Circumscribing sign clamp and method of fabrication

• US 5,088,672 A
• Filed: 01/02/1991
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Artcraft Engineering Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Artcraft Engineering Pty Limited
• Inventors: Petrie, John A., Neuendorf, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US07/636,748
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 248/74.4, 248/230, 248/218.4, 248/219.4, 403/385, 403/386, 403/398, 403/400
• US Class Current: 248/218.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/06 external, i.e. with contracting action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/06 by means of clamps or clips F16B5/0004 takes precedence; friction-grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7111 Shackle is integral with or independently attached to proximate side of plate or other side

Abstract

A circumscribing clamp useful for attaching a sign to a post or other support structure and permitting circumferential positioning of the clamp there around. The clamp comprises a first clamp member having a central base section positioned in the first plane of reference and first and second wing sections extending therefrom. A second clamp member of similar construction is provided having a central base and first and second wing sections with first and second distal ends. The first distal ends of each respective clamp include interlock structure which engages with interlock structure of the second distal ends along a directional orientation which is approximately perpendicular with respect to the plane of reference identified for the first clamp member. The respective clamp members are stabilized in interlocking engagement by application of counter forces imposed by a displacement screw which operates to urge one clamp member away from the other by pushing with respect to the contained post, thereby securing the clamps with respect to the post.

Claims

1. A circumscribing clamp useful for attaching a sign or other structure to a post or other support structure permitting circumferential positioning of the clamp there around, said clamp comprising:

(1.1) a first clamp member having a central base section positioned in a first plane of reference and first and second wing sections respectively attached at opposing sides of the base section and extending forward from the base section with a directional component along a second plane of reference which is orthogonal with respect to the first plane, said wing sections having corresponding first and second distal ends and an intermediate, internal face therebetween;

(1.2) a second clamp member having a central base section positioned in a third plane of reference which is parallel with the first plane of reference and first and second wing sections respectively attached at opposing sides of the base section and extending forward from the base section with a directional component along a second plane of reference which is orthogonal with respect to the first plane and third planes, said wing sections having corresponding first and second distal ends and an intermediate, internal face therebetween;

(1.3) said first distal ends including first interlock means and said second distal ends including second interlock means, said first and second interlock means being configured for unidirectional interlocking engagement along a single engagement orientation parallel with the second plane, which interlocking engagement is stabilized by imposition of opposing counter forces along the single engagement orientation and between the respective interlock means; and

(1.4) counter force imposing means coupled to at least one of the respective bases of the first and second clamp members and being operable to generate the opposing counter forces along the engagement orientation for stabilizing the interlocking engagement of the first and second clamp members.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second clamps have identical configurations.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the respective first and second clamp members are formed by cutting each clamp from a common piece of extruded material having a uniform cross section corresponding to the desired clamp cross section.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the interlock means of the first and second distal ends comprise a tongue-in-groove interlock mechanism which is stabilized by counter forces applied by a tongue element of the interlock mechanism against a groove element thereof.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the interlock means of the first distal end comprises a groove formed at an internal face of the first distal end which is parallel in groove orientation with respect to the first plane and which includes a first engagement face oriented toward its attached base section, said interlock means of the second distal end comprising a tongue element configured at an external face of the second distal end to fit within the groove within the internal face of the first distal end and including a second engagement face oriented toward its attached base section.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein a most distal end of the groove in the internal face includes a V-shaped groove wherein the first engagement face comprises one side of the V-shaped groove, said V-shaped groove having its open end oriented toward the base section attached to its wing section;

said second distal end including a V-shaped wedge formed at its more proximate side with respect to the attached wing and base sections and being configured to seat within the V-shaped groove of the first distal end.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second wings of the respective first and second clamps project forward in an arcuate configuration such that the respective internal faces between the interlocking distal ends form a circular configuration for the clamp.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the counter force imposing means comprises a displacement screw journalled within a threaded opening disposed within the base section of the second clamp means in an orientation parallel with the second plane of reference such that rotation of the screw inward displaces a forward end of the screw into contact with the post or other support structure, thereby imposing a counter force upon further inward rotation of the screw.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein the counter force imposing means includes a second displacement screw journalled within a threaded opening disposed within the base section of the first clamp means in an orientation parallel with the second plane of reference such that rotation of the second screw inward displaces a forward end of the screw into contact with the post or other support structure opposite from contact arising from the first screw, thereby imposing a counter force upon further inward rotation of the second screw.

10. A method for manufacturing a circumscribing clamp useful for attaching a sign or other structure to a post or other support structure permitting circumferential positioning of the clamp there around, said method comprising:

(11.1) preparing a first clamp member having a central base section positioned in a first plane of reference and first and second wing sections respectively attached at opposing sides of the base section and extending forward from the base section with a directional component along a second plane of reference which is orthogonal with respect to the first plane, said wing sections having corresponding first and second distal ends and an intermediate, internal face therebetween;

(11.2) preparing a second clamp member having a central base section positioned in a third plane of reference which is parallel with the first plane of reference and first and second wing sections respectively attached at opposing sides of the base section and extending forward from the base section with a directional component along the second plane of reference which is orthogonal with respect to the first and third planes, said wing sections having corresponding first and second distal ends and an intermediate, internal face therebetween;

(11.3) configuring said first distal ends to include first interlock means and said second distal ends to include second interlock means adapted for interlocking engagement along a unidirectional orientation parallel with the second plane;

(11.3) providing means for imposing a counter force to the respective bases of the first and second clamps to generate the opposing counter forces along the directional orientation for stabilizing the interlocking engagement of the first and second clamp members.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, comprising the more specific step of fabricating the first and second clamps from a single length of extruded material such that both the first and second clamp members have identical configurations in cross-section along the second plane of reference.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the fabricating step includes forming the extruded clamp members from a length of extruded material which is passed through a single die configuration, each clamp member being cut along a plane which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the extruded material from the single length of material as a clamp segment.