Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Including pivoted gripping member
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-14
2001-09-11
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Including pivoted gripping member
C024S569000, C548S233000, C548S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286192
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a clamp assembly. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a clamp assembly which has utility especially in conjunction with display system of the type which include a host structure which supports objects to be displayed, the host structure including surfaces defining a slot and the clamp assembly including structure enabling it to be readily and easily mounted to the slot. The clamp assembly can receive a mounting rod or can itself include a mounting rod; and the mounting rod can support any type of structure, as required.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Clamp assemblies used in prior art display systems or other systems have usually been dedicated to a single purpose, have lacked adjustability, and have not been readily and easily installed into a slot structure on a host structure. In other words, prior art clamp assemblies for display systems or other systems were intended for a single use, were not easily or readily installed, and allowed little, if any, adjustability.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a clamp assembly which is versatile and is readily adjustable and installable by utilizing opposing jaws or a pair of engagement tabs which can secure at a location anywhere along a slot in a host structure, such as an extruded geometrically configured tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a clamp assembly which can be readily and easily installed in a slot in a host structure or other structure at any position along the slot, including at the top or at the bottom of the slot, and which is versatile and adjustable.
The host structure can be of numerous shapes and forms, but is herein exemplified by an extruded geometrically configured tube having a slotted surface. The host structure can have any number of slots, and in the example herein illustrated four slots are provided. Each slot is defined by a portion of the surface of the extruded geometrically configured tube, opposed struts extending outwardly from the surface, and opposing segmented arcuate portions supported on the ends of the struts.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided for installation in a slot of the host structure a clamp assembly which includes a two-piece clamp body composed of a pair of opposing substantially mirror-image jaws each having an inner surface with an arcuate channel and a tooth juxtaposing the arcuate channel. The arcuate channels are for cooperating to accept and frictionally engage a mounting rod to be affixed to the host structure by the clamp assembly, and the teeth are for entering into a slot of the host structure. The clamp assembly further includes a tightening member, such as a thumbscrew, which extends through a body hole in one of the jaws and engages into a threaded hole in the other of the jaws. When a mounting rod is received by the arcuate channels in the jaws, the teeth of the jaws lie to one side of the mounting rod and the tightening member lies to the opposite side of the mounting rod. So positioned, the mounting rod serves as a fulcrum, and upon rotating the tightening member, the inner surfaces of the jaws on the tightening member side of the mounting rod are forced together, whereas the teeth on the opposite side of the mounting rod expand or move away from each other and come into frictional engagement with the segmented arcuate portions of the host structure, thus affixing the clamp assembly and mounting rod securely to the host structure.
According to an alternate embodiment, there is provided for installation in a slot of the host structure a clamp assembly which includes a one-piece clamp body and a mounting rod which serves as a tightening member. The one-piece clamp body includes engagement tabs for entering into a slot of the host structure and a threaded hole for receiving threads located at one end of the mounting rod. By placing the engagement tabs of the one-piece clamp body into a slot of the host structure and then turning the threads of the mounting rod into the threaded hole in the one-piece clamp body, the engagement tabs are brought into frictional engagement with the segmented arcuate portions of the host structure, thus affixing the alternate embodiment clamp assembly securely to the host structure.
Significant aspects and features of the present invention include a clamp assembly which features mid-slot installability, adjustability, versatility, and which is not limited to one particular geometrical orientation. That is, the extruded geometrically configured tube or other host structure which supports the clamp assembly and other devices, such as a mounting rod, can either be vertical, horizontal, or at an angle, and of any length, as there is no limit as to the length of an extrusion in theory. The mounting rod which is supported by the clamp assembly or which forms a part of the clamp assembly can take any type of geometrical configuration, can support any object, and can have any type of geometrical structure secured thereto.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is that once a host structure such as an extruded geometrically configured host tube is positioned, such as on a base, vertically or horizontally, the clamp assembly can be engaged and disengaged easily and effectively at any time.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a clamp assembly having opposing jaws operated about a pivot or fulcrum rod where outward ends of the jaws are forced apart to engage a slot.
Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a clamp assembly having jaw ends which are rounded to promote jaw self-positioning during the initial installation step.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a clamp assembly constructed of two jaws which are held together, in part, by one or more spring-like sponge rubber pads.
Having thus described embodiments and significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a clamp assembly which has exceptional versatility and which can be readily and easily installed to a slot in a host structure or other structure at any position therealong.
REFERENCES:
patent: 544216 (1895-08-01), Droste
patent: 1234038 (1917-07-01), Kelley
patent: 2547932 (1951-04-01), Downs, Jr.
patent: 2712167 (1955-07-01), Blanchard
patent: 3015177 (1962-02-01), Hembd
patent: 4725030 (1988-02-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5667185 (1997-09-01), Maglica
patent: 5769556 (1998-06-01), Colley
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