DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device for clamping to a solid support, particularly for supporting a sun umbrella pole on a rocky ground.

Supporting the pole of a sun umbrella in a seaside area with cliff ground is an unresolved problem today.

When one decides to stay on a beach with cliffs, it is customary to constrain the lower end of a sun umbrella pole by wedging it between two rocks placed side by side, if necessary by increasing the number of anchorages by means of tensioning threads fixed at one end to the sun umbrella and at the other end to a peg, which is also fitted to the ground, or with other makeshift constraining systems.

Other solutions with water support bases or other type thereof are hardly and badly usable on cliffs, which are typically uneven and rarely defining a substantially horizontal plane where such support bases can usefully rest.

Other artisanal systems for fixing a sun umbrella pole to a cliff involve manually hammering the rock in order to obtain a suitably wide and deep hole for inserting the lower end of the pole.

In addition to being extremely laborious and time-consuming, such a system with hammering operation is above all detrimental to the natural environment, which, on the contrary, should be respected and protected as much as possible.

The task of the present invention is to develop a device for clamping to a solid support which allows the support of a cantilevered body, such as a sun umbrella, on a solid and uneven ground such as a beach with cliffs or a rocky ground in general, for example typical of the mountain environment.

In particular, one object of the invention is to develop a clamping device that is easy to apply and remove.

Another object of the invention is to develop a versatile clamping device on which different coupling, hooking or fixing systems with a body to be supported can be mounted.

A further object of the invention is to develop a clamping device which does not require any other tools or implements for the use thereof.

Furthermore, one object of the invention is to develop a clamping device whose size can be reduced for greater transport convenience. The above-mentioned task as well as the above-mentioned objects are achieved by a device for clamping to a solid support according to claim 1. Further characteristics of the clamping device according to claim 1 are described in the dependent claims.

The task and the aforementioned objects, together with the advantages that will be mentioned below, are highlighted by the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is given, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 represents a perspective view of a clamping device according to the invention;

- figure 2 represents a cross-sectional side view of the clamping device of figure 1 in a first arrangement of use;

- figure 3 represents a perspective exploded view of a first portion of the clamping device according to the invention;

- figure 4 represents the same view as figure 2 with the clamping device in a second arrangement of use;

- figure 5 represents a perspective view of the clamping device in the second arrangement of use;

- figure 6 represents a perspective view of a detail of the clamping device according to the invention;

- figure 7 represents a first perspective exploded view of the detail of figure 6;

- figure 8 represents a second perspective exploded view of the detail of figure 6;

- figure 9 represents a section view of the detail of figure 6 in a first operating arrangement;

- figure 10 represents the same cross-sectional view as figure 9, with the detail in a second operating arrangement;

- figure 11 represents a perspective exploded view of a group of components of the clamping device according to the invention;

- figure 12 represents a perspective cut-away of the whole, assembled, of the components of figure 11.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a device for clamping to a solid support according to the invention is indicated as a whole by numeral 10.

Such a clamping device 10 comprises:

- a central body 11 on which a connection device 12 to a body to be supported is defined,

- at least two articulated arms, for example three articulated arms 13, 14 and 15, with radial development, developing from the central body 11,

- a hooked element 13c, 14c and 15c respectively, placed at the free end of a respective of said three articulated arms 13, 14 and 15,

- traction means 16, 17, 18 for shortening a corresponding articulated arm 13, 14 and 15 from a stretching position, exemplified in figure 2, to a shortened clamping position.

The central body 11 has a main axis of symmetry X.

For the spatial indications relating to the components of the clamping device 10, reference is made to said main axis of symmetry X and to a reference plane P orthogonal to the main axis of symmetry X, which reference plane P is established to be horizontal for convenience of exposition; the axis X and the plane P are schematised in figure 2.

The clamping device 10 is intended to be capable of being positioned in any orientation with respect to a triad of orthogonal axes of reference.

