GB2546501A

GB2546501A - A clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2546501A
Application number: GB1600986.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Bowman Kevin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-19
Filing date: 2016-01-19
Publication date: 2017-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-19
Also published as: GB201600986D0; GB2546501B

Abstract

A clamp comprises a bracket 114 having a recessed central portion 124 for accommodating an object to be clamped 130 and first and second side portions 126A, 126B. First and second clamping members 118A, 118B extend over the recessed portion 124 and have outer ends 104A, 104B pivotally and slidably engaged with apertures 106A, 106B in the first and second side portions 126A, 126B of the bracket 114 respectively. A clamping plate 110 mounted over the recessed central portion 124 comprises a threaded stud 112 protruding between the inner ends of the clamping members 118A, 118B. A displaceable plate 134 is mounted on the stud 112 on the opposite side of the clamping members 118A, 1185 to the clamping plate 110, the displaceable plate134 being displaceable towards the clamping plate 110 to constrain the clamping members 118A, 1188 and to move the clamping plate 110 towards the object 130 so as to retain the object 130 in the recessed portion 124.

Description

A CLAMP

FIELD

The invention relates to a clamp. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to clamps for clamping support rods, pipes and cables to a support system.

BACKGROUND

Support systems are frequently used in ceiling voids where panels, tiles etc. are being suspended from a structure, such as in the construction of a roof in a building. These systems are used to route pipes and cables that are needed for the building to function but that also need to be kept out of the way for aesthetic or functional purposes.

Typically, such systems comprise a plurality of elongate metal channels or so-called trays that are mounted end-to-end and are supported from above by rods. The width and depth of the trays somewhat limits the number of cables or pipes that be routed. Also, it can be undesirable to route cables alongside heating pipes or to route data cables alongside power cables for example. In view of the foregoing, there is often the need to have several co-extending systems but disadvantages of this is that space may be limited and it is time consuming and costly to mount another system in-situ.

Aspects and embodiments were devised with the foregoing in mind.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clamp comprising: a bracket having a recessed central portion for accommodating a portion of an object to be clamped and first and second side portions; first and second clamping members extending over the recessed portion and having outer ends movably engaged with the first and second side portions of the bracket respectively; a clamping plate mounted over the recessed central portion comprising a threaded stud protruding outwardly away from the recessed portion relative to a major facet of the plate between the inner ends of the clamping members; and a displaceable member mounted on the stud on the opposite side of the clamping members to the plate, the displaceable member being displaceable towards the plate to constrain the clamping members and to move the clamping plate towards the object to be clamped to retain the object to be clamped in the recessed portion.

To assemble the clamp to an object to be clamped, such as, for example, a support rod, the displaceable member is removed and the inner ends of the clamping members can then be separated to allow insertion of the hanging support rod into the recessed portion. The clamp is then reassembled and the displaceable member is then displaced towards the plate to constrain the clamping members and to cause them to move towards planar alignment: this forces the plate against the support rod and leaves the stud protruding. The stud can then be fixed directly to a cable tray or perhaps through another clamp to the support rods. The stud may also be used in conjunction with pipe clips to carry pipes or with assorted washer alignments to mount cable tray to hanging support rod.

The clamp thus enables an object, such as a hanging support rod, a pipe, or a cable, or a tray system to be clamped to a another object, such as a tray where cables are laid, without needing to provide further trays and without having to find an end of the object. The clamp may also thus enable an object, such as a hanging support rod, a pipe, or a cable, or a tray system, to be fixed to an existing support system without the need to deconstruct the support system or remove existing pipe clips or cable trays.

The plate may further comprise a further flat major facet which faces in a direction opposite to the direction in which the stud protrudes.

The movable engagement between the first and second clamping members and the bracket may be a pivotal and/or sliding movement and may be enabled by respective tab portions extending outwardly from the outer ends of the respective first and second clamping members. The tab portions may be received in respective slots or apertures formed in the bracket.

The tab portions may comprise a hooked distal end portion which prevents inadvertent detachment of the first and second clamping members from the bracket.

The displaceable member may comprise a plate displaceably mounted on the stud. A nut may be mounted on the stud, the nut being displaceable along the stud to constrain the clamping members and to move the clamping plate towards the object to be clamped.

DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of clamp in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only by reference to following figures in which:

Figure 1a is a perspective view from one side and above of a clamp in accordance with the present invention, when loosened;

Figure 1b is an exploded perspective view of the clamp of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a side view of the clamp of Figure 1, when tightened; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the clamp of Figure 1 when in use.

