Claims
- 1. A method of operation of a clamp, said clamp comprising:
- a slide bar, a movable jaw being mounted to said slide bar, and a fixed jaw opposing said movable jaw,
- support means for supporting said slide bar; said fixed jaw and a handgrip extending outwardly from said support means in opposite directions, said fixed jaw having at least a forward portion facing said movable jaw,
- receiving means situated at the junction between said forward portion of the fixed jaw and said support means, a braking lever pivotable at said receiving means and having an engaging portion extending outwardly from said support means,
- one-way drive means for releasably engaging and, when engaged, for advancing said slide bar and movable jaw, and
- a trigger handle pivotably mounted to said support means, said engaging portion of said braking lever is positioned forwardly of said trigger handle in the direction of the movable jaw, wherein said method comprises the following steps:
- (a) positioning said clamp within one hand of a user so that said handgrip is received by a palm of said one hand;
- (b) placing a workpiece between said fixed and movable jaws when said jaws are spread apart;
- (c) advancing said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw by pressing and releasing said trigger handle by at least one finger of the hand thereby clamping said workpiece between said movable and fixed jaws; and
- (d) releasing said workpiece from said jaws by pressing said engaging portion of said braking lever by at least one finger of the hand other than a thumb;
- whereby said braking lever and the trigger handle are selectively operable by the same hand in such a manner that said at least one finger is positioned on the engaging portion of the braking lever to actuate the braking lever, while the other fingers of the same hand encircle and contain the trigger handle and the handgrip.
- 2. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step "c" comprises pressing and releasing said trigger handle by at least two fingers of the hand.
- 3. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step "c" comprises pressing and releasing said trigger handle by at least three fingers of the hand.
- 4. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step "d" comprises pressing said braking lever by at least two fingers of the hand other than the thumb.
- 5. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp is a bar clamp.
- 6. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, the step "a" comprises supporting at least said handgrip by said thumb extending jaw.
- 7. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one-way drive means has a driving lever, said braking lever normally engages said slide rod, said braking lever when engaging said slide bar prevents motion of said movable jaw away from said fixed jaw.
- 8. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein said one-way drive means further includes a driving lever normally disengaged from said slide bar, said trigger handle is adapted to contact said driving lever upon pivoting of said trigger handle in a first direction from a standby position forcing said driving lever into engagement with said slide rod, said engaged driving lever moving said slide rod and said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw.
- 9. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein said slide bar and movable jaw move together and being subject to reciprocal motion toward and away from said fixed jaw when said one-way drive means is disengaged by application of external forces to said braking lever, said slide bar being capable of moving said movable jaw in a continuous motion.
- 10. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein said one-way drive means advances said moving jaw toward said fixed jaw in increments.
- 11. The method of operation of a clamp as claimed in claim 10, wherein said one-way drive means further includes bias means for normally urging said driving lever out of engagement with said slide bar and for returning said trigger handle in the direction opposite to the first driving direction.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 234,173 filed Aug. 19, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2178689 |
Feb 1987 |
GBX |
2204264 |
Nov 1988 |
GBX |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
234173 |
Aug 1988 |
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