C-clamp body and method of manufacture thereof for securing a flexible building wall panel under tension

A method of forming a clamp apparatus, in which the clamp apparatus includes (i) a channel body having a C-shaped profile extending along a length of the channel body in a longitudinal direction between opposing ends of the channel, the channel body comprising (a) a first plate extending between the opposing ends along a first side of the channel body, (b) a second plate extending between the opposing ends along a second side of the channel body, and (c) a bridge plate joined between the first plate and the second plate along the length of the channel body so as to define the C-shaped profile of the channel body, (ii) the channel body having a hollow interior which is open at the opposing ends of the channel body and which is open along an open side of the channel body opposite to the bridge plate along the length of the channel body between the opposing ends to receive the object to be clamped into the channel body through the open side, (iii) stiffener plates mounted externally on the channel body so as to be spaced apart from one another in said longitudinal direction (iv) a threaded bore formed on the first plate to threadably receive the threaded member extending therethrough such that the threaded member protrudes into the hollow interior of the channel body to define a first clamping jaw opposite to the second plate which defines a second clamping jaw, (v) in which each stiffener plate is joined to each one of the first plate, the second plate and the bridge plate of the channel body to protrude radially outward from each of the first plate, the second plate and the bridge plate, transversely to the longitudinal direction, the method comprising:

• providing the channel body having the bridge plate connected between the first plate and the second plate thereof;
• and
• welding each stiffener plate externally onto channel body such that the stiffener plate is welded to each of the first plate, the second plate and the bridge plate of the channel body.

A wall panel system for a building opening comprising a perimeter beam with a beam flange extending across a first perimeter edge of the building opening, the system comprising:

• a flexible sheet arranged to across the building opening between a first end portion and a second end portion of the flexible sheet;
• a mounting member having (i) a mounting flange arranged for abutment alongside the beam flange of the head beam and (ii) a channel arranged to secure the first end portion of the flexible sheet therein;
• a plurality of clamp apparatuses arranged for clamping the mounting flange of the mounting member alongside the beam flange of the head beam;
• and
• a tensioning assembly arranged to secure the second end portion of the flexible sheet relative to a second perimeter edge of the building opening opposite to the first perimeter edge of the building opening such that the flexible sheet is under tension;
• wherein each clamp apparatus comprises:
• a channel body having a C-shaped profile extending along a length of the channel body in a longitudinal direction between opposing ends of the channel, the channel body comprising (i) a first plate extending between the opposing ends along a first side of the channel body, (ii) a second plate extending between the opposing ends along a second side of the channel body, and (iii) a bridge plate joined between the first plate and the second plate along the length of the channel body so as to define the C-shaped profile of the channel body;
• the channel body having a hollow interior which is open at the opposing ends of the channel body and which is open along an open side of the channel body opposite to the bridge plate along the length of the channel body between the opposing ends to receive the object to be clamped into the channel body through the open side;
• stiffener plates mounted externally on the channel body so as to be spaced apart from one another in said longitudinal direction;
• a threaded bore formed on the first plate to threadably receive a threaded member extending therethrough such that the threaded member protrudes into the hollow interior of the channel body to define a first clamping jaw opposite to the second plate which defines a second clamping jaw;
• wherein each stiffener plate is joined to each one of the first plate, the second plate and the bridge plate of the channel body to protrude radially outward from each of the first plate, the second plate and the bridge plate, transversely to the longitudinal direction.