Clamp for surface-mounted devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9392869-B2
Application number	US-201514707568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A clamp is provided for securing a device at an opening formed in a mounting surface, such as a table, desk, wall panel, or the like. The clamp includes a substantially vertical member with upper and lower portions, an outwardly extending member that projects outwardly from the vertical member, and an adjustable clamp member that is mounted to the outwardly-extending leg and can be tightened or loosened for installing or removing the clamp. The upper portion of the vertical member engages an interior surface of the mounting surface, while another projection extends from the vertical member and engages a sidewall of the device being secured to the mounting surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clamp for securing an electrical power or data unit to a mounting surface, said clamp comprising:
a substantially vertical member configured to be positioned along a sidewall of the electrical power or data unit, said substantially vertical member comprising an end portion that is insertable between the sidewall of the electrical power or data unit and said mounting surface;
an outwardly-extending leg that projects outwardly from said substantially vertical member, and configured to be positioned below a lower surface of the mounting surface; and
an adjustable clamp member movably coupled to said outwardly-extending leg, said adjustable clamp member having distal and proximal end portions, said distal end portion located at or above said outwardly-extending leg and configured to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface, and said proximal end portion located opposite said distal end portion;
wherein said adjustable clamp member is tightenable so as to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface with said distal end portion of said clamp member, thereby urging said outwardly-extending leg in a direction away from the lower surface of the mounting surface and urging said end portion of said substantially vertical member to pivot into engagement with the mounting surface.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein said adjustable clamp member comprises a thumbscrew having a gripping surface at said proximal end portion, said gripping surface located below said outwardly-extending leg.

3. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein said outwardly-extending leg defines a threaded bore for threadedly receiving a threaded shaft portion of said adjustable clamp member.

4. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein said end portion of said substantially vertical member comprises an upper portion, and said substantially vertical member further comprises a lower portion, wherein said lower portion is configured to engage the electrical power or data unit upon tightening of said adjustable clamp member.

5. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein said substantially vertical member and said outwardly-extending leg are unitarily formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

6. The clamp of claim 5 , wherein said substantially vertical member and said outwardly-extending leg are both substantially planar, and wherein said outwardly-extending leg is substantially perpendicular to said substantially vertical member.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , further in combination with the electrical power or data unit.

8. A clamp for securing an electrical power or data unit to a mounting surface, said clamp comprising:
a substantially vertical member configured to be positioned along a sidewall of the electrical power or data unit;
an outwardly-extending leg that projects outwardly from said substantially vertical member, and configured to be positioned below a lower surface of the mounting surface;
an adjustable clamp member movably coupled to said outwardly-extending leg, said adjustable clamp member having distal and proximal end portions, said distal end portion located at or above said outwardly-extending leg and configured to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface, and said proximal end portion located opposite said distal end portion;
wherein said adjustable clamp member is tightenable so as to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface with said distal end portion of said clamp member, thereby urging said outwardly-extending leg in a direction away from the lower surface of the mounting surface and urging said substantially vertical member into securing engagement with the electrical power or data unit; and
wherein said substantially vertical member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion comprises an upper edge configured to engage an interior surface of the mounting surface that is spaced above the lower surface of the mounting surface, and said lower portion is configured to engage the electrical power or data unit.

9. The clamp of claim 8 , wherein said upper portion of said substantially vertical member comprises a pair of substantially vertical projections each defining a respective one of said upper edges.

10. The clamp of claim 9 , wherein said upper portion of said substantially vertical member defines an open space between said pair of substantially vertical projections.

11. The clamp of claim 10 , wherein said substantially vertical member is substantially planar.

12. A clamp for securing an electrical power or data unit to a mounting surface, said clamp comprising:
a substantially vertical member configured to be positioned along a sidewall of the electrical power or data unit;
an outwardly-extending leg that projects outwardly from said substantially vertical member, and configured to be positioned below a lower surface of the mounting surface;
a unit-engaging projection extending inwardly from said substantially vertical member in an opposite direction of said outwardly-extending leg, wherein said unit-engaging projection is configured to engage a sidewall of the electrical power or data unit;
an adjustable clamp member movably coupled to said outwardly-extending leg, said adjustable clamp member having distal and proximal end portions, said distal end portion located at or above said outwardly-extending leg and configured to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface, and said proximal end portion located opposite said distal end portion; and
wherein said adjustable clamp member is tightenable so as to engage the lower surface of the mounting surface with said distal end portion of said clamp member, thereby urging said outwardly-extending leg in a direction away from the lower surface of the mounting surface and urging said substantially vertical member into securing engagement with the electrical power or data unit.

13. The clamp of claim 12 , wherein:
said substantially vertical member comprises an upper portion having an upper edge configured to engage an interior surface of the mounting surface that is spaced above the lower surface of the mounting surface;
said upper edge is configured to engage the interior surface of the mounting surface so as to resist sliding of said upper edge along the interior surface upon tightening of said adjustable clamp member; and
said unit-engaging projection is configured to engage an opening formed in the sidewall of the electrical power or data unit so as to resist sliding of said substantially vertical member relative to the sidewall upon tightening of said adjustable clamp member.

14. A clamp for securing an electrical power or data unit to a mounting surface, said clamp comprising:
a substantially vertical member configured to be positioned along a sidewall of the electrical power or data unit, said substantially vertical member having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion is insertable between the sidewall of the electrical power or data unit and an interior surface of the mounting surface, and said lower portion is configured to engage the electrical power or data unit;
an outwardly-extending leg that projects outwardly from said substantially vertical member, and configured to be positioned below the lower surface of the mounting surface;
an adjustable clamp member movably coupled to said outwardly-extending leg, said adjustable clamp member having a distal end portion located at or above said outwardly-extending leg and configured to engage a lower surface of the mounting surface; and
wherein said adjustable clamp member is tightenable against the lower surface of the mounting surface to thereby secure said cl

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Petersen Thomas A

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Petersen Thomas A

Classifications

• A47B21/06 Primary

  characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables · CPC title

• F16B2/18

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

• A47B2021/066

  with power or communication connection interface · CPC title

• Y10T29/49948

  Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut] · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title