Referring to Figures 1a, 1b and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a clamp 100 which can be used to clamp a hanging support rod to another object. The clamp 100 comprises first 102A and second 102B clamping plates, clamping plate 110, bracket 114 and threaded stud 112.

The first 102A and second 102B clamping plates are v-shaped in cross-section and extend generally downwardly from an inner edge (respectively 118A and 118B) towards an apex (respectively 120A and 120B) and then outwardly towards an outer edge (respectively 122A and 122B) which comprises respective tab portions 104A and 104B. The inner edges 118A and 118B may comprise cut away portions (respectively 136A and 136B) to enable the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates to form a collar around stud 112.

Clamping plate 110 provides a base for stud 112 which protrudes outwardly relative to the plate 110 and upwardly between the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates. Stud 112 is externally screw-threaded to receive a nut 146 at one end and to enable clamp 100 to be secured to another structure 132. This will be described later with reference to Figure 3.

Bracket 114 comprises a central recessed portion 124 where an object to be clamped, such as, in this example a hanging support rod, is to be retained in a clamped position, and first 126A and second 126B side portions which extend outwardly relative to the recessed portion 124.

First 126A and second 126B side portions comprise respective first 106A and second 106B slots through which the first 104A and second 104B tab portions can be passed when the clamp 100 is assembled to enable the hanging support rod to be retained in the recessed portion 124. The first 104A and second 104B tab portions extend outwardly relative to the respective side portion towards a respective hooked portion, 128A and 128B which enables the tab to grip the respective side portion 126A and 126B when the load applied to the respective clamping members requires it to do so, i.e. when the load being applied to the clamp 100 is very high.

Clamp 100 can be seen in assembled form in Figure 2 where it is in the position it would be to retain an object to be clamped.

We will now describe with reference to Figure 3 how clamp 100 is assembled to enable a hanging support rod 130 to be clamped to another structure. Prior to being used to enable a hanging support rod to be clamped to another structure, first 102A and second 102B clamping plates are in a position similar to the position illustrated in Figure 1a. That is to say, they are in a first constrained position between clamping plate 110 on the underside thereof and a displaceable plate 134 on the upper side thereof.

Displaceable plate 134 is removed from the clamp 100 by unscrewing nut 146 from around the stud 112 and lifting the displaceable plate 134 over the free end of the stud 112. First 102A and second 102B clamping plates can then be pivoted into an open position where no load is being applied to clamping plate 110. Such an open position means that apexes 118A and 118B are facing outwards relative to the recessed portion 124 to define a gap therebetween through which clamping plate 110 can be removed. Due to tab portions 104A and 104B, first 102A and second 102B clamping plates are coupled to the side portions 126A and 126B as the shape of the tab portions 104A and 104B and the grip portions 128A and 128B mean that when the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates are in the open position the movement of the tab portions 104A and 104B is constrained unless sufficient movement of the tab portions 104A and 104B enables the hooked portions 128A and 128B to be pulled through slots 106A and 106B and released from the coupling with the side portions 126A and 126B. In this position, i.e. where a gap is defined between first 102A and second 102B clamping plates through which a section of hanging support rod 130 can pass, recessed portion 124 can then be positioned around hanging support rod 130 at any point throughout the length of hanging support rod 130. There is no need to be able find an end point of hanging support rod 130 although clamp 100 is suitable for clamping hanging support rods s and other objects at any point along their length. Additionally, the use of clamp 100 means that there is no need, under the requirement to add cable trays or other elements to existing support structures, to deconstruct existing support structures in order to enable more cable trays or other elements to be added.

The hanging support rod 130 could be hanging in a generally downward direction from a ceiling of a building or could be extending in a generally upward direction from an existing support system. The orientation of the hanging support rod 130 has no influence on the effect of clamp 100.

After the recessed portion 124 is positioned around hanging support rod 130, the clamping plate 110 can then be placed back into a position in contact with the hanging support rod 130. Displaceable plate 134 can then be pivoted into position back over the free end of stud 112 and nut 146 can also be placed over the free end of stud 112. Nut 146 comprises an internal screw-thread (not shown) which complements the threads on the stud 112. The nut 146 can then be wound back over the stud 112 in a screwing action. The tightening of nut 146 causes it to move downwardly along the stud 112 to bear on the displaceable plate 134 and to urge it along the stud 112 towards the clamping plate 110.

The linear motion of displaceable plate 134 along the stud 112 towards the clamping plate 110 constrains the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates and acts to bring them into planar alignment and to separate their outer ends 122A, 122B. Slots 106A and 106B are dimensioned sufficiently to enable some movement of the tab portions 104A and 104B responsive to movement of the first and second clamping plates 102A and 102B. . The movement of the respective tab portions 104A and 104B and the generally downwards movement of the respective first and second clamping plates 102A and 102B will eventually stop once the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates are aligned. At this point their outer ends 122A, 122B will abut against the respective side portions 126A and 126B of the bracket 114 to grip against the respective side portions 126A and 126B. If the hanging support rod 130 is of a large diameter, the first 102A and second 102B clamping plates may not fully align but tightening of the nut 146 beyond the point of contact of the clamping plate 110 with the hanging support rod 130 will cause the first and second clamping plates 102A and 102B to deform slightly so that the tabs 104A, 104B become wedged in the slots 106A, 106B and thereby form a rigid structure with the bracket 114.

After the clamp 100 has been assembled around hanging support rod 130, the clamp 100 can then be mounted to a tray 132 using a washer alignment comprising first 150a and second 150b threaded nuts and respective first 152a and second 152b washers.

First threaded nut 150a is threaded around threaded stud 112 in a screwing action. Threaded stud 112 is then passed through an aperture (not shown) in first washer 152a and through a respective aperture (not shown) in tray 132. The continued screwing action of the first threaded nut 150a around threaded stud 112 causes a load bearing surface to be formed between first washer 152a and the tray 132.

The threaded stud 112 is generally of a length sufficient to enable it to pass directly through an aperture in an object such as a tray 132 even after the first threaded nut 150a has been threaded through the aperture in the first washer 152a, thereby causing the threaded stud 112 to protrude from the aperture in the tray 132 at the side of the tray opposite to where the clamp 100 is positioned.

The second washer 152b is then positioned around the threaded stud 112. The second threaded nut 150b is then threaded around threaded stud 112 in a screwing action. The continued screwing action of the second threaded nut 150b around threaded stud 112 causes a load bearing surface to be formed between second washer 152b and the tray 132.

The bearing surface between the first washer 152a and the tray 132 and the bearing surface between the second washer 152b and the tray 132 has the effect of compressing the tray 132 to hold the clamp 100 in position around the hanging support rod 130 and thereby mount the hanging support rod 130 to the tray 132.

Still referring to Figure 3, nut 146 need not be positioned in this manner. Nut 146 may be attached to the stud 112 after the stud has been pushed through a respective aperture in a tray 132 or other object to which the clamp is to be mounted. Alternatively further nuts may be used to secure the clamp 110 to the tray 132.

The clamp enables a hanging support rod 130 to be mounted to a hanger system at any point along the length of the hanging support rod 130. The clamp is both strong and rigid.

The example describes the clamping of a hanging support rod 130 using the clamp 100 but it will be appreciated that any object can be clamped.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising: a bracket having a recessed central portion for accommodating a portion of an object to be clamped and first and second side portions: first and second clamping members extending over the recessed portion and having outer ends movably engaged with the first and second side portions of the bracket respectively; a clamping plate mounted over the recessed central portion comprising a threaded stud protruding outwardly away from the recessed portion relative to a major facet of the plate between the inner ends of the clamping members; and a displaceable member mounted on the stud on the opposite side of the clamping members to the plate, the displaceable member being displaceable towards the plate to constrain the clamping members and to move the clamping plate towards the object to be clamped to retain the object to be clamped in the recessed portion.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, in which the plate further comprise a further flat major facet which faces in a direction opposite to the direction in which the stud protrudes.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the movable engagement between the first and second clamping members and the bracket is a pivotal and/or sliding movement.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, in which the movable engagement between the first and second clamping members and the bracket and is enabled by respective tab portions extending outwardly from the outer ends of the respective first and second clamping members.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 4, in which the tab portions are be received in respective slots or apertures formed in the bracket.

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which tab portions comprise a hooked distal end portion which prevents inadvertent detachment of the first and second clamping members from the bracket.

7. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the displaceable member comprises a plate displaceably mounted on the stud.

8. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a nut is mounted on the stud, the nut being displaceable along the stud to constrain the clamping members and to move the clamping plate towards the object to be clamped.

9. A clamp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.