Patent Publication Number: US-10307892-B1

Title: Pipe clamp rotation kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to tools and more specifically to a pipe clamp rotation kit, which allows an existing pipe clamp to be rotated and secured at some angularly orientation relative to a support surface. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,397 to Ward discloses a mounting bracket for a pipe clamp. However, the Ward patent requires at least one hand tool to change an angle of the pipe clamp. U.S. Pat. No. 8,888,084 to Aldredge et al. discloses a saw horse pipe clamp. However, Aldredge et al. cannot be used to modify an existing pipe clamp. 
     Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a pipe clamp rotation kit, which allows an existing pipe clamp to be rotated and secured at some angularly orientation relative to a support surface, and which does not require hand tools to adjust the angular orientation of the clamp jaws relative to the support surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pipe clamp rotation kit, which does not require hand tools to adjust an angular orientation of the clamp jaws relative to a support surface. The pipe clamp rotation kit preferably includes an adjustment end bracket, a pipe end bracket, an adjustment end collar, a pipe end collar and a tightening member. The tightening member preferably includes a handle and a threaded stud. The threaded stud extends from the handle. The adjustment end bracket includes a L-shaped bracket and a support pin. The L-shaped bracket includes a mounting plate and a support plate. The support plate extends upward from an edge of the mounting plate. At least two fastener holes are formed through the mounting plate to receive at least two fasteners. The support pin includes a pipe diameter on one end and a screw groove formed in an opposing end. The pipe diameter is sized to be received by an inner diameter of a support pipe of a pipe clamp. The screw groove is sized to receive an end of the threaded stud of the tightening member. The support pin is retained in a hole in the support plate. The pipe end bracket includes a pipe mounting plate and a pipe support plate. The pipe support plate extends upward from an edge of the mounting plate. At least two fastener holes are formed through the pipe mounting plate to receive at least two fasteners. A pipe hole is preferably formed through the pipe support plate to receive an outer diameter of the support pipe of the pipe clamp, but a support pin could also be used. 
     The adjustment end collar includes a collar base and a pair of ears. The pair of ears extend outward from an outer perimeter of the collar base. An adjustment screw bore is formed through the collar base to receive clamp the support pin. At least one end thread is formed through the adjustment end collar; perpendicular to an axis of the adjustment screw bore to threadably receive the threaded stud of the tightening member. A space between the pair of ears is sized to rotatably receive a lead screw of the pipe clamp. The end collar includes an inner diameter, which is sized to receive an outer diameter of the support pipe. A female thread is formed through the collar, perpendicular to an axis of the inner diameter. A fastener, such as a set-screw is threaded into the female thread to axially secure the end collar to the support pipe. 
     In use, the mounting plate of the adjustment end bracket is attached to a support surface with at least two fasteners. The support pin is inserted into the inner diameter of the support pipe at an adjustment end of the pipe clamp. The end collar is slipped over the non-adjustment end of the support pipe. The non-adjustment end of the support pipe is then inserted through the pipe hole in the pipe end bracket. The mounting plate of the pipe end bracket is secured to the support surface with at least two fasteners. The adjustment end collar is slipped over the adjustment end of the pipe clamp. The set screw is tightened in the end thread of the end collar against the support pipe. The pipe clamp is rotated, turned or pivoted with a first hand to a desired angular position and the tightening member is finally tightened with a second hand. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe clamp rotation kit, which allows an existing pipe clamp to be rotated and secured at some angularly orientation relative to a support surface. 
     Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a pipe clamp rotation kit, which does not require hand tools to adjust an angular orientation of the clamp jaws relative to the support surface. 
