Adjustable clamp
View Patent ↗A clamp comprising: (a) one or more rail clamps that are configured to contact one or more rails of a tonneau system; (b) one or more bed clamps that are configured to contact a bed flange of a bed of a vehicle, the one or more bed clamps being movable relative the one or more rail clamps so that a space between the one or more rail clamps and the one or more bed clamps can be increased and decreased, the one or more bed clamps each including: (i) a contact portion that when in a locked position has both a vertical contact location where the contact portion contacts a vertical portion of the bed flange and a horizontal contact location where the contact portion contacts a horizontal portion of the bed flange; and (ii) a movement leg in communication with the contact portion, the movement leg supporting the contact portion so that the contact portion is vertically movable relative to the movement leg.
1. A clamp comprising:
a. one or more rail clamps that are configured to contact one or more rails of a tonneau system;
b. one or more bed clamps that are configured to contact a bed flange of a bed of a vehicle, the one or more bed clamps being movable relative the one or more rail clamps so that a space between the one or more rail clamps and the one or more bed clamps can be increased and decreased, the one or more bed clamps each including:
i. a contact portion that when in a locked position has both a vertical contact location where the contact portion contacts a vertical portion of the bed flange and a horizontal contact location where the contact portion contacts a horizontal portion of the bed flange; and
ii. a movement leg in communication with the contact portion, the movement leg supporting the contact portion so that the contact portion is vertically movable relative to the movement leg.
2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is free of rotational movement relative to the movement leg; the movement leg, the contact portion, or both are free of any joints or connections that rotationally move; or both.
3. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion extends from a contact leg and the contact leg connects to the movement leg.
4. The clamp of claim 3 , wherein the contact leg includes a locking portion and the movement leg includes a locking portion that forms a complementary fit with the contact portion of the contact leg to prevent movement of the contact leg relative to the movement leg.
5. The clamp of claim 3 , wherein one or more adjustment devices extend between and connect the movement leg to the contact leg.
6. The clamp of claim 5 , wherein the movement leg, the contact leg, or both include one or more adjustment cavities so that a position of the contact leg is adjustable relative to the movement leg.
7. The clamp of claim 4 , wherein the locking portion of the contact leg and the locking portion of the movement leg include a plurality of teeth that connect together to prevent movement.
8. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein a top of the movement leg has a chamfer that extends at an angle.
9. The clamp of claim 8 , wherein the angle is about 70 degrees or less relative to a rear side of a locking portion, and the rear side of the locking portion is located opposite a plurality of teeth on the locking portion.
10. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion includes an arcuate side having a radius.
11. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion includes an angled side having a bottom surface and an upper surface that extend at an angle relative to each other.
12. The clamp of claim 11 , wherein the angle is an acute angle.
13. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is connected to a locking portion and a part of the contact portion extends outward from a plane of the locking portion.
14. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rail clamps and the one or more bed clamps are connected by one or more adjustment devices.
15. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the one or more bed clamps move towards or away from the one or more rail clamps by movement of the one or more adjustment devices.
16. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the one or more bed clamps are only connected to the one or more rail clamps by the one or more adjustment devices.
17. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein one or more rotation arms extend from the one or more rail clamps, the one or more bed clamps, or both.
18. The clamp of claim 17 , wherein one or more support arms are connected to and extend from the one or more rotation arms.
19. The clamp of claim 18 , wherein the one or more support arms include one or more positioner adjusters and one or more positioner supports that adjust the one or more support arms to prevent rotation of the clamp, to orient the clamp relative to the bed flange, a rail, or both.
20. The clamp of claim 18 , wherein the one or more support arms include one or more positioner stops that assist in holding the clamp, the one or more support arms, or both in place once a position of the clamp is set.