp device for holding sheet-like material adjacent an edge thereof and comprising:

an extruded support member of generally channelshaped cross-section and including a web and generally parallel flanges defining an elongate slot therebetween and extending the full length of the support member, each flange having a generally circular groove adjacent the end of said slot and extending the full length of the flange, each groove having a full-length opening facing said slot, each said opening defining an included angle of lessthan 180 with the radius point of said circular groove, and said support member having at least two openings in the web;

first and second extruded gripping members of generally identical cross-section and each comprising an elongate body portion having oppositely extending lateral portions adjacent an end thereof, one of said lateral portions being a bead extending the full length of the body portion and shaped for lying closely adjacent the surface of one of said grooves to form a hinge connection with the respective flange and whereby the gripping member is restrained from lateral removal from the groove, the other of said lateral portions extending to a point adjacent the center of said slot for cooperating with the similar lateral portion of the opposite gripping member to substantially span the slot, said other lateral portions having means defining at least two openings generally aligned with the openings in said web, each body portion having a gripping means adjacent another end thereof and facing the opposite gripping member for gripping said material;

spring means engaged with said web and said other lateral portions for resiliently urging the gripping means apart; and

at least two generally T-headed bolts each having a shank extending through said aligned openings and having a nut thereon, each said head and nut engaging the web and said other lateral portions whereby the bolt may be selectively actuated to move the gripping means toward each other.

2. A clamp device for holding one or more sheets of material adjacent an edge thereof and comprising: an elongate support member of gene-rally channel-shaped cross-section and including a web and spaced first and second flanges defining an elongate slot extending generally the full length thereof, first and second gripping members each including a body portion having a gripping means at one end thereof and oppositely extending first and second lateral portions at the other end thereof, each said first lateral portion having a hinge connection to the slot side of the respective flange, each hinge connection including a longitudinally extending C-sectional edge portion on one of the items comprising said first lateral portion and said flange, each hinge connection including a longitudinally extending bead portion on the other of said items and engaged in said C-sectional portion, each said second lateral portion extending to a point adjacent the center of said elongate slot to substantially span the slot, resilient means disposed in the space between said web and said lateral portions and engaged with the support member and each said second lateral portion for urging the gripping means apart, and actuating means for simultaneously pivoting thegrippings members about their respective hinge connection for moving the gripping means toward each other.

3. A clamp device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the web has an opening therein communicating with the elongate slot, the second lateral portions have means defining an opening generally aligned with the web opening, the actuating means includes a generally T-headed bolt having a shank extending through said aligned openings and a nut threaded thereon, said bolt having its head engaging the second lateral portions, and wherein the second lateral portions each have a rounded portion engaged by the bolt head.

4. A clamp device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the resilient means includes a helical-type compression spring disposed in the slot and circumjacent to the shank of the bolt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,528 3/ 1887 Zoller 24248 X 1,911,277 5/1933 Helrner 12916.7 2,807,266 9/1957 Sni'adanko 129-36 2,819,507 1/1958 Petersen 24250 2,824,913 2/1958 Taylor 24-251 X 2,869,210 1/1959 Schneider 24---251 2,923,994 2/1960 Johnson 24'248 2,985,174 5/1961 Guth 12935 2,990,961 7/ 1961 Schneider 2425l X 3,069,737 12/ 1962 Schneider et al 12935 X JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

2. A CLAMP DEVICE FOR HOLDING ONE OR MORE SHEETS OF MATERIAL ADJACENT AN EDGE THEREOF AND COMPRISING: AN ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBER OF GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION AND INCLUDING A WEB AND SPACED FIRST AND SECOND FLANGES DEFINING AN ELONGATE SLOT EXTENDING GENERALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF, FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPING MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A BODY PORTION HAVING A GRIPPING MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF AND OPPOSITELY EXTENDING FIRST AND SECOND LATERAL PORTIONS AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, EACH SAID FIRST LATERAL PORTION HAVING A HINGE CONNECTION TO THE SLOT SIDE OF THE RESPECTIVE FLANGE, EACH HINGE CONNECTION INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING C-SECTIONAL EDGE PORTION ON ONE OF THE ITEMS COMPRISING SAID FIRST LATERAL PORTION AND SAID FLANGE, EACH HINGE CONNECTION INCLUDING A