GB2284754A - Clamping arrangement for attaching a seat to a support - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable seat is attached to a supporting bar, beam plank or the like by means of a clamp on its base having two jaws 6, 11 which are movable towards each other and provide an extended clamping area. Preferably the seat itself is pivotable on the base and is especially suitable for anglers on boats, when the seat can be clamped to the thwart or another part of the boat. In the example the movement of the jaws is by means of threaded rod 15. The seat may also be provided with a telescopic frame 24 for holding containers for paraphernalia, eg fishing tackle. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT CLAMPING ARRANGEMENTS This invention relates to portable article clamping arrangements such as portable/movable seating arrangements and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with seating arrangements which enable rotational movements of the seat part of the seating arrangement relative to the supporting arrangements for the seat part.

It is well known that portable/movable seating arrangements are required in many situations in which it is desirable or necessary to employ a seat or similar rest affording support so that the practicing of an activity is facilitated.

A particular instance of such a requirement for a seat is by persons fishing over the side of a boat.

It is well known when fishing over the side of a boat that the fishing operation frequently involves an angler following movements of a fishing line and/or float, fly or similar whilst there is relative movement between the boat and the 'hook' lengthwise of the boat. In such situations it is necessary for the angler constantly to adjust his seating position relative to the fore and aft direction of the boat to accommodate such relative movements.

The importance of following such relative movements assumes considerable importance when a fish has been 'hooked' and is being played and/or drawn in.

In relation to anglers fishing over the side of a boat, there is a well known problem that the boat structure, of most boats likely to be used by anglers, does not incorporate totally suitable seating facilities.

As a result many anglers employ easily portable seats such as low level stools, cushions etc. which are placed at any convenient place in a boat which affords what is considered to be a desired fishing position in the boat involved. In practice, these known arrangements are usually a very inefficient compromise between lack of suitable seating and some form of seating and in many cases have been found to be generally unsafe in use.

It is already known that attempts have been made to improve safety by securing seats to the fabric of a boat by means of the well known G-clamps. However, the use of such clamps involves inherent problems, and in particular, those arising from the myriad of movements made by an angler during a fishing period which results in a loosening of the seat relative to the boat itself thereby rendering the seat unsafe in further use, and the consequential natural reaction to tighten the clamps to prevent any such undesired movements.

In practice, the action of such clamp tightening has been found to damage the fabric of the boat by the crushing action exerted by the clamps on that part of the boat with which they are engaged. As a result further clamp tightening to accommodate loosening of the seat during use leads to further crushing and damage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamping arrangement which at least reduces the adverse effects of a clamping action and provides an inherently safer clamping effect.

A further object of the present invention is to facilitate the mounting of a portable seat to a boat in a secure and safe manner.

Broadly, according a first aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping/cramping arrangement adapted for connection to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, wherein clamping/cramping elements of the arrangement provide extended area regions of clamping/cramping contact with the bar, beam or the like.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a seat unit including a clamping/cramping arrangement for mounting the seat unit to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, wherein clamping/cramping elements of the arrangement provide extended area regions of clamping/cramping contact with the bar, beam or the like.

Preferably, the seat unit incorporates a rotation enabling assembly whereby the article to be mounted or supported is rotatable relative to the clamping/cramping arrangement and thus a bar, beam or the like to which the clamping arrangement is mounted.

Conveniently, the rotation enabling assembly includes a base section secured to the main part of the arrangement, an upper section rotatably mounted to the base section, the upper section being adated to mount the article to be supported and means for restricting the freedom of relative rotation between the base section and the upper section.

In a preferred construction the means for restricting the freedom of rotational movement comprises a friction pad or the like interposed between the facing relatively rotatable surfaces of said upper and base sections.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which very schematicaly illustrates an embodiment of a clamping/cramping arrangement when associated with a seat unit mounted for rotation relative to the clamping/cramping arrangements.

Referring now to the single Figure a base plate 1 having a generally rectangular cross-section is provided at each of two opposite edge regions thereof with a rectangular cross section tube 2,3. Each such tube 2,3 is intended telescopically to receive a similarly cross sectioned tube or bar 4,5 respectively, to which tubes or bars 4 and 5 is securely attached a first clamping/cramping plate 6. The plate 6 includes a first strip 7 part that overlies the ends 8 of the tubes or bars 4 and 5 and a main part 9 extending transverse to the first strip 7 and thus perpendicular to the telescoping axis of the bars 4 and 5.

The plate 6 also includes a further strip-like part 10 which extends in prolongation of the main part 9. This part 10 as may be seen is inclined relative to the main part 9 downwardly and towards the direction in which the bars 4 and 5 extend.

A second clamping/cramping plate 11 is provided at the opposite end of the plate 1. This second plate 11 includes a main part 12 which is secured to and bridges the tubes 2 and 3 and an inclined part 13 which faces inwardly towards the inclined part 10 of the clamping/cramping plate 6.

