Channel clamp

• US 4,417,373 A
• Filed: 10/26/1981
• Issued: 11/29/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RBC Manufacturing Corp. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: RBC Manufacturing Corp. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Keglewitsch, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Application Number:
  US06/314,852
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 24/243 B, 24/248 SA, 24/135 R, 24/136 B, 24/263 A, 24/243 R, 24/243 K, 411/84, 411/85, 248/225.3 A, 248/226.5, 248/316 C, 248/224.2, 248/500, 248/73, 248/27, 339/198 GA, 361/359, 361/417, 361/419, 361/420, 361/427, 403/104, 403/363
• US Class Current: 24/458
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2616 End clamping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44034 Dissociable gripping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32426 Plural distinct positions

Abstract

A readily assembled and detachable clamp for securing an electrical connector to a base. The clamp has a lower leg which extends horizontally and terminates in a reverse bend extending into an upper leg which from the reverse bend tapers upwardly over the lower leg to a flat portion lying over the lower leg. This portion terminates at the outer end in an upright leg which acts as a stop for the head of a screw which is threaded through a threaded hole in the flat portion of the upper leg and into engagement with the lower leg to clamp the latter to the base as well as to the electrical connector and also the upright leg provides a handle to insert and remove the clamp and align it properly in place.

Claims

1. An U-shaped clamp having overlapping members defining a clamping opening for securing an electrical connector support member to a base member, which comprises a lower leg extending over the base member when the clamp is applied thereto and terminating at the inner end in a reverse bend which joins the lower leg to an upper leg which overlies the lower leg, said upper leg being located in opposed relation to the support member, and the upper leg extends on a taper from the reverse bend to a flat portion extending over the lower leg, a threaded hole provided in the flat portion, and threaded means provided to extend through said threaded hole and into engagement with the lower leg and operable to move the upper leg into clamping engagement with the support member to secure the clamp and connector to the base member.

2. The clamp of claim 1 and the upper leg terminating at the outer end in an upright leg, and the threaded means having a head thereon which extends laterally over the end of the upright leg and when the threaded means is threaded through the hole in the upper leg in a predetermined downward movement the head on the threaded means engaging the upright leg to thereby prevent over deflection of the legs by said threaded means.

3. The clamp of claim 1 wherein said taper of the upper leg of the clamp effecting easy assembly and removal of the clamp from support and base member, said support having a generally central slot on the outer end, and said threaded means being a screw extending through the upper leg and through the slot in the support and against the lower leg to clamp the lower leg to the base member and draw the upper leg securely into engagement with the lower surface of the support to thereby securely clamp the connector support to the base member.

4. The clamp of claim 1 and the lower leg of the clamp having a non-slip means for engaging the base member upon which the connector support is assembled to thereby prevent slipping of the clamp on the base member.

5. The clamp of claim 1 being so constructed as to occupy minimal space outside of the connector support, thereby permitting subsequent connector assembly without loss of space.

6. The clamp of claim 1 wherein longitudinally spaced depressions are provided in the lower leg of the clamp adapted to receive a plurality of longitudinally spaced ridges in the base member to thereby prevent slippage of the clamp within the connector.