U.S. patent application number 12/280612 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-08 for scaffolding tube clamps.
Invention is credited to Jonathan Jonny Melic.
Application Number | 20090249591 12/280612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38436891 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090249591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melic; Jonathan Jonny |
October 8, 2009 |
SCAFFOLDING TUBE CLAMPS
Abstract
A clamp for securement to a cylindrical body such as scaffold
tubing has first and second curved body portions hinged to each
other to form a generally circular enclosure. A clasp for coupling
the first and second curved body portions has a bolt fixed to one
curved body portion and a rotatable housing. The housing has a
peripheral groove to slidingly receive the bolt and is coupled to
the other curved body portion. The housing has an access opening to
receive the bolt into the peripheral groove and the bolt is
captured in the peripheral groove when the housing is rotated. The
housing is rotatable about a post which is fixed to the other
curved body portion and has an opening to receive the post that is
eccentric to the geometric center of the housing so that a passage
formed between the peripheral groove and the post varies in width
about the periphery of the housing. This variable width allows the
housing to be tightened gradually on the bolt.
Inventors: |
Melic; Jonathan Jonny;
(Stoney Creek, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CAREY, RODRIGUEZ, GREENBERG & PAUL LLP;ATTN: STEVEN M. GREENBERG, ESQ.
950 PENINSULA CORPORATE CIRCLE, SUITE 3020
BOCA RATON
FL
33487
US
|
Family ID: |
38436891 |
Appl. No.: |
12/280612 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA07/00277 |
371 Date: |
January 28, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/517 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 7/14 20130101; Y10T
24/4453 20150115; F16B 2/10 20130101; F16B 7/0493 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/517 |
International
Class: |
A44B 21/00 20060101
A44B021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2006 |
CA |
2,537,674 |
Claims
1. A clamp for securement to at least one cylindrical body, the
clamp comprising: a first curved body portion, a second curved body
portion hinged to the first curved body portion to form a generally
circular enclosure for receiving the cylindrical body, and a clasp
for releasably coupling said first and second curved body portions,
the clasp having a bolt fixed to one of said first and second
curved body portions, and a rotatable housing defining a peripheral
groove for slidingly receiving said bolt coupled to the other of
said first and second curved body portions, the housing having an
access opening for receiving the bolt into said peripheral groove
and being adapted to capture the bolt in said groove upon rotation
of the housing thereby securing said first and second curved body
portions in frictional engagement with said cylindrical body.
2. Clamp according to claim 1 in which the housing is rotatable
about a post fixed to the other said first and second curved body
portions, the housing having an opening for receiving the post that
is eccentric to the geometric centre of the housing so that a
passage formed between the peripheral groove and the post varies in
width about the periphery of the housing.
3. A clamp according to claim 2 in which the post is circular and
has a diameter commensurate with the diameter of the opening in the
housing.
4. A clamp according to claim 3 in which the post has a smaller
diameter than the diameter of the opening in the housing, the
opening in the housing being eccentric relative to the geometric
center of the post.
5. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the first and second
curved body portions are each formed from a continuous loop forged
from mild steel.
6. A clamp according to claim 5 in which the first and second
curved body portions each have gripping portions shaped from the
continuous loop on an interior surface thereof for mating contact
with a cylindrical body received in the clamp.
7. A clamp assembly for coupling first and second cylindrical
bodies to each other having a clamp according to claim 1 and a tube
receiving member shaped to receive said second cylindrical body,
the tube receiving member being coupled to the first curved body
portion of said clamp.
8. A clamp assembly according to claim 7 in which the tube
receiving member is a second clamp comprising: a first curved body
portion, a second curved body portion hinged to the first curved
body portion to form a generally circular enclosure for receiving
the cylindrical body, and a clasp for releasably coupling said
first and second curved body portions, the clasp having a bolt
fixed to one of said first and second curved body portions, and a
rotatable housing defining a peripheral groove for slidingly
receiving said bolt coupled to the other of said first and second
curved body portions, the housing having an access opening for
receiving the bolt into said peripheral groove and being adapted to
capture the bolt in said groove upon rotation of the housing
thereby securing said first and second curved body portions in
frictional engagement with said cylindrical body.
9. A clamp according to claim 7 in which the tube receiving member
is rotatably coupled to the first curved body portion.
10. A clamp assembly according to claim 9 in which the tube
receiving member is a second clamp comprising: a first curved body
portion. a second curved body portion hinged to the first curved
body portion to form a generally circular enclosure for receiving
the cylindrical body, and a clasp for releasably coupling said
first and second curved body portions, the clasp having a bolt
fixed to one of said first and second curved body portions, and a
rotatable housing defining a peripheral groove for slidingly
receiving said bolt coupled to the other of said first and second
curved body portions, the housing having an access opening for
receiving the bolt into said peripheral groove and being adapted to
capture the bolt in said groove upon rotation of the housing
thereby securing said first and second curved body portions in
frictional engagement with said cylindrical body.
