Pipe clamp

Abstract

A pipe clamp comprises a mounting post having a flexible arm extending laterally therefrom in a semi-circular arc. The arm defines with the mounting post an arcuate recess having spaced apart opposite ends between which different size pipe is selectively insertable into the recess. Opposed flexible fingers extend radially inwardly adjacent opposite ends of the recess. The fingers are axially angled between opposite sides of the clamp to facilitate bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe clamp for selectively supporting different size pipe from a mounting surface, the clamp comprising a mounting post, and a flexible arm extending laterally from the mounting post in a semi-circular arc, the arm defining with the mounting post an arcuate recess having spaced apart opposite ends between which the different size pipe is selectively insertable into the recess, and opposed flexible fingers extending radially inwardly adjacent the opposite ends of the recess, the fingers being axially angled between opposite sides of the clamp to facilitate bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess for securely retaining the pipe in the recess. 
     
     
         2 . The clamp of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs on an inner surface of the recess intermediate the opposite ends thereof for cradling the pipe when inserted into the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp of  claim 1  further comprising a rib extending inwardly from an inner surface of the recess in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation to an inner side edge of each of the fingers for guiding the bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein the fingers are chamfered. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein the mounting post has a bottom surface that extends below a smaller size pipe when fully inserted into the recess to provide a clearance space between the pipe and the mounting surface when the clamp is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post in engagement with the mounting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The clamp of  claim 5  wherein an outermost end of the arm is in substantial alignment with the bottom surface of the mounting post when the clamp is in a fully relaxed condition and after a smaller size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, whereby when the clamp with the smaller size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post engaging the mounting surface, the outermost end of the arm engages the mounting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein when a larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, an outer diameter of the larger size pipe protrudes outwardly beyond a bottom surface of the mounting post, whereby when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post engaging the mounting surface, the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the large size pipe is clamped against the mounting surface. 
     
     
         8 . The clamp of  claim 7  wherein the bottom surface of the mounting post has a tapered outer surface that is in substantial alignment with the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe when the larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, whereby both the tapered outer surface of the mounting post and the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe are clamped against the mounting surface when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         9 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein the mounting post has a bottom surface, and a fastener hole extends through the mounting post and out the bottom surface for attaching the bottom surface of the mounting post to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         10 . The clamp of  claim 9  wherein another fastener hole extends through a portion of the arm opposite an opening between the spaced apart ends of the arcuate recess at an obtuse angle to a flat outer surface of the mounting post for attaching the flat outer surface of the mounting post to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         11 . A pipe clamp for selectively supporting different size pipe from a mounting surface, the clamp comprising a mounting post, and a flexible arm extending laterally from the mounting post in a semi-circular arc, the arm defining with the mounting post an arcuate recess having spaced apart opposite ends between which the different size pipe is selectively insertable into the recess, opposed flexible fingers extending radially inwardly adjacent the opposite ends of the recess, the fingers being axially angled between opposite sides of the clamp to facilitate bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess for securely retaining the pipe in the recess, a pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs on an inner surface of the recess intermediate the opposite ends thereof for cradling the pipe when inserted into the recess, and additional ribs extending inwardly from an inner surface of the recess in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation to an inner side edge of each of the fingers for guiding the bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The clamp of  claim 11  wherein the fingers are chamfered. 
     
     
         13 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein the mounting post has a bottom surface that extends below a smaller size pipe when fully inserted into the recess to provide a clearance space between the pipe and the mounting surface when the clamp is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post in engagement with the mounting surface. 
     
     
         14 . The clamp of  claim 11  wherein when a larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, an outer diameter of the larger size pipe protrudes outwardly beyond a bottom surface of the mounting post, whereby when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post engaging the mounting surface, the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the large size pipe is clamped against the mounting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The clamp of  claim 14  wherein the bottom surface of the mounting post has a tapered outer surface that is in substantial alignment with the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe when the larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, whereby both the tapered outer surface of the mounting post and the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe are clamped against the mounting surface when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         16 . The clamp of  claim 11  wherein the mounting post has a bottom surface, and a fastener hole extends through the mounting post and out the bottom surface for attaching the bottom surface of the mounting post to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         17 . The clamp of  claim 11  wherein another fastener hole extends through a portion of the arm opposite an opening between the spaced apart ends of the arcuate recess at an obtuse angle to a flat outer surface of the mounting post for attaching the flat outer surface of the mounting post to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         18 . A pipe clamp for selectively supporting different size pipe from a mounting surface, the clamp comprising a mounting post, and a flexible arm extending laterally from the mounting post in a semi-circular arc, the arm defining with the mounting post an arcuate recess having spaced apart opposite ends between which the different size pipe is selectively insertable into the recess, opposed flexible fingers extending radially inwardly adjacent the opposite ends of the recess, the fingers being axially angled between opposite sides of the clamp to facilitate bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess for securely retaining the pipe in the recess, and a rib extending inwardly from an inner surface of the recess in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation to an inner side edge of each of the fingers for guiding the bending of the fingers when contacted by the pipe during insertion of the pipe into the recess, wherein the mounting post has a bottom surface that extends below a smaller size pipe when fully inserted into the recess to provide a clearance space between the pipe and the mounting surface when the clamp is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post in engagement with the mounting surface. 
     
     
         19 . The clamp of  claim 18  wherein when a larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, an outer diameter of the larger size pipe protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the mounting post, whereby when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface with the bottom surface of the mounting post engaging the mounting surface, the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the large size pipe is clamped against the mounting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The clamp of  claim 19  wherein the bottom surface of the mounting post has a tapered outer surface that is in substantial alignment with the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe when the larger size pipe is fully inserted into the recess, whereby both the tapered outer surface of the mounting post and the outwardly protruding outer diameter of the larger size pipe are clamped against the mounting surface when the clamp with the larger size pipe fully inserted into the recess is attached to the mounting surface.