Holder clamp assembly

• US 5,860,728 A
• Filed: 04/23/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Maglica, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/636,633
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 362/72, 362/190, 362/191, 362/396, 362/418, 362/421, 362/61, 248/181, 248/288.3, 248/541, 248/231.61, 248/316.6, 248/223.41, 248/67.7, 248/298.1, 403/90, 403/122, 403/130, 403/131, 403/141, 403/142
• US Class Current: 362/191
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/03 Supporting means therefor, e.g. mounting brackets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/145 for portable lighting devices

Abstract

A holder clamp assembly having a compressible, substantially spherical gripping member with a centrally located cavity, a compressing mechanism, a mounting bracket, and optionally a swivel joint. The cavity of the gripping member is a channel for receiving the barrel of a flashlight or other substantially cylindrical and elongated section of a device. The gripping member while holding the device may pivot inside the compressing mechanism. The compressing mechanism constricts the gripping member around the device holding the device in place. The optional swivel joint connects the compressing mechanisms to the mounting bracket. When the optional swivel joint is used, the mounting bracket once tightened on a substrate holds the swivel joint in place. One member of the mounting bracket when inverted relative to the other members, enables clamping onto smaller substrates.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising

a clamp including a compressible, substantially spherical member having a cavity therethrough, a compressing mechanism generally surrounding the compressible member and having open ends, the cavity being substantially smaller than the open ends, a mounting bracket, and a swivel joint attaching the mounting bracket to the compressing mechanism, the mounting bracket having a split head, the split head being a base for the swivel joint, the mounting bracket defining an aperture for receiving a substrate, the aperture constricting to lock the mounting bracket as the mounting bracket is tightened, and the split head expanding to lock the swivel joint as the mounting bracket is tightened;

and

a flashlight including a barrel closely fitting in the cavity, the barrel being substantially smaller than the open ends.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is radially adjustable around the substrate.

3. An assembly comprising

a flashlight including a barrel;

a clamp including a compressible, substantially spherical member having a centrally located cavity, a compressing mechanism generally surrounding the compressible member, a mounting bracket in a swivel joint attaching the mounting bracket to the compressing mechanism,

the mounting bracket having a split head, the split head being a base for the swivel joint, the mounting bracket defining an aperture for receiving a substrate, the aperture constricting to lock the mounting bracket as the mounting bracket is tightened and the split head expanding to lock the swivel joint as the mounting bracket is tightened,

the cavity being sized to receive the flashlight barrel, and the compressing mechanism constricting the cavity around the barrel.

4. An assembly comprising

a flashlight including a barrel;

a clamp including a compressing mechanism having a first inner surface defining a portion of a sphere, a second inner surface defining a portion of a sphere, the first inner surface opposing the second inner surface, a tightening mechanism advancing the second inner surface toward the first inner surface, a mounting bracket displaced from and connected to the compressing mechanism, and a compressible member having a generally centrally located substantially cylindrical cavity, a substantially spherical outer surface, and the compressible member being positioned between the first inner surface and the second inner surface, the flashlight barrel extending through the substantially cylindrical cavity and held by the compressible member when the compressible member is in compression;

a swivel joint attaching the compressing mechanism to the mounting bracket.

5. The assembly of claim 4 the cavity having a first axis, the compressing mechanism having open ends, the open ends defining a second axis, the open ends being larger in cross section than the cavity allowing the first axis to be adjusted to a plurality of angles with respect to the second with the barrel in the cavity.