Compact support clamp with rotating equipment attachment and jaw operator

Abstract

The device utilizes a thruster cylinder driven by a enlarged knob and terminating in a thruster plate to clamp to a support. Provision is made to attach a device to the clamp through a rotating index wheel which can lock the device by receiving a tang from a trigger lever at a selected increment of rotation. A second embodiment has two index wheels so that the attached device can be displaced in one of four directions to avoid conflict with other devices on the same support. The second axis is normally used to return a displaced device to an upright orientation.

1 . A compact clamp for mounting and positioning a structure on a support, comprising:
 a clamp body having a generally C-shaped profile with a fixed jaw and a moveable thruster plate adapted to capture a support between said jaw and plate,   a thruster cylinder rotateably received through said clamp body but captured against axial movement and having threads that surround a screw received in said cylinder and threadably engaging said cylinder so that when the cylinder is rotated the screw is advanced or retracted to move said jaw into and out of engagement with said support,   a first mount plate structurally connected to said clamp body and adapted to attach said clamp body to a load to be mounted on said support.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         6 . The compact clamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said thruster plate having a central curved section for engagement with generally cylindrical supports and at least one flat terminal section for engagement with planar supports.   
     
     
         7 . The compact clamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a knob for rotating the thruster cylinder   said thruster cylinder having at least one nub that protrudes from said thruster cylinder,   a lock received in said clamp body and having a lock lever mounted for rotation into and out of interference with the rotational path of said nub.   
     
     
         8 . The compact clamp according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said lock is received in said clamp body adjacent to said thruster cylinder.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The compact clamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an enlarged knob attached to said thruster cylinder to facilitate rotation of said thruster cylinder by hand.   
     
     
         11 . The compact clamp according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a knurled extension on said enlarged knob and having a smaller diameter than said enlarged knob to facilitate rapid rotation of said enlarged knob when there is low resistance to rotation.   
     
     
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         15 . The compact clamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said thruster plate having a central curved section for engagement with generally cylindrical supports and at least one flat terminal section for engagement with planar supports.   
     
     
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