U.S. patent application number 11/450241 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for adjustable clamp assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to PINNACLE GLASS, INC.. Invention is credited to Robert A. Christman.
Application Number | 20070284493 11/450241 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38820933 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070284493 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christman; Robert A. |
December 13, 2007 |
Adjustable clamp assembly
Abstract
An adjustable clamp assembly for clamping portable objects to a
rack generally mounted to a vehicle body, comprising a sleeve
portion for mounting the clamp assembly to the rack and a retention
portion comprising an adjustable object retainer for securely
clamping the portable object to the rack.
Inventors: |
Christman; Robert A.;
(Walworth, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOK, ALEX, MCFARRON, MANZO, CUMMINGS & MEHLER LTD
SUITE 2850, 200 WEST ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
PINNACLE GLASS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
38820933 |
Appl. No.: |
11/450241 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/220.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 5/006 20130101;
B60P 3/002 20130101; B25B 5/10 20130101; B25B 5/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/220.21 |
International
Class: |
E04G 5/06 20060101
E04G005/06; A47B 96/06 20060101 A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. An adjustable clamp assembly for clamping a portable object to a
rack having one or more removable vertical stakes, the rack coupled
to a vehicle body, the clamp assembly comprising: a sleeve portion
adapted to slidably mount on a stake and having a fastener for
securing the sleeve portion on the stake; and an adjustable object
retainer for securing the portable object.
2. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the
sleeve portion further comprises: a front, a rear, a first side and
a second side wall defining a receiving channel for receiving the
stake, said front wall having a first threaded bore formed therein,
the first threaded bore extending through the front wall to the
receiving channel; and wherein the fastener is configured to
threadedly engage the first threaded bore, the fastener rotatable
to compressively fasten the sleeve portion at a selected position
on the stake.
3. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: a retention portion, coupled to the sleeve portion; an
adjustable object retainer, having a handle portion on one end, a
coupling portion on the opposite end and a threaded portion between
said ends, the coupling portion configured to receive a removable
clamping member; a second threaded bore formed in the retention
portion, substantially parallel to the first threaded bore formed
in the sleeve portion, and extending from a front surface to a rear
surface of the retention portion, configured to threadedly engage
the threaded portion of the adjustable object retainer.
4. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: a retention portion, coupled to the sleeve portion; an
adjustable object retainer, having a handle portion on one end, a
coupling portion on the opposite end and a threaded portion between
said ends, the coupling portion configured to receive a removable
clamping member; an axial chamber formed in the retention portion,
the axial chamber having an opening perpendicular to the first side
wall of the sleeve portion; an unthreaded bore formed in the axial
chamber of the retention portion, the unthreaded bore being
substantially parallel to the first threaded bore formed in the
sleeve portion, and extending from a front surface to a rear
surface of the retention portion, configured to receive the
adjustable object retainer; a quick-release member configured for
slidable insertion in the axial chamber, the quick-release member
having a user-accessible contact surface projecting from the axial
chamber, a bottom surface and a third partially-threaded bore
formed therein; and a resilient member coupling the bottom surface
of the quick-release member to a portion of the first side wall of
the sleeve portion: 1) a first position of the quick-release member
compressing the resilient member to align the third partially
threaded bore with the unthreaded bore for receipt of the
adjustable object retainer; and 2) a second position of the
quick-release member releasing compression of the resilient member
to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the third
partially-threaded bore and a threaded portion of the adjustable
object retainer.
5. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claims 4 and 5,
wherein the removable clamping member is a cushioned pad removably
coupled to the coupling portion of the adjustable object retainer,
whereby a clockwise rotation of the adjustable object retainer
causes increasing compression of the cushioned pad against the
surface of a portable object positioned on the rack, thereby
clamping the portable object between the cushioned pad and the
rack.
6. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the
portable object is a sheet-like material.
