Clamp assembly for scaffolding
A clamp assembly adapted for efficient assembly and disassembly of scaffolding includes a pair of pivotally coupled rotating clamp members and a wedge employed to temporarily hold the two clamp members in a closed position about a scaffolding pipe. One of the clamp members has a flange, and the clamp assembly includes a clevis coupled to a first scaffolding pipe with the clamp fitting around a second scaffolding pipe. The flange is received in the clevis, and the wedge fits through slots formed in the flange and the clevis to securely couple the first and second scaffolding pipes.
1 . A scaffolding clamp assembly for coupling scaffolding pipes comprising:
(a) a first clamp member having (i) a first c-shaped jaw comprising a concave inside surface, a convex outside surface, a first end, and a second end, (ii) a first flange, and (iii) an elongate slot having a first slot portion extending through a portion of the first flange;
(b) a second clamp member, said second clamp member comprising an arm and a concave engagement surface, the arm adapted to reside within the elongate slot, said second clamp member pivotally coupled to the first clamp member and adapted for rotation relative to the first clamp member between an open position and a closed position;
(c) a first clevis, the first clevis adapted to be coupled to a first horizontal pipe, wherein the first clevis comprises a pair of arms and defining a first channel extending through the first clevis, wherein said first flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the first clevis such that the first slot portion is aligned with the first channel extending through the first clevis; and
(d) a wedge adapted to be inserted into the first slot portion to hold the second clamp member in the closed position around a second horizontal pipe that is received between the first clamp member and the second clamp member, and thereby locking the first flange to the first clevis.
2 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bracket adapted to couple a spigot to the first clamp member.
3 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member is made of metal.
4 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member is made of plastic.
5 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp member further comprises a second flange with a second slot extending through the second flange, the clamp assembly further comprising a second clevis having a pair of arms and defining a second channel extending through the second clevis, wherein the second flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the second clevis such that the second slot is aligned with the second channel extending through the second clevis.
6 . The clamp assembly of claim 5 further comprising a second wedge, said second wedge adapted to be inserted into the second channel of the second clevis and said second slot extending through the second flange to lock the second flange to the second clevis.
7 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the first clamp member further comprises a coupling tube.
8 . A scaffolding clamp assembly for coupling scaffolding pipes comprising:
(a) a first clamp member having (i) a first c-shaped jaw comprising a concave inside surface, a convex outside surface, a first end, and a second end, (ii) a first flange, (iii) a first elongate slot having a first slot portion extending through a portion of the first flange, (iv) a second flange, and (v) a second slot extending through the second flange;
(b) a second clamp member, said second clamp member comprising an arm and a concave engagement surface, the arm adapted to reside within the elongate slot, said second clamp member pivotally coupled to the first clamp member and adapted for rotation relative to the first clamp member between an open position and a closed position;
(c) a first clevis, the first clevis adapted to be coupled to a first horizontal pipe, wherein the first clevis comprises a pair of arms and a defining a first channel extending through the first clevis, wherein said first flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the first clevis such that the first slot portion is aligned with the first channel extending through the first clevis;
(d) a first wedge adapted to be inserted into the first slot portion to hold the second clamp member in the closed position around a second horizontal pipe that is received between the first clamp member and the second clamp member, and thereby locking the first flange to the first clevis; and
(e) a spigot and a bracket adapted to couple the spigot to the first clamp member.
9 . The clamp assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a second clevis having a pair of arms and defining a second channel extending through the second clevis, wherein the second flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the second clevis such that the second slot is aligned with the second channel extending through the second clevis wherein said second flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the second clevis so that the second channel is aligned with the second slot.
10 . The clamp assembly of claim 9 further comprising a second wedge, wherein said second wedge is adapted to extend through the second channel and the second slot to couple said second clevis to said second flange.
11 . The clamp assembly of claim 8 wherein said bracket comprises a coupling tube.
12 . The clamp assembly of claim 11 wherein said coupling tube is adapted to receive an end of the spigot.
13 . The clamp assembly of claim 11 wherein said coupling tube has at least one detent.
14 . A clamp assembly comprising:
(a) a first clamp member having (i) a first c-shaped jaw comprising a concave inside surface, a convex outside surface, a first end, and a second end, (ii) a first flange, (iii) a first elongate slot having a first slot portion extending through a portion of the first flange and a second slot portion extending through a portion of the first c-shaped jaw, (iv) a second flange, and (v) a second slot extending through the second flange;
(b) a second clamp member, said second clamp member comprising an arm and a concave engagement surface, the arm adapted to reside within the elongate slot, said second clamp member coupled to the first clamp member and adapted for rotation relative to the first clamp member between an open position and a closed position;
(c) a first clevis comprising a pair of arms and defining a first channel extending through the first clevis, wherein the first flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the first clevis such that the first slot portion is aligned with the first channel extending through the first clevis;
(d) a second clevis comprising a pair of arms and defining a second channel extending through the second clevis, wherein the second flange is adapted to be inserted between the arms of the second clevis such that the second slot is aligned with the second channel extending through the second clevis;
(e) a first wedge adapted to be inserted into the first slot portion and the first channel to lock the first and second clamp members in the closed position and the first flange to the first clevis; and
(f) a second wedge adapted to be inserted into the second slot and second channel to lock the second flange to the second clevis.
15 . The clamp assembly of claim 14 further comprising a connecting tube coupled to the first clamp member.
16 . The clamp assembly of claim 14 further comprising a first pipe coupled to the first clevis, a second pipe coupled to the second clevis, and a third pipe held between the first clamp member and the second clamp member.
17 . The clamp assembly of claim 14 further comprising a first pipe coupled to the first clevis, a second pipe coupled to the second clevis, a third pipe held between the first clamp member and the second clamp member, a connecting tube, and a spigot coupled to the connecting tube.