Perpendicularly clamping pipe clamp fixture

A clamping apparatus is disclosed which when used with a threaded pressure plate of a pipe clamp and pipe, can clamp two work piece members of any length in perpendicular directions. The clamping apparatus is a jaw adjustable along the length of the pipe clamp pipe and takes the place of the adjustable pressure plate of the pipe clamp. The jaw clamps along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pole of the pipe clamp pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Please refer to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture which allows the standard pipe clamp to perform the necessary perpendicular clamping function. The Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ) is a cast or forged body ( 3 ) forming an inverted “U” shape ( 4 ). The upper center portion of the cast body ( 3 ) is a main body ( 5 ) through which and accepting hole ( 6 ) is formed to accept the pipe ( 7 ) of the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ). Surrounding this hole ( 6 ) is a cavity ( 8 ) in which four firm (preferably steel) binders ( 9 ) and a spring ( 10 ) are set, and the pipe ( 7 ) is inserted through, to allow the fixture ( 1 ) to move freely and be bound in an infinite number of positions along the length of the pipe ( 7 ). The front portion of the main body ( 5 ) including the hole ( 6 ) to accept the pipe ( 7 ) is slightly protruded from the rest of the cast body ( 3 ). This protruded area forms a pressure plate ( 11 ) to facilitate the normal clamping function of the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ). On a rear lower portion of the main body ( 5 ), just below the accepting hole ( 6 ) for the pipe ( 7 ), is a small flat area formed into a set plate for the binders ( 12 ) to stop the binders ( 9 ) in a position to free the fixture ( 1 ) from a bound position when pressure is applied. Extending out from the main body ( 5 ) in opposite directions and at right angles to the accepting hole ( 6 ), are two arms ( 13 ) which then, after a short distance turn down and each end in a hub ( 14 ). Each hub ( 14 ) has a threaded hole ( 15 ) also running at a right angle to the accepting hole ( 6 ). This configuration forms the inverted “U” shape ( 4 ) and completes the cast body ( 3 ) portion of the Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ). The Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ) then continues with two threaded screws ( 16 ) inserted through the threaded holes ( 15 ) in each of the hubs ( 14 ) at the base of the cast body ( 3 ). These screws ( 16 ) have a ball joint ( 17 ) on one end facing the interior of the cast body ( 3 ) on which a floating pressure plate ( 18 ) is mounted. These pressure plates ( 18 ) oppose each other and can be adjusted towards each other or away from each other by turning the screws ( 16 ). The screws ( 16 ) have a hole ( 19 ) on the opposite end of the ball joint ( 17 ) on the outside of the cast body ( 3 ) in which a slip handle ( 20 ) is placed. These slip handles ( 20 ) have a forged ball ( 21 ) on each end to keep them from sliding out of the hole ( 19 ) in the screw ( 16 ). These slip handles ( 20 ) facilitate the turning of the screws ( 16 ) by force of hand. The Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ) consists of some twelve parts which when assembled together complete the fixture ( 1 ). These twelve parts are cast body ( 3 ), two screws ( 16 ), two floating pressure plates ( 18 ), two slip handles ( 20 ), four firm binders ( 9 ) and one spring ( 10 ). The purpose of the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) is to hold work pieces in place during some form of securing operation. The standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) does not, in most instances, facilitate or effectively allow work pieces to be held in perpendicular fashion to one another. The Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ) in conjunction with the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) facilitates this important function. The function of perpendicular clamping is accomplished by the Perpendicularly Clamping Pipe Clamp Fixture as follows: Remove the existing adjustable pressure plate from the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) and insert the new invention ( 1 ). The pipe ( 7 ) is inserted through the accepting hole ( 6 ) of the new invention ( 1 ). The new invention ( 1 ) is then held in place and adjusted along the length of the pipe ( 7 ) using the binders ( 9 ) and spring ( 10 ) mounted in the cavity ( 8 ) surrounding the accepting hole ( 6 ). The arms ( 13 ) extending from the main body ( 5 ) of the new invention ( 1 ) forming the “U” shape ( 4 ) are then placed over and around the work piece. The screws ( 16 ) are then tightened onto opposing sides of the work piece effectively holding the work piece in parallel alignment with the pipe ( 7 ). Another work piece running perpendicular to said work piece is then drawn to and held in perpendicular fashion to said work piece by tightening the threaded pressure plate ( 22 ) on the opposite end of the pipe clamp ( 2 ). The Perpendicular Pipe Clamp Fixture ( 1 ) may be used alone as a common “C” clamp. The fixture ( 1 ) may be used as a common adjustable pressure plate opposing a threaded pressure plate ( 22 ) on the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) or it may be used in conjunction with the standard pipe clamp ( 2 ) as a means of holding work pieces in perpendicular fashion.