Clamp-Mount Device

The purpose of this invention is to provide a clamp mounting device, for quickly attaching to or removing from a support member, such as an I-beam instrumentation and/or equipment without the use of tools or any significant force.

Prior devices used are C-clamps, bolts, or very strong spring clips. Disadvantages of prior devices are that C-clamps are cumbersome and require more time and considerable force to install. Bolts require the drilling of holes and hand tools. Strong spring clips require significant force to be put in place and do not provide a positive fail-safe mounting and clamping device.

Flange clips are known such as the type in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,191,352 and 3,003,735, however, these simplified devices are not satisfactory for mounting heavy instrumentation and equipment and may be accidentally disengaged.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a device for quickly mounting to or removing from a support member such as an "I" beam without the use of tools or any significant force.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a clamp and mounting device for mounting various equipment to "I" beams and the like which may be used on vertical as well as horizontal support members.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a clamp and mounting device which includes a safety lock once the device is mounted to a structure which will prevent it from being accidentically disengaged.

The above objects are accomplished according to the present invention by means of a device having a pair of oppositely facing clamps which engage the flange of an "I" beam and a pair of pivotable locking members which engage the opposing edge of the flange of the "I" beam which pivot in and out of place and may be locked in a locking position. A pressure pad is utilized to place pressure on a bottom web of the flange of the "I" beam and the like structural member when the device is used on a vertical member. Equipment or instrumentation may be affixed to the opposing side of the device by any suitable arrangement such as bolts.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting clamp device according to the invention mounting an associated camera to an "I" beam,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a clamp and mounting device constructed according to the present invention in position prior to being clamped to an "I" beam,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 attached to the "I" beam of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through the pressure pad of the device of FIG. 2.

A clamp-mount device, designated generally at A, is disclosed for mounting instrumentation or equipment B, for example, a spot light or TV scanning camera, to an associated structure. The device includes a mounting face 10a and a clamping face 10c.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the clamp and mounting device A constructed according to the present invention, is illustrated as including a base plate 10 having clamping means in the form of a pair of oppositely facing clamping members 12 and 14 carried on diagonal corners and affixed thereto by means of bolts 16. The clamping members each include a base portion such as at 12a, 14a between which a resilient means in the form of rubber pad 18 is carried to give some degree of resiliency to the clamp which thus can impart a resilient clamping force. Extending from the base 12a is a clamping face 12b which is spaced above the plate 10 sufficiently to engage a structural member to which the device is attached such as a flange of an "I" beam.

Lock means is provided by safety locks 20 and 22 carried on the remaining diagonal corners of the clamping plate and are hinged so as to pivot out of the way as best seen in FIG. 2. Latch means 24 is carried on the side of plate 10 in the form of a sliding gate for locking the safety lock 20 in its locking position as shown in FIG. 1 and a similar latch 26 is carried on a side plate 10 for latching the safety lock 22 in its locking position. Each latch includes slots 24a, 26a by which the gates slide on brads.

Located medially of the plate 10 is a resilient hub means 30 which is illustrated as including a circular rubber pressure pad 32 which is received in a recess 34 and rotatably affixed to the plate by means of a threaded screw at 36. Such provides a biasing means for biasing the clamp and structural member tightly together. Body screw 36 is received in a threaded opening 38 which is formed in a hub 40 formed in the recess 34 which is machined in the plate 10. A spring is carried between the bottom of recess 34 and is received in a groove 42 of the pressure pad 30 so as to urge it upwardly to provide a biasing force against the bottom of the member to which the device is attached. As illustrated, pressure pad 30 includes the rubber pad 32 which is carried on a circular metal plate 34 in which the groove 42 is machined. The rubber pad may be affixed thereto by any suitable means such as cementing. The pressure pad is important in allowing the clamp and mounting device to be attached to a vertical member as it exerts enough force against the member and enough friction to prevent the device from slipping. This is also an expedient in providing a tight clamp on a horizontal movement.

In operation, the clamp device A is placed against the structural member to which it is to be attached such as the "I" beam in FIG. 2 designated as 50. Pressure pad 30 is depressed. The device A is then rotated to the position of FIG. 3 such that one leg 52 of the flange of the "I" beam is received under clamp member 14 and the opposing leg 54 of the flange is received under clamping member 12 with the safety locks in their release position as shown in FIG. 2. Pressure pad 32 bears against a back side or web 56 of flanges 52, 54 tightly clamping the device on I-beam 50. Thereafter, the safety locks are pivoted up to their locking position as shown in FIG. 1 whereupon the latches 24 and 26 are slid behind the safety locks to prevent them from releasing. In this manner, a stable and secure mounting and clamp device is provided which will stay attached to either a horizontal or vertical member. The instrumentation or equipment B which is desired to be mounted to the structural member is attached to the opposite face 10a of the base plate 10 by any suitable means such as bolts (not shown) extended through openings 10b in the base plate.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.