FORM2THE PATENTS ACT, 1970(39 of 1970)&The Patents Rules, 2003COMPLETE SPECIFICATION(See section 10; rule 13)
Title of the invention - "CLAMP WITH INTEGRAL POSITION LOCKING"
2. Applicant(a) NAME: LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED(b) NATIONALITY : An Indian Company(c) ADDRESS : L&T House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001,State of Maharashtra, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clamping device for locking/latching electrical connectors, digital current switch and the like at variable angular positions having swiveling action. More particularly, the invention relates to a device, which can have different mounting position at an angular interval to provide flexibility to end-user during mounting.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
US patent 4,508,418 details a releasable position locking connector assembly wherein the male connector has a releasable lock means on its shank. The lock means includes a plurality of radially extending tongues extending outwardly from such shrank. The tongues are compressible to fit within the bore of the female connector during assembly and disassembly of the connector. The female connector includes a recess or chamber in the bore for receiving the tongues to lock the connectors together, and a flange against which the tongues may react to enable compression of the tongues and disassembly of the connectors.
However, the said US patent has certain limitations. It discloses a releasable position locking connector assembly in which insertion of male part into female part can only be done in a single position.
Further, it provides locking only at a single position.
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Thus there is a need to provide an integral position locking mechanism by which electrical connectors, digital current switch and the like can be located at variable angular positions for ease of operation.
The present inventors have found that providing appropriate groove and flexible rib in the clamp and protrusions on device enclosures desired angular position locking can be achieved.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device so as to achieve integral position locking.
Another object of the present invention is to provide locking at pre-determined intervals.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide insertion of enclosure assemblies into the clamp at any desirable angular position.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide locking means such that a predetermined minimum force is sufficient to change the position.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a clamping device for use in connectors and/or digital current switch and the like comprising : base plane
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wherein said base plane comprises plural limbs having latch profile protruding out laterally and flexible rib comprising groove means;
an enclosure housing being mounted on said base plane bearing a transverse relation to the base plane
wherein said enclosure housing comprises a circular slot
adapted to snap-fit the limbs;
protrusion ribs provided on the outer surface of said
enclosure housing so as to get co-operatively latched in
the groove means provided on the flexible rib on the base
plane.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a clamping component comprising
plural limbs having latch profile protruding out laterally
and
flexible rib comprising groove means.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided an enclosure housing comprising:
a circular slot adapted to snap-fit in limbs of clamping
component;
protrusion ribs provided on the outer surface of said
enclosure housing so as to get latched in the clamping
component.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention the clamp comprises a base plane and two limbs protruding
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transversely from the base plane. Limbs comprise latch profiles protruding out in a lateral manner from the limbs located on the base plane.
Another embodiment of the present invention describes enclosure comprising housing/cover provided with a circular slot in which clamp adopting the latch profile gets snap-fitted. Semi-circular protrusions ribs are provided on the surface of housing for co-operative latching and keeping the enclosure at desired angular positions.
Yet in another embodiment of the present invention the clamp is provided with a flexible rib at the center with a groove where semi circular protrusion ribs provided on the circular portions of the enclosures get latched and keep the device at the position when the enclosure is mounted in a transverse manner on the base plane. The flexible rib provided on the clamp is an integral part of the clamp. For changing position of the device, a force of appropriate magnitude (eg. at least 2 kg) is sufficient to unlatch the device from the clamp and to get latched at the next position. The semi circular protrusion ribs are placed at every 15° interval approximately along total band of 180°. The flexible rib of the clamp provides an appropriate force on enclosure unit for holding it firmly at different angular positions. The flexible rib comprises an undulating profile which reaches to a suitable height adapted to provide predetermined sag and recovery so as to lock the enclosure at desired angles.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 1 illustrates the isometric view of the clamping device of the present invention.
Figures 2a illustrate the top view of the clamp.
Figure 2b(i) and 2b(ii) illustrates the section views of the clamp.
Figure 2b(i)X illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the clamp.
Figure 2c(i) and 2c(ii) illustrates the front views of the clamp.
Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e and 3f illustrate the integral position locking at various angular positions with the clamping device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 1 shows the enclosure (1) comprising a circular slot (8) mounted on the clamp component (2) . Limbs (5) accommodate the enclosure (1) in the gap intermediate to the limbs (5). Limbs (5) comprises latch profile (7).
Figure 2a shows the flexible rib (3) and groove (4) located on the base plane (6) . Groove (4) and rib (3) are also shown in the enlarged view in figure 2b(i)X.
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The invention has been described in a preferred form only and many variations may be made in the invention, which will still be comprised within its spirit. The invention is
not limited to the details cited above. The slots and angles herein described may be replaced by its technical equivalence and values and yet the invention can be performed. The structure thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all the details may furthermore be replaced with elements having technical equivalence. In practice the materials and dimensions may be any according to the requirements, which will still be Comprised within its true spirit.
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WE CIAIM
1. A clamping device for use in connectors and/or digital
current switch and the like comprising :
base plane
wherein said base plane comprises plural limbs having
latch profile protruding out laterally and
flexible rib comprising groove means;
an enclosure housing being mounted on said base plane bearing a transverse relation to the base plane
wherein said enclosure housing comprises a circular slot adapted to snap-fit the limbs;
protrusion ribs provided on the outer surface of said enclosure housing so as to get co-operatively latched in the groove means provided on the flexible rib on the base plane.
2. Clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribs being semi circular protrusion ribs located on the outer surface of the enclosure housing being located at predetermined intervals.
3. Clamping device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the semicircular protrusion ribs being placed at 15° intervals approximately such that the ribs cooperatively locks with the flexible rib of the clamp component.
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4. Clamping device as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible ribs comprises an undulating profile in a manner reaching to a suitable height adapted to provide predetermined sag and recovery so as to lock the enclosure at desired angles.
5. A clamping component comprising
plural limbs having latch profile protruding out
laterally;
flexible rib comprising groove means.
6. An enclosure housing comprising:
a circular slot adapted to snap-fit in limbs of clamping component;
protrusion ribs provided on the outer surface of said enclosure housing so as to get latched in the clamping component.
7. A clamping device, a clamping component and an
enclosure housing for use in connectors as herein
substantially described and illustrated with reference
to the accompanying figures.
Dated this the 5th day of February 2007

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ABSTRACT
TITLE : CLAMP WITH INTEGRAL POSITION LOCKING
The present invention relates to a clamping device for use in connectors and/or digital current switch and the like. The device comprises base plane (6) which has plural limbs (5) having latch profile (7) protruding out laterally. The base plane (6) comprises flexible rib (3) comprising groove means (4) . An enclosure housing (1) is mounted on the base plane (6). The enclosure housing (1) comprises a circular slot (8) adapted to snap-fit the limbs (5), and protrusion ribs (3) so as to get co-operatively latched in the groove (4) means provided on the flexible rib (3) on the base plane (6).