7. The adjustable clamp assembly as defined in claims 4 and 5,
wherein the removable clamping member is a C-shaped clamp removably
coupled to the coupling portion of the adjustable object retainer
for clamping the portable object.
8. An adjustable clamp assembly for clamping a portable object to a
rack having one or more removable vertical stakes, the rack coupled
to a vehicle body, the clamp assembly comprising: a sleeve portion
adapted to slidably mount on a stake, the sleeve portion including
a front, a rear, a first side and a second side wall defining a
vertical channel, said front wall having a first threaded bore
formed therein, the first threaded bore extending through the front
wall to the receiving channel; a fastener configured to threadedly
engage the first threaded bore, the fastener rotatable to
compressively secure the sleeve portion at a selected position on
the stake; a retention portion coupled to a first side wall of the
sleeve portion, the retention portion having an axial chamber and
an unthreaded bore formed therein, the axial chamber extending from
a first side wall portion of the sleeve portion to a side surface
of the retention portion, the unthreaded bore substantially
parallel to the first threaded bore and extending from a front
surface to a back surface of the retention portion; an adjustable
object retainer configured to engage the unthreaded bore, the
adjustable object retainer having a handle portion on one end, a
coupling portion on the opposite end and a threaded portion in
between, the coupling portion configured to receive a removable
clamping member, the adjustable object retainer rotatable to
compressively secure the clamping member against the portable
object; a quick-release member configured for slidable insertion in
the axial chamber, the quick-release member having a
user-accessible contact surface projecting from the axial chamber,
a bottom surface and a third partially threaded bore formed
therein; a resilient member coupling the bottom surface of the
quick-release member to the first side wall of the sleeve portion,
the resilient member having a first and a second position: 1) in a
first position the quick-release member compresses the resilient
member to align the third partially threaded bore with the
unthreaded bore for receipt of the adjustable object retainer; 2)
in a second position the quick release member releases compression
of the resilient member to threadedly engage the threaded portion
of the third partially threaded bore and the threaded portion of
the adjustable object retainer allowing the adjustable object
retainer to be rotatable to compressively secure the clamping
member against the portable object.
9. A method for clamping a portable object to a rack having one or
more removable vertical stakes, the rack coupled to a vehicle body,
the method comprising the steps of: sliding an adjustable clamp
assembly over a stake and into a selected position for clamping the
portable object; fastening the clamp assembly to the stake at the
selected position; positioning the portable object about said rack;
and clamping said clamp assembly to said object thereby securing
the portable object.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention is generally directed toward an adjustable
clamp assembly for clamping portable objects to a rack mounted to a
vehicle body.
[0003] More specifically, this invention is directed toward an
adjustable clamp assembly for securely and conveniently clamping
fragile sheets, particularly glass sheets, to a rack mounted to a
vehicle body.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Racks for holding and transporting various portable objects
and materials on transport vehicles are well known. Sheet material,
in particular sheet glass is commonly transported on a rack
designed to hold, support and secure same during transportation
thereof. Current rack designs are standard in the trade consisting
of an integral unit with vertical and horizontal support members
mounted on each side of the truck body. More particularly, racks
for sheet glass generally have a base on which the sheets to be
transported are mounted, and a first, fixed side against which the
sheets lean. A second, removable side is mounted on the rack when
the sheets are in place. The second side of the rack carries
clamping brackets which can be individually moved toward the first
side of the rack to clamp the fragile sheets between them and the
first side. Examples of such racks are shown in U.S. Pat. No.
2,887,231 to Schodorf and U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,867 to Barkow. With
the fragile sheets firmly held between the first side of the rack
and the clamping brackets, they can be safely transported.
[0006] The clamping brackets in widespread use today are of the
kind as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,867 to Barkow. These clamping
brackets are mounted at certain fixed points along vertical stakes
on the second side of the rack. Each clamping bracket is normally
mounted via a slot on a pin, which pin is fixed on the second side
of the rack. The slot allows the clamping bracket to slide toward
or away from the first side of the rack. A lock nut on the pin is
used to lock the clamping bracket in place preventing movement of
the clamp.
