Clamp for shaped cage
AssigneeSuper ATV, LLC
InventorEric Rees
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp assembly configured to couple to a non-circular structural element on a vehicle. The clamp assembly includes a clamp body that defines a central opening. The central opening is shaped to conform partially conform to and configured to receive the non-circular structural element. The clamp body further defines a lateral opening between two ends that allows the non-circular structural element to pass into the central opening. Between the two ends, the clamp body includes flexible portions that allow the clamp body to flex and adjust the sizes of the central opening and lateral opening. The clamp body further includes a non-flexible portion between the flexible portions. The flexible portions and ends define a concave portion of the central opening, and the non-flexible portion defines a convex portion of the central opening.
Claims20
An assembly for use with a non-circular structural element of a vehicle frame member having a minimum diameter or width at a connection location, the assembly comprising:
- a U-shaped clamp body comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said U-shaped clamp body defines a central opening that comprises a convex portion and a concave portion that each extend partially around said central opening, wherein said central opening is adapted to conform at least in part to a shape of the non-circular structural element of the vehicle frame member, wherein said U-shaped clamp body defines a lateral opening between said first and second ends and wherein, when said first and second ends are in a second configuration, a distance between said first and second ends is larger than the minimum diameter or width at the connection location;
- and
- a fastener that selectively extends between said first and second ends of said clamp body across said lateral opening, wherein said fastener is configured to vary the distance between said first end and said second end, wherein, when said fastener extends between said first and second ends of said clamp body across said lateral opening and when said first and second ends are in a first configuration, the distance between said first end and said second end is smaller than the minimum diameter or width at the connection location.
An assembly for use with a non-circular structural element of a vehicle frame member having a minimum diameter or width at a connection location, the assembly comprising:
- a U-shaped clamp body comprising a first end, a second end, a first flexible portion and a non-flexible portion, wherein said U-shaped clamp body defines a central opening that comprises a convex portion and a concave portion that each extend partially around said central opening, wherein said non-flexible portion defines said convex portion of said central opening, and wherein said central opening is adapted to conform at least in part to a shape of the non-circular structural element of the vehicle frame member;
- and
- a fastener that selectively extends between said first and second ends of said clamp body across said lateral opening, wherein said fastener is configured to vary a distance between said first end and said second end;
- wherein said U-shaped clamp body defines a lateral opening between said first and second ends and wherein said first flexible portion permits said first and second ends to flex between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, when said first and second ends are in said second configuration, said lateral opening is larger than the minimum diameter or width at the connection location, and wherein, when said first and second ends are in said first configuration, the distance between said first end and said second end is smaller than the minimum diameter or width at the connection location, and wherein, when said fastener extends between said first and second ends of said clamp body across said lateral opening, said first and second ends are in said first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.