Claims
- 1. Apparatus comprising:a fixture having a handle and an opposing stationary jaw; a co-acting jaw pivoted to the fixture; a lever pivoted to the co-acting jaw; a guide disposed on the fixture proximate the handle, the guide including opposing chamfered surfaces joined by a rounded lower end and a flat surface at an upper end; a locking element disposed on the guide for reciprocal and canting movement; an arm pivoted to the lever; and a cam pivoted the arm and to the locking element and movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement against the guide.
- 2. Apparatus of claim 1, the cam disposed angularly relative to the guide and engaging the flat surface thereof, further including an attached adjustment element for adjusting the angular disposition of the cam relative to the guide.
- 3. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adjustment element is carried by one of the arm and the cam.
- 4. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adjustment element is reciprocally adjustable in opposition to one of the arm and the cam.
- 5. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adjustment element is reciprocally adjustable in response to rotation thereof.
- 6. Apparatus of claim 1, further including a bias urging the locking element toward the stationary jaw.
- 7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bias is provided by at least one attached biasing element.
- 8. In a device including a fixture having a handle and an opposing stationary jaw, a co-acting jaw pivoted to the fixture and a lever pivoted to the co-acting jaw, apparatus comprising:a guide disposed on the fixture proximate the handle, the guide including opposing chamfered surfaces joined by a rounded lower end and a flat surface at an upper end; a locking element disposed on the guide for reciprocal and canting movement, the locking element having an opening therethrough shaped in common with the cross-sectional shape of the guide; an arm pivoted to the lever; and a cam pivoted to the arm and to the locking element and movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement against the guide.
- 9. Apparatus of claim 8, the cam disposed angularly relative to the guide and engaging the flat surface thereof, further including an attached adjustment element for adjusting the angular disposition of the cam relative to the guide.
- 10. Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adjustment element is carried by one of the arm and the cam.
- 11. Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adjustment element is reciprocally adjustable in opposition to one of the arm and the cam.
- 12. Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adjustment element is reciprocally adjustable in response to rotation thereof.
- 13. Apparatus of claim 8, further including a bias urging the locking element toward the stationary jaw.
- 14. Apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bias is provided by at least one attached biasing element.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation patent application of application Ser. No. 09/909,365, filed Jul. 19, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,719, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3208319 |
Westby et al. |
Sep 1965 |
A |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/909365 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/464625 |
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US |