1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clamps and more particularly to clamps for releasably holding the edge portions of articles of sheet-like form, such as plans and drawings, for convenient storage and ready access.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Clamps for storing engineering or architectural plans and drawings and other sheet-like particles such as samples of fabric or carpet, typically comprise two elongate opposed jaws pivotally mounted to grip and release the edge portions of the sheet material by operation of screw devices comprising bolts and wing nuts. In use, the clamp extends horizontally and is removably mounted on associated support structure, for example horizontally extending suspension bars, so that the sheet material held by the clamp hangs downwardly from the clamp, the clamp being removable from the support structure to provide access to the stored material when required. The clamp may include a handle to facilitate placement and removal of the clamp relative to the support structure.
The use of screw devices comprising screws and wing nuts to open and close the jaws of the clamp is not particularly convenient as several turns of each wing nut may be required to achieve the requisite opening or closing movement of the jaws. In addition, certain previously proposed forms of clamp incorporating a handle do not always provide a convenient means of mounting the handle or of readily adjusting the position of the handle to suit different forms of support system.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, said latch device comprising a member of channel section within which an upper part of the jaws is mounted whereby opposite sides of the member co-operate with the two jaws, and a latch lever pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, said latch lever being linked to the jaws and co-operating with the member of channel section such that movement of the latch lever to its released position effects relative movement between the jaws and said member to enable opening of the jaws, said latch device also having means enabling adjustment of the clamped and open conditions of the jaws.
Advantageously, the jaws are subject to a spring bias to move the jaws in an opening direction when the latch lever is moved out of its latched position.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention there are two such latch devices spaced along the length of the jaws, with the member of channel section being common to both latch devices and extending along substantially the entire length of the clamp.
Particularly advantageously, the member of channel section also provides a slidable mounting for components such as a handle and stops to enable ready adjustment of the mounting positions of such components. For this purpose, a head section of the member may be of an undercut or other profile adapted for slidable engagement with a corresponding profile of a mounting part of a component to be engaged therewith.
In a preferred embodiment, to enable adjustment of the clamping and open conditions of the jaws, the latch lever is linked to the jaws by means of a bolt with which a part of the latch lever is in threaded engagement. When in its released position, rotation of the latch lever about the axis of the bolt will result in adjustment of the position of the bolt and thereby in the relative position between the jaws and the member of channel section. In this form of embodiment, the pivotal movement of the latch lever between its latched and released positions is about an axis at right angles to the axis of the bolt.
Advantageously, the released position of the latch lever is also a stable position of the lever, with the latch lever moving through an over-centre position during passage between its latched and released positions.
Advantageously, when the latch lever is in its latched position it is capable of rotation about the axis of the bolt to effect final tightening of the jaws.
In the preferred embodiment, the latch lever includes an internally-threaded sleeve with which the shank of the bolt is engaged, the sleeve being pivotally mounted to a body of the latch lever for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the threaded sleeve whereby the latch lever is able to pivot about said transverse axis for movement between its latched and released positions.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, the latch device comprising a member of channel section within which an upper part of the jaws is mounted whereby opposite sides of the member cooperate with the two jaws, and latch levers each pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, the latch levers each being linked to the jaws by a respective screw mechanism and co-operating with the member of channel section such that movement of the latch levers to their released positions effects relative movement between the jaws and said member to enable opening of the jaws, the clamped and open conditions of the jaws being adjustable by rotation of the latch levers to cause adjustment of the respective screw mechanisms.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, said latch device comprising a latch lever pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, said latch lever being linked to the jaws such that relatively small pivot movement of the latch lever is amplified into larger movement of the jaws, said latch device being adjustable to accommodate variation in the thickness of material to be clamped and to permit variation of clamping pressure.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released condition, and means for effecting movement of the jaws, wherein one of the jaws extends outwardly to a position substantially beyond a clamping end portion of the other jaw to provide a guide surface along which material to be loaded into the clamp can slide in order to facilitate loading.
In a preferred embodiment, the guide surface may be substantially planar although a slight curvature in transverse cross-section and concave in relation to the clamping end portion of the other clamping jaw would be feasible. The configuration is such that in a fully closed condition of the jaws with the clamping portions of the two jaws substantially in engagement without the presence of sheet material therebetween the extension is directed laterally across and transversely beyond the clamping end portion of the other jaw. The length of the extension beyond the clamping end portion of the jaw of which it forms a part is such that a stack of sheets such as typically used for engineering drawings and architectural plans can be assembled with an edge portion resting on the extension prior to movement between the clamping end portions or the extension can act as a scoop to guide such end portions between the open jaws; a length of approximately 15 mm to 20 mm, is suitable for the purpose.
It will therefore be understood that unlike the position with prior clamps of this type in which the two jaws are substantially identical and symmetrical with reference to a central clamping plane, the presence of the extension on one of the two jaws provides a distinct asymmetry of the two jaws.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention (
The two jaws 2, 4 are associated with an elongate mounting channel 12 extending the length of the clamp. The mounting channel 12 consists of an extrusion of substantially C-shaped cross section lying above the two jaws 2, 4 so that the jaws extend partially into the interior of the channel 12 with lower edge portions 12a of the channel 12 engaging the outer sides of the two jaws 2,4 as clearly shown in
The upper part of the mounting channel 12 includes two opposed grooves whereby the upper part forms a head section 12b of undercut profile. The head section 12b provides a mounting for associated components such as a handle 14, end caps 16 and associated index tags, a stop button 18 for interaction with associated support structure on which the clamp is mounted in use, and mounting blocks 20 for the latch devices 13. In each case the associated component to be mounted on the head section 12b comprises a base part having on its underside a groove of corresponding section to the head section 12b of the mounting channel 12 whereby the component can be engaged with the channel by sliding the base part along the head section from one end with the head section engaged with the groove. This engagement is specifically shown in relation to the latch mounting blocks 20 in
Each of the latch devices 13 consists of a mounting block 20 engaged with the head section 12b of the mounting channel 12 as previously described. A bolt 22 having a head 24 located in the interior of the two jaws 2, 4 immediately beneath the zone of their pivotal connection 6, 8 extends upwardly through a hole in the upper edges of the two jaws 2, 4 and a vertical passage in the mounting channel 12 and block 20 into the interior of a latch lever 26 mounted above the block 20. A nut 28 mounted on the shank of the bolt 22 within the interior of the latch lever 26 is coupled to the latch lever 26 by means of a pivotal connection 30 at right angles to the axis of the bolt 22. In this manner, the latch lever 26 is able to pivot vertically about the horizontal pivot connection 30 between an engaged or latched position shown in
It will be noted that in the engaged position of
It is to be noted that the two jaws 2, 4 will pivot uniformly relative to a vertical plane from their closed to their open conditions and vice versa, upon movement of the latch levers 26.
The downwards extension of the handle of the latch lever 26 along the side of the mounting block 20 and channel 12 in the engaged position provides a compact configuration which is unlikely to be susceptible to accidental release. However further security against accidental release may be provided by incorporating a snap-in detent between the latch handle and mounting block 20 or channel 12 in order to provide a more positive lock for the latch lever 26 when in its engaged condition.
The latch devices 13 also provide substantial facility for adjustment of the closed and open conditions of the jaws 2, 4 to accommodate a range of different thicknesses of material to be clamped and a range of different clamping pressures. This is achieved by moving the latch lever 26 to the released position of FIG. 4 and then rotating the lever 26 about the axis of the bolt 22. This will result in relative displacement between the nut 28 and bolt 22 which will cause a change in the spacing between the jaws 2, 4 in their open condition due to displacement of the bolt 22 and hence the jaws 2, 4 relative to the channel 12. By rotating the latch lever 26 anti-clockwise from the open position shown in
The embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of the
We have determined that a problem can exist with clamps currently in use in that it can sometimes be difficult to manipulate paper sheets of large size into the open mouth of the clamp. Typically, a user will hold the clamp in one hand and move a stack of sheets between the opened jaws of the clamp with the other hand. As a result, the stack may be loaded unevenly into the clamp and sheets at the bottom of the stack might be omitted and/or some or all of the sheets may be mounted in a skewed manner between the jaws whereby on closure of the jaws some or all of the sheets may be held at one end only and may fall from the clamp when mounted in a rack or other support structure for storage purposes.
In accordance with the embodiment of
The extension 2b provides a guide which significantly facilitates loading of the stack of sheets. With the open clamp resting on a table or other support surface, the stack of sheets can be placed or formed on the extension and when all of the sheets are in place the stack can be slid along the extension and over the clamping bead into the open jaws, the lower edge of the clamping bead being suitably shaped to facilitate smooth passage. Alternatively, the extension can act as a scoop which can be slid along the support surface to scoop up the stack of sheets. The extension does need to be of a length sufficient to facilitate loading in either of these two modes, without having excessive length. A length of approximately 15 mm to 20 mm has been found satisfactory for the purpose, with around 20 mm being particularly preferred.
The clamping jaws 2,4 are formed as extrusions and the extension can be incorporated into the associated clamping jaw at minimal additional cost.
Although this aspect has been described with reference to clamps having a latching system as disclosed in the other embodiments, it is to be understood that this aspect is also applicable to other forms of clamp involving the use of two opposed clamping jaws which are actuable for movement between open and closed positions in order to clamp sheets of paper and the like between the jaws.
It will be understood that the clamp in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention has facility for rapid opening and closure of the jaws achieved by a relatively small and rapid pivotal movement of the two latch levers which is amplified into a much greater movement of the jaws. The latch devices are also readily adjustable to provide a wide variation in the thickness of material which can be clamped and also of the clamping pressure. The described mounting system facilitates ease of mounting of components such as the handle and stop buttons in adjustable positions to suit different forms of mounting system.
The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PQ5099 | Jan 2000 | AU | national |
PQ8989 | Jul 2000 | AU | national |
PS011402 | Jan 2002 | AU | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of the International Application PCT/AU01/00036 filed 15 Jan. 2001, now abandoned, and claims the benefit of the Australian provisional patent application PS0114/02 filed 23 Jan. 2002. The International Application PCT/AU01/00036 claimed priority to Australian provisional patent applications PQ8989/00, filed 25 Jul. 2000 and PQ5099/00 filed 17 Jan. 17, 2000.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCTAU01/00036 | 1/15/2001 | WO | 00 | 12/13/2002 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO0153705 | 7/26/2001 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1397930 | Jefferies | Nov 1921 | A |
1911277 | Helmer | May 1933 | A |
2990961 | Kain | Jul 1961 | A |
3014258 | Pearl | Dec 1961 | A |
3221892 | Morcheles et al. | Dec 1965 | A |
3308831 | Kritske | Mar 1967 | A |
3364528 | Fletcher | Jan 1968 | A |
3891093 | Petrie | Jun 1975 | A |
3896526 | Joiner | Jul 1975 | A |
4147257 | Zippel | Apr 1979 | A |
4836389 | Poulton | Jun 1989 | A |
4921506 | Poulton | May 1990 | A |
5590765 | London | Jan 1997 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20030101550 A1 | Jun 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCTAU01/00036 | Jan 2001 | US |
Child | 10181680 | US |