[0007] While these clamps work quite satisfactorily, their
functionality and ease-of-use can be improved. For instance, it may
be desirable for the clamp to be fully adjustable along the
vertical stakes in order to accommodate various heights of sheet
glass. U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,811 to Schodorf addresses the vertical
adjustability, but requires a special stake design with integrated
rails for receiving the clamp. Further, the glass contact surface
of the clamps in use is rather small and rigid, leading to unwanted
breakage of the sheet glass caused by forces generated during
transport. Still further, the clamp assemblies in use today, are
limited to securing sheet materials only. The present invention is
designed to avoid this and other disadvantages of known clamp
assemblies.
[0008] Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a
fully adjustable clamp assembly which can be positioned and
fastened anywhere along a vertical stake.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
adjustable clamp assembly that easily mounts to existing stake and
rack designs.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
adjustable clamp assembly that provides for secure clamping of
portable objects of various sizes and dimensions to a rack.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
adjustable clamp assembly that provides for secure clamping of
sheet material, in particular sheet glass, to a rack.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
adjustable clamp assembly that provides for a quick-release of the
adjustable object retainer that is part of the fully adjustable
clamp assembly.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
adjustable clamp assembly that provides for interchangeable
clamping members to accommodate portable objects other than
sheet-like materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] According to the present invention there is provided an
adjustable clamp assembly for clamping a portable object to a rack
having one or more removable vertical stakes, the rack coupled to a
vehicle body. The clamp assembly includes a sleeve portion adapted
to slidably mount on a stake and having a fastener for securing the
sleeve portion on the stake; and an adjustable object retainer
rotatable to compressively secure the portable object. The clamp
assembly further includes a quick-release mechanism allowing for
easy release of the adjustable object retainer compressively
securing the portable object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself,
and the manner in which it can be made and used, can be better
understood by referring to the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack mounted to a vehicle
body illustrating how a preferred embodiment of the adjustable
clamp assembly is mounted to a vertical stake to securely clamp
sheet glass on a rack.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the adjustable clamp assembly, configured to clamp sheet
materials.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable
clamp assembly shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective cut-away view of the a preferred
embodiment of the adjustable clamp assembly, showing the
quick-release member in a first position where the threaded portion
of the adjustable object retainer and the third partially-threaded
bore are not engaged, allowing for straight inward or outward
motion of the adjustable object retainer.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective cut-away view of the a preferred
embodiment of the adjustable clamp assembly, showing the
quick-release member in a second position where the threaded
portion of the adjustable object retainer and the third
partially-threaded bore are engaged, thus requiring a clockwise or
counterclockwise rotation of the adjustable object retainer in
order to achieve inward or outward motion.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment
of the coupling portion of the adjustable object retainer, showing
a preferred removable padded contact member coupled to the
adjustable object retainer in a manner allowing the padded contact
member to tilt and rotate independently from the rotation of the
adjustable object retainer.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the
removable clamping member coupled to the adjustable object
retainer, whereby the removable clamping member is a C-clamp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a rack 2 mounted
on a vehicle 1. The rack 2 has two opposed sides, one affixed to a
side of the vehicle (21) and one adjacent thereto (22). The first
side 21 consists of a horizontal bottom shelf 210, a horizontal top
member 211 and horizontally spaced-apart vertical posts 212 joining
the bottom shelf 210 and top member 211 together. A plurality of
vertically spaced-apart horizontal support bars 213 are fastened to
the vertical posts 212 over the shelf 210.
[0024] The second side 22 of the supporting rack 2 comprises a
plurality of vertical stakes 3. The stakes 3 are adapted to be
mounted to the first side 21 of the rack 2 between the bottom shelf
210 and top member 211 and to extend generally parallel to the
vertical posts 212 but spaced a short distance therefrom, and from
the support bars 213 carried by the posts 212. The vertical stakes
3 are removably mounted on the first side 21 of the rack 2. In FIG.
