Device for clamping elongated member

Claim 1

A device for clamping at least one elongated member, which includes: a base having an arcuately shaped surface; a cover adapted to be secured to the base and having an arcuately-shaped surface complementary to the arcuately formed surface of the base when the cover is secured to the base to form a generally elongated arcuately shaped opening having a substantially constant width for receiving an end portion of at least one elongated member with the end portion of the elongated member between the complementary surfaces being essentially linear; and means securing the cover to the base for causing forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the arcuately shaped opening to abrade portions of the surfaces of each member and for causing substantially equal clamping forces to be applied to each elongated member, the end portion of each elongated member remaining essentially linear after the cover has been secured to the base.

Claim 2

A device for clamping at least one elongated member, which includes: a base having an arcuately shaped surface; a cover adapted to be secured to the base and having an arcuately-shaped surface complementary to the arcuately formed surface of the base when the cover is secured to the base to form a generally elongated arcuately shaped opening having a substantially constant width for receiving an end portion of at least one elongated member with the end portion of the elongated member between the complementary surfaces being essentially linear; and means securing the cover to the base for causing forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the arcuately shaped opening to abrade portions of the surfaces of each member and for causing substantially equal clamping forces to be applied to each elongated member, the end portion of each elongated member remaining essentially linear after the cover has been secured to the base.

Claim 4

A device for holding securely at least one elongated member, which includes: a cover having a post extending between two substantially parallel surfaces and having an arcuately shaped portion depending from each of two opposing sides of the post, each of the depending portions being of a substantially constant width generally equal to the distance between the two parallel surfaces; a base having two parallel surfaces spaced apart a distance generally equal tO the distance between the parallel surfaces of the cover and having a well formed centrally thereof for receiving the post, the well extending between and communicating with the two parallel surfaces of the base, and further having arcuately shaped surfaces disposed symmetrically about the well and extending laterally between and normally of the two parallel surfaces at the base, the arcuately shaped surfaces being matched substantially in contour to the arcuately-shaped depending portions of the cover, the mounting of the post within the well causing the arcuately shaped depending portions of the cover and the arcuate surfaces of the base to form arcuatelyshaped openings of at least a minimum substantially constant width symmetrically disposed about the post for accommodating an end portion of at least one elongated member such that the end portion of each elongated member extends substantially linearly within the opening; means drawing the post within the well to secure the cover to the base for applying equal clamping forces to each of the elongated members received within the openings while compensating for inelastic deformation in each of the elongated members, the clamping of each of the elongated members causing the walls of the arcuately shaped openings to apply shearing forces to the surfaces of the end portion of each elongated member to abrade the surfaces thereof, the end portions of the elongated members within the openings remaining essentially linear after the cover has been secured to the base.

Claim 5

A device for holding securely at least one elongated member, which includes: a cover having a post extending between two substantially parallel surfaces and having an arcuately shaped portion depending from each of two opposing sides of the post, each of the depending portions being of a substantially constant width generally equal to the distance between the two parallel surfaces; a base having two parallel surfaces spaced apart a distance generally equal tO the distance between the parallel surfaces of the cover and having a well formed centrally thereof for receiving the post, the well extending between and communicating with the two parallel surfaces of the base, and further having arcuately shaped surfaces disposed symmetrically about the well and extending laterally between and normally of the two parallel surfaces at the base, the arcuately shaped surfaces being matched substantially in contour to the arcuately-shaped depending portions of the cover, the mounting of the post within the well causing the arcuately shaped depending portions of the cover and the arcuate surfaces of the base to form arcuatelyshaped openings of at least a minimum substantially constant width symmetrically disposed about the post for accommodating an end portion of at least one elongated member such that the end portion of each elongated member extends substantially linearly within the opening; means drawing the post within the well to secure the cover to the base for applying equal clamping forces to each of the elongated members received within the openings while compensating for inelastic deformation in each of the elongated members, the clamping of each of the elongated members causing the walls of the arcuately shaped openings to apply shearing forces to the surfaces of the end portion of each elongated member to abrade the surfaces thereof, the end portions of the elongated members within the openings remaining essentially linear after the cover has been secured to the base.

Claim 9

A device for clamping at least one elongated member, which includes: a base having an arcuately shaped surface which extends between and substantially normally of two substantially parallel spaced surfaces; a cover adapted to be secured to the base and having an arcuately-shaped surface which extends between and substantially normally of two substantially parallel surfaces spaced apart a distance substantially equal to that between the spaced parallel surfaces of the cover and which is complementary to the arcuately shaped surface of the base when the cover is secured to the base to form a generally elongated arcuately shaped opening of at least a minimum substantially constant width and extending substantially linearly between and communicating with the parallel surfaces for receiving an end portion of at least one elongated member with the end portion of the elongated member between the complementary surfaces extending substantially linearly between the parallel surfaces; and means securing the cover to the base and cooperating with the complementary surfaces for causing forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the arcuately shaped opening to abrade portions of the surfaces of the end portion of each elongated member and for causing substantially equal clamping forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the opening.

Claim 10

A device for clamping at least one elongated member, which includes: a base having an arcuately shaped surface which extends between and substantially normally of two substantially parallel spaced surfaces; a cover adapted to be secured to the base and having an arcuately-shaped surface which extends between and substantially normally of two substantially parallel surfaces spaced apart a distance substantially equal to that between the spaced parallel surfaces of the cover and which is complementary to the arcuately shaped surface of the base when the cover is secured to the base to form a generally elongated arcuately shaped opening of at least a minimum substantially constant width and extending substantially linearly between and communicating with the parallel surfaces for receiving an end portion of at least one elongated member with the end portion of the elongated member between the complementary surfaces extending substantially linearly between the parallel surfaces; and means securing the cover to the base and cooperating with the complementary surfaces for causing forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the arcuately shaped opening to abrade portions of the surfaces of the end portion of each elongated member and for causing substantially equal clamping forces to be applied to each elongated member inserted into the opening.

Claim 11

A device for holding securely and for having portions thereof engaged electrically with at least one conductor, which includes: mating first and second parts having complementary arcUately formed surfaces which extend between and normally of two externally facing surfaces of the mating parts and which upon mating of the parts form an arcuately shaped opening of a substantially constant width to facilitate the insertion of an end portion of at least one conductor substantially linearly between the surfaces, at least the portions of the first and second parts which form the arcuate surfaces being made of an electrically conductive material; and means for securing together the parts for applying substantially equal clamping forces to each of the conductors received within the opening while compensating for inelastic deformation in each of the conductors, the inserted end portions remaining substantially linear after the clamping forces have been applied thereto, the complementary arcuately formed surfaces being caused by the securing means to apply shearing forces to the surface of the at least one conductor to abrade the surface and thereby insure electrical engagement of the arcuate surfaces with the conductor.

Claim 12

A device for holding securely and for having portions thereof engaged electrically with at least one conductor, which includes: mating first and second parts having complementary arcUately formed surfaces which extend between and normally of two externally facing surfaces of the mating parts and which upon mating of the parts form an arcuately shaped opening of a substantially constant width to facilitate the insertion of an end portion of at least one conductor substantially linearly between the surfaces, at least the portions of the first and second parts which form the arcuate surfaces being made of an electrically conductive material; and means for securing together the parts for applying substantially equal clamping forces to each of the conductors received within the opening while compensating for inelastic deformation in each of the conductors, the inserted end portions remaining substantially linear after the clamping forces have been applied thereto, the complementary arcuately formed surfaces being caused by the securing means to apply shearing forces to the surface of the at least one conductor to abrade the surface and thereby insure electrical engagement of the arcuate surfaces with the conductor.