Work holders – Operator supported – Handle manipulation for jaw actuation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-07-03
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Operator supported
Handle manipulation for jaw actuation
C269S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254073
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a clamp clip that can be actuated with one hand, having a drive housing comprising a hand grip and a fixed clamping jaw, with an actuating handle that can be displaced toward a rail with a second jaw by pivoting actuation on the hand grip, whereby the rail is blocked against back-pressure by means of a blocking element that can be released by thumb pressure on a release element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A clamping clip of this sort that can be actuated with one hand is known from the German utility model 87 03 379. Seen in the direction of clamping, here there is a blocking element in the form of a pivoting lever, held in a tilted position to the rail by the force of a spring, the one end of said lever being supported at the housing and the other end protruding from the housing in a plane in which the actuating handle and the hand grip lie.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,155, a clamping clip that can be actuated with one hand is likewise known in which the release element, which can be actuated by means of thumb pressure, lies behind and in a plane with the actuating handle and the hand grip, seen in the direction of clamping.
From DE 39 17 473, a clamping clip that can be actuated with one hand is previously known in which a brake lever is located in front of the hand grip and actuating handle, in the direction of the hand's grasping, which lever can be drawn toward the handle using the middle or index finger.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,085 specifies a cartridge printing means in which the blocking element is likewise arranged before the actuating handle in the direction of the hand's grasping.
OS 197 31 579 (which does not enjoy prior publication) specifies a clamping clip that can be actuated with one hand, in which a blocking element in the form of a stopper, arranged before the hand grip and the actuating handle (seen in the direction of the hand's grasp) can be displaced by grasping a release lever that can be actuated by the index or middle finger.
There is a need for an improved clamping clip of the above-referenced species that can be actuated with one hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above need is satisfied first of all and essentially by means of the solution whereby a release element forms an actuating arm that can be pivoted about a pivot axle that protrudes laterally from the housing, approximately at the level of the actuating handle. The direction of actuation of the actuating arm is opposite to the direction of actuation of the actuating handle. In addition, the position of the actuating arm is selected so that it is located at the position of the thumb of a hand that is grasping the hand grip in a natural position. In order to actuate the actuating arm, the thumb thus does not need to be brought into a position that is backwards with respect to the handle.
In addition, it is not necessary for the fingers standing in opposition to the thumb and loosely clasping the actuating handle to alter their position. It is advantageous if the pivot axle of the actuating arm is arranged before the pivot axle of the handle, in relation to the clamping direction of the rail. This then advantageously goes along with an arrangement of the blocking element, likewise before a drive element that can be displaced by the actuating handle.
In addition, it is advantageous for the pivot axle of the actuating arm to be situated opposite the rail of the pivot axle of the handle, and for the actuating arm to cross the rail. By this means, an optimal length of the actuating arm can be selected. In order to enable actuation of the one-hand clamping clip both by the left hand and by the right hand, actuating arms arranged on both of the broader sides of the housing are provided. The actuating arms can thereby be located on a common pivot axle. This pivot axle can form a second arm.
This second arm is preferably located in the housing, and acts on the blocking element. The blocking element is thereby supported with one side on a shoulder attached fixedly to the housing. The side opposite this side is preferably actuated by the second arm of the two-armed lever arrangement in order to release the back-pressure block. In addition, it is advantageous for the second arm of the lever arrangement to act on a movement transmission lever that can be pivoted about a peg arranged on the opposite side of the rail. It is then not the second arm that acts immediately on the release element, but rather a pressure flank of the movement transmission lever.
In addition, the blocking element can be fashioned as a bolt or slide that can be displaced against a restoring spring by the release element. This bolt can then be displaced along the rail by thumb pressure on the actuating arm. When the thumb pressure is discontinued, the restoring spring effects the restoring of the stopper together with the rail. In order to achieve a compact construction, it is provided that the actuating arm or, respectively, arms respectively lie in a storage trough of the broad side of the housing. The storage trough can thereby be constructed as an angle segment and can have a flat floor on which the actuating arm glides.
A further development of the invention provides that the blocking element, seen in the direction of clamping, is located before a drive element actuated by the handle, for the step-by-step entrainment of the rail. By means of a spring, the movement transmission lever can in addition be held in a position in which the actuating arm is held in its idle position and its pressure flank is held at a distance from the blocking element. By this means, a secure back-pressure blocking of the step-by-step drive is ensured.
It is also ensured that given a buildup of tensile pressure the blocking element can be displaced slightly about its seated position on the blocking shoulder on the housing. It can additionally be provided that the second arm acts as an angled extension of the movement transmission lever. This angled extension can comprise a flat attack surface for the second arm. The movement transmission lever is preferably held in its position at a distance from the blocking element by means of a tensile spring. The positioning trenches, arranged on both sides of the housing broad-side wall, can be of circular construction, whereby the pivot axle of the actuating arm lies outside the circular storage trough. A wall can be connected to the actuating arm, which arm can have a bent shape, said wall being situated in a sliding position on the floor of the trough.
The actuating handle can in addition be divided in two, as is specified in the disclosed content of DE 197 31 579.8 (hereby incorporated by reference), whereby the lever relations of the lever transmission are fashioned such that given increasing clamping force change to smaller displacement paths of the drive element.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a clamping clip that can be actuated with one hand. The clamping clip comprises a drive housing comprising a hand grip and a fixed clamping jaw. The housing is pivotally connected to an actuating handle. The housing includes a central passageway through which a rail passes. One end of the rail is connected to a second jaw. The housing also accommodates a stopper through which the rail passes. The actuating handle is coupled to the rail whereby pivotal movement of the actuating handle results in movement of the rail in a first clamping direction. Movement of the rail in a second clamping direction is blocked by the stopper. The stopper is coupled to a release element. The release element comprises at least one arm coupled to the housing at a first pivot axle that protrudes laterally from the housing. The first pivot axle and at least a portion of the actuating handle lie in a common plane disposed perpendicular to the rail.
In an embodiment, the actuating handle is coupled to the housing by a second pivot axle. The first pivot axle is disposed between a second pivot axle and the fixed clamping jaw.
In an embodiment, the second pivot axle is dis
Noniewicz Zbigniew
Schuller Hans-Jurgen
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Watson Robert C.
Wolfcraft GmbH
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