U.S. patent number 3,617,076 [Application Number 04/853,412] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-02 for fastening clamp.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Unistrut Corporation. Invention is credited to Warren R. Attwood, Herbert J. Henry.
United States Patent |
3,617,076 |
Attwood , et al. |
* November 2, 1971 |
FASTENING CLAMP
Abstract
A clamp used with a metal framing system for adjustably
supporting an upright member on a structural member. The clamp is
of the type having a generally C-shaped configuration and is formed
with registering apertures therein for the reception of the upright
member therethrough to be retained by pressure-exerting means.
Inventors: |
Attwood; Warren R. (Wayne,
MI), Henry; Herbert J. (Dearborn Heights, MI) |
Assignee: |
Unistrut Corporation (Wayne,
MI)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to September 23, 1986 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
27102067 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/853,412 |
Filed: |
August 27, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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678692 |
Oct 27, 1967 |
3468567 |
Sep 23, 1969 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
403/395; 403/396;
403/400; 256/13.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
5/0685 (20130101); F16B 7/0493 (20130101); E01F
13/02 (20130101); F16B 2/246 (20130101); E01F
15/0438 (20130101); E01F 9/669 (20160201); F16B
2/20 (20130101); Y10T 403/7164 (20150115); Y10T
403/7171 (20150115); Y10T 403/7194 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E01F
13/00 (20060101); E01F 13/02 (20060101); E01F
15/04 (20060101); E01F 9/03 (20060101); F16B
7/04 (20060101); E01F 9/011 (20060101); E01F
15/02 (20060101); F16B 5/06 (20060101); F16B
2/24 (20060101); F16B 2/20 (20060101); G06F
1/02 (20060101); F16b 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;287/51,49
;52/537,518,519,618,619,625 ;256/13.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Catalog-published in 1957 by the Aluminum Company of America, ALCOA
Aluminum Industrial Building Products Division, pages 5, 12, 18
cited. Copy available in U.S. Pat. Office, Class 52, Subclass 537
in the Examiner's Files.
|
Primary Examiner: Williamowsky; David J.
Assistant Examiner: Shedd; Wayne L.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present invention is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.
No. 678,692, filed on Oct. 27, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,567
issued Sept. 23, 1969.
Claims
We claim:
1. A structural member of elongated form, having outer longitudinal
corrugations and parallel longitudinal edges, in combination with a
fastening device for securing together a transverse member and the
structural member, said fastening device comprising:
a body having a pair of interconnected flexible arms with free
extremities remote from their junction, said arms extending
outwardly from the ends of said body to form a recess for receiving
the structural member;
said extremities being formed with registering apertures having an
inner edge portion and an outer edge portion adapted to slidably
receive therethrough a transverse member;
a tab extending angularly outwardly from said body toward said
structural member to form a surface between said body and said
structural member; and
pressure means located on said body adjacent each said arm junction
for the complemental engagement of each said longitudinal
corrugation for urging said inner edge and said outer edge portions
in opposite directions along said transverse member and said inner
edge portions of said apertures and said parallel longitudinal
edges in a direction toward one another to thus clamp said
transverse member between said inner and said outer edge portion of
said extremities and between said outer edge portion and said
longitudinal edge and against said structural member.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein each said pressure means is
adapted to engage said structural member adjacent to and outwardly
from the apex portion of its associated longitudinal corrugation to
thereby urge said extremities toward each other.
3. THe combination of claim 2, wherein a pair of bend lines being
at each said junction providing an elbow formed out of the planes
of said adjoining body and arm, and said pressure means extending
from each elbow so that the pressure on said corrugation is
directed on a line inclined toward the axis of symmetry of said
device.
4. The combination of claim 1, and including light-reflective means
on said tab.
5. An adjustable clamp assembly for mounting an upright on a
structural member, said device comprising:
a clamp having a body portion and a pair of interconnected arms
with free extremities remote from their junction, said arms
extending angularly outwardly from the ends of said body to form a
recess for receiving the structural member;
said extremities having aligned apertures slidably receiving
therethrough a tubular sleeve having therein a plurality of pairs
of diametrically opposed longitudinally spaced perforations;
an elongated upright having one end thereof slidably located in
said sleeve having means selectively engageable in a pair of the
perforations;
a tab extending angularly outward from said body toward the
structural member to form a surface between said body and the
structural member; and
opposite pressure means located on said body adjacent each said arm
junction for exerting pressure between said clamp and said
structural member in a direction of convergency whereby said sleeve
is retained on said structural member.
