GB2356423A - Pivoted jaw clamp connection - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamp connection to at least one elongate member (11) using a connector (12) including a connector body (13) and at least one clamping member (14 or 15); one of the connector body (13) or the clamping member (14 or 15) being provided with an attachment portion (20 or 21) including a retainer (22 or 23), and the other of the connector body (13) or the clamping member (14 or 15) being provided with an aperture (18 or 19). The attachment portion (20 or 21) is adapted to be passed through the aperture (18 or 19) when the clamping member (14 or 15) is positioned in a first orientation with respect to the connector body (13), and on subsequent movement of the at least one clamping member (14 or 15) into a second orientation the retainer (22 or 23) co-operates with the clamping member (14 or 15) or connector body (13) to prevent separation of the clamping member (14 or 15) from the connector body (13) whilst allowing pivoting movement of a second end (24 or 25) of the clamping member (14 or 15).

Description

2356423

Title: Connection Description of Invention

This invention relates to a connection, more particularly, but not exclusively, a connection to one or more scaffolding poles.

When erecting a scaffolding structure it may be necessary to connect two. scaffolding tubes, for example, generally perpendicular to each other. In order to provide such a connection, it is known to use a connector including a connector body to which two clamping members are pivotally attached. Each clamping member has a first and second end and is connected to the connector body at the first end by a pivotal attachment means.

A scaffolding tube is placed between each clamping member and the connector body, and the clamping member is positioned transversely across the scaffolding tube. The second end of each clamping member is then fastened to the connector body by means of a nut and bolt fastening arrangement, so that each scaffolding tube is securely clamped in place between the connector body and the clamping member. The clamping members are arranged such that the scaffolding tubes are held, for example, mutually perpendicular, with the connector body located directly between the two tubes.

Typically the first end of each clamping member is connected to the connector body by means of a pin which extends thi-ough at least one hole provided in an attachment portion of the connector body and at least one hole provided in the first end of the clamping member. The connector body and clamping members are typically manufactured by forging or casting, and the holes are then drilled in the cast or forged components. Once the pin has been inserted in the holes to provide the connection between the clamping member and the connector body, the ends of the pin are peened to flatten out the ends and ensure that the pin can no longer be removed from the holes. The drilling 2 and peening operations are additional time and energy consuming steps in the connector manufacturing process.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a connection to at least one elongate member using a connector, the connector including a connector body and at least one clamping member which is in use located transversely across the at least one elongate member, one of the connector body or the at least one clamping member being provided with an attachment portion including a retainer, and the other of the connector body or the at least one clamping member being provided with an aperture, characterised in that, the attachment portion is adapted to be passed through the aperture when the at least one clamping member is positioned in a first orientation with respect to the connector body, and on subsequent movement of the at least one clamping member into a second orientation with respect to the connector body, the retainer is adapted to co-operate with the clamping member or connector body to prevent separation of the at least one clamping member from the connector body whilst allowing movement of a second end of the at least one clamping member towards and away from the connector body.

By virtue of the invention, a connector is provided in which the connector body and clamping member may be fabricated by forging or casting, for examples, and may be connected without the need to to drill holes in either part, or provide and peen a pin. Thus the cost and complexity of the manufactun"ng process are reduced.

The connection may be provided between two elongate members, which two elongate members may be arranged mutually perpendicularly.

Thus the connector body may include first and second parts with at least one clamping member connected to each part. The two parts may be relatively fixed or may be pivotally connected for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the at least one elongate member. Thus, where a C connection is provided between two elongate members, for example, the angle between the elongate members when connected may be varied.

The retainer may be elongate and may be arranged with a longitudinal axis thereof generally normal to the remainder of the attachment portion.

The at least one clamping member may include a shaped portion adapted to co-operate with the surface of the at least one elongate member.

The aperture may have edges adapted to co-operate with the retainer and assist in locating the retainer in a desired position.

