Patent ID: 7758502

Claim:
A clamp comprising: a first clamping member having a top and bottom connected at a hinge; a first clamping section adjacent the hinge intermediate the top and bottom, the first clamping section having a cross-sectional perimeter; a second clamping section intermediate the top and bottom, the second clamping section having a cross-sectional perimeter sized substantially the same as the cross-sectional perimeter of the first clamping section; a slot connecting the first clamping section to the second clamping section; said first and second clamping sections each having an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, wherein the first clamping section is connected to the second clamping section in the locked configuration and in the unlocked configuration, wherein when in said unlocked configuration a rail of a predetermined cross section perimeter is positionable in the first and second clamping sections, and wherein when in the locked configuration, the rail is secured to a selected one of the first and second clamping sections at the predetermined cross section perimeter; an actuator having a cam surface operably connected to the first clamp member wherein operation of the actuator adjusts the cam surface to transition both the first clamping section and the second clamping section from the unlocked to the locked configuration, wherein the first clamping member is connected to a second clamping member in the locked and unlocked configuration, and wherein the first clamping member is adapted to allow the rail to be radially inserted and removed from the second clamping section of the first clamping member in the unlocked configuration; said second clamping section of the first clamping member having displaceable legs extending from the top and bottom of the first clamping member and defining a gap therebetween having a gap distance between the first and second legs, wherein the gap distance increases in size when the rail is radially forced against the legs to displace the legs during insertion and removal of the rail, and wherein when the rail is in the clamping section the legs return toward one another after the rail is removed from the second clamping section and when the rail is positioned in the second clamping section; and the second clamping member having a first clamping section operable from an unlocked to a locked configuration, and wherein operation of the actuator transitions the second clamping member from the unlocked to the locked configuration.