Patent Publication Number: US-2020291973-A1

Title: Clamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/818,076, filed Mar. 13, 2019, entitled CLAMP, to disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to clamps, and more particularly to an adjustable clamp for attaching to a variety of objects. 
     It is often desired to mount objects to existing structures by use of clamps. For example, equipment or markers might be attached to power lines, such as monitoring equipment, markers to highlight the presence of the power lines, bird diverters to help prevent bird impacts with power lines. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the disclosure, an adjustable clamp mechanism is provided. 
     The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure in a fully open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure in a fully closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises and adjustable clamp that can be tightened or loosened to provide the desired clamping force, while providing a mounting support for attaching items to structures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a clamp  10 , the clamp comprises upper and lower jaw members  12 ,  14 , which are defined by spaced brackets  12   a,    12   b  and  14   a,    14   b.  The jaw members hingedly connect via and operate about hinge member  16 . An elongate threaded member  18  threadingly engages the upper jaw via threaded pin  20  that spans and defines the distance between jaw members  12   a  and  12   b.  A pin  22  with central through hole that is not threaded spans and defines the distance between jaw members  14   a  and  14   b,  and receives elongate threaded member  18  therethrough. A spring member  24  is positioned on threaded member  18 , below pin  22 , and seats against a shoulder  26  defined on the threaded member. Below shoulder  26 , a mounting member  28 , such as the illustrated eyebolt, may be provided for mounting items to the clamp. At the front end of the clamp jaws, at the end distal from the hinge member, an upper clamp tooth member  30  is provided at the upper jaw member  12 , and a lower clamp jaw  32  is provided at the lower jaw member  14 . A lock nut  34  is provided at the top of threaded member  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , views of the clamp in the fully open and fully closed positions, respectively, by rotation of the elongate member  18  in an appropriate direction based on the threads, the threaded engagement with threaded pin  20  causes the threaded pin to ride upwardly along the length of the elongate member, until the top surface of the pin  20  meets the bottom face of lock nut  34 . The bottom jaw is free to remain in position, as biased toward the upper jaw by the presence of spring  24 . On rotation of the elongate member in the opposite direction, the threaded pin  20  will move down the length of the elongate member, moving the upper jaw and lower jaw closer together, until as seen in  FIG. 3 , the upper clamp tooth member  30  and lower clamp jaw  32  engage. In the case of clamping to an article, such as a power line or other article, rotation from open to closed would continue until the desired clamping force has been attained for the particular use. The spring  24  keeps the clamp biased to a closed position. Lock nut  34  may be rotated to travel down the elongate member to contact the upper surface of threaded pin  20 , to lock the clamp position. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate different angle views of the clamp, side view in  FIG. 4  (the opposite side would typically be a mirror image of  FIG. 4 ), a top view ( FIG. 5 ) and a right end view ( FIG. 6 ). 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the clamp to provide a better understanding of the configuration of the clamp. Additional items visible in  FIG. 7  that were hidden in the other views include left and right retaining rings  36  which maintain the threaded pin in position, and push ring  38 , which assists in transferring the push of the threaded pin to the through hole pin to accomplish clamping force. The upper clamp tooth member  30  and lower clamp jaw  32  suitably have through mounting holes  40 ,  42  which mount the tooth member and jaw to the upper and lower jaw members via mounting holes  44 ,  46  in the jaws via any suitable means, such as pins or threaded fasteners, for example. The inner faces of the clamp teeth and clamp jaw may have a surface profile, such as an elongate curved surface visible on the lower clamp jaw, so that the jaws conform to a surface profile of the clamped item. For example, if a power line or cable is to be clamped, the curved surface illustrated in  FIG. 7  can ensure greater contact area between the clamp teeth/jaw and the clamped surface. Other profiles may be used depending on the particular use environment of the clamp. 
     Depending on the intended use, the clamp can be constructed to be conductive or non-conductive, for example being conductive when used to attach items to power lines that would draw power from the power lines, or non-conductive when insulation from the clamped surface is desired. 
     In power line uses of the particular illustrated embodiment, the clamp is designed to enable easy installation of an object on a broad range of energized power lines in a variety of cable sizes (e.g., ⅝″ to 2″). The clamps may be attached directly to the object via an adapter plate or bolts, or may be used as a standalone clamp. The clamps are designed for easy installation by a lineman using a hot stick (a specialized stick used by power company employees to work on energized power lines). Further, the clamps are designed for use in high-wind applications, because they can be adjusted in the field to firmly clamp to the line, minimizing the possibility of the object spinning in the wind once attached. 
     While the illustrated embodiment includes an eyebolt for easy operation with a hot stick in power line applications or for allowing items to be attached directly to the clamp, such as hanging items that hang from or attach to the eyebolt, the clamp may also be attached in other ways for other uses, such as securing the clamp directly to an object so that the object may then be clamped to a structure. In such case, the eyebolt portion can be alternatively replaced with another suitable mechanism for rotating the threaded member. This other mechanism may comprises a screw drive, for example, such as hex head, hex socket (Allen), Torx-style, slotted, phillips, to name a few. Thus the clamp can be used in a variety of situations to attach various objects to other items. 
     Accordingly, an improved clamp is shown and described. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the technology has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. 
     The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology.