Patent Abstract:
A clamp comprises a fastener, a clamp body, and a clamp leg. The clamp body comprises a housing including a cavity and a housing cavity; and a curved arm extending from the housing. The clamp leg comprises a leg body including a leg cavity, and a foot member. The clamp body and the clamp leg are attachable to and detachable from each other, and a portion of the leg body can be inserted into or removed from the housing cavity, and when the portion of the leg body is inserted into the housing cavity, the cavity and the leg cavity form a passageway for the fastener so that threads of the fastener are not externally exposed.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119, based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/651,033, filed May 24, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Mounting systems can be used in a variety of industries, such as food processing and pharmaceutical venues. Mounting systems are typically used to mount pipes, conduits, and tubes. These mounting systems are inherently difficult to clean, inspect, and by design are susceptible to accumulating various contaminants including dirt, insects, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an exploded, side view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamp; 
         FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of the clamp; 
         FIGS. 1C and 1D  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of the clamp; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of an exemplary embodiment of a bracket; 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of the bracket and the clamp; 
         FIG. 3D  is a diagram illustrating a side view of the bracket and the clamp; 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating an exploded, side view of another exemplary embodiment of a clamp; 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of the clamp; 
         FIGS. 4C and 4D  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of the clamp; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of the bracket and the clamp; and 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of the clamps and a strut system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, a clamp includes a clamp body and a clamp leg. According to an exemplary embodiment, the clamp body includes an annular cavity to receive the clamp leg. According to an exemplary embodiment, the annular cavity and the clamp leg each includes internal female threads. According to an exemplary embodiment, a fastener (e.g., a bolt) fastens the clamp body to the clamp leg such that no threading is externally exposed. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, a bracket includes slots to receive the clamp leg. According to an exemplary embodiment, when attaching the clamp to the bracket, the clamp leg rotates, which is caused by tightening the fastener, and allows a foot portion of the clamp leg to anchor against a wall of the bracket. As the fastener is continued to be tightened, the clamp body and the clamp leg may be urged together, and the clamp may be further affixed to the bracket. 
       FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an exploded, side view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamp. Clamp  100  includes a fastener  105 , a clamp body  110 , and a clamp leg  130 . Clamp  100  may be made from various materials, such as, for example, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) or a non-metallic material (e.g., plastic, a composite, etc.), depending on the application (e.g., food-grade, pharmaceutical, etc.) of clamp  100 . 
     Fastener  105  includes a threaded element. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , fastener  105  may be implemented as an acorn-head bolt. According to other implementations, fastener  105  may be another type of bolt, a screw, etc. Clamp body  110  includes an arm  115  and a housing  120 . As illustrated, arm  115  extends from housing  120  in an arched or curved manner. Arm  115  and housing  120  define a surface  117  contoured to receive a conduit or other object having a curved surface for clamping. Housing  120  includes an annular cavity  122  and an annular cavity  124 . Annular cavity  122  has a different diameter than annular cavity  124 . For example, annular cavity  124  has a smaller diameter than annular cavity  122 . Annular cavity  122  is contoured to receive clamp leg  130 . Annular cavity  124  is contoured to receive fastener  105 . According to an exemplary implementation, a surface of housing  120  that defines an opening of annular cavity  124  is substantially flat to receive a head of fastener  105  (e.g., the acorn-head of the bolt), as illustrated in  FIG. 1B . Annular cavity  124  includes female threads. Annular cavity  122  and annular cavity  124  are described further below. 
     Clamp leg  130  includes a leg body  135 , a tapered portion  140 , and a foot portion  145 . Leg body  135  has a tubular shape that is contoured to be received by annular cavity  122  of clamp body  110 . Clamp leg  130  includes an annular cavity  147 . As illustrated, annular cavity  147  extends a length of leg body  135 . Annular cavity  147  includes female threads and is contoured to receive fastener  105 . Annular cavity  147  may have a diameter that is substantially the same as a diameter of annular cavity  124 . Tapered portion  140  is formed between leg body  135  and foot portion  145 . 
