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US 11,472,674 B2Granted
Lifting clamp including pivot leg
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsJohn F. Cleavenger, II, William C. Selsor, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifting clamp for an object comprises a plurality of plates stacked and connected together to form seat for a portion of the object, a lifting portion for connecting to a crane or other machine, a pivot leg pivotally connected to the stacked plates for opening the seat, and a lock for selectively locking the pivot leg in a clamped position whereby it grips the object.
Claims16
A clamp for clamping an object, comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first leg, a second leg separated from the first leg by a first slot, a first pivot pin opening in the first leg;
- a second plate adjacent an inner face of the first plate, comprising a third leg and a fourth leg separated from the third leg by a second slot that is aligned with the first slot,
- a third plate adjacent the second plate, comprising a fifth leg aligned with the first leg, a sixth leg aligned with the second leg, a third slot aligned with the first and second slots, and a second pivot pin opening aligned with the first pivot pin opening;
- a pivot leg inserted in a space formed between a front edge of the third leg on the second plate, an inner face of the first leg and the fifth leg of the third plate, the pivot leg having a third pivot opening aligned with the first and second pivot openings;
- and
- a pivot pin inserted through the aligned pivot pin openings to pivotally connect the pivot leg to the first plate and the third plate.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a plurality of plates stacked together to form a substantially c-shaped body having an upper leg that is longer than a lower leg, a space in the upper leg for receiving a pivot leg, and a tapering slot separating the upper leg from the lower leg;
- a pivot leg pivotally mounted in the space in the upper leg and extending down from the upper leg to form a seat comprising a space between the pivot leg and the lower leg and the tapering slot;
- and
- a lifting portion comprising an opening for connecting the clamp to a machine.
1 more element
A method of making a clamp, comprising the steps of:
- stacking and securing a plurality of plates together to form a substantially c-shaped body having an upper leg that is longer than a lower leg, a space in the upper leg for receiving a pivot leg, and a tapering slot separating the upper leg from the lower leg;
- and
- pivotally attaching a pivot leg to the body using a pivot pin, such that the pivot leg extends down from the upper leg to form a seat comprising a space between the pivot leg and the lower leg and the tapering slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.