The present invention relates to bar clamps, and more specifically, to attachments for extending the length of such clamps.
Bar clamps are well known for use in holding a work piece in a predetermined position. The known bar clamps typically comprise relatively moveable jaws attached to a bar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722 to Sorensen and Gatzemeyer is exemplary of a bar clamp structure of the prior art.
Typically, bar clamps are employed to hold a number of objects together for gluing or other purposes to retain the objects in a fixed position for a certain period of time. The user may be required to employ multiple clamps of varying lengths to accommodate different objects of different dimensions.
While a movable jaw provides a variety of clamping positions along the length of the clamping bar, the finite length of the clamping bar limits the range of clamping positions available for each clamp. In many instances it may be necessary for the user to utilize multiple clamps of varying lengths to accommodate various objects in association with accomplishing a variety of clamping tasks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,565 to Simpson illustrates and describes a bar clamp wherein the bar clamp uses a threaded fastener to lock an extension bar in proper alignment.
The current bar clamps are limited in the arrangement of the clamp jaws. Typically, one of the jaws is fixed at one end of the bar clamp. Thus, the possibility of adjustments is predetermined.
There is a need for improvements in bar clamps which would provide a movable jaw component and a fixed jaw component in conjunction with a variety of bar lengths to enable the securement of the fixed jaw along the length of the bar to allow for a bar clamp to be adapted to a wider variety of clamping needs than possible with the current designs.
Harmonious with the present invention, it is an object to produce an improved bar clamp extension for extending the working length of a bar clamp to a plurality of working lengths.
Another object of the present invention is to produce a stop for selectively adjusting the location of a jaw component along the length of a clamp bar.
Surprisingly, the above objects may be achieved by: an extension bar with an associated coupling adapted to join one end of the primary clamp bar to an end of an extension bar; and a pair of sleeves adapted to slide along the clamp bar and lock at a desired location along the length of the clamp bar with the fixed clamp held between the sleeves.
The above, as well as other, objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is a transverse view of the bar clamp extension illustrated in
a is a transverse view of the bar clamp extension illustrated in
a is a perspective view of the bar clamp sleeve illustrated in
a is a perspective view of the jaw stop illustrated in
b is a transverse view of the jaw stop illustrated in
Referring to the drawings and in particular to
In operation, a workpiece (not shown) is clamped between the jaws 12 and 20 by advancing the moveable jaw 12 along the bar 14 toward the fixed jaw 20 until a desired clamping force is applied to the workpiece. To open the clamp, a trigger 28 is typically manually moved in the direction of the proximal end 16 which releases the moveable jaw 12 allowing the jaw 12 to be moved along the bar 14 toward the proximal end 16.
Referring to
The extension bar 44 is longitudinally extended with a proximal end 46 and a distal end 48. The extension bar 44 is rectangular in cross-section with an upper surface 50, a lower surface 52, and opposing spaced apart sides 54 and 56. A proximal pin 58 and a distal pin 59 extend transversely from the respective sides 54 and 56 of the bar 44. The coupling 42 joins the distal end 18 of the primary bar 14 to the proximal end 46 of the extension bar 44 in longitudinal alignment.
The coupling 42 includes two cooperating members; namely, a body 60 and a sleeve 62. The body 60 has opposed ends 64, 64′ each of which include a longitudinal slot 66, 66′ and transverse slots 67, 67′ respectively. The longitudinal slots 66, 66′ are adapted to receive the respective ends 18 and 46 of the bars 14 and 44 while the transverse slots 67, 67′ are adapted to receive the respective pins 24 and 58 of the bars 14 and 44. The sleeve 62 in the illustrated embodiment is substantially equal in length to the length of the body 60. The sleeve 62 has opposing ends 68, 68′ with an outer surface 72 and an inner surface 74. The sleeve 62 is adapted to receive the body 60. The sleeve includes a set screw 78 which may be tightened against the body 60 to hold the sleeve 62 in longitudinal alignment with the body 60 and to lock the bars 14 and 44 in longitudinal alignment.
In
The sleeve 110 shown in
The sleeve 110 includes a pair of opposing and spaced apart arcuate collars 122, 122′ at the distal end 114. The collars 122, 122′ depend from the inner surface 120 and extend radially inward. The collars 122, 122′ provide a positive stop that limits the amount of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′. Further, the collars 122, 122′ provide a positive stop that prevents the sleeve distal end 114 from sliding past the body distal end 104.
When the end surfaces of the collars 122, 122′ are in contact with the distal end 104, the sleeve 110 and body 100 are in horizontal alignment and the collars 122, 122′ are aligned with the notches 108, 108′ in the extension bar 44′. The notches 108, 108′ receive the collars 122, 122′ as the sleeve 110 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the extension bar 44′ which allows the sleeve 110 to rotate further about the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′ when so positioned.
When the sleeve 110 and body 100 are in horizontal axial alignment, the sleeve 110 may be secured to the extension bar 44′ by rotating the sleeve 110 with respect to the longitudinal axis of bar 44′. The sleeve 110 is rotated until the collars 122, 122′ contact the notches 108, 108′. The contact friction between the collars 122, 122′ and the notches 108, 108′ secures the sleeve 110 to the extension bar 44′ effectively locking the primary bar 14′ and the extension bar 44′ in longitudinal alignment.
a illustrate an alternative embodiment of a coupling sleeve. The sleeve 110 is provided with a pair of opposing and spaced apart circular collars 200 and 200′ at the distal end 114. Each collar includes a radial extension 202, 202′ at the collar midpoint. The collars 200, 200′ form opposing slots 204, 204′ at the distal end 114 of the sleeve for receiving the extension bar 44′. The slots 204, 204′ allow the sleeve 110 to slide longitudinally along the bar 44′ while substantially preventing the sleeve 110 from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′.
When the collars 200, 200′ are in contact with the body distal end 104′, the sleeve 110 and body 100 are in horizontal alignment and the collars 200, 200′ are aligned with the notches 108, 108′ in the extension bar 44′. The notches 108, 108′ receive the collars 200, 200′ as the sleeve 110 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′ which allows the sleeve 110 to further rotate about the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′ when so positioned. The sleeve 110 is secured to the bar 44′ by rotating the sleeve 110 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bar 44′ until the collar extensions 202, 202′ contact the notches 108, 108′ in the bar 44′. The sleeve 110 is secured in place by contact friction between the extensions 200, 202′ and the notches 108, 108′.
a illustrate an alternative embodiment of an extension bar and coupling sleeve. An extension bar 300 has a proximal end 302 and a distal end 304. The extension bar 300 includes an upper surface 310 and a lower surface 320, each provided with a respective linear array of threaded teeth 330, 330′. The sleeve 110 is provided with internal threads 340 adapted to engage the respective threaded teeth 330, 330′ to effectively lock the extension bar 300 in longitudinal alignment with the main bar 14′.
The prior art bar clamps, as illustrated in
From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/716,330 filed on Sep. 12, 2005.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070057424 A1 | Mar 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60716330 | Sep 2005 | US |