US3512228A - Clamping device - Google Patents

Description

' Filed April 15, 1968 CLAMP'ING DEVICE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,512,228 CLAMPING DEVICE Bernard J. Carvell, 71 Bellevue Ave., Belvedere, Calif. Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 721,392 lint. Cl. A41j 51/08; A44p 21/00; B65d 85/67 U.S. Cl. 24243 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention primarily comprises a clamping device formed by two tubes each of approximately the same diameter and each with a longitudinal section removed such that when assembled in substantially a coaxial manner they form a clamp which may be opened and closed by twisting the outer tube about the inner. The device has a variety of applications including a pants hanger when used in combination with a conventional coat hanger and a paper dispenser.

My invention provides a simple closure and clamping device of wide application. Principally, it is an economic solution to the problem of hanging pants by the cuffs without using expensive conventional wooden clamps. Because of the simplicity of my design, pants clamps using the common wire hanger can be manufactured at very low cost. Basically, my invention comprises an inner and outer tube each with a longitudinal, end-to-end section removed. The tubes can be rotated in relation to one another such that both removed sections form a gap longitudinally along the concentric tubes. Anything inserted in this gap can be clamped in place by twisting one tube in respect to the other, closing the gap. With slight modification in the basic design, my device has a variety of applications. If the inner tube is cut longer than the outer and the ends capped, it may function as a dispenser for paper, foil or other rolled sheeting. Depending on the material selected for the tubes, the clamp may function as a drape or curtain hanger, or a framing to house and support glass, metal, wood, plastic, or other sheet material. In electronics the clamp could function as a connector or bus bar.

The device has utile features other than clamping. It can be advantageously used as a connector or protective cover over an object that will not permit a tube to be slipped on from its end. Many other objects and applications of my invention will become apparent from a full consideration of the specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp with a wire hanger;

FIG. 2 is a partial end section taken along the lin 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial end section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the basic clamp design;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention adapted for use as a paper dispenser;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the paper dispenser taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the particular embodiment of my invention there represented is that of a pants hanger 10. Here the pants hanger 10 employs a common wire coat hanger 112 as its means of suspension. A long inner tube 14 is notched 16 at each end as in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. The notches are sufficiently deep to permit the inner tube 14 to slip into the cradle or crossmember 18 of the coat hanger 12 and extend beyond the coat hangers ends. There are two outer tubes 20 and 22' ice in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Since a conventional hanger is about 16 inches in length and a pants cuff is about 8 inches, two pairs of pants may be hung on each hanger. Alternatively, a single outer tube on a conventional or modified wire hanger may be more ideal for certain situations.

The inner tube '14 has a longitudinal slot section 24 removed which forms a gap of slightly less than one-fourth the circumference of the tube running along its entire length from end to end. Each outer tube 20 and 22 is of approximately the same diameter as the inner tube 14, and has a slot 25 thereof removed. The slot 24 subtends an angle X of between 0 and at the axis of the tubes, and the slot 25 subtends an angle of between 0 and 180 with the sum of the angles X and Y being less than about 180 so that the two tubes are rotatably supported by a common interface which subtends an angle exceeding 180 at their center in all rotatable positions of the tubes. The sections removed from each outer tube 20 and 22 are slightly less than that of the inner tube 14. This is not an operational requirement, but rather one of appearance. Since both inner and outer tubes are flexible, the gap of the inner tube 14 decreases and the gap of the outer tube, 20 or 22, increases when the tubes are coaxially assembled. If both gaps were initially of the same size, a step appearance would result even in the open position. When the hanger is constructed with the outer gap less than that of the inner, the step is concealed as illustrated in FIG. 2, showing the pants hanger (10 in the open position. The open position is also represented in FIG. 1 with the outer tube 20 having its gap aligned with the gap of the inner tube 14. The ends of a pair of pants can be inserted in such gap and be suspended when an outer tube 22 is twisted as shown in FIG. 3 where the pants are gripped between opposite edges 26 and 27 of the slots in the tubes 14 and 22, respectively. This closed position is also represented in the right portion of FIG. 1. It is interesting to note that when both inner and outer tubes are initially of the same diameter the clamping edges 26 and 27 meet head-on when the tubes are twisted to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3. This prevents full rotation of the outer tube about the inner allowing only a partial rotation.

The tubes remain in the closed clamping position by frictional forces created by the contiguous surfaces 28 of the coaxial tubes. The frictional forces are dependent upon the size and flexibility of the tubes which create the normal forces under deformation, and the coefficient of friction between the contiguous surfaces 28. The pants hanger can be opened or closed merely by grasping the outer tube 20 or 22 and twisting while holding the wire hanger 12. As the inner tube 14 is longer than the hanger 12 and keyed thereto by the notches 16 engaging the risers 18 at each end, it will not rotate in respect to the hanger.

FIG. 5 illustrates the basic clamp 30. In its simplest form it can be made from a common stock of tubing. Both inner 32 and outer 34 portions of the clamp have the same longitudinal section removed which is here a strip with an arc of about 60. The inner tube 32 is slightly longer than the outer 34 to facilitate the twisting by allowing the inner tube to be held by its ends while the outer tube is grasped on its outer surface and twisted.

For uses that require that the tubes be securely locked in position there may be added a locking device such as a thumb screw 36 threaded through the outer tube 34 to impinge on the surface of the inner tube 32. Other similar devices may be provided for this purpose if required.

