Food shield stand clamp

Abstract

A stand clamp including tightening apparatus to attach the clamp around a stand, pole, or similar structure. For example, the tightening apparatus may include first and second semicircular tapered threaded extensions extending from clamp portions, and a clamp knob threaded onto both tapered threaded extensions causing the first tapered threaded extension to move toward the second tapered threaded extension as the clamp knob is tightened. Alternatively, the tightening apparatus may include separate semicircular extensions with sloped walls received within corresponding sloped surfaces on the interior of a knob, causing the semicircular extensions to move toward each other as the knob is threaded into engagement with the semicircular extensions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stand clamp comprising:
 a first clamp portion;   a second clamp portion connected with a hinge to the first clamp portion, such that the first and second clamp portions define separate first and second clamping surfaces, which first and second clamping surfaces collectively define an interior opening;   a first extension extending from the first clamp portion;   a second extension extending from the second clamp portion; and   a clamping knob operatively engaged with the first extension and the second extension, wherein the clamping knob draws the first extension toward the second extension when the clamping knob is articulated.   
     
     
         2 . The stand clamp of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third clamp portion; and 
 a removable and rigid connection between the third clamp portion and the first clamp portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The stand clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid and removable connection between the first clamp portion and the third clamp portion comprises:
 a shaped extension extending from one of the first clamp portion or the third clamp portion; and   a mating shaped keyway defined in the one of the first clamp portion or the third clamp portion not having the shaped extension.   
     
     
         4 . The stand clamp of  claim 1  wherein the first extension is a first semicircular extension and the second extension is a second semicircular extension separated from the first semicircular extension by a gap, such that the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension together form a circular extension having a diameter less than a diameter of the clamping knob. 
     
     
         5 . The stand clamp of  claim 4  wherein the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension comprise external threads engaged with interior threads formed on an interior surface of the clamping knob. 
     
     
         6 . The stand clamp of  claim 5  wherein the external threads on the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension and the interior threads on the clamping knob are tapered threads causing the first semicircular extension to be drawn toward the second semicircular extension when the clamping knob is threaded on to the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension. 
     
     
         7 . The stand clamp of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a socket formed by the first semicircular extension; 
 a capture structure formed by the second semicircular extension; 
 a washer received by the socket and the capture structure; and 
 a threaded engagement through the washer to a threaded shaft extending from the clamping knob. 
 
     
     
         8 . The stand clamp of  claim 7  wherein the threaded engagement comprises one of a threaded opening formed in the washer or a threaded nut operatively associated with the washer. 
     
     
         9 . The stand clamp of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a first sloped exterior side wall formed on the first semicircular extension; 
 a second sloped exterior side wall formed on the second semicircular extension; and 
 a mating sloped interior perimeter wall formed on the clamping knob, wherein engagement between the sloped first and second exterior side walls and the mating sloped interior perimeter wall causes the first semicircular extension to be drawn toward the second semicircular extension when the clamping knob is threaded into engagement through the washer. 
 
     
     
         10 . The stand clamp of  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve positioned within the interior opening. 
     
     
         11 . A stand clamp comprising:
 a first clamp portion;   a second clamp portion connected with a hinge to the first clamp portion;   a third clamp portion connected to the first clamp portion such that the first, second and third clamp portions define separate first, second and third clamping surfaces, which first, second and third clamping surfaces collectively define an interior opening within the first, second and third clamp portions;   a first extension extending from the second clamp portion;   a second extension extending from the third clamp portion; and   a clamping knob operatively engaged with the first extension and the second extension, wherein the clamping knob draws the first extension toward the second extension when the clamping knob is articulated.   
     
     
         12 . The stand clamp of  claim 11  further comprising a removable and rigid connection between the third clamp portion and the first clamp portion. 
     
     
         13 . The stand clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid and removable connection between the first clamp portion and the third clamp portion comprises:
 a shaped extension extending from one of the first clamp portion or the second clamp portion; and   a mating shaped keyway defined in the one of the first clamp portion or the second clamp portion not having the shaped extension.   
     
     
         14 . The stand clamp of  claim 11  wherein the first extension is a first semicircular extension and the second extension is a second semicircular extension separated from the first semicircular extension by a gap such that the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension together form a circular extension having a diameter less than a diameter of the clamping knob. 
     
     
         15 . The stand clamp of  claim 14  wherein the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension comprise external threads engaged with interior threads formed on an interior surface of the clamping knob. 
     
     
         16 . The stand clamp of  claim 15  wherein the external threads on the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension and the interior threads on the clamping knob are tapered threads causing the first semicircular extension to be drawn toward the second semicircular extension when the clamping knob is threaded on to the first semicircular extension and the second semicircular extension. 
     
     
         17 . The stand clamp of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a socket formed by the first semicircular extension; 
 a capture structure formed by the second semicircular extension; 
 a washer received by the socket and the capture structure; and 
 a threaded engagement through the washer to a threaded shaft extending from the clamping knob. 
 
     
     
         18 . The stand clamp of  claim 17  wherein the threaded engagement comprises one of a threaded opening formed in the washer or a threaded nut operatively associated with the washer. 
     
     
         19 . The stand clamp of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a first sloped exterior side wall formed on the first semicircular extension; 
 a second sloped exterior side wall formed on the second semicircular extension; and 
 a mating sloped interior perimeter wall formed on the clamping knob, wherein engagement between the sloped first and second exterior side walls and the mating sloped interior perimeter wall causes the first semicircular extension to be drawn toward the second semicircular extension when the clamping knob is threaded into engagement through the washer. 
 
     
     
         20 . The stand clamp of  claim 11  further comprising a sleeve positioned within the interior opening.