In the embodiment described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention, the clamping device 10 comprises three articulated arms 13, 14 and 15 arranged angularly equally spaced by 120° with respect to the main axis of symmetry X.

In a variant embodiment, not illustrated herein for the sake of simplicity, the clamping device according to the invention has two articulated arms angularly spaced apart by 180° with respect to the main axis of symmetry X; this variant embodiment is well suited for installation on cylindrical or similar symmetrical bodies, such as pillars, but also tree trunks or other similar solid grips.

In the embodiment described herein, which is to be understood by way of non limiting example of the invention, each of the articulated arms 13, 14 and 15 comprises:

- a first member 13a, 14a and 15a,

- a second member 13b, 14b and 15b,

- said hooked element 13c, 14c and 15c.

By way of example which is at the same time simplifying, the exploded view in figure 3 shows the structure of the articulated arm indicated with number 13, the other articulated arms 14 and 15 being intended as identical.

In the variant embodiment with only two articulated arms, mentioned above, the articulated arms can be without the hooked element.

As is clearly visible in figure 2, the first member 13a is pivoted at one first end to the central body 11 and at the opposite second end to the second member

13b

The second member 13b is pivoted at one first end to the first member 13a and at the opposite second end to the hooked element 13c.

The first member 13a is hinged to the central body 11 by means of a first pin

19

The second member 13b is hinged to the first member 13a by means of a second pin 20.

The hooked element 13c is hinged to the second member 13b by means of a third pin 21.

The first pin 19, the second pin 20 and the third pin 21 of an articulated arm 13 are arranged with the respective axes of rotation parallel to each other.

The traction means 16 for shortening an articulated arm 13 are described below, the traction means 17 and 18 being intended identical for the other articulated arms 14 and 15 respectively.

The traction means 16, 17 and 18 for shortening an articulated arm 13, 14 and 15 respectively comprise:

- a traction thread 22, connected at one first end 22a to the hooked element 13c, the opposite second end 22b being free and available to be gripped by a user;

- a series of transmission elements 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 for the traction thread 22, configured to cause, following a traction operation of said traction thread 22, a rotation of the first member 13a around the first pin 19, a rotation of the second member 13b around the second pin 20, and a rotation of the hooked element 13c around the third pin 21;

- reversible locking means 23 for retaining and tensioning the traction thread 22 in an established traction arrangement.

The reversible locking means 23 are positioned on the opposite side of the central body 11 with respect to the articulated arm 13, 14 or 15 to which they are connected.

The central body 11 therefore has a transversal passage 11a, visible for example in figures 2 and 12, for the passage of the traction thread 22 from the reversible locking means 23 to the corresponding articulated arm, for example 13, as shown in figure 2.

The hooked element 13c comprises:

- a hooking portion 30, shaped to hook with a solid support,

- a hinge portion 31, pivoted by means of the third pin 21 to the second member 13b,

- a manoeuvring portion 32, configured to lock the first end 22a of the traction thread 22 therein.

The manoeuvring portion 32 is interposed between the hooking portion 30 and the hinge portion 31, so as to create a dynamic closing effect of the hooking portion 30 during tensioning, resulting in a moment on the same hooking portion 30.

In the embodiment of the invention described herein, obviously by way of non limiting example of the invention itself, the transmission elements 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 comprise:

- at least one first pulley, for example two pulleys 24 and 25, for diverting the traction thread 22 from the transversal passage 11a to a second pulley 26 which is constrained to the second member 13b;

- a second pulley 26 constrained to the second member 13b;

- a third pulley 27 constrained to the first member 13a;

- the perimeter zone 28 of the hinge portion 31 of the hooked element 13c, which is surrounding the third pin 21; this perimeter zone 28 is indicated in figures 2 and 3.

In particular, the second pulley 26 is coaxially hinged to the second pin 20.

The third pulley 27 is coaxially hinged to the first pin 19.

