RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent No. 63/175,707, filed April 16, 2021. The aforementioned application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to clamps, and more particularly, to universal clamps capable of securely attaching a variety of items to cylindrical, rectilinear, and triangular mounting surfaces without the need to modify the attachment mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Portable electrical generators are specifically to be used outdoors, with warning labels and instructions that warn against use too close to a dwelling, in garages, or other protected areas where poisonous gasses can accumulate and enter an occupied dwelling. Further, portable electrical generator manufacturers warn against operating a portable electrical generator in an enclosed shed or other small enclosure because these kinds of environments restrict air flow around and through the unit and pose an overheating hazard. Finally, portable electrical generators cannot be exposed to rain, sleet, snow or ice, since wet conditions pose a risk of shock and electrocution.

[0004] In many cases, however, it is during times of precipitation and otherwise inclement weather conditions that a portable electrical generator is needed. Regardless of manufacturer warnings, portable electrical generator users often take the risk and operate them in garages, on or under porches, and in other covered or enclosed areas that can allow deadly gasses to infiltrate a dwelling or cause overheating. The tendency of such accidents to occur during times of bad weather, when the generator is most needed, tends to exacerbate their severity.

[0005] Some manufacturers, in addition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), suggest that a generator can be safely used outdoors in inclement weather when under a portable pop-up canopy; in practice, this is a fundamentally unsound approach. Portable pop-up canopies are difficult to anchor, especially in frozen conditions or on driveways, they provide no protection to precipitation that is blown in from an angular direction, they cannot withstand moderate winds without collapsing or being blown away, and they are susceptible to collapse under the weight of moderate snow and ice.

[0006] While some tent-style products that attach directly to the generator and protect both the engine and electronics exist, the numerous styles of generators in current use make it difficult to design and implement anchoring devices that can be utilized with various models. For instance, in addition to different external dimensions and locations of key parts, some generators utilize cylindrical frames while others utilize rectilinear or even triangular frames, necessitating different mount styles. The size of the frames can also differ significantly. The variety of anchor styles that these differences necessitate increases the cost and complexity of such products, relative to products that are able to utilize a more standardized solution.

[0007] What is needed, therefore, are anchors, or clamps, that can be used to secure at least a canopy-type product across a wide range of cylindrical, rectilinear, and triangular frames in common use on generators and similar equipment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One objective of the present disclosure is to provide an anchor suitable for use across a wide variety of electrical generators and similar equipment to attach a weatherproof covering or similar thereto.

[0009] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a clamp that allows for adjustment in at least two degrees of freedom, once mounted, while providing a strong and secure mounting point, once fixed into position.

[0010] The features and advantages described herein are not all- inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a clamp, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 2 is a top elevation view of a clamp, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of a clamp, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of a clamp, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 5 is an elevation view of a clamp body, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 6 is an elevation view of a clamp body with measurement concerning the geometry of a feature thereof, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0017] Figure 7 is a top elevation view of a clamp body, with measurements concerning the geometry thereof, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C are isometric, side elevation, and bottom elevation views, respectively, of a radius backer and Figure 8D is a perspective view of a threaded rod having a suaged end configured for fixation to the radius backer, both the radius backer and threaded rod being configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 9 is an elevation view of an extender arm, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 10 is a top elevation view of an extender arm, with measurements concerning the geometry thereof, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a pivot arm, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 12 is a front elevation view of a pivot arm, with measurements concerning the geometry thereof, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figures 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are bottom elevation view and section views showing details of a push nut cap, as well as perspective views of a spring pin and slide, respectively, all configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 14 is an elevation view of a leaf spring, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figures 15A and 15B are isometric and top views, respectively, of the clamp attached to diameter round tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0026] Figure 16 is an isometric view of the clamp attached to edges of square tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figures 17A and 17B are isometric and top views, respectively, of the clamp attached to flat sides of square tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0028] Figures 18A and 18B are side elevation views of the extender arm adjacent an accessory and locked into the accessory, respectively, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Referring now to embodiments of the present disclosure, as depicted in Figures 1-4, there is shown a clamp 100. The clamp 100 includes a clamp body 104 featuring a jaw portion configured to securely mount to rectilinear, cylindrical, and triangular frames through the use of the geometry depicted in the figures. More specifically, embodiments of the clamp 100 comprise a radius backer 102 opposing the jaw portion of the clamp body 104, the radius backer 102 being configured for translation towards the jaw portion of the clamp body 104 via a threaded rod 118 that is configured to thread into an aperture tapped into the clamp body 104 opposite the jaw portion of the clamp body 104. In embodiments, the radius backer 102 is configured to accept a distal end of the threaded rod 118, in embodiments via swaging, allowing the rod to rotate independently of the radius backer 102.

[0030] In embodiments, the threaded rod further comprises a thumb screw 106 disposed on the end of the threaded rod 118 opposite the radius backer 102, allowing for tool-less adjustment thereof.

[0031] In embodiments, the clamp body 104 is configured for attachment to a mechanism that allows for angular and lengthwise adjustments to a mounting point provided by the clamp 100. This mechanism, in embodiments, comprises a pivot arm 108 pivotably connected to the clamp body 104. In embodiments, the pivot arm 108 is secured to the clamp body 104 via a pivot pin. In embodiments, the pivot pin is press fit into one side of the clamp body 104, providing a snug fit. The pivot pin may be a custom turned pin with a knurl, a split roll pin, or similar arrangement, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0032] The pivot arm 108, in embodiments, further comprises an extender arm 110 adjustably secured to the pivot arm 108 and configured for lengthwise translation relative thereto. More specifically, the pivot arm 108 of embodiments includes a plurality of features configured to lockingly secure the extender arm 110 thereto in predetermined locations. In embodiments, these features are circular recesses that lock into a correspondingly shaped feature housed in the slide 112 that is biased into engagement with the features of the pivot arm 108 by a resilient biasing member, such as a wave or spring washer or similar.

[0033] In embodiments, the extender arm 110 is secured to the pivot arm 108 via a slide 112 and push nut cap 114 arrangement, such as that shown in Figures 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D. In embodiments, the slide 112 contains a spring pin 1300 that is configured to lockably engage with any recess of a series of recesses disposed in a backside of the pivot arm 108, with the push nut cap 114 being configured to bias the spring pin 1300 into locking engagement with the aforementioned recesses disposed in the pivot arm arrangement 108. In embodiments, a spring, such as a Belleville washer, is disposed between the push nut cap 114 and slide 112 to accomplish the biasing of the spring pin 1300. In embodiments, the spring pin further comprises a circumferential groove configured to lockingly engage with a corresponding feature of the push nut cap 114, thereby retaining the spring pin 1300 and push nut cap 114 in the slide 112. [0034] In embodiments, the pivot arm 108 and extender arm 110 are configured to provide infinite adjustment relative to one another using a friction-based lock or similar, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] In embodiments, the push nut cap 114 is biased away from the slide 112 through the use of a resilient biasing member, such as a wave or spring washer or similar. This embodiment, however, is merely exemplary, and a number of other configurations would be possible, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0036] Now referring specifically to Figures 5-7, the clamp body 104 featuring a jaw portion configured to securely mount to rectilinear, cylindrical, and triangular frames through the use of the geometry depicted in the figures is shown apart from the clamp 100 as a whole. The portion of the jaw opposite that configured to accept a threaded rod can be seen as including a planar surface configured to attach to rectilinear frames, with a 90 degree, V-shaped channel breaking the planar surface into upper and lower sections. This 90-degree, V-shaped channel allows the clamp body 104 to securely attach to cylindrical frames in addition to rectilinear and triangular frames without requiring the use of adapters or other adjustments to the clamp 100.

[0037] In embodiments, the clamp body 104 is attached to the clamp 100 via a roll pin, which may be press fit.

[0038] Now referring to Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D, a radius backer 102 and threaded rod 118 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. More specifically, the radius backer 102 includes an arc-shaped portion and two V-shaped portions, each disposed substantially centrally on terminal portions of the arc-shaped portion of the radius backer 102. While measurements are provided in Figures 8B and 8C, alternative dimensions could be used without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The threaded rod 118 depicted in Figure 8D, in embodiments, is configured to engage the radius backer 102 via its central aperture, in embodiments via a swaging process that allows the radius backer 102 and threaded rod 118 to spin freely, relative to one another.

[0039] In embodiments, the radius backer 102 is made of a flexible and resiliently deformable material, such as plastic. Other than plastic, additional materials having such qualities, such as spring steel and hard rubber, could also be used, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0040] In embodiments, the radius backer 102 is configured to flex under load, such as that experienced when clamping to a frame or similar, causing an additional spring force to be applied to the frame being clamped, allowing for additional stability and resistance to loosening and movement. This feature is especially useful in environments where harsh vibrations and temperature changes are expected.

[0041] Now referring to Figures 9 and 10, these figures show the extender arm 110 apart from the clamp 100 as a whole. The extender arm 110 can be seen to comprise two apertures, with each aperture disposed at an opposite end thereof and each being perpendicular to one another. One aperture is used for mounting an accessory, such as a tent pole, and, in embodiments, includes a slot configured to accommodate a spring, such as the leaf spring 116 shown in Figure 14, which is configured to exert pressure on a cylindrical portion of an accessory inserted therein, retaining it in position by friction, as best depicted in Figures 18A and 18B. More specifically, in embodiments a leaf spring 116 is configured to engage with a slot in one of the apertures disposed in the extender arm 110 until the lip on the leaf spring 116 engages the end of the opposite side of the extender arm 110, capturing the leaf spring 116 in place. This functions to apply a force load onto an accessory, such as a tent pole (not shown), that engages into the aperture. In embodiments, a portion of the accessory that is designed to engage with the extender arm 110 comprises a geometry designed to be releasably retained by the leaf spring 116 or other suitable retaining device.

[0042] The extender arm’ s 110 opposite aperture, in embodiments, is configured to allow the push nut cap 114 to exert a force against the features housed in the slide 112, in embodiments via a spring pin 1300, that correspond with those of the pivot arm 108 and allow the pivot arm 108 and extender arm 110 to lock together.

[0043] In embodiments, the apertures disposed in the extender arm 110 are not perpendicular to one another and can be at any angle desirable for facilitating mounting a particular apparatus.

[0044] Now referring to Figures 11 and 12, these figures show the pivot arm 108 of embodiments set apart from the clamp 100 as a whole. The pivot arm 108 can be seen to comprise an aperture located at a terminal end thereof, the aperture being configured to allow the pivot arm 108 to pivotably attach to the clamp body 104, in embodiments via a roll pin, as well as a plurality of features configured to lockingly secure the extender arm 110 thereto in predetermined locations via the aforementioned slide 112 and push nut cap 114.

[0045] In embodiments, the pivot arm 108 is configured to attach to the clamp body 104 via means other than an aperture disposed in a terminal portion thereof, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0046] In embodiments, the pivot arm 108 and clamp body 104 are of a unitary construction.

[0047] In embodiments, the features disposed in the pivot arm 108 are circular recesses that lock into a correspondingly shaped feature housed in the slide 112 that is biased into engagement with the features of the pivot arm 108 by a resilient biasing member, such as a wave or spring washer or similar.

[0048] In embodiments, however, a channel is used to allow relative lengthwise movement between the pivot arm 108 and extender arm 110, with a friction lock being provided to lock the two together, such as by a bolt and nut arrangement or a threaded aperture disposed in either the pivot arm 108 or extender arm 110 that is configured to allow the two to be forcefully engaged with one another, whether by pushing them apart or together. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, there are many ways that this could be accomplished and this embodiment is merely exemplary.

[0049] Now referring to Figures 15A and 15B, isometric and top views, respectively, of the clamp 100 attached to 1.5” diameter round tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, are provided.

[0050] Figure 16 provides an isometric view of the clamp 100 attached to edges of 1.125” square tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figures 17A and 17B provide isometric and top views, respectively, of the clamp 100 attached to flat sides of 1.125” square tubing, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figures 18A and 18B provide side elevation views of the extender arm 110 adjacent an accessory 1900 and locked into the accessory 1900, respectively, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments the accessory 1900 is a tent pole configured to lock into the extender arm 110 using a leaf spring 116 disposed in the extender arm 110 such that it allows a portion of the accessory 1900 to pass therethrough and subsequently lock against a backside thereof. [0053] In embodiments, the clamp 100 may be mounted to horizontal, vertical, or angled tubing without requiring addition accessories or departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it is allows accessories, such as weatherproof coverings, to be attached to a wide variety of frames, including rectilinear, triangular, and cylindrical frames, of a wide variety of sizes in common use, such as on portable electrical generators. Further, this invention does not require modification of the frame to which the clamp attaches, can be adjusted easily, and maintains its adjustment securely. Further the invention is easily installed, removed and portable.

[0055] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure.