Patent Publication Number: US-9835188-B2

Title: Universal wedge clamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/781,412, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a shoring apparatus used in forming concrete structures and, more specifically to a clamp useful in interconnecting components of scaffolding or bearing structures for shoring posts. Concrete forming apparatus is in wide use in the construction of buildings, bridges, and other concrete structures. The formwork against which the concrete is formed is often held in place by shores and the like. In creating a shoring apparatus having the desired strength, it is common to interconnect vertical components of a shoring apparatus. Because of the variety of the size and shape of concrete structures formed using the shoring apparatus, it is advantageous to have the ability to interconnect various components of the showing apparatus, such as a beam, in a wide variety of configurations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In one form, the disclosure is directed to a clamp configured to engage a shoring post. The shoring post may be circular or non-circular. 
     In one form, the disclosure is directed to a clamp having two arms, each arm having at least one finger that curves inwardly, which allows it to engage a shoring post. 
     In one form, the disclosure is directed to arms on a clamp, where the arms are at an acute angle to one another. 
     In one form, the disclosure is directed to a clamp that is configured to receive a wedge, wherein the wedge has a raised surface that prevents the wedge from coming out of engagement with the clamp. 
     In one form, the disclosure relates to a clamp used in a universal wedge clamp system, the universal wedge clamp system comprising a clamp, beam, wedge, and shoring pole. The universal wedge clamp system is configured to be arranged so that the beam is in a horizontal position relative to the ground surface. The universal wedge clamp system is also configured to be arranged so that the beam is in an angled position relative to the ground surface. 
     In yet another form, the disclosure provides a clamp. The claim includes first and second arms, each of the first and second arms having at least one finger extending at an angle from the respective arm whereby the finger is configured to engage a shoring post. A slot is defined in at least one of the first and second arms configured to receive a wedge therethrough. 
     In still another form, the disclosure provides a universal wedge clamp system. The system includes a rigid clamp formed to define first and second arms that extend from opposite ends of a central member. The first and second arms each comprise a finger that extends inwardly toward the finger extending inwardly from the opposite arm. At least one of the first and second arms comprises a slot defined through the arm along a portion of a length of the arm. A wedge extends through the slot, wherein the clamp and the wedge are collectively configured to removably retain a beam upon either one of a substantially cylindrical shoring post, or a substantially rectangular shoring post. 
     Advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure that have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the disclosed subject matter is capable of other and different embodiments, and its details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the universal wedge clamp supporting a beam upon a cylindrical shoring post. 
         FIG. 2  is the arrangement of  FIG. 1  shown from an opposite perspective view. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the clamp and wedge of the universal wedge clamp of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a plurality of vertical shoring posts supporting crossing beams with a plurality of universal wedge clamps of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is the universal wedge clamp of  FIG. 1  supporting a rectangular shoring post. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the configuration of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view a plurality of vertical rectangular shoring posts supporting crossing beams with a plurality of universal wedge clamps of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of two vertical shoring posts supporting a horizontal beam with two universal wedge clamps of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the clamp of the universal wedge clamp of  FIG. 1  showing the slot disposed therethrough. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-9 , a universal wedge clamp system  1  is provided. The system  1  includes a clamp  10  used to hold bracing structures, such as elongate beams  70  onto shoring posts  30 . The shoring posts may be telescoping posts with a fine adjustment connector that supports the inner and outer telescoping posts, and are conventional. The system  1  is configured to retain beams  70  upon either substantially cylindrical shoring posts  30  or upon rectangular shoring posts  130 , or other geometries of shoring posts  130 . 
     The clamp  10  is configured to be installed and removed from shoring posts  30  ( FIG. 1-4 ), or  130  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) and may be generally U-shaped. Clamp  10  may have three sides: a central side  12  and first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  that may extend from opposite ends of the central side  12 , with the clamp  10  formed from a single continuous member. At the extended end of each arm  14   a ,  14   b  (furthest away from central side  12 ) are fingers  20 . One or both of the fingers  20 , may include a curved portion, or tip  22 , which extend inwardly (i.e. toward the flat side  12 ). The tips  22  of the fingers  20  may be configured to rest within a longitudinal recess  132  within a shoring pole  130 . 
