Abstract:
A clamp for securing multiple items is provided. The clamp includes a body and a securing means connected to the body. The securing means and the body cooperate to engage a first item. At least one selectively pivotable block is connected to the body and the block is connected to a second item to be clamped. A method for clamping is also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/373,307, filed on Apr. 8, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the art of clamps. More particularly, the present invention relates the art of clamps for shoring systems that are used to stabilize structures.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    When a catastrophic event, accident or force of nature, such as an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood, fire, or snow load occurs, building structures are often weakened. Such weakened structures may suddenly shift or collapse, endangering rescue workers, inspectors or other people in the vicinity. In addition, a shift or collapse may affect other structures that are nearby, either by hitting and directly damaging them or by weakening a common or adjacent foundation.  
           [0004]    As a result, it is often necessary to support a weakened structure, commonly termed “shoring,” quickly yet securely. In addition, shoring is a task that is often performed by rescue personnel, who may be engaged in multiple tasks simultaneously, such as extinguishing a fire, attending to victims and shoring a structure. Thus, a shoring system must be capable of being assembled quickly and easily.  
           [0005]    The system must also be durable, as it must support the heavy load of a building structure for a fairly long period of time, often up to a few weeks or longer. Because the shoring system will be used to support a variety of structures, it must also be adjustable.  
           [0006]    Critical to a shoring system is the means to secure the members of the system or of multiple systems together. In the prior art, shoring systems have included wood, which was often wedged or nailed together. However, wood systems lack adjustability and are not durable, often being discarded after one shoring use.  
           [0007]    Some newly invented shoring systems involve the use of tubular metal members, which are more durable. These members may be pinned together. However, the use of pins or similar fasteners may often be restrictive, as the pins can only be inserted through pre-determined holes in the members.  
           [0008]    It is therefore desirable to develop a strong, reusable and durable clamp that is also adjustable and easy to use.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a clamp for securing multiple items is provided. The clamp includes a body and a securing means connected to the body. The securing means and the body cooperate to engage a first item. At least one selectively pivotable block is connected to the body and the block is connected to a second item to be clamped.  
           [0010]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connecting system for a support member is provided. The connecting system includes a cross brace including a bracket and a clamp. The clamp includes a body and a securing means connected to the body. The securing means and the body cooperate to engage the support member. At least one selectively pivotable block is connected to the body and the block is connected to the bracket of the cross brace.  
           [0011]    In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for clamping is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a first item to be secured, placing a body of a clamp on a desired location of the first item to be secured, closing a securing member of the clamp about the item to be secured, tightening the securing member to the body of the clamp, providing a second item to be secured, selecting a desired orientation of a block connected to the body of the clamp, affixing the block to the body of the clamp at the desired location, and connecting the block to the second item to be secured.  
           [0012]    There are other objects and features of the invention, which will be apparent from the following description and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0013]    The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, and wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoring system;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another shoring system;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a side view of a component of the shoring systems of FIGS.  1  and  2 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a front view an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a side view along line F 5 -F 5  of the embodiment of FIG. 4; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of particularly limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates a first shoring system  10  that is generally used to support a horizontal structure from below. Tubular support members  12  and adjusting members  14  provide the support for the shoring system  10 . Extending between the support members  12  and adjusting members  14  are cross braces  16 . The cross braces  16  facilitate the formation of a three-dimensional structure for the shoring system  10  to allow the system  10  to support a substantial area.  
         [0021]    Turning now to FIG. 2, two second shoring systems  18  that support a vertical structure are illustrated. To secure the second systems  18  together so that they may be more stable, cross braces  16  extend between tubular extension members  20  and tubular adjusting members  21 . The cross braces  16  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 must be able to connect to the members  12 ,  14 ,  20  and  21  from many different angles and locations. As a result, adaptable securing means are necessary.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 3, a cross brace  16  may terminate in a bracket  22 . The bracket  22  defines a channel  24  of a width W and orifices  26  that allow a pin or other fastener to secure an item to the cross brace  16 .  
         [0023]    Turning now to FIGS.  4 - 6 , the adaptable securing means includes a clamp  28  to which the bracket  22  of the cross brace  16  connects, and which also turn releasably engages at least one of the members  12 ,  14 ,  20  and  21  without a pin. The clamp  28  provides flexibility as to the location and orientation of the connection of the cross braces  16  (FIGS. 1 and 2).  
         [0024]    The clamp  28  includes a body  30  that is pivotally connected to a securing member  32 . The securing member  32  includes a first end  34 , near which is a pin  36  or other similar means known in the art to provide the pivot connection. The securing member  32  also includes a second end  38 . To engage one of the members  12 , 14 ,  20  and  21 , such as an extension member  20 , the first end  38  of the securing member  32  is opened, or pivoted away from the body  30 , and a recess  39  defined in the body is placed on the desired section of the extension member  20 . The securing member  32  is pi voted back to a closed position (shown), thus allowing the clamp  28  to substantially surround the desired section of the extension member  20 .  
         [0025]    A fastener  40 , such as an eye bolt, is pivoted about a bolt pin  42  until the fastener  40  engages a slot (not shown) in the first end  38  of the securing member  32 . A nut  44  secures the first end  38  of the securing member  32  to the body  30 , thereby fixing the clamp  28  in position on the extension member  20 . The nut  44  may include projections  46  to allow it to be tightened and/or loosened easily without additional tools.  
         [0026]    The body  30  of the clamp  28  includes a base  48 , to which a first selectively pivotable block  50  and a second selectively pivotable block  52  connect. A first fastener  54 , such a bolt, connects the first block  50  to the body  30 , while a second fastener  56  connects the second block  52  to the body  30 . Nuts  46  may be used with the first  54  and second  56  fasteners to secure the blocks  50  and  52  to the body  30 . Thus, once the orientation of each block  50  and  52  is selected, the nuts  46  are tightened to secure the blocks  50  and  52  against the body  30 , holding the blocks  50  and  52  at the desired orientation.  
         [0027]    The first block  50  defines an orifice  58  to receive a pin and the second block  52  also defines an orifice  60  to receive a pin. Each block  50  and  52  is of a width just under a distance W, to slide into the channel  24  of the bracket  22  of the cross brace  16  (FIG. 3). When a block, for example, the first block  50 , slides into the channel  24  of the bracket  22  of the cross brace  16 , the orifice  58  defined in the block  50  may be aligned with at least two of the orifices  26  in the bracket  22  so that a pin may inserted through the aligned orifices  26  and  58 , thereby securing the cross brace  16  to the clamp  28  at the desired orientation. Because the clamp  28  is secured to a member, such as the extension member  20 , the cross brace  16  is connected by the clamp  28  to the extension member  20 .  
         [0028]    It is to be noted that two different cross braces  16  may be used, with each one having a bracket  22  as described. One cross brace may be of a different diameter than the other, to allow the smaller brace to slide inside the other and be adjustably pinned. In this manner, an adjustable bracing assembly including two cross braces  16  may have a bracket  22  at either end.  
         [0029]    As a result, the clamp  28  provides an easily installed, adaptable means to secure cross braces  16  to members  12 ,  14 ,  20  and  21  and increase the stability of the shoring systems  10  and  18 . As is apparent from the foregoing detailed description, a method for using the clamp  28  is also provided. Particular note is made that the clamp  28  may be used in applications other than shoring systems. Reference is made herein to use of the clamp  28  in a shoring system only as an example.  
         [0030]    The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.