Work holders – Relatively movable jaws – Jaw features
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-01-09
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Relatively movable jaws
Jaw features
C269S283000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170813
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vises for holding workpieces, and more particularly, to a vise having adjustable jaw inserts for holding workpieces of varying dimensions.
Prior vise designs include replaceable jaws for accommodating different types of workpieces. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,062,772 and 4,437,654 both describe a replaceable vise jaw for accommodating a particular application, including the size and material of a particular workpiece. The vise described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,066 includes jaws releasably attached via dovetails formed on the vise for accommodating a particular workpiece for a vertical milling machine. Further, the vise of U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,782 includes accessory jaws for expanding the range of the vise.
In each of these vises, the replacement of the jaws themselves, or attachment of a supplemental jaw to the jaws of the vise, is considered to be a cumbersome method for accommodating a particular workpiece.
The vise of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with prior art vises by providing a simple adjustment apparatus for accommodating a workpiece without replacement of the vise jaws themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The advantages of the present invention are accomplished by an improved vise having a series of particularly positioned apertures or slots formed in opposing faces of the respective jaws. Each series of spaced apertures or slots receives one of a pair of inserts defining the depth of the area between the jaws, the inserts generally being disposed in a horizontally opposed pair of slots such that the inserts maintain the workpiece in a horizontally aligned position. By selecting the desired apertures or slots on each jaw face and inserting therein a pair of inserts defining the desired elevation, a workpiece placed between the opposing faces of the vise jaws is blocked against movement by the inserts. Accordingly, the user can define the desired elevation for a particular workpiece, and can vary that elevation simply by replacing or moving a pair of vise jaw inserts in horizontally opposed slots or apertures.
Under an alternative embodiment of the present invention an improved vise having a single aperture or slot formed in each of the opposing jaw faces is disclosed. Each aperture or slot receives one of several pairs of inserts defining the depth of the area between the jaws. The inserts vary in height to define a surface for supporting a workpiece at a user-selected elevation. Accordingly, by selecting the appropriate pair of inserts, the user can define the desired height of the supporting surface for a particular workpiece, and can vary that height simply by replacing the selected pair of inserts with a different pair of inserts.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 530733 (1894-12-01), Tower
patent: 2480415 (1949-08-01), Mettler
patent: 2770156 (1956-11-01), Brettrager
patent: 3403901 (1968-10-01), Servadio
patent: 4078782 (1978-03-01), Carlson
patent: 4251066 (1981-02-01), Bowling
patent: 4437654 (1984-03-01), Chiapetti
patent: 4558856 (1985-12-01), Shaffer
patent: 4602772 (1986-07-01), Wight et al.
patent: 4798371 (1989-01-01), Wallisser
patent: 5419540 (1995-05-01), Teafatiller
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Watson Robert C.
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