Adjustable holding device

• US 4,592,526 A
• Filed: 04/18/1985
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jacob Kobelt
• Original Assignee: Jacob Kobelt
• Inventors: Kobelt, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/723,729
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 248/278, 248/103, 248/279, 248/916, 248/903, 248/544, 248/546, 248/300, 248/124, 248/296, 248/282, 248/284
• US Class Current: 248/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

Adjustable holding device for holding an item in a desired location relative to a surface, for example it can be used in a marine control system for holding an end of an outer sheath of a control cable adjacent a throttle control. To avoid the excessive number of brackets commonly required for holding items such as control cables, housings, and other light-weight accessories relative to an engine crankcase, gearbox, etc., the present invention provides a holding device that is universally adjustable in three planes to permit simple attachment to the crank case or gearbox with one portion of the device, and easy attachment at an opposite end to the item to be located. The device has inner and outer brackets for securing to the surface and to the item itself, with first, second and third members extending between the brackets. Lockable hinges connect adjacent members and brackets together rigidly, and yet provide adjustment to permit a wide range of inclination of the items.

Claims

1. An adjustable holding device for holding an item in a desired location relative to a surface, said device having:

(a) a surface mounting bracket for securing said device to the surface;

(b) said surface mounting bracket including an adjustable shaft clamp;

(c) a first member having a complementary first hinge means;

(d) said first hinge means having a hinge face transverse to the axis of rotation of said first hinge means;

(e) said first member including a first stub shaft extending at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said first hinge means and rotatably adjustably clamped by and adapted for 360°

rotation relative to said adjustable shaft clamp;

(f) a second member having integral spaced coplanar complementary first and second hinge means;

(g) said second member first and second hinge means each having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said first and second hinge means respectively and projecting in the same direction;

(h) said second member complementary first hinge face connected to said first members hinge face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face relation;

(i) a third member having integral spaced coplanar complementary second and third hinge means;

(j) said third member second and third hinge means each having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said second and third hinge means and projecting in the same direction;

(k) said third member complementary second hinge face connected to said second member second hinge face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face relation;

(l) a fourth member having a complementary third hinge means;

(m) said fourth member third hinge means having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said third hinge means;

(n) said fourth member third hinge means face connected to said third member third hinge means face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face rotation;

(o) said fourth member including an integral second stub shaft extending from said fourth member third hinge means and at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said fourth member third hinge means;

(p) an item mounting bracket for securing an item thereto;

(q) said item mounting bracket including clamp means integral therewith and rotatably adjustably secured to and adapted for 360°

rotation relative to said second stub shaft;

(r) said third member having a longitudinal face extending between the respective hinge faces and said longitudinal face lying in a first plane;

(s) said second member having a longitudinal face extending between the respective hinge faces and said second member longitudinal face lying in a second plane;

(t) said first and second planes being spaced from and parallel to each other for providing maximum load connection and reduced torque condition between said surface mounting bracket and said item mounting bracket; and

(u) the axis of rotation of said first hinge means, said second hinge means and said third hinge means are parallel to each other whereby force applied to said item mounting bracket is transmitted to said surface mounting bracket in a direction normal to the parallel hinge axes.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of said stub shafts including a recess proximate the associated hinge means so that the stub shaft has maximum circumferential clamping area for engagement with the associated clamp means.

3. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of said hinge means including a boss having an annular face; and

,

(b) a plurality of generally equiangularly disposed radially directed serrations being associated with each of said faces and permitting adjustment of said members about the associated hinge axes in preselected angular amounts.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

(a) at least two openings being disposed in said surface mounting bracket and adapted for receipt therein of securing means for securing said bracket to the surface; and

,

(b) one of said openings being generally circular and the other of said openings being generally oval.

5. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said second and third members having reinforcing rib means extending between the associated bosses; and

,

(b) said reinforcing rib means being parallel to a flat portion extending substantially between said faces.

6. The device as defined in claim 5, wherein:

(a) each of said bosses having a frusto-conical portion extending opposite to the associated face; and

,

(b) a journal merging to said frusto-conical portion and said reinforcing means extending between adjacent journals of a member.

7. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein:

(a) each of said journals having an aperture therethrough and through the underlying portion of the associated boss;

(b) said apertures of the connected members being coaxial; and

,

(c) a nut and bolt assembly having a portion thereof extending through the coaxial apertures and being sufficiently tightened to lock the connected members together.

8. An adjustable holding device for holding an item in a desired location relative to a surface and for transmitting forces exerted by the item at the location to the surface the device comprising:

(a) a surface mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to the surface, said bracket having an adjustable shaft clamp;

(b) a first member including a stub shaft portion received within said clamp, said shaft portion being rotatable 360°

within said clamp, said shaft portion adapted to be adjustably clamped at a preselected position and said first member including a first hinge means having a hinge face transverse to the axis of rotation of said first hinge means;

(c) a second member having integral spaced coplanar complementary first and second hinge means, each hinge means having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said first and second hinge means and the faces projecting in the same direction, said second member complementary first hinge face connected to said first member hinge face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face relation;

(d) a third member having integral spaced coplanar complementary second and third hinge means, said third member second and third hinge means each having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said second and third hinge means and projecting in the same direction, said third member complementary second hinge face connected to said second member second hinge face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face relation;

(e) a fourth member having a complementary third hinge means, said third hinge means having a face transverse to the axis of rotation of said third hinge means, said fourth member third hinge means face being connected to said third member third hinge means face in angularly adjustable lockable face to face relation, said fourth member including an integral second stub shaft extending from said fourth member third hinge means at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said fourth member third hinge means;

(f) an item mounting bracket for securing an item thereto and including clamp means integral therewith and rotatably adjustably secured to said second stub shaft and rotatable 360°

relative to said stub shaft;

(g) said third member having a longitudinal face extending between the respective hinge faces and said longitudinal face lying in a first plane, said second member having a second longitudinal face extending between the respective hinge faces and said second longitudinal face lying in a second plane, said first and second planes being spaced from and parallel to each other for providing maximum load connection and reduced torque condition between said surface mounting bracket and said item mounting bracket; and

,

(h) said axis of rotation of said first hinge means, said axis of rotation of said second hinge means and said axis of rotation of said third hinge means are parallel whereby forces applied to said item mounting bracket are transmitted to said surface mounting bracket in a direction normal to said parallel hinge axes.