Patent ID: 8070119

Claim:
A clamp assembly for securing an ancillary device ( 16 ) to a standing seam ( 8 ) interconnecting metal panels ( 4 , 6 ), the standing seam comprising a protruding web portion ( 10 ) with a head portion ( 12 ) at an outer extremity thereof, the clamp assembly comprising: a substantially rigid member ( 18 ); first and second substantially rigid arms ( 22 , 24 ) extending from the member, at least one of the arms ( 24 ) being pivotally interconnected with the member at at least one hinge means ( 28 ), the first and second arms having first and second free extremities ( 36 , 38 ), the first arm ( 22 ) forming an integral part of the member ( 18 ), without pivotal interconnection thereto, and the second arm ( 24 ) having a portion ( 26 ) which extends to overlie the member and is pivotally interconnected therewith at the hinge means ( 28 ), and adapted to receive the ancillary device ( 16 ); threaded fastener means ( 40 , 41 ) engaging in a complementary threaded aperture ( 46 ) in the member, the threaded fastener means ( 40 , 41 ) being adapted to pass through the ancillary device, through an aperture ( 44 ) in the extending portion of the second arm, and into the complementary threaded aperture ( 46 ) in the underlying member, wherein the or each hinge means ( 28 ) pivotally interconnecting the at least one of the first and second arms ( 22 , 24 ) to the member ( 18 ) comprises a groove ( 32 ) provided in one of the or each arm and the member into which is axially slid a complementary protrusion ( 34 ) extending correspondingly from the other of the member and the or each arm, the groove having a wall thereof subtending an angle of more than 180 degrees, whereby retention of the protrusion in the groove is obtained, the hinge means being adapted and arranged to permit pivoting between the second arm, on its extending portion, and the first arm fixed to the member, for locating the clamp assembly on the standing seam, the threaded fastener means being adapted to be subsequently tightened to pivot the extending portion of the second arm towards the underlying member, whereby the first and second free extremities ( 36 , 38 ) of the first and second arms are caused to converge to grip the web portion ( 10 ) of the standing seam ( 8 ).