6. The combination as defined in claim 5, and including
light-reflective means on said tab.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fastening clamps and more particularly to
an adjustable and demountable fastening clamp for use with metal
framing systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the development of highway traffic signs of either a temporary
or permanent character it has been the practice to use conventional
metal post members requiring the driving thereof into the ground or
wooden posts requiring post-hole drilling equipment to effect the
desired location of these signs. Further to the maintaining of
highways in a safe condition there is a need for a variety of
traffic control devices such as temporary barricades, shade
screening supports for auto headlight beams, and snow fence
supports to mention only a few.
With the increased use of guard rails, such as the ones in common
use formed of heavy gauge galvanized iron and having a generally
W-shaped cross section, it has been recognized that if the
aforementioned highway signs and devices could be mounted in
cooperation with these guard rail structures there would be a great
saving in both man-hours and material. While various means have
been used to secure uprights such as sign posts and the like in
combination with barrier structures, they usually necessitate
drilling holes or slots in the barrier. This not only requires more
time and equipment, but does not allow for repositioning the signs
or other devices. Also, the placement of holes in the barrier can
result in the initiation of rust areas, while reducing the
structural integrity of the barrier or other structural member. One
clamp used in the above situation and disclosed in application Ser.
No. 678,692 comprises a clamp having a generally C-shaped profile
that wraps around the barrier eliminating the necessity of drilling
holes or slots.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement on the clamp referred to in
the above application. A pair of tabs extending from opposite edges
of the body of the clamp have been added, providing a pair of
surfaces which can be coated with a material for reflecting the
light from the headlamps of approaching automobiles. A further
advantage in the addition of the tabs is the elimination of a
knifelike edge formed by the body of the clamp. The tabs provide a
smooth surface to approaching traffic as opposed to the sharp and
dangerous edge provided by the previous construction.
The invention provides a single piece fastening device having a
generally C-shaped profile that is designed to cooperate with a
first structural member such as, for example, the standard type
highway barrier having a generally W-shaped cross section to
adjustably support a second structural member. The fastening device
has a body portion having a pair of identical tabs inclined
outwardly from opposite edges of the body and forming a pair of
reflective surfaces between the body and the first structural
member. A pair of interconnected arms with free extremities remote
from their junction extend from the body. Each arm comprises a
portion inclined outwardly from the body while the free portions,
having aligned apertures therein, extend past the first member to
receive the second member in the aligned apertures. Fastening
means, such as pressure bolts, are located at each end of the body
so as to retain the adjustable member, extending through the
apertures, in fixed relation to the first member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fastening clamp in use in
supporting a structural member to a barrier structure;
FIG. 2 is a vertical side elevational view of the upright post and
clamp of FIG. 1 illustrating the mode of attachment of the upright
to the barrier;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the employment of applicant's
fastening clamp to support individual sections of barrier members
for use in temporary barricades;
FIG. 4 is a view showing yet another means of employing applicant's
clamp; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the apex area of the lower
corrugation and the adjacent portion of the clamp.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring nw to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a
perspective view of the fastening clamp 10 in use in supporting a
vertical upright member 12 to a horizontal structural member such
as a highway barrier, indicated generally at 14. The barrier 14 is
in turn supported by being fastened to posts 15 (FIG. 4) by
suitable means such as bolts. The means for supporting the
permanent barrier 14 forms no part of the instant embodiment and it
is within the purview of the disclosure that the members 14 could
be used in various ways such as continuous barriers or individual
lengths as shown in FIG. 3, for example, without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
It is contemplated that the fastening device 10 be made from a
single piece of gauge strip material preferably that of springlike
nature, such as spring steel or cold rolled metal having springlike
characteristics. The strip of material is formed to provide a body
16 having a pair of identical tabs 17 and 19 bent along bend lines
21 and 23, respectively, forming surfaces 25 and 27 that in the
instant case forms an angle of approximately 50.degree. with the
body 16. A pair of arms generally indicated at 18 and 20 extend
from the two remaining edges of body 16. Each arm comprises a first
planar elbow portion 22 inclined at an angle with the base or body
16 by being bent along bend line 24. In the instant embodiment, the
portion 22 forms an angle of approximately 25.degree. with the body
16. The elbow 22 in turn is joined by means of bend line 26 to
provide a yield able intermediate portion 28 which projects
outwardly at an angle of inclination from the general plane of
elbow 22 which in the instant case is shown at 45.degree.. Each arm
portion 18 and 20 has free flange portions 30, defined by bend
lines 32, at the outer extremities of intermediate portions 28 so
as to diverge outwardly from the axis of symmetry 33 of the clamp
10. Each flange portion 30 is formed with registering apertures or
openings 34. The aligned apertures 34 in the present embodiment
have a general polygonal configuration which may be rectangular as
is shown for the reception of a rectangular upright member 12.
