Structural framework system and clamp assembly

A clamp assembly for clamping together elongated members to extend along first, second and third axes from a common intersection, said clamping assembly comprising first and second clamp elements each comprising a single integral structure having at least two portions, the first and second portions of each structure each having formed therein, respectively first and second recesses extending respectively, along said first and second axes and each recess forming a clamping surface extending part way around its respective axis, the first recess extending uninterruptedly through the clamp element and the second recess having an outer end which opens out at the end of said second portion and an inner end inside the second portion, abutment formations located intermediate the first recess and the inner end of the second recess of said clamp elements and formed with a bolt hole extending therethrough for accommodating a fastener to extend in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the respective clamp elements, the respective first and second recesses of each clamp element facing each other and a fastener element extending through the bolt holes of each clamp element to draw the clamp elements toward each other with their first and second recesses tightly clamped, respectively, to first and second elongated members, at least one of the clamp elements having a third portion extending from the first portion along said third axis in a direction away from said first recess of said one clamp element, said third portion being formed with a third recess with an internal surface surrounding and extending along said third axis, said third recess opening out at the end of said third portion to accommodate the end of a third elongated member extending along said third axis and a setscrew threaded into said third portion and extending into said third recess, for locking said end of said elongated member within said third recess independently of the clamping action produced at said first and second recesses.

A structural framework subassembly comprising a plurality of elongated structural members lying in a flat plane and forming a closed figure, a clamping assembly located at each intersection of said elongated structural members, each clamping assembly including first and second clamp elements, each comprising a single integral structure having at least two portions, the first and second portions of each structure having formed therein, respectively, first and second recesses extending, respectively, along first and second intersecting axes and each recess forming a clamping surface extending part way around its respective axis, the first recess extending uninterruptedly through the clamp element and the second recess having an outer end which opens out at the end of said second portion at an inner end inside the second portion, each said structure having an abutment formation located intermediate its first recess and the inner end of its second recess and formed with a bolt hole extending therethrough for accommodating a fastener to extend in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the respective clamp element, the respective first and second recesses of the clamp elements in each clamp assembly facing each other and extending part way around the periphery of different ones of said elongated structural members, a fastener element extending through the bolt holes in the abutment formations of the clamp elements of each clamping assembly and holding said clamp elements tightly together with said different ones of said elongated structural members clamped tightly in said recesses, at least some of said clamp elements having a third portion extending from the first portion thereof along a third axis in a direction away from its respective first recess, said third portion being formed with a third recess with an internal surface surrounding and extending along said third axis, said third recess opening out at the end of said third portion to accommodate therein one end of a further elongated structural member extending along said third axis out of said flat plane and a setscrew threaded into said third portion and locking said one end of said further elongated structural member to said third portion independently of the clamping action produced by said first and second recesses, respectively on said first and second elongated members.

A structural framework assembly comprising a plurality of framework subassemblies, each of said subassemblies comprising a plurality of elongated structural members lying in a flat plane and forming a closed figure, a clamping assembly located at each intersection of said elongated structural members in each subassembly, each clamping assembly including first and second clamp elements, each comprising a single integral structure having at least two portions, the first and second portions of each structure each having formed therein, respectively, first and second recesses extending, respectively, along first and second intersecting axes and each recess forming a clamping surface extending part way around its respective axis, the first recess extending uninterruptedly through the clamp element and the second recess having an outer end which opens out at the end of said second portion and an inner end inside the second portion, said structure having an abutment formation located intermediate its first recess and the inner end of its second recess and formed with a bolt hole extending therethrough for accommodating a fastener to extend in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the respective clamp element, the respective first and second recesses of the clamp elements in each clamp assembly facing each other and extending part way around the periphery of different ones of said elongated structural members, a fastener element extending through the bolt holes in the formations of the clamp elements of each clamping assembly and holding said clamp elements tightly together with different ones of said elongated structural members clamped tightly in said recesses, said framework subassemblies being spaced from each other, at least some of the clamp elements on the sides of the respective framework subassemblies facing each other and each having a third portion extending from the first portion along a third axis in a direction away from its respective first recess, each said third portion being formed with a third recess with an internal surface surrounding and extending along a third axis and accommodating therein one end of said further elongated structural member and a setscrew extending into said third portion and locking said one end of said further elongated element to said third portion independently of the clamping action produced by said first and second recesses, respectively, on said first and second elongated members.