Universal C-clamp for stage accessories

• US 5,312,079 A
• Filed: 02/03/1993
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William D. Little Jr
• Original Assignee: William D. Little Jr
• Inventors: Little, William D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/012,652
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 248/230, 248/231.7, 248/228, 248/214, 248/62, 248/225.31, 248/316.1, 248/300
• US Class Current: 248/230.6
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps

Abstract

A C-clamp for mounting stage accessories has four angled body portions, with one body portion being bent to provide a first acute angle φ between the first and second body portions, and a second acute angle θ between the second and third body portions, and an approximately right angle α between the third and fourth body portions. The C-clamp has threaded holes in the first body portion and in the fourth body portion, respectively. The first acute angle is greater than the second acute angle. A tightening bolt in the first threaded hole is positioned to compress a pipe against the second and third body portions. Consequently, the tightening bolt can securely fasten the clamp onto support pipes of various sizes. A mounting bolt is inserted into the second threaded hole either to fasten the C-clamp to a support structure such as a ceiling joist so that the clamp can be used to support a pipe, or to fasten a stage accessory such as a flood light, spot projector or curtain to a pipe. Thus, one type of clamp can be used not only on a range of pipe sizes, but also both to support the pipe and to fasten stage accessories to the pipe.

Claims

1. A clamp for mounting stage accessories, said clamp comprising:

a body member having first, second, third and fourth body portions, said body member having a first acute angle between said first and said second body portions, and having a second acute angle between said second and said third body portions, and having an approximately right angle between said third and said fourth body portions, and said member also having a first threaded hole in said first body portion, and with said first acute angle being greater than said second acute angle and with said approximately right angle being greater than either of said acute angles; and

a tightening bolt disposed in said first threaded hole in said first body portion for engaging a pipe against the second and third body portions, whereby the tightening bolt can securely fasten the clamp onto pipes of various sizes.

2. A clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said first acute angle is in the range of 80-84 degrees and said second acute angle is in the range of 78-81 degrees and said approximately right angle is 88-92 degrees.

3. A clamp as defined in claim 2, wherein said first, second, third and fourth body portions are at least about 3/8 inch thick and at least about 11/4 inches wide.

4. A clamp as defined in claim 3, wherein said first threaded hole is at least about 3/8 inch in diameter.

5. A clamp as defined in claim 1, said body member having a second threaded hole formed in said fourth body portion, wherein a mounting bolt is disposed in the second threaded hole in the fourth member to fasten the clamp to a ceiling joist and said tightening bolt fastens said clamp to a pipe.

6. A stage accessory mounting assembly, said assembly comprising:

a pipe;

at least a first clamp and a second clamp, each clamp including a body member having first, second, third and fourth body portions, said body member having a first acute angle between said first and said second body portions, and having a second acute angle formed between said second and said third body portions, and having an approximately right angle formed between said third and said fourth body portions, and said member also having a first threaded hole in said first body portion and a second threaded hole in said fourth body portion, with said first acute angle being greater than said second acute angle and with said approximately right angle being greater than either of said acute angles, and a tightening bolt disposed in said first threaded hole in said first portion for compressing a pipe against the second and third portions;

an

at least first and second mounting bolts attached to a support structure, and with said tightening bolts fastening said first and second clamps to said pipe and said first mounting bolt inserted into the second threaded hole of the first clamp and said second mounting bolt inserted into the second threaded hole of the second clamp to fasten the clamp to said support structure, thereby supporting said pipe.

7. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 6, including a third clamp constructed substantially the same as said first clamp and said second clamp, with a third tightening bolt disposed in a first threaded hole of said third clamp to fasten said third clamp to said pipe and with a third mounting bolt inserted into a second threaded hole cf the third clamp, with said third mounting bolt attached to a stage accessory.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first acute angle of said clamps is in the range of 80-84 degrees and said second acute angle of said clamps is in the range of 78-81 degrees and said approximately right angle of said clamps is in the range of 88-92 degrees.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said first, second, third and fourth portions of said clamps are at least about 3/8 inch thick and at least about 11/4 inches wide.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said first threaded holes of said clamps and said second threaded holes of said clamps are all at least about 3/8 inch in diameter.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said pipe has an outer diameter of between about 11/4 and 21/2 inches and a wall having a thickness of about 1/8 inch.