In particular, the central body 11 comprises, for each of the articulated arms 13, 14 and 15, a corresponding radial bracket 33, 34 and 35 to which the first member 13a, 14a and 15a of the respective articulated arm 13, 14 and 15 is hinged.

The two first pulleys 24 and 25 and the third pulley 27 are rotatably constrained to the radial bracket 33, 34 and 35.

In one variant embodiment of the invention, not illustrated for simplicity’s sake,

- the rotation of the first member 13a with respect to the central body 11 is caused by a cylindrical portion 27 integral with the first member 13a, which snaps into a corresponding hole 27a defined on the central body 11, or, vice versa, the rotation of the first member 13a with respect to the central body 11 is caused by a cylindrical portion 27 integral with the central body 11, which snaps into a corresponding hole 27a defined on the first member

13a;

- the rotation of the second member 13b with respect to the first member 13a is caused by a cylindrical portion 26 integral with the first member 13a which snaps into a corresponding hole 26a defined on the second member 13b, or, vice versa, the rotation of the second member 13b with respect to the first member 13a is caused by a cylindrical portion 26 integral with the second member 13b which snaps into a corresponding hole 26a defined on the first member 13a.

The reversible locking means 23, clearly illustrated in figures 6 to 10, comprise:

- a winding handwheel 36, configured to set rotating and wind a portion of the traction thread 22,

- means 37 for locking the rotation, in at least one direction of rotation, of the winding handwheel 36.

The winding handwheel 36 comprises a manoeuvring knob 39 and an annular gripping recess 38, clearly visible in figure 6 and in the sections of figures 9 and 10, within which the traction thread 22 is reversibly interlocked.

The annular gripping recess 38 is defined between a first annular surface 40 of the manoeuvring knob 39 and a facing second annular surface 41 of a drive disc 42, which drive disc 42 is coaxially connected to the manoeuvring knob 39 so as to rotate integrally therewith.

The first annular surface 40 has gripping projections 40a, indicated in figure 8. In particular, but not limited to, these gripping projections 40a consist of a series of radial ribs.

The first annular surface 40 has a convex shape, with convexity turned towards the facing second annular surface 41.

In particular, the first annular surface 40 has the shape of a spherical area; alternatively, this first annular surface 40 is truncated conical.

The second annular surface 41 preferably has a shape that is specular to that of the first annular surface 40.

The second annular surface 41 also has respective gripping projections 41a, indicated in figure 7.

These gripping projections 41a also consist of a series of radial ribs.

The gripping projections 40a and 41a of the two facing annular surfaces 40 and 41 are configured to compress the outer surface of the traction thread 22 deforming it, and thus cooperate in causing the retention of the traction thread 22 in the annular gripping recess 38.

The means 37 for locking the rotation comprise a ratchet mechanism configured to allow the winding handwheel 36 to rotate in only one direction of rotation.

The winding handwheel 36 rotates around a rotation axis Y, indicated in figure 8.

Such a ratchet mechanism comprises two coaxial facing toothed crowns 43 and 44, clearly visible in figure 8, shaped for mutual engagement in the direction of the common rotation axis Y, a first toothed crown 43 defined on the drive disc 42 on the face opposite the second annular surface 41, and a second toothed crown 44 defined on a stop disc 45, coaxial to the axis Y.

The stop disc 45 is positioned within a housing seat 46 defined on a radial flange 47 protruding from the central body 11.

The stop disc 45 and its housing seat 46 are configured so as to allow only the translation of the stop disc 45 in the direction of the rotation axis Y, and not the rotation of the stop disc 45 around the rotation axis Y.

The means 37 for locking the rotation also comprise an elastic thrust element 48 configured to push the stop disc 45 against the drive disc 42.

The toothed crowns 43 and 44 have teeth with radial development that are configured like a ‘sawtooth’, i.e. with a transverse profile comprising a vertical side and an inclined side.

The stop disc 45 has at least one anti-rotation appendage 50, for example four symmetrical anti-rotation appendages 50.

