Sheet Material Clamp With Radial Locking Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sheet materials, such as tarps, often suffer from damaged grommets or lack them entirely, making it difficult to securely protect items during storage or transport, as existing solutions fail to effectively grip and secure these materials without causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A clamp system comprising first and second clamping members with gripping portions, a deflectable release lever, and a slot mechanism that allows for adjustable clamping pressure, enabling secure gripping of sheet materials without embedded grommets, and includes a swivel joint and utility loop for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grommets are permanently embedded in sheet material for securing, then the material can be secured to items, but the grommets may be damaged or torn out as the material ages or is stressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the securing function from the sheet material itself by using a separate clamp device that grips the material externally. The clamp includes a first clamp member with a gripping portion that engages the sheet material, and a second clamp member that can be connected to a securing device, eliminating the need for embedded grommets in the sheet material.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp acts as an intermediary device between the sheet material and the securing device. Instead of directly attaching securing devices to grommets in the sheet material, the clamp provides a mechanical interface that distributes stress and prevents direct damage to the sheet material while maintaining secure attachment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If embedded grommets are used for securing sheet material, then securing is possible, but materials lacking grommets cannot be effectively secured
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed with a universal gripping portion that can engage various types of sheet materials regardless of whether they have embedded grommets or not. The gripping portion features teeth that can bite into the material surface, providing a reliable mechanical engagement that works with plain sheet material, material with grommets, or other variants.
3Force
If excessive force is applied to secure sheet material with grommets, then securing strength is improved, but the grommets are more likely to be torn out
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp distributes the securing force across multiple contact points including the gripping portion teeth that engage the sheet material surface and the connection point for the securing device. This distribution of force prevents excessive stress concentration on any single point, particularly avoiding the tearing out of grommets while maintaining adequate securing strength.
4Reliability
If a simple clip is provided for gripping sheet material without grommets, then materials without grommets can be secured, but the gripping force may be insufficient for reliable protection
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp members feature curved or angled surfaces that concentrate and multiply the applied force. The first clamp member has a gripping portion with teeth arranged on a curved surface, and the connection between clamp members involves angled surfaces that mechanical advantage, enabling the generation of high gripping force from moderate input force applied to the securing device.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a clamp for clamping to sheet material, such as tarps. The clamp includes first and second clamping members each having a gripping portion that clamp the sheet material between one another in a clamped position. The first and second clamping members are held in the clamped position by an interaction between radial locking teeth on a deflectable release lever of one of the clamp members and a tooth in a slot of the other clamping member.