Wedge clamp for securing safety guards around industrial equipment

Abstract

A device for securing safety guards around machinery is described which includes a portable wedge clamp device which is inserted through both the safety guard and the post. The portable wedge clamp device includes a base wedge member and a corresponding drive wedge member. A set screw is used to prevent the drive wedge member from moving and becoming unlocked.

Claims

1. A wedge clamp comprising: (a) a base wedge member; and (b) a cooperating drive wedge member; wherein said base wedge member further comprises a threaded end, a shaft end, a first arm and a second arm, wherein said first and second arms extend from said shaft end, wherein said drive wedge member is moveable between an initial open or unlocked position and a closed or locked position, wherein when said drive wedge member is in an open or unlocked position, said drive member is oriented in line with said base wedge member, wherein when said drive wedge member is in a closed or locked position, said drive wedge member is perpendicular to said base wedge member, and wherein said drive wedge member further comprises a bullet-shaped end and a blunt end further defining a central channel having at least one notch.

2. The wedge clamp according to claim 1 wherein a pin extends through said first arm thereby engaging said at least one notch.

3. The wedge clamp according to claim 2 wherein a set screw extends through said first arm to thereby lock and prevent said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

4. The wedge clamp according to claim 3 wherein a tie wrap is passed through said central channel and around said first arm and said second arm to prevent said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

5. The wedge clamp according claim 4 wherein said pin extends through said first arm and said second arm thereby engaging said at least one notch.

6. The wedge clamp according to claim 5 wherein said set screw extends through said first arm to press firmly against said drive wedge member thereby preventing said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

7. The wedge clamp according to claim 4 wherein said set screw extends through said first arm to press firmly against said drive wedge member thereby preventing said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

8. The wedge clamp according claim 3 wherein said pin extends through said first arm and said second arm thereby engaging said at least one notch.

9. The wedge clamp according to claim 8 wherein said set screw extends through said first arm to press firmly against said drive wedge member thereby preventing said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

10. The wedge clamp according to claim 3 wherein said set screw extends through said first arm to press firmly against said drive wedge member thereby preventing said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

11. The wedge clamp according to claim 2 wherein a tie wrap is passed through said central channel and around said first arm and said second arm to prevent said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

12. The wedge clamp according claim 11 wherein said pin extends through said first arm and said second arm thereby engaging said at least one notch.

13. The wedge clamp according claim 2 wherein said pin extends through said first arm and said second arm thereby engaging said at least one notch.

14. The wedge clamp according to claim 1 wherein a tie wrap is passed through said central channel and around said first arm and said second arm to prevent said drive wedge member from being moved to said initial open or unlocked position.

Description

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosed wedge clamp may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wedge clamp in closed position.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of the wedge clamp in closed position.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the wedge clamp in closed position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side view of the wedge clamp in closed position.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wedge clamp in open position.

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of the wedge clamp in open position.

(8) FIG. 7 is a top view of the wedge clamp in open position.

(9) FIG. 8 is a right side view of the wedge clamp in open position.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wedge clamp in closed position and tie wrap.

(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of the wedge clamp in closed position and tie wrap.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the post and safety guard showing the wedge clamp in open position.

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the post and safety guard showing the wedge clamp in closed and locked position.

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the wedge clamp in closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(15) FIG. 14 is a front view of the wedge clamp in closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(16) FIG. 15 is a top view of the wedge clamp in closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(17) FIG. 16 is a right side view of the wedge clamp in closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(18) FIG. 17 is a right side view along section A-A of the wedge clamp in closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a portable wedge clamp device 2 comprising a base wedge member 4 and a cooperating drive wedge member 6 in its final closed and locked position.

(20) The base wedge member 4 has a first end 8, which can be threaded, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 5-7, 9, and 10, a first arm 10 and second arm 12 forming a generally U-shaped portion or slot at the shaft end 14.

(21) The cooperating drive wedge member 6 has a bullet-shaped end 16 and a blunt end 18 defining a central channel having a plurality of notches 20.

(22) A pin 22 extends through the first arm 10 and second arm 12 and engages the notches 20. The pin 22 is shown shaded in FIGS. 5, 6, and 12 to illustrate that the pin is recessed within the first arm 10 and second arm 10 when engaged with the notches 20. Shading is omitted from the remaining Figures for clarity.

(23) The cooperating drive wedge member 6 moves from an initial open or unlocked position where the drive wedge member 6 is oriented in line with the base wedge member 4 and a closed position where the drive wedge member 6 is perpendicular to the base wedge member 4.

(24) A set screw 24 extends through first arm 10 to lock the cooperating drive wedge member 6 by preventing the drive wedge member 6 from returning to its initial open position oriented in line with the base wedge member 4.

(25) Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the portable wedge clamp device 2 is shown in more detail. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the set screw 24 after it has been tightened to lock the drive wedge member 6 in place.

(26) Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, the portable wedge clamp device 2 is shown in its open and unlocked position. The set screw 24 has been loosened so that the drive wedge member 6 can move freely in place.

(27) Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an optional tie wrap 24 can be used to wrap through the central channel and around the first arm 10 and second arm 12 to provide additional security.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in use the portable wedge clamp device 2 is used to fasten a safety guard 30 to a post 28.

(29) Referring to FIG. 11, the portable wedge clamp device 2 is shown in its open or unlocked position where the drive wedge member 6 is oriented in line with the base wedge member 4 and both are inserted through a hole 32 in the post 28 and through a corresponding hole 34 in the safety guard 30.

(30) One the drive wedge member has been completely inserted through the hole 34 in the safety guard 30, the portable wedge clamp device 2 is ready to be placed in the closed position and locked.

(31) Referring to FIG. 12, the drive wedge member 6 is rotated so that it is perpendicular to the base wedge member 4. The set screw 24 is then tightened to secure the drive wedge member 6 in place.

(32) Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention where the set screw 24 extends through first arm 10 to press firmly against the cooperating drive wedge member 6, thereby preventing the drive wedge member 6 from returning to its initial open position oriented in line with the base wedge member 4.

(33) Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17, the portable wedge clamp device 2 is shown in more detail. FIGS. 14 and 15 show the set screw 24 after it has been tightened to lock the drive wedge member 6 in place.

(34) Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.