     Foot portion  145  includes an ankle portion  142 , an extending member  143 , and a locking member  144 . Ankle portion  142  has a tubular shape that extends from tapered portion  140 . As illustrated, extending member  143  and locking member  144  include a step-configuration in which locking member  144  extends further laterally outward relative to extending member  143 . Extending member  143  and locking member  144  (also referred to collectively as a foot member  141 ) extend substantially perpendicular to leg body  135 , tapered portion  140  and ankle portion  142 . As described further below, extending member  143  and locking member  144  are configured to provide a locking feature to allow clamp  100  to securely attach to a bracket. 
       FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of an assembled clamp  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , during an assembly process, a user inserts leg body  135  of clamp leg  130  into annular cavity  122 . The user inserts fastener  105  into annular cavity  124  and annular cavity  147  of clamp leg  130 . As the user turns fastener  105 , clamp leg  130  is urged toward clamp body  110 . As illustrated, when assembled, clamp  100  does not expose any threading. 
       FIGS. 1C and 1D  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of clamp  100 . Referring to  FIG. 1C , extending member  143  includes a curved side surface  146 . Additionally, locking member  144  includes a curved side surface  148 .  FIGS. 1C and 1D  illustrate that extending member  143  and locking member  144  form a curved side surface  149 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , a top surface  136  of leg body  135  defines an opening  137  of annular cavity  147 .  FIG. 1D  illustrates an inner surface  126  of housing  120  that defines an opening  127  of annular cavity  122 . A female-threaded passageway is provided by annular cavity  124  and annular cavity  147 . During the process of assembly, while turning fastener  105 , fastener  105  urges top surface  136  to meet inner surface  126  and for openings  137  and  127  to meet. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of an exemplary embodiment of a bracket. Referring to  FIG. 2A , a bracket  205  has a Z-bracket configuration that includes a slotted arm  210 , a spacer  215 , and an arm  220 . Bracket  205  may be made from various materials, such as, for example, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) or a non-metallic material (e.g., plastic, a composite, etc.), depending on the application (e.g., food-grade, pharmaceutical, etc.) of bracket  205 . 
     Slotted arm  210  has a C-like configuration. Slotted arm  210  includes a side  212 , a side  213 , a side  214 , a side  215 , and a side  216 . Referring to  FIG. 2B , sides  213  and  215  are curved and sides  212  and  216  extend outwardly and angled from side  214 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , slotted arm  210  includes slots  225 - 1  and  225 - 2  (also referred to collectively as slots  225  and individually as slot  225 ). Spacer  215  is substantially perpendicular to arm  210  and arm  220 . Arm  220  includes a hole  230 . Referring to  FIG. 2B , side  216  includes a surface  240  and side  212  includes a surface  250 . As described further below, surface  240  or surface  250  may come into contact with curved side surface  148  of clamp leg  130  when clamp  100  is attached to bracket  205 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of bracket  205  and clamp  100 . As illustrated, clamp  100  is attached to bracket  205 , and clamp  100  is clamping a conduit  305 .  FIG. 3D  is a diagram illustrating a side view of bracket  205  and clamp  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3D  and  FIGS. 1A-1D , an exemplary process for attaching clamp  100  to bracket  205  is described. A user inserts foot portion  145  through slot  225 - 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 3C and 3D , as the user tightens fastener  105 , clamp leg  130  turns, which, according to this example, causes curved side surface  148  of locking member  144  to come into contact with surface  240  of side  216  of bracket  205 . Thereafter, clamp leg  130  no longer turns. The user may continue to tighten fastener  105  which causes top surface  136  of clamp leg  130  to meet inner surface  126  of clamp body  110 . Fastener  105  may continue to penetrate the female threaded passageway of annular cavity  124  and annular cavity  147 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating an exploded, side view of another exemplary embodiment of a clamp. As illustrated, a clamp  400  includes fasteners  105 , a clamp body  410 , and clamp legs  130 . Fastener  105  and clamp  130  has been previously described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , clamp body  410  includes an arm  415  and housings  420 - 1  and  420 - 2  (also referred to collectively as housings  420  or individually as housing  420 ). As illustrated, arm  415  extends from housing  420 - 1  to housing  420 - 2  in an arched or curved manner. Arm  415  and housings  420  define a surface  417  contoured to receive a conduit or other object having a curved surface for clamping. Housing  420 - 1  and  420 - 2  are symmetrical to each other. Housing  420 - 1  includes an annular cavity  422 - 1  and housing  420 - 2  includes an annular cavity  422 - 2  (also referred to collectively as annular cavities  422  and individually as annular cavity  420 ). Annular cavity  422  is contoured to receive clamp leg  130 . Additionally, housing  420 - 1  includes an annular cavity  424 - 1 , and housing  420 - 2  includes an annular cavity  424 - 2  (also referred to collectively as annular cavities  424  and individually as annular cavity  424 ). Annular cavity  424  has a different diameter than annular cavity  422 . Annular cavity  424  is contoured to receive fastener  105  and includes female threads. According to an exemplary implementation, surfaces of housings  420  that define openings of annular cavities  424  are substantially flat to receive heads of fasteners  105 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 4B . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , during an assembly process, a user inserts leg bodies  135  of clamp legs  130  into annular cavities  422 . The user inserts fasteners  105  into annular cavities  424  and annular cavities  147  of clamp legs  130 . As the user turns fasteners  105 , clamp legs  130  are urged toward clamp body  410 .  FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of an assembled clamp  400 . As illustrated, when assembled, clamp  400  does not expose any threading. 
