A CLAMPING ATTACHMENT DEVICE

A CLAMPING ATTACHMENT DEVICE

The present invention relates to a clamping attachment device whereby a first item can be attached by clamping to a second item, for example the device can be used to attach a parasol to a frame of a pram or pushchair.

Conventional clamping devices such as may be used for the aforementioned purpose to clamp a first item, for example the parasol, to a second item, for example the frame of a pram or pushchair, clamp the items together at a predetermined orientation. Changing this orientation is not possible with some devices and is difficult to accomplish with others. However, it will be appreciated that for the proposed purpose, altering the orientation of a parasol with respect to the pram or pushchair is desirable as it means that the occupant can be adequately shielded from the sun at all times.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clamping attachment device which can be used not only for clamping a first item to a second item but which also permits the orientation of the first item relative to the second item to be varied in a convenient and simple manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamping attachment device for clamping a first item to a second item, the device comprising a clamp body having two parts that can be orientated relative to one another in any of a plurality of relative orientations and then clamped together, one of the parts being adapted to support the first item and the other of the parts being co-operable with a clamping member that is adapted to engage around a portion of the second item; and a tightening member that moves the clamping member relative to the clamp body to clamp the device around said portion of the second item and that also clamps the first part of the clamp body to the second part of the clamp body at the desired orientation. Preferred but non-essential features of the various aspects of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the present invention suitable for clamping a parasol to a frame of a child's pram or pushchair will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. i is a side view of a first embodiment of clamping device;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in Fig. i from the front and one side;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in Fig. i from the rear and one side;

Fig. 5 is longitudinal section along the line V-V in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section along the line VI-VI in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is perspective view of a second embodiment of clamping device shown engaged around a portion of a frame of a child's pram or pushchair;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. η but showing a clamping member of the device in an open position just prior to engagement around the frame;

Fig. 9 is longitudinal, section through the clamping device shown in Fig. 7 but with a clamping member thereof in a retracted position; and

Fig. io is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the clamping member in an open position and about to engage around a frame member. The embodiment of a clamping device i that is shown in Figs, l to 6 is suitable for clamping a parasol, umbrella or the like, hereinafter referred to as the first item, to part of the tubular frame of a pram or pushchair hereinafter referred to as the second item. To this end, the device l comprises a clamp body 2, which cooperates with a substantially U-shaped clamping member 3 that is adapted to engage around a portion of the frame and that can be moved relative to the clamp body 2 in order that the device 1 can be secured to the second item at a desired location. The clamp body 2 also comprises a housing 4 in which in which a detachable component 5, defining a female receptacle 6, is push-fitted. A leg of the first item (such as the central rod of a conventional parasol or of an attachment fitted thereto) can then be inserted into the receptacle 6. The various parts of the device 1 and its method of operation will now be described in more detail.

The clamp body 2 comprises first and second parts, 7 and 8 respectively, that can be orientated relative to one another and then clamped together in the desired orientation. These parts can be moulded from a plastics material but the clamping member 3 is preferably made from a metal bar. The first part 7 defines the housing 4, which has an aperture 9 in order that a resilient clip 10 provided on the component 5 can engage therein to hold the component 5 in place. The second part 8 is co-operable with the clamping member 3 and defines two parallel sleeves 11 through which legs 12 of the U-shaped member 3 can be moved via a pair of control knobs 13. The knobs 13 each comprise a tubular extension 14 which is internally tapped and into which is screwed one of the legs 12 of the member 3, the legs 12 being each provided with an external screw-thread. The legs 12 of the clamping member 3 are inserted into the ends of the tubular extensions 14 from the rear of the device 1 whereas the extensions 14 of the knobs 13 are pushed into the sleeves from the front of the device 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence, by rotating the knobs 13 in the sleeves 11, the clamping member 3 is screwed into and out the clamp body 2 so that the bight 15 of the U-shaped member 3 can be used to clamp the second item to the body 2. To this end, the profile i6 of the part 8 opposite the bight 15 and the shape of the bight 15 itself are shaped to fit the profile of that part of the second item the device 1 is intended to grip. In the case of a tubular frame, as in the present example, the bight 15 and the profile 16 each define a shallow, curving V-shape. In addition, the member 3 can be provided with a resilient sleeve 17 that is engaged between the portion of the second item being clamped and the member 3, both to ensure a tight grip and also to protect the item from damage.

The parts 7 and 8 of the body 2 are designed to fit together in a particular way. As indicated above, these parts 7 and 8 can be orientated relative to one another in any of a plurality of relative orientations and then clamped together. This is achieved by providing opposing annular portions 18, 19 of the parts 7 and 8 with a plurality of radially extending splines, 20 and 21, respectively that key together when the two parts 7 and 8 are clamped together. In order to hold the two parts 7 and 8 together and to ensure that the portions 18, 19 on each of the parts 7 and 8 align with one another during clamping, the part 7 is rotatably mounted on the part 8 by means of a spigot 22 which projects from the centre of the annular portion 18 and engages in socket 23 provided in the centre of the annular portion 19. It will be appreciated that the spigot 22 and socket 23 could each be provided on the opposite part 8 and 7, if desired.

The parts 7 and 8 are clamped together by means of the knobs 13 which are each provided with enlarged heads 24 that each define a face 25 that bears against a rear face 26 of the annular portion 18 of the part 7. It will be appreciated that as the knobs 13 are turned in the sleeves 11 and the clamping device 1 tightened around the second item, the legs 12 of the clamping part 3 are drawn into the clamp body 2 and the faces 25 of the knobs 13 are made to bear against opposite parts of the face 26 thereby clamping the part 7 to the part 8. In this condition, the splines 20, 21 on each of the portions 18, 19 interlock so that the part 7 can no longer be rotated relative to the part 8. Hence, the knobs 13 fulfill the dual function of not only tightening the grip of the device i to the second item but also clamping the first part 7 of the clamp body 2 to the second part 8 at the desired orientation. Conversely, when the knobs 13 are turned in the opposite direction in the sleeves, the legs 12 of the clamping part 3 are moved away from the clamp body 2 and the play between the second item and the clamping part 3 releases the pressure exerted by the faces 25 of the knobs 13 against the face 26 of the annular portion 18. The spigot 22 and socket 23 arrangement then permits the two parts 7 and 8 to be separated longitudinally sufficiently to separate the splines 20, 21 and enable the parts 7 and 8 to be rotated relative to one another.

As mentioned above, the first part 7 of the clamp body 2 defines the housing 4 in which the detachable component 5 is engaged. The component

5 is preferably moulded from a resilient plastics material and defines the receptacle 6 and a bifurcated insert 27 that is push-fitted into the housing 4.

The bifurcated nature of the insert 27 means that it is springy in order that after insertion the resilient clip 10 can spring into the aperture 9 to hold the component 5 in place. Likewise, to detach the component 5 from the housing 4 then applying pressure on the exposed part of the clip 10 through the aperture 9 to compress the insert 27 to release the clip 10 will enable the component 5 to be pulled out of the housing 4. Push fitted into the receptacle

6 is a flexible spring 28 with a holder 29 located at its free end. The spring 28, in conventional fashion, can be bent so that if the central rod of a parasol or umbrella is inserted into a socket provided in the holder 29, its canopy can be tipped into a desired position.

In use, for example to attach a parasol, umbrella or the like to part of the tubular frame of a pram or pushchair, the knobs 13 are loosened and the U-shaped clamping member 3 is located around a portion of frame where it is desired to attach the parasol. The legs 12 of the member 3 are then inserted into the tubular extensions 14 of the knobs 13. In practice, this may be carried out in the factory prior to the article being sold. Once the member 3 has been engaged around the frame, the knobs 13 can be tightened to clamp the device i to the frame in a desired located. A parasol, umbrella or other item can be attached to the device i by securing the component 5 to a leg of the item by inserting it into the receptacle 6. Again, this can be made a permanent fixture, if required. The parasol or other item is then attached to the device 1 by pushing the component 5 into the housing 4 until the clip 10 engages into the aperture 9, as described above. It will be appreciated that the device 1 can be used to attach one of a variety of items either by inserting a leg of the desired item into the component 5 or, more preferably, by securing each item to one of a plurality of components 5 so that the desired item can be readily clipped into the housing 4.

