Beam clamp

• US 7,988,464 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Sokol, Robert L., Kossak, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/419,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 439/92, 439/803, 174/94.S, 174/94.R
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/26 End pieces terminating in a screw clamp, screw or nut
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/366 intermediate part attached to the tip of the screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a clamp for securing a grounding connector to a structural member. The clamp includes a clamp body having a top section, a bottom section, and a side section, which define an opening for receiving the structural member. The top section includes a plurality of mounting sections separated by at least one slot. Each of the mounting sections includes a mounting hole for receiving a mounting fastener to secure the clamp to the structural member.

Claims

1. A clamp for securing a grounding connector to a structural member, the clamp comprising:

a clamp body having a top section, a bottom section, and an opening side section, the opening side section receiving the structural member and the grounding connector,

wherein the top section has at least one mounting section, the at least one mounting section having a mounting hole for receiving a mounting fastener to secure the clamp to the structural member, and

wherein the bottom section has a lug locator for positioning the grounding connector in the opening side section between the structure member and the bottom section while the clamp is being secured to the structural member;

wherein the grounding connector is secured to the bottom section by the lug locator;

wherein the grounding connector has a cable and is electrically connected to the structural member via the clamp body.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp body is generally C-shaped.

3. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the bottom section has a grounding hole for receiving the lug locator.

4. The clamp of claim 3, wherein the lug locator includes a pin.

5. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the pin includes at least one of a solid dowel pin and a hollow spring pin.

6. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the mounting fastener is threaded.

7. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the mounting fastener has a hex pocket.

8. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the mounting fastener has a clamp pad.

9. The clamp of claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of the clamp pad is serrated.

10. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting section includes a first mounting section and a second mounting section separated from the first mounting section by a slot.

11. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp body includes at least one reinforcing rib.