Adjustable pipe clamp assembly

Abstract

An adjustable clamp assembly capable of securing various sized cylindrical members is generally formed from a high strength plastic material dispensing the need for a cushion insert for the cylindrical member disposed therebetween. The clamp assembly contains a pair of unitary clamp halves having an inner surface contoured to adequately contact the surface of various sized cylindrical members to provide support when clamping forces are applied. The clamp halves can be interlockingly engageable with one another to enhance the cylindrical member size adjustment capability.

1 . An adjustable clamp assembly for securing cylindrical members having variously sized outer diameters to an elongate U-shaped support channel, the clamp assembly comprising: 
 a unitary first clamp half having a first end slidably engageable to the support channel, a second end spaced apart from the channel, and an inner surface for mating engagement with the cylindrical member;    a unitary second clamp half having a corresponding first end slidably engaged to the support channel, a corresponding second end, and an inner surface opposing the first clamp half inner surface,    an attachment region formed at the second end of each of the first and second clamp halves for coupling the first and second clamp halves together; and    a fastener cooperating with the first and second clamp half attachment regions to effectuate fastening engagement between the first and second clamp halves;    wherein the first clamp half comprises at least two ribs and the second clamp half comprises at least one rib, the first clamp half ribs being generally aligned with the second clamp half ribs such that the first and second clamp half ribs can be interleaved relative to one other when the clamp halves are urged together along the channel axis.    
     
     
         2 .- 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of each clamp half comprises a primary contact face and a secondary contact face, wherein the primary contact face faces generally downward in the direction of the channel at a predetermined angle while the secondary contact face faces generally upward away from the channel at another predetermined angle.  
     
     
         5 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the primary contact face of each clamp half is generally arcuate, and the secondary contact face of each clamp half is generally planar.  
     
     
         6 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the primary contact face of each clamp half is generally planar, and the secondary contact face of each clamp half is generally arcuate.  
     
     
         7 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the primary contact face of each clamp half is generally arcuate, and the secondary contact face of each clamp half is generally arcuate.  
     
     
         8 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least the first and second clamp half primary contact faces when the clamp is slidably adjusted to secure the cylindrical member to the support channel.  
     
     
         9 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second clamp half secondary contact faces further engage the cylindrical member when the clamp halves are urged even closer together.  
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp half ribs contain alignment grooves and the second clamp half ribs contain corresponding alignment tabs which mate with the alignment grooves.  
     
     
         13 .- 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . An adjustable clamp assembly for securing cylindrical members of various size to an elongate U-shaped support channel, the clamp comprising: 
 a unitary first clamp half formed from plastic having a first end slidably engageable with a support channel along a channel axis, a second end spaced apart from the channel, at least two ribs, and an inner surface matingly engageable with the cylindrical members of various size, the inner surface including a primary contact face and a secondary contact face;    a unitary second clamp half formed from plastic having a corresponding first end slidably engageable with the support channel along the channel axis, a corresponding second end, at least one rib interleavable with the at least two ribs of the first clamp half, and an inner surface opposing the first clamp half inner surface and having a primary contact face and a secondary contact face, each clamp half having an attachment region formed at the second end for coupling the first and second clamp halves together; and    a fastener cooperating with the attachment regions to effectuate fastening engagement between the first clamp half and the second clamp half;    wherein the cylindrical members of various size are interposed between the first and second clamp half inner surfaces such that each clamp half is slidably movable toward one another along the channel axis until the opposing inner surfaces matingly engage the cylindrical members of various size, the first clamp half interlockingly engageable with the second clamp half for securing cylindrical members of various size.    
     
     
         20 . The adjustable clamp assembly of claim  10 , wherein the first clamp half ribs contain alignment grooves and the second clamp half ribs contain corresponding alignment tabs which mate with the alignment grooves when the clamp halves are urged together along the channel axis.  
     
     
         21 . The adjustable clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the primary contact face and secondary contact face of each clamp half is generally planar.