1 each stake 3 has a square profile, but other profile shapes are
conceivable. Means, not shown, but widely known in the art, are
provided at each end of the stake for removably mounting the stake
on both the bottom shelf 210 and the top member 211 of the first
side 21.
[0025] Each stake 3 carries at least two adjustable clamp
assemblies 5 vertically spaced along its length. The clamp
assemblies 5 must be mounted to the stakes 3 before the stakes are
mounted between the bottom shelf 210 and the top member 211 of the
first side 21 of the rack 2.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the assemblage of the adjustable
clamp assembly 5. In order to mount the clamp assembly 5 to the
stake 3, the sleeve portion 50 is slid onto the stake 3 whereby the
receiving channel 501 is configured to receive the profile and
dimensions of stake 3. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
the drawings, both the stake 3 and the receiving channel 501 have a
square profile. It is understood, that the receiving channel 501
could also have a round profile to receive a round vertical stake,
i.e. the receiving channel can be configured to receive different
stake profiles. Thus, by changing the shape of the receiving
channel 501 of the sleeve portion 50, the disclosed clamp assembly
5 can easily be retrofitted onto rack and stake configurations
currently in widespread use, allowing users to keep their current
racks and stakes while, at the same time, benefiting from the
greatly improved functionality of the disclosed clamp assembly
5.
[0027] After sliding the sleeve portion 50 over the vertical stake
3, the clamp assembly 5 can be securely fastened at any position
along the length of the stake 3. The ideal fastening position of
the clamp assembly 5 will depend on the dimensions of the sheet
glass 4a placed on the supporting rack 2. To securely fasten the
clamp assembly 5, the fastener 503, threadedly engaged in a first
threaded bore 502, is turned clockwise, thereby compressively
engaging the inner surface of the sleeve portion 50 with the outer
surface of the stake 3. To slide the clamp assembly 5 up or down
along the stake 3 to a new position or in order to remove the clamp
assembly 5 from the stake 3, the fastener 503 is turned
counterclockwise to decrease the friction between the inner
surfaces of the sleeve portion 50 and the outer surfaces of the
vertical stake 3.
[0028] Coupled to the sleeve portion 50 is a retention portion 51
configured to receive an adjustable object retainer 52 for clamping
sheet glass 4a against the support bars 213 of the rack 2. The
adjustable object retainer 52 has a handle portion 521 on a first
end providing a secure grip when rotating the object retainer 52.
The handle portion 521 is preferably made out of a rubber-like
material for improved tactile feel.
[0029] As better shown in FIG. 6, the second end of the object
retainer 52 has a coupling portion 523 configured to receive a
removable clamping member 524. In the preferred embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-6, the clamping member 524 is a padded contact member 524a
configured to provide a relatively large padded contact surface for
contact with the surface of the sheet glass 4a placed on the shelf
210 between the first side 21 and second side 22 of the rack 2. In
a preferred embodiment the padded contact member 524a may be
mounted to the coupling portion 523 in a manner allowing the object
retainer 52 to be rotated independently from the padded contact
member 524a when compressing the padded contact surface of the
padded contact member against the surface of the sheet glass
4a.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 the
retention portion 51 coupled to the sleeve portion 50, has formed
therein an unthreaded bore 512 substantially parallel to the first
threaded bore 502 and extending from the front surface to a back
surface of the retention portion 51, and an axial chamber 511,
extending from a first side wall of the sleeve portion 50,
configured to receive a quick-release member 53.
[0031] The quick-release member 53, as illustrated in FIG. 3, has
an elongated third threaded bore 532, which is partially threaded,
wherein the threaded portion is opposite to the user-accessible
contact surface 531 of the quick-release member 53.
