Clamp Assembly

• US 20140294496A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gardiner Pole Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Gardiner Pole Systems Limited
• Inventors: Gardiner, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,933,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/374.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/1454 with a clamp locking the telescoping members by swinging a handle provided with a locking cam F16B7/1418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7066 having actuator

Abstract

A quick release clamp assembly comprising a clamp body for applying a radially compressive force to the outer surface of a pole, the clamp body comprising first and second end portions; a connecting member extending between the first and second end portions, the connecting member having first and second end portions; an actuator connected to the first end of the connecting member, the actuator moving the second end portion of the clamp body towards the first end portion relative to the connecting member; the second end portion of the connecting member being connected to the first end portion of the clamp body by a resilient mount, the resilient mount opposing the action of the actuator when closing the clamp and allowing relative movement between the second end portion of the connecting member and the first end portion of the clamp body.

Claims

1. A quick release clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp body for applying a radially compressive force to the outer surface of a pole, the clamp body comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;

a connecting member extending between the first and second end portions of the clamp body, the connecting member having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an actuator connected to the first end of the connecting member, in use when closing the clamp the actuator moving the second end portion of the clamp body towards the first end portion of the clamp body and relative to the connecting member;

the second end portion of the connecting member being connected to the first end portion of the clamp body by a resilient mount, the resilient mount opposing the action of the actuator when closing the clamp and allowing relative movement between the second end portion of the connecting member and the first end portion of the clamp body.

2. The clamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the effective length of the connecting member can be adjusted by rotation of the connecting member.

3. The clamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein both the first and second end portions of the clamp body have a bore extending therethrough, the bores being generally aligned with one another.

4. The clamp assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second end portion of the connecting member comprises a head having a larger diameter than the bore through the first end portion of the clamp body, wherein the head comprises a first head portion and a second head portion, the first head portion being larger in diameter than the bore of the first end portion of the clamp body and the second head portion being smaller in diameter than the first head portion.

5. The clamp assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second head portion of the connecting member is able to be accommodated within a portion of the bore extending through the first end portion of the clamp body.

6. The clamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient mount comprises a resilient member disposed between the second end portion of the connecting member and the first end portion of the clamp body.

7. The clamp assembly according to claim 6, wherein the resilient member is a coiled spring.

8. The clamp assembly according to claim 7, wherein the spring rate of the coiled spring is in the range of from 100 to 200 N/mm.

9. The clamp assembly according to claim 6, wherein the resilient member is accommodated within the first end portion of the clamp body.

10. The clamp assembly according to claim 9, wherein the resilient member is located within an enlarged portion of the bore extending through the first end portion of the clamp body and is seated on a shoulder formed therein.

11. The clamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an eccentric body which forms a cam.

12. The clamp assembly according to claim 11, wherein the ratio between the minimum and maximum radii of the cam is from 1:

1.5 to 1;

3.5.

13. The clamp assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cam has an outer surface that bears indirectly on the second end portion of the clamp body.

14. The clamp assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cam has an outer surface that bears on a shim disposed between the cam and the second end portion of the clamp body.

15. The clamp assembly according to claim 14, wherein the shim has a generally crescent-shaped cross-section.

16. The clamp assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cam is rotatable on an axis which is normal to the central longitudinal axis of the connecting member.

17. The clamp assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cam is rotatable about a fastening member attached to the first end portion of the connecting member.

20. A pole assembly comprising a clamp according to claim 1 and one or more poles.

18. A quick release clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp body for applying a radially compressive force to the outer surface of a pole, the clamp body comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;

a connecting member extending between the first and second end portions of the clamp body, the connecting member having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an actuator connected to the first end portion of the connecting member, in use when closing the clamp the actuator moving the second end portion of the clamp body towards the first end portion of the clamp body and relative to the connecting member, the actuator applying force to a surface of the second end portion of the clamp body; and

a shim disposed between the surface of the second end portion of the clamp body and the actuator.

19. The clamp assembly according to claim 18, wherein the shim has a generally crescent-shaped cross-section.