US2834118A - Clamp for vertical alignment of poles - Google Patents

Description

y 1958 R. N. JACKSON 2834,118

CLAMP FOR VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF POLES Filed June 25, 1956 CLAMP FOR VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF POLES Riley N. Jackson, Abilene, Tex.

Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,689

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-215) My invention relates to a clamp for vertical alignment of poles, and in particular to a detachable clamp which can be used successively on a series of poles in a construction project to secure readily the vertical alignment of each pole as it is set in place.

The objects of my invention are to provide a clamp of inexpensive construction, which can readily be placed on or near the upper end of the pole, readily detached for such use on the next pole, which is provided with swinging pointers each provided with a scale to indicate true vertical or plumb position, and which may have the pointers offset from the center of the clamp to provide for irregularities in the pole, each such pointer being provided with a scale upon which true vertical position can be determined regardless of the offset.

Such a clamp is expected to expedite the setting of poles in a pole line since the true vertical alignment or plumbness of the pole can be determined at the time the pole is set in the ground, and no further check on the alignment will be necessary.

With these objects in view my invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, herein fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, which are a part of this specification, and in which like characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side view of one form of my pole clamp in place on the pole;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical side view of another form of pole clamp, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of this second form in place on the pole.

On the pole to be erected I place the clamp jaws 11 and 12 which are of such shape as to be inserted on the pole 10 by spreading the jaws. The upper jaw ccnsists of two straps 11 which end in outwardly turned lips 13 and have at their back end a flat portion of the strap which serves to join them to form a continuous spring strap. The strap 12 likewise has outwardly turned lips 13 and a flat portion 15 at the back. Both straps 11 and 12 are wide enough apart between the jaws 13 to be inserted upon and to grip the pole 10.

These straps 11 and 12 are connected by a vertical back plate 14 welded to the two flat portions 15 so that the two clamp jaws 11 and 12 operate together.

On the strap 11 in the first form I place two eyes 16 and 17, the former on the back plate 14 and the latter on the strap 11 so as to be 90 degrees distant from it. To each of these eyes 16 and 17 I connect a pointer 18 having an eye at its top end for such connection and an arrow point 19 at its bottom end. These pointers 18 swing freely, and at the bottom end of each there is placed on the strap 12 under the eye 17 a series of centering ted States Patent C) 2,834,118 iatented May 13, 1958 marks 20, and on the back plate 14 under the eye similar series of marks, not shown.

While the pole is being erected and is nearly vertical the pointers 18 will indicate how near to plumb the pole is, and when it is corrected to stand vertical the pole can be secured in such position by tamping.

In my second form I have provided for moving the pointer 24 to one side in order to provide for irregularities that may occur in the pole. On the top clamp strap 11 I place theshelf 22, welded to the strap and at right angles thereto. This shelf has a series of five holes connected by a slot 28 spaced equally apart. The back plate 14 likewise has a shelf 27 provided with three holes connected by a slot 29 and spaced equally part. instead of the connecting eye for the pointer 18 I provide a pointer 24 having a head 23 bigger than the hole in the shelf and ending in arrow 25. This pointer 24 can therefore swing freely in the holes in the shelves 22 and 27. The scale 26 on the clamp strap 12 is adapted to indicate true verthe back thereof, and being adapted to be inserted over a and grip the pole, and a rigid vertical member to which each of said flattened portions is joined, a shelf support fastened to said vertical member near the top thereof provided with means for supporting a vertical pointer at anyone of several positions, a second shelf support fas tened to the side of said upper spring jaw provided with means for supporting a vertical pointer at any one of several positions, a swingable vertical pointer depending from each of said supports, a scale on the lower part of said vertical member, and a second scale on the side of the lower spring jaw, each of said scales provided with marks whereby the vertical position of the pointer can be determined regardless of which position on the shelf the pointer is depending from.

2. A detachable pole clamp consisting of upper and lower spring jaws each jaw having a flattened portion at the back thereof, and being adapted to be inserted over and grip the pole, and a rigid vertical member to which each of said flattened-portions is joined, a shelf support fastened to said vertical member near the top thereof provided with a series of several holes connected by a slot, a second shelf support fastened to the side of said upper spring jaw provided with a series of a plurality of holes connected by a slot, a swingable vertical pointer having an enlarged head which pointer is inserted through each of said shelf supports, a scale on the lower part of said vertical member, and a second scale on the side of the lower spring jaw, each of said scales provided with marks whereby the vertical position of the pointer can be determined regardless of which hole in the self the pointer is depending through.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,7l9 Root Apr. 29, i884 790,813 Auld May 23, 1905 1,265,468 Madsen May 7, 1918 1,328,370 Dutton Jan. 20, 1920 1,940,808 Linsert Dec. 26. 1933

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