The present invention relates to a coupling mechanism for interconnecting two objects and, more particularly, to a clamping apparatus operable to disable a coupling mechanism.
Referring to
Typically, the socket 84 includes two hooks 83. Each of the hooks 83 includes a barb 81. The plug 82 includes two cavities 85 in communication with two apertures 87. When the socket 84 is electrically engaged with the plug 82, the hooks 83 of the socket 84 are inserted in the cavities 85 of the plug 82 and the barbs 81 of the socket 84 are inserted in the apertures 87 of the plug 82, thereby keeping the socket 84 electrically engaged with the plug 82. To electrically disengage the socket 84 from the plug 82, the hooks 83 are pressed and hence pivoted toward the socket 84 to move the barbs 81 from the apertures 87, thereby allowing disengagement of the socket 84 from the plug 82.
However, fungus, bacteria and or virus is inevitably transferred to a user's hand from the coupling mechanism 80 during the operation. Hence, hygiene is not taken care of during the operation.
The present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a clamping apparatus for allowing a user to disengaging a plug from a socket without having to contact with the plug or the socket with bare hands.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the coupler-clamping apparatus includes a handle, two claws, a joint and a spring. The handle is pivotally connected to a portion of the joint. The claws are pivotally connected to another portion of the joint. The spring is located between the claws so that the spring biases the claws from each other.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:
Referring to
The joint 20 is a square tube including two plates 21 extending parallel to each other, two parallel plates 24 extending perpendicular to the plates 21, and two opposite open ends 22 and 25. Each of the plates 21 includes an aperture 23 in an extensive portion extending beyond the plates 24 adjacent to the open end 22. Each of the plates 24 includes an aperture 26 in an extensive portion extending beyond the plates 21 adjacent to the open end 25. The handle 12 is located between the plates 21 before the pivot 18 is inserted in the apertures 16 and 23 to pivotally connect the handle 12 to the joint 20 (
The pivots 18 and 30 are rivets in the preferred embodiment referring to
The spring 31 is torque spring including a helical portion 32 formed between two rectilinear portions 33 and 34 in the preferred embodiment. However, the spring can be a compression spring, a leaf spring, a coil spring, a helical spring or any other proper spring.
The claws 40 and 50 are identical to each other in structure but different in position. The claw 40 includes two lugs 41 at an end, a contact portion 44 at another end, and a curved portion 43 adjacent to the contact portion 44. Each of the lugs 41 includes an aperture 42. The apertures 42 are aligned to each other. The curved portion 43 is used to render the contact portion 44 in a desired position. The contact portion 44 is formed with an anti-skid face 45.
The anti-skid face 45 includes two groups of grooves that intersect each other in the preferred embodiment. However, the anti-skid face 45 can include bosses in another embodiment. The anti-skid face 45 is formed on the contact portion 44 in the preferred embodiment. However, the anti-skid face 45 can be formed on a pad attached to the contact portion 44.
Similarly, the claw 50 includes two lugs 51 at an end, a contact portion 54 at another end, and a curved portion 53 adjacent to the contact portion 54. Each of the lugs 51 includes an aperture 52. The apertures 52 are aligned to each other. The curved portion 53 is used to render the contact portion 54 in a desired position. The anti-skid face 55 is formed on the contact portion 54 in the preferred embodiment. However, the anti-skid face 55 can be formed on a pad attached to the contact portion 54.
The anti-skid face 55 includes two groups of grooves that intersect each other in the preferred embodiment. However, the anti-skid face 55 can include bosses in another embodiment. The anti-skid face 55 is formed on the contact portion 54 in the preferred embodiment. However, the anti-skid face 55 can be formed on a pad attached to the contact portion 54.
Referring to
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Referring to
With the clamping apparatus 10, the user is allowed to disengage the plug 82 from the socket 84 without having to contact any of them with bare hands 60. Hence, fungus, bacteria and or virus cannot be transferred to the hand 60 from the coupling mechanism 80 during the operation. Thus, the operation is completed and hygiene is taken care of
Referring to
Secondly, the handle 12 includes a polygonal portion 11 made in one piece with a frustoconical portion 13. The polygonal portion 11 of the handle 12 is located between the plates 21 and the threaded bolt 15 is inserted in the plates 21 and the polygonal portion 11 of the handle 12, thereby pivotally connecting the joint 20 to the handle 12. The protective layer 14 is coated on the frustoconical portion 13 of the handle 12.
Thirdly, the external face of each of the claws 40 and 50 is an anti-skid face to increase friction with the index finger or the thumb. Thus, the handling of the clamping apparatus 10 with the hand 60 is rendered firm.
Fourthly, the claws 40 and 50 are in another shape.
The present invention has been described via the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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109213126 | Oct 2020 | TW | national |