The attachment portion may be formed as an integral pai-t of the connector body or the at least one clamping member, for examples by forging or casting.

The at least one elongate member may be a scaffolding pole.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of connecting a clamping member of a connector to a connector body, the clamping member including an aperture at a first end, and the connector body having an attachment portion including a retainer, the method including the steps of positioning the clamping member in a first orientation with respect to the connector body, inserting the attachment portion through the aperture in the clamping member or connector body, and moving the clamping member into a second orientation, wherein, the retainer co-operates with the clamping member or connector body to prevent separation of the clamping member from the connector body whilst allowing movement of a second end of the clamping member with respect to the coruiector body.

The invention will now be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing which shows a illustrative view of a connection according to the invention.

Referring to the figure, there is shown a connection to an elongate member 11, the elongate member 11 being a cylindrical tube such as a scaffolding pole. The connection is provided by means of a connector 12, the 4 connector 12 including a connector body 13 and a first 14 and second 15 clamping member. The elongate member 11 is clamped between the connector body 13 and the first clamping member 14, the first clamping member 14 being positioned transversely across the elongate member 11.

The first 14 and second 15 clamping members each have a first end 16 and 17 respectively, in which an aperture 18 and 19 respectively is provided. The connector body 13 includes a first 20 and second 21 attachment portion, each of which includes a retainer 22 and 23 respectively.

The first clamping member 14 is shown connected at its first end 16 to the first attachment portion 20 of the connector body 13. Similarly, the second clamping member 15 is shown connected at its first end 17 to the second attachment portion 2 1 of the connector body 1-3).

The connections are formed by passing the attachment portion 20 or 21 through the respective aperture 18 or 19 whilst the clamping member 14 or 15 respectively is held in a first orientation with respect to the connector body 13.

The clamping member 14 or 15 is then moved to a second orientation with respect to the connector body 13), in which position, the retainer 22 or 23 respectively acts to prevent separation of the clamping member 14 or 15 from the connector body I") whilst allowing movement of a second end 24 or 25 of the clamping member 14 or 15 respectively towards and away from the connector body 13.

The connector 12 is adapted to provide a connection between two mutually perpendicular cylindrical elongate members such as scaffolding poles, the second elongate member (not shown) to be clamped between the second clamping member 15 and the connector body 13, and the second clamping member 15 to be positioned transversely across the second elongate member.

The two clamping members 14 and 15 are positioned on mutually opposite sides of the connector body 13), thus the connector body 13) is located directly between the two elongate members.

Each clamping member 14 and 15 includes an engagement portion 26 and 27 respectively, which is curved to fit around and engage with each elongate member.

Each retainer 22 and 23 is generally cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis which extends in generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of first 11 and second elongate member respectively. The apertures 18 and 19 are both generally rectangular, and are positioned with their longest edges generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first or second elongate member when the clamping member 14 or 15 is positioned transversely across the first I I or second elongate member respectively.

When clamping member 14 or 15 is positioned in the first orientation, in which the attachment portion 20 or 21 may be passed through the aperture 18 or 19, the longitudinal axis of the retainer 22 or 2') I's generally parallel to the longest edge of the aperture 18 or 19. When the clamping member 14 or 15 is positioned in the second orientation, the longest edges of the apertures 18 and 19 are generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the retainer 22 or 23. Thus the ends of the retainer 22 or 23 engage with the longest edges of the aperture 18 or 19, and the clamping member 14 or 15 may not pass through the aperture 18 or 19.

Two grooves are provided in the longest edges of each aperture 18 and 19, in which the retainer 22 or 2') may in use be located.

The second end 24 and 25 of each clamping member 14 and 15 is Vshaped, with a groove 28 and 29 thus being provided in the second end 24 and 25. The connector body B is also provided with tvo receiving apertures 31 and 32 which are positioned at an opposite side of the connector body to each of the attacbment portions 20 and 21 respectively. When in use each clamping member 14 and 15 is positioned transversely across and in contact with the first I I and second elongate member respectively, the groove 28 and 29 is positioned adjacent to the receiving aperture 31 and 32 respectively. Thus, as 6 shown in the figure, a bolt 30 may be passed through the receiving aperture 31 and the groove 28 or 29, and a nut 3)33 screwed onto the bolt 30 to engage the second end 24 or 25 of the clamping member 14 or 15, and retain the clamping member 14 or 15 in contact with the first I I or second elongate member respectively.

A number of variations may be made to the connector without effecting the scope of the invention.

For example, while the invention has been described for connecting two mutually perpendicular elongate members, the connector I I may be adapted to connect two elongate members at angle less than 90'.

To achieve this, the connector body i-nay include two parts, pivotally connected about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member 11, the first elongate member I I being clamped to the first part and the second elongate member being clamped to the second part. The angle between the elongate members may then be varied be rotating the first part of the connector body with respect to the second part.

Alternatively, the connection may be provided from one elongate member to another article, such as a beam in a scaffolding rig, using any conventional method of forming a connection between the connector body and the other article.

While the apertures 18 and 19 have been described as being provided in the clamping members 14 and 15, and the attachrnent portions 20 and 21 have been described as being provided on the connector body 13, apertures may alternatively be provided in the connector body I') and attachment portions may be provided on the clamping members 14 and 15.

While the invention has been described for use with a cylindrical elongate member such as a scaffolding pole, it could also be used with an elongate member of another cross-section, rectangular for example. The 7 engagement portions 26 and 27 of the clamping members 14 and 15 could then be shaped appropriately to engage with the elongate members.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of' and "comprising" means "Including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A connection to at least one elongate member using a connector, the connector including a connector body and at least one clamping member which is in use located transversely across the at least one elongate member, one of the connector body or the at least one clamping mernber being provided with an attachment portion including a retainer, and the other of the connector body or the. at least one clamping member being provided with an aperture, characterised in that, the attachment portion is adapted to be passed through the aperture when the at least one clamping member is positioned in a first orientation with respect to the connector body, and on subsequent movement of the at least one clamping member into a second orientation with respect to the connector body, the retainer is adapted to co-operate with the clamping member or connector body to prevent separation of the at least one clamping member from the connector body whilst allowing movement of a second end of the at least one clamping member towards and away from the connector body.

2. A connection as claimed in claim I wherein the connection is provided between two elongate members.

3. A connection as claimed in claim 2 wherein the two elongate members are arranged mutually perpendicularly.

4. A connection as claimed in claim I or 2 or 3, wherein the connector body includes first and second pails, at least one clamping member is connected to each pail, and the two pails are relatively fixed.

5. A connection as claimed in claim I or 2 or ') wherein the connector body includes first and second parts, at least one clamping member is connected to Z- 9 each part, and the first and second parts are pivotally connected for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the at least one elongate member.

6. A connection as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the retainer is elongate and is arranged with a longitudinal axis thereof generally transverse to the remainder of the attachment portion.

7. A connection as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one clamping member includes a shaped portion adapted to co-operate with the surface of the at least one elongate member.

C.

8. A connection as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture has edges adapted to co-operate with the retainer and assist in locating the retainer in a desired position.

9. A connection as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the attachment portion is formed as an integral part of the connector body or the at least one clamping member.

10. A connection as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one elongate member is a scaffolding pole.

11. A connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

12. A method of connecting a clamping member of a connector to a connector body, the clamping member including an aperture at a first end, and the connector body having an attachment portion including a retainer, the method including the steps of positioning the clamping member in a first orientation with respect to the connector body, inserting the attachment portion through the aperture in the clamping member or connector body, and moving the clamping member into a second orientation, wherein, the retainer cooperates with the clamping member or connector body to prevent separation of the clamping member from the connector body whilst allowing movement of a second end of the clamping member with respect to the connector body.

13. A method of connecting a clamp member of a connector to a connector body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawing 0 tD,