     In one form, the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  may each be substantially straight along their length and may be arranged at an acute angle α with respect to each other as they extend from the central portion  12  (as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 ). In some embodiments, the acute angle α may be at an angle within the range of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees (inclusive of the angles within this range). In other embodiments, the acute angle α may be within the range of between about 20-25 degrees (inclusive of the angles within this range). In some specific embodiments, the angle may be 20, 21, 22, 23, 23, or 25 degrees, or another suitable angle. Those of ordinary skill in the art when referencing this disclosure will contemplate that the acute angle α that is appropriate will be a function of the relative size of the arms  14   a ,  14   b  as well as the spacing therebetween. In other embodiments, the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  may be curved along their length, or a portion of their length, and may be formed with portions that are at an acute angle with respect to each other, or with differing angles along their length. In other embodiments, the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  may be disposed substantially parallel to each other along all or a portion of their length. 
     In some embodiments, the clamp  10  and wedge  60  may be sized and shaped such that they can collectively (along with a shoring post  30 / 130 ) support a beam  70  in a perpendicular relationship to a vertical shoring post  30 / 130  ( FIG. 8 ), or in other embodiments so that it can support a beam  70  within a range of acute angles with respect to a vertical shoring post  30 / 130  ( FIGS. 4 and 7 ), to allow for supporting crossing beams  70 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , one or both of the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  may include a slot  50   a ,  50   b  (respectively) that extends through a portion of the length of the arm respective arm  14   a ,  14   b . The slots  50   a ,  50   b  are arranged to provide space for a wedge  60  to slide therethrough. In some embodiments for ease of manufacture (where the arms  14   a ,  14   b  are identical), the first and second slots  50   a ,  50   b  may also be of identical length and width. In other embodiments, the first arm  14   a  is such that the short leg  62  of the wedge  60  is outboard of the arm  14   a , and the second arm  14   b  is configured such that the vertex  63  of the wedge is outboard of the second arm  14   b . In this embodiment, the first slot  50   a  is a longer length than the second slot  50   b , which will minimize the size of the opening within the second slot  50   b  when the wedge  60  is fully tightened within the second slot  50   b . In embodiments where each arm  14   a ,  14   b  includes a slot  50   a ,  50   b , the first and second slots  50   a ,  50   b  are preferably aligned such that a flat wedge  60  can extend simultaneously through both of the first and second slots  50   a ,  50   b.    
     The wedge  60  may be generally wedge-like in shape. For example, in some embodiments, the wedge  60  may be shaped similar to a right triangle, normally with one base  61  proximate to the vertex  63  that is significantly longer than the opposite base  62 . In some embodiments where the wedge  60  is a right triangle, the wedge  60  is disposed with respect to the clamp  10  such that the base  61  faces the central arm  12  and the hypotenuse  64  faces the opening between the opposed fingers  20  (although the wedge  60  may be disposed in the opposite configuration as well). In other embodiments, the wedge  60  may be an isosceles triangle, with the sides mutually contacting the vertex  63  with a significantly longer length than the base  62  opposite from the vertex  63 . 
     The wedge  60  may be made of any suitable material, such as metal (e.g. steel) or plastic. In some embodiments, steel is preferred due to the large compressive loads that the wedge  60  may carry as the wedge  60  is pinned between the slots  50   a ,  50   b  in the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  and the shoring pole  30 , with the beam  70  therebetween. The wedge  60  is also normally made from a strong material to be able to carry the impact forces delivered thereto by a hammer directed upon the base  62  when tightening the wedge  60  within the clamp  10  (and the beam  70  between the post  30 / 130  and the wedge  60 ), as well as the impacts upon the vertex  63  when releasing the wedge from compressive contact with the beam  70  (between the post  30 / 130  and the wedge  60 ). 
     The wedge  60  may include one or more raised portions  65 . The raised portions  65  may be disposed proximate the vertex  63  and may be disposed proximate the second base  62  (opposite from the vertex  63 ). The raised portions  65  are configured so that when the wedge  60  is engaged with the clamp  10 , by extending the wedge through one or both of slots  50   a ,  50   b  disposed within the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b , the wedge  60  will be prevented from inadvertent withdrawal from the slots  50   a ,  50   b . In some embodiments, the raised portions  65  may be a dimple formed in the material of the wedge, such that the combined thickness of the raised portion  65  and the wedge  60  is wider than the width of the respective first or second slot  50   a ,  50   b  that neighbors the raised portion. In other embodiments, the raised portion  65  may be a projection that is fixed to the wedge  60 . 
