LOCKING BADGE CLAMP

• US 20180119714A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Safety Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ty-Flot Incorporated (Pure Safety Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moreau, Darrell A., Moreau, Andre W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,371,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/005 Means to increase the friction-coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/185 using levers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/14 by strings, straps, chains, or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/16 by clamps

Abstract

A clamp assembly includes a clamp having a lever attached to a clamp body and operable between an open position and a closed position, where the clamp body defines an elongated opening with a narrowed waist portion between a first opening portion and a second opening portion. A fastener has a base, a cap, and a stem extending between and connecting the base and the cap. The base and the cap extend radially outward from the stem. The stem is sized to fit through the narrowed waist portion and the cap is sized to fit through the first opening portion of the through opening. When the lever is in the closed position, a blocking member on the lever occupies the first opening portion of the through opening. When the lever is in the open position, the blocking member is withdrawn from the first opening portion of the through opening.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp comprising;

a clamp body comprising a proximal end portion with an upper jaw and a lower jaw extending in a spaced-apart relation to define a mouth and a distal end portion extending away from the proximal end portion and defining an elongated through-opening with a first opening portion, a second opening portion, and a narrowed waist portion between the first opening portion and the second opening portion;

a lever comprising;

an arm extending between and connecting a handle and a lever head, the lever head rotatably connected to the proximal end portion of the clamp body;

a tooth extending transversely from the lever head;

a blocking member extending transversely from the arm adjacent the handle and in a same general direction as the tooth;

wherein the lever is operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the tooth extends towards the lower jaw to close the mouth and the blocking member occupies the first opening portion, and wherein in the open position, the tooth pivots to open the mouth and the blocking member is withdrawn from the first opening portion of the through opening; and

a fastener having a base, a cap, and a stem extending between and connecting the base and the cap, wherein the base and the cap extend radially outward from the stem, wherein the stem is sized to be received in the through opening and pass through the narrowed waist between the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and wherein the cap is sized to be received through the first opening portion of the through opening.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a strap made of a flexible and resilient material and having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein each of the first end portion and the second end portion defines a fastener opening sized to receive the stem of the fastener.

3. The clamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a resilient tab extending into the through opening adjacent the narrowed waist portion, wherein moving the fastener between occupying the first opening portion and the second opening portion deflects the resilient tab to enlarge the narrowed waist portion sufficiently for the fastener stem to pass through the narrowed waist portion of the through opening.

4. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever and the clamp body have a snap fit when the lever is in the closed position.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the lower jaw defines a gripping member that provides the snap fit with the tooth on the lever head when the lever is in the closed position.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 5, wherein the gripping member is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of teeth, a ridge, a slot, a textured surface, one or more protrusions, a recess, and a groove.

7. A clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp body defining an open-ended slot on a proximal end portion and defining an elongated through opening in a distal end portion with a first opening portion, a second opening portion, and a narrowed waist portion between the first opening portion and the second opening portion, wherein the second opening portion is smaller than the first opening portion;

a lever with an arm and a handle, the lever being rotatably attached to the clamp body and operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lever has a blocking member extending transversely from the arm adjacent the handle, and wherein the lever in the closed position closes the mouth and positions the blocking member to occupy the first opening portion of the through opening, and wherein the lever in the open position opens the mouth and withdraws the blocking member from the first opening portion; and

a fastener constructed to be installed in the elongated through opening and having a base, a cap, and a stem extending between and connecting the base and the cap, wherein the base and the cap extend radially outward from the stem, wherein the stem is sized to be received through the narrowed waist of the through opening, and wherein the cap is sized to be received through the first opening portion of the through opening.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

one or more strap made of a flexible and resilient material and having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein each of the first end portion and the second end portion defines a fastener opening sized to receive the stem of the fastener.

9. The clamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising a resilient tab extending into the through opening adjacent the narrowed waist portion, wherein moving the fastener between occupying the first opening portion and the second opening portion deflects the resilient tab to enlarge the narrowed waist portion sufficiently for the fastener stem to pass through the narrowed waist portion of the through opening.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the lever and the clamp body have a snap fit or an interference fit when the lever is in the closed position.

11. The clamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the lower jaw defines a gripping member that provides the snap fit with the tooth on the lever head when the lever is in the closed position.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 11, wherein the gripping member is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of teeth, a ridge, a slot, a textured surface, one or more protrusions, a recess, and a groove.