Universal tailpipe holding bracket
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Brackets for securing tailpipes to a vehicle frame or body are commonly known. These brackets generally take the form of a strap having an upper end secured to the frame or body of the vehicle with a U-bolt connected to the lower end of the strap. A base portion having an arcuate surface is secured to the legs of the U-bolt by a pair of nuts so as to form a circular opening through which the tailpipe extends. 
     One disadvantage with this conventional tailpipe bracket is the need to remove both nuts from the legs of the U-bolt so that the base portion can be separated therefrom when the tailpipe must be replaced. Also, the conventional tailpipe bracket must be manufactured in varying sizes since the U-bolt and base portion do not conform to different sized tailpipes. 
     Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a universal tailpipe holding bracket which permits quick and easy replacement of the tailpipe. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tailpipe bracket which can accommodate various sizes of tailpipes. 
     Still a further objective of the present invention is the provision of a tailpipe bracket which requires the loosening of only one bolt for the replacement of a tailpipe. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tailpipe bracket which is economical to manufacture and durable in use. 
     These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The universal tailpipe holding bracket of the present invention includes a rubber or metal support strap which has an upper end secured to the vehicle frame or body. A substantially semi-circular first clamp section is attached to the lower end of the support strap by a universal connector which permits the first clamp section to be pivoted about both a horizontal or vertical axis. The first clamp section has a first end terminating in an outwardly projecting detent, and an opposite second end terminating in an outwardly projecting flange. A substantially semi-circular second clamp section has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slotted openings spaced longitudinally adjacent the first end and an opposite second end terminating in an outwardly projecting flange. The detent is adapted to be received in one of the slotted openings and the flanges are secured together such that the first and second clamp sections form a substantially circular opening through which the tailpipe extends. A bolt or screw extends through a hole in the flange of the first clamp section and an elongated opening in the flange of the second clamp section and can be tightened to draw the flanges together when the tailpipe extends through the circular opening and the detent is selectively received in one of the slotted openings of the second clamp, and thereby draw the first and second clamp sections into tight engagement with the tailpipe. An inwardly extending dimple on the second clamp section provides increased frictional engagement between the tailpipe and the bracket when the clamp sections are drawn together. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the universal tailpipe holding bracket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the bracket. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bracket. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3 showing the bracket in an open position for receiving a tailpipe. 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the tailpipe in a closed but untightened arrangement with the tailpipe extending therethrough. 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the bracket in a closed and tightened position about the tailpipe. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the tailpipe bracket of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The universal tailpipe holding bracket of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The bracket includes a support strap 12, a clamp assembly 14, and a universal connector 16 interconnecting the bracket and the support strap. The upper end 18 of support strap 12 is connected to the vehicle frame or body and the lower end 20 is connected to the universal connector 16 by a generally horizontally disposed pin 22. The clamp assembly 14 is connected to the universal connector 16 by a generally vertically disposed pin 24. Pins 22 and 24 allow clamp assembly 14 to be pivoted about both a horizontal and a vertical axis. 
     Clamp assembly 14 includes an upper first clamp section 26 and a lower second clamp section 28. Each section 26 and 28 is substantially semi-circular. First clamp section 26 has a first end 30 terminating in an outwardly projecting detent 32 and a second end 34 terminating in an outwardly projecting flange 36. Flange 36 has an opening 38 extending therethrough. Second clamp section 28 has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings 40 adjacent the first end 42 thereof and an opposite second end 44 terminating in an outwardly projecting flange 46. Flange 46 has an elongated opening 48 extending therethrough. Opening or slot 48 has an enlarged portion 49 at one end for a later described purpose. Second clamp section 28 also has an inwardly projecting dimple 50 intermediate the opposite ends thereof. 
     A closure means 52 such as a bolt or screw extends through the openings of flanges 36 and 46 so as to secure the flanges together. The closure means is adjustable between a tightened position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the flanges are securely connected to one another, and a loosened position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the flanges are loosely connected to one another. The enlarged portion 49 of slot 48 permits a socket wrench to be used on the head of the bolt or screw closure means without interference by the curvature of second clamp section 28. When closure means 52 is in the loosened positin, second clamp section 28 is pivotal about a substantially horizontal axis, as indicated by arrow 54 in FIG. 4, such that the first end 42 of second clamp section 28 can be spaced apart from first end 30 of first clamp section 26 and thereby define an enlarged mouth area 56 through which a tailpipe 58 can be passed as indicated bY arrow 60 in FIG. 4. 
     After tailpipe 58 has been inserted through mouth area 56 and into the substantially circular opening between clamp sections 26 and 28, first end 42 of second clamp section 28 can be moved towards first end 30 of first clamp section 26 and detent 32 can be selectively inserted into one of openings 40, depending on the diameter of tailpipe 58, as shown in FIG. 5. Closure means 52 can then be tightened such that clamp sections 26 and 28 tightly engage tailpipe 58, as shown in FIG. 6. When closure means 52 is tightened, dimple 50 tends to deform tailpipe 58 slightly so as to prevent it from turning and to provide increased frictional engagement between the clamp assembly and the tailpipe. 
     It is understood that the above described procedure is reversed in the event that the tailpipe must be removed from the bracket. Also, it is important to note that closure means 52 does not need to be completely removed from the bracket such that first and second clamp sections 26 and 28 are disconnected from one another. Rather, closure means 52 need only be loosened sufficiently to permit disengagement of detent 32 from the selected opening 40. The elongated opening 48 in flange 46 allows second clamp section 28 to pivot such that the detent can be freed from the respective opening 40 without removing closure means 52 completely from the clamp sections. 
     Preferably, clamp assembly 14 and universal connector 16 are made of hardened steel or other sufficiently strong metal. Support strap 12 is preferably made of rubber or the like, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, but may also be made of metal, as indicated at 12A in FIG. 7. 
     From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.