In the instant case the upright member 12 is shown in the form of a
tubular structural member having a plurality of equally
longitudinally spaced perforations 36 provided in each of the flat
sides 38.
Applicant, of course, does not intend to limit the instant
application to any particular type of upright structure and the
perforated structural member 12 is disclosed only for purposes of
showing one possible post member to be supported by the fastening
device 10.
As best shown in FIG. 2, the barrier structure 14 consists of
elongated metal elements, each of which is so configured as to form
a deep longitudinal corrugation 40 at one edge and a similar deep
longitudinal corrugation 42 at the other edge. Between these
corrugations there is a flat area indicated at 44. The extreme
edges of the barrier elements are shown turned inwardly as
indicated at 46 and 48. The barrier elements are usually made from
10 gauge or 12 gauge metal, although other thicknesses may be used
if desired. The barrier elements in their corrugated condition are
about a foot wide.
As best seen in FIG. 5, each elbow portion 22 is provided with a
hole 52 having a nut 54 welded or otherwise fixably secured on the
underside thereof which threadably engages pressure bolts 56 for
retaining the clamp member 10 and upright 12 as will be described
in more detail hereinbelow. It should be noted that the axis of
each bolt 56 is positioned normal to the plane of elbow 22 so that
the extensions thereof converge at a common point on trace line
33.
In order to releaseably retain the upright 12 in the desired
position, it is inserted in the aligned openings 34 so as to extend
therethrough after the clamp is located on the barrier 14 at the
precise point desired. In the present form of the invention each
opening 34 is substantially identical, being generally rectangular
in shape with a width of 2 1/16th inch and a length of 23/8th inch
which will accommodate uprights having a size within the range of
13/4 inch square to 2 inches square. It will be further observed
that the positioning of rectangular openings 34 is such that they
extend into intermediate portion 28 thereby interrupting bend lines
32 to form paired hinged sections.
In operation, when the upright 12 is disposed at the desired
horizontal and vertical position, the bolts 56 are tightened to
cause their ends 57 to bear against member 14 so that the paired
edges 60 and 62 are drawn against the upright 12 in offset opposed
relation. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that each bolt 56 is positioned
to contact the outer curved portions of corrugations 40 and 42,
respectively, to place both the clamp body 16 and its adjacent arm
portion in tension. By means of this complemental arrangement of
the pressure bolts each bolt urges the upright in a direction to
bear against the aligning edges 62 while also urging the clamp body
16 in opposed colinear directions to maintain the clamp in fixed
symmetrical relation to the barrier member.
It will be understood that the bolt 56, instead of being of
conventional design as shown, may have its end 57 roughened,
serrated or pointed to firmly bite into the barrier 14 or other
structural member being used.
FIG. 4 shows a modified form of the invention wherein the clamp 10
is used to retain a tubular member 70 in fixed position against the
barrier 14. In this way an upright post member 72 can be telescoped
within the tube 70 and secured by a through bolt indicated at 74.
In this way the post 72 can be readily inserted and removed or
adjusted vertically by means of the series of cooperating
perforations in the members 70 and 72.
Another feature of applicant's clamp resides in the location and
size of the aligned rectangular apertures 34 in relation to the
overall clamp structure. Besides allowing the upright extending
therethrough freedom of axial movement during positioning, the
clamp is able to retain uprights having a range of cross-sectional
sizes. This is achieved by the aforementioned relationship of the
oversize apertures with the bend lines 32, together with the
adjustable pressure means supplied by the pair of bolts 56. The
fact that the bend lines 32 are located outwardly of the transverse
edges 58 provides for increased flexural movement of the arms 18
and 20 about the bend lines during the tightening of the bolts 56
thereby allowing the clamp to adjust to different-sized uprights.
In the instant embodiment, for example, applicant's clamp can be
used with uprights having square sections in the range of 13/4 inch
to 2 inches.
A further advantage of applicant's invention resides in tabs 17 and
19 that extend from bend lines 21 and 23, respectively. Tab 17
extending from body 16 forms surface 23 between the body and the
structure 14, with tab 19 forming a similar surface 25. THe
surfaces 23 and 25 may be treated or coated to provide a reflective
surface for approaching traffic. Furthermore the inclusion of tabs
17 and 19 eliminate sharp edges that would otherwise be formed
along bend lines 21 and 23.
FIG. 3 shows another application of the clamp of the present
invention wherein one or more barrier sections 80 can be retained
on upright members 82 to form a temporary barricade. It will be
observed that when used in this manner, the upright 82 becomes the
fixed member and the barrier sections 80 the adjustable members.
However, the function of applicant's clamp in retaining the member
80 and 82 firmly in position in relation to each other remains the
same as described above.
* * * * *