US 4,391,376 AGranted

Resilient clamp for supporting articles

AssigneeLeLasso Corporation

InventorCharles C. Finnegan

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A clamp member is assembled onto a mounting base by compression of the resilient material of the clamp member. When allowed to expand the clamp member engages the mounting base to securely hold the clamp member into position. Articles to be supported are received between opposed clamp elements and retained in position between the clamp elements by an elastic cord with a hook and loop attachment device. The hook member includes means for clamping the end of the elastic cord. This portion of the hook member is received within the channel so that only the hook section itself extends beyond the clamp member. With a rigid article locked in place on the clamp member, it is no longer possible to compress the clamp member with hand pressure so that the clamp member is rigidly secured to the mounting base.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Apparatus for clampably supporting articles, comprising:

a mounting base for being secured to a supporting structure incorporating a pair spaced inwardly directed opposed projections,
said mounting base comprising a strap member, having a flat central mounting section and end sections that are spaced from said central mounting section and comprising in their terminal portions said opposed projections;
a clamping member for removable mounting on said mounting base,
said clamping member comprising a resilient mounting section incorporating opposed outwardly directed openings sized to receive said projections,
said outwardly opposed openings comprising a channel through said mounting section,
said channel being elongated in a plane that is parallel, in the mounted position, to the plane of said central mounting section;
said resilient mounting section being compressible to a length permitting said section to pass between said opposed projections and expandable to engage said opposed projections,
a pair of opposed clamping elements extending from said mounting section for receiving an article therebetween,
an elastic cord having end connectors for encircling said clamping elements and an article received between said clamping elements to resiliently urge said clamping members toward one another,
said elastic cord being received through the channel in said mounting section,
said end connectors comprising a hook member,
said hook member comprising at least one deformable clamping strap means for being compressed onto an end of said cord, and having a hook section extending from said strap clamping means;
said cord and strap clamping means being receivable in said channel in said mounting section,
said hook section having a cross section larger than said channel and protruding therefrom when said cord and strap are received in said channel.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.