Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates generally to the field of fencing and balustrading and particularly to clamps used to hold fence or balustrade panels or the like.

Background Art.

The first conceived clamp to hold a glass panel included a unitary body with two spaced apart upstanding arms between which a glass panel walls received. Prior to inserting the glass panel into the receiving slot between the two spaced apart arms, it was required to form openings in the glass panel in order to receive threaded fasteners therethrough. Once the panel with the openings was in place, the openings in the panel were aligned with openings in the spaced apart upstanding arms and threaded fasteners were passed through the glass panel in order to secure panel relative to the clamp. These clamps had the distinct disadvantage that an opening had to be formed in the glass panel which was troublesome to form without ruining the glass panel and further, created an area of weakness in the panel which could, at a later time, cause the glass panel to crack.

An improvement on the original clamp was devised in order to obviate the need to form openings in the glass panel. In the improved clamp, the same unitary body with a pair of spaced apart upstanding arms was provided by to a clamping plate was provided in the preceding slot. In the clamping plate was driven to clamp the panel by rotating one or more threaded fasteners to force the clamping plate to close on the panel into force the panel against one of the two spaced apart upstanding arms. Both of these clamps hold the glass panel in a rigid arrangement which will does not allow adjustment of the inclination of the panel once inserted into the receiving slot. This creates an onus on the installer of the clamp to ensure that the clamps are installed with great precision and as a misalignment of the receiving slot can cause deviation in inclination of the opposite edge of the panel which is related to the degree of misalignment of the receiving slot.

For example, a 5° misalignment of the receiving slot in a clamp with a panel which is 1.5 m in height can results in a deviation of the top edge of the panel of approximately 13 cm. If adjacent clamps are misaligned, a marked decrease in the aesthetics of a fence or balustrade will occur as the top edges of the panels will not be aligned with one another.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a clamp, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in a clamp for a panel, the clamp including a body, a pair of spaced apart clamping portions together defining an opening to receive and retain a portion of the panel wherein at least one of the spaced apart clamping portions is movably associated with the body to adjust the dimension of the opening and a securing assembly to releasably secure the at least one moveable clamping portion to the body to clamp the panel relative to the body.

The clamp of the present invention is normally used in a vertical orientation but may be used similarly in an angled or even horizontal orientation. The clamp is particularly well adapted for forming fences or balustrading using glass panels. Normally, the panel will be held in a substantially vertical orientation.

The clamp of the present invention has an adjustability factor allowing the inclination of the panel to be adjusted in order to align with adjacent panels.

Preferably, the clamp of the present invention allows adjustability of no more than 10° and normally only a maximum of approximately 5°. Both of these adjustability angles are typically from a vertical orientation.

Due to the adjustability factor, the precision with which the clamp must be secured relative to a surface is decreased and this in turn decreases the complexity and therefore time required for installation.

In use, the body of the clamp is normally secured relative to a surface either by embedding the body directly into the support surface or by attaching the body to another element which is embedded into or otherwise attached to the support surface. Normally, all of the elements of the clamp of the preferred embodiment will be metal except for the cushioning elements where provided.

The clamp of the present invention includes a body which is normally solid but may be hollow according to certain configurations. It is particularly preferred that the body be monolithic and unitary.

The body of the clamp typically forms a lower or outer portion of the clamp, with the clamping portions forming the upper or inner part of the clamp.

The body of the clamp may have any cross-sectional shape including circular or rectangular. The body of the clamp will preferably have a central guide and support portion extending upwardly from the base portion of the clamp. The central guide and support portion will preferably accomplish three purposes, namely to maintain a minimum separation distance between the spaced apart clamping portions, to provide an attachment portion in order to secure the clamping portions relative thereto, and to support the edge of a panel when the panel is in place.

The central guide and support portion is formed with at least one shoulder portion extending substantially perpendicularly thereto between the guide and support portion and an outer surface of the base of the body.

