System and clamp for supporting articles

Abstract

A system is provided for supporting articles on a support structure comprising a number of poles. A number of clamps are releasably attached to the poles and a number of article support formations are attachable to the clamps, for supporting the articles. Each clamp is attachable to the poles by receiving a pole in a recess defined in a body of the clamp, in a clipping fashion. The clamp is held in position on the pole by inwardly resilience of arms of the clamp, and by a clasp urging ends of the arms closer together.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A system ( 10 ) for supporting at least one article, said system including: 
 support structure including at least one elongate element ( 12 );    at least one clamp ( 14 ) defining a recess ( 20 ), flanked by two resilient arms ( 22 ) and being removably attachable to the elongate element ( 12 ), the clamp ( 14 ) being removably attachable to the elongate element ( 12 ) by receiving the elongate element ( 12 ) in the recess ( 20 ) in a clipping fashion, to be releasably held in position on the elongate element ( 12 ) by inwardly resilience of the arms ( 22 ); and    an article support formation ( 16 ), attachable to the clamp ( 14 ), wherein a plurality of attachment formations in the form of a plurality of ridges ( 24 ) are defined on an outer periphery of the clamp ( 14 ), to which at least one article support formation ( 16 ) is releasably attachable, by receiving the attachment formation ( 24 ) in a complementary formation in the form of a recess ( 42 ), defined on the article support formation ( 16 ), in which the ridges ( 24 ) are receivable in a sliding fashion, characterised in that the ridges ( 24 ) and the complementary recesses ( 42 ) each have a dovetail cross-sectional profile.    
   
   
       14 . A system ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , characterised in that at least one elongate element has a non-round cross-sectional profile and a number of element engagement formations ( 56 ), are provided on the inner periphery of the clamp recess ( 20 ), to engage the cross-sectional periphery of the non-round elongate element ( 12 ), resiliently.  
   
   
       15 . A system ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the clamp ( 14 ) includes a catch ( 26 ), attachable to ends ( 28 ) of the two arms ( 22 ) and configured to exert an inward bias on the ends ( 28 ) of the arms ( 22 ), to urge them closer together and thereby assist in holding the elongate element ( 12 ) in position within the recess ( 20 ), characterised in that the catch ( 26 ) includes a main part ( 32 ), pivotally attachable to one arm ( 22 ) of the clamp ( 14 ), and a linkage part ( 30 ), pivotally attachable to the end ( 28 ) of the other arm ( 22 ) of the clamp ( 14 ), the main part ( 32 ) and linkage part ( 30 ) being pivotally connected, so that the catch ( 26 ) can operate in an over-centred configuration, in which the main part ( 32 ) and linkage part ( 30 ) can be oriented at a large angle relative to each other, when the catch ( 26 ) is in a free condition, and wherein the main part ( 32 ) and linkage part ( 30 ) can be oriented at a small angle relative to each other, when the catch ( 26 ) is in a gripping condition, with a resilient bias of the main part ( 30 ) retaining the catch ( 26 ) in the gripping condition.  
   
   
       16 . A system ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , characterised in that the support formation ( 16 ) defines at least one article engagement formation ( 40 ) which includes a clamp ( 48 ) for supporting an article by clinching it between jaws ( 50 , 52 ) of the clamp ( 48 ).  
   
   
       17 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , characterised in that it includes a light fitting ( 62 ), attachable to the clamp ( 14 ).  
   
   
       18 . A clamp ( 14 ) that is attachable to an elongate element ( 12 ) and to which an article support formation ( 16 ) is attachable according to claim  1 , the clamp ( 14 ) defining a recess ( 20 ) flanked by two resilient arms ( 22 ) so that the elongate element ( 12 ) can be received in the recess ( 20 ) in a clipping fashion, to be releasably held in position by the inwardly resilience of the arms ( 22 ), 
 wherein a plurality of attachment formations in the form of a plurality of ridges ( 24 ) are defined on an outer periphery of the clamp ( 14 ), to which at least one article support formation ( 16 ) is releasably attachable, by receiving the attachment formation ( 24 ) in a complementary formation in the form of a recess ( 42 ), defined on the article support formation ( 16 ), in which the ridges ( 24 ) are receivable in a sliding fashion, characterised in that the ridges ( 24 ) and the complementary recesses ( 42 ) each have a dovetail cross-sectional profile.