[0032] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the proper assembly of the
quick-release member 53 inside the retention portion 51. The
quick-release member 53 is inserted into the axial chamber 511 of
the retention portion 51, whereby the user-accessible contact
surface 531 of the quick-release member 53 must extend outside the
retention portion 51. The quick-release member 53 and the sleeve
portion 50 are coupled by a resilient member 533, preferably a coil
spring, allowing two distinct positions of the quick-release member
53.
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates the first position of the quick-release
member 53. By pushing the user-accessible contact surface 531 into
the axial chamber 511 of the retention portion 51, the
quick-release member 53 compresses the resilient member 533,
thereby aligning the third partially-threaded bore 532 with the
unthreaded bore 512 formed in the retention portion 51. In this
first position, the threaded portion of the third partially
threaded bore 532 and the threaded portion 522 of the object
retainer 52 are not engaging, thus enabling a user to easily and
quickly push or pull the object retainer 52 through the aligned
bores, without having to rotate the object retainer 52 trough the
engaged threads.
[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates the second position of the quick-release
member 53. By releasing pressure off the user-accessible contact
surface 531 of the quick-release member 53, the resilient member
533 decompresses and causes the threaded portion of the third
partially-threaded bore 532 and the threaded portion 522 of the
object retainer 52 to engage. In this second position the user must
rotate the object retainer 52 either a) clockwise, to gradually
clamp the sheet glass 4a between the clamping member 524 and the
second side 22 of the rack 2, or b) counterclockwise, to gradually
move the clamping member 524 away from the sheet glass 4a, thus
releasing the clamping grip. The threaded engagement of the object
retainer 52 and the quick-release member 53 enables a user to make
very fine adjustments in the amount of clamping force exerted from
the object retainer 52 onto the surface of the sheet glass 4a. This
is especially desirable when clamping the sheet glass 4a to the
rack 2. However, the disengaging of the threaded portion of the
third partially-threaded bore of the quick-release member 53 and
the threaded portion 522 of the object retainer 52 by compressing
the resilient member 533 enables a user to quickly release the
clamping force of the object retainer 52 by simply pushing the
user-accessible contact surface 531 of the quick-release member 53
with one hand, and, with the other hand, simultaneously pulling
back the object retainer 52 by gripping the handle portion 521.
[0035] It should be noted that other designs and configurations of
the resilient member relative to the quick-release member are
conceivable, that are not shown in the drawings, but which would
achieve the same or similar results.
[0036] Furthermore, a much simpler alternative embodiment of the
disclosed clamp assembly 5 is perceivable. Such an alternative
embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, would not have the
quick-release member 53 and the unthreaded bore 512 as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5. Instead, the retention portion 51 would have a
second threaded bore in place of the unthreaded bore 512. Such
second threaded bore would be configured to engage the threaded
portion 522 of the object retainer 52 enabling the user to rotate
the object retainer 52 either a) clockwise, to gradually clamp the
sheet glass 4a between the clamping member 524 and the second side
22 of the rack 2, or b) counterclockwise, to gradually move the
clamping member 524 away from the sheet glass 4a, thus releasing
the clamping grip.
[0037] Further still, different designs of removable, i.e.,
interchangeable, clamping members are also perceivable. The
preferred embodiment of a clamping member is best shown in FIG. 6.
The clamping member in FIG. 6 is a padded contact member 524a
removably mounted to the object retainer 52 via a coupling portion
523. The padded contact member 524a having a padded contact surface
for contact with the surface of sheet glass 4a. The coupling
portion 523 is configured to receive alternative clamping members.
An example of an alternative clamping member is shown in FIG. 7.
Instead of a padded contact member, a c-shape clamp 524b is
removably mounted to the object retainer 52 via a coupling portion
523. Such a c-shape clamp could be used to secure portable objects
other than sheet-like materials to the rack 2. These other portable
objects could include, for example, pieces of scaffolding.
[0038] The foregoing description of the invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the
principles of the invention and practical application of these
principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the
invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the
scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be
defined by the claims set forth below.
* * * * *