US3660871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal beam clamp
Assignee: Unitec Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-26
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-08-26
Abstract
Abstract Universal beam clamp includes two clamping jaws, one movable relative to the other for securing the clamp to both vertical and horizontal support structures. The relatively stationary jaw has an oversize slot to permit engagement with flanges of different thicknesses, and one or more leveling screws may be provided for adjusting the angular orientation of the clamp with respect to the support structure. The movable jaw desirably consists of an annular disc or plate which provides a clamping surface around its entire periphery and is carried by a threaded shaft extending through an aperture in the base of the stationary jaw adjacent the slot therein for movement toward and away from the stationary jaw upon tightening and loosening of a nut threaded onto the other end of the shaft. The load may be directly supported by the clamp or suspended therefrom, and a handrail mount may be provided on each side of the clamp to permit support of a handrail in any position of the clamp.
Inventors
- 👤 William Joseph Boyle Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:02
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04G; E04G5/00; E04G5/06; E04G5/062; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3427
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A clamp for attachment to a flange of a support structure comprising a stationary jaw having a slot therein for receipt of such flange, such stationary jaw on one end carrying a support member for scaffolding and the like, a movable jaw, means mounting said movable jaw for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw for clamping such structural member between said jaws and releasing the same, said movable jaw comprising an annular plate which radially overlaps said slot in said stationary jaw, said annular plate providing a clamping surface around its entire periphery to eliminate the need for having to orient the movable jaw with respect to the support structure prior to clamping, means for mounting a railing post adjacent one end of said support member, and a hook mounting plate on said one end of said support member having four sides which define slots for receipt of the end of a downwardly depending hook regardless of which side of said support member is facing up, thereby permitting attachment of said clamp to both vertical and horizontal support structures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A clamp for attachment to a flange of a support structure comprising a stationary jaw having a slot therein for receipt of such flange, such stationary jaw on one end carrying a support member for scaffolding and the like, a movable jaw, means mounting said movable jaw for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw for clamping such structural member between said jaws and releasing the same, said movable jaw comprising an annular plate which radially overlaps said slot in said stationary jaw, said annular plate providing a clamping surface around its entire periphery to eliminate the need for having to orient the movable jaw with respect to the support structure prior to clamping, means for mounting a railing post adjacent one end of said support member, and a hook mounting plate on said one end of said support member having four sides which define slots for receipt of the end of a downwardly depending hook regardless of which side of said support member is facing up, thereby permitting attachment of said clamp to both vertical and horizontal support structures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
A clamp for attachment to a flange of a support structure comprising a stationary jaw having a slot therein for receipt of such flange, said stationary jaw having a vertical extension for suspending a support member for scaffolding and the like beneath said clamp when the same is secured to an overhead support structure, said support member extending beyond both ends of said extension and having means adjacent both ends for attachment of railing posts to said support member, a movable jaw adjacent said stationarily jaw, and means mounting said movable jaw for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw for clamping suCh structural member between said jaws and releasing the same, said movable jaw comprising an annular plate which radially overlaps said slot in said stationary jaw, said annular plate providing a clamping surface around its entire periphery, thereby eliminating the need for having to orient the movable jaw with respect to the support structure prior to clamping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A clamp for attachment to a flange of a support structure comprising a stationary jaw having a slot therein for receipt of such flange, said stationary jaw having a vertical extension for suspending a support member for scaffolding and the like beneath said clamp when the same is secured to an overhead support structure, said support member extending beyond both ends of said extension and having means adjacent both ends for attachment of railing posts to said support member, a movable jaw adjacent said stationarily jaw, and means mounting said movable jaw for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw for clamping suCh structural member between said jaws and releasing the same, said movable jaw comprising an annular plate which radially overlaps said slot in said stationary jaw, said annular plate providing a clamping surface around its entire periphery, thereby eliminating the need for having to orient the movable jaw with respect to the support structure prior to clamping.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A clamp for attachment to a support structure comprising a solid one piece stationary jaw having a slot in one surface thereof to receive a first portion of said support structure, a support member for scaffolding and the like of rectangular tubular cross-section connected to one end of said stationary jaw, and a movable jaw having an annular plate adapted to move toward and away from said slot to engage or release, respectively, a second portion of said support structure, which second portion is contiguous with or extends beyond said one surface, said annular plate without obstruction being adapted radially to overlap said slot in abutment with said one surface, whereby said support structure may always be clamped by said two jaws.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A clamp for attachment to a support structure comprising a solid one piece stationary jaw having a slot in one surface thereof to receive a first portion of said support structure, a support member for scaffolding and the like of rectangular tubular cross-section connected to one end of said stationary jaw, and a movable jaw having an annular plate adapted to move toward and away from said slot to engage or release, respectively, a second portion of said support structure, which second portion is contiguous with or extends beyond said one surface, said annular plate without obstruction being adapted radially to overlap said slot in abutment with said one surface, whereby said support structure may always be clamped by said two jaws.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The clamp of claim 3 further including means mounting said movable jaw for such movement, said means comprising a shaft extending through a hole in said stationary jaw adjacent one side of said slot, said annular plate being carried by one end of said shaft, and a nut threadedly engaging the other end of said shaft which when tightened draws said annular plate toward said stationary jaw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The clamp of claim 3 wherein said slot is made oversize for receipt of flanges of different thicknesses, and leveling screws are threadedly received in tapped openings extending into said slot through one side thereof for engagement with the flange upon tightening of said screws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The clamp of claim 5 wherein said slot is of sufficient width to receive flanges ranging from approximately one-quarter to three-quarter inch in thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The clamp of claim 3 further comprising a lifting pad secured to one end of said stationary jaw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The clamp of claim 3 further comprising a support member carried by one end of said stationary jaw for supporting scaffolding and the like, and means for mounting a railing post adjacent one end of said support member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The clamp of claim 8 wherein said support member is of rectangular section having flat sides, and means are provided on each side of said support member adjacent said one end for attachment of an upwardly extending railing post to said support member regardless of which side is facing up, thereby permitting said clamp to be secured to both vertical and horizontal support structures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
The clamp of claim 9 wherein said means for attachment of a railing post to each side of said support member comprises shafts extending outwardly from each side of said support member, each shaft having a radial pin projecting therefrom, the lower end of said railing post being of tubular section and having a generally vertical slot with a horizontal step intermediate its length for securing said railing post to said shaft by inserting said railing post over said shaft with said slot in alignment with said pin and engaging said pin in the uppermost portion of said vertical slot.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |