clamp

Abstract

A clamp has a body including an open-ended slot to receive and retain a planar object. The slot includes a protective layer of deformable material and a force distribution plate of rigid material located between an internal wall of the slot and the protective layer. The planar object need not include attachment apertures, and may be made of glass.

1 . A clamp for a planar object, the clamp comprising a body, said body including at least one open ended slot adapted to receive and retain the planar object therein, the slot also including a protective layer of material made from rubber or similar deformable material, as well as at least one force distribution plate made from rigid material which is located between an internal wall of the slot and the protective layer of material, there also being provided securing means for securing the planar object within the slot in use, said securing means contacting the force distribution plate in use to retain the planar object within the protective layer of material, whereby in use the planar object does not incorporate attachment apertures and thus comprises a continuous sheet of material such as glass. 
   
   
       2 . A clamp as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there is only provided a single force distribution plate. 
   
   
       3 . A clamp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securing means includes one or more grub screws or elongate fasteners extending through aligned openings in the body of the clamp and abutting an adjacent surface of the force distribution plate. 
   
   
       4 . A clamp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body of the clamp comprises an elongate post having a solid lower part which may incorporate an axial base therewithin and a top part which incorporates said at least one open ended slot. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly of a clamp and a glass panel, which is a continuous sheet of glass not incorporating any attachment apertures, the clamp comprising an elongate body having a top open ended slot, the slot further including a protective layer of material made from rubber or similar deformable material as well as a single force distribution plate made from rigid material such as steel, which is located between an internal side wall of the slot and the protective layer of material, said glass panel being received within the protective layer of material and thus having each side or broad surface thereof being cushioned by the protective layer of material, there also being included securing means in the form of grub screws or elongate fasteners which extend through openings in the elongate body of the clamp and contacting the force distribution plate.