Patent ID: 8302921

Claim:
A clamp for securing a post equipped surgical appliance to a rail attached to a surgical operating table comprising in combination: A. a one piece clamp body for engaging said rail, said body having a pair of opposed spaced apart upper and lower clamp jaws for gripping said rail, said jaws arranged in fixed in place relationship to each other said body having a uniform profile passageway transverse said body and positioned between said jaws for receiving said rail, said passageway having a first and second portion, said first portion bounded by: 1. a first side comprising a lip substantially equal to the width of said rail; 2. a second side substantially perpendicular to said first side and substantially equal to the height of said rail; and 3. a third side opposite said first side having a portion substantially perpendicular to said second side; said second portion communicating with said first portion for receiving said rail, said second portion disposed at the intersection of said second and third sides whereby said third side has a width greater than said rail to allow said clamp body to be placed over and against said rail from either longitudinal edge of said rail; B. a first clamp member extending outwardly from and arranged to engage said clamp body, said first clamp member having a transverse port for receiving said post; C. a second clamp member arranged to engage said first clamp member; D. a third clamp member disposed between said first and second clamp members extending through said clamp body for engaging said rail, said third clamp member having a transverse port for receiving said post coincident with said first clamp member transverse port; and E. means to draw said first and second clamp members together whereby said post is secured between said first and third clamp members and said third clamp member is secured against said rail.