Clamping apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to clamping apparatus defining a base plate having a male portion located at the first end and a female portion located at the second end. The base plate is adapted with apertures. First clamp plates are positioned longitudinally along each side of the base plate. The first clamp plates having a male portion located at the first end and a female portion located at the second end. The first clamp plate is adapted with first apertures that are in matching relationship with the apertures of the base plate and the first clamp plates have second apertures. Second clamp plates are positioned longitudinally along one side of the first clamp plates. The second clamp plates have a female portion located at the first end and a male portion located at the second. The second clamp plate is adapted with apertures in matching relationship to the second apertures of the first clamp plate.

I claim: 
     
       1. Clamping apparatus comprising: a base plate having a male portion positioned at the first end and a female portion positioned at the second end, the base plate being adapted with apertures;   first clamp plates positioned longitudinally along each side of the base plate, the first clamp plates having a male portion positioned at the first end and a female portion positioned at the second end, the first clamp plates being adapted with first apertures in matching relationship with the apertures of the base plate and having second apertures; and,   second clamp plates positioned longitudinally along an outer side of each of the first clamp plates, the second clamp plates having a female portion positioned at the first end and a male portion positioned at the second end, the second clamp plates being adapted with apertures in matching relationship to the second apertures of the first clamp plates,   means for holding said base plate and said first and second clamp plates in clamping relationship.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the male and female portions on the base plate are semi-circular in shape. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a sealing material is positioned between the first and second clamp plates. 
     
