Pole Clamp

Abstract

A pole clamp has two legs wherebetween poles of different diameters may be positioned. One of the legs is configured to grip one side surface of the pole. The other leg of the clamp member has a channel through which a threaded shaft is movable along a longitudinal axis toward the one leg. Also formed in the other leg is a bore orthogonally to the channel. A guide that may be in the form of a half nut is movable within the bore, with the threaded surface of the half nut being in a threaded relationship with the threads of the shaft, when the guide is in a first position, so that the shaft is movable along the axis when it is turned. The guide is movable to a second position to disengage its threaded surface from the shaft. When thus disengaged, the shaft is movable bidirectionally along the axis by simple push and pull movements. A second embodiment of the pole clamp utilizes a yoke slider guide having two arms with a narrow gap and a wider gap between the two arms.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to clamps and more particularly to a pole clamp that can readily attach a medical device to poles of different diameters.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Poles for attaching devices come in various sizes, for example, 0.5 inch and 1.5 inch. Thus, for the different diameter poles to be used in hospitals, different U-shaped frames each with a simple screw-threaded shaft mounted to one arm are used to attach medical instruments to poles of different diameters. Each pole is usually fitted between the two arms of the clamp and the knob on the screw is rotated to bring the opposite end of the shaft to bear on the pole and clamp it firmly against the inside of the opposite arm.[0003]The problem with these clamps is the need to twist or rotate the threaded shaft through multiple turns in order to adjust the clamp between the different sized poles. Also, the need to provide multiple sized clamps to cover all of the poles that may be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The pole clamp is a simple and easy-to-use device that can be attached and removed from a pole easily. It is adaptable to different pole diameters and is a cost-effective manufacturing process. The clamp has a U-shaped design with two legs, one of which is V-shaped to hold the pole securely. It also has a channel through which a threaded shaft or screw can slide, and a mechanism that can be moved to different positions to guide the movement of the shaft. The clamp can be used with poles of different diameters by simply moving the actuator mechanism to disengage the guide from the shaft. Overall, the pole clamp simplifies the attachment and removal process of a clamp from a pole and reduces the effort required.

Problems solved by technology

The problem with these clamps is the need to twist or rotate the threaded shaft through multiple turns in order to adjust the clamp between the different sized poles.

Also, the need to provide multiple sized clamps to cover all of the poles that may be used in a hospital environment can be a problem for the user if she does not have the correct clamp, and for the manufacturer, due to the need to manufacture different clamps to fit onto the different sized poles.

However, those pole clamps are either not adaptable to be used with different diameter poles, or are designed to require a myriad of parts.

Images