Extendable releasably affixed shade apparatus clamp and bracket system
View Patent ↗Described herein are improved clamping and bracket systems and methods of using and installing same to enable, in one embodiment, a sailing vessel to deploy a sunshade, solar cell, or other surface from a boom-mounted clamp and bracket system wherein the clamp and bracket system does not impede boom or running rigging operation and allows for changing the horizontal position of the bracket system to reposition the sunshade, solar cell or surface, without unfastening or loosening the clamp(s) once installed, all without piercing, drilling into, or otherwise damaging the boom.
1 . A non-interfering clamp comprising:
a clamp body comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion; the first clamping portion and second clamping portion each combining to define a clamp passage within the clamp body;
the non-interfering clamp configured to have an open configuration and a closed configuration and to reversibly move between the open configuration and the closed configuration via separating the first clamping portion and second clamping portion from one another and rejoining the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion; and
the clamp body defining an opening for insertion of a clamp retainer configured to cause the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to move toward one another and tighten into the closed configuration; and
an inner perimeter angled inward with respect to a clamp face of the improved clamp body at least partially surrounding an at least one side passage.
2 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 1 , further comprising wherein the clamp passage defines the at least one side passage defined from the clamp passage.
3 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 2 , further comprising wherein when the non-interfering clamp is engaged with a structure, the at least one side passage remains open and unobstructed.
4 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 1 , further comprising at least one clamp compression unit on an inner surface of the non-interfering clamp.
5 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 1 , further comprising at least one hinge joining the first clamping portion to the second clamping portion.
6 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 1 , further comprising wherein the non-interfering clamp is affixed to a boom of a vessel.
7 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 6 , further comprising wherein rigging passes through the at least one side passage of the non-interfering clamp.
8 . A method for affixing a non-interfering clamp to a boat structure comprising:
placing a non-interfering clamp adjacent to a boom on a boat in an open configuration;
the non-interfering clamp defining:
a clamp body comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion;
the first clamping portion and second clamping portion each combining to define a clamp passage within the clamp body;
the non-interfering clamp configured to have the open configuration and a closed configuration and to reversibly move between the open configuration and the closed configuration via separating the first clamping portion and second clamping portion from one another and rejoining the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion; and the clamp body defining an opening for insertion of a clamp retainer configured to cause the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to move toward one another and tighten into the closed configuration;
securing the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion around the boom by closing the clamp passage around the boom to put the clamp in the closed configuration; and tightening the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to the boom; and
defining an inner perimeter angled inward with respect to a clamp face of the improved clamp body to at least partially surround at at least one side passage.
9 . The method for affixing a non-interfering clamp to a boat structure of claim 8 , further comprising engaging rigging within the at least one side passage defined from the clamp passage.
10 . The method for affixing a non-interfering clamp to a boat structure of claim 9 , further comprising defining the at least one side passage to remain open and unobstructed when the non-interfering clamp is engaged with the boom.
11 . The method for affixing a non-interfering clamp to a boat structure of claim 8 , further comprising engaging the boom with at least one clamp compression unit defined on an inner surface of the non-interfering clamp.
12 . The method for affixing a non-interfering clamp to a boat structure of claim 8 , further comprising configuring the non-interfering clamp to have at least one hinge joining the first clamping portion to the second clamping portion.
13 . A non-interfering clamp comprising:
a clamp body comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion; the first clamping portion and second clamping portion each combining to define a clamp passage within the clamp body;
the non-interfering clamp configured to have an open configuration and a closed configuration and to reversibly move between the open configuration and the closed configuration via separating the first clamping portion and second clamping portion from one another and rejoining the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion; and
the clamp body defining an opening for insertion of a clamp retainer configured to cause the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to move toward one another and tighten into the closed configuration;
wherein the non-interfering clamp is affixed to a boom of a vessel and rigging passes through an at least one side passage of the non-interfering clamp.
14 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 13 , further comprising wherein the clamp passage defines the at least one side passage defined from the clamp passage.
15 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 14 , further comprising wherein when the non-interfering clamp is engaged with a structure, the at least one side passage remains open and unobstructed.
16 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 13 , further comprising at least one clamp compression unit on an inner surface of the non-interfering clamp.
17 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 13 , further comprising at least one hinge joining the first clamping portion to the second clamping portion.
18 . The non-interfering clamp of claim 13 , further comprising an inner perimeter angled inward with respect to a clamp face of the improved clamp body at least partially surrounding the at least one side passage.