     
       4. Clamping apparatus comprising: a plurality of base plates having a male portion positioned at the first end and a female portion positioned at the second end, the base plates being adapted with apertures, the base plates being positioned in longitudinal adjacent relationship with the male portion of one base plate engaging the female portion on the adjacent base plate;   first clamp plates positioned longitudinally along each side of the base plates, the first clamp plates having a male portion positioned at the first end and a female portion positioned at the second end, the first clamp plates being positioned with the male portion engaging the female portion on the adjacent first clamp plate, the first clamp plate being adapted with first apertures in matching relationship with the apertures of the base plate and having second apertures; and,   second clamp plates positioned longitudinally along an outer side of each of the first clamp plates, the second clamp plates having a female portion positioned at the first end and a male portion positioned at the second end, the second clamp plates being positioned with the male portion engaging the female portion on the adjacent second clamp plate, the second clamp plates being adapted with apertures in matching relationship with the second apertures of the first clamp plates,   means for holding said base plate and said first and second clamp plates in clamping relationship.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is a space between the end regions and male and female portions on adjacent base plates. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is a space between the end regions and the male and female portions on adjacent first and second clamp plates. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base plates are attached to a support cable. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base plates are attached at only one end to the support cable. .Iadd. 9. Means for clamping fabric roof material comprising an elongated base plate, a pair of elongated first clamping plates extending parallel to the base plate and disposed respectively on opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof, each first clamping plate having an inner longitudinal edge portion disposed on the respective longitudinal edge portion of the base plate and an outer longitudinal edge portion transversely overhanging the base plate, means for clamping the first clamping plates to the base plate, a pair of elongated second clamping plates extending parallel to the first clamping plates and disposed respectively on the overhanging longitudinal edge portions of the first clamping plates, and means for clamping the second clamping plates to the first clamping plates to clamp fabric roof material therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10. Means for clamping fabric roof material to a suspended cable comprising a plurality of bearing plates spaced from and aligned with each other longitudinally of the cable, a plurality of elongated base plates each spanning the space between a pair of adjacent bearing plates and having a first end portion disposed on one of the bearing plates and a second end portion disposed on the other of the bearing plates whereby each bearing plate has a first end portion of one base plate and a second end portion of another base plate disposed thereon, means for clamping each of the bearing plates and the first end portion of the one base plate disposed thereon to the cable without clamping the second end portion of the other base plate disposed thereon, a plurality of elongated first clamping plates, each base plate having a pair of the first clamping plates extending parallel thereto and disposed respectively on opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof, each first clamping plate having an inner longitudinal edge portion disposed on the respective longitudinal edge portion of the respective base plate and an outer longitudinal edge portion transversely overhanging the respective base plate, means for clamping the first clamping plates to the base plates, a plurality of elongated second clamping plates extending parallel to the first clamping plates and disposed respectively on the overhanging longitudinal edge portions of the first clamping plates, and means for clamping the second clamping plates to the first clamping plates to clamp fabric roof material therebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 10 wherein the unclamped second end portions of the base plates are in loose cooperative engagement with the clamped first end portions of adjacent base plates permitting limited pivotal movement therebetween widthwise thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of the base plates has a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end, the tongues of the base plates being loosely engaged respectively in the grooves of adjacent base plates. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 12 wherein the groove in each base plate is at the clamped first end portion and the tongue is at the unclamped second end portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 10 wherein adjacent end portions of each pair of longitudinally adjacent first clamping plates are in loose cooperative engagement with each other permitting limited movement therebetween widthwise thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the first clamping plates has a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end, the tongues of the first clamping plates being loosely engaged respectively in the grooves of adjacent first clamping plates. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 15 wherein the groove in each first clamping plate is at the end thereof corresponding to the unclamped second end portion of the base plate to which it is clamped and the tongue is at the end thereof corresponding to the clamped first end portion of the base plate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 10 wherein adjacent end portions of each pair of longitudinally adjacent second clamping plates are in loose cooperative engagement with each other permitting limited movement therebetween widthwise thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of the second clamping plates has a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end, the tongues of the second clamping plates being loosely engaged respectively in the grooves of adjacent second clamping plates. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 18 wherein the groove in each second clamping plate is at the end thereof corresponding to the clamped first end portion of the base plate to which it is indirectly clamped through the respective first clamping plate and the tongue is at the end thereof corresponding to the unclamped second end portion of the base plate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. Fabric roof material clamping means as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of the first clamping plates has a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end, the tongues of the first clamping plates are loosely engaged respectively in the grooves of adjacent first clamping plates, each of the second clamping plates has a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end, the tongues of the second clamping plates are loosely engaged respectively in the grooves of adjacent second clamping plates, each of the second clamping plates is reversed from its respective first clamping plate with respect to the tongues and grooves, the tongue of each second clamping plate attached indirectly to a first base plate overlaps the tongue of a first clamping plate attached to an adjacent second base plate, and the grooved end of each second clamping plate attached indirectly to the second base plate overlaps the grooved end of a first clamping plate attached to the first base plate. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. Means for clamping fabric roof material to a suspended cable comprising a plurality of U-bolts partially surrounding the cable and spaced from and aligned with each other longitudinally of the cable, a plurality of bearing plates spaced from and aligned with each other longitudinally of the cable and respectively mounted on the U-bolts and enclosing the cable therein, a plurality of elongated base plates each spanning the space between a pair of adjacent bearing plates and having a first end portion disposed on one of the bearing plates and also mounted on the U-bolt associated therewith and a second end portion disposed on the other of the bearing plates free of the U-bolt associated therewith, each of the U-bolts having a pair of nuts disposed respectively on opposite end portions thereof and clamping the respective bearing plate and the first end portion of the respective base plate to the cable, a plurality of elongated first clamping plates, each base plate having a pair of the first clamping plates extending parallel thereto and disposed respectively on opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof, each first clamping plate having an inner longitudinal edge portion disposed on the respective longitudinal edge portion of the respective base plate and an outer longitudinal edge portion transversely overhanging the respective base plate, means for clamping the first clamping plates to the base plates, a plurality of elongated second clamping plates extending parallel to the first clamping plates and disposed respectively on the overhanging longitudinal edge portions of the first clamping plates, and means for clamping the second clamping plates to the first clamping plates to clamp fabric roof material therebetween. .Iaddend.