Hold down toggle clamp

Details Hold down toggle clamp Hold down toggle clamp

2001-08-22

2003-07-22

Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)

Work holders

Relatively movable jaws

Means to actuate jaw

C269S094000, C269S032000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06595507

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clamps generally, and more particularly relates to a manual hold down clamp.
2. Description of Related Art
Toggle and hold down clamps have been used and known in the art for many years. A typical hold down or toggle clamp includes a clamping arm which pivots between a released and clamped position. The clamps are used to hold work pieces in place for processing, for clamping two objects to one another, or for clamping an object to a work table or other surface. Toggle and hold down clamps generally are quickly engageable and disengageable to the work piece or object being held. They also provide a considerable holding and clamping force which enables them to hold the work piece or object securely where needed.
The prior art toggle clamps can be exemplified in prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,921,535, 4,141,543 and 4,011,649. Other prior art clamps are exemplified by De-Sta-Co Industries in Madison Heights, Mich., Model Series 207. Many of these prior art devices hold the clamp position through a variety of means, these means include maintaining the force applied to the bar or arm of the clamp. Other prior art clamps use a releaseable latch assembly for the toggle clamp. Further, prior art clamps create a holding force by passing the links of the toggle clamps to an over center position, the over center position subjects the links and the pivot points of the clamp to very high loads resulting in increase wear and potential deformation of the clamp components thereby reducing the life of the clamp. There also have been problems with prior art clamps releasing due to vibration and other unforeseen forces during the use of the clamps. Many of the prior art clamps also included several bends in the links and power arms of the clamp, thus reducing performance strength by amounts up to 30 to 40%. Furthermore, clamps that include parts that have bends are not interchangeable and have to be put together in a certain manner, thus increasing the cost of labor of assembling the clamps. This also increases the number of parts needed to build a specific number of the prior art clamps.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a new toggle hold down action clamp that is more robust, has greater strength and interchangeability than the prior art clamps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved hold down clamp.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a more robust hold down clamp.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hold down clamp with fewer bends in the clamp parts which strengthens the individual parts and reduces their cost.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a clamp that has better interchangeability, which will improve assembly and manufacturing of the clamps.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp that reduces the number of different parts stamped in order to build a specific number of hold down clamps.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a clamp wherein the spindle clears the hold down part by only rotating a predetermined distance.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a clamp that eliminates the need for any high cost and complex parts to create an over center stop and to create a clamp that has no pinch points for an operator.
To achieve the foregoing objects the hold down clamp according to the present invention includes a base member. The clamp also includes a bar pivotally connected to the base member on one end thereof. The handle is pivotally connected to the base member on an end opposite of the bar. The clamp further includes a link connected to the handle and the bar such that the link has a stopper extending from a side thereof. The hold down clamp also includes a holding member connected to an end of the bar.
One advantage of the present invention is that the hold down clamp is more robust and removes any bends and replaces them with straight parts in the clamp.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the hold down clamp has increased strength.
Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the clamp provides for interchangeability of all parts except the handle.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the number of different parts needed to be stamped to build a certain number of clamps is greatly reduced due to the interchangeability of the parts.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the clamp has a spindle that clears the part being held with a predetermined rotation of the arm.
Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the clamp eliminates pinch points by placing moving parts of the clamp within the handle mechanism.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2456100 (1945-06-01), Wood
patent: 3924844 (1975-12-01), Bachtel
patent: 4011649 (1977-03-01), Hawkins
patent: 4141543 (1979-02-01), Kato
patent: 5165148 (1992-11-01), Fleischer
patent: 5921535 (1999-07-01), Lutz, III
patent: 5961109 (1999-10-01), Dykstra

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