Sheet clamp

Abstract

A clamp for engaging one or more sheets of fabric for moving or repositioning an immobile occupant of a bed or trolley, the clamp having a body with chamfered channel, a block configured to be received within the channel, and a returning member to selectively permit the block to be removed from the channel.

Claims

1. A sheet clamp comprising: a body having first and second sides and an aperture extending between the first and second sides to provide a channel through for a portion of one or more folded sheets may be inserted in use from the first side to the second side; the channel having opposed side walls, a dimension of the channel between the side walls decreasing from the second side to the first side; a clamping block having two block sides dimensioned to be received within the channel with the block sides engaging the side walls of the channel when inserted from the second side of the channel; a retaining member pivotally mounted on the body and moveable between a first position in which the channel is open, permitting the clamping block to be removed from the channel and a second position in which the retaining member covers the channel from the second side preventing removal of the clamping block from the channel.

2. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the clamping block has a maximum dimension less than a width of the channel.

3. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a dimension of the clamping block is sufficiently large that the block cannot pass through the channel in an operative orientation.

4. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side walls of the channel and the block sides taper uniformly from the second side to the first side.

5. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel and the clamping blocks are elongated in plan view.

6. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel and the clamping block are rectangular or square in plan view.

7. The sheet clamp as claimed claim 1, wherein the block sides complimentary configuration to the side walls of the channel.

8. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block sides and the side walls define a gap of constant width dimensioned to receive one or more layers of a sheet material.

9. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes a second aperture extending between the first and second sides and dimensioned to receive a fixture.

10. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second aperture comprises a slot and a larger bore.

11. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side walls of the channel and the block sides extend at an angle of 5 to 80 to a channel axis.

12. The sheet clamp as claimed in claim 11, wherein the angle is 5 to 30, preferably 9 to 11.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is further described by means of example, but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings of which

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a clamp in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the body and retaining member in a first, open position;

(4) FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment in which the channel is rectangular;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the clamp of FIG. 3 with the block received within the channel; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a series of views illustrating stages of use of the clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention. A generally rectangular laminar body (1) has a planar upper surface (2) and a lower surface (3). An aperture extends between the upper (2) and lower (3) surfaces to form a channel (4) extending between the second side (2) and the first side (3) of the body. The channel (4) extends adjacent a long side of the body (1).

(8) A plate-like retaining member (5) is pivotally secured by a bolt (6) and nut (7) to the body (1) adjacent a corner remote from the channel (4) so that the retaining member (5) may be rotated from a first position in which the channel (4) is exposed to a second position in which the retaining member (5) overlies the body (1) and closes the channel (4).

(9) A clamping block (8) is configured to be completely received within the channel (4).

(10) The channel (4) has opposed side walls (9) and rounded end walls (10). The side walls (9) and optionally the end walls (10) are inclined inwardly from the second side (2) to the first side (3). The transverse dimension between the side walls (9) decreases from the second (uppermost as shown) side (2) to the first (lowermost as shown) side (3) so that the sides taper inwardly from the top to the bottom at an angle between 9 to 11 to the vertical axis of the channel (4).

(11) Clamp block (8) has sides (11) and ends (12) inclined at the same angle as the side walls (9, 10) so that the lozenge-shaped block (8) can fit into the channel (4) when inserted from the second upper side (2) but is prevented from passing through the channel (4) because the maximum transverse dimension of the block (8) is greater than the minimum transverse dimension of the channel (4).

(12) The height of the block's (8) lower surface (13) to upper surface (14) is sufficiently less than the transverse width of the channel (4), so that the block (8) and the sheet wrapped around the block (8) may be inserted completely through the channel (4) when turned sideways and end on as described below.

(13) A slot (15) extending between upper (16) and lower (17) sides of the retaining member (5) is aligned with the channel (4) in the closed position, allowing the block (8) and rounding sheet to be observed. This enables a user to determine that the sheet is correctly arranged within the clamp in use.

(14) Slot (15) allows a strap to be passed through the slot (15) and channel (4), when the block (8) is removed, so that the clamp may function as adapter between two further clamps if required.

(15) An aperture (18) and bore (19) extend between the first (3) and second (2) sides of the body (1). An aperture (20) and bore (21) extend through the retaining member (5) and are arranged to be aligned with the aperture (18) and bore (19) to form a continuous passageway through the entire clamp when in the closed position. Aperture (20) forms a slot parallel to the slot (15) having a width to receive a strap or webbing to enable the clamp to be fixed to a bed frame or other fixture in use. Bore (21) allows the head of a retaining cable to be inserted through the passageway after which the cable may be moved along the aperture (20) and the head engaged in a cylindrical rebate (22) in order to prevent unwanted disengagement during use.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment in which the channel (23) is generally rectangular having parallel inclined sides (24) and ends (25). The clamping block (26) is relatively shallow having a reduced height to permit a thicker sheet, for example a quilted material to be clamped when the retaining member (27) is moved into the closed position.

(17) FIG. 4 shows the clamping block (26) engaged within the lower part of the channel (23) leaving a space above the block (26) so that a quilted sheet material folded around the block (26) will not prevent closure of the retaining member (27).

(18) FIG. 5 shows various stages in the use of the clamp.

(19) In FIG. 5A a sheet is wrapped around the lozenge-shaped block. The block is then tilted and inserted into the chamfered channel in the clamp body as shown in FIG. 5B.

(20) In FIG. 5C the block is rotated into the operative position and the sheet and lozenge-shaped block are pulled back through the channel so that the chamfer of the block engages with the chamfer of the clamp body, clamping the sheet between the lozenge-shaped block and the clamp body.

(21) In FIG. 5D the retaining member is closed, retaining the clamp body so that it cannot twist or be removed from the channel.

(22) In FIG. 5E a cord with a cord end is inserted through the bore at the end of the slot. The cord end is the positioned in the rebate/recess located in the middle of the slot. This ensures that the cord end is held centrally in the slot so that a force may be applied perpendicularly of the channel.

(23) In FIG. 5F an alternative arrangement shows a strap fitted through the channel in place of the cord. Other alternatives include webbing or hook and loop.