WO2003098054A2

WO2003098054A2 - Adjustable gripping and fixing noose - clamp

Info

Publication number: WO2003098054A2
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shlomo Zucker; Emmanuel Goldschmidt
Original assignee: Shlomo Zucker; Emmanuel Goldschmidt
Priority date: 2002-05-21
Filing date: 2003-05-20
Publication date: 2003-11-27
Also published as: WO2003098054A3; AU2003228082A8; AU2003228082A1

Abstract

An open annular noose clamp (10) for fixing at least one object (50), wherein two clasping levers (12, 14) are used for gripping. The noose clamp (10) is contractible preferably by a hand. A preferable noose clamp (10) of the invention is biased open such that prefixing the noose clamp (10) is conveniently prefixed to a fixture.

Description

ADJUSTABLE GRIPPING AND FIXING NOOSE - CLAMP

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to means for joining together elements or fixing elements fixtures. In particular the device of the invention is concerned with fixing of elongated objects to fixtures such as walls or furniture, typically in construction or

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fixing clamps are used to retain objects in such a manner as to secure the objects to fixtures such as walls, furniture pieces, roofs, etc. The fixing clamps fulfill two different functions. On the one hand, gripping or holding the object and on the other hand they enable fixing the object to a fixture. In order to fix the clamped object to a fixture, an additional means is required for facilitating the anchorage to the fixture. Pegs, anchors and nails for driving into concrete or wood are means used for such fixation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic description of a noose clamp of the invention in opened state;

Fig. 2 is a schematic description of a noose - clamp of the invention; showing the insertion of a restriction tongue in a slit of the clamp;

Fig. 3 is a schematic elevation view of a cross section through the slit into which a restriction tongue is about to be inserted; Fig. 4 is a schematic description of a clamp of the present invention being contracted by a hand;

Fig. 5 is a is a schematic description of a clamp of the present invention being contracted by a hand while enclosing a columnar object; Fig. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view of a noose - clamp of the invention enclosing a columnar object;

Fig. 7 is a schematic description an anchor being driven through a noose - clamp, showing the direction of a hammer blow. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a clamp is used for conveniently gripping objects, and fixing them to objects, typically to fixtures. To explain the structure and functionality of the device of the invention reference is first made to Fig. 1. A noose - clamp of the invention generally designated 10,

has a generally open annular shape. Such clamp is a flexible band, which can easily be closed but is biased to the open state. Grasping levers 12 and 14 for contracting the noose - clamp are appended generally on opposite sides of the device. A fixing hole 18 through which a fastening element such as a screw or a rivet can be inserted is situated on the face of the device in the side adjacent to

a fixture to which the device is to be affixed. A slit 20 faces the restriction

tongue 22. Slide plate (optional) 24 is connected to slit plate 26. As explained

by reference to Fig. 1 and to Fig. 2, when both grasping levers 12 and 14 are

forced towards each other as by the clutching of a hand, the restriction tongue 22 goes through slit 20, which is cut out in slit plate 26. A unidirectional tightening method of an embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 3, to which reference is now made. Restriction tongue 22, moving in the direction of

arrow 30 through slit 20, causes teeth 32 to engage with pawl 34. Pawl 34 can move upwards, but cannot move backwards, in the direction opposite to arrow 28, because of the restricted widening movement of the slit. In Fig. 4 to which reference is now made, the clamp of the invention is shown clasped by one

hand of a user with thumb and index finger each pressing the respective grasping lever. In Fig. 5, to which reference is now made, the clamped is shown in a clutching hand, enclosing a columnar object 50. A cross section of the entire noose - clamp of the invention is shown in Fig. 6 to which reference is now made. Restriction tongue 56 is directed towards slit plate 58 in the direction of arrow 60. The clutching fingers of the user (not shown) apply the force mainly through grasping levers 62 and 64. Optional sliding plate 66, which in one embodiment of the invention guides the restriction tongue to the slit plate 58 and more specifically to the slit itself (not shown). Screw 68 is used as an anchor element for the noose - clamp, and is fastened before the object to be fixed, i.e. column 70, is inserted inside the noose - clamp. In order to

firmly hold the columnar object 70, the noose - clamp is clutched by a hand mainly by forcing the grasping levers one towards to other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the noose - clamp is contracted by a hand. Ina typical application, the columnar object is a piping element.

The noose - clamp of the invention allows convenient prefixing to a fixture such as a masonry element, scaffolding or a furniture piece. Thus, into the open clamp as can be seen in Fig. 1 to which reference is again being made, an anchor element is initially inserted. This is done by inserting an anchor element through fixing hole 18, and then tightening the anchor element

in the fixture. To tighten the anchor element, it is either screwed as in the case of a screw in wood or in expanding anchors, or it can be hammered in, as in the case of a nail or a hammer - driven anchor. This is described in Fig. 7 to which reference is now made. A noose - clamp 10 of the invention, in the open state, has an anchor 76, which is shown protruding in the direction of arrow 78 through a fixing hole. If the noose - clamp was juxtaposed to a fixture (not shown), the anchor would have penetrated the fixture, such that substantially the entire part protruding in the direction of arrow 78 would actually be concealed from the eye. To force the anchor inside a pre - drilled hole in the fixture, a hammer blow along the arrow 80 is effected. When the anchor 76 has

been pushed inside fully, the noose clamp 10 can be closed and tightened.

Claims

1. A gripping and fixing noose - clamp for hammer - driven anchors, comprising: • a flexible band containing a hole for a fixing element;

• two grasping levers for closing said clamp;

• a restriction tongue at one end of said band for fastening said noose - clamp around an object

• a slit for accepting said restriction tongue, and

• a pawl for holding said restriction tongue.

2. A gripping and fixing noose - clamp for hammer - driven anchors as in claim 1 and wherein said band is biased to an open state.

3. A gripping and fixing noose - clamp for hammer - driven anchors as in claim 1 and wherein said two grasping levers are contractible by a hand.

4. A method for gripping and fixing at least one object by using a noose - clamp, comprising the steps of:

• prefixing said noose - clamp to said fixture,

• inserting said object within said noose - clamp; • enclosing the ends of said noose - clamp around said object, and

• inserting a restriction tongue of said noose clamp into a slit of said noose - clamp by forcing two grasping levers for contracting said noose - clamp.

5. A method for gripping and fixing at least one object as in claim 4 and wherein a hand is used for contracting said noose - clamp.

6. A method for gripping and fixing at least one object as in claim 4 wherein said noose clamp is being prefixed by a hammer driving an anchor through a hole in said noose - clamp.