The housing seat 46 is defined within the radial flange 47.

The housing seat 46 has a guide groove 51 configured to allow the translation in the direction of the rotation axis Y of an anti-rotation appendage 50.

In particular, the housing seat 46 has a guide groove 51 for each of the anti rotation appendages 50.

In the present non-limiting embodiment example of the invention, the radial flange 47 comprises a flat portion 47a forming a single body with the central body 11, and an annular portion 47b, on which the housing seat 46 is defined. Said annular portion 47b is adapted to be fixed to the flat portion 47a when mounting the clamping device 10. To cause the shortening of an articulated arm 13, 14 and 15, the traction thread 22 is grasped by its second free end 22b and a traction is applied to the traction thread 22; thereby, the traction thread 22 induces a rotation of the first member 13a, of the second member 13b and of the hooked element 13c, thereby shortening the distance of the hooked element 13c from the central body 11.

In particular, the traction thread 22 develops between the transmission elements 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 in such a way that, following a traction of the traction thread 22 performed by pulling from the second end 22b:

- the first member 13a accomplishes a first rotation W1, in a first direction of rotation, upwards with respect to the central body 11 and with respect to a horizontal reference plane P, in turn orthogonal to the axis X of the central body 11 ;

- the second member 13b accomplishes a second rotation W2, in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, downwards with respect to the first member 13a;

- the hooked element 13c accomplishes a third rotation W3, also downwards with respect to the second member 13b, in the second direction of rotation.

A maximum extension arrangement of the articulated arm 13 is represented in figures 1 and 2.

The maximum shortening arrangement of the same articulated arm 13 is represented in figures 4 and 5.

The first two rotations W1 and W2 determine the distance of the hooked element 13c from the central body 11, while the third rotation W3 determines the anchoring of the hooked element 13c to a solid support, such as for example a rock, cliff or the like.

The reversible locking means 23 operate as described below.

The traction thread 22 is introduced into the annular gripping recess 38, bringing it towards the bottom of the same annular gripping recess 38 so that the gripping projections 40a and 41a clamp to the traction thread 22 itself; then, the manoeuvring knob 39 is turned so as to stabilise the traction force on the traction thread 22.

When rotating the manoeuvring knob 39, and therewith the annular gripping recess 38 and the drive disc 42, the toothed crown 43 of the drive disc 42 rotates by sliding with the inclined sides of its teeth on the respective inclined sides of the teeth of the toothed crown 44 of the stop disc 45.

In an arrangement of maximum interlocking of the two toothed crowns 43 and 44, schematised in figure 9, the elastic thrust element 48 is in an arrangement of partial or maximum extension and the stop disc 45 is at a maximum distance H2 from a reference plane P1 of the radial flange 47.

The toothed crown 43 of the drive disc 42, by rotating, progressively pushes the toothed crown 44 of the stop disc 45 towards the bottom of the housing seat 46, until the ridges of the teeth meet and a maximum lowering of the stop disc 45 into the housing seat 46, a compression of the elastic thrust element 48 and the generation of a minimum distance H3 of the stop disc 45 from the reference plane P1, as schematically shown in figure 10, are obtained.

The distance H1 of the drive disc 42 from the reference plane P1 of the radial flange 47 remains constant.

As soon as the intermediate position where the ridges of the tooth of the toothed crowns 43 and 44 meet is overcome, the elastic thrust element 48 pushes the stop disc 45 outwards again bringing it back to the arrangement of maximum mutual engagement of the toothed crowns 43 and 44.

Then, the rotation of the manoeuvring knob 39 causes a traction on the traction thread 22 up to an angular position of the knob itself which is maintained in a stable way thanks to the coupling of the toothed crowns 43 and 44.

In order to cancel the tensioning of a traction thread 22, it is necessary and sufficient to extract it from the annular gripping recess 38 by moving it in a radial direction from the inside to the outside of the same annular gripping recess 38.

The release of the traction thread 22 allows the manual stretching of the articulated arm 13 and the consequent disengagement and removal of the clamping device 10 from the solid support on which it is mounted.

At the annular gripping recess 38, an anti-entanglement overhang 52 radially protrudes from the central body 11 and which is shaped and positioned in such a way as to prevent the free end 22b of the traction thread 22 from winding around the winding handwheel 36 in a manner that is difficult to unravel.

Said anti-entanglement overhang 52 consists of a pointed portion whose end is located near the bottom of the annular gripping recess 38.

The elastic thrust element 48 is defined, by way of non-limiting example, by a truncated conical compression spring. Specifically in the present embodiment example, such a truncated conical compression spring comprises a base ring 48a, having a larger diameter, a head ring 48b, having a smaller diameter, and a plurality of longitudinal elements 48c connecting the two, as indicated in figure 7.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein, the central body 11, clearly visible in particular in figures 3 and 8, comprises a tubular portion 11b from which radial brackets 33, 34 and 35, radial flanges 47 and anti-entanglement overhangs 52 extend.

The tubular portion 11b is configured for joining with the connection device 12 for a body to be supported.

In particular, the tubular portion 11b has an axial hole 11c which is open superiorly with respect to the reference plane P, configured for coupling with a connection base 55 of the connection device 12.

In particular, the connection base 55 of the connection device 12 comprises an insertion portion 55a.

This insertion portion 55a has snap-on interlocking appendages 56 with anti slip end teeth.

The axial hole 11c comprises an inner shoulder 11d for hooking the anti-slip teeth of the snap-on interlocking appendages 56.

The connection device 12 for a body to be supported thus comprises:

- a connection base 55, configured for joining with the central body 11,

- and a tubular sleeve 57, rotatably constrained to the connection base 55 and having an opening 57a for access to an inner compartment 57b that is shaped to accommodate a body to be supported, for example shaped to accommodate the lower end of a sun umbrella pole.

The connection base 55 and the tubular sleeve 57 are rotatably constrained by means of a pin 58 having a horizontal axis with respect to the reference plane P, which pin 58 is placed to pass through corresponding counter-shaped holes of a fork joint 59.

Such a fork joint 59 comprises a fork 59a, integral with, for example, the tubular sleeve 57, and a central part 59b, integral with the connection base 55 and shaped to be arranged within the fork 59a.

For example, the pin 58 consists of a threaded element.

One of the two side parts of the fork 59a has a threaded hole for screwing the pin 58. In particular, for example, of the two side parts of the fork 59a, one is thicker than the other, and the threaded hole for screwing the pin 58 is preferably defined on this thicker side part.

The pin 58, as shown in figure 11, thus comprises a threaded shank 58a, an enlarged section 58b, having a larger cross-section than the threaded shank 58a, and a manoeuvring portion 58c, for example shaped like a ‘butterfly’. When the pin 58 is screwed into the fork joint 59, the enlarged section 58b pushes against a side part of the fork 59a, causing the tightening of the fork joint 59 and therefore the stabilisation of the angular arrangement chosen for the same fork joint 59.

The tubular sleeve 57 comprises tightening means 60 for the anti-extraction locking of the body housed in the inner compartment 57b.

In the embodiment of the invention described herein, which is intended to be as a non-limiting example of the invention itself, the tightening means 60 comprise:

- an elastically deformable plate 61, fixed to the edge 57c of the opening 57a of the tubular sleeve 57, and developing in the direction of the main axis X1 of the tubular sleeve 57,

- and a pusher 62 configured to push the plate 61 in a direction transverse to the main axis X1.

In particular, in the present embodiment example, the plate 61 is part of a cleat 63 straddling the edge 57c of the tubular sleeve 57.

The cleat 63 comprises an outer portion 64, adapted to position itself outside the tubular sleeve 57, bearing a passage hole 64a for the pusher 62.

