Work holders – Relatively movable jaws – Means for direct manual adjustment of jaw
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-05-08
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Relatively movable jaws
Means for direct manual adjustment of jaw
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227528
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a device which is adjustable for clamping/shaping one or more work pieces of various dimensions but in particular and not limited the device has a first clamping/shaping member and a second clamping/shaping secured member which are movable along a threaded elongate member and the first clamping/shaping member including an engagement means for engaging the threaded elongate member.
BACKGROUND ART
Clamping devices have been in use for many years. The existing clamping devices generally have a substantially C-shaped body. One end of the C-shaped body functions as a fixed clamping jaw and the other end of the body has a threaded opening. A threaded spindle with a clamping jaw is arranged in the threaded member so that a work piece can be inserted between the two jaws and the spindle is turned in to clamp the work piece.
Each of the existing clamping devices has a maximum opening between the clamping jaws. Accordingly they cannot be used for clamping work pieces with a dimension larger than the maximum opening.
These clamping devices are also relatively slow to get to a clamping position especially for small work pieces as the spindles must be wound for many times in order to position the clamping jaw on the spindle at said clamping position.
The existing clamping devices cannot be adapted for use with work pieces with dimensions larger than the fixed maximum opening. Accordingly people must purchase clamping devices of different sizes for work pieces of different dimensions.
The existing clamping devices cannot be used in situations where obstacles are between the clamping jaws.
Building frames are sometimes out of square and brute force must be used to square the frames. This process is also time and labour intensive as at least two building works must go to opposite corners of the frames to check whether the frames are square. This process may be repeated a number of times until the frames are square.
Timbers such as floor boards may be bowed and are normally discarded by builders as they cannot be straightened easily.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or to reduce to a certain degree one or more of the above prior disadvantages.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of the invention.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the present invention resides in a device for clamping/shaping one or more work pieces. The device compares a threaded elongate member having opposite ends, a first clamping/shaping member located on the elongate member and a second clamping/shaping member also located on the elongate member for clamping or shaping said one or more work pieces between the opposite ends. The first member is arranged so that its position relative to the second member is continuously variable. The first member includes a thread engagement means movable between an engaged position for cooperatively engaging the elongate member and a released position for releasing from said engaged position. At said released position the first member is slidable along the elongate member for positioning it to or away from one or more work pieces and at said engaged position the engagement means prevents sliding movement of the first clamping/shaping member and the engagement means is rotatable about the elongate member for continuously varying the position of the first member relative to the second member.
It is preferred that each of the first and second members have a clamping/shaping plate for contacting the one or more work pieces. Desirably at least the clamping/shaping plate of the first member is rotatable or swivelable independent of the engagement means so that it does not rotate or swivel which the engagement means is in rotation.
It is also preferred that the first clamping/shaping member includes a hollow tube and the clamping/shaping plate is positioned at or adjacent to one end of the tube. The plate has an opening in substantial alignment with the tube and, in use, the elongate member extends within the tube and the opening.
Conveniently the first clamping/shaping member is fixed to a sleeve which is rotatably arranged about the tube at or adjacent the one end of the tube. Limiting means may advantageously be provided on the tube for limiting axial movement of the first clamping/shaping member or the sleeve along the tube.
Typically the limiting means has a ring fixed to said one end of the tube for preventing the first clamping/shaping member from moving out of the tube. A further ring spaced from said ring may also be fixed on the tube so that the first clamping/shaping member is retained within the space between the two rings.
Hand grip means can be provided at or adjacent to the other end of the tube for gripping when rotating or moving the first clamping/shaping member. The tube may also include a turning member to which a hand tool can be applied for rotating this first clamping/shaping member.
The tube may have an aperture through which the engagement means can move between the engaged position and the released position. A lever may be provided for moving the engagement means between the engaged position and the released position.
It is preferred that the engagement means has a toothed section arranged for threadably engaging the threaded elongate member.
The toothed section is adapted to move into the aperture to the engaged position and out of the aperture to the released position.
In one form of the present invention the engagement means is biased to the engaged position. In an alternate form of the present invention the engagement means is biased to the released position. A spring can be used for biasing the engagement means.
Position maintaining means can be arranged for selectively maintaining the engagement means in the engaged position or the released position.
The position maintain means may include a first part which is fixed to the engagement means and a second part fixed to the tube. The first part is movable relative to the second part between the engaged position and the released position. A locking member is advantageously provided for locking the first part in said engaged position. The locking member may be in form of a locking nut or a cam body.
The second clamping/shaping member may be the same or similar to the first clamping/shaping member. Typically, however, the second clamping/shaping member has a clamping/shaping plate fixed to a sleeve and is arranged as described earlier. But in this case the sleeve is threaded or fixed to a threaded member so that the second clamping/shaping member is rotatably movable along the elongate member.
The device of the present invention may be extended by joining two or more threaded elongate members. Joining means in the form of an internal threaded member may be used to join adjacent elongate members.
The elongate member(s) can be in the form of a cyclone rod(s) of any diameter, but typically 12 mm.
The clamping/shaping plates may be of any shape such as circular, rectangular or other polygonal shape.
The device of the present invention can be used for clamping one or more work pieces such as for laminating timber together for a table top, for straightening beams, joints, rafters, bearers, wall studs and floor boards and the like.
The device can also be adapted as a vice on a work bench.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2461687 (1949-02-01), Hopfeld
patent: 2881645 (1959-04-01), Kruchten
patent: 3520527 (1970-07-01), Persson
patent: 3599960 (1971-08-01), Phillips
patent: 201318 (1923-08-01), None
Billings Donna Maree
Watson Robert C.
Young & Thompson
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