The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1996
Grant S Quam, Owatonna, MN (US);
Wenger Corporation, Owatonna, MN (US);
Abstract
A clamp assembly for detachably joining two adjacent portable stage modules. The clamp assembly is attached to the underside of one of the modules. When not in use, a spring biases the clamp away from the attachment bracket. The clamp includes two resilient, outwardly curving wing elements. Each wing element has a pair of opposing locking slots or engaging surfaces. A variable distance from a midpoint of a line segment between the two forward locking slots to the rear locking slots is the operational criterion for detachably joining two stage modules. When the wing elements are inwardly biased toward each other, thereby assuming a tension position, the distance between the midpoint and the rear locking slots is greater than when the wing elements are in a relaxed position. Thus, when in a tension position, the locking slots of the wing elements may be positioned such that an opposing flanges on each module will become firmly lodged within the locking slots when the wing elements are allowed to return to a relaxed position. During disassembly, the wing elements are again biased toward each other, then rotated away from the module lips, thereby detaching the modules.