11. A clamp assembly according to claim 7 in which the rotatable
housing of the clamp is rotatable about a post fixed to the second
curved body portion of the clamp to facilitate replacement of spare
parts.
12. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the housing has a
peripheral wall with a hexagonal external surface to facilitate
tightening and release of the housing from the bolt using a
conventional wrench.
13. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the housing has a
peripheral wall with a fluted external surface to facilitate
tightening and release of the housing from the bolt using a
specialized tool.
14. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the housing has a
peripheral wall with a scalloped internal surface for step-wise
adjustment of the clasp.
15. A clamp according to claim 5 having a hinge to couple said
first and second curved body portions, the hinge having a C-shaped
body with a medial separation spacing said first and second curved
body portions with the respective continuous loops received in said
C-shaped body so that each said curved body portion may rotate in
the C-shaped body independently of the other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 371 to
International Patent Application Serial Number PCT/CA2007/000277,
filed 22 Feb. 2007, claiming priority to Canadian Patent
Application Number 2,537,674 filed 27 Feb. 2006, entitled
"SCAFFOLDING TUBE CLAMPS," the entirety of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to clamps used to couple cylindrical
bodies, more particularly, cylindrical bodies in the form of tubes
used to erect scaffolding at building sites.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many styles of clamps are known for coupling scaffold tubes.
The main styles are known as "nut and bolt" as exemplified by U.S.
Pat. No. 6,786,302, and "wedge clamp" as exemplified by U.S. Pat.
No. 6,789,647. Each of the aforementioned clamp styles suffers from
specific disadvantages which this invention is intended to
overcome.
[0004] An object of this invention is to provide a secure means of
coupling to a cylindrical body which is easy to use and reliable
but which also will accommodate small variations in the outer
diameter of scaffold tubes from different suppliers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with this invention, there is provided a clamp
for securement to at least one cylindrical body, the clamp having
first and second curved body portions hinged to each other to form
a generally circular enclosure to receive the cylindrical body and
a clasp for releasably coupling the first and second curved body
portions. The clasp has a bolt fixed to one curved body portion and
a rotatable housing defining a peripheral groove to slidingly
receive the bolt is coupled to the other curved body portion. The
housing has an access opening to receive the bolt into the
peripheral groove and the bolt is captured in the peripheral groove
when the housing is rotated. The housing is rotatable about a post
which is fixed to the other curved body portion and has an opening
to receive the post that is eccentric to the geometric center of
the housing so that a passage formed between the peripheral groove
and the post varies in width about the periphery of the housing.
This variable width allows the housing to be tightened gradually on
the bolt. To minimize any slipping, the post itself is eccentric to
the opening in the housing.
[0006] The clamp may be used as a fence clamp for securing to a
single cylindrical body or tube, or it may be used in pairs to
couple more than one tube in which case, the clamp pairs may be
secured by welding or rotatably coupled together to vary the angle
therebetween and accommodate tubes or other cylindrical bodies
which are not orthogonal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In order to better understand the invention, a preferred
embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
clamp assembly made according to the invention for securing a pair
of tubular cylindrical bodies one of which is drawn in ghost
outline with a first clasp in an unlatched position and a second
clasp in a latched position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 showing the first clasp
in a latched position and a second tubular cylindrical body drawn
in ghost outline held by the second clasp forming part of the clamp
assembly;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the clamp assembly of FIG.
2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the clamp assembly of
FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned view of the clamp assembly of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a partly sectioned view of the clamp assembly of
FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of the clasp forming part of the clamp
assembly of FIG. 5 showing in ghost outline the location of a bolt
in an access opening for a housing comprising the clasp;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 7 showing the bolt captured
in a peripheral groove for the housing;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the housing;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the housing;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a top view of the housing showing in ghost
outline a peripheral groove for capturing the bolt drawn adjacent
the housing;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the housing showing a
centre-line for an opening in the housing for receiving a post upon
which the housing rotates and a centre-line for the post;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a similar view to FIG. 2 with a specialized
latching tool engaged in the housing for the second clasp;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a similar view to FIG. 2 of a second embodiment
of a clamp assembly made in accordance with the invention in which
two clamps are rotatably coupled to each other;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
clamp assembly made in accordance with the invention in which a
single clamp is coupled to a holding ring for use as a fence
clamp;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a
clamp assembly made in accordance with the invention in which the
housing has a hexagonal shape;
[0024] FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of a housing for a clasp in
accordance with the invention;
[0025] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the housing of FIG. 17;
[0026] FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the housing of FIG. 17;
[0027] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the housing drawn on
line A-A of FIG. 17 and showing a bolt in ghost outline received in
a peripheral groove for the housing;
[0028] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a
clamp assembly made in accordance with the invention incorporating
the housing of FIG. 18 and showing a specialized tool;
[0029] FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the tool of FIG. 21;
[0030] FIG. 23 is a similar view to FIG. 22 showing the tool on the
housing of FIG. 17; and
[0031] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a
clamp assembly made in accordance with the invention showing a
different style of hinge.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a clamp
assembly 20 made according to the invention for coupling first and
second cylindrical bodies to each other, one of which is drawn in
ghost outline and identified by reference numeral 22 in FIG. 1. The
second cylindrical body is identified by reference numeral 23 in
FIG. 2. The cylindrical body may be solid but, in this case, the
cylindrical body is illustrated as tubular and is of the kind which
is suitable for use in erecting a scaffold structure. The clamp
assembly 20 consists of two clamps 24, 26 welded to each other in
order to couple first and second tubular cylindrical bodies 22, 23
disposed orthogonally to each other. The first clamp 24 (drawn to
the left of FIG. 1) is shown unlatched whereas the second clamp 26
is shown in a latched configuration. The component parts of the
clamp 24, 26 are identical and therefore are identified by like
numerals in the drawings.
[0033] The first clamp 24 will now be described in detail. It will
be seen that the clamp 24 has a first curved body portion 28 and a
second curved body portion 30 hinged to the first curved body
portion 28 to form a generally circular enclosure for receiving the
cylindrical body 22. Each of the first and second curved body
portions 28, 30 are formed from a continuous loop of forged mild
steel and they are coupled at one end of the clamp by a hinge 32
and at the other end by a releasably clasp 34. The radius of
curvature of the first and second curved body portions 28, 30 is
selected to approximate the outer diameter of the cylindrical body
22 received therebetween and additionally includes gripping
portions on an interior surface thereof such as flat lands 36 cut
from the steel for mating contact with the cylindrical body 22.
[0034] The hinge 32 has a C-shaped body with a medial separation 38
that spaces the first and second curved body portions 28, 30 with
the respective continuous loops received in the C-shaped body so
that each curved body portion may rotate in the C-shaped body
independently of the other. In use, the medial separation 38 bears
upon the cylindrical body 22 throughout its length thereby reducing
the amount of bending moment on the hinge 32.
[0035] The clasp 34 consists of a bolt 40 fixed to the second
curved body portion 30 with a mounting block 42 and a housing 44
that is rotatably coupled to the first curved body portion 28 with
a mounting block 46 supporting a post 48.
[0036] The clamp assembly 20 is shown in a latched configuration in
FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 and the operation of the clasp 34 will be
described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.
[0037] The structure of the housing 44 will now be described with
particular references being made to FIGS. 9 to 12. In the
embodiment illustrated, the housing 44 has a circular periphery.
However, the external surface of the peripheral wall of the housing
may also have other shapes such as the hexagonal shape shown in
FIG. 16 or the fluted shape shown in FIG. 18. The top side of the
housing 49 is circular and has an opening 50 formed therein for
receiving the post 48. The opening 50 is eccentric to the geometric
centre of the housing 44 for reasons that will be explained in more
detail below.
[0038] The housing 44 has a peripheral wall 52 which depends from
the top side 49 and that defines an access opening 54 through which
the bolt 40 is received into the housing. A bottom lip 56 is
co-extensive with the peripheral wall 52 and together they define a
peripheral groove 58 for the housing which is adapted to capture
the bolt 40 upon rotation of the housing 44. The housing 44 rotates
as indicated by arrow 60 in FIG. 1 about the post 48. Since the
opening 50 for receiving the post 48 is eccentric relative to the
geometric housing 44, the passage formed between the peripheral
groove 58 and the post 48 for receiving the bolt 40 varies in width
about the periphery of the housing. As the passage becomes narrower
increasing force is applied to secure the bolt 40 in the groove 58.
Arrow 61 drawn in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 shows the direction of the
movement of the bolt 40 into the access opening 54 of the housing
44 when the second curved body portion of the clamp is moved in the
hinge 32. It will be noted that the post 48 has a second access
opening 62 which is aligned with the first access opening 54 in
FIGS. 1 and 5 in order to receive the bolt 40 therein. On continued
rotation of the housing 44 as indicated by arrow 60, the bolt is
captured in the peripheral groove 58. The capture of the bolt 40 is
also shown in the plan views of FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0039] In addition, it will be observed that the post 48 has a
smaller diameter than the opening 50 and the centre-line of the
post 48 is eccentric to the opening 50 to thereby further secure
the clasp 34 and significantly minimize the likelihood of the clasp
releasing during vibration of the clamp assembly 20.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 13 of the drawings, a specialized
tool 64 may be used to engage the housing 44 for releasing the
clasp 34 or tightening the clasp 34, as the case may be, to
minimize tampering by those who do not have access to the tool.
[0041] In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
14, there is illustrated a clamp assembly 66 in which a pair of
clamp bodies 24, 26 are rotatably coupled to each other with
rotatable coupling 68 so that the relative orientation between the
cylindrical bodies 22, 23 may be varied as indicated by arrow
70.
[0042] In yet another embodiment of the invention drawn in FIG. 15,
a clamp assembly 74 is shown for use as a fence clamp in which
there is a single clamp 24 which is rigidly coupled to a tube
receiving member in the form of a ring 76 of fixed internal
diameter.
[0043] In FIG. 16, it will be seen that the clasp housing 72 has a
hexagonal shape so that a conventional wrench may be used to
release or tighten the housing without the use of the specialized
tool 64.
[0044] In use, the clamp assembly is positioned about a cylindrical
body so that the cylindrical body is positioned between the first
and second curved body portions 28, 30 of the clamp 24. The second
curved body portion 30 is then brought into engagement with the
cylindrical body 22 by aligning the bolt 40 with the receiving
access opening 54 of the housing 44 and the second access opening
62 of the post 48. The housing 44 is then rotated so as to capture
the bolt 40 in the peripheral groove 58 thereby securing the first
and second curved body portions 28, 30 in frictional engagement
with the cylindrical body 22.
[0045] It will be appreciated that the clamp assembly made
according to the invention is more compact in size than prior art
devices and therefore a large number of clamp assemblies may more
easily be stored without accidental tangling of the assemblies with
each other. The design of the first and second curved body portions
28, 30 allows the clamp 24, 26 to adjust for changes in the
diameter of the enclosed cylindrical body 22, 23 so as to
accommodate tubular scaffolding having different tolerances and
originating from different sources having somewhat different
diameters. In addition, the hinge 32 permits the first and second
curved body portions 28, 30 to change their relative positions so
as to enclose larger or smaller scaffolding tubes 22, 23 as the
case may be. The compact design of the curved body portions 28, 30
results in less stretching of the material so that the clamp
assembly will have a prolonged life. In the event that damage
occurs to the housing 44, it may easily be replaced, particularly
if the housing is attached to the second curved body portion 30 in
the case of a dual clamp assembly so that it is independent of the
second clamp forming part of the assembly 20.
[0046] Other variations to the clamp assemblies described may be
made within the scope of the appended claims as will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. In particular, the clasp comprising a
bolt captured in a rotatable housing may be used to secure first
and second body portions having different configurations than those
shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0047] Advantageously, the housing for the clasp has a peripheral
wall 77 with a fluted external surface 78 as illustrated in FIGS.
17 to 21 where the housing is designated by reference numeral 80 in
a clamp assembly 82. The internal surface 84 of the peripheral wall
77 is scalloped (see FIGS. 19 and 20) and has a radius of curvature
which will allow the bolt 40 to nest inside the scallops as shown
in FIG. 20 for a stepwise adjustment of the clasp.
[0048] Like the housing 40, an access opening 54 is formed in the
peripheral wall 77 to allow the bolt 40 to be introduced into the
housing and a bottom lip 56 which is co-extensive with the
peripheral wall 77 defines a peripheral groove 50 for the housing
80 in order to capture the bolt 40 upon rotation of the housing
80.
[0049] In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 80 has a circular
opening 86 formed in a top side of the housing which is positioned
in a quadrant of the housing to receive the post 48. As a result,
the passage formed between the peripheral groove 58 and the post 48
is wider on one side of the access opening 54 than the other. Thus,
rotation of the housing 80 in the direction indicated by arrow 88
in FIG. 20 will operate to release the clasp whereas rotation in
the opposite direction will tighten the clasp.
[0050] A specialized tool 90 is shown in FIG. 21 for releasing and
tightening the housing 80. It consists of a handle 92 for leverage
and a cup 94 at one end of the handle 92 having an internal surface
96 with a shape made to cooperate with the fluted external surface
78 of the housing 80 as shown in FIG. 23. Conveniently, the
peripheral wall of the cup 94 operates to block the access opening
54 (see FIG. 23) so that the bolt 40 cannot inadvertently emerge
from the access opening 54. This feature allows the tool 90 to
release the clasp in order to reposition the clamp "on the fly",
that is, on location, with a reduced need to be concerned about an
associated scaffold structure becoming disengaged from the
clamp.
[0051] It will be observed in FIG. 21 that the clamp assembly 82
features a different style of hinge 98 with a more angular C-shaped
body formed by upper and lower flanges 100, 102 disposed on
opposite sides of the hinge body.
[0052] A smoother, rounder profile for the flanges 104, 106 is
shown by the hinge 108 in FIG. 24 which are disposed on opposite
sides of a rounded hinge body.
[0053] Still other variations to the clamp according to the
invention will equally be understood to be within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *