Mounting clamp, accessory for vehicle having mounting clamp and accessory kit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12409786-B2
Application number	US-202318120233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2023
Priority date	Mar 11, 2022
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

Mounting clamps for coupling an accessory to a structure are disclosed. The mounting clamp includes a body configured to engage the accessory and to receive a portion of the structure, a jaw and an actuator. The jaw has a first member pivotally to the body by a first pivot that is selectively moveable, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member by a second pivot. When the first pivot is in a first position, the mounting clamp is in a first configuration adapted for clamping to a first portion of a first structure. When the first pivot is in a second position, the mounting clamp is in a second configuration adapted for clamping to a second portion of a second structure. The jaw, which is selectively adjustable between open and closed positions, is configured to clamp one of the first and second portions when in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting clamp for coupling an accessory to a structure, the mounting clamp comprising:
a body having a mounting interface configured to engage the accessory, and a coupling portion configured to selectively at least partially receive one of a first structure member and a second structure member, the first and second structure members having different sizes;
a jaw selectively adjustable between an open position and a closed position, the jaw including:
a first member pivotally connected to the body by a first pivot selectively movable between a first position and a second position; and
a second member pivotally connected to the first member by a second pivot;

an actuator pivotally connected to the second member of the jaw by a third pivot, and pivotally connected to the body by a fourth pivot;
in response to the first pivot being moved to the first position, the mounting clamp is in a first configuration adapted for clamping to the first structure member;
in response to the first pivot being moved to the second position, the mounting clamp is in a second configuration adapted for clamping to the second structure member; and
the jaw being configured to clamp one of the first structure member and the second structure member in response to being adjusted to the closed position.

2. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein in response to actuating the actuator, the second pivot pivots about to the first pivot, and the jaw moves between the opened and closed positions.

3. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein the second, third and fourth pivots are configured to provide an overcenter effect when the jaw is in closed position.

4. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
when the mounting clamp is in the first configuration and the jaw is in the closed position, the jaw is configured to clamp the first structure member with a first clamping force; and
when the mounting clamp is in the second configuration, and the jaw is in the closed position, the jaw is configured to clamp the second structure member with a second clamping force,
a magnitude of the first clamping force is generally similar to a magnitude of the second clamping force.

5. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
when the mounting clamp is in the first configuration and the jaw is in the closed position, the jaw is configured to clamp the first structure member with a first clamping force; and
when the mounting clamp is in the second configuration, and the jaw is in the closed position, the jaw is configured to clamp the second structure member with a second clamping force,
an orientation of the first clamping force is generally similar to an orientation of the second clamping force.

6. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein when the first pivot is in one of the first and second positions, the first pivot is disposed on a border of a virtual circle, a virtual center of the virtual circle being generally aligned with the second pivot when the jaw is in the closed position.

7. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein the first member has an angled portion, and a virtual bisector line passing through the angled portion is generally parallel to a virtual line passing through the first and second pivots.

8. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein the body has a guide configured to at least partially receive the first pivot, and to guide the first pivot between the first and second positions.

9. The mounting clamp of claim 8 , wherein the guide is a guiding slot.

10. The mounting clamp of claim 8 , wherein the guide defines a first recess and a second recess spaced from the first recess, and the first pivot is in the first position when the first pivot is in the first recess, and the first pivot is in the second position when the first pivot is in the second recess.

11. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , further including a retaining member selectively moveable between a third position and a fourth position, and wherein:
the retaining member is configured to retain the first pivot in the first position when the retaining member is in the third position; and
the retaining member is configured to retain the first pivot in the second position when the retaining member is in the fourth position.

12. The mounting clamp of claim 11 , wherein the body defines a recess configured to at least partially receive the retaining member, the retaining member being moveable within the recess between the third and fourth positions.

13. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , further including a resilient member operatively connected to the body and to the first pivot, the resilient member biasing the first pivot toward one of the first and second positions, and wherein:
in response to one of the first and second structure members being at least partially received into the coupling portion, the mounting clamp being biased to move to a corresponding one of the first and second configurations, and
in response to the jaw being adjusted to the closed position, the jaw clamping the one of the first and second structure members.

14. The mounting clamp of claim 13 , wherein the mounting clamp is a self-adjusting clamp.

15. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion defines:
a first arcuate section having a first arc radius complementary to a first arc radius of the first structure member; and
a second arcuate section having a second arc radius complementary to a second arc radius of the second structure member.

16. The mounting clamp of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot is selectively movable between the first position, the second position and a fifth position, and
in response to the first pivot being moved to the fifth position, the mounting clamp is in a third configuration adapted for clamping to a third structure member defining a third arc having a third arc radius different from the first and second arc radii.

17. An accessory for a vehicle comprising at least one mounting clamp according to claim 1 .

18. The accessory of claim 17 , wherein the accessory and the at least one mounting clamp are unitary.

19. An accessory kit comprising:
an accessory for a vehicle, the accessory having a connecting portion; and
at least one mounting clamp according to claim 1 engageable to the connecting portion for coupling the accessory to a structure of a vehicle.

Assignees

• Soucy Int Inc

Inventors

• Leblanc Etienne
• Roy Normand
• Frenette-Marcoux Jonathan
• Charrette Michael
• Lemelin Manuel

Classifications

• F16B2/18

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R11/04

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R11/06

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title