However, the at least one shoulder portion is preferably angled at greater than 90° to the side wall of the central guide and support portion in order to provide clearance for moveable clamping portions. The adjustability factor of the clamp is typically provided by the angle between the at least one shoulder portion and a lower wall of the moveable clamping portion which although substantially parallel, will be angled relative to one another. The at least one shoulder portion will normally extend inwardly towards a midline of the clamp on at least one, and preferably a pair of opposed sides of the body. This will typically form a central guide and support portion extending across the width of the body.

The central guide and support portion will normally have a planar upper edge in order to support an edge of the panel thereon.

A hinge or fulcrum assembly is preferably provided adjacent the lower end of the central guide and support portion normally at an intersection between a shoulder and a side wall of the central guide and support portion. The hinge or fulcrum assembly may be provided at an outer edge of the shoulder in the alternative.

Typically, the hinge assembly will allow rotation of at least one of the clamping portions toward and away from the other of the clamping portions. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a laterally extending, partially arcuate opening is provided at the intersection of the shoulder of the body and at least one of the side walls of the central guide and support portion. The opening is preferably adapted to receive a partially circular hinge member located on a clamping portion. In some embodiments, a single opening is provided on one side only of the body and in other embodiments, a pair of openings are provided, one on either side of the central guide and support portion.

There are typically two general embodiments of the clamp of the present invention, namely a single rotatable clamping portion embodiment and a double rotatable clamping portion embodiment.

The single rotatable clamping portion embodiment will typically be provided with one fixed clamping portion which is normally either fixed to the body or integrally formed therewith. The central guide and support portion of this embodiment is typically a land portion formed part way up or down the fixed clamping portion and extending away from the fixed clamping portion, to form a step. The double rotatable clamping portion embodiment has a pair of opposed clamping portions, one clamping portion provided on either side of the central guide and support portion.

Either of these embodiments may be provided with laterally extending feet on one or both sides of the body. Normally, the laterally extending feet are provided in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the clamping portion. Where provided, the laterally extending feet are provided with openings therein, in order to receive fasteners to attach the clamp relative to a support surface. The central guide and support portion will also normally include one or more openings to receive fasteners from the preferred securing assembly. The openings in the central guide and support portion may be threaded to engage fasteners or not, as will be explained below. Similarly, the openings in the central guide and support portion may extend through the central guide and support portion or only into a portion.

The clamp of the present invention also includes a pair of spaced apart clamping portions together defining an opening to receive and retain a portion of the panel wherein at least one of the spaced apart clamping portions is moveably associated with the body to adjust the dimension and preferably the angle, of the opening.

As mentioned above, one of the clamping portions may be fixed or integrally formed with the base, or alternatively, both clamping portions may be movable. It is preferred that the clamping portions, where movable, are rotatable but at least semi-permanently attached to the body. However, it is anticipated that a similar functionality may be achieved by having the clamping portions separate from, but attachable to the body, without being angled, provided that the clamping portions may be attached to the body to create an angled opening to receive the panel. Each of the clamping portions will normally be shaped having an inwardly tapering upper edge, that is tapering towards the other of the clamping portions. The cross-sectional shape of the clamping portions will normally be determined by the overall cross-sectional shape of the clamp.

The outer surface of the clamping portions will normally be substantially coplanar with the outer wall(s) of the base.

The inner or clamping walls of the respective clamping portions are spaced from one another. The inner or clamping walls may directly abut the panel when in place but typically, a cushioning member or assembly is located between the inner or clamping walls and the surface of the panel. A step may be provided in at least one of the inner or clamping walls in order to engage an upper edge of the central guide and support portion of the base to assist with positive location of the clamping portions when in the clamping position. Normally, this step will close partially over the upper edge of the central guide and support portion. As mentioned above, a lower end of the clamping portion may be provided with a hinging member or assembly. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the hinging member will be a partially cylindrical member, formed integrally with the clamping portion extending across the width of the clamping portion. The partially cylindrical member will therefore normally be located at the intersection of a lower wall of the clamping portion and an inner wall.