       FIGS. 4C and 4D  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of the clamp  400 .  FIG. 4D  illustrates an inner surface  426 - 1  of housing  420 - 1  that defines an opening  427 - 1  of annular cavity  422 - 1  and an inner surface  426 - 2  of housing  420 - 2  that defines an opening  427 - 2  of annular cavity  422 - 2 . A female-threaded passageway is provided by annular cavities  424  and annular cavities  447 . During the process of assembly, while turning fasteners  105 , fasteners  105  urge top surfaces  136  to meet inner surfaces  426  and for openings  137  and  427  to meet. 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  are diagrams illustrating isometric views of bracket  205  and clamp  400 . As illustrated, clamp  400  is attached to bracket  205  and clamp  400  is clamping conduit  305 . Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C ,  FIGS. 4A-4D , and  FIG. 3D , an exemplary process for attaching clamp  400  to bracket  205  is described. A user inserts foot portion  145 - 2  through slot  225 - 2  and foot portion  145 - 1  through slot  225 - 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 5C and 3D , as the user tightens fasteners  105 , clamp legs  130  turn, which, according to this example, causes curved side surface  148 - 2  of locking member  144 - 2  to come into contact with surface  250  of side  212  of bracket  205 , and curved side surface  148 - 1  of locking member  144 - 1  to come into contact with surface  240  of side  216  of bracket  205 . Thereafter, clamp legs  130  no longer turns. The user may continue to tighten fasteners  105  which cause top surfaces  136  of clamp legs  130  to meet inner surfaces  426  of clamp body  410 . Fasteners  105  may continue to penetrate the female threaded passageway of annular cavities  424  and annular cavities  147 . 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of clamps  100  and  400  and a trapeze strut system  600 . As illustrated, clamp  400  and clamp  100  may be affixed to trapeze strut system  600 . According to this example, strut system  600  includes a slotted strut  605  and beaded rods  610 - 1  and  610 - 2 . According to other examples, clamps  100  and  400  may be attached to a wall-mounted strut or other slotted fixture. Clamps  400  and  100  clamp conduits  305 - 1  and  305 - 2 . 
     The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to be interpreted to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to be interpreted as “based, at least in part, on,” unless explicitly stated otherwise. The term “and/or” is intended to be interpreted to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated items. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “top,” “side,” etc., may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element&#39;s or feature&#39;s relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the element. For example, if the element in the figure is turned over, an element described as “below” or “beneath” another element or another feature would then be oriented “above” the other element or the other feature. 
     In the specification and illustrated by the drawings, reference is made to “an exemplary embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “embodiments,” etc., which may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic in connection with an embodiment(s). However, the use of the phrase or term “an embodiment,” “embodiments,” etc., in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to all embodiments described, nor does it necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiment(s). 
     The foregoing description of embodiments provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Accordingly, modifications to the embodiments described herein may be possible. Thus, although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, number of, and/or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims. 
     Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5