The pusher 62 consists of a threaded element adapted to be screwed to a corresponding threaded radial hole 65 defined on the tubular sleeve 57 at the plate 61.

The pusher 62 has a threaded shank 62a and a manoeuvring portion 62b; the latter may, for example, but not exclusively, be shaped like a ‘butterfly’.

By screwing the pusher 62, the plate 61 is flexed towards the inside of the inner compartment 57b until the same plate 61 meets the body housed in the inner compartment 57b, pushing and locking this body against the opposite surface of the inner compartment 57b.

The connection base 55 is coupled to the axial hole 11a of the central body 11 in a rotatable manner with respect to the main axis of symmetry X of the central body 11.

Thanks to this rotatable constraint, the connection device 12 can be oriented at any angle with respect to the main axis of symmetry X.

The clamping device 10 obviously comprises means 70 for stabilising the orientation of the connection device 12 with respect to the central body 11. Such means 70 comprise, for example, a pusher 71 configured to push on the insertion portion 55a preventing the rotation of the latter and thus of the entire connection device 12.

The pusher 71 consists of, for example, a threaded element screwed to a corresponding radial hole 72 defined on the central body 11.

The pusher 71 therefore comprises a threaded shank 71a, screwed to the radial hole 72, visible in figure 3, and a manoeuvring portion 71b, for example shaped like a ‘butterfly’.

The operation of the clamping device 10 according to the invention is described below.

The user first has to identify a solid support, for example a portion of a cliff, or a rock, or a trunk, having edges, veins or protrusions available to be hooked by the hooked elements 13c, 14c and 15c, which edges have to be positioned between them at a distance less than or equal to the maximum distance between the hooked elements themselves with the articulated arms 13, 14 and 15 in a maximum extension arrangement.

Once such a solid support has been identified, the user places the clamping device 10 thereon and manually extends the articulated arms 13, 14 and 15 so as to bring the hooked elements 13c, 14c, 15c at the hooking edges identified on the solid support.

At that point, the user pulls the traction threads 22 one by one, so as to shorten the articulated arms 13, 14 and 15 and simultaneously rotate the hooked elements 13c, 14c and 15c from a non-operating arrangement to an operating rotated arrangement with hooking to an edge.

When the hooked elements 13c, 14c and 15c are all hooked to a respective edge, the second ends 22b of the traction threads 22 are introduced into the gripping recesses 38 and the manoeuvring knobs 39 are rotated, so as to optimise the traction force on the hooked elements 13c, 14c and 15c, thereby stabilising the clamping arrangement of the clamping device 10.

Finally, the angular position, with respect to the axis of symmetry X, of the connection device 12 on the central body 11 is established and the inclination of the tubular sleeve 57 with respect to the connection base 55 of the connection device 12 is established.

At this point, the clamping device 10 is ready to house, for example, the lower end of a sun umbrella pole.

Obviously, the two angular positionings described above can be carried out with the sun umbrella pole already inserted into the tubular sleeve 57.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the clamping device 10 in an arrangement of use that is also of maximum closure and maximum compactness, which arrangement is therefore also the preferred one for transporting the clamping device 10 itself.

It has in practice been established that the invention achieves the intended task and objects.

In particular, the invention has developed a device for clamping to a solid support that enables the support of a cantilevered body, such as a sun umbrella, on a solid and uneven ground such as a ground consisting of cliffs or rocks in general.

In particular, the invention has developed a clamping device that is easy to apply and remove.

Furthermore, the invention has developed a versatile clamping device on which different coupling, hooking or fixing systems with a body to be supported can be mounted.

In addition, the invention has developed a clamping device that requires no tools or implements for the use thereof.

Last but not least, the invention has developed a clamping device whose size can be easily reduced for greater ease of transport.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the components and materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and the contingent shapes, may be anyone according to the requirements and the prior art.

If the characteristics and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, these reference signs are to be intended for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, consequently, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by these reference signs.