Abstract:
A clamp for clamping a cylindrically shaped structure within a hollow cylindrical structure includes means to maintain the angular and axial position of the structures fixed while the clamp is tightened.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/983,277, filed Oct. 29, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A clamp can be defined as a tool for holding one or more components firmly in place. As such, clamps are used for a multitude of applications in various industries. For example, hose clamps can be used for attaching one cylindrically shaped object, e.g. a hose, onto another cylindrically shaped object, e.g. a hose fitting or nib. The tightening of the hose clamp is typically afforded by a screw thread pattern within a band of the clamp and a captive screw turning and interacting with the thread pattern. 
         [0003]    Another example of a clamp designed to attach one cylindrical shaped component to another cylindrical shaped component includes a hollow tube with internal diameter threads to be tightened onto a threaded shaft. The hollow tube typically has an axially oriented slot at the threaded end, the slot extending radically through the wall of the tube. The slot provides for relatively easy turning of the tube onto the threaded shaft until a desired position between the two is reached. The slot also allows for the hollow tube sidewall to be tightened upon and collapse onto the threaded shaft. 
         [0004]    Heretofore clamps have not allowed a user to manipulate the hollow tube with internal diameter threads on the threaded shaft and simultaneously maintain the clamp in a fixed radial or angular position. As such, each time an adjustment is made between the hollow tube and the shaft, the clamp has to be realigned before tightening. Therefore, there is a need for an improved clamp that can tighten around a hollow cylindrical shaped structure placed over a smaller cylindrical shaped structure while maintaining the cylindrical shaped structures in a fixed angular relationship. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the clamp of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the clamp as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view as seen from line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    An improved clamp for tightening a hollow cylindrical shaped structure onto a smaller cylindrical shaped structure is provided. In particular, a clamp for fixedly attaching a tube with internal diameter threads onto a shaft with outer diameter threads is provided. As such, the component of the present invention has utility as a clamp. 
         [0009]    Turning to  FIGS. 1-3 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein a clamp  100  is used to clamp a hollow tube  200  onto a rod  300 . The clamp  100  includes a housing  110 . The housing  110  has a top surface  111  with a first tab  120  and a second tab  130  extending therefrom. The housing  110  also has a front surface  112 , a rear surface  114  oppositely disposed from the front surfaced  112 , and at least two side surfaces  116 . The side surfaces  116  adjoin the front surface  112  to the rear surface  114  and all of the surfaces  112 ,  114  and  116  extend from the top surface  111  such that a housing  110  permits the hollow tube  200  to fit within housing  110  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is provided. The side surfaces  116  can include an aperture  140  which affords for a bolt  150  to extend therethrough. A nut (not shown) can be screwed onto the bolt  150  and thereby apply a force to pull the side surfaces  116  in an inward direction. 
         [0010]    A hollow tube  200  having an axially oriented slot  210  can be located within an aperture  170  of the clamp  100 . In an example of the present embodiment, the clamp  100  has a pair of apertures  170 . The tube  200  affords for a cylindrically shaped structure  300  to fit within. In an example of the use of the present invention, the tube  200  can have threads on the internal diameter (not shown) which afford for the screwing of the tube  200  onto threads (not shown) on the end of the cylindrical structure  300  that is inserted within the hollow tube  200 . In another example of the use of the present invention, the cylindrical structure  300  is a tie rod and the tube  200  is an adjuster tube. In yet another example of the use of the present invention, the cylindrical structure  300  is a tie rod for an automobile steering system and the tube  200  is an adjuster tube associated with the linkage assembly of the steering system of the automobile. 
         [0011]    The clamp  100  of the present invention affords for the hollow tube  200  to slide therethrough via the aperture  170 . The second tab  130  has a lip  132  ( FIG. 1 ) and extends from the top surface  111 . The length of the second tab  130  and the lip  132  afford a specific distance between a tube end  220  and the front face  112  of the clamp  100 . In addition, tab blocks  310  on the cylindrical structure  300  afford for the first tab  120  with a lip  122  to slide or fit therebetween. With the first tab  120  located between the tab blocks  310 , the hollow tube  200  can be rotated within the housing  110  about the cylindrical structure  300  while the clamp  100  remains in a fixed radial or angular position with respect to the cylindrical structure  300 . After the desired position of the hollow tube  200  is obtained with respect to the cylindrical structure  300 , the clamp  100  can be tightened, for example using the bolt  150  and a nut (not shown). The slot region  180  of the clamp  100  affords for the surface bounding the aperture  170  to tighten around the hollow tube  200 . The axially oriented slot  210  within the tube  200  permits the tube  200  to be collapsed to grip the cylindrical structure  300  upon tightening the clamp  100 . In this manner, a clamp that affords for the adjustment of a linkage assembly while the clamp remains in a fixed radial position is provided. 
         [0012]    It is appreciated that the present invention can be used to aid in the rotation of an adjuster tube to set the correct length of a linkage assembly of a steering system. In so doing, the clamp of the present invention maintains the same relative angular position with respect to a tie rod, as well as remaining fully engaged with the adjuster tube. The long tab sets the relative angular position of the clamp with respect to the tie rod and the short tab provides a positive stop to set the clamp depth along the adjuster tube. Tab blocks on the tie rod can be formed using any method known to those skilled in the art, illustratively including machining the blocks onto the rod, welding the blocks onto the rod, placing the blocks on the rod using adhesives, and the like. It is appreciated that the clamp of the present invention can be made of any material known to those skilled in the art, illustratively including metals, alloys, and plastics. Although a bolt and a nut are shown to be the mechanism by which the clamp is tightened upon the hollow tube, other means for tightening the clamp can be used, such as springs, latch mechanisms, and the like. 
         [0013]    The invention is not restricted to the illustrated examples described above. The examples are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur will to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the claims.