Once the first and second items have been connected together by the device 1, the device 1 can be adjusted to vary the position on the second item at which the first item is clamped and to vary the orientation of the first item relative to the second item. This is done by loosening the knobs 13 so that the grip of the clamping member 3 around the second item is slackened and the device 1 can be moved. Loosening the knobs 13 also loosens the clamping connection between the parts 7 and 8 of the clamp body 2. This enables the part 7 to be rotated relative to the part 8 by turning the spigot 22 in the socket 23. Once the desired orientation is reached and the device 1 is at the desired location on the second item, tightening the knobs 13 by screwing them into the sleeves 11 will both tighten the grip of the clamping member 3 and interlock the splines 20 and 21 of the annular portions 18 and 19. This then prevents any further relative rotational movement of the parts 7 and 8 and also clamps the device 1 to the second item.

The second embodiment of a clamping device 31 that is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is also suitable for clamping a first item such as a parasol, umbrella or the like to a second item that is typically part of the tubular frame 32 of a pram or pushchair. As in the first embodiment, the device 31 comprises a clamp body 33 comprising first and second parts, 34 and 35 respectively, that can be orientated relative to one another and then clamped together in the desired orientation. These parts 34 and 35 are also provided with opposing annular portions 36, 37 that each define a plurality of radially extending splines which key together when the two parts 34 and 35 are clamped together. The two parts 34 and 35 are mounted on and therefore aligned by means of an axial bolt 38 that is also used to clamp the parts 34 and 35 together in cooperation with a knob 39. The knob 39 is internally tapped and screwed on to the end of the bolt 38, the head 40 of the bolt 38 being located in a countersink formed in the body of a clamping member 41 used to engage the frame 32. The head 40 of the bolt 38 is retained within the countersink by a plug 42. As in the first embodiment, the knob 39 has an enlarged head shaped for manual adjustment and an underface 43 that bears against a surface 44 defined by the part 34 of the clamp body 33.

The clamping member 41 is slidably located in a sleeve 45 defined by the part 35 of the clamp body 33 and comprises a substantially U-shaped portion 46 adapted to engage around a portion of the second item such as the frame 32, as shown in the drawings. However, unlike the first embodiment, in this second embodiment the U-shaped portion 46 is hinged at one end 47 to the clamping member 41 and at its other end is provided with a resilient clip 48 that snap-fits into and out of a complementarily- shaped, clip-aperture 49 formed on an opposite side of the clamping member 41. When the knob 39 is rotated to clamp the two parts 34 and 35 together, the clamping member 41 is withdrawn into the sleeve 45 so that a bight 50 of the U-shaped portion 46 can be used to clamp the second item, such as the frame 32, to the clamp body 33. The profile 51 of the rim of the sleeve 45 opposite the bight 50 and the shape of the bight 50 itself are therefore adapted to fit the profile of that part of the second item the device 31 is intended to grip. In the case of a tubular frame 32, as in the present example, the bight 50 and the profile 51 each define a shallow, curving V-shape. To prevent damage and to provide a good grip, the U-shaped portion 46 is provided with a resilient cushion 52 that contacts the surface of the second item being clamped. The part 34 of the clamp body 33 is enlarged at one side to accommodate a housing 53 in which a detachable component 54 is secured. The component 54 comprises a flexible spring 55 on which is mounted a socket 56 and is identical to the component 5 described above. Hence, in the same way as before, a leg of the first item, such as the central rod of a conventional parasol or of an attachment fitted thereto, can be inserted into the receptacle socket 56 and the spring 55 can be bent to tip the canopy of the parasol into a desired position.

In use, the device 31 operates in a similar way to the device 1. For example to attach a parasol, umbrella or the like to part of the tubular frame 32 of a pram or pushchair, the knob 39 is loosened and the U-shaped portion 46 is clipped around a portion of frame 32 where it is desired to attach the parasol. With a loosened knob 39, the clamping member 41 protrudes from the sleeve 45, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10. In addition, the two parts 34 and 35 of the clamp body 33 can be rotated relative to one another so that the part 34 can be located in a desired orientation relative to the frame 32. The knob 39 can then be tightened on the bolt 38 which has the effect of drawing the clamping member 41 into the sleeve 45 to cause the frame 32 to be clamped between the bight 50 and the profile 51. In addition, the splines of the annular portions 36 and 37 interlock, which prevents any further relative rotational movement of the parts 34 and 35, as the underface 43 of the knob 39 tightens against the surface 44.

It will be appreciated that although the device 1, 31 has been designed primarily for the purpose of securing a parasol, umbrella or the like to a frame of a child's pram or pushchair, it can be used to attach, by clamping, many different types of items together and to permit these items to be orientated to one another as desired.