Fast beam clamp
A beam clamp includes a clamp base and a rotational portion. The base includes an interior cavity and an external surface. The base and the rotational portion are pivotably connected by a mateable device. The rotational portion extends into the interior cavity of the base and the rotational portion includes a torsion spring.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/004,739 filed on Nov. 29, 2007, all of
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an adjustable clamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamp for securement to a beam to support various attachments therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBeam clamps are temporarily and/or permanently mount to a wide range of tapered or flat beams. For example, beam clamps are attached to the flange of the support beam and include a threaded member to allow for a way to secure various attachments to the support beam. For example, in an industrial setting, a conduit channel, lighting, equipment or piping can be attached to a support beam using a variety of clamping devices.
Some prior art clamps are limited in their design, for example, some clamping devices are designed to attach to a specific surface and size beam. Additionally, some clamping devices are designed to only allow for attachment of a member which runs parallel to the beam, while other clamping devices are designed for attachment of items running only perpendicular to the beam. Additionally, some prior art clamping devices include various parts to assemble. For example, a set screw is often used to lock the clamping device into place and a rod is attached to the clamping device to provide a site for attachment of various members. The additional step of placing the clamping device in place, holding it in place while one tightens the set screw to allow for securement of the clamping device to the beam is difficult and time consuming because of the numerous steps and parts. Further, the rod must then be attached to provide for a site of attachment for other structures.
It is therefore desirable to provide a clamping device, which can be mounted on a support beam of various sizes without the complexity, or cost of prior art designs, has a more compact design and less additional parts, provides greater securement to the beam and provides for easy installation and removal of the clamp without extra effort or steps on the part of the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a clamp, which can be attached to a flat or tapered surface such as a flange of a beam which may be of various sizes. In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art are addressed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a beam clamp includes a body and a threaded rod. The body includes a base, a rotational portion, a mateable device, and a threaded receiver. The base includes an interior cavity and an external surface. The base and the rotational portion are pivotably connected by the mateable device. The rotational portion extends into the interior cavity and the rotational portion includes a torsion spring. The threaded receiver extends from the base and is matable with the threaded rod.
Further, the base includes teeth extending toward the rotational portion. The rotational portion includes teeth extending toward the base. The mateable device includes a pair of pins and a pair of slots. The pins extend from the rotational portion and the pair of slots is integral with the base. The pair of pins is received by the pair of slots and pivotable therein. The pair of slots are opposed the teeth of the base. The rotational portion includes a rounded wedge portion and a triangular portion integrally extending from the wedge portion. The teeth extend from the rounded portion of the wedge. The triangular portion contacts the spring, and the spring forces the rotational portion out from the interior cavity of the base.
Furthermore, the present invention provides for a beam clamp including a base, a rotational portion and a mateable device pivotably connecting the base to the rotational portion. The base has a C-shaped geometry, and the C-shaped geometry defines an interior cavity. The base includes a row of teeth extending into the interior cavity. The rotational portion extends into the interior cavity and the rotational portion includes a series of protruding teeth at one end.
Additionally, the present invention provides for a beam clamp including a clamp base, a rotational portion and a mateable device pivotably attaching the clamp base to the rotational portion. The clamp base includes two parallel C-shaped planar plates attached together by a recessed portion and a threaded receiver portion. Each plate includes a row of teeth and an opening through one end of each plate. The recessed portion includes a hole therethrough for a bolt to extend therethough. The threaded receiver portion includes a threaded hole to accept a threaded rod therein. The rotational portion includes a hole therethrough for accepting a mateable device therein. The mateable device extends through the openings through the plate ends and the hole through the rotational end.
Referring to
The rotational portion 14 is removably attached to the clamp base 12.
The pins 40 are designed to mate with the slots 32 of the clamp base 12 defining the mateable device 44. The pins 40 allow for the rotational portion 14 to pivot about a pivot point within the slots 32. When the pins 40 are placed into slots 32 then the rotational portion 14 can seat in the interior cavity 17 of the base 12, and it can pivot about the slots preferably at least 180 degrees but less then 360 degrees. The pivoting rotational portion 14 allows the teeth 42 to generally perpendicularly come into contact with the bottom portion of the flange 58 which, along with teeth 28 engaging the top portion of flange 58, provides for securement of the clamp body 10 to the beam 56.
The rotational portion 14 further includes a torsion spring 46. Torsion spring 46 mounts to pin 40 and includes an extension arm 48 that extends outward from the pin. In a different direction, torsion spring 46 includes a portion that engages the triangular portion 38. When the rotational portion 14 is attached to the base 12, via the slot 32 and pins 40, the extension arm 48 comes into contact with the interior surface 18 of the base 12. This causes the rotational portion 14 to be biased with respect to the interior cavity 17 and prevents the rotational portion 14 from seating completely within the base 12 without counteracting the force of the torsion spring 46. Further, when the beam flange 58 is introduced to the interior of the base 12, the torsion spring 46 provides resistance against the flange 58 of the beam 56 as it forces the rotational portion 14 to push upwardly against the beam flange 58 and out from the interior cavity 17 of the base 12. The resistance between the flange 58 and the clamp body 10 provides for temporary securement of the clamp body 10 to the beam 56, without the need for additional screws to adjust the clamp body to fit the beam and secure it thereto.
