Abstract:
A clamping apparatus adaptable to connect together multiple members which may be variously arranged. The clamping apparatus includes a clamping plate having a first pair and a second pair of arcuate slots. Fasteners extend in a first direction through the first pair of arcuate slots and in a second direction through the second pair of arcuate slots, and the fasteners are slidable along the length of the slots. Clamping links are attachable to the fasteners to secure the multiple members to the clamping plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to clamps used to connect together multiple objects in a selected arrangement. 
     A variety of clamping apparatuses are known which allow for the mechanical connection of multiple physical members that are otherwise not connectable due to their lack of complementary connection elements, such as mating screws and holes or tabs and grooves. One useful application of these types of clamping apparatuses is in the installation of antennas. For example, in order to ensure that the reception or transmission properties of a tuned antenna remain of high quality, it is often desirable to secure an antenna support to which a tuned antenna is mounted in such a fashion that it is fixedly positioned, i.e., does not shift from a tuned position. As a result, the antenna tuning will not be compromised. To so secure an antenna support, an intermediate tieback pipe or beam mechanically attached with a clamp to the antenna support may be attached or tied back with a clamp to a relatively fixed base member, such as an antenna tower leg. One difficulty associated with the use of a tieback pipe is that the antenna support&#39;s operational alignment relative to the existing fixed base member is variable, as it depends upon the manner in which the antenna must be adjustably mounted to achieve proper reception. Therefore, the clamping attachment of the tieback pipe with the antenna support and the base member needs to be adaptable to clamp together variously arranged and oriented pipes or members. 
     Existing clamping apparatuses employed between an antenna support tieback and both the antenna support and the existing base member are often complicated in construction. This construction requires a number of parts that may both increase expense as well as complicate installation. 
     Thus, it is desirable to provide an adaptable clamping apparatus which is simple to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one form thereof, the present invention provides a clamping apparatus for connecting together two support members and includes a clamping member, first, second, third and fourth fasteners, and first and second clamping links. The clamping member includes a first arcuate slot, a second arcuate slot, a third arcuate slot, and a fourth arcuate slot, which are all equal radially positioned. The first, second, third, and fourth fasteners respectively extend through the first, second, third, and fourth arcuate slots and are laterally movable along the lengths of these slots. The shanks of the fasteners are sized to pass freely through the slots. The first clamping link is attachable to the first and second fasteners for securing a support between the link and clamping member, and the second clamping link is attachable to the third and fourth fasteners for securing the other of the supports between the link and clamping member. The arcuate slots allow movement of each link and its connecting fasteners relative to the clamping member to allow adjusting movement of the clamped support or to accommodate various alignments of the supports. 
     An advantage of the clamping apparatus of the present invention is that it can be utilized to readily secure together multiple members. Another advantage of the clamping apparatus of the present invention is its adaptability allowing for the clamping of differently arranged and oriented members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other advantages and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:, 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pair of clamping apparatuses of the present invention being employed in conjunction with a tieback pipe to secure an antenna support to a partially shown antenna tower leg; 
     FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the encircled region referenced as 10 in FIG. 1, better showing the clamping apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view, as taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, of the clamping apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there are shown a pair of clamping apparatus of the present invention, generally designated 20, operationally being used at opposite ends of tieback pipe 12. An antenna support, generally designated 14, is shown with an antenna 16 adjustably mounted thereon. Antenna support 14 is shown attached to a pipemount bracket 15 mountable to a tower leg or cross arm (not shown), but alternatively antenna support 14 could be directly mounted to a portion of the tower. Tieback pipe 12, which is used to further brace or secure antenna support 14 relative to the fixed tower, is shown attached via clamps 20 to both the framework of antenna support 14 and another tubular tower leg 18, which is shown in broken lines to allow better illustration of clamping apparatus 20. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are respectively shown an enlarged perspective view and a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, of the clamping apparatus 20 which rigidly secures tieback pipe 12 with tower leg 18. Clamping apparatus 20 includes a central clamping member 22, which is shown as being a circular plate with a uniform thickness. The overall shape and thickness of clamping member 22 can vary and may be alternatively configured within the scope of the invention. Four recessed arcuate slots 24-27 are formed in and extend through clamping plate 22. Slots 24-27 are shown equal radially located from the center of the plate and are equal angularly spaced apart. In the shown embodiment, slots 24-27 are of uniform shape and size, and the width of each arcuate slot 24-27 is large enough to allow the shank 52 of a corresponding fastener 50 to pass freely therethrough. However, the width of each arcuate slot 24-27 is narrower than the head 54 of its accommodated fastener 50 to prevent the fastener from passing through the slot. 
     A preferred fastener shown and described herein is a bolt having a threaded shank with a hexagonal head and a nut. Other shaped fasteners can be used with clamping plate 22. 
     Side surface 23 of clamping plate 22 is provided with arcuate recesses 29, 30 which extend respectively about oppositely located slots 24, 25. As represented in broken lines in FIG. 3, similarly shaped arcuate recesses 31, 32 are also provided in the opposite side surface of clamping plate 22 and extend respectively about diametrically opposite slots 26, 27. The bottom surface of each recess 29-32 forms a planar shoulder 34 against which the head 54 of the accommodated fastener is drawn when the clamping apparatus is used. The depth of recesses 29-32 is preferably such that fastener heads 54 do not protrude beyond the contiguous side surface of clamping plate 22. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a complimentary clamping link 40 is connected to each pair of fasteners 50 extending from clamping plate 22 and through spaced bores in the link to cooperatively provide secure attachment of pipe 12 and tower leg 18. For the shown tubular construction of tower leg 18 and tieback pipe 12, a V-clamp configuration has been found suitable. One link 40 is tightened against and maintained in contact with tower leg 18 by nuts 42 threadably received on the threaded shanks of fasteners 50. Similarly, the other link 40 is tightened against pipe 12 by nuts 42 being threaded upon fastener shanks 52. The actual shape of the clamping links 40 are not material to the invention and alternatively shaped and attached clamping links suited for other applications are within the scope of the invention. 
     For the tubular shape of the clamped support members shown, and as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side surfaces of clamping plate 22 serve as suitable clamping elements directly engaging the clamped support members. The introduction of additional clamping elements, for example mounted on fasteners 50 at an operational position between the clamping plate 22 and clamping link 40 which cooperates with clamping links 40 to directly engage the clamped support members, may be desirable in some circumstances. 
     The structure of clamping apparatus 20 will be further understood in view of the following explanation of its installation with reference to FIG. 1. A first clamping apparatus 20 is first loosely attached to both the framework of antenna support 14 and tieback pipe 12. In particular, the framework member and tieback pipe 12 are each placed between different pairs of fasteners 50 extending from clamping plate 22, and then links 40 are loosely secured to fastener shanks 50 with nuts 42. Because nuts 42 are not completely tightened, the bolt portions of the fasteners 50 can slide along the various arcuate slots 24-27. Therefore, the antenna support framework can be slightly rotated relative to and about an axis perpendicular to clamping plate 22. It will be appreciated that tieback pipe 12 can also be rotated around antenna support 14 by loosening the fasteners at the support framework member. A second clamping apparatus 20 can similarly be attached to tieback pipe 12 and tower leg 18. 
     When the clamping apparatus 20 is tightened about its supported members, the heads 54 of fasteners 50 are drawn into the slot recesses 29-32 to allow the supported member to lie against the side surfaces of the clamping plate 22. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For instance, while described with reference to antennas, clamping apparatus 20 can be used to clamp in an adaptable manner objects unrelated to antennas. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.