Additional refinements may be incorporated with the basic clamp such as bar levers to open and close the gap or springs to maintain the clamp in a closed position. However, such refinements derogate from the principal features of the invention; simplicity of design and economics of manufacture.

Uses in addition to clamping are evident. FIG. 6 illustrates the basic design modified in certain details to form a convenient dispenser 40 for rolled sheeting 42, for example, wax paper. Here the inner tube 44 is capped at one end by a cap 48 and the outer tube 46 is capped. at the opposite ends by a cap 52 with the two caps providing a convenient place to grasp the inner tube 44 when opening or closing the dispensing slot 50.

The preferred assembly of the dispenser requires some particulars in detail. There are two sets of lead edges which will meet depending on direction of twist. To function properly the useable lead edges in the dispenser 4i:= are dependent on the direction of the roll of the rolled sheeting 42. If the rolled sheeting 42 is inserted in the dispenser as illustrated in FIG. 7 with a clockwise unroll direction, the edge 54 of the outer tube 46 directed clockwise is the edge employed as the lead edge when the dispenser is in a closed position. When a portion of the sheeting is torn flush with the two lead edges 54 and 56, the end of the rolled sheeting can be retrieved on twisting the dispenser 40 to the open position. This results because the roll of sheeting follows the inner tube in which it is cradled and the lead edge 54 of the outer tube 46 rotates back over the untorn sheeting 42 exposing a portion 42" of the end of the sheeting that can be retrieved when the dispenser 40 is opened.

The lead edge 54 of the outer tubing can be provided with a saw-tooth cutting edge (not shown) to facilitate the tearing of the rolled sheeting.

Since one of the desirable features of the device is the head-on meeting of the lead edges 54 and 56, advantages may be obtained by careful selection of the proper size and manner of attachment of the end caps 48 and 52. As stated above, if both inner and outer tubes are selected from a flexible material with approximately the same diameters, each will deform when coaxially joined. The outer tube 46 will spring open and the inner tube 46 wili close somewhat. This spring action is evident by the lead edges 54 and 56 meeting head on. To preserve this displacement of lead edges 54 and 56, the cap 52 on the outer tube must have an inside diameter slightly greater than the undeformed outside diameter of the outer tube 46 to accommodate the slight spring deformation when the tubes are joined. Furthermore, there should be a single point or area of attachment of the outer tube 46 which preferably should be close to the edge 58 that is not used as the lead edge, The cap 48 on the inner tube should have an inside diameter equal to the undeformed outside diameter of the inner tube 44. As on the outer tube, the cap 48 should be attached at a single point or area, here, close to the lead edge 56. This will permit a uniform deformation along the entire length of the inner tube 44 allowing the lead edges 54 and 56 to meet head on.

It is apparent from the specification that the simple clamping device may be adapted for many purposes by making minor modifications to the basic invention. Additional modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A hanger comprising a conventional wire coat hanger, an inner flexible tube with a longitudinal section removed and with notches at each end, placed on the crossmember of the wire hanger, the notches engaging the risers of the wire hanger such that the inner tube is prevented from rotating about said wire hanger, at least gne outer 4 flexible tube of diameter approximately equal to that of the inner tube and of length less than said cross-member with a longitudinal section removed, said outer tube incompassing said inner tube in a substantially coaxial manner and free to partially rotate about said inner tube.

2. A device of the type described comprising a first tubular member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot having a width measured around the circumference of said tubular member which is greater than zero degrees and less than a second tubular member mounted inside of said first tubular member generally coaxial therewith and engaging the inner surface of said first tubular member for rotation with respect to said first tubular member about the common axis of said tubular members, said second tubular member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot in said second tubular member having a width measured around the circumference of said second tubular member which is greater than zero degrees and less than 180, degrees, the combined widths of said slots being less than about 180, a coiled roll of flexible material disposed within said tubular members and removable therefrom as a web through said slot, said web being adapted to be gripped between opposed edges of said slots in said tubular members, and a pair of closure members mounted on opposite ends of said tubular members enclosing the space within said tubular members.

3. A device of type described comprising a first t-ubular member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot having a width measured around the circumference of said tubular member which is greater than zero degrees and less than 180, a second tubular member mounted inside of said first tubular member generally coaxial therewith and engaging the inner surface of said first tubular member for rotation with respect to said first tubular member about the common axis of said tubular members, said second tubular member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot in said second tubular member having a width measured around the circumference of said second tubular member which is greater than zero degrees and less than 180, the combined widths of the slots in said first tubular member and said second tubular member being less than about 180, and an article positioned partially Within the interior of said second tubular member and removable from said tubular members through said slots, said article being adapted to begripped between opposed edges of said slots in said tubular members, said tubular members being formed of resilient tubing material having substantially the same diameter, said opposed edges of said slots in said tubular members being located at substantially the same radial distance from the common axis of said tubular members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,508 6/ 1918 Province. 1,564,425 12/1925 Lynch. 1,615,827 2/ 1927 Bristow. 2,153,474 4/1939 Naylor et a1. 3,114,412 12/1963 Lishman 24243.10 XR 3,116,864 1/1964 Hawk et al 206-58 XR DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner Us. 01. xx. 206-58; 223-96

Images