Clamp for a lumbar support

Abstract

A moulded plastics clamp ( 14 ) for attaching strap ( 16 ) of a lumbar support to an upright of a seat for a vehicle comprises two portions ( 20, 22 ) reinforced by ribs ( 52 - 53 ) and integrally joined by flexible portion ( 24 ). To engage clamp ( 14 ), portion ( 24 ) is flexed so that ridged concave sections ( 26, 28 ) enclose and contactthe upright, projection ( 60 ) being received in a hole therein. During engagement, surfaces ( 34, 36 ) on extension sections ( 30, 32 ) are guided into proximity, if not contact, by engagement of complementary tapering webs ( 42 ) and recesses ( 44 ) so that apertures ( 38, 40 ) align to receive a bolt to tighten clamp ( 14 ). Extension section ( 30 ) includes flanges ( 50 ) between which section ( 32 ) locates to prevent relative lateral movement between sections ( 30, 32 ).

1 . A clamp for attaching a component to an elongate member, the clamp forming part of or being attachable to the component and having first and second reinforced portions joined by a flexible portion for surrounding the elongate member, the first and second reinforced portions each including a concave section and an extension section, wherein in use the extension sections are engageable for the concave sections to oppositely contact the elongate member, and wherein the extension sections include complementary locating means for aligning an aperture in each extension section for passage of a fastener and for preventing relative lateral movement between the extension sections.  
     
     
         2 . A clamp according to  claim 1 , further including an integrally formed flexible extension strap to which the component is attachable or attached.  
     
     
         3 . A clamp according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the clamp is an integral structure formed by moulding from a suitably strong plastics material such as nylon.  
     
     
         4 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the clamp is adapted to make principal contact with the periphery of the elongate member at three locations, a first of the locations being at the flexible portion, and the other two locations are closely adjacent to each other and each is at a respective one of the extension sections.  
     
     
         5 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein, with the extension sections engaged for securement of the clamp with an elongate member, one extension fits into the other such that respective edges overlap to define an included angle therebetween.  
     
     
         6 . A clamp according to  claim 5  as appended to  claim 4 , wherein each of the other locations is defined by a respective one of said edges whereby the first location is able to make contact with a side of the elongate member which is opposite to a side of the elongate member contactable by the other two locations.  
     
     
         7 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein each concave section of the reinforced portions includes at least one ridge which extends transversely of the clamp extending along the post to provide further or secondary locations at which the clamp contacts the elongate member.  
     
     
         8 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the complementary locating means of the extension sections are engageable for effective clamping over a range of relative positions, whereby the clamp is able to accommodate a degree of variation in the cross-sectional dimensions and form of elongate members with which it is intended to be used.  
     
     
         9 . A clamp according to  claim 8 , wherein the extension sections can engage by the one extension fitting into the other over a range necessary to bring each of their overlapping edges into contact with the elongate member.  
     
     
         10 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the reinforced portions are provided by a ribbed structure on an outwardly facing surface of each reinforced portion.  
     
     
         11 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein one of the reinforced sections includes a protrusion which extends from the concave section of the one reinforced section for engaging a complementary aperture or recess in the elongate member for retaining the clamp at a required position along the elongate member and for preventing relative turning of the clamp on the elongate member in use of the clamp.  
     
     
         12 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein the extension section of each reinforced portion of the clamp includes surfaces which, in use of the clamp, can be brought into facing contact by tightening a fastener which passes through the aligned apertures.  
     
     
         13 . A clamp according to  claim 12 , wherein the complementary locating means include webs or ribs associated with a surface of one of the extension sections which faces the other extension section; and wherein, recesses or grooves, for receiving the webs or ribs, extend from a surface of the other extension section which faces said surface of the one extension section.  
     
     
         14 . A clamp according to  claim 13 , wherein the one of the extension sections includes flanges which extend from each edge of the clamp and between which the other extension section is received.  
     
     
         15 . A clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the component is a lumbar support for a seat, and the clamp forms part of or is attachable to one end of a strap portion of the lumbar support, with the clamp adapted for clamping engagement with a side member of frame for the seat for securing the one end in relation to the frame.  
     
     
         16 . A clamp according to  claim 15  as appended to  claim 2 , wherein the clamp is attachable to the one end of the strap portion of the lumbar support by engagement between the flexible extension strap and said one end of the strap portion.  
     
     
         17 . A clamp according to  claim 15  as appended to  claim 2 , wherein the one end of the lumbar support is defined by said flexible extension strap.  
     
     
         18 . A lumbar support for a vehicle seat, including an elongate band and, at each end of the band, a respective clamp according to any one of  claims 1  to  14  whereby the lumbar support is adapted to be mounted between respective elongate members each comprising a side member of a frame for the vehicle seated by engagement of each clamp around a respective one of the side members.