As mentioned above, an important feature of the clamp of the present invention, namely its adjustability, will normally be a result of an angle created between the shoulder of the base and the lower wall of the clamping portion in order to allow of the clamping portions to be moved, preferably rotated toward or away from the central guide and support portion. This functionality can be achieved using a hinge or fulcrum or without provided that the shoulder of the base and the lower wall of the clamping portion can be angled relative to one another when the clamping portion is secured in the clamping condition.

As mentioned above, the preferred handle is no more than 10° from midline of the clamp in either direction and is preferably no more than 5° from vertical midline of the clamp in either direction. The clamping portion will normally have at least one opening therethrough in order to receive a threaded fastener. The opening(s) in the clamping portion will preferably align with openings in the central guide and support portion of the base. It is particularly preferred that the respective openings are spaced from the panel receiving opening such that the fasteners are not required to extend through the panel.

Fasteners may extend through the clamping portion from one side only or from both sides. Indeed, the fasteners may extend through the clamp in one direction only or in both directions. Therefore, each clamping portion may have one or more openings or only a single clamping portion may have openings in order to have at least one aesthetically pleasing or uninterrupted side to the clamp.

The openings may be stepped so as to receive an enlarged head of a threaded fastener within an outer portion of the opening so that the fasteners do not stand proud of the surface of the clamp.

By providing a pair of movable clamping portions, the clamp may be adjustable in order to change the angle of inclination of the panel during assembly. Providing a pair of movable clamping portions rather than a single movable clamping portion will normally increase the amount of adjustment which may be gained.

The adjustment will normally be achieved by the relative degree of rotation or tightness of the fasteners. Typically, where a pair of movable clamping portions are provided, a pair of threaded fasteners are also provided. Each of the threaded fasteners extend through the clamp from the same side, however extending from opposite sides also achieves the same functionality.

According to the preferred embodiment, one of the fasteners extends through the clamping portion on a first or obverse side of the clamp and into the central guide portion of the base. The other of the fasteners will typically extend through the clamping portion of the first side of the clamp, through the central guide and support portion in the base and into the other of the clamping portions on the reverse side of the clamp.

Typically, for the first fastener, an internal thread is provided in an opening in the central guide and support portion and for the second of the fasteners, the internal thread is typically provided in an opening on the clamping portion of the reverse side of the clamp. The second fastener may be the same length or longer as the first fastener. The remainder of the openings are typically unthreaded. This pattern of threaded and unthreaded openings preferably allows the fasteners to be tightened from the same side of the clamp and to allow adjustment of the angle of one or the other of the clamping portions as desired.

In an alternative form, where a pair of movable clamping portions are provided in a pair of threaded fasteners are provided each extending through the clamp from opposite sides, the threaded opening for each respective fastener will typically be into or through the central guide and support portion.

A rest or similar may be provided on top of the central guide and support portion to about the edge of the panel. This rest will normally be provided to minimise damage to the edge of the panel and therefore may be resilient.

According to the most preferred embodiment, a U-shaped rest is provided made from a resilient material such as rubber or similar with a central portion to but the edge of the panel and the central guide and support portion, and a pair of side portions to wrap about the panel edge and about the inner walls of the respective clamping portions.

A wedge-shaped cushioning member may be provided between an inner wall of a clamping portion and the panel, typically in the single moveable clamping portion embodiment. Any fasteners that are used are preferably of the type with a shaped depression in the head of the fastener in order to receive a driving tool as the openings in the clamp may then be as small as possible.

Brief Description of the Drawings. Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a clamp according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an isometric exploded view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a clamp according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a clamp according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is an isometric view of a clamp according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a glass panel fence or balustrade assembled using the clamp illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the glass panel fence or balustrade illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1 showing adjustment in a first direction.

Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1 showing adjustment in a second direction. Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 4 showing adjustment.

Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 13 is a view from above of the clamp illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 14 is a side elevation view of clamp as illustrated in Figure 1 with an alternative fastening configuration.

Figure 15 is a front elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 14. Figure 16 is a view from above of the clamp illustrated in Figure 14. Figure 17 is a side elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 18 is a front elevation view of the clamp illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 19 is a view from above of the clamp illustrated in Figure 4. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a clamp 10 for a glass panel fence or balustrade is provided.

The clamp 10 illustrated in all embodiments of the Figures includes a body 11, a pair of spaced apart clamping portions 12 together defining an opening 13 to receive and retain a portion of the panel 14 wherein at least one of the spaced apart clamping portions is movably associated with the body 11 to adjust the dimension of the opening 13. Each clamp illustrated also includes a securing assembly to releasably secure the at least one moveable upper/outer portion to the body 11 to clamp the panel 14 relative to the body 11.

The clamp 10 of the present invention is normally used in a vertical orientation as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

In use, the body 11 of the clamp 10 is normally secured relative to a surface either by embedding the body directly into the support surface, by attaching the body to another element which is embedded into or otherwise attached to the support surface or the clamp is attached to the support surface by abutting the clamp against the support surface and using elongate fasteners.

The clamp illustrated includes a body 11 which is normally solid. The body 11 of the clamp typically forms a lower or outer portion of the clamp 10 with the clamping portions 12 forming the upper or inner part of the clamp.

The body 11 of the clamp 10 has a central guide and support portion 15 extending upwardly from the base portion 11 of the clamp 10. The central guide and support portion 15 has three purposes, namely to maintain a minimum separation distance between the spaced apart clamping portions 12, to provide an attachment portion in order to secure the clamping portions 12 relative thereto, and to support the edge of a panel 14 when the panel 14 is in place. The central guide and support portion 15 is formed with at least one shoulder portion 16 extending substantially perpendicularly thereto between the guide and support portion 15 and an outer surface 17 of the base of the body. There are two general embodiments of the clamp illustrated, namely a single rotatable clamping portion embodiment as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and a double rotatable clamping portion embodiment as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5.

The single rotatable clamping portion embodiment has one fixed clamping portion 12' which is normally integrally formed with the base 11. The central guide and support portion 15 of this embodiment is a land portion formed part way up the fixed clamping portion 12' and extending away from the fixed clamping portion 12' to form a step.

The double rotatable clamping portion embodiment has a pair of opposed moveable clamping portions 12, one moveably clamping portion 12 provided on either side of the central guide and support portion 15.

Either of these embodiments may be provided with laterally extending feet 18 on both sides of the body 11 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 respectively. Normally, the laterally extending feet 18 are provided in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the clamping portions 12. Where provided, the laterally extending feet 18 have an opening 19 therein in order to receive fasteners (not shown) to attach the clamp 10 to a support surface.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the shoulder portions are angled at greater than 90° to the side wall 20 of the central guide and support portion 15 in order to provide clearance for rotating clamping portions 12.

The central guide and support portion 15 has a planar upper edge 21 in order to support an edge of the panel 14 thereon.

A hinge assembly 22 is preferably provided adjacent the lower end of the central guide and support portion 15 normally at an intersection between a shoulder 16 and a side wall 20 of the central guide and support portion 15.

The hinge assembly 22 allows rotation of the moveable clamping portion 12 toward and away from the other of the clamping portions, moveable or not.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment best illustrated in

Figure 2, a laterally extending, partially arcuate opening 23 is provided at the intersection of the shoulder 16 of the body 11 and a side wall 20 of the central guide and support portion 15. The opening 23 is adapted to receive a partially circular hinge member 24 located on a clamping portion 12. According to the particularly preferred embodiment illustrated, the hinge member 24 is a partially cylindrical member, formed integrally with the clamping portion 12 extending across the width of the clamping portion 12.

The central guide and support portion 15 includes one or more attachment openings 25 to receive fasteners 26.

