Patent US3901480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamps
Assignee: Harvard Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-10
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A tamper-proof fence clamp adapted to affix a wire fabric material to tubular fence frame structures. The fence clamp is fabricated from a relatively thin elongated, normally U-shaped metal strap, which encircles the tubular fence structure and includes an oblique angled groove therein for accommodating a strand of the wire fabric. Hook-shaped portions provided on the terminal ends of the strap cooperatively engage each other and are bent towards a transverse ridge provided proximate one terminal end portion of the strap thereby locking the strap and affixing the strand of wire fabric to the tubular fence structure. An up-struck portion in the terminal end of the strap cooperatively engages a slot in the other terminal end portion of the strap to prevent lateral disengagement thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A Basile
- 👤 Andrew Kolessar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:21
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/02; E04H17/10; E04H17/124; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3427; Y10T24/3449; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44744; Y10T24/44752; Y10T24/49
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure, comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first and second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said fist arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, said first hook-shaped portion including an up-struck portion extending inwardly thereof, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, said second hook-shaped portion including an aperture therein for enabling said second hook-shaped portion to engage the up-struck portion of said first hook-shaped portion, an outwardly facing ridge extending transversely with respect to said strap proximate said second hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with said up-struck portion in said first hook-shaped portion being received within said aperture in said second hookshaped portion when said strap is disposed about said frame structure witH said wire fabric being retained in said groove to affix said wire fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement toward said outwardly facing ridge until flush therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure, comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first and second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said fist arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, said first hook-shaped portion including an up-struck portion extending inwardly thereof, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, said second hook-shaped portion including an aperture therein for enabling said second hook-shaped portion to engage the up-struck portion of said first hook-shaped portion, an outwardly facing ridge extending transversely with respect to said strap proximate said second hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with said up-struck portion in said first hook-shaped portion being received within said aperture in said second hookshaped portion when said strap is disposed about said frame structure witH said wire fabric being retained in said groove to affix said wire fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement toward said outwardly facing ridge until flush therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to fence structures according to claim 1 wherein the height of said outwardly facing transverse ridge is at least as great as the combined thickness of said cooperatively engaged hook-shaped portions after bending displacement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to fence structures according to claim 1 wherein a second aperture is provided in said first arm portion proximate said first hook-shaped portion, said second aperture and said second hook-shaped portion being adapted to cooperate with means for fixedly securing said strap about said wire fabric and said frame structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tamper-proof clamp according to claim 1 wherein said fence frame structure is tubular-shaped and said strap base portion is arcuate-shaped and has an inside radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said tubular-shaped fence structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly opening groove has an inside radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of a strand of said wire fabric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly opening groove has an inside radius of curvature slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of a strand of said wire fabric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 1 wherein said fence clamp comprises stainless steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 1 wherein said fence clamp comprises vinyl-covered metallic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 1 wherein said angle is oblique.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first and second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said first arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, an outwardly facing ridge extending transversely with respect to said strap proximate said second hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with each other when said strap is disposed about said frame structure with one of the strands of said fabric material being retained in said groove to affix said fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement towards said outwardly facing ridge until flush therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first and second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said first arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, an outwardly facing ridge extending transversely with respect to said strap proximate said second hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with each other when said strap is disposed about said frame structure with one of the strands of said fabric material being retained in said groove to affix said fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement towards said outwardly facing ridge until flush therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 10 wherein said first hook-shaped portion includes a first section and a second section disposed on either side of a transverse crease line, said first section being bent inwardly with respect to said first arm portion along a second transverse crease line, said second section including an up-struck portion, said second hook-shaped portion including a first section and a second section disposed on either side of a third transverse crease line, said second section including a aperture adapted to receive said up-struck portion, said first, second and third transverse crease lines being essentially parallel to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tamper-proof fence clamp according to claim 11 wherein the height of said outwardly facing transverse ridge is at least as great as the combined tHickness of said first and second sections of said first hook-shaped portion and said second section of said second hook-shaped portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
225 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said first arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, said first hook-shaped portion including an up-struck portion extending inwardly thereof, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, said second hook-shaped portion including an aperture for enabling said second hook-shaped portion to engage the up-struck portion of said first hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with said up-struck portion in said first hook-shaped portion being received within said aperture in said hook-shaped portion when said strap is disposed about said frame structure with one of the strands of said fabric material being retained in said groove to affix said fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement toward the outer surface of said second arm portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
225 words
A tamper-proof clamp for affixing wire fabric material to a fence frame structure comprising: an elongated strap, said strap normally being generally U-shaped and having a base portion and first second arm portions extending outwardly therefrom, a groove substantially centrally disposed within said base portion, said groove opening inwardly and extending across the width of said strap, the free end of said first arm portion being inwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a first hook-shaped portion, said first hook-shaped portion including an up-struck portion extending inwardly thereof, the free end of said second arm portion being outwardly bent at the terminal end thereof to form a second hook-shaped portion, said second hook-shaped portion including an aperture for enabling said second hook-shaped portion to engage the up-struck portion of said first hook-shaped portion, said first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted to be displaced towards each other for cooperative engagement with said up-struck portion in said first hook-shaped portion being received within said aperture in said hook-shaped portion when said strap is disposed about said frame structure with one of the strands of said fabric material being retained in said groove to affix said fabric material to said frame structure, said cooperatively engaged first and second hook-shaped portions being adapted for common bending displacement toward the outer surface of said second arm portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
A clamp according to claim 13 wherein the first hook-shaped portion of said clamp includes a first section and a second section disposed on either side of a transverse crease line, said first section being bent inwardly with respect to said first arm portion along a second transverse crease line, said second section including the up-struck portion, said second hook-shaped portion including a first section and a second section disposed on either side of a third transverse crease line, said second section in said second hook-shaped portion including said aperture enabling said second hook-shaped portion to engage said up-struck portion, said first, second and third transverse crease lines being essentially parallel to each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A clamp according to claim 14 wherein said clamp includes an outwardly facing ridge extending transversely with respect to said strap proximate said second hook-shaped portion and wherein said cooperatively engaged hook-shaped portions are adapted for common bending displacement toward said outwardly facing ridge until flush therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |