Rib clamping system for display devices

Details Rib clamping system for display devices Rib clamping system for display devices

1999-08-06

2001-02-13

Davis, Cassandra H. (Department: 3628)

Supports

Stand

Standard type

C040S612000, C040S607060, C040S610000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186463

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to systems for clamping ribs such as those employed in highway signs and other display devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Highway warning signs are typically employed at roadside locations to warn oncoming traffic of unexpected obstructions and other hazardous conditions associated with work site activity. These types of roadway signs are typically transported to a job site on an as-needed basis.
Improvements in warning signs have been sought to make the signs light weight and collapsible so as to be easily transported along with other equipment in a work vehicle. Presently, many of the warning signs in use today have sign panels supported either by fiberglass ribs or hollow metallic tubing. The fiberglass ribs and metallic tubing have differing handling requirements, especially when subjected to clamping forces. Whereas the metallic tubing is virtually impervious to normal manually applied clamping forces, much greater care must be exercised when clamping fiberglass ribs.
Typically, commercially available fiberglass ribs comprise an array of fiberglass strands encapsulated in a resin body to form the characteristic elongated cross-sectional profile where the large face of the rib is more than three times the dimension of the smaller rib face. If clamping pressure is not properly applied to the fiberglass rib, there is a risk that the fiberglass rib will suffer a loss of structural integrity resulting eventually in the fiberglass strands separating from one another. The initial onset of such problems may build slowly, not becoming apparent until the ribs have been subjected to repeated clamping and unclamping operations. Accordingly, the process of deterioration may not be closely observed with respect to the clamping operations applied to the rib over its useful service life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clamping arrangement providing attachment to fiberglass ribs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such clamping arrangements which may be economically constructed from a minimum number of inexpensive parts.
A further object of the present invention is to provide clamping arrangements of the above-described type which are simply and easily implemented even in adverse field conditions.
These and other objects according to principles of the present invention are provided in a releasable coupling assembly for clamping a rib, comprising:
a mounting channel for receiving the rib;
a press plate movably mounted for movement toward and away from said channel for clamping said rib in said channel and releasing said rib from said channel, respectively;
an operating member for applying force; and
a lever arm coupling said operating member and said press plate to move said press plate toward and away from said channel.
In one embodiment, the operating member is made flexible to further limit a compressive force which can be applied to the rib.


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