It is preferred that the moveable clamping portions 12 are rotatable and at least semi-permanently attached to the body 11. However, it is anticipated that a similar functionality may be achieved by having the clamping portions 12 separate from, but attachable to the body 11 , that is without the preferred hinge assembly. Each of the clamping portions 12, 12' is normally shaped having an inwardly tapering upper edge 27, that is tapering towards the other of the clamping portions.

As illustrated, the outer surface 28 of the clamping portions 12, 12' will normally be substantially coplanar with the outer wall(s) 17 of the base 11. The clamping walls 29 of the respective clamping portions are spaced from one another. The inner or clamping walls may directly abut the panel when in place but typically, a cushioning member 30 is located between the clamping walls 29 and the surface of the panel 14.

A step 31 is provided in the clamping walls 29 in order to engage an upper edge 21 of the central guide and support portion 15 of the base 11 to assist with positive location of the clamping portions 12 when in the clamping position.

Normally, this step 31 will close partially over the upper edge 21 of the central guide and support portion 15.

As mentioned above, an important feature of the clamp of the present invention, namely its adjustability, which is a result of an angle created between the shoulder 16 of the base 11 and a lower wall 32 of the clamping portion 12 in order to allow of the moveable clamping portions 12 to be rotated toward or away from the central guide and support portion 15. This functionality can be achieved using a hinge or fulcrum or without, provided that the shoulder 16 of the base 11 and the lower wall 32 of the clamping portion 12 can be angled relative to one another when the clamping portion 12 is secured in the clamping condition. As mentioned above, the preferred angle is no more than 10° from midline of the clamp in either direction and is preferably no more than 5° from vertical midline of the clamp in either direction.

As illustrated the clamping portion 12 has at least one opening therethrough in order to receive a threaded fastener 26. The opening(s) in the clamping portion 12 align with openings 33 in the central guide and support portion 15 of the base 11. It is preferred that the respective openings are spaced from the panel 14 receiving opening such that the fasteners 26 are not required to extend through the panel 14. Fasteners 26 may extend through the clamping portion 12 from one side only or from both sides. Therefore, each clamping portion may have one or more openings or only a single clamping portion may have openings in order to have at least one aesthetically pleasing or uninterrupted side to the clamp.

The openings in the clamping portions 12 of the illustrated embodiment are stepped so as to receive an enlarged head of a threaded fastener 26 within an outer portion of the opening so that the fasteners do not stand proud of the surface of the clamp.

Typically, where a pair of movable clamping portions 12 is provided such as in Figures 1 and 5, a pair of threaded fasteners 26 is also provided. Each of the threaded fasteners 26 extend through the clamp from the same side.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, one of the fasteners 26 extends through the clamping portion 12 on a first or obverse side of the clamp 10 and into the central guide portion 15 of the base 11. The other of the fasteners 26' extends through the clamping portion 12 of the first side of the clamp 10, through the central guide and support portion 15 in the base 11 and into the other of the clamping portions 12 on the reverse side of the clamp 10.

According to this embodiment, for the first fastener, an internal thread is provided in an opening in the central guide and support portion and for the second of the fasteners, the internal thread is provided in an opening on the clamping portion of the reverse side of the clamp. The second fastener is normally longer than the first fastener. The remainder of the openings are typically unthreaded. This pattern of threaded and unthreaded openings allows the fasteners to be tightened from the same side of the clamp 10 and to allow adjustment of the angle of one or the other of the clamping portions 12 as desired.

In an alternative form, where a pair of movable clamping portions is provided and a pair of threaded fasteners is provided each extending through the clamp from opposite sides, the threaded opening for each respective fastener will typically be into or through the central guide and support portion as illustrated in

Figures 14 to 16.-

A rest 34 is typically provided on top of the central guide and support portion 15 to about the edge of the panel 14. Any fasteners 26 that are used are preferably of the type with a shaped depression in the head of the fastener 26 in order to receive a driving tool. As the openings in the clamp 10 may then be as small as possible.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.