     These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is a perspective view of a pipe end bracket of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1 b    is a perspective view of an adjustment end bracket of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1 c    is a perspective view of a pipe end collar of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1 d    is a perspective view of an adjustment end collar of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1 e    is a perspective view of a tightening member of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an adjustment end of a pipe clamp supported by an adjustment end bracket and with an adjustment end collar attached to a support pipe of the pipe clamp of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a non-adjustment end of a pipe clamp supported by a pipe end bracket and with an end collar attached to a support pipe of the pipe clamp of a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pipe clamp supported by a pipe clamp rotation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 a -1 e   , there is shown an exploded perspective view of all the components of a pipe clamp rotation kit  1 . The pipe clamp rotation kit  1  preferably includes an adjustment end bracket  10 , a pipe end bracket  12 , an adjustment end collar  14 , a pipe end collar  16  and a tightening member  18 . The tightening member  18  preferably includes a handle  20  and a threaded stud  22 . The threaded stud  22  extends from the handle  20 . The adjustment end bracket  10  includes a L-shaped bracket  24  and a support pin  26 . The L-shaped bracket  24  includes a mounting plate  28  and a support plate  30 . The support plate  30  extends upward from an edge of the mounting plate  28 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 b    and  2 , at least two fastener holes  32  are formed through the mounting plate  28  to receive at least two fasteners  34 . The support pin  26  includes a pipe diameter  36  on one end and a screw groove  38  formed in an opposing end. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a pipe clamp  100  includes a support pipe  102 , a lead screw  104 , a slidable clamp jaw  106 , an adjustable clamp jaw  108 , a screw base  110  and a crank  112 . The slidable clamp jaw  106  is retained on the support pipe  102 . One end of the support pipe  102  is retained in the screw base  110 . The lead screw  104  is threadably engaged with the screw base  110 . One end of lead screw  104  is rotatably retained in the adjustable clamp jaw  108  and the crank  112  is attached to an opposing end of the lead screw  104 . The pipe diameter  36  of the support pin  26  is sized to be received by an inner diameter of a support pipe  102  of a pipe clamp  100 . The screw groove  38  is sized to receive an end of the threaded stud  22  of the tightening member  18 . The support pin  26  is preferably retained in a hole in the support plate  30  with welding or any other suitable process. The support pin  26  does not rotate relative to the adjustment end bracket  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the pipe end bracket  12  includes a pipe mounting plate  40  and a pipe support plate  42 . The pipe support plate  42  extends upward from an edge of the mounting plate  40 . At least two fastener holes  44  are formed through the pipe mounting plate  40  to receive at least two fasteners  46 . A pipe hole  48  is formed through the pipe support plate  42  to receive an outer diameter of the support pipe  102  of the pipe clamp  100 . The adjustment end collar  14  includes a collar base  50  and a pair of ears  52 . The pair of ears  52  extend outward from an outer perimeter of the collar base  50 . An adjustment screw bore  54  is formed through the collar base  50  to receive the support pin  26 . At least one end female thread  56  is formed through the adjustment end collar  50 , perpendicular to an axis of the adjustment screw bore  54  to threadably receive the threaded stud  22  of the tightening member  18 . A space  58  between the pair of ears  52  is sized to rotatably receive a lead screw  104  of the pipe clamp  100 . The end collar  16  includes an inner diameter  60 , which is sized to receive an outer diameter of the support pipe  102 . A female thread  62  is formed through the end collar  16 , perpendicular to an axis of the inner diameter  60 . 
     In use, the mounting plate  28  of the adjustment end bracket  10  is attached to a support surface  114  with the at least two fasteners  34 . The support pin  26  is inserted into the inner diameter of the support pipe  102  at an adjustment end of the pipe clamp  100 . The end collar  16  is slipped over the non-adjustment end of the support pipe  102 . The non-adjustment end of the support pipe  102  is then inserted through the pipe hole  48  in the pipe end bracket  12 . The mounting plate  40  of the pipe end bracket  12  is secured to the support surface  114  with the at least two fasteners  46 . The adjustment end collar  14  is slipped over the adjustment end of the support pipe  102 . A fastener, such as a set screw  64  is tightened in the end thread  62  of the end collar  16  against the support pipe  102 . The pipe clamp  100  is rotated, turned or pivoted by a first hand to a desired angular position and the tightening member  18  is finally tightened to angularly secure the pipe clamp  100  relative to the support surface  114  with a second hand. The support pipe  102  is capable of being rotated relative to the pipe end bracket  12  and the support pin  26 . The adjustment end collar  14  is secured to the support pin  26  with the tightening member  18  to prevent rotation of the pipe clamp  100  relative to the pipe end bracket  12  and the adjustment end bracket  10 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.