     In other embodiments, and shown specifically in  FIG. 9 , the slot  50   b  on the second arm  14   b  may include one or two bumps  50   d  at one or both end portions of the slot  50   b . The bumps  50   d  are configured to allow the raised portion  65  upon the vertex  63  of the wedge  60  to pass therethrough, which allows the wedge to be fully withdrawn from the second slot  50   b . As will be appreciated with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , in embodiments where the clamp  10  engages a post  30  with the post bearing against the central side  12  of the clamp  10  and the beam  70  (as urged by the wedge  60 ) on the opposite side, the wedge  60  must be withdrawn from the second slot  50   b  to allow the clamp  10  to surround the post  30 . The first slot  50   a  (through the first arm  14   a ) is normally of a uniform width, less than the combined thickness of the wedge  60  and the raised portion  65  to prevent the wedge  60  from being disconnected from the clamp  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the first and second arms  14   a ,  14   b  and the central portion  12  may be formed with the same cross-section along their length, such that the entire clamp  10  is initially formed from an elongate stock that is bent into the final configuration. In some embodiments, the clamp may include a flat profile, a round profile, or a C-shaped ( FIG. 9 ), V-shaped, or L-shaped profile, either of which might provide acceptable strength and rigidity to the clamp  10 , while minimizing the weight and the amount of material needed to form the clamp  10 . 
     The clamp  10  is configured to receive a beam  70  (such as a 2×4 or another elongate beam of another profile) through an internal volume  10   a  of the clamp  10 . As mentioned above, the combination of the clamp  10  and the wedge  60  provide for compression of a beam  70  between a side surface of the wedge  60  (either the base  61  or the hypotenuse  64 ) and the shoring post  30 / 130 . The compression of the beam  70  may be activated by urging the wedge  60  further into the clamp  10 , normally by impacts upon the base  62  by a hammer or mallet. The compressive forces upon the beam  70  from the post  30 / 130  and the side of the wedge  60  establishes a significant normal force upon the opposite surfaces of the beam (contacting the post  30 / 130  and the wedge  60 , respectively) which establishes a large frictional force therebetween to prevent sliding between the post  30 , the beam  70 , and the wedge  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the clamp  10  may be disposed upon an shoring post  130 , such as a rectangular or square post, that includes a plurality of indentations or recesses  132  along the length thereof, with the fingers  20  and specifically the tips  22  upon the ends of the fingers  20  engaging recesses upon the post  130  to prevent slipping between the clamp  10  and the post  130 . The opening  26  ( FIG. 3 ) between the opposite fingers  20  allows for the clamp  10  to engage the shoring post  130  after the post  130  is set up at the construction site, and the bracing beams  70  may be disposed upon a plurality of neighboring posts  130  ( FIG. 7 ) with a plurality of clamps  10 . The placement of the fingers  20  and the tips  22  are preferably positioned to fit within recesses  132  on neighboring faces of the shoring post  130 , which may be perpendicular to each other. In some embodiments, the placement and size of the fingers  20  and tips are such that the tips  22  engage or fit within recesses that are disposed either in an outer post  130   a  of a set of telescoping shoring posts, or in the inner post  130   b  of the telescoping posts  130 . 
     It has been found that certain dimensions of the clamp aid in working with a plurality of different types of shoring posts  130 , and in particular rectangular posts, with a plurality of elongate recesses  132 . For example, the opening  26  between the opposing fingers  20  of about 115 to about 120 mm has been found to be a suitable size, with the tips  22  extending about 2 or 3 mm inward from the inner surface of the finger  20  has been found to suitably engage the recesses  132  within typical shoring posts  130 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the clamp  10  and wedge  60  are equally applicable to support a beam  70  that is fixed to a round shoring post  30 . In this orientation, the clamp  10  is disposed upon the post  30  such that the post contacts the central portion  12  of the clamp  10  and the opposite side of the post  30  contacts the beam  70 , which is held in compression between the post  30  and the wedge  60 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the disclosed have been described, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited and modifications may be made without departing from the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and all devices that come within the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are intended to be embraced therein.