GB1577315A - Clamping devices - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLAMPING DEVICES (71) We, STRoMBERG-GREEsT LIMITED, formerly Stromberg Components Limited, a British Company of Electra Works, Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 7HQ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a clamping device for use in clamping together two elongated components, and is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the mounting of horizontal television aerial booms on supporting upright masts.

The object of this invention is to provide a clamping device for this purpose which is easy to manufacture and to assemble and which does not require provision of fixing holes which weaken the boom and mast.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for clamping together two elongated components, one of which is of non-circular cornered section, so that the components extend in mutually transverse directions, comprising an open ended tubular body part to engage around the said one of the components and a spigot part to engage in one end of the other component, the body part and spigot part being formed in two complementary portions connected together by a hinge, the body part having a generally circular internal periphery with spaced notches in the internal surface, to engage the corners of the said non-circular cornered section component, to restrict rotation thereof within the said body part.

Preferably, the device is formed of two sections separated on a plane extending centrally through the tubular body part and the spigot part along the axis of the body part.

The components may be tubular and conveniently are of square section, the body part adjustably engaging around said one component and the spigot part engaging in the other component.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with refer ence to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two components clamped together by a device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the device in an open, out of use condition.

Referring to the drawings the embodiment shown comprises a clamping device 40 which has an open-ended tubular body part 42 and a spigot part 44 connected thereto and extending at right angles to the axis thereof.

The clamping device is formed from two identical sections separated on a plane extending centrally through the body part 42 and the spigot part 44, along the axis of the body part 42, each section therefore including one channel section portion 42a, 42b of the body part 42 and one half portion 44a, 44b of the spigot part 44. The sections are connected by an integral hinge 46 extending parallel to the axis of the body part 42 between the portions 42a, 42b of the body part 42.

The body part 42 is of substantially cylindrical cross-section having external end flanges 48.

The spigot part 44 is also of tubular form with a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

The portion 44a of the spigot part 44 is provided on its inner face with a plurality of projections 50 extending parallel to the axis of the body part 42 and spaced apart at regular intervals. On the inner face of the portion 44b of the spigot part 44 there are provided a plurality of apertures 52 complementary to the projections 50.

The internal surfaces of the body part 42 have spaced V-section notches 53. Each portion 42a, 42b has these notches 53 at two locations which are positioned symmetrically with respect to the centre of each channel.

In use, a first component in the form of a square section tubular aerial boom 30 is received within the tubular body part 42.

Assembly is carried out by separating the sections and engaging the body part 42 around the boom 30. The relative dimensions of the internal diameter of the tubular body part 42 and diagonal of the boom 30 are such as to allow restricted rotational adjustment of the boom without need to remove the spigot part 44 from mast. The notches 53 however serve to locate the boom at a required position of adjustment and normally prevent rotation, by engagement of the four corners of the boom in the four notches 53.

As shown, therefore, the four notches are equi-angularly spaced about the axis of the body part 42. To assist in allowing rotational adjustment, the corners of the boom 30 may be chamfered (not shown), for example along only an appropriate length of the boom 30.

The clamping device may be mounted on a second component in the form of a square section tubular support mast 32 by push fitting the spigot part 44 into a hollow socket portion formed at the upper end of the mast 32. Since the spigot part 44 is circular section, it is therefore rotatable within the socket portion formed in the mast 32.

The spigot part 44 may alternatively be of similar cross-section to the mast 32 if rotation relative to the mast 32 is not required.

In a modification the spigot part 42 having a cross-section similar to that of the socket portion of the mast 32 has resilient lugs provided on the outer faces of its portions 44a, 44b. Each of the lugs is defined by a first surface extending outwardly of the respective portions 44a, 44b at substantially right angles thereto and a second surface sloping inwardly from the outer edge of the first surface to the respective portions 44a, 44b. When the spigot part 44 is push fitted into the socket portion of the mast 32, the second surfaces of the lugs engage with the inner walls of the mast 32 and are flexed inwardly until the lugs align with apertures formed in the mast 32. The lugs then snap into these apertures and the first surfaces of the lugs form abutment faces with the upper edges of the apertures to lock the spigot part 44 in the mast 32.The resilient lugs may be of any suitable shape, for example, triangular, the corresponding apertures being complementarily shaped to the lugs.

It will be appreciated that because no pins or T plates are required to clamp the aerial boom to the support mast, no holes need be made in the boom to accommodate pins or bolts. There is therefore no loss in strength of the boom and the method of assembly enables saving in time and production costs.

The whole clamping device is, in the example illustrated, moulded from a mouldable plastics material, the hinge being formed by an integral section of the material which is thin enough to be flexible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for clamping together two elongated components, one of which is of non-circular cornered section, so that the components extend in mutually transverse directions, comprising an open ended tubular body part to engage around the said one of the components and a spigot part to engage in one end of the othcr component, the body part and spigot part being formed in two complementary portions connected together by a hinge, the body part having a generally circular internal periphery with spaced notches in the internal surface, to engage the corners of the said non-circular cornered section component, to restrict rotation thereof within the said body part.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is formed of two sections separated on a plane extending centrally through the tubular body part and the spigot part along the axis of the body part.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the sections are connected by said hinge at the side of the body part opposite to that from which the spigot part extends.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the hinge is integral with the sections.

5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sections of the spigot part are provided on their inner surfaces with complementarily shaped projections and recesses.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spigot part is provided with at least one flexible projection on an outer surface, the or each projection being arranged to flex to a locking position in engagement with the said other component to prevent withdrawal of the spigot portion therefrom.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the or each projection is integral with the spigot part.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spigot part is of substantially cylindrical cross-section, so as to be rotatable in the said other component.

9. A device according to either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the or each projection is defined by a first surface extending outwardly of the spigot part at substantially right angles thereto and a second surface sloping inwardly from the outer edge of the first surface to the spigot part, the or each projection being arranged to snap fit in an aperture in said other component such that the first surface abuts an edge of the aperture to lock the spigot part in the component.

10. A device for clamping together two elongated components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. as to allow restricted rotational adjustment of the boom without need to remove the spigot part 44 from mast. The notches 53 however serve to locate the boom at a required position of adjustment and normally prevent rotation, by engagement of the four corners of the boom in the four notches 53. As shown, therefore, the four notches are equi-angularly spaced about the axis of the body part 42. To assist in allowing rotational adjustment, the corners of the boom 30 may be chamfered (not shown), for example along only an appropriate length of the boom 30. The clamping device may be mounted on a second component in the form of a square section tubular support mast 32 by push fitting the spigot part 44 into a hollow socket portion formed at the upper end of the mast 32. Since the spigot part 44 is circular section, it is therefore rotatable within the socket portion formed in the mast 32. The spigot part 44 may alternatively be of similar cross-section to the mast 32 if rotation relative to the mast 32 is not required. In a modification the spigot part 42 having a cross-section similar to that of the socket portion of the mast 32 has resilient lugs provided on the outer faces of its portions 44a, 44b. Each of the lugs is defined by a first surface extending outwardly of the respective portions 44a, 44b at substantially right angles thereto and a second surface sloping inwardly from the outer edge of the first surface to the respective portions 44a, 44b. When the spigot part 44 is push fitted into the socket portion of the mast 32, the second surfaces of the lugs engage with the inner walls of the mast 32 and are flexed inwardly until the lugs align with apertures formed in the mast 32. The lugs then snap into these apertures and the first surfaces of the lugs form abutment faces with the upper edges of the apertures to lock the spigot part 44 in the mast 32.The resilient lugs may be of any suitable shape, for example, triangular, the corresponding apertures being complementarily shaped to the lugs. It will be appreciated that because no pins or T plates are required to clamp the aerial boom to the support mast, no holes need be made in the boom to accommodate pins or bolts. There is therefore no loss in strength of the boom and the method of assembly enables saving in time and production costs. The whole clamping device is, in the example illustrated, moulded from a mouldable plastics material, the hinge being formed by an integral section of the material which is thin enough to be flexible. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for clamping together two elongated components, one of which is of non-circular cornered section, so that the components extend in mutually transverse directions, comprising an open ended tubular body part to engage around the said one of the components and a spigot part to engage in one end of the othcr component, the body part and spigot part being formed in two complementary portions connected together by a hinge, the body part having a generally circular internal periphery with spaced notches in the internal surface, to engage the corners of the said non-circular cornered section component, to restrict rotation thereof within the said body part.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is formed of two sections separated on a plane extending centrally through the tubular body part and the spigot part along the axis of the body part.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the sections are connected by said hinge at the side of the body part opposite to that from which the spigot part extends.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the hinge is integral with the sections.

5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sections of the spigot part are provided on their inner surfaces with complementarily shaped projections and recesses.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spigot part is provided with at least one flexible projection on an outer surface, the or each projection being arranged to flex to a locking position in engagement with the said other component to prevent withdrawal of the spigot portion therefrom.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the or each projection is integral with the spigot part.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spigot part is of substantially cylindrical cross-section, so as to be rotatable in the said other component.

9. A device according to either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the or each projection is defined by a first surface extending outwardly of the spigot part at substantially right angles thereto and a second surface sloping inwardly from the outer edge of the first surface to the spigot part, the or each projection being arranged to snap fit in an aperture in said other component such that the first surface abuts an edge of the aperture to lock the spigot part in the component.

10. A device for clamping together two elongated components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.