Work holders – Relatively movable jaws – Jaw features
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-06-19
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Relatively movable jaws
Jaw features
C269S902000, C269S287000, C269S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247690
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to fixturing tools used to retain and position objects in the machining industry and, in particular, to a fixturing tool sized to retain and position small and intricate objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The tool and die industry involves the machining of both large and small parts and frequently it is necessary to work a very small object on a machine designed to accept a much larger workpiece. Such machines have vises and clamps sized to retain the largest work piece that the machine is intended to receive, however such vises and clamps are unsuitable for retaining miniaturized workpieces. To adapt such machines to receive very small workpieces, a fixturing tool is employed which has a mounting portion for fitting within the jaws of the vise or clamp of the machine and a retaining portion, often configured as a “V”, for retaining a miniature workpieces.
While small objects may be considered as constituting a single group, in reality, there are substantial differences of scale between sizes of such objects and, therefore, it is common to provide a plurality of sizes of fixturing tools to receive the many different sizes of small parts which can be machined. A tool and die maker, therefore, must maintain a multiplicity of sizes of fixturing tools for the machines which may be employed to accept small parts. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a single fixturing tool which could be retained in the vise of a machine and could hold a multiplicity of sizes of small parts. It would also be desirable to have a fixturing tool that would be useable in conjunction with products such as V-blocks, and with angle plates, inspection equipment, integrated tooling, or as a standing alone retainer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a fixturing tool having an elongate body with a principle longitudinal axis and a polygon cross sectional shape so as to define a plurality of sides. The outer surface of the body has at least one annular groove extending radially therein that divides each of the sides thereof into a plurality of segments. The groove defines a plane perpendicular to the principle longitudinal axis of the fixturing tool body, and the grove defines a first face and an opposing second face parallel to the first face with a distance between them. At least one longitudinal groove extends across a plurality of segments of one of the sides of the fixturing tool body.
The fixturing tool is used in conjunction with a clamp and a bridge. The clamp has a generally rectangular shape with parallel sides, an outer end, a clamp end and a generally rectangular central opening. The parallel sides are spaced a distance which is a little greater than the distance between parallel sides of the fixturing tool body, and the outer end is spaced from the clamp end a distance substantially greater than the distance between parallel sides of the fixturing tool body. In the preferred embodiment, the sides and outer end of the clamp have a thickness which is a little less than the distance between the parallel faces. The clamp end has a threaded bore therein through which a thumb screw is fitted, with the screw directed generally towards the center of the rectangular central opening.
The bridge has a body with a central portion and parallel legs, the end surfaces of which are angled to rest upon sides of the elongate body of the fixturing tool. The bridge may be used in conjunction with the fixturing tool to hold an elongate workpiece by retaining the fixturing tool in a vise between the jaws of the machine with the length of the workpiece extending between legs of the bridge.
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Hail III Joseph J.
Marsh Robert L.
Wilson Lee
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