Abstract:
The invention is a clamp that possess a novel one-piece design wherein all components of the clamp are unitary with one another. The clamp has two jaws that are unitary with one another. The inner surface of the jaws have protrusions which come into contact with the device being gripped and stabilize the device being gripped for transport on a vehicle. A tension strap extends from one of the jaws that is able to be releasably engaged with notches that are formed in the other jaw.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to clamping devices. Specifically, the invention relates to molded clamps that can be mounted on vehicles, the clamps being used for securing objects, such as tools, for transport.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Presently, several options exists for securing to vehicles objects (such as tools having handles, i.e., shovels, brooms, axes, and the like) in order to transport the objects. But the present options are cumbersome, difficult to install, expensive, or contain too many component parts. For instance, metal spring operated clamps can be used to secure to objects to a vehicle, but those clamps are prone to corrode. And if the vehicle is traveling over rough terrain, the multiple component parts of such clamps may become disturbed causing the clamping mechanism to fail. Other available options include tie down mechanisms wherein a nylon or canvas strap must be placed around the object and engaged to the vehicle by any number of fastening means. Other devices include a combination of mounting brackets wherein the object placed within the brackets and caps having a wing nut / bolt combination placed therethrough and wherein the caps are clamped down on the objects by tightening the wing nut. Such devices require extensive hardware, and are complicated to operate and install.  
           [0003]    With respect to the pipe stand-off aspect of the invention, metal pipe stand offs are ill equipped to handle the corrosive effects of the elements and leakage, especially in the marine environment. Further, metal pipe stand offs require additional hardware and labor to install.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention is a novel one-piece molded clamp. The one-piece molded clamp possesses a novel one-piece design wherein all components of the clamp are unitary with one another. The clamp has two jaws that are unitary with one another. The inner surface of the jaws have protrusions which come into contact with the device being gripped and stabilize the device being gripped for transport on a vehicle. A tension strap extends from one of the jaws and is able to be releasably engaged with notches that are formed in the other jaw.  
           [0005]    By possessing a unitary design, that is a one-piece design, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp that can be easily mounted on any surface, particularly that of a vehicle, for the safe and stable transport of tools and equipment.  
           [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a clamp with superior gripping capabilities, which are particularly useful for the safe and stable transport of tools and equipment.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a one-piece unitary design such that the clamp can be manufactured quickly and at a lower cost relative to clamps that possess multiple parts or a non-unitary design.  
           [0008]    It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pipe stand off that is easily installed.  
           [0009]    It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pipe stand off that is resistant to corrosion, particularly in the marine environment. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention with the tension strap disengaged.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a depiction of the invention as in FIG. 1 but rotated clockwise 90 degrees.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the invention with the tension strap engaged.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the invention with the tension strap disengaged. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    The invention is a one-piece molded clamp that can be used to a variety of tubular or rod-like objects including but not limited to tools such as shovels, hammers, brooms, and any tool that has a long handle. In an embodiment, the clamp of the present invention can be mounted on any vertical, oblique, or horizontal surface of a vehicle to secure various objects for transport. The invention can also be used as a pipe stand off and is particularly useful as such in marine environments.  
         [0015]    The one-piece clamp is molded. It can be made out of rubber, a flexible thermoplastic, or a synthetic rubber. In a preferred embodiment, the one-piece clam is made out of EPDM. The benefits of such materials are that they are corrosion resistant and are flexible yet provide the requisite tension to clamp an object in place.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 1 through 4 show the preferred embodiment of the one-piece molded clamp according to the present invention. FIGS. 1, 2, and  4  show the one-piece molded clamp in a disengaged state. FIG. 3 shows the one-piece molded clamp in an engaged state. Referring to FIG. 1, the one-piece molded clamp is shown wherein a first jaw  10  is unitary with a second jaw  20 . There is no separation between the first and second jaw as they are the sum parts, but unitary parts, of the whole unitary molded clamp. The jaws, together, define a cavity  90  with an opening  100  into which the object to be secured, for example a shovel or—in the embodiment wherein the invention is used as a pipe stand off—a pipe is placed. Each jaw has an inward facing surface  12 ,  22 , an outward facing surface  14 ,  24 , a first end  16 ,  26 , and a second end  18 ,  28 . The inward facing surfaces  12 ,  22  of the first and second jaws are the portions of the one-piece molded clamp that face the outer perimeter of an object to be secured. With respect to the object to be secured, the viewer of FIG. 1 can imagine the object, for instance the handle of a broom, having a perimeter facing each jaw and being disposed in such a way that the handle would come straight out of the page perpendicular to the plane of the cavity  90  of the one-piece molded clamp in FIG. 1. The first ends  16 ,  26  are the ends of the jaws most near the opening  100  of the cavity  90 . Ends  18 ,  28  are opposite ends  16 ,  26  and face the surface onto which the one-piece molded clamp can be mounted. In the preferred embodiment, protrusions  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are unitarily formed on the inward facing surfaces  12 ,  22  of each jaw  10 ,  20 , the protrusions ultimately contacting the object that is to be secured. The second jaw  20  has at least one notch  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  formed therein into which a tension strap  40  having at least one aperture  42 , can be releaseably engaged. Tension strap  40  is unitarily formed with the first jaw  10  and, in a preferred embodiment, the tension strap extends from the inward facing surface  12  of the first jaw  10 . A sheet metal screw  70  (FIGS. 1 and 2 only) and washer  72  having a hole  73  can be used to secure the clamp the body of a vehicle via hole  80 . It will be noted, however, by the skilled artisan, that any fastening means could be used to secure the mounting end  18   a  of the unitary molded clamp to any surface, and the choice of fastening means will depend on the surface to which the one-piece molded clamp is to be mounted.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 shows the one-piece molded clamp in FIG. 1 rotated clockwise 90 degrees. This figure more clearly shows the aperture  42  in the tension strap  40 . FIG. 2 also shows the notches  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  into which the tension strap can be releaseably engaged by upon passing one of the at least one apertures  42  over the second end  26  of the second jaw  20 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3 and 4 are isometric views of the one-piece molded clamp when the tension strap  40  is releaseably engaged (FIG. 3) and again disengaged (FIG. 4). The tension strap is passed over the first end  26  of the second jaw  20 . The at least one aperture  42  in the tension strap allows for this function. Upon passing the tension strap over the second jaw  20  (this can also be described as passing the jaw through the aperture in the tension strap), the strap can be realeaseably engaged into one of the at least one notches  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  in the outward facing surface  24  (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the second jaw  20 . Which notch is used will depend on the perimeter size of the object to be secured and the desired amount of clamp force the user will wish to apply. Due to the flexible nature of the one-piece molded clamp, particularly the tension strap  40  and the jaws  10 ,  20 , objects having a perimeter size greater than the perimeter of the of the cavity  90  can be accommodated with the tension strap, because the jaws will flex and the tension strap will provide the difference in the perimeter length needed to accommodate the object.  
         [0019]    Accordingly, it should be readily appreciated that the above uses of the present invention have many practical applications. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims unless the claims expressly recite differently.