Threaded rod 50 protrudes from the bottom of clamp body 10 and can be screwed into clamp body 10 contacting the triangular portion 38.
Referring to
The interior surface 118 of the upper portion 112A includes a row of teeth 128 which contact and grip the beam flange placed therein during use. As shown in
The lower portion 112B of the clamp base 112 also includes a threaded receiver base 134 for receiving a threaded rod therein. The threaded receiver base 134 can be round, hexagonal or rectangular and extends perpendicular to the plates 122. The threaded receiver base 134 is connected to the end of the concaved portion 124 by the lower portion 112B. The threaded receiver base 134 includes a hole 136 which extends from the exterior surface 116 through to the interior surface 118. Threads are disposed along at least a portion of the inner diameter of the hole 136 of the threaded receiver base 134. The threaded receiver base 134 includes a flange extension 135 which extends about the hole 136 on the exterior surface 116 of the lower portion 112B.
As shown in
The rotational portion 114 is attached to the clamp base 112 via mateable device 152, as shown in
Torsion spring 146 is coiled around pin 140 and sandwiched between the rotational portion 114 and a plate 122. The torsion spring includes an extension arm 148. The extension arm 148 seats in the channel 133 of the base 112 and the extension arm 148 comes into contact with the interior surface 118 of the base 112. The extension arm 148 pushes against stop 131 in channel 133 and limits or biases the movement of the rotational portion 114 away from the interior surface 118 of the clamp base 112. Thus, as the beam flange is introduced to the interior of the base 112, the torsion spring 146 provides resistance against the flange of the beam as it forces the rotational portion 114 to push upwardly against the beam flange and out from the interior cavity of the base 112. Thus, pulling the beam flange out from the clamp body 110 is hindered because as the flange is pulled out, the spring 146 pushes the rotational portion 114 outward against the flange. The teeth 142 dig into the flange further. Thus, the spring creates a one-way easy entry into the interior cavity of the clamp body 110, but prevents easy removal or slipping out of the beam flange. The resistance between the flange and the clamp body 110 provides for temporary securement of the clamp body 110 to the beam, without the need for additional screws to adjust the clamp body to fit the beam and secure it thereto.
Bolt 144 extends through opening 120 of the clamp base 112 to engage with the arch portion 138 of the rotational portion 114. As the bolt 144 is pushed against the arch portion 138, the rotational portion 114 is pushed upward toward teeth 128 of the clamp base 112. The space between the teeth 128 and teeth 142 is narrowed and the flange introduced between the teeth is secured therebetween.
A threaded rod (not shown) extends into the threader receiver 134 at the bottom of clamp body 110 and can be screwed into clamp body 110, as similarly discussed above with regards to the clamp body 10 of
Having described the preferred embodiments herein, it should now be appreciated that variations may be made thereto without departing from the contemplated scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described herein are deemed illustrative rather than limiting, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A beam clamp comprising:
- a body including a base, a rotational portion and a mateable device pivotably connecting said base to said rotational portion, said base having a C-shaped geometry, said C-shaped geometry defining an interior cavity, said base includes two parallel outer plates having said C-shaped geometry connected by a recessed portion, said base including a row of teeth on an upper portion of said C-shaped geometry extending into said interior cavity, wherein said base includes a curling bracket therein, said rotational portion extending into said interior cavity, said rotational portion being mounted between the two parallel outer plates at a lower portion of said C-shaped geometry and including a series of protruding teeth at one end, said series of protruding teeth extend into said interior cavity; the body further including a threaded hole extending through said base to provide for attachment of a threaded rod, wherein said mateable device includes a pin extending through said base and said rotational portion, and wherein said pin includes a torsion spring thereabout to resist deflection of said rotational portion into said interior cavity of said base.
2. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein said mateable device includes a pin extending through said base and said rotational portion.
3. The beam clamp of claim 2, wherein said pin includes a torsion spring thereabout to limit the movement of said rotational portion within said interior cavity of said base.
4. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein said body further includes comprising a bolt threaded rod extending through said threaded hole in the body and engaging with said rotational portion.
5. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein said rotational portion includes a protruding arch portion perpendicularly extending into said interior cavity of said base.
6. The beam clamp of claim 1, further including a threaded receiver extending through said base to provide for attachment of a threaded rod.
7. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein said base includes a curling bracket includes having sloped slots for accepting a said mateable portion device therein.
8. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein said recessed portion extending perpendicularly between said plates.
9. The clamp beam of claim 1, wherein said curling bracket includes a rounded end, each rounded end includes said opening therethrough for accepting said mateable device therein, said rounded end includes inwardly facing extension stop which extends into said interior cavity.
