Lever clamp

• US 6,044,982 A
• Filed: 09/26/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart Shelving LLC
• Original Assignee: Stuart Shelving LLC
• Inventors: Stuart, Timothy Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELUCA, JEROME A
• Application Number:
  US09/161,259
• Time in Patent Office: 556 Days
• Field of Search: 248/228.6, 248/230.6, 248/231.71, 248/229.15, 248/229.25, 211/43, 211/184
• US Class Current: 211/43
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/00 Book-troughs; Accessories specially adapted for book-storing, e.g. book-ends
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/20 Book-ends
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/02 Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A lever clamp which can be securely mounted at selected locations along a shelf or similar object includes a body member containing a slot for receiving the shelf, and a lever or clamping member pivotally connected with the body member which serves to clamp the clamp to the shelf when pivoted to an upright position. Items such as a lamp or dispenser, but not including a stop member, partition or banding and binning, are connected with the top of the clamping member to attach such objects to the shelf. A L-shaped body member is also disclosed in which a portion of the clamping member is connected with a stop member, partition, lamp or other item to attach said items to a shelf. Also disclosed are a flex member for the lever clamp which serves to increase the clamping force on the shelf as the load applied to the clamping member increases as well as latching means for the lever clamp and the previously disclosed clamping bookend. A one-piece lever clamp is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A clamp which can be securely mounted along a shelf or similar object, comprising:

(a) a body member containing a slot for receiving the shelf; and

(b) at least one clamping member pivotally connected with said body member for movement between a lowered disengaged position and a raised clamping position, said clamping member including an upper portion for supporting items selected from the group consisting of lamps, dispensers, sign holders, pencil sharpeners, trays, and signs, and said clamping member also including a lower portion extending into said slot when said member is in the raised position, said clamping member lower portion wedging against the shelf within said slot as said clamping member is pivoted to the raised position to securely clamp said body member to the shelf at a selected position thereon.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said body member has a C-shaped configuration and includes a pair of generally parallel spaced leg portions and a connecting portion defining said slot, and further wherein said clamping member is connected with one of said leg portions.

3. The clamp of claim 2, and further comprising a pad between a lower of said leg portions and a sheet metal shelf to help ensure gripping to said metal shelf.

4. The clamp of claim 1, and further comprising latching means for retaining said clamping member in the raised clamping position.

5. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said clamping member lower portion comprises a flex portion which wedges against the shelf when said clamping member is in the raised position and which extends inwardly with respect to said slot, whereby a clamping force generated by the clamping member on the shelf increases as said clamping member pivots beyond the raised position.

6. The clamp of claim 1, and further comprising an extension on a lower end of said clamping member which engages one or more wires of a wire shelf so as to allow gripping to said wire shelf.

7. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said body member has a L-shaped configuration and includes a leg portion and a connecting portion defining two sides of said slot, with a remaining side of said slot defined by said clamping member and further wherein said clamping member is connected with said connecting portion.

8. The clamp of claim 7, wherein said clamping member includes a portion for supporting items selected from the group consisting of sign holders, lamps, dispensers, trays, signs, pencil sharpeners, book stops, partitions and banding and binning, and said clamping member also includes a clamping foot portion extending into said slot when said member is in the clamped position, said clamping foot portion wedging against the shelf or similar object within said slot as said clamping member is pivoted to the clamped position to securely clamp said body member to the shelf at a selected position thereon.

9. The clamp of claim 7, and further comprising latching means for retaining said clamping member in the raised clamping position.

10. A one-piece clamp which can be securely mounted along a shelf or similar object, comprising:

(a) a body portion containing a slot for receiving the shelf, said body portion having a C-shaped configuration and including a pair of generally parallel spaced legs and a connecting portion defining said slot;

(b) at least one flexible hinge portion extending from one of said legs;

(c) at least one clamping portion extending from said hinge portion for movement between a lowered disengaged position and a raised clamping position, said clamping portion including an upper portion for supporting items selected from the group consisting of sign holders, trays, signs, pencil sharpeners, lamps, dispensers, book stops, partitions and banding and binning, and a lower portion extending into said slot when said clamping portion is in the raised position, said clamping portion lower portion wedging against the shelf within said slot as said clamping portion is pivoted to the raised position to securely clamp said body portion to the shelf at a selected position thereon; and

(d) at least one brace latch extending from said clamping portion to one of said legs and serving to hold said clamping portion in the clamped position and to brace said clamping portion against a load.