Sheet material clamp and method for dynamic binding
A clamp and method for dynamically binding overlapping sheet materials is disclosed. The clamp includes a female clamp member with opposing corners, a leg extending inwardly from one corner, and an arm extending outwardly. A male clamp member features opposing corners and a leg configured to interact with the female clamp member through an opening. The clamp dynamically generates pinching forces that increase proportionally with forces acting on the sheet materials. Assembly is achieved by mating the clamp members and engaging the corners to pinch the sheet materials, while disassembly is facilitated by torsional forces applied to the arm and male leg. A chamfered interior portion on the female leg allows smooth rotation during assembly and disassembly. The clamp is reusable, easy to assemble and disassemble, and compatible with thin materials such as plastics, fabrics, rubbers, metals, and composites.
1 . A clamp for dynamically binding overlapping sheet materials, comprising:
a female clamp member having opposing female corners, a leg, and an arm;
a male clamp member having opposing male corners and a leg;
wherein forces applied to the overlapping sheet materials generate pinching forces between the female and male clamp members by operation of opposing torsional forces generated from the legs of the male and female clamps, the pinching forces increasing in proportional response to the applied forces.
2 . The clamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chamfered interior portion of the leg of the female clamp configured to facilitate rotation of the female clamp member relative to the male clamp member during assembly or disassembly.
3 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the female clamp member and the male clamp member can be separated by applying opposing torsional forces to the arm of the female clamp member and the leg of the male clamp member.
4 . The clamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opening of the female clamp member between one of the opposing female corners and the leg of the female clamp member, wherein the male clamp member is inserted into and removed from the female clamp member through the opening of the female clamp member.
5 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the leg of the male clamp member extends through an opening of the female clamp member.
6 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the leg of the female clamp member extends inwardly from one of the opposing female corners.
7 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the arm of the female clamp member extends outwardly from one of the opposing female corners.
8 . A clamp for dynamically binding overlapping sheet materials, comprising:
a female clamp member having opposing female corners, a leg, and an arm;
a male clamp member having opposing male corners and a leg;
a first mated pair of corners comprising one of the opposing male and female corners;
a second mated pair of corners comprising the other opposing male and female corners;
wherein the overlapping sheet materials free terminal end portions positioned within the mated pairs of corners and opposing forces applied to the overlapping sheet materials generate pinching forces between the first and second mated pair of corners for securing the free terminal end portions of the overlapping sheet materials.
9 . The clamp of claim 8 , wherein the pinching forces increase in proportional response to the applied forces acting on the overlapping sheet materials.
10 . The clamp of claim 8 , wherein the pinching forces increase as a result of the legs of the female and male clamp members in proportional response to the applied forces acting on the overlapping sheet materials.
11 . The clamp of claim 8 , wherein the leg of the male clamp member extends through an opening in the female clamp member.
12 . The clamp of claim 8 , wherein the leg of the female clamp member is chamfered to facilitate rotation of the female clamp member relative to the male clamp member during assembly or disassembly.
13 . The clamp of claim 8 , further comprising:
an opening of the female clamp member between the first and second pair of mated corners, wherein the male clamp member is inserted into and removed from the female clamp member through the opening of the female clamp member.