The inside surfaces of the parts 9, 10, 12 and 13 effectively define the actual clamping/cramping surfaces of the clamping/cramping plates 6 and 11.

The two clamping/cramping plates 6 an 11 are displaceable relative to each other by means of a screw threaded adjustment means 14 including a screw 15 which engages in the clamping/cramping plate 5 and is freely rotatable therein. The screw 15 threadably engages in a threaded block (not shown) secured at an appropriate position on the underside of the plate 1. As will be appreciated rotation of the screw 15 in one sense moves the plate 6 towards the plate 11 and rotation in the opposite sense moves the plates 6 and 11 one away from the other.

The plate 1 mounts a truncated pyramid shaped box-like casing 16, the latter being symmetrically located on the plate 1.

A second casing 17 having truncated or pyramid shaped form is rotationally mounted to the casing 16, such that the casing 17 is effectively inverted relative the lower casing 16.

In conjunction with the desirablilty of providing a significantly large cross sectional area (for reasons to be mentioned) it is important to provide a large as possible surface area between the facing parts of the two casings 16 and 17.

A pad 18 of friction providing material is provided on the upper surface of the casing 16 to produce a resistance to the rotation between the two casings 16 and 17. The pad 18 is of such size as to maximise the area of frictional effect.

In practice, the surface area of these facing surfaces is such, in relation to the overall shaping of the casing to provide an effectively constant area of surface overlap whatever the rotational setting of the casings relative to each other.

A pivotal connection (not shown) is provided between the two casings 16 and 17 and can be of any convenient form provided that it affords a very firm and secure connection between the two casings and also ensures that the friction pad 18 is able to exert a sufficient frictional effect to allow the upper casing to provide a desired degree of resistance to relative rotation.

It will be appreciated that the interiors of the casings will be suitably strengthwise reinforced to ensure the requisite firm and user safe connection between the two casings.

In the case where the arrangement as so far described is intended to provide a rotatable support for a seat pan, the upper region of the casing 17 is adapted to provide suitable connections for enabling a seat pan unit 19 to be securely attached to the casing 17.

The upper casing 17 is provided with guides 20 for mounting suppport bars for a back rest assembly 21 which is only schematically shown in the Figures.

The upper casing 17 is also provided with, for example, guide tubes or bars 22 adapted to receive support bars 23 extending from a rectangular framework 24 which is intended to provide a support for accessory trays 24a or the like. Such trays can be intended to receive items of fishing equipment such as hooks; flies; bait.

In addition, the framework 24 is adapted telescopically to receive and mount the support bars 25 provided upon additional accessories 26. For example, one such accessory 26 can comprise a tray formation for receiving the fishing line as it is retrieved, thereby eliminating the chance of the line becoming damaged as is the case if such line is merely allowed to drop into the bottom of a boat.

In otherwords, the framework 24 is intended for receiving, mounting or the like accessories which are to be associated with the seat unit.

Claims (12)

1. A clamping/cramping arrangement for mounting a seat unit to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, wherein clamping/cramping elements of the arrangement provide extended area regions of clamping/cramping contact with the bar, beam or the like.

2. A seat unit including a clamping/cramping arrangement for mounting the seat unit to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, wherein clamping/cramping elements of the arrangement provide extended area regions of clamping/cramping contact with the bar, beam or the like.

3. A seat unit including clamping/cramping arrangement for mounting an article to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, as claimed in claim 2, and incorporating a rotation enabling assembly whereby the article to be mounted or supported is rotatable relative to the clamping/cramping arrangement and thus a bar, beam or the like to which the clamping arrangement is mounted.

4. A seat unit as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the rotation enabling assembly includes a base section secured to the main part of the arrangement, an upper section rotatably mounted to the base section, the upper section being adated to mount the article to be supported and means for restricting the freedom of relative rotation between the base section and the upper section.

5. A seat unit as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the means for restricting the freedom of rotational movement comprises a friction pad or the like interposed between the facing relatively rotatable surfaces of said upper and base sections

6. A seat unit as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the facing surfaces of the upper and lower sections located one to either side of the friction pad are of such form that the area of support between said facing surfaces always remains sufficient to provide adequate support for said article whatever its position with respect to the support bar, beam, plank or the like.

7. A seat unit as claimed in claim 4,5 or 6, and wherein the uper part of the upper section is adapted to support a seat pan and an associated back rest.

8. A seat unit as claimed in claim 7, and wherein said upper section is adapted for receiving, mounting or the like accessories which are to be associated with the use of the article mounted by the clamping arangement

9. A seat unit as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, and wherein the upper section is adapted to receive and mount a support means which is in turn adapted for supporting for trays for receiving at least one accessory trays or the like.

10. A seat unit as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the support means includes an open framework, which provides a support rest for the peripheral regions of a tray or the like, and also is adapted telescopically to receive and mount the support bars 25 provided upon additional accessories 26.

11. A clamping/cramping arrangement for mounting an article to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

12. A seat unit adapted for for mounting to a support bar, beam, plank or the like, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.