10. A beam clamp comprising:
- a body including a clamp base, a rotational portion and a mateable device pivotably attaching said clamp base to said rotational portion, said clamp base including two parallel C-shaped planar plates attached together by a recessed portion and a threaded receiver portion provided on at least an upper portion of an interior cavity of the clamp base, each plate including a row of teeth on an upper portion thereof and an opening openings through one end a bottom portion of each plate, said recessed portion a bottom of said clamp base includes a hole therethrough for a bolt to extend therethough, said threaded receiver portion including a threaded hole to accept a threaded rod therein;
- said rotational portion includes a hole therethrough for accepting a said mateable device therein; and
- said mateable device extends through said openings through in said bottom portion of each plate ends and said hole through said rotational end portion, the rotational portion being positioned between the two C-shaped plates, wherein said mateable device is a pin, and wherein said mateable device further includes a spring, said spring being coiled around said pin and said spring being sandwiched between one of said plates and said rotational portion.
11. The clamp beam of claim 10, wherein each plate includes a rounded end, each rounded end includes said opening therethrough for accepting said mateable device therein, said rounded end includes inwardly facing extension stop which extends into said interior cavity.
12. The beam clamp of claim 10, said mateable device is a pin.
13. The beam clamp of claim 12, said mateable device further includes a spring, said spring is coiled around said pin and said spring is sandwiched between one of said plates and said rotational portion.
14. The beam clamp of claim 13, said plates, said recessed portion and said threaded receiver portion define an interior cavity of said base, said rotational portion seats within said interior cavity of said base.
15. The beam clamp of claim 10, wherein one end of said rotational portion includes a series of teeth extending outwardly from said end.
16. A beam clamp comprising:
- a body including a base, a rotational portion, a mateable device, and a threaded receiver, said base includes an interior cavity and an external surface, said base and said rotational portion are pivotably connected by said mateable device, said rotational portion extends into said interior cavity, said rotational portion including a rounded surface with teeth covering said rounded surface, said rotational portion includes a torsion spring, said threaded receiver extends from said base, said base includes teeth extending toward the rotational portion, said rotational portion includes teeth extending toward the base, said mateable device includes a pair of pins and a pair of slots, said pins extend from said rotational portion and said pair of slots is integral with said base, said pair of pins being received by said pair of slots and pivotable therein; and
- a threaded rod attached to said body by mating with said threaded receiver.
17. The beam clamp of claim 16, wherein said rotational portion includes a rounded wedge portion having said rounded surface thereon and a triangular portion integrally extending from said rounded wedge portion.
18. The beam clamp of claim 17, wherein said triangular portion contacts said rod, said rod forcing said rotational portion out from said interior cavity of said base.
19. The beam clamp of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped geometry is connected by the recessed portion provided on at least a portion of the interior cavity of the base.
20. The beam clamp of claim 19, wherein the recessed portion is provided on an upper portion of the base.
21. A beam clamp comprising:
- a body including a base, a rotational member and a means for pivotably connecting said rotational member to said base, said base having a C-shaped geometry, said C-shaped geometry defining an interior cavity, said base includes two C-shaped parallel outer plates connected by a recessed portion, said base including a plurality of teeth on an upper portion of the C-shaped geometry of said base, said teeth and said rotational member extending into said interior cavity, said rotational member including a series of protruding teeth extending into said interior cavity, a bottom portion of said base including a threaded hole for receiving a threaded rod therein, wherein said means for pivotally connecting said rotational member to said base includes a pin extending through said parallel outer plates forming a lower portion of the C-shaped geometry of said base, the pin further including a torsion spring thereabout to resist deflection of said rotational member into said interior cavity of said base, the rotational member further including a portion which protrudes into the interior cavity of said base whereby upon rotation of the threaded rod, an upper end of the threaded rod contacts the rotational member protruding portion to press the rotational member teeth and base teeth against a beam inserted therebetween to secure the clamp to the beam.
22. The beam clamp of claim 21, wherein the plurality of teeth on the upper portion of the C-shaped geometry of said base are provided on said parallel outer plates to form two rows of teeth.
23. A beam clamp comprising:
- a body including a base, a rotational portion and a mateable device pivotably connecting said base to said rotational portion, said base having a C-shaped geometry, said C-shaped geometry defining an interior cavity, said base includes two parallel outer plates having said C-shaped geometry connected by a recessed portion, said base including a row of teeth on an upper portion of each of said two parallel outer plates having said C-shaped geometry extending into said interior cavity, said rotational portion extending into said interior cavity, said rotational portion being mounted between the two parallel outer plates at a lower portion of said C-shaped geometry and including a series of protruding teeth at an upper portion thereof, said series of protruding teeth extending into said interior cavity, wherein said mateable device includes a pin extending through said base and said rotational portion, and further wherein said pin includes a torsion spring thereabout to resist deflection of said rotational portion into said interior cavity of said base.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 26, 2012
Date of Patent: Dec 22, 2015
Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (Wilmington, DE)
Inventors: Joey D. Magno, Jr. (Cordova, TN), Xueming Cai (Collierville, TN)
Primary Examiner: Nkeisha Smith
Application Number: 13/661,831
International Classification: F16L 3/24 (20060101); H02G 3/32 (20060101); F16B 2/10 (20060101); F16B 2/06 (20060101);