Clamping System
Assignee1000517608 Ontario Ltd.
InventorsIan Kirby, Timothy Moorcroft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inverted T-shaped member has a lower clamping end and an upper end that can be coupled to an upstanding pole. The pole rests on a base and relatively turning a complementary threaded portion of the pole and base tightens or loosens the lower clamping end surface and the base against deck boards. The system provides a way in which to clamp an upstanding member to a deck for holding cups or glasses or other items that need support.
Claims14
A clamping system for removably securing a pole to a plurality of boards, each board having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein adjacent boards have a longitudinal slot therebetween, comprising:
- An inverted T-shaped member having an elongate clamping portion about a bottom end thereof, the elongate clamping portion sized in a first dimension to fit through the longitudinal slot between two adjacent boards, the longitudinal slot having a width W, the elongate clamping portion having a length L larger than the width W, said elongate clamping portion for engaging second surfaces of two adjacent boards when oriented at a non-zero angle to the longitudinal slot between the two adjacent boards, wherein the inverted T-shaped member has an upper end portion;
- a second clamping member having a greater length and width than W, said second clamping member for engaging upper surfaces of the two adjacent boards;
- and,
- a pole for releasably coupling to the second clamping member, the pole having an opening to accommodate the upper end portion of the inverted T-shaped member, wherein the pole and the upper end portion of the inverted T-shaped member include means for releasably locking together, and whereby turning one of the pole and the second clamping means relative to the inverted T-shaped member releasably couples the elongate clamping portion and the second clamping member to the two adjacent boards.
A clamping system for removably securing a pole to a deck having an upper surface and a lower surface, the deck having a longitudinal gap between adjacent deck boards, comprising:
- an inverted T-shaped member having a bottom portion and a top portion;
- wherein the bottom portion of the inverted T-shaped member is sized to be inserted through a longitudinal slot between adjacent deck boards,
- wherein the top portion of the inverted T-shaped member includes a first portion of a releasable locking mechanism, wherein the inverted T-shaped member is of a length such that the top portion extends above the upper surface of the deck when the bottom portion is below the lower surface of the deck;
- a pole having a second complementary portion of the releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking with the first portion;
- an upper clamping base member for receiving and coupling with an end of the pole, wherein the coupling is relatively adjustable with the pole, wherein relative movement between the pole and upper clamping member or between the pole and the inverted T-shaped member pulls the upper clamping base member and the bottom portion of the inverted T-shaped member together against the adjacent deck boards between.
A kit for securing pole, comprising:
- a) an inverted T-shaped member having a base and a stem, the base forming an elongate clamping portion sized in a first dimension to fit through a slot between two adjacent boards, the slot having a width of W wherein W<=⅓″ inch, the elongate clamping portion having a length greater than 3 W, the stem of the T-shaped member having one of a screw-like end portion or a loop at an end thereof and pin for inserting into the loop;
- b) a second clamping member having a greater length and width than 3 W;
- c) a pole having an end for adjustably relatively coupling to the second clamping member, wherein the pole has an interior for releasably locking with the screw-like and portion or loop and pin of the inverted T-shaped member;
- and,
- d) instructions for assembling the inverted T-shaped member, the second clamping member and the pole together to secure the pole to the adjacent boards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.