Clamp for circular objects

Abstract

A clamp for holding circular objects, such as pipes or conduits, includes a falcate rod portion that engages slots in a bar portion. The rod portion has a circular central section that is between a bent end and a threaded end for engaging respective of the slots. The circular section may have a cylindrical section inner surface, which may be textured, for engaging the circular object. The bar portion also has a circular central portion, for engaging the opposite side of the circular object. The clamp is installed on a circular object by placing the circular section of the bar portion against the circular object, hooking the bent end of the rod portion into one of the slots, inserting the threaded end of the rod portion through the other slot, and tightening a nut on the threaded end to secure the clamp to the circular object.

1 . A clamp comprising: 
 a first portion having a pair of slots therein;    a second portion having a bent end and a threaded end, wherein the bent end is in one of the slots and the threaded end is in the other of the slots, and wherein the first portion and the second portion define a space therebetween for securing an object; and    a nut threadedly engaging the threaded end to secure the first portion and the second portion together.    
   
   
       2 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a bar portion.  
   
   
       3 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is a rod portion.  
   
   
       4 . The clamp of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first portion includes a circular central section between the slots;    wherein the second portion includes a curved section between the ends; and    wherein the space is a round space for receiving a round object.    
   
   
       5 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is falcate.  
   
   
       6 . The clamp of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the second portion is a rod portion that includes: 
 a curved central section; and  
 an extension from one side of the curved section, wherein the extension includes the threaded end; and  
   wherein the bent end is attached to an opposite side of the central section from the extension.    
   
   
       7 . The clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the curved central section has a cylindrical section inner surface.  
   
   
       8 . The clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical section inner surface has an angular extent of about 120°.  
   
   
       9 . The clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical section inner surface is patterned to improve gripping.  
   
   
       10 . The clamp of  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical section inner surface has a stamped cross-hatch pattern.  
   
   
       11 . The clamp of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the rod portion is formed from round stock; and    wherein the cylindrical section inner surface is a machined portion of the round stock.    
   
   
       12 . The clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the bent end includes a pair of legs angled to one another at an intervening bend.  
   
   
       13 . The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the legs are substantially at right angles to one another.  
   
   
       14 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a bar portion that includes: 
 a central circular section;    a pair of radiused bends at respective opposite ends of the circular section, bending in an opposite direction from the circular section; and    a respective pair of extensions extending outward from respective of the radiused bends, away from the circular section.    
   
   
       15 . The clamp of  claim 14 , wherein the bar portion further includes respective bar portion bent ends at distal ends of the extensions, wherein the bar portion bent ends are angled at nonzero angles relative to the respective extensions.  
   
   
       16 . The clamp of  claim 15 , wherein the bar portion bent ends are bent in opposite directions from one another.  
   
   
       17 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the bar portion bent ends are at right angles to the extensions.  
   
   
       18 . The clamp of  claim 14 , wherein the extensions are substantially in line with one another.  
   
   
       19 . The clamp of  claim 14 , wherein the slots extend fully across the radiused bends.  
   
   
       20 . A method of clamping an object, the method comprising: 
 placing a bent end of a rod portion through a first slot of a bar portion;    turning the rod portion to enclose the object between the bar portion and the rod portion, and to place a threaded end of the rod portion through a second slot of the bar portion; and    securing the portions together by tightening a nut along the threaded end, against the bar portion.    
   
   
       21 . A clamp comprising: 
 a pair of portions having respective central circular sections that define a round space therebetween for receiving a circular object;    wherein the portions mechanically interlock together on one side of the round space; and    wherein the portions are threadedly coupled together on an opposite side of the round space.    
   
   
       22 . The clamp of  claim 21 , wherein both of the portions are bar portions.  
   
   
       23 . The clamp of  claim 21 , wherein one of the portions is a bar portion, and the other of the portions is a rod portion.  
   
   
       24 . The clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the portions mechanically interlock together by an end of one of the portions being inserted into a slot in the other of the portions.  
   
   
       25 . The clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the portions mechanically interlock together by engagement of respective notches in the portions.  
   
   
       26 . The clamp of  claim 25 , wherein the notches are at respective bends of the portions.