Clamp assembly

Claim 2

A clamp assembly comprising, in combination: an elongated clamp body having an opening in the direction of its length dimension for receiving a clamp rod, said clamp body having first and second arms, said first arm being secured at one end to one end portion of the clamp body and having a free end extending toward the opposite end portion of the clamp body and said second arm being secured at one end to said opposite end portion of the clamp body and having a free end extending toward said one end portion of the clamp body; and a clamp rod for said clamp body including means responsive to the movement of the clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said arms and moving them outwardly.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamp rod is formed with a wedge-shaped projection on its outer surface and at least one of said arms is formed with a corresponding wedge-shaped projection on its inner surface for engagement by the wedge-shaped projection of said rod as the latter is moved into said body for providing a mechanical advantage in the translation of the movement of the rod to the outward movement of said arm.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, wherein each projection is formed with a relatively gradually sloping leading edge and a relatively steep lagging edge and said projections being dimensioned such that when said rod is moved a given distance into said opening, the projection on the rod passes beyond the projection on said arm, and wherein, the arm on which said projection is located is resilient, whereby when one projection passes the other, the projection on the arm snaps back in place against the rod and the lagging edges of the projections lock the rod in position in the body, making withdrawal of the rod difficult.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said arms includes a depression in a wall forming said opening in said clamp body and wherein said clamp rod includes a cooperating projection located on a surface adjacent to said surface on said arm containing said depression which moves into said depression when the rod is moved a given distance into said body for holding said rod in position in said clamp body in which said arms are in their normal position.

Claim 6

The combinAtion as set forth in claim 4, in which said one of said arms includes a second depression beyond and in the same surface of the arm as the depression described in claim 4, said second depression being shallower than the other depression, and said projection on said arm moving into said second depression in response to movement of said rod an additional distance into said body for locking said rod in a position in said clamp body in which it tends to force said one arm to its outward position.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 and further including the subject matter of claim 3, wherein the arm set forth in claim 3 is a different arm than the one set forth in claim 5.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 1, further including a member having an opening therein in which said body is located, said member having a thickness less than the length of said body, and wherein at least one of said arms has a raised portion on a surface which forms the exterior periphery of said clamp body in the vicinity of said free end of said arm, said raised portion extending in a direction normal to the direction of said length dimension of said clamp body, said raised portion being adapted to hold the body in place in said opening by snapping in place over an edge of the opening in response to movement of said rod into said body more than a given distance.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamp body further includes a third arm extending from one end of said clamp body in a direction generally normal to the direction of said length dimension of said clamp body, and wherein said clamp rod includes means responsive to the movement of said clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said third arm and moving it in the direction of movement of said clamp rod.

Claim 10

A clamp assembly comprising, in combination: an elongated clamp body having an opening in the direction of its length dimension for receiving a clamp rod, and having at least one arm extending from the body in the general direction of its length dimension; a clamp rod for said clamp body including means responsive to the movement of the clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said arm and moving it outwardly; said clamp body further including an additional arm extending from one end of said clamp body in a direction generally normal to the direction of said length dimension; and said clamp rod including further means responsive to the movement of the clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said additional arm and moving it in the direction of said length dimension.

Claim 11

A clamp assembly comprising, in combination: an elongated clamp body having an opening in the direction of its length dimension for receiving a clamp rod, and having at least one arm extending from the body in the general direction of its length dimension; a clamp rod for said clamp body including means responsive to the movement of the clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said arm and moving it outwardly; said clamp body further including an additional arm extending from one end of said clamp body in a direction generally normal to the direction of said length dimension; and said clamp rod including further means responsive to the movement of the clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body for engaging said additional arm and moving it in the direction of said length dimension.

Claim 12

An arrangement for holding a first element in place in an opening in a second element comprising, in combination; a clamp body located in said opening and extending between the first element and the inner surface of the opening opposite the first element, said clamp body being formed with an opening therein for receiving a clamp rod, and said clamp body including at least two arms, one secured at one end to one end of the clamp body and free at its other end and the other secured at one end to the opposite end of the clamp body and also free at its other end; a clamp rod located in the clamp body and including means for engaging and tending to move outwardly the free ends of said arms as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing said arms to bear against both the inner surface of the opening in said second element and said first element, thereby securing both the clamp body and first element in place.

Claim 13

An arrangement for holding a first element in place in an opening in a second element comprising, in combination; a clamp body located in said opening and extending between the first element and the inner surface of the opening opposite the first element, said clamp body being formed with an opening therein for receiving a clamp rod, and said clamp body including at least two arms, one secured at one end to one end of the clamp body and free at its other end and the other secured at one end to the opposite end of the clamp body and also free at its other end; a clamp rod located in the clamp body and including means for engaging and tending to move outwardly the free ends of said arms as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing said arms to bear against both the inner surface of the opening in said second element and said first element, thereby securing both the clamp body and first element in place.

Claim 14

In combination: a first mechanical element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element; a second mechanical element, a portion of which is located in said opening; an elongated clamp rod of substantially rectangular cross section; an elongated clamp body of substantially rectangular cross section, a portion of which is located in said first element opening, and itself having an opening in the direction Of its length dimension for containing said clamp rod, said clamp body having first arm means extending from one end of said clamp body for maintaining said second mechanical element against an inner wall of said opening of said first mechanical element by applying pressure in a direction normal to said length dimension of said clamp body, having a second arm means extending from an opposite end of said clamp body for maintaining said clamp body in said opening, and having a third arm means extending from one end of said clamp body for maintaining said second member against an exterior surface of said first member in the vicinity of said opening by applying pressure in a direction parallel to the length dimension of said clamp body, each of said three actions occurring in response to the movement of said clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body.

Claim 15

In combination: a first mechanical element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element; a second mechanical element, a portion of which is located in said opening; an elongated clamp rod of substantially rectangular cross section; an elongated clamp body of substantially rectangular cross section, a portion of which is located in said first element opening, and itself having an opening in the direction Of its length dimension for containing said clamp rod, said clamp body having first arm means extending from one end of said clamp body for maintaining said second mechanical element against an inner wall of said opening of said first mechanical element by applying pressure in a direction normal to said length dimension of said clamp body, having a second arm means extending from an opposite end of said clamp body for maintaining said clamp body in said opening, and having a third arm means extending from one end of said clamp body for maintaining said second member against an exterior surface of said first member in the vicinity of said opening by applying pressure in a direction parallel to the length dimension of said clamp body, each of said three actions occurring in response to the movement of said clamp rod into said opening in said clamp body.

Claim 16

In combination: a first mechanical element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element; a second mechanical element at least a portion of which is located in said opening; an elongated clamp body at least a portion of which is also located in said opening, said portion extending between and engaging said second element and an inner surface of the opening opposite said second element, said clamp body being formed with an opening extending in the same direction as said opening in said first mechanical element for receiving a clamp rod, and said clamp body including at least one arm which is secured at one end to the clamp body and is free at its opposite end; and a clamp rod located in the clamp body and including means for engaging and moving outwardly said arm as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing the arm to bear against one of the inner surfaces of the opening in said first mechanical element and said second mechanical element thereby securing both the clamp body and the second element in place.

Claim 17

In combination: a first mechanical element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element; a second mechanical element at least a portion of which is located in said opening; an elongated clamp body at least a portion of which is also located in said opening, said portion extending between and engaging said second element and an inner surface of the opening opposite said second element, said clamp body being formed with an opening extending in the same direction as said opening in said first mechanical element for receiving a clamp rod, and said clamp body including at least one arm which is secured at one end to the clamp body and is free at its opposite end; and a clamp rod located in the clamp body and including means for engaging and moving outwardly said arm as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing the arm to bear against one of the inner surfaces of the opening in said first mechanical element and said second mechanical element thereby securing both the clamp body and the second element in place.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 12, wherein said clamp body includes two arms, the first arm secured at one end to the first end of said clamp body, and the second arm secured at one end to said second end of said clamp body, for movement outwardly in opposite directions and wherein said clamp rod includes means responsive to the movement of said clamp rod into said opening in the clamp body for moving both arms outwardly.

Claim 19

In combination: a first element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element, said opening extending from a first exterior surface to a second exterior surface; a second element, a portion of which is located in said opening in said first element and a portion of which is in contact with a portion of said first exterior surface contiguous to said opening; a clamp body, a portion of which is located in said opening, said clamp body being formed with an opening for receiving a clamp rod, said clamp body including a first arm attached at one end to one end of said clamp body and extending in a direction of said first element opening, said arm having an outwardly extending projection on its free end, said clamp body including a second arm secured at one end to one end of said clamp body and extending in a direction normal to said opening in said first element with its free end in contact with said portion of said second element which is outside said opening in said first element; and a clamp rod located in said clamp body and including means for engaging and moving said free end of said first arm as said clamp rod is inserted into said clamp body opening whereby said projection engages said second exterior surface of said first element to maintain said clamp body in said opening in said first element, and including means for engaging and moving said second arm as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing the arm to bear against said second element to maintain it in contact with said first exterior surface of said first element.

Claim 20

In combination: a first element having an opening for receiving another mechanical element, said opening extending from a first exterior surface to a second exterior surface; a second element, a portion of which is located in said opening in said first element and a portion of which is in contact with a portion of said first exterior surface contiguous to said opening; a clamp body, a portion of which is located in said opening, said clamp body being formed with an opening for receiving a clamp rod, said clamp body including a first arm attached at one end to one end of said clamp body and extending in a direction of said first element opening, said arm having an outwardly extending projection on its free end, said clamp body including a second arm secured at one end to one end of said clamp body and extending in a direction normal to said opening in said first element with its free end in contact with said portion of said second element which is outside said opening in said first element; and a clamp rod located in said clamp body and including means for engaging and moving said free end of said first arm as said clamp rod is inserted into said clamp body opening whereby said projection engages said second exterior surface of said first element to maintain said clamp body in said opening in said first element, and including means for engaging and moving said second arm as the clamp rod is inserted into said opening for causing the arm to bear against said second element to maintain it in contact with said first exterior surface of said first element.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said clamp body also Includes a third arm attached at one end to the end of said clamp body opposite that to which said first arm is attached, said third arm extending in the direction of said opening in said first element, and wherein said free end of said third arm bears against a surface of said second element within said first element opening, and wherein said clamp rod includes further means for engaging said third arm for applying pressure thereto for maintaining said second element from lateral movement in said first element.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 15, wherein said clamp rod includes means for applying pressure to said third arm proportional to the distance said clamp rod is moved into said clamp body, the pressure increasing with increasing distance.