Clamp

• US 5,546,640 A
• Filed: 09/13/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mawa Metallwarenfabrik Wagner GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mawa Metallwarenfabrik Wagner GmbH
• Inventors: Weber, Karsten, Aigner, Josef, Pfab, Robert, Klein, Franz, Schmid, Monika, Kronauer, Karlhans
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,811
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 24/510, 24/509, 24/498, 24/499, 24/504, 24/516, 24/523, 223/91, 223/93
• US Class Current: 24/510
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/485 with a plurality of clips integral with, or supported by, the trouser-supporting bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44376 Spring or resiliently biased about pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4447 having coil portion coaxial or parallel with pivotal axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44521 Pivoted or rotated element

Abstract

A clamp for arrangement on a carrying arm is described. The clamp has a first and a second clamp half (10, 20) with in each case two lateral angle pieces (12; 21 ), in which are located a hole (14; 23) for positioning the clamp halves (10, 20) on the carrying arm, whereby the angle pieces (12, 21) which are directed against each other lie pairwise against each other and in each case one angle piece (21) of each clamp half (10, 20) lies on the inside and the other angle piece (12) of the same clamp half (10, 20) lies on the outside, and a legged spring (4) which lies between the clamp halves (10, 20) and keeps the clamps (3) closed. The internal angle piece (21) of one clamp half (10; 20) interlocks rotatably with the external angle piece (12) of the other clamp half (20; 10), and the legged spring (4) fills, in axial direction, the space between the internal angle pieces (21) in each case of the clamp halves (10, 20).

Claims

1. A clamp for arrangement on a carrying arm (1) with a first and a second clamp half (10, 20) with in each case two lateral angle pieces (11, 12;

21,

     22), in which are located a hole (13, 14;

23,

     24) for the positioning of the clamp halves (10,

     20) on the carrying arm (1), whereby the angle pieces (11, 22 and 12,

     21) which are directed against each other lie pairwise against echo other and in each case one angle piece (12;

     21) of each clamp half (210,

     20) lies on the inside and the other angle piece (12;

     22) of the same clamp half (10,

     20) lies on the outside, and with a legged spring (4) which lies between the clamp halves 10,

     20) and keeps the clamps (3) closed, characterized in that the internal angle piece (11;

     21) of one clamp half (10,

     20) interlocks rotatably with the external angle piece (22;

     12) of the other clamp half (20;

     10), by parts (15) of the inner angle pieces (11;

     21) being outwardly offset, elbowed or bent over and engaging in corresponding apertures (36) or the holes (14;

     24) in the outer angle pieces (12;

     22) or, conversely, parts (45, 55, 65,

     75) of the outer angle pieces (12;

     22) being inwardly offset, elbowed or bent over and engaging in corresponding apertures or the holes (13;

     23) of the inner angle pieces (11;

     21), and

the legged spring (4) fills, in axial direction, the space between the internal angle pieces (11;

     21) in each case of the clamp halves (10,

     20).

2. Clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the legged spring (4) presses against the internal angle pieces (11, 21).

3. Clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that a semi-circular edge zone (15) of the hole (13, 23) of the inner angle piece (11, 21) is outwardly elbowed or offset and that the hole (14, 24) of the abutting outer angle piece (11, 22) has a diameter such that it can accommodate the elbowed zone (15).

4. Clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that a projection (16) which extends as far as the carrying arm (1) protrudes into the hole (14, 24) of the outer angle piece (12, 22).

5. Clamp for arrangement on a carrying arm (1) with a first and a second clamp half (10,20) with in each case two lateral angle pieces (11, 12;

21,

     22), in which are located a hole (13, 14, 23,

     24) for the positioning of the clamp halves (10,

     20) on the carrying arm (1), whereby the angle pieces (11, 22 and 12,

     21) which are directed against each other lie pairwise against each other and in each case one angle piece (12;

     21) of each clamp half (10,

     20) lies on the inside and the other angle piece (12;

     22) of the same clamp half (10,

     20) lies on the outside, and with a legged spring (4) which lies between the clamp halves (10,

     20) and keeps the clamps (3) closed, characterized in that the internal angle piece (11,

     21) of one clamp half (10;

20) interlocks rotatably with the external angle piece (22;

     12) of the other clamp half (20;

     10), the legged spring (4) fills, in axial direction, the space between the internal angle pieces (11;

     21) in each case of the clamp halves (10,

     20), and a semi-circular edge zone (15) of the hole (13,

     22) of the inner angle piece (11,

     21) is outwardly elbowed or offset and that the hole (14,

     24) of the abutting outer angle piece (11,

     22) has a diameter such that it can accommodate the elbowed zone (15).

6. Clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that the legged spring (4) presses against the internal angle pieces (11, 21).

7. Clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that the elbowed edge zone (15) is surrounded by an annular zone (19) which lies in the plane of the angle piece (11, 21).

8. Clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that a projection (16) which extends as far as the carrying arm (1) protrudes into the hole (14, 24) of the outer angle piece (12, 22).

9. Clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that the elbowed edge zone (15) is surrounded by an annular zone (19) which lies in the plane of the angle piece (11, 21).

10. Clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that a projection (16) which extends as far as the carrying arm (1) protrudes into the hole (14, 24) of the outer angle piece (12, 22).

11. A clamp hangar comprising a carrying arm and at least two clamps mounted to the carrying arms, each of said clamps comprising:

a. a first and a second clamp half (10,

     20) with in each case two lateral angle pieces (11, 12;

21,

     22), in which are located a hole (13, 14;

23,

     24) for the positioning of the clamp halves (10,

     20) on the carrying arm (1), whereby the angle pieces (11, 22 and 12,

     21) which are directed against each other lie pairwise against each other and in each case one angle piece (12;

     21) of each clamp half (10,20) lies on the inside and the other angle piece (12;

     22) of the same clamp half (10,

     20) lies on the outside, and

b. with a legged spring (4) which lies between the clamp halves (10,

     20) and keeps the clamps (3) closed,

characterized in that

a. the internal angle piece (11;

     21) of one clamp half (10;

     20) interlocks rotatably with the external angle piece (22;

     12) of the other clamp half (20;

     10), and

b. the legged spring (4) fills, in axial direction, the space between the internal angle pieces (11;

     21) in each case of the clamp halves (10,

     20) and a semi-circular edge zone (15) of the hole (13,

     23) of the inner angle piece (11, 21 is outwardly elbowed or offset and that the hole (14,

     24) of the abutting outer angle piece (11,

     22) has a diameter such that it can accommodate the elbowed zone (15).

12. The hanger as recited in claim 11, characterized in that the legged spring (4) presses against the internal angle pieces (11, 21).

13. A clamp for arrangement on a carrying arm, and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, said claim comprising:

a. a first and a second clamp half;

b. each clamp half having an outside lateral angle piece and an inside lateral angle piece, the first and second lateral angle pieces of each clamp half each having a hole means located to receive the carrying arm;

c. the first and second clamp halves being positioned with the inside and outside angles pieces of the two clamp halves extending oppositely relative to one another in overlapping relationship, with the outside angle piece of each clamp half being adjacent to, and outside of, the inside angle piece of the other clamp half;

d. one of the outside and inside angle pieces of each clamp half being formed with an interconnecting portion extending outwardly from a plane occupied by its related angle piece, into the opening means of the other of the outside and inside angle pieces adjacent thereto so as to rotatably interlock each pair of adjacent inner and outer angle pieces to prevent the first and second clamp halves from being moved away from each other;

e. spring means operably engaging the clamp halves to urge said clamp halves in a longitudinal direction into interlocking relationship.

14. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the inside and outside lateral angle pieces, respectively, of the clamp halves have substantially identical configurations, whereby the first and second clamp halves can be used interchangeably with one another.

15. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the interconnecting portion comprises a part of the related angle piece being offset.

16. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the interconnecting portion comprises an elbowed portion of the related angle piece.

17. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the interconnecting portion comprises a bent over portion of the angle piece.

18. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein said spring means comprises a leg spring which lies between the clamp halves to urge the clamp closed, and also engages the clamp halves to urge the clamp halves longitudinally relative to one another in interconnecting relationship.

19. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein said spring means comprises a coiled spring portion positioned around the carrying arm and first and second spring legged portions engaging the first and second clamp halves, respectively, so as to urge the first and second clamp halves in opposite directions longitudinally into interconnecting relationship, and also to urge said clamp halves toward a clamping position.

20. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the opening means in each angle piece comprises a single opening which receives a related interconnecting portion of an adjacent angle piece and also receives said carrying arm.

21. The clamp as recited in claim 20, wherein the single hole of each angle piece has a concavely curved hole defining edge portion to engage a related interconnecting portion to facilitate limited rotational movement between the first and second clamp halves.

22. Clamp for arrangement on a carrying arm, comprising:

a first and second clamp half each having two lateral angle pieces in each of which are located a hole for the positioning of the clamp halves on the carrying arm, the angle pieces of each clamp half each being positioned against respective angle pieces of the other clamp half to form cooperating pairs of inner and outer angle pieces, one angle piece of each clamp half lying on an inside of the assembled clamp and the other angle piece of the same clamp half lying on the outside of the assembled clamp, and the inner angle piece of one clamp half interlocking rotatably with the cooperating outer angle piece of the other clamp half by a part of one angle piece of each cooperating pair being offset, elbowed or bent over and engaging in a corresponding aperture or hole in the other angle piece of that cooperating pair;

a legged spring which lies between the clamp halves and keeps the assembled clamp closed and fills, in the axial direction, the space between the angle pieces of the clamp halves which are on the inside of the assembled clamp.