Clamp assembly

Claim 2

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads and a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of clamp members, one of said clamp members being flexible and arranged to rest on said clamp mounting pad while engaging said first component to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse therefrom arranged to engage said one clamp member, said other clamp member also arranged to engage said second component to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages and presses said one clamp member against said clamp mounting pad and also against said first component, said clamp members having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot of said other clamp member and where said other clamp member engages said second component, and a single fastener extending through said apertures and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on said other clamp member at a location intermediate said foot and the engagement of said other clamp member with said second component so that said other clamp members clamps said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and clamps said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener is increased.

Claim 3

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components each received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flexible and arranged to have its leg rest on said Clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and force said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener is increased.

Claim 4

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components each received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flexible and arranged to have its leg rest on said Clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and force said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener is increased.

Claim 5

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components each received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member opposite said clamp mounting pad and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and forces said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts to press the leg of said one clamp member flat against said clamp mounting pad while flexing the arms thereof to clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force that is dependent on the spring rate of the arms of said one clamp member.

Claim 6

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components each received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member opposite said clamp mounting pad and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and forces said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts to press the leg of said one clamp member flat against said clamp mounting pad while flexing the arms thereof to clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force that is dependent on the spring rate of the arms of said one clamp member.

Claim 7

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components eAch received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member between said clamp mounting pad and the engagement of said one clamp member with said first component and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and forces said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener is increased.

Claim 8

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween, first and second components eAch received in one of said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against this component''s mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member between said clamp mounting pad and the engagement of said one clamp member with said first component and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against this component''s mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and forces said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot and the arms of said other clamp member, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said clamp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to this component''s mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to this component''s mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener is increased.

Claim 9

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of angled component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween parallel to one of said component mounting pads, first and second components received in said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, siad first component received against said one component mounting pad, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against said one component mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member between said clamp mounting pad and the engagement of said one clamp member with said first component and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against the other component mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and flexes said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot of said other clamping member and said second component, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said claMp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member at a location intermediate said foot and the engagement of said other clamp member with said second component so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to said other component mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to said one component mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener increases.

Claim 10

A clamp assembly comprising a housing having a pair of angled component mounting pads each with an aperture and also having a clamp mounting pad therebetween parallel to one of said component mounting pads, first and second components received in said apertures and requiring low and high clamping forces respectively against the respective component mounting pads, siad first component received against said one component mounting pad, a pair of fork-shaped clamp members each having a pair of arms extending in the same general direction and a leg extending in the opposite general direction, one of said clamp members being flat and flexible and arranged to have its leg rest flat on said clamp mounting pad while its arms engage said first component at a height above said clamp mounting pad on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture and flex to press said first component against said one component mounting pad, the other of said clamp members being stiff and having a foot extending transverse to and from the end of the leg thereof, said other clamp member arranged to have its leg overlap and its foot engage the leg of said one clamp member between said clamp mounting pad and the engagement of said one clamp member with said first component and have its arms engage said second component on opposite sides of this component''s accommodating aperture to press said second component against the other component mounting pad while said foot engages said one clamp member to press the leg thereof against said clamp mounting pad and flexes said one clamp member to press the arms thereof against said first component, said legs having apertures that are aligned and are located intermediate said foot of said other clamping member and said second component, and a single fastener extending through said apertures in said legs and secured to said claMp mounting pad for fastening both said clamp members to said clamp mounting pad while also applying force on the leg of said other clamp member at a location intermediate said foot and the engagement of said other clamp member with said second component so that the arms thereof clamp said second component to said other component mounting pad with a high clamping force while said foot acts on the leg of said one clamp member so that said one clamp member flexes and the arms thereof clamp said first component to said one component mounting pad with a low clamping force with the difference in said high and low clamping forces decreasing as the distance between said foot and said fastener increases.