Bidirectional wedge clamp

Abstract

A bidirectional, wedge clamp is disclosed. Conventional clamps, such as those used with electrical cables mainly secure a line in a single direction. The invention herein being comprised of a bidirectional clamp for conventional cables, wires and rope etc. (herein referred to as a ‘line’) having a simple and easily-operable construction, wherein two plate-like members and an outer sleeve-like member are telescopically assembled to clamp a line there between. Plates and sleeve members having a plurality of interconnected, opposing number of wedges that when acted upon in a lateral motion by a line there between, causing said wedges to slide against one another—thereby tightening down the plates onto said line and preventing slippage. An object of the invention is to clamp a line and prevent slipping laterally in either direction along the line's longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising: a pair of sleeves, each sleeve positioned; and a pair of wedge plates, wherein the wedge plates are sandwiched between the sleeves in that each wedge plate connects one of the sleeve at one end, and receives a line at the other end, and wherein the line is sandwiched between the wedge plates, wherein each wedge plate comprises wedge plate portions, the wedge plate portions extending from the wedge plate and positioned in a slanted and adjacent manner, facing each other, wherein each sleeve comprises sleeve portions, the sleeve portions extending from the sleeve and positioned in a slanted and adjacent manner, facing each other, and wherein the wedge plate portions and the sleeve portions position in opposing manner and mate, to prevent the wedge plates from sliding and the line from slipping in either direction along its longitudinal axis.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the sleeves comprise a plurality of apertures at distal ends.

3. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the plurality of apertures receive fasteners to secure the line between the wedge plates.

4. A method of clamping a line, the method comprising steps of: providing a pair of sleeves, each sleeve positioned opposite each other; providing a pair of wedge plates, the wedge plates being sandwiched between the sleeves in that each wedge plate connects one of the sleeves at one end, and receives a line at the other end, the line being sandwiched between the wedge plates; providing wedge plate portions at each wedge plate, the wedge plate portions extending from the wedge plate and positioned in a slanted and adjacent manner, facing each other; providing sleeve portions at each sleeve, the sleeve portions extending from the sleeve and positioned in a slanted and adjacent manner, facing each other; mating the wedge plate portions and the sleeve portions position in opposing manner; and restraining a line by a wedge action of the wedge plates and preventing the wedge plates from sliding and the line from slipping in either direction along its longitudinal axis.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprises providing a plurality of apertures at distal ends of the sleeves.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprises providing fasteners for insertion in the plurality of apertures to secure the line between the wedge plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the square embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the square embodiment with clamps.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the square embodiment.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the square embodiment.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the square embodiment.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a section view of the square embodiment.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a front view of the square embodiment.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the cylinder embodiment.

(10) FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the cylinder embodiment.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the of the cylinder embodiment.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a side view of the square embodiment.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a section view of the cylinder embodiment.

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of the cylinder embodiment.

(15) Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(16) In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation. Conventional components of the invention are elements that are well-known in the prior art and will not be discussed in detail for this disclosure.

(17) FIG. 1 showing a perspective view of the square embodiment having three main parts. A first part being a set of at least, but not limited to, two sleeve members 3 having a rectangular, planar shape and comprised of a rigid material such as but not limited to metal, plastic and the like. Said sleeve members 3 sandwiching a plurality of wedge plates 4. Other embodiments can have other numbers of wedges. The wedge plates 4 also being comprised of a rigid material such as but not limited to metal, plastic and the like. FIG. 1 also showing the square embodiment with said sleeve members 3 having a plurality of apertures disposed on distal ends to receive a multitude of bolts therein allowing the wedge plates to be assembled around and make contact with a line 5 selectively positioned there between. FIG. 2 showing a perspective view of the square embodiment having no apertures and clamps 10 securing said sleeves 3—other means of securing said sleeves 3 being comprised of but not limited to: springs, levers, devises, strapping, rings and the like.

(18) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the square embodiment showing a plurality of wedge portions 7 in the aforementioned sleeves 3 and wedge plates 4 thereon. Said wedges 7 being configured along sleeve 3's and wedge plate 4's longitudinal axis. Equal numbers of wedges 7 having raised portions opposing one another. Wedge portions 7 on plate 4 mating with wedge portions on sleeve 3 so that wedge plate 7 moves a continuous, perpendicular distance away from said sleeve 3 thereby collecting down on line 5 there between. FIG. 4 showing a top view of the square embodiment with bolts 2; FIG. 5 showing a side view of the square embodiment and FIG. 6 illustrating a section view of the square embodiment. Both FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating wedge portions 7 being engaged on both wedge plate 4 and sleeve 3. Finally, FIG. 7 showing a front view of the square embodiment bolts 2 and nuts 6.

(19) FIG. 8 showing a perspective view of the cylinder embodiment also having three main parts. A first part being a set of at least, but not limited to, two cylinder sleeve members 8 having an elongated, cylindrical shape with mating flanges on each distal end and comprised of a rigid material such as but not limited to metal, plastic and the like. Said cylinder sleeve members 8 sandwiching a set of at least, but not limited to, two cylinder wedges plate 9. The cylinder wedge plates 9 also being comprised of a rigid material such as but not limited to metal, plastic and the like. FIG. 8 also showing the cylinder embodiment with said cylinder sleeve members 8 having a plurality of apertures disposed on distal ends to receive a multitude of bolts 2 therein allowing the cylinder wedge plates 9 to be assembled around and make contact with a line 5 selectively positioned there between. Similar to the square embodiment, the cylinder embodiment having other means of securing said cylinder sleeve 8 flanges being comprised of but not limited to: springs, levers, clevises, strapping, rings and the like.

(20) FIG. 9 illustrating an exploded view of the cylinder embodiment showing a plurality of wedge portions in the aforementioned cylinder sleeves 8 and cylinder wedges 9 thereon. Said wedges being configured along cylinder sleeve 8's and cylinder wedge plate 9's longitudinal axis. Both cylinder sleeves 8 and cylinder wedges 9 having raised portions opposing one another and mate with one another so that cylinder wedge 9 moves a continuous, perpendicular distance away from said cylinder sleeve 8 thereby collecting down on line 5 there between. FIG. 10 showing a top view of the square embodiment with bolts 2; FIG. 11 showing a side view of the cylinder embodiment and FIG. 12 illustrates a section view of the cylinder embodiment. FIG. 12 illustrating wedge portions being engaged on both cylinder wedge 9 and cylinder sleeve 3. Finally, FIG. 13 showing a front view of the cylinder embodiment with bolts 2 and nuts 6.

(21) It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.