Clamp having multiple contact features
A clamping system includes a mast, a bracket clamp engageable with the mast, the bracket clamp including a receiver for receiving a sign, a compression assembly for compressing the mast and the receiver towards each other, and a compression element movable relative to the receiver by the compression assembly, the compression element contacting a side surface of the mast via a plurality of contact features, each contact feature contacting the side surface of the mast at a distinct location on the side surface of the mast.
1. A clamping system for securing a portion of a sign, comprising:
a mast;
a bracket clamp engageable with the mast, the bracket clamp including a receiver for receiving said portion of said sign;
a compression assembly for compressing the mast and the receiver towards each other; and
a compression element movable relative to the receiver by the compression assembly, the compression element contacting a side surface of the mast via a plurality of contact features, each contact feature contacting the side surface of the mast at a distinct, non-continuous point on the side surface of the mast.
2. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the clamping system is attached to a sign stand.
3. The clamping system of claim 2 , wherein the sign stand is attached to two clamping systems, wherein the mast is attached to a first clamping system in a first orientation and the mast is attached to a second clamping system in a second orientation.
4. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the clamping system receives and supports a section of a rigid sign.
5. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the mast includes a first mast section and a second mast section, and a first clamping system is attached to the first mast section and a second clamping system is attached to the second mast section.
6. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element is made from steel.
7. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the mast is made from aluminum.
8. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element includes three contact features.
9. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element includes four contact features.
10. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element includes a spherically-shaped section.
11. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element includes a cylindrically-shaped section.
12. The clamping system of claim 1 , wherein the compression element includes a plurality of arms, each arm including one or more contact features.
13. A clamping system for securing a portion of a sign, comprising:
a mast;
a bracket clamp engageable with the mast, the bracket clamp including a receiver for supporting said portion of said sign;
a compression assembly for compressing the mast and the receiver towards each other; and
a compression element movable relative to the receiver by the compression assembly, the compression element contacting a side surface of the mast with a plurality of contact features, each contact feature contacting the side surface of the mast at a distinct, non-continuous point closer to an edge of the side surface of the mast than to a center of the side surface of the mast.
14. The clamping system of claim 13 , wherein a sign stand is attached to two clamping systems, wherein the mast is attached to a first clamping system in a first orientation and the mast is attached to a second clamping system in a second orientation, the first orientation being approximately 180 degrees relative to the second orientation.
15. The clamping system of claim 13 , wherein the clamping system receives and supports a section of a rigid sign.
16. The clamping system of claim 13 , wherein the mast is made from aluminum.
17. The clamping system of claim 13 , wherein the compression element includes four contact features.
18. A clamping system for removably attaching a mast to a receiver, said clamping system comprising:
a mast;
a bracket clamp at least partially surrounding the mast;
a compression assembly operatively associated with the bracket clamp; and
a compression element movable by the compression assembly, the compression element contacting a side surface of the mast with a plurality of contact features, each contact feature contacting the side surface of the mast at a distinct, non-continuous point on the side surface of the mast.
19. The clamping system of claim 18 , wherein the clamping system receives and supports a section of a rigid sign and the mast is made from aluminum.
20. The clamping system of claim 18 , wherein the compression element includes four contact features.
21. The clamping system of claim 18 , wherein the compression element includes three contact features.
22. A method for securing a portion of a sign, the method comprising:
attaching a bracket clamp to a mast, the bracket clamp being operatively associated with a compression assembly including a compression element;
translating, using the compression assembly, the compression element towards the mast; and
contacting the mast with portions of the compression element, the compression element contacting a side surface of the mast via a plurality of contact features, each contact feature contacting the side surface